Where to go in Moscow for free
Moscow is an expensive city in every sense. Its history is rich in events, its sights are unparalleled, even in residential areas there are amazing historical sites and cultural objects that are simply priceless. But at the same time, you can find many options for an incredible and full of vivid impressions vacation, for which you do not have to pay a penny.
We have prepared a short review of places where you can go absolutely free. The list includes attractions for every taste: observation platforms, art galleries, museums, beautiful architectural monuments, necropolises, reserves, temples and monasteries. If you are planning to have a great and, most importantly, budget-friendly time in the capital, read this text, then make your route and follow the plan.
Smart City Pavilion at VDNKh
“Smart City” is an innovative interactive space that presents the latest digital solutions and technologies. The exhibition, consisting of 12 thematic zones, is located on the territory of VDNKh in pavilion 461. Here, visitors get acquainted with interesting developments that have already been implemented or will be used in the near future.
According https://azotmania.ru/ the “Medicine of the Future” zone demonstrates new principles of interaction between doctors and patients, which in the future will raise the efficiency of modern medicine to a new level. This exhibition contains innovative services created to improve the quality of such processes as online appointments with specialists, maintaining medical records, doctors’ access to complete information about the health of any person, and much more. Guests can use a virtual health scanner and other interactive exhibits.
In the “Intelligent Transport” zone, you will learn how Moscow’s transport infrastructure is developing and what technologies are used to improve it. You will see how IT manages road traffic and builds optimal routes taking into account the current situation. Here you will learn about the operating principle of unmanned vehicles and will be able to take a test virtual ride.
The territory of the “Smart City” also includes zones of education, improvement and comfort, capital management, electronic services for Muscovites and much more. The expositions are regularly changed and updated as new technologies and non-standard solutions are introduced.
Gallery “Metro”
On the lower level of the business center “MOSCOW-CITY”, in the vestibule of the station with the symbolic name “Vystavochnaya” there is an unusual gallery called “Metro”. This project was conceived as a convenient art space with free access, where regular and temporary exhibitions of photographs by both famous and emerging artists will be held.
To get to the gallery, you just need to pay for a ride on the metro. The exhibition begins immediately after the turnstiles. You can have a great time at the exhibition while waiting for a train or come here specifically for fresh ideas in the art of photography.
Also at the Vystavochnaya station there is now a collection of the Moscow Metro Museum, which was moved here from the Sportivnaya station. You can get to this part of the gallery with an organized tour upon prior request. Visitors have free access to: a collection of historical uniforms of metro employees, rare archival photographs and documents, items from private collections, interactive simulators and much more.
Gary Tatintsian Gallery
Tatintsyan Gallery is a conceptual art project created to display works by contemporary Western artists, Russian avant-garde artists of the past and present centuries, talented photographers, designers, graphic artists and sculptors. At various times, exhibitions of such masters as Weegee, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Georg Baselitz, Damien Hirst, Cecily Brown and many others were held here.
The main goal of the project is to popularize modern trends in art and promote emerging talented individuals. Each new exhibition here is a bright and anticipated event. Not long ago, the gallery exhibited the works of the guru of Japanese pop art Keiichi Tanaami “Country of Mirrors”. The collection includes video animation, unusual installations, sculptures, graphics, collages – rethought traditional motifs with bright elements of modern trends.
The exhibition of Vik Muniz, a Brazilian photographer and artist who works with unconventional materials – old printing, trash, dry pigments, children’s toys and other things that are unnecessary from the point of view of an ordinary person, caused a great resonance in the community of connoisseurs. The master recreates canvases of famous painters from improvised means and immortalizes them in photographs.
The founder of the project, Gary Tatintsian, believes that the art of the future should not be emotional, but intellectual. Only in this case will it awaken real feelings and creativity in people.
Mausoleum of V. I. Lenin
Lenin’s Mausoleum is the most famous burial vault in the country, an architectural monument and practically a cult historical landmark. You can have different attitudes towards the personality of the leader of the proletariat, but the Egyptian-style structure, in which his body lies in a glass sarcophagus, deserves the closest attention.
The stone tomb was built in 1930 by A. V. Shchusev and I. A. Frantsuz. The monumental structure made of red granite, black and gray labradorite did not fit into the existing ensemble of the necropolis, so collective burials near the Spasskaya and Nikolskaya towers, different-sized memorial tombstones led to a single architectural denominator, and stands for ten thousand people were installed on the sides of the mausoleum.
The interior of the mausoleum makes a strong impression with its monumental severity. The ten-meter cubic funeral hall with a stepped ceiling is finished with gray labradorite, along the perimeter there is a black strip with pilasters of scarlet porphyry, which creates the effect of a living fire and red flags fluttering in the wind. In the center on a black pedestal is a glass sarcophagus in the shape of an inverted trapezoid. The angle of reflection is chosen in such a way that the observer does not see the glass, only the body of the leader, illuminated by hidden light-optical devices.
Cathedral of Christ the Savior
The largest church in Russia, which can accommodate up to ten thousand parishioners at a time, is located near the Kremlin, on the left bank of the Moskva River. The beautiful white-stone building with golden domes is an almost exact copy of the ancient cathedral, erected according to the design of the architect Ton in memory of the soldiers of the Russian Empire who died in the war with Napoleon’s army and in other foreign campaigns. The first church was destroyed in 1931 as part of the fight against religion.
The new Cathedral of Christ the Savior was built in 1999 and consecrated by Patriarch Alexy in August 2000. Now the church is the cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church and a collective cenotaph for the soldiers of the Russian Empire. The appearance of the building is maintained in the Russian-Byzantine style, about 22 thousand square meters of walls are covered with artistic paintings, of which almost 9 thousand are painted with gold leaf.
The modern temple complex includes an upper part with three altars, a lower part – the Transfiguration Church, erected on the site of the Alekseevsky Convent, and a stylobate part, which contains refectory chambers, a museum, the Supreme Council and Church Assembly halls.
Between the bell towers of the temple, at a height of 40 meters, there are open balconies connected by passages. From this level, an excellent view opens onto the Kremlin ensemble, Gorky Park, New Arbat, the monument to Peter the Great, Stalin’s skyscrapers and other Moscow landmarks.
The main department store is GUM
The main department store is not only the most prestigious shopping center in Moscow with partially preserved historical interiors and unique local attractions. GUM is a place where cultural life is in full swing, trends are born and stars are born.
Here, in the showroom for 400 people with luxurious interiors, fashion shows, presentations and concerts, press conferences, creative evenings and performances of famous artists are regularly held.
In the cinema hall, which is more reminiscent of a drama theater hall with stucco, crystal chandeliers and red velvet upholstery, they show recordings of theater productions, retrospectives of talented directors and classic films. This area is equipped with modern technology, video and audio equipment, but the visitor is left with a strong feeling that he has found himself in a distant, measured, thorough and prosperous past.
Bright festivals and festive events are regularly held on the territory of GUM. Exhibitions of famous and emerging artists open here periodically, with free access for everyone. With the onset of cold weather, the skating rink becomes the center of attraction, with costumed performances and spectacular competitions held on the ice arena.
Krutitsy Patriarchal Compound
The Krutitsy Compound is an amazing historical and architectural monument, a cultural heritage site, a former bishop’s residence and a kind of diplomatic department responsible for the Russian Orthodox Church’s relations with the outside world.
Founded in the 13th century, the compound was expanded and expanded, repeatedly burned down and rebuilt. After the revolution, religious services ceased here, and the churches, chambers and towers were given over to the needs of the city. Restoration work on the territory of Krutitsy began only in 1971 with the restoration of the basement and substructure of the Resurrection Church. In 1991, the city authorities initiated the transfer of the buildings of the compound to the management of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Despite its difficult biography and the not-so-great condition of some of the buildings, today the compound is one of the most valuable and beautiful historical landmarks of Moscow. The highlight of Krutitsy is the Assumption Cathedral, with a lower church built in 1689, the main church built in 1700, and the chapel of Sergius of Radonezh from the 19th century. Also preserved are the Church of the Resurrection of the Word, the Krutitsy Teremok with the Resurrection Passages, the Palace of the Krutitsy Metropolitans, the building of the metropolitan orders, the Embankment Chambers and other buildings.
Russian State Library
The second largest library in the world and the largest in Russia was founded in 1862 as a branch of the Rumyantsev and Moscow Public Museums. Immediately after its opening, its collections began to receive hundreds of first printed Russian and foreign publications from the Imperial Public Library and the storerooms of the Imperial Hermitage.
Thanks to the initiative of Governor-General Tuchkov and Minister of Education Kovalevsky, who called on Muscovites and the Moscow community to take part in the formation of the “Museum of Sciences and Arts”, the collection was actively replenished through generous donations. In the first years, the new organization received over 300 valuable collections of rare manuscripts and old books.
After the revolution, the museum branch received the status of the main library of the young country and generous funding. During the same period, the Council of People’s Commissars issued a decree ordering publishers to transfer two copies of all printed publications, including translations, to the library. This decision and the active interaction of the Russian State Library with foreign colleagues allowed the collection to increase to an incredible scale of 47 million storage units! Despite the popularity of the electronic format, the Russian State Library is visited annually by about 800 thousand readers and their number is not decreasing!
Observation deck on the Sparrow Hills
The observation deck on Vorobyovy Gory is the most famous of the publicly accessible observation points in the capital. From a height of 80 meters above the Moskva River, a stunning panorama of the city opens up – almost all of Moscow is visible at a glance!
A wide terrace with a reliable stone parapet is located on the edge of a steep cliff, giving visitors the feeling of floating in the air. Only from this point will you be able to examine the entire central part of the city in detail. You will see the monumental building of the main building of Moscow State University and five more of the seven Stalinist skyscrapers, the majestic Kremlin ensemble, the most famous sports facility in Moscow – the Luzhniki stadium, the Moscow City skyscrapers, Novy Arbat with its famous book-shaped houses and much more.
The reason for the popularity of this observation deck is that even bad weather does not interfere with the excellent view. Powerful optical devices are also installed here, which any visitor can use absolutely free of charge.
Cinema “Illusion”
The Illusion Cinema opened in 1966 in a Stalinist skyscraper on Kotelnicheskaya Embankment specifically for showing films from the State Film Fund. This location was not chosen by chance. The elite building was home to high-ranking party officials, NKVD officers, and outstanding cultural figures: Nonna Mordyukova, Faina Ranevskaya, Irina Bugrimova, Galina Ulanova, Klara Luchko, and many others.
Illusion became the first cinema whose repertoire was not subject to strict official censorship. Due to its unique approach to choosing a range of films, which included masterpieces of the world film industry, it often experienced pressure from the authorities. For the creative intelligentsia, Illusion was a breath of fresh air and an oasis of freedom.
The cinema has recently undergone a major reconstruction and modernization. The premises were equipped with modern technology, but most of the elements of luxurious authentic interiors were preserved: carved columns, massive bronze lamps, Art Deco chandeliers, rich stucco on the walls.
One of the most unusual movie theaters in the city has an amazing repertoire. Only here you can watch archival newsreels of bygone years, little-known documentaries and feature films, retrospectives, night movie marathons, art-house films of domestic and foreign production, including in the original language with subtitles, absolutely free of charge. To get to a free movie screening, you just need to register on the official website of the movie theater.
House of N. V. Gogol
Gogol’s House on Nikitsky Boulevard is a museum of the classic with an interesting exhibition and a working scientific library with a huge collection of rare books. The 18th-century city estate itself is a wonderful historical and cultural monument with partially preserved authentic interiors in the Empire style and a recreated environment in which the writer lived from 1848 to 1852.
The collection of the house-museum includes several thousand exhibits: works of art, items of noble life, personal belongings of the writer, engravings, lithographs, documents and much more. The exhibition is organized in an unusual way: here classic museum techniques are combined with modern multimedia technologies, thanks to which each excursion turns into an original interactive performance.
Gogol’s House is a unique information and educational center with established traditions. One of the most popular regular events are free film Wednesdays, which include fascinating lectures with the demonstration of rare films and newsreels. By becoming a participant, you will be able to learn the history of your favorite film, interesting facts from the biographies of famous actors, screenwriters and directors.
Center for Contemporary Art “WINZAVOD”
In 2007, one of the most interesting centers of contemporary art in Russia and the largest exhibition venue in Moscow opened on the territory of the old brewery “Moscow Bavaria”. Immediately after the launch of the art project, the halls of the old enterprise were used only to display the works of photographers, artists, sculptors and graphic artists. But after a few years, the potential of “Winzavod” was appreciated by musicians, poets and theatergoers.
Gradually, the complex turned into a huge creative space with its own developed infrastructure, galleries, shops, workshops and extraordinary catering establishments. For example, in the restaurant “Hitrye Lyudi” you can try dishes of the author’s cuisine and find partners for board games. Lovers of poetry gather in the cafe “Tsurum”, where author readings and creative evenings are also held.
The center has a school of digital and visual arts, a dance studio DanceOpions, a school of collectors, the Academy of Communications and other interesting educational institutions.
The Winzavod has original exhibition halls with telling names: the Big Reservoir, a space for demonstrating video art; the Red Workshop, a photography gallery; and the White Workshop, an exhibition of the latest technological equipment. The Vintage and Lecture Halls, the Fermentation Workshop, the Hangar, and many separate galleries are also open here.
Cosmonautics Museum at VDNKh
One of the largest scientific and technical museums in Russia operates in the stylobate of the monument “To the Conquerors of Space”. Eight exhibition halls house about 100 thousand unique exhibits dedicated to the history of space exploration, the stages of development and the present of this industry.
The collection includes simulators – analogues of the training equipment used to train astronauts, samples of rocket and space technology, decorative and applied art items, rare coins and stamps, material relics and other remarkable artifacts.
Of particular interest to visitors are: an interactive simulator of the rendezvous and docking of spacecraft, a virtual copy of the International Space Station, the Buran rocket cabin with a panoramic video review and a realistic mobility system, a mini-mission control center. Guests can independently dock the Soyuz spacecraft with the ISS, resolve an emergency situation on board the ship and examine the station’s compartments.
Interesting interactive programs have been developed especially for children: “House in Orbit”, “Space for Kids”, “Living Planet” and many others. The museum has a club called “Space Squad”, where schoolchildren listen to interesting lectures, learn about the life of astronauts during a flight and get answers to any questions on the topic.
State Darwin Museum
The largest natural history museum in Europe was opened in 1907 by biology professor Kots. The first exhibition was based on the scientist’s personal collection of rare stuffed animals. Initially, the museum occupied several rooms in the building of the Higher Women’s Courses. Now the collection includes about 400 thousand storage units and is located in a large house on Vavilov Street with a total area of 5,000 square meters.
All exhibits tell about the diversity of life forms, heredity and variability of species, the process of evolution, the struggle for existence and natural selection. Here you can see the remains of long-extinct birds and animals, collections of rare minerals and living insects. Several halls of the museum are occupied by works by outstanding animal painters and sculptors.
At the beginning of this century, computer technologies began to be introduced into the exhibition system, thanks to which, for example, visitors can see dinosaurs in dynamics and hear the sounds they make. The exhibition complex with the exposition “Walk the Path of Evolution” contains a digital planetarium, a greenhouse, an insectarium, an educational laboratory, 4D and 5D attractions. At the entrance there is a paleopark with life-size figures – on this site you will get acquainted with a cave lion, a mastodon, a mammoth, an amurosaurus and other extinct representatives of the fauna.
To have a great vacation in Moscow and get a lot of vivid impressions, sometimes all you need is desire and some free time. We hope that the review we have prepared will help you plan your route and go on a fascinating walk around the beautiful multifaceted city.
We have included in our list objects and attractions that will be interesting to adults and children, people interested in art and history, technology, architecture and picturesque views. You can devote a day off to getting to know old estates or walk around museums, see monasteries or stroll through beautiful parks – and all this is completely free!