Russia · 2026 itinerary
Moscow 3-Day Itinerary
A day-by-day plan for Moscow: the best attractions in order, where to eat, how to get around — with free hotel briefings for your stay.
Arrive & Explore the Highlights
Not strictly an attraction, but a self-guided tour of several ornate Soviet-era metro stations. Stations like Komsomolskaya, Mayakovskaya, and Novoslobodskaya are free to enter with a single ticket (5
🕐 Daily 05:30–01:00
Free entry💡 Buy a single-use ticket rather than a Troika card if you're only doing a few stations. Avoid rush hour (8–10am, 5–7pm) for photos. The best station for sheer scale is Ploshchad Revolyutsii.
Hotels near Moscow Metro Tour →The vast cobbled plaza at Moscow's historic core, flanked by St. Basil's Cathedral, the Kremlin walls, and GUM department store. Entry to the square itself is free.
🕐 24/7, outdoor only
Free entry💡 Go at sunrise or late evening to avoid crowds. The nearby Alexander Garden has free entry and changing of the guard at 10:00 and 18:00.
Hotels near Red Square →Vasilchuki Chaihona №1 · ££
Спорт-бар Торнадо · ££
Deeper Into Moscow
A large riverside park with modern pathways, free public art, and skate rentals. In winter, the entire park becomes a free ice-skating rink if you bring your own skates.
🕐 Park 24/7; facilities 10:00–22:00
💡 Rent a bike or rollerblades for about 300–500 rubles per hour. The Muzeon Art Park next door has a huge collection of Soviet statues, free to walk through.
A high viewpoint opposite the Luzhniki Stadium, offering a panoramic sweep of the Moscow skyline, including the Kremlin, Stalinist skyscrapers, and the Moskva River.
🕐 24/7
💡 Take the metro to Vorobyovy Gory station and walk up the escalator-free path. Come at sunset for golden light on the city. The nearby Sparrow Hills Park has free walking trails.
Тануки
Salden's Taphouse
Final Favourites & Departure
Russia's premier collection of pre-20th century art, housed in a striking red-and-white building. The permanent collection includes iconic works by Repin, Ivano
💡 Admission is free on the first Sunday of each month. Queue up 30 minutes before opening to avoid waiting. Audio guide costs 400 rubles but is worth it.
Com
Шоколадница
Getting Around Moscow
Use Yandex Go rather than airport taxi desks to avoid massive surcharges. Choose Comfort class for reliable AC, especially in summer. Make sure the pickup point is correct—SVO has three terminals.
Buy tickets online or via app for 420 RUB (vs 500 at station). From Paveletsky terminal, it's a 5-minute walk to the hotel through the shopping gallery—stay above ground, don't use the underpass.
Tap either a Troika card or contactless bank card at the turnstile. Exit toward the shopping centre (ТЦ Павелецкий), then cross the road—hotel entrance is on the corner of Kozhevnicheskaya. Avoid the pedestrian underpass; it's grubby and needlessly long.
Use this only if your flight lands after midnight and you're on a budget. The bus runs all night but is slow—expect 70–90 minutes with stops. Same ticket as metro. Alight at 'Paveletsky Vokzal' stop, then walk 5 minutes south to the hotel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 3 days enough for Moscow?
Three days covers the main highlights well. You can see the key attractions like Moscow Metro Tour and get a genuine feel for the city. For a more leisurely pace or to explore neighbourhoods in depth, a 5-day trip is better.
What is the best time to visit Moscow?
See our full best time to visit Moscow guide — it covers weather month by month, peak vs. shoulder seasons and how to avoid the crowds.
Where should I stay for this itinerary?
A central location saves transit time between sites. Top options include Swissotel Красные холмы, Eurocity, Renaissance Moscow Monarch. See the full ranked list with free briefings for each.