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Red Square — Red Square with the State Historical Museum and crowds crossing the pavingPhoto: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0 · edited
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Red Square

Squares & fountains ·Moscow
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About

Red Square, Moscow's most prominent landmark, is a long open square in the historic centre beside the Kremlin wall.

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Red Square — State Historical Museum facing the open expanse of Red Square xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0 · edited
Red Square — State Historical Museum facing the open expanse of Red SquareRed Square — Aerial view over Red Square with St Basil’s Cathedral and Kremlin wallsRed Square — View across Red Square toward the Kremlin towers and St Basil’s CathedralRed Square — St Basil’s Cathedral at the edge of Red SquareRed Square — Kremlin wall and Spasskaya Tower opposite St Basil’s CathedralRed Square — State Historical Museum facade overlooking Red SquareRed Square — Kremlin’s red tower and crenellated wall beside Red SquareRed Square — Kazan Cathedral facade on Red SquareRed Square — Crowds watch beams of light above Red Square at nightRed Square — Blue lights and mist fill Red Square during an evening eventRed Square — Crowds gather beneath illuminated displays in Red Square

Why go

  • Saint Basil's Cathedral closes the square's southern side, its nine towers topped with brightly painted onion domes.
  • Lenin's Mausoleum, standing in the middle of the square against the Kremlin wall.
  • The GUM department store on the eastern side, with three passages under a glass roof of around 60,000 panes.
  • The Lobnoye Mesto platform, where royal decrees were read out to the people.
  • The Victory Day Parade, held here every year since 1995 to mark the defeat of Nazi Germany.

Don't miss

  • Minin and Pozharsky monumentBronze monument to Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky by Ivan Martos, weighing 20 tons and paid for by donations.In front of Saint Basil's Cathedral. On the map
  • Resurrection GateBuilt in 1680; the gate in place today is a 1996 replica, one of two entrances from the north-west.North-west end of the square, beside the State Historical Museum. On the map
  • The Kremlin wallThe long wall runs along the square's south-west side, from north-west to south-east.Along the south-west side of the square. On the map

Interesting facts5

1/5

  1. The cobblestones that pave the square are black, not red, despite its name.

    Moscow/Central - Wikivoyage (see)

  2. The name comes from an older meaning of the Russian word krasniy, which meant 'beautiful'.

    Moscow/Central - Wikivoyage (see)
  3. 1993

    The Kazan Cathedral on the square's corner is a replica dating from 1993.

    Red Square - Wikipedia
  4. 4.5 million

    The State Historical Museum holds around 4.5 million exhibits on Russian history, in 16 departments.

    Red Square - Wikipedia

  5. Soviet-era plans existed to demolish Saint Basil's Cathedral to make way for a larger square.

    Red Square - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

The square grew out of a market. By the 16th century it was a large bazaar, with goods from across the country and abroad. Its present architectural ensemble was largely completed in the early 20th century. The square and the Kremlin became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990. In 1612 Prince Dmitry Pozharsky entered the Kremlin through the square after the Polish army was expelled.

  1. 1493A great fire prompts moving the markets out of the fortress onto the square.
  2. 1561The present Saint Basil's Cathedral is completed, built on the moat under Ivan IV.
  3. 1918The Bolsheviks close Saint Basil's Cathedral and execute its head.
  4. 1919The square becomes the official address of the Soviet government and the showcase for military parades.
  5. 1924Lenin's Mausoleum is built on the square after Lenin's death.
Show all
  1. 1930sKazan Cathedral, the Iverskaya Chapel and the Resurrection Gates are demolished to make room for military vehicles.
  2. 1945Banners of defeated Nazi armies are thrown at the foot of Lenin's Mausoleum during the Victory Parade.
  3. 2008Military vehicles parade on the square in May, the first time since the USSR collapsed in 1991.

Tips for your visit

  • Start at the northwest end, by the State Historical Museum and the Resurrection Gate, and walk toward Saint Basil's Cathedral.
  • The square is about 330 metres long and 70 metres wide, with the Kremlin wall along its south-west side.
  • Saint Basil's Cathedral is now mainly a museum.
  • Tverskaya Street begins just behind the State Historical Museum, at the northwest end.
  • A slope on the southeast side leads down to the Moskva River and a bridge to Zamoskvorechye.

Best time to visit

  • A temporary ice rink, for up to 500 skaters, has been built on the square each winter since 2006.

Know before you go

  • The whole square is a pedestrian zone, except the access road to the Savior Gate.
  • The square may be closed for special events.
  • For New Year's Eve 2016 the authorities closed the square to the public.

How to get there

  • TrainThe metro stations Ohotnii Ryad, Teatralnaya and Ploshad Revolutsii serve the square.

Sources: Red Square - Wikipedia · Moscow/Central - Wikivoyage (see) · Roter Platz - Wikipedia · Place Rouge - Wikipedia · Красная площадь - Wikipedia · checked 17 Oct 2026

Where
Red Square, Moscow

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

Is the GUM department store on Red Square the best-known shopping centre in Russia?

Yes. GUM, on the square's eastern side, is the best-known shopping centre in Russia.

Has Red Square been the scene of executions and speeches?

Yes. Executions, demonstrations, riots, parades and speeches have all taken place on the square.

Have famous bands performed on Red Square?

Yes. Linkin Park, Shakira, Scorpions and Paul McCartney have all performed on the square.

Did Napoleon try to blow up Saint Basil's Cathedral on Red Square?

Legend says Napoleon ordered the cathedral blown up in 1812. The story goes that a downpour put out the fuses.

Have foreign troops paraded on Red Square?

Yes. Troops from France, the United Kingdom and the United States marched on the square in 2010, the first time they had done so.

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