Red Square

About this place

Red Square is one of the oldest and largest squares in Moscow, in the historic heart of the city along the eastern walls of the Kremlin. It covers almost 73,000 square metres, 330 metres long and 70 metres wide. It is the capital's most prominent landmark, on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1990, and the city's best-known buildings look onto it. Over its history the square has seen executions, demonstrations, riots, parades and speeches. A moat once separated it from the Kremlin and was paved over in 1812. Today the GUM building and the old Kitay-gorod district bound it to the north-east, the State Historical Museum and the Resurrection Gate to the north-west, and Saint Basil's Cathedral to the south-east. You stand on paving of small dark stone, facing the red Kremlin wall, its green-topped towers and a row of blue spruces. At one end rises the Historical Museum with its red towers, and at the other the bright domes of Saint Basil's. Along the long side runs the pale front of GUM, lit by thousands of bulbs in the evening. Saint Basil's and GUM are steps away, and the Kremlin under half a kilometre in a straight line. The square or parts of it may close for official events, and there are security checks at the entrances. Early morning is calmest for photos, and evening is finest with the lights. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Russia, and non-Russian bank cards may not work, so read the current advice before you plan.