Quote: The Kremlin is the main tourist attraction in Moscow and it has reason to be. Throughout history the Krelim has been the site for major political leaders of Russia to live in and rule from. The power of the Kremlin is still felt today when you are inside it by police situated everywhere to prevent anyone from straying to places in which they shouldn't be.

It is not possible to enter any of the government buildings at the Kremlin, however, there are many churches and cathedrals inside that visitors can explore. Be warned though your ticket only allows entrance to each of these places once so see everything you want to before you leave. Places which you can visit include the Assumption Cathedral, Annunciation Cathedral, Archangel's Cathedral, Ivan the Great Bell-Tower, Church of the Laying Our Lady's Holy Robe, Tsar Cannon and the Tsar Bell.

Also worth a look around are the Secret Gardens which are extremely beautiful. The Armoury is situated within the Kremlin also but getting tickets can be a nightmare. I couldn't get a ticket to enter alone so it is worthwhile taking part in an organised tour of this if you really want to see it.

Overall the Kremlin is a wonderful place to visit as you really do get a feeling of the power that has come from these buildings throughout history.

From journals 6 Weeks in Moscow

Quote: Now, I'm a bit suspicius of guides sometimes as it can be really expensive, and being a canny Scot, why spend money you don't have to! But on one of my visits to the Kremlin, with my mother who wanted (and paid for) a guide, I succumbed. There are lots of them, they hang around outside the entrance, so even if you're not with an offical party, you'll find one. Don't be afraid to haggle over price. The lady we got was absolutely fantastic, great English, knew her stuff, and I was so glad we'd hired her.

We went to the armoury, which is so much more than that! The old dresses are fantastic - and the Faberge eggs - the only place we saw them. The armour was good too, great for the boys!

The Kremlin, for beign the seat of government looks very like a museum - for one very good reason. Many of the government buildings are underground. As you come in, look in the glass fronted building to your right, and you'll see lots of escaltors going down into the earth. This is because, under Communism, it was not permitted to build any higher than the Cathedrals in the Kremlin (bizarre given the lack of respect for God, but true all the same).

Another interesting fact, this time not from the guide, is that the Red stars on the towers are lit all the time. They have only been switched off once in recent history when a famous Russian film director, Nikita Mikhalkov, was making an historical drama about pre-revolutionery Russia, the bright red stars would have been out of place. Other film directors dream about having the power to get something like that done, but no-one else could!

The Kremlin can work out very expensive if you go and see everything as you have to pay separately for entry to different buildings, like the Cathderals, Armoury, and so on. But your entry ticket lets you wander around and see the Tsar Cannon and the Tsar bell, named for their size. The Tsar bell was broken before it ever rang, kind of a waste, but what can you do! The Cathderals are beautiful outside, but I didn't go in, so can't tell about them inside! There are lovely gardens, and a great view of the river - over to the British Embassy where they used to lie on the roof to spy on the Kremlin - and Red Square, not to mention the rest of Moscow.

From journals Awe-inspiring Moscow

Quote: The Kremlin is an absolute "must see" attraction. Allow yourself as much time as possible for a tour. I have been there 4 or 5 times and still have not seen it all. The Kremlin is a walled compound somewhat like a fort. The admission for the Kremlin is relative inexpensive. You can buy individual admission for the cathederals at the door if you want to go inside. The individual cathederal admission is inexpensive as well. In the center of the Kremlin is Cathederal Square. Most of the buildings on the square are, as you may have guessed, cathederals. Each of the cathederals are unique. The intricate frescoes and paintings date back centuries in most cases. Over the years the monks had painted over the the paintings to protect them from damage when the Kremlin was under seige from foreign intruders. Much of the late 20th century was spent uncovering the artwork and restoring it. Some of the cathederals are small and, quite frankly, do not house anything but patriarch's tombs.

The most interesting sight at the Kremlin for me was the State Armoury. It is the oldest museum in Russia. The entrance fee was around 10 dollars. This museum holds Russia's national treasures. The Armoury was fascinating because of the variety and the outright priceless nature of the items displayed. Russian art, centuries old armour and weapons, spoils of war, gifts presented to the Tsars, thrones used by the Tsars, riding equipment(one entire room is dedicated to carriages and coaches), gowns and crowns worn by the royalty are just some of the treasures housed there.

You can also see the Emperor Cannon which was built in the 1500's and is the world's largest cannon. It is worth a quick look and makes a good place for a snapshot.

Also located in the Kremlin is the Emperor Bell. The bell is the world's largest bell (20 ft. tall.) It was built in the 1700's. It is worth a quick look and is also a good place to take a snapshot.

The residence of the president of the Russian Federation is also there (no public admission.)

At the entrance to the Kremlin (where they sell tickets) is also a good place to buy t-shirts from street vendors.

From journals Weekend in Moscow

Quote: The Moscow Kremlin is the center of the city. To get here by public transportation you can take the light green line to Teatral'naya, or the red line to Okhotny Ryad, or the dark blue line to Ploshchad Revolutsii. The Kremlin has been built and rebuilt since the time that Moscow was first mentioned in writing in 1147. It once had white walls. That was in 14th century. In the end of the 15th century Kremlin was totally rebuilt and most of its current appearance dates back to that time. This was the place of coronation of all the Russian tsars. The Kremlin has several museums and churches on its grounds. The Kremlin is built as a city inside the city. The walls and towers of red brick surround the perimeter. This is one of the best examples of the national Russian style of architecture. Inside there were some additions and removals since the 15th century. There are several building that date back to the 19th century and then there is the Palace of Congresses (a modern building - the addition of the 20th century). During Stalin's regime some of the churches were demolished but most are still intact. The Great Bell Tower, the one that's facing St. Basil's cathedral, chimes every hour. During the tsars, it used to chime "God save the tsar." During the Soviet regime, it was chiming the country hymn. The Red Square and Kremlin are adjacent and everybody has heard of the Lenin Mausoleum. The wall behind it is a large cemetery where all the former leaders of the country in the Soviet era and prominent figures like generals and diplomats are buried. In the next story we'll walk inside the walls.
From journals Travels to Russia - Moscow