The capital of Russie, Moscow boasts extraordinary cultural wealth, and one could easily spend weeks exploring without seeing everything. Its unparalleled Orthodox architecture, its Kremlins, and its parks are breathtakingly beautiful. Yet Moscow is also home to an impressive number of museums that are absolutely worth a visit, whether your day brings rain or sunshine. Here are some museums, among more than 400, to explore during a stay in Moscow :

Arts and Culture

Moscow houses some of the world's finest art collections, which are truly not to be missed during your visit !

The Tretyakov Gallery

To discover Russian art and its history, there's nothing quite like the Tretyakov Gallery. Originally a private collection, the Tretyakov Gallery has become the world's largest museum of Russian art ! It houses over 150,000 works, ranging from traditional icons to the greatest modern canvases. Room after room, you discover the history of great Russie through paintings and sculptures, a history captured in the brushstrokes of the greatest masters.

The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts

Vast museum of Moscow, the Pushkin Museum rivals the world's greatest institutions. The Pushkin Museum houses a vast collection of art from all periods and around the world. It is therefore not the ideal museum for discovering Russian art, but if you love art in general, it's essential. You'll find both French Impressionists and sculptures from Ancient Egypt, among others. With over 300,000 works, this museum contains true masterpieces signed by the greatest artists.

Garage

To see contemporary Russian art, head to the Garage Museum. This vast hangar situated in the heart of Gorky Park, one of the city's most renowned spaces, hosts rotating exhibitions. It's a wonderful opportunity to understand today's Russie, the alternative and artistic Russie.

History

As the historical heart of Russie, Moscow also houses many museums that allow you to discover the eras of the tsars and the Soviet Union. Perfect for history enthusiasts...

The Gulag Museum

This small Moscow museum inspires humility in its visitors. The Museum of Gulag History, located in the heart of the Russian capital within a courtyard, is surely the best place to immerse yourself in this dark chapter of Soviet history. Outside, barbed wire and photographs of victims set the tone for the visit. Inside, photos, videos, and various objects allow you to relive this period of internment. It's a truly compelling museum to understand this system of camps under Soviet rule.

The State History Museum

More traditional, the State History Museum stands at the entrance to Red Square in an imposing building. An official museum, it traces the history of great Russie and its rulers through period objects and paintings. This museum is particularly recommended for lovers of Russian and monarchical history.

The Armory Palace

Within the walls of the Kremlin, the Armory Palace is a true gateway into the lifestyle of the Tsars. You can see weapons and armor, precious stones, tsars' clothing, and of course the famous collection of Fabergé eggs.

The Museum of Cosmonautics

If you're a dreamer, Moscow's Museum of Cosmonautics should appeal to you. Another original museum about the Soviet Union, this museum traces the race to space during the Cold War and displays a model of Sputnik, among other things. Part of the exhibition is notably dedicated to Gagarin, the first man in space ! A true voyage through time and beyond the planet, literally.

Unusual and Quirky

In addition to well-known classical museums found around the world, Moscow is home to many far more original museums, perfect for curious travelers seeking an unusual experience.

Bunker 42

If you love history and adventure, nothing beats a visit to Bunker 42. Under Soviet rule, leaders had constructed numerous bunkers beneath Moscow to shelter the population, particularly in case of nuclear war. Bunker 42 is one of the most impressive and the only one open to the public. Spanning 18 levels, this enormous structure was designed to shelter 5,000 people in case of war. Everything was prepared to house these refugees for at least six months. A veritable underground city, Bunker 42 also houses the first Soviet nuclear bomb and some aircraft models. 

The House-Museum of Painter Viktor Vasnetsov

Viktor Vasnetsov is one of the most renowned painters in Russie. In a colorful style instantly recognizable, the painter illustrated numerous Russian fairy tales. This love for legends is also reflected in Viktor Vasnetsov's way of life. The painter had constructed in the heart of Moscow an isba, a traditional Russian wooden house, complete with a colorful roof. Today, this house has become a small museum dedicated to the painter, where you can admire furniture designed by the artist himself, family photographs and paintings, in addition to entering a traditional isba. In the attic, you discover the painter's studio and several of his immense canvases.

The Roerich Museum

Little known, the Nicolas Roerich Museum is nonetheless one of our favorites. This legendary Russian painter has paintings that are quite unique, with distinctive forms and colors. His night skies shine as brightly as real stars, and his mountain peaks are as dizzying as true mountains. Nicolas Roerich was both painter and philosopher. A great traveler, he visited the Himalayas numerous times, a theme reflected in most of his works. A museum visit is like a world tour, a journey to the heart of the most beautiful landscapes but also a deep meditation shared with Roerich. Mysticism and spirituality blend with this fantastic nature and invite the viewer on an inward journey. It was Roerich who initiated the "Pact of Peace", for the protection of cultural property in times of war.

The Museum of Soviet Arcade Games

There's no other museum where you'll have as much fun as the Museum of Soviet Arcade Games. Here, you journey through history to find yourself in the heart of the USSR through unusual objects: arcade machines. During your visit, you'll feel like a Soviet citizen in the mid-20th century. Upon arrival, you're given old rubles, which serve as tokens to try the games. Basketball, battleship, shooting games, and more are among the many restored arcade machines that make this superb museum. Because here, you don't just watch—you can play ! You can even refresh yourself with a Soviet lemonade... In short, a genuine return to the past in good spirits !