A Bird’s Eye View of Moscow, Where to See? Observation Decks in Moscow, Russia

What is the highest observation deck in Moscow? Where can I get the best view of the Kremlin? Which observation decks have free binoculars? Our selection encompasses the best views in Moscow that you can find on multi-story buildings, skyscrapers, a TV tower, a museum, bridges, and other observation points. All prices displayed are valid as of August 2013. 

The most famous observation deck in Moscow is in Vorobyov Hills. There you can catch a glimpse of Luzhniki Stadium, The Seven Sisters, and the skyscrapers of MoskvaCity Center, which you can look at through a pair of binoculars absolutely free. Working nearby also at Vorobyov Hills is a small cable-railway and in the evenings you can check out sports cars and motorcycles near the deck. If you decide to visit Vorobyov Hills in the summer, you will see a lot of racers and bikers.

 

 

You can catch a glimpse of the historic center of Moscow from another point of view on the Science Academy observation deck on Leninsky Prospect (Muscovites normally call the building “Golden Brain”). Also on the 22^nd floor of the building, you can have a meal at Sky Lounge. You can get an eyeful of Moscow from up high and get your tank filled at the same time at one of the restaurants and the Radisson Royal (formerly Ukraine Hotel). The highest one, which is located on the 29^th and 30^th floors Buono Italian Restaurant where they do entertainment programs for children on the weekends.

 

 

One more panoramic restaurant called Sixty is open on the 62^nd floor of Federation Western Tower Complex in Moskva City on the Presnenskaya Embankment. Also, certain Moscow tour agencies organize walking tours throughout the floors of the tower at a height of 300 meters.

You can get to Temple of Jesus the Savior observation deck while on a tour or without one. The temple features observation decks at a height of 40 meters with a beautiful view of the bridges over the Moscow River and the Kremlin. Admission to the observation deck starts at 170 rubles for schoolchildren and at 390 for adults (the ticket will be more expensive on a museum tour).

Moscow Kremlin visitors also have the opportunity to go up 25 meters to the observation deck of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. From there you get a view of the Kremlin Square Cathedral. Tours are held at certain times every day and you can find out when by checking their site: belltower.kreml.ru. Kids less than 12 years old aren’t allowed on the bell tower, adult admission costs 500 rubles, and kids and student admission costs 250 rubles.

 

 

You should check out the view of the Moscow River, the Kremlin, and the Temple of Jesus the Savior at the Bolshoi Moskvoretsky Bridge at the Vasilevsky Slope. You’ll get the best view of the Kremlin from the Borovitskaya Tower angle at the Bolshoi Stone Bridge and you can see the White House and embankment in front of it quite well from the Borodinsky Bridge.

Picturesque Cable Bridge on Krasnopresnensky Prospect is a great place to peer down at the Pine Forest, Krylatsky Hills, and Moscow River from. And the pedestrian bridge Bogdan Khmelnitsky is a great place to see the Kievsky Train Station, the Novodevichy Monastery, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Moscow State University buildings from.

You can find the highest observation deck in Moscow at Ostanskaya Tower 337 meters above the ground. It features an open deck at a height of 340 meters, which works only during the good weather season from May to October. There are binoculars installed on the closed deck and aside from tours you can jump around on the sturdy transparent floor. You won’t be able to go up the tower for a while, however: they are doing a reconstruction as of July 16, 2013 and it is closed to visitors until the end of 2014.

 

 

Ferris wheels in Moscow

The biggest Ferris wheel in the city is Moscow 850 with a height of 73 meters, which is located in the All-Russian Exhibition Center. You can ride it from April until October and the closed cabin tickets cost 300 rubles, while the open cabins cost 350. Children under 16 years old can go for a ride on the Ferris wheel only if they are accompanied by an adult.

Working in the summer of 2013 in Moscow is a total of four Ferris wheels: Moscow 850 in the All-Russian Exhibition Center, the Ferris wheel in Sokolniki, and two more in Izmaylovsky Park. In Izmaylovsky Park, you can ride on a 50-meter Ferris wheel (150 rubles for adults and 50 rubles for kids under 6 years old) or an attraction with a height of about 20 meters (100 rubles for adults and 50 rubles for kids under 7 years old).

 

 

Photos: wikipedia.org, ginzaproject.ru/moscow/Restaurants/Bono, belltower.kreml.ru, tvtower.ru, vk.com/izm.park