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| Artist's impression of Red Square, with St. Basil's Cathedral, GUM department store, and the Kremlin wall in view |
Long before it had a name, Red Square was just empty ground — cleared by fire on the order of a tsar who feared his own capital would burn down. Five centuries later, that same empty ground is the most famous square on Earth.
For travelers from the US, Canada, and Europe planning a trip to Moscow, Red Square is almost always the first stop. It sits at the very center of the city, and its story stretches back more than 500 years — through tsars, revolutions, and the rise and fall of the Soviet Union. Here is everything you need to know before you go.
How Red Square Began
In 1493, Tsar Ivan III — known as Ivan the Great — ordered all the wooden buildings outside the Kremlin walls to be burned down. This was not an attack. It was a safety measure. Wooden buildings caught fire easily, and fires often spread into the Kremlin itself. Clearing the area created an open, empty space that could act as a firebreak.
That empty space became Moscow's main marketplace. In its early years, people even called it Pozhar, meaning "the burned place."
By the 1500s and 1600s, Russian tsars used this open square to announce royal decrees to the public. It had become the heart of the city, both for trade and for public life.
Where the Name "Red Square" Comes From
In the 1660s, the square was officially named Krasnaya Ploshchad. In old Russian, "krasnaya" meant "beautiful." Over time, the same word came to mean the color red in modern Russian — which is why the square is known worldwide today as "Red Square," even though its original name simply meant "beautiful square."
Did you know? Red Square was never named after communism or the Soviet flag. The name is centuries older than the Soviet Union — it comes from an old Russian word for "beautiful."
A Century of Change: From Tsars to the Soviet Union
In 1555–1561, Tsar Ivan the Terrible built St. Basil's Cathedral at the square to celebrate a military victory over the Khanate of Kazan. This gave Red Square a religious importance that lasted for centuries.
After the 1917 revolution, Red Square became the symbolic center of the Soviet Union. It was used for huge military parades, including displays of tanks and missiles, to mark holidays like May Day and the anniversary of the October Revolution.
In 1924, after the death of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin, his embalmed body was placed in a special mausoleum built beside the Kremlin wall. It remains there today, and visitors can still see it.
In 1941, as Nazi German forces approached Moscow, Soviet soldiers famously marched through Red Square in a parade — then marched straight from the square to the front lines of battle.
In 1990, just before the Soviet Union collapsed, UNESCO named Red Square and the Kremlin a World Heritage Site.
Landmarks You'll See on Red Square
| Landmark | What It Is |
|---|---|
| St. Basil's Cathedral | Famous onion-domed Orthodox cathedral, built 1555–1561 by Ivan the Terrible |
| Kremlin Wall & Spasskaya Tower | The Kremlin's red-brick wall and its main clock tower, facing Red Square |
| Lenin's Mausoleum | Granite pyramid holding Lenin's preserved body, open to visitors since 1924 |
| State Historical Museum | Grand red building at the north end, home to millions of historical artifacts |
| GUM Department Store | 19th-century glass-roofed shopping mall, still open today |
| Kazan Cathedral | Small golden-domed church, destroyed by Stalin in 1936 and rebuilt in 1993 |
| Tomb of the Unknown Soldier | Memorial to Soviet soldiers lost in World War II, with an eternal flame |
What Red Square Is Used For Today
Red Square is no longer just a historical site — it's a living public space. Besides military parades, it now hosts rock concerts, fashion shows, and a popular outdoor ice rink every winter. It remains fully open to visitors, free of charge, at almost any time of year.
Planning a Visit
Red Square is easy to reach by Moscow's metro system, one of the busiest and most efficient in the world. The closest stations are Ploshchad Revolyutsii, Okhotny Ryad, and Teatralnaya — all within a short walk of the square.
If you're planning a trip, don't miss the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier nearby — one of the most memorable free experiences in Moscow. (Read our full guide on how to see it and how to get there.)
Looking for more guides to Russian history, culture, and travel? Keep exploring Visit in Russia for more stories like this one.
FAQ
Why is it called Red Square if it's not communist?
The name comes from the old Russian word "krasnaya," which meant "beautiful," not the color red. The name existed long before the Soviet Union.
Is Red Square free to visit?
Yes. Walking through Red Square is free and open to the public every day.
Is Lenin's body really on display?
Yes. Lenin's preserved body has been on public display in the mausoleum beside the Kremlin wall since 1924.