The Bolshoi Theatre Moscow is the largest theater in Russia. It is also the most famous, although the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg is also fairly well known. We have already seen ballets and operas several times in Moscow, still at the Bolshoi. In this blog post, I will explain how to find guided tours to visit Bolshoi, how to buy tickets for the Bolshoi Theatre ballet in Moscow from the official website (so, no commission), but also what is the Bolshoi Theatre dress code.
Visit Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow: Bolshoi Theatre guided tours
The Bolshoi Theatre organizes a guided tour on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. The visit lasts 1 hour and the group can accommodate up to 20 people. Tickets for the visit to the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow can be purchased on the day of the visit, at the theater box office, at door 12. Finally, the visit costs 2,000 rubles per person, just under € 30.
- Guided tours in Russian start at 11:00 a.m., in English at 11:30 a.m.
Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow: Schedule of Performances & things to know
The schedule of the Bolshoi Theatre and the performances are changing. However, there are always classics: The Nutcracker in winter, and a Mozart in any season.
To see the program, consult the schedule of performances.
There are 3 performance halls:
- the historic hall (“Historic Stage“)
- the new hall (“New Stage“)
- the Beethoven hall (“Beethoven Hall“).
- If you go to the Bolshoi to also see the interior of the historic hall, watch the shows that mention “Historic Stage”. The shows are put on sale about 3 months before the performance.
Some tips! If you go to the Bolshoi to also see the interior of the historic hall, watch the shows that mention “Historic Stage”. The shows are put on sale about 3 months before the performance.
When to buy tickets for the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow?
As soon as possible, 3 months before the show. Tickets generally go on sale 90 days before the performance. Places sell out very quickly for certain shows (The Nutcracker, for example). But also sometimes (clearly not in December) it is also possible to get seats at the last minute at the theater ticket office.
How to get to the Bolshoi Theatre Moscow?
It’s simple! The Bolshoi is in the heart of the city, 2 steps from Red Square and the Kremlin.
By metro, stop at “Teatralnaya” station on the green line and follow the “Bolshoi Theatre exit” exit. From the red line, get off at the station “Okhotnyi ryad” and follow the exit “Theater Square exit”. Overall, the metro in Moscow is fast. If you need to know how it works, check this blog post: Public transport in Moscow.
Attend a performance at Bolshoi Theatre: dress code, snacks, when to arrive?
Also plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the performance, especially in winter when you will have to put your coat in the cloakroom (free).
There is no official Bolshoi Theater dress code. Some women are wearing long dresses, but it is however an exception. A simple jean is ok. Just avoid to wear t-shirt, shorts and “very chill” dresses.
Good to know! Before the show and during the intermissions, there are several small bars that sell drinks, salty and sweet. Our thing is to have a Philadelphia, Cucumber, Salmon toast. It’s fresh and good.
Where to buy tickets for the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow?
It is possible to buy a live ticket for the Bolshoi Theatre from:
- Internet, on the official website bolshoi.ru
- The Theatre box office. But if you don’t speak Russian, it might be complicated. There is also a cash desk in the Goum shopping center on Red Square.
Buy on the official web site. There are many websites which are reselling Bolshoi Theatre tickets, but with additional commission. Be sure to buy tickets on the official Bolshoi Theatre website. Find below how to do it step by step.
How to buy tickets for the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow online?
For this step-by-step guide, we will take the example of someone who wants to buy 2 tickets for the Moscow Bolshoi Theatre for the representation of “Un Ballo in Maschera“, Tuesday April 24, 2018 at 7 p.m., on the Historic stage.
Buying a ticket to the Bolshoi Theatre is quiet simple. However, you should know that you will need to pay by bank card in rubles at the end.
Before buying step 1: Create a customer account
Like many online purchases, it is necessary to create an account on the Bolshoi Theatre site. To do this, go to the Bolshoi website.
You will need:
- an email address
- your name
- your first name
- a phone number
Also, uncheck the last box to avoid receiving advertising.
Validate by clicking on “Save” and it’s done. You will receive a few minutes after an email from the Bolshoi to confirm the creation of the account and also giving you a password.
Before buying step 2: Be connected
To make it easier to take tickets, it is best to log in immediately with your customer account. To do this, go to this page. You will then need the password received by email.
Step 1: Choose the performance
To see the Bolshoi Theatre schedule of performances for which tickets are still on sale, we will go to this page.
To continue, click on “Buy Tickets” opposite the show that interests us.
Good to know! The mention “Adults Only” does not mean that it is an NSFW representation. 🙂 It is simply to say that children are not allowed in the room to guarantee a certain calm.
Step 2: Choose the place of your tickets to the Moscow Bolshoi
You should now see a plan of the room. The places with a green outline are those available. The gray seats are already reserved.
By hovering the mouse over an available space, you can see its price. For example: “Price: 7200 rub” indicates that the place you are on costs 7200 rubles.
To choose one or more places, click on it!
When you are finished, you can see the tickets for the Moscow Bolshoi you have chosen above the floor plan. They are displayed in yellow on the map. The total price is displayed on the left, always above the floor plan (here: 14,400 rubles). To continue, you must then click on the blue “Complete your booking” button.
There may also be an “I’m not a robot” captcha to validate so that we can proceed to the next step.
Step 3: Confirm the selection
You now have a reminder of your order for Bolshoi Theatre Moscow tickets. You can check the show, the date, the reserved places and the total tickets price.
To continue, click on the blue “Continue” button.
Step 4: Give the ticket holders
From now on, places will be allocated to you for 30 minutes. You have 30 minutes to complete the order and pay by credit card. You will receive a message telling you that the order is made but will be canceled if you do not pay.
On this page, you are now asked the names of the people to appear on the tickets. Remember to check the box indicating you approve the general conditions of sale.
We continue by clicking on the blue “Continue” button. A popup opens, telling you that you must print your electronic tickets before coming to the theater. A second popup then reminds you of the expiration date of your order if you do not pay on time.
Step 5: Pay by credit card
It’s time to pay for the Bolshoi Theatre Moscow tickets! Enter your credit card information:
- Bank card number
- Name and first name of the holder
- The expiration date (in MM / YY form)
- The cryptogram
As always at this location, verify that you are on a secure site. Payment is made in rubles. Your bank may charge you additional fees for this type of transaction, which is why I always pay with my Revolut card, with no exchange fees.
When you are ready, continue by clicking on “PAY” at the bottom left.
Step 6: Print your tickets
If the payment went well, you will receive two emails. First, the card payment receipt. Second, the booking confirmation, with a link to download your electronic tickets. Click on the link after “e-tickets” and you can then print your tickets.
Now you know how to buy tickets for Bolshoi, where it is located and how to get there, what is the dress code inside the Bolshoi Theatre Moscow, and also how to find a guided tour! Hope this blog post will be helpful!
Other travel tips for Moscow:
- Kremlin: plan, tickets, opening hours and our tips to visit Kremlin!
- Where to stay in Moscow?
- Airport transfer: how to get to Moscow or to the airport?
