# Arbat Street (Old Arbat), Moscow

> Arbat Street, or Old Arbat, is Moscow’s best-known pedestrian street — about 1.25 km of cobbles from Arbatskaya Square to Smolenskaya Square. It’s free and open around the clock. Walking it end to end takes about an hour; allow 1.5–2 hours with Pushkin’s flat and the Tsoi Wall. Nearest metro: Arbatskaya and Smolenskaya. Don’t mix it up with New Arbat, the avenue next door.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/arbat-street

- City: [Moscow](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow), Russia
- YesGo score: 50/100 (Yes, go)
- Time on site: 1 h
- Opening hours: The street is open 24/7 and free; Pushkin’s flat (Arbat 53): Wed, Fri–Sun 10:00–18:00, Thu 13:00–21:00, closed Mon and Tue
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Entry: Free, open 24/7
- Length: ≈ 1.25 km, Arbatskaya Square to Smolenskaya Square
- Metro: Arbatskaya (lines 3 and 4) at the start, Smolenskaya (lines 3 and 4) at the end
- Pushkin’s flat, Arbat 53: 400 ₽; ages 7–18, students, pensioners 200 ₽; under 7 free
- Pushkin’s flat hours: Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun 10:00–18:00, Thu 13:00–21:00; last tickets 30 min before closing
- Pushkin’s flat closed: Monday and Tuesday
- Andrei Bely’s flat, Arbat 55: 400 ₽, reduced 200 ₽; 600 ₽ together with Pushkin’s flat
- Melnikov House: Inside only on a Museum of Architecture tour; interiors have been closed for restoration
- Payment: Roubles in cash or a Russian card — Visa and Mastercard issued abroad don’t work in Russia
- Time needed: 1 hour for the walk, 1.5–2 hours with a museum
- Coordinates: 55.74917, 37.59056
- Facts checked: 29.10.2026

## Key facts

- **≈ 1.25 km** — of pedestrian street, from Arbatskaya Square to Smolenskaya Square (source: Russian Wikipedia, “Arbat” (1.2–1.3 km); Tonkosti and KudaGo guides)
- **1986** — Arbat reopened as a pedestrian street after the 1982–1986 rebuild (source: English and Russian Wikipedia, “Arbat Street”)
- **15th century** — first records of the name Arbat (Orbat) (source: Russian Wikipedia (1475); English Wikipedia (1493))
- **Arbat 53** — where Pushkin lived with Natalia Goncharova after their 1831 wedding; a museum since 1986 (source: Official website of the State Pushkin Museum; Russian Wikipedia)
- **1921** — Vakhtangov’s studio opened at No. 26 — the theatre has kept the address ever since (source: Official website of the Vakhtangov Theatre; mos.ru)
- **1990** — the wall of No. 37 on Krivoarbatsky Lane became the Tsoi Wall after Viktor Tsoi’s death (source: RBC Realty; Russian Wikipedia, “Arbat”)
- **1927–1929** — Konstantin Melnikov built his round house-studio at 10 Krivoarbatsky Lane (source: English and Russian Wikipedia, “Melnikov House”)
- **1997** — the Princess Turandot fountain by Alexander Burganov went up outside the theatre (source: Tonkosti guide; Snob; mos.ru)
- **Arbat 55** — the house where Andrei Bely grew up — now his memorial flat (source: Official website of the State Pushkin Museum; Russian Wikipedia)

## Is Arbat Street worth visiting?

Yes, on a first trip to Moscow. Arbat is a short, free walk that packs a lot in: the Vakhtangov Theatre, the Tsoi Wall, the extraordinary Melnikov House and the flat where Pushkin spent his honeymoon — plus a row of 19th-century houses that the avenue next door lost in the 1960s.

To be honest, the street itself is touristy: souvenir stalls, street promoters, chain cafés. The quiet, old Moscow you may be picturing lives in the side lanes — Sivtsev Vrazhek, Starokonyushenny, Denezhny — so step off the cobbles for ten minutes. Don’t come just for shopping.

Go on a weekday morning for empty façades and photos, or in the evening when the lamps are lit and buskers play. In December the street is decorated for New Year.

> **Old Arbat vs New Arbat: not the same street** Arbat, Arbat Street and Old Arbat are one and the same: the cobbled pedestrian street. New Arbat (Novy Arbat) is the wide, busy avenue running parallel to it, with traffic, 1960s tower blocks, malls and clubs. Both start by Arbatskaya metro, so check the street sign — you want the cobbles.

## What to see on Arbat Street

- **Praga restaurant building** (Arbat 2/1) — the ornate corner house on Arbatskaya Square where the walk begins.
- **Vakhtangov Theatre** (Arbat 26) and the gilded **Princess Turandot fountain** in front — the street’s classic photo stop.
- **The Tsoi Wall** — the side wall of No. 37 on Krivoarbatsky Lane, covered in fan graffiti for Soviet rock star Viktor Tsoi since 1990.
- **Melnikov House** (10 Krivoarbatsky Lane) — two interlocking cylinders with hexagonal windows, a 1920s avant-garde icon. You can see it from the lane, two minutes past the Tsoi Wall.
- **Bulat Okudzhava monument** by Georgy Frangulyan — the poet and singer who made Arbat famous in song, stepping out of an archway.
- **Pushkin’s flat** (Arbat 53), with a statue of Pushkin and Natalia Goncharova across the street.
- **Andrei Bely’s flat** (Arbat 55) — the Symbolist writer’s childhood home, next door to Pushkin’s.
- **The Foreign Ministry skyscraper** on Smolenskaya Square — one of Stalin’s Seven Sisters, closing the view at the end of the street.

## How to get to Arbat Street

1. For the start of the street, take the metro to **Arbatskaya**. There are two separate stations with that name — on the dark-blue line 3 (Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya) and the light-blue line 4 (Filyovskaya); both are 3–5 minutes’ walk from the Praga building.
2. The far end is **Smolenskaya**, again on lines 3 and 4, by the Foreign Ministry tower and Pushkin’s flat.
3. From [Red Square](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/red-square): one stop on line 3 from Ploshchad Revolyutsii to Arbatskaya, or a 20–25-minute walk via Manezhnaya Square, Mokhovaya and Vozdvizhenka streets.
4. From the [Cathedral of Christ the Saviour](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/cathedral-of-christ-the-saviour) it’s 12–15 minutes on foot along Gogolevsky Boulevard.
5. Walk it one way: start at Arbatskaya, finish at Smolenskaya and take the metro from there.
6. Metro signs carry Latin transliteration, so the station names above are what you’ll see underground.

## Pushkin’s flat and other museums: tickets and hours

The street is free; only the museums charge. The main one is the **Pushkin Memorial Flat** at Arbat 53: **400 ₽**, 200 ₽ for ages 7–18, students and pensioners, free under 7. It opens Wednesday, Friday and weekends 10:00–18:00 and Thursday 13:00–21:00; it’s **closed on Mondays and Tuesdays**.

Pushkin rented the upper floor here in early 1831 and spent the first three months of his marriage to Natalia Goncharova in it. The museum opened in 1986 and reopened in 2024 after a long renovation. An audio guide costs 300 ₽.

Next door, **Andrei Bely’s flat** at Arbat 55 is also 400 ₽, or 600 ₽ for both flats.

The **Vakhtangov Theatre** is one of Moscow’s leading drama companies; performances are in Russian, but a show here is a fine way to end an Arbat evening.

Don’t confuse the flat with the [Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/pushkin-museum) on Volkhonka — that’s the big art museum, about 15 minutes’ walk away.

## Souvenirs, cafés and street artists

Arbat is Moscow’s souvenir street: matryoshka dolls, fur hats, shawls, magnets. Prices are higher than elsewhere, so compare two or three shops before you buy.

Prices here are in roubles, and **Visa and Mastercard cards issued abroad don’t work in Russia** — bring cash roubles or a card from a Russian bank.

For lunch, the side lanes are calmer and cheaper than the café terraces on the street itself. Portrait artists sit mid-street: agree the price before you sit down.

Is Arbat safe at night? It’s busy and well lit until late. As in any crowded tourist street, keep your phone and wallet close and say no firmly to promoters.

## Before you go: checklist

- [ ] Heading to Old Arbat, not New Arbat
- [ ] Starting at Arbatskaya, finishing at Smolenskaya
- [ ] Pushkin’s flat: it isn’t Monday or Tuesday
- [ ] Cash roubles or a Russian card
- [ ] Comfortable shoes — the whole street is cobbled
- [ ] Price agreed before a portrait or a purchase

## Arbat vs Tverskaya Street vs Patriarch’s Ponds

|  | Old Arbat | Tverskaya Street | Patriarch’s Ponds |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What it is | Pedestrian street with museums and a theatre | Moscow’s main avenue, with traffic | A pond and quiet lanes with cafés |
| Cars | None | Yes, a wide avenue | Only in the side lanes |
| Entry | Free | Free | Free |
| Best for | First trip, families | Architecture, shopping | Evenings, cafés, Bulgakov fans |
| Time needed | 1–2 h | 1 h | 30–60 min |

For a first walk YesGo picks Arbat — the most sights in the shortest stretch. Walk [Tverskaya](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/tverskaya-street) from Red Square, and save [Patriarch’s Ponds](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/patriarch-ponds) for the evening.

## Moscow’s historic sights compared

Every historic place in Moscow rated by YesGo.

- [Red Square](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/red-square) — YesGo score 79/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free
- [Lenin's Mausoleum](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/lenin-mausoleum) — YesGo score 72/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free
- [Cathedral of Christ the Saviour](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/cathedral-of-christ-the-saviour) — YesGo score 72/100 (Yes, go) · 40 min · Free
- [Moscow Metro](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/moscow-metro) — YesGo score 70/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · 75 ₽ on Troika
- [St Basil's Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/st-basils-cathedral) — YesGo score 65/100 (Yes, go) · 45 min · 2,000 ₽ for foreign visitors
- [Moscow Kremlin](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/moscow-kremlin) — YesGo score 64/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h 30 min · from 1,100 ₽
- [Kitay-gorod](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/kitay-gorod) — YesGo score 58/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free
- [Bolshoi Theatre](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/bolshoi-theatre) — YesGo score 56/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · Tickets on bolshoi.ru, price varies by show
- [Patriarch's Ponds](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/patriarch-ponds) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free
- [Arbat Street](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/arbat-street) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free
- [State Historical Museum](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/state-historical-museum) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · 2,000 ₽ for foreign visitors
- [Tretyakov Gallery](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/tretyakov-gallery) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · 700 ₽
- [Tverskaya Street](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/tverskaya-street) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free
- [Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/pushkin-museum) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · 700 ₽ per building
- [Novodevichy Convent](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/novodevichy-convent) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free, museum 500 ₽
- [Kremlin Armoury](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/kremlin-armoury) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · 1,400 ₽
- [Chistye Prudy](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/chistye-prudy) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free
- [VDNKh](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/vdnkh) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Free entry, pavilions paid
- [Kolomenskoye](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/kolomenskoye) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Park free, palace ≈ 700 ₽
- [Poklonnaya Hill](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/poklonnaya-hill) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Park free; Victory Museum 450 ₽
- [Kuskovo Estate](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/kuskovo) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Park 100 ₽, palace 500 ₽
- [Tsaritsyno](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/tsaritsyno) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Park free, palace 900 ₽

## Volkhonka, Arbat and Patriarch’s Ponds in a day

Morning at the Pushkin Museum and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, afternoon down Arbat from the Praga building to Smolenskaya, evening at Patriarch’s Ponds. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

1. [Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/pushkin-museum) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · 700 ₽ per building
2. [Cathedral of Christ the Saviour](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/cathedral-of-christ-the-saviour) — YesGo score 72/100 (Yes, go) · 40 min · Free
3. [Arbat Street](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/arbat-street) — YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Free
4. [Patriarch's Ponds](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/patriarch-ponds) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free

## Good to know

In Russian it’s Arbat (Арбат) or Stary Arbat (Старый Арбат). Locals sometimes say “the Arbat” for the whole surrounding district of old lanes, not only the street. Okudzhava’s songs made it a symbol of the Moscow intelligentsia — which is why Russians feel nostalgic about it despite the souvenir stalls.

## Tips

- Free in an hour: Praga building → Vakhtangov Theatre and Princess Turandot → Tsoi Wall and Melnikov House on Krivoarbatsky Lane → Okudzhava monument → Pushkin’s flat from outside → the Foreign Ministry tower.
- In two hours: add Pushkin’s flat (400 ₽) and a detour into Starokonyushenny Lane or Sivtsev Vrazhek.
- Walk from Arbatskaya to Smolenskaya so you never have to double back.
- Eat in the side lanes — calmer and cheaper than the terraces on the street.
- Want the stories behind the houses? A guided walk is worth it here — nearly every building had a famous tenant.
- In the evening, walk on to Patriarch’s Ponds — 20–25 minutes via Malaya Nikitskaya or the boulevards.

## Questions

### Is Arbat Street free to visit?

Yes. It’s a public pedestrian street, open 24/7. You pay only for museums such as Pushkin’s flat (400 ₽).

### What is the nearest metro to Arbat Street?

Arbatskaya (lines 3 and 4) at the start of the street and Smolenskaya (lines 3 and 4) at the far end, by the Foreign Ministry skyscraper.

### What is the difference between Old Arbat and New Arbat?

Old Arbat is the cobbled pedestrian street with museums and the Vakhtangov Theatre. New Arbat is the parallel 1960s avenue with traffic, tower blocks and malls. For sightseeing, choose Old Arbat.

### How long does it take to walk Arbat Street?

About 15–20 minutes without stopping; an hour at a sightseeing pace; 1.5–2 hours with Pushkin’s flat.

### How do I get to Arbat from Red Square?

One metro stop on line 3 from Ploshchad Revolyutsii to Arbatskaya, or a 20–25-minute walk via Manezhnaya Square and Vozdvizhenka Street.

### Where is the Viktor Tsoi Wall?

On Krivoarbatsky Lane, a side lane about halfway along Arbat, a short walk past the Vakhtangov Theatre. It’s the side wall of No. 37.

### When is Pushkin’s flat on Arbat open?

Wednesday, Friday and weekends 10:00–18:00, Thursday 13:00–21:00. It’s closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Tickets are 400 ₽.

### Can I visit the Melnikov House?

You can see it from Krivoarbatsky Lane at any time. Inside is only on a guided tour run by the Shchusev Museum of Architecture, and the interiors have been closed for restoration — check the museum’s website first.

### Is Arbat Street good for souvenirs?

It has the biggest choice of matryoshkas, fur hats and shawls in central Moscow, but prices are high — compare a few shops and pay in roubles.

## How we checked

Prices and hours for the Pushkin and Bely flats come from the official State Pushkin Museum website. Sources give different lengths for the street — Russian Wikipedia says 1.2 and 1.3 km in different places, guides about 1,250 m, English Wikipedia “about a kilometre” — so we give ≈ 1.25 km. Russian Wikipedia dates the first mention to 1475, English Wikipedia to 1493, so we say “15th century”. The rebuild date of the Vakhtangov Theatre after the 1941 bomb differs (1947 or 1948), so we leave it out. Melnikov House: English Wikipedia reports the interiors closed for restoration and we found no current tour schedule from the Museum of Architecture, so that row is marked “verifying”. Walking times are our estimate from the map.

## Sources

- Official website of the State Pushkin Museum: Pushkin Memorial Flat on Arbat, ticket prices, 29.10.2026
- English and Russian Wikipedia: Arbat Street, Melnikov House, Vakhtangov State Academic Theatre; Wikidata Q269373
- Official website of the Vakhtangov Theatre: history
- mos.ru: Vakhtangov Theatre, Princess Turandot fountain
- RBC Realty: Krivoarbatsky Lane improvement plan, 2020
- Kultura.RF: Bulat Okudzhava monument, Melnikov House
- Tonkosti and KudaGo guides: Arbat, Tsoi Wall, Princess Turandot fountain
- Visa and Mastercard statements on suspending operations in Russia, March 2022

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