The Hermitage Garden Moscow is a compact, free park in the center on Karetny Ryad Street, a few minutes from Chekhovskaya, Pushkinskaya and Tverskaya Metro stations. It was created in its present form in 1894 by the merchant Yakov Shchukin on the site of a former merchant estate, and it still holds three theaters, an open-air stage and shaded paths.
It is a place for a short break between sights, with linden, oak and maple trees, benches, cafes and a playground. This guide explains how to find the entrance, what the three theaters are, why the garden matters in theater history, what the jazz festival is, which parts of a visit are free and which need tickets, and how to combine the garden with nearby streets and boulevards.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Сад «Эрмитаж» |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1894 |
| Architect(s) | Vasily Zagorsky (restorer of the theater building for Yakov Shchukin) |
| Address | Karetny Ryad Street 3, Moscow |
| District | Tverskoy |
| Metro | Chekhovskaya (Line 9, light gray, about 7 minutes on foot (listing estimate)) Pushkinskaya (Line 7, purple, about 9 minutes on foot (listing estimate)) Tverskaya (Line 2, green, also listed as a nearby station) |
| Opening hours | Daily opening hours for the garden were not verified on an official page, so check the garden's site before you go; performances and cafes keep their own schedules (as of October 2026 – check the official site). |
| Admission | Entry to the garden is free; performances in the three theaters and some events are ticketed, so check the programs. |
| Best time to visit | The garden is pleasant from spring to autumn, with cherry blossoms in spring, open-air events and the jazz festival in summer, and the ice rink in winter. Weekday afternoons are quiet, and summer evenings and festival days are busy. |
| Recommended duration | About 1 to 2 hours |
| Website | mosgorsad.ru |
| Last updated | October 9, 2026 |
What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to Hermitage Garden Moscow?
| Part | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The garden, paths and playground | Included in the standard ticket | Free to enter and walk. |
| Open-air events and the jazz festival | Included in the standard ticket | Many are free; check the program. |
| Performances in the Novaya Opera, Hermitage and Sphera theaters | Separate ticket or institution | Ticketed by each theater. |
| The winter ice rink | Separate ticket or institution | A paid service with its own hours. |
| Patriarch's Ponds | Outside / not part of it | A different park to the north-west; see the Patriarch's Ponds Moscow guide. |
| Tverskoy Boulevard | Outside / not part of it | A boulevard nearby, a short walk away. |
Why Visit Hermitage Garden Moscow?
The garden is small, green and central, which makes it an easy stop on a walk between Tverskaya and the boulevards. Its theater history is unusual: the Moscow Art Theatre opened here in 1898 with the premiere of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich, and Chekhov’s The Seagull and Uncle Vanya followed in the same theater.
Today the garden has three theaters, the Novaya Opera, the Hermitage and the Sphera, an open-air stage with summer screenings and a jazz festival that has been held in the summer since 1998. In spring cherry blossoms are a draw, and in winter the garden has an ice rink, according to a tour listing. Entry is free.
How Hermitage Garden Moscow Is Laid Out
The garden lies off Karetny Ryad Street, close to the Garden Ring, and is a compact space of paths, lawns and benches among tall trees. The three theaters, the Novaya Opera, the Hermitage and the Sphera, stand within the garden, with the open-air stage in the middle and a shaded playground for children.
Cafes with outdoor seating and ice-cream and coffee kiosks are spread along the paths. The Hermitage Theater occupies a late 19th-century building. A bust of a French writer and poet was added in 2000 among other monuments, according to an encyclopedic page. Check the official site for the current program, since theaters and open-air events change by season.
Highlights of Hermitage Garden Moscow
The garden's 1894 rebirth
On 16 July 1894 the former merchant estate on Karetny Ryad was bought by the philanthropist Yakov Shchukin, who made it a center of entertainment with a theater, wide avenues, benches and fountains. The Hermitage Garden itself had first opened in the 1820s as Moscow's first pleasure garden elsewhere in the city, according to the city portal. Look at the mature trees that line the paths.
Tip: Walk the main avenue slowly, since the trees are the oldest part of the garden.
The Hermitage Theater and the Moscow Art Theatre story
Shchukin reconstructed the Moshnin Theater, renamed it the New Hermitage and hired the restorer Vasily Zagorsky. In 1898 the Moscow Art Theatre opened there with Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich, and the premieres of The Seagull and Uncle Vanya followed. The Hermitage Theater now occupies a late 19th-century building. Check the performance program.
Tip: Check the poster for a performance, since the theater is the main reason many Muscovites come.
Three theaters and an open-air stage
The garden holds the Novaya Opera, the Hermitage and the Sphera theaters, plus an open-air stage that is equipped for outdoor screenings in summer. Many events outdoors are free, and the theaters sell tickets. Check which performances are ticketed.
Tip: Look for free open-air events on summer evenings.
The jazz festival
Since 1998 the garden has been the traditional venue of the Moscow international outdoor jazz festival in the summer, open to the public for free according to a tour listing, which describes it as held every August. Dates vary, so check the program. It is the busiest time in the garden.
Tip: Arrive early for the festival, since the garden fills quickly.
Spring blossoms and winter ice rink
Cherry blossoms in spring and an ice rink in winter are popular draws, according to a tour listing, and the garden is also used for outdoor screenings in summer. Seasons change what you see. Check the rink's hours and prices, which belong to the rink and not the garden.
Tip: Visit in the evening in winter, when the rink is lit.
Cafes, playground and benches
Cafes with outdoor seating, ice-cream and coffee kiosks, a large shaded playground and benches make the garden a place to rest. Visitors are asked not to walk or sit on the grass in some areas, according to a visitor note. Check the signs on the lawns.
Tip: Use the benches in the shade rather than the lawns, since walking on grass may be restricted.
Atmosphere
You step off a busy street into a leafy enclosure where sound drops at once: footsteps on gravel, music from an open-air stage, a clink of cups from the cafes. Tall lindens and maples shade the paths, and light falls in patches on benches and pavilions.
Visitors are couples, families with young children, theater-goers and people who have stopped for a coffee between meetings. Weekday afternoons are calm, summer evenings are lively with performances, and the jazz festival fills the paths. In winter the garden quiets and the ice rink glows.
History of Hermitage Garden Moscow
The Hermitage Garden first opened to the public in the 1820s as Moscow’s first pleasure garden, at an earlier location. Its new life began on 16 July 1894, when a former merchant estate on Karetny Ryad came into the hands of the First Guild merchant and philanthropist Yakov Shchukin, who turned it into a cultural center.
Shchukin reconstructed the Moshnin Theater, which was renamed the New Hermitage, and hired the academician of architecture Vasily Zagorsky. In 1898 the Moscow Art Theatre opened there with Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich, followed by The Seagull and Uncle Vanya. One of the first film screenings in the country, the Lumière Cinematograph, took place in the garden. In 1909 Shchukin built an open-air mirror theater.
In 1924 the theater building was taken by the Moscow Trade Union Council theater, later renamed the Mossovet Theater under the director Yuri Zavadsky. Today the garden has three theaters and has been the venue of a summer jazz festival since 1998. Dates and details should be checked against the garden’s official site, and this history is shorter than requested because few facts could be verified.
Tickets and Booking for Hermitage Garden Moscow
Entry. The garden is free and needs no booking. The three theaters sell tickets for their own performances, and the ice rink and some events have their own prices. Rates for Russian citizens and concessions differ for ticketed events, so check the garden’s official site, listed as mosgorsad.ru, and each theater’s site for all categories.
Payment. Cash in rubles is the safe option for cafes and kiosks. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, and your country’s sanctions rules may restrict some payment services, so check this yourself.
Plan and Book
Suggested itineraries Hermitage Garden Moscow
1 hour
Enter from Karetny Ryad Street, walk the main avenue under the old trees, look at the three theaters and stop for a coffee on a bench.
Half day on the boulevards
Visit the garden, then walk to Tverskoy Boulevard and Patriarch's Ponds, following the Patriarch's Ponds and Tverskoy Boulevard Walking Itinerary.
Summer evening
Arrive in the early evening, stay for an open-air screening or concert on the outdoor stage and finish with dinner nearby.
How to Get to Hermitage Garden Moscow
The nearest stations are Chekhovskaya (Line 9, light gray), about 7 minutes on foot, Pushkinskaya (Line 7, purple), about 9 minutes, and Tverskaya (Line 2, green). The garden’s address is Karetny Ryad Street 3.
- By taxi: ask for Karetny Ryad 3, the Hermitage Garden.
- On foot: the garden is close to Tverskaya Street and the Garden Ring.
- Orientation: look for the gate on Karetny Ryad Street.
Accessibility
The garden has paved paths and is a flat compact space, but accessibility facilities were not verified on an official page, so check mosgorsad.ru or each theater's site before you go.
Food Nearby
The garden has cafes with outdoor seating and ice-cream and coffee kiosks, and the streets around Tverskaya have many more; the exact venues were not verified. See the Moscow Food Tour: Russian Cuisine and Local Specialties itinerary.
What to Bring
Bring a light layer, since shade can be cool, cash in rubles for cafes and a book or something to sit with on a bench.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Hermitage Garden Moscow
The main avenue
A tree-lined path with benches and lamps leading into the garden.
Best time: Morning, with few people.
The Hermitage Theater building
A late 19th-century theater building framed by trees.
Best time: Late afternoon.
The cherry blossoms in spring
Blossoming trees over benches and paths, a seasonal highlight.
Best time: Spring, in the morning.
The open-air stage on a summer evening
An outdoor stage with an audience under lights.
Best time: Summer evenings.
Photography Rules
Photography in the garden is generally allowed for personal use; performances in the theaters have their own rules, and drones must not be flown over the center.
Family Suitability
Suitable for families, with a large shaded playground, cafes and ice-cream kiosks; paths are flat and suit strollers. Some theater performances are for children. Check the program for family events.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Check the theater posters, since the garden's best moments are performances and open-air events.
- Use the garden as a rest stop between Tverskaya and the boulevards rather than a main destination.
- Arrive early for the jazz festival, since the garden fills quickly.
- Sit on benches, not on the lawns, since walking on grass may be restricted.
- Look for the Hermitage Theater building to see where the Moscow Art Theatre began.
- Combine the garden with Patriarch's Ponds, which is a short walk to the west.
Explore Nearby Hermitage Garden Moscow
Sights near Hermitage Garden Moscow
Moscow Museum of Modern Artabout 450 m away (~8 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hours per venueMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Bulgakov Museum Moscowabout 1.1 km away (~19 min walk) · typical visit: About 1 hourMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
State Museum of Decorative Arts Moscowabout 450 m away (~8 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Vysokopetrovsky Monastery Moscow – about 500 m away (~8 min walk) · typical visit: 2–3 hours (if doing the overview tour and/or the belltower mini-tour)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nikulin Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevardabout 600 m away (~10 min walk) · typical visit: About 2.5 to 3 hours for a performanceMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Gulag History Museum Moscowabout 700 m away (~11 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Hermitage Garden Moscow
Tsvetnoy Bulvar Metro Stationabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Trubnaya Metro Stationabout 600 m away (~10 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Pushkinskaya Metro Stationabout 650 m away (~10 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Hermitage Garden Moscow
Sakhliabout 400 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Twins Gardenabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
La Maréeabout 550 m away (~9 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Grabliabout 650 m away (~10 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nightlife near Hermitage Garden Moscow
Delicatessenabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ruki Vverh! Bar – Tverskayaabout 650 m away (~11 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Hermitage Garden Moscow
Golden Apple Boutique Hotelabout 400 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Parradosso Boutique Hotelabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Okno Aparthotelabout 650 m away (~11 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Hermitage Garden Moscow
Belorussky Railway Terminalabout 1.9 km away (~32 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Hermitage Garden Moscow
Pushkin Day and Russian Language Day in Moscowabout 700 m away (~12 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Tea Party Festivalabout 1.1 km away (~17 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Easter Gift Festival in Moscowabout 1.1 km away (~17 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
Patriarch’s Ponds and Tverskoy Boulevard Walking Itinerary: RouteMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Tverskoy: Tverskaya Street, Bolshoi Theatre and Pushkin SquareMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Patriarch’s Ponds: The Master and Margarita Pond and Its ParkMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Tsvetnoy Boulevard: Nikulin Circus, Clowns Fountain and MarketMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Moscow: HoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Browse more: More in Tverskoy · All Parks · All Sightseeing
FAQ: Hermitage Garden Moscow
Is the Hermitage Garden free?
Yes. Entry is free; theater tickets and the ice rink are separate.
Which Metro station is closest?
Chekhovskaya, about 7 minutes on foot; Pushkinskaya and Tverskaya are also near.
Which theaters are in the garden?
The Novaya Opera, the Hermitage and the Sphera.
Why is it famous?
The Moscow Art Theatre opened here in 1898 and premiered Chekhov's The Seagull and Uncle Vanya.
Is there a jazz festival?
Yes, an outdoor jazz festival has been held in the summer since 1998, open to the public.
Is there an ice rink?
Yes in winter, according to a tour listing; check hours and prices.
Is it good for children?
Yes, it has a large shaded playground and flat paths.
Can I pay with a foreign card?
Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, so carry cash in rubles; see the booking section for sanctions rules.
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Last updated: October 9, 2026.
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