Khamovniki and Novodevichy Convent Walking Itinerary: Route and Rules

The Khamovniki and Novodevichy Convent Walking Itinerary links a quiet old district southwest of the center with one of Moscow’s UNESCO sites. It suits visitors who like history, literature and long walks* more than queues, and who want to see the convent without mixing it up with the cemetery beside it.

It assumes about four to five hours at an easy pace, with one or two paid visits. By the end you will have seen the house where a great novelist spent his winters, the convent founded in 1524 with its white walls and towers, the pond by the wall and the cemetery with its own entrance, and you will know which of these needs a ticket and which does not.

At a glance: Start in Khamovniki at the Tolstoy estate, walk to the convent, look at it from the pond, visit the cemetery by its own entrance and finish at Sportivnaya Metro.

Half Day: Tolstoy's District, the Convent and the Cemetery

The walk starts in the quiet streets of Khamovniki, goes to the convent and ends at the cemetery, so the visits get more solemn as you go. Each of the main sights has its own opening days and its own entrance, so keep time for queues and check the days first. The walking stretches are short and flat.

1. Khamovniki – Start at Park Kultury (Line 1, red, or Line 5, brown) and walk into the old district of low houses and old workshops southwest of the center, known as the place where Leo Tolstoy lived (20 minutes)
2. Leo Tolstoy Estate Museum – The writer's town house and garden on Lev Tolstoy Street, with its own ticket and closing day, so check the hours; it is the best interior of the route (1 to 1.5 hours)
3. Novodevichy – Walk about twenty to thirty minutes to the convent, founded in 1524 by Vasili III and on the UNESCO list since 2004, with white walls, red towers and the Smolensky Cathedral of 1524 to 1525; it is a working convent, so dress modestly, and the museum parts have tickets and closing days (1 to 1.5 hours)
4. Novodevichy Ponds – Walk around the pond by the convent wall for the best view of the walls and the towers reflected in the water, which is free (20 minutes)
5. Novodevichy Cemetery – Walk to the cemetery, which is a separate site with its own entrance and not reached from inside the convent, where many writers, politicians and artists are buried; check the entry rules and hours for foreign visitors (1 hour)
6. Sportivnaya – Finish at Sportivnaya (Line 1, red), about ten minutes' walk from the cemetery, or go one stop on to Sparrow Hills for the evening view (15 minutes)

Tip: Do the interiors first and the walls and the pond last, since the convent and the cemetery both close in the late afternoon and the pond is open at any time.

Moscow Vibes Tips

• Do not mix up the convent and the cemetery: they stand side by side but have separate entrances, so allow time to walk around between them.
• Cover your shoulders and knees at the convent and keep your voice low, since services are held in the churches.
• Look for the convent from the pond side in the late afternoon, when the sun lights the white walls and the red towers.
• At the cemetery, take a map or note the names you want in advance, since the paths are long and the signs are mostly in Russian; see the How to read Cyrillic quickly as a traveler guide.
• Add Sparrow Hills for the evening if you have time, since it is one Metro stop away; the Sparrow Hills guide and the 10 Best Viewpoints in Moscow list have the details.
• Carry some rubles for the entry tickets, since foreign cards are reported not to work.

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FAQ

Is the cemetery part of the convent?

No. The Novodevichy Cemetery is a separate site with its own entrance and rules, next to the convent walls.

Is the convent free?

Parts of the grounds can be entered freely, but the museum rooms and the cathedral have tickets; sources differ on the details, so check the official site.

Which day is the convent closed?

Sources report a weekly closing day, usually Tuesday, and a closing on the first Monday of the month; check the official site before you go.

Can I go inside the Smolensky Cathedral?

Sources say it is open to visitors only in the warm months and closed from early autumn to late spring, so check before you plan around it.

How long should I plan?

About four to five hours for the whole route, or two hours for only the convent and the pond.

Which Metro station is best?

Sportivnaya for the convent, or Park Kultury for the start of this route in Khamovniki.

Can I take photographs?

Photography rules differ by site and may have a fee; follow the signs and do not photograph services.

Can I pay with a foreign card?

Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, and your country's sanctions rules may restrict some services, so carry some rubles and check this yourself.

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