Explore Moscow's Khamovniki district, where historic monasteries, museums, riverside paths and major cultural landmarks sit within walking distance of residential streets. This page brings together local guides, restaurants, hotels and transport information on an interactive map. First-time visitors can discover places such as Novodevichy Convent, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and the Luzhniki area. Browse the featured locations, compare their positions on the map and choose a manageable route for exploring this varied part of central Moscow.
Khamovniki lies on the left bank of the Moskva River, between the Garden Ring and Sparrow Hills. It brings together Tolstoy's wooden winter house, a convent and its cemetery, museums on Ostozhenka and Zubovsky Boulevard, the Luzhniki sports complex and the city's best-known viewpoint.
The list on this page also includes festivals and holidays held in the district. Use the text below to choose between quiet museum stops and open-air walks, and to see how the calendar changes the area. Opening times differ between listings, so check each venue before you go.
Choose by what you want to do
Choose Sparrow Hills for the view over central Moscow, best on a clear day at sunset. Entry to the viewpoint and the nature reserve is free.
Choose Novodevichy Pond for a riverside reflection of the Novodevichy Convent. It is free to view and takes 45 to 90 minutes. Novodevichy Cemetery is next to the convent walls and has graves of Chekhov, Gogol, Bulgakov, Khrushchev and Yeltsin. Closing is earlier in winter.
Choose the Leo Tolstoy Estate Museum for a wooden house with restored rooms, a garden and the writer's bicycle. Choose the Museum of Moscow for the city's story, or the Multimedia Art Museum for photography and video art. Monday is a closing day at all three.
Events through the year
The Moscow Marathon is held every September, with the leaders passing the centre in the first hours on a Sunday morning and the finish at Luzhniki. Watching from the streets is free.
December Nights is a chamber music festival at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, with concerts mostly in the evening. Concerts are ticketed.
Orthodox Christmas falls on 7 January, with the liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on the evening of 6 January and morning of 7 January. Orthodox Easter moves each year, and the Paschal Vigil is on Saturday night. Services are free to attend, so arrive early.
Getting around
Sportivnaya on the red Line 1 serves Novodevichy and Luzhniki, and Vorobyovy Gory serves Sparrow Hills. Park Kultury serves the Tolstoy Estate and the Museum of Moscow, and Kropotkinskaya serves the Multimedia Art Museum.
Luzhniki MCC Station is on the Moscow Central Circle, with a short out-of-station transfer to Sportivnaya. Luzhniki River Pier is the start of the regular river boat route to the Kievsky pier, reported to run daily.
On event days at Luzhniki, stations are busy, so allow extra time.
Frequently asked questions
Is Novodevichy Cemetery free?
Entry for individual visitors is described as free in most guides, while the adjacent convent museum needs a ticket. Closing is earlier in the cooler months.
Where is the best view of Moscow?
Sparrow Hills has the best-known viewpoint over central Moscow. It is best on a clear day at sunset or in the evening, and entry is free.
When is the Moscow Marathon?
It is held every September, on a Sunday, starting in the morning. The finish is at Luzhniki, and watching from the streets is free.
When are the museums closed?
The Tolstoy Estate, the Museum of Moscow and the Multimedia Art Museum are all closed on Monday. Check the official sites for current hours.
Can I attend Christmas services?
Yes, services at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour are free to attend. Arrive well before the start if you want to enter the main cathedral.
How do I reach the river boats?
Luzhniki River Pier is beside the Luzhniki Olympic Complex, close to Sportivnaya and the Moscow Central Circle. Tickets are needed for the boats.
Final thoughts
Khamovniki rewards visitors who take time to explore beyond its main landmarks. Choose a museum, historic site or riverside walk as your starting point, then use the map to connect nearby places. Check the official source for current access information at attractions you want to visit, particularly those with separate exhibition areas or scheduled activities.
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