Khamovniki District Moscow is a central district that extends from the Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge, near the Kremlin, into the Luzhniki bend of the Moskva River. It contains the Novodevichy Convent, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and the Luzhniki Stadium.
The name comes from the khamovniki, the weavers who settled here to supply linen to the princely court. Today the area between the Boulevard Ring and the Garden Ring is nicknamed the Golden Mile, because it is the most expensive housing area of downtown Moscow, and beyond the Garden Ring lies the older Khamovniki proper, with a convent, a weavers’ church and the estate of Leo Tolstoy.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Хамовники |
|---|---|
| Address | Central Moscow, southwest of the Kremlin, from the Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge to the Luzhniki bend of the Moskva River |
| District | Khamovniki |
| Metro | Sportivnaya (Sokolnicheskaya Line (Line 1, red), Serves the Novodevichy Convent area and Luzhniki; the Spektr Hotel Moscow, with its own article on this site, is within about 90 meters of it; the exits were not verified) Frunzenskaya (Sokolnicheskaya Line (Line 1, red), Serves the Frunzenskaya Embankment and the Khamovniki streets; the exit and the walking time were not verified) Park Kultury (Sokolnicheskaya Line (Line 1, red) and Koltsevaya Line (Line 5, brown), Serves the central part of the district; the exits were not verified) Kropotkinskaya (Sokolnicheskaya Line (Line 1, red), Serves Prechistenka, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and the Pushkin Museum; the exits were not verified) |
| Opening hours | The streets, embankments and squares of the district are public and can be visited at any time; museums, convents, churches and shops keep their own hours.
(as of October 2026 – check the official site) |
| Admission | Walking the district is free. The convent, museums and other venues charge their own admission and set their own rules. |
| Best time to visit | The district can be visited all year, and it is best on a dry day in spring, summer or autumn, when the embankments and the convent grounds are at their best. Crowd patterns were not verified. |
| Recommended duration | Half a day to a full day |
| Last updated | October 7, 2026 |
What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to Khamovniki?
| Part | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Streets, lanes and embankments of the district | Included in the standard ticket | Public spaces that can be walked free at any time. |
| Novodevichy Convent | Separate ticket or institution | A UNESCO World Heritage Site with its own tickets and rules. |
| Novodevichy Cemetery | Separate ticket or institution | A memorial cemetery next to the convent with its own rules. |
| Cathedral of Christ the Saviour | Separate ticket or institution | An active church with its own opening hours and rules. |
| Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts | Separate ticket or institution | A large museum with its own ticket. |
| Tolstoy Estate and the Prechistenka museums | Separate ticket or institution | Museums with their own tickets and hours. |
| Luzhniki Stadium | Separate ticket or institution | A sports venue with its own events and rules. |
| Arbat | Outside / not part of it | A neighboring district to the north, covered by its own guide. |
| Gorky Park | Outside / not part of it | Across the river in the Yakimanka District, with its own guide. |
Why Visit Khamovniki?
Khamovniki combines several large sights in one district: the Novodevichy Convent, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, a 2000s replica of the 19th-century cathedral, the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts on Volkhonka Street and the museums of Prechistenka.
It also has quieter corners that few visitors reach: the Leo Tolstoy Estate in a street named after the writer, the Church of St. Nicholas that weavers paid for in the 17th century and the long embankments along the river. The district is served by several stops of the red metro line, and a walk through it can be as short as two hours or as long as a day.
How Khamovniki Is Laid Out
Khamovniki follows the Moskva River from the Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge near the Kremlin to the Luzhniki bend. Its northern boundary with the Arbat District follows Znamenka Street, Gogolevsky Boulevard, Sivtsev Vrazhek and the Borodinsky Bridge. The district has three parts: the part within the Boulevard Ring around Volkhonka Street; the part between the Boulevard Ring and the Garden Ring, the Golden Mile; and the part beyond the Garden Ring, Khamovniki proper, with the Novodevichy Convent, the Devichye Pole medical campus and Luzhniki.
The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and the Pushkin Museum stand in the first part, Prechistenka and its museums in the second, and the convent, the Tolstoy Estate and the weavers’ church in the third. Embankments run along almost the whole river side: Prechistenskaya, Frunzenskaya, Luzhnetskaya, Novodevichya, Savvinskaya and Rostovskaya.
A sensible route starts at Kropotkinskaya, follows Prechistenka south-west, and ends at the Novodevichy Convent near the Sportivnaya station.
Highlights of Khamovniki
Novodevichy Convent
The convent was founded in 1524 by Grand Prince Vasili III to commemorate the conquest of Smolensk in 1514, at the far end of the Luzhniki bend, to control the river crossing of the Old Smolensk Road. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has some of the finest frescoes in Moscow. The convent and the adjoining memorial cemetery have their own tickets and rules.
Tip: Check the convent's own opening hours and the rules for the cemetery before you go.
Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
The cathedral dominates the central part of the district. It is a replica, completed in 2000, of the 19th-century cathedral by Konstantin Thon, which was destroyed in 1931. It stands on the river bank near the Kremlin. It is an active church with its own opening hours and rules.
Tip: Check the cathedral's own rules for visitors before you plan a visit inside.
Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
The museum stands at Volkhonka 12, within the Boulevard Ring, on the street that leads from the Kremlin toward the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. It is one of the large museums of the district and needs its own ticket. The Tretyakov Gallery, across the river, has its own guide on this site.
Tip: Check the museum's own site for hours and tickets before you go.
Prechistenka and its museums
Prechistenka is the street of the Golden Mile, with the Alexander Pushkin Museum at number 12/2 and the Leo Tolstoy Museum at number 11, both with their own tickets. The street runs from near the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour toward the Garden Ring and is lined with older mansions. The Pushkin museum is run by the same state museum as the Arbat memorial apartment.
Tip: Check each museum's hours separately, since they differ.
The Leo Tolstoy Estate in Khamovniki
The memorial estate is at Lva Tolstogo Street 21, in a street named after the writer. Tolstoy lived in Khamovniki and enjoyed skating near the Novodevichy Convent. The estate is a museum with its own ticket and hours. Check its own site before you plan the visit.
Tip: Combine the estate with the weavers' church, which is a short walk away.
The Church of St. Nicholas in Khamovniki
The church was built in the second half of the 17th century, in 1679 or 1682 depending on the account, with money from the weavers of Khamovnaya Sloboda. It is the center of the old weavers' settlement and is considered a symbol of the district. It is an active church with its own opening hours and rules.
Tip: Look at the ornate brickwork and the bell tower from the street.
Luzhniki and the embankments
The Luzhniki Stadium stands at the end of the district in the river bend, with a sports complex and a long embankment along the water. The Luzhnetskaya, Novodevichya and Frunzenskaya embankments give open river views. The stadium and the sports facilities have their own rules; check them before you go.
Tip: Walk the embankment from the Sportivnaya station toward the Novodevichy Convent for the river views.
Atmosphere
Khamovniki is a district of contrasts. The Golden Mile has older mansions and Stalinist apartment blocks with some of the most expensive housing in Moscow, while beyond the Garden Ring the streets are quieter, with a convent, an old church and long embankments.
Visitors cluster around the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and the museums on Volkhonka and Prechistenka, and the area around the Novodevichy Convent has its own steady stream of walkers. The embankments are calm and open, and the Luzhniki bend has the large scale of a sports district. The crowd varies by time of day and season, and no figures were verified.
History of Khamovniki
Khamovniki developed later than its neighbors in the central district, only in the 16th century. The name comes from khamovniki, the weavers: in old Russian a linen cloth was called ham, and the weavers who made it for the princely court lived in the Khamovnaya Sloboda, a settlement outside the Earth City. Several villages and slobodas in the river bend, including Savvinskaya, Novodevichya and Rostovskaya, grew together to form the territory of the modern district.
The Zachatyevsky Convent was established in 1360, and the Novodevichy Convent was founded in 1524 by Grand Prince Vasili III in memory of the conquest of Smolensk in 1514. The convent stands at the end of the Luzhniki bend, where it controlled the river crossing of the Old Smolensk Road, and it housed many women from the royal families. In 1610 and 1611 a Polish unit captured it.
The Church of St. Nicholas in Khamovniki was built in the second half of the 17th century with the money of the weavers’ community and became the center of the sloboda. The district began to develop as an industrial area, and between 1884 and 1897 the Devichye Pole area was developed into a medical campus of Moscow University.
In the 19th century a large cathedral by Konstantin Thon rose in the central part of the district. It was destroyed in 1931, and a replica was built and completed in 2000. The writer Leo Tolstoy lived in Khamovniki, and his estate on the street that now bears his name is a museum. The Novodevichy Convent is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the Soviet period the Stalinist apartment blocks between Komsomolsky Prospekt and the Moskva River were built and became some of the most expensive real estate in Moscow, and the stretch between the Boulevard Ring and the Garden Ring became known as the Golden Mile. The Luzhniki Stadium and its sports complex were built in the river bend.
Today Khamovniki contains the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Devichye Pole medical campus, the Novodevichy Convent and cemetery and the Luzhniki Stadium, and it is served by several stations of the red metro line.
Tickets and Booking for Khamovniki
There is no ticket for the district itself. The convent, the museums and the other venues sell their own tickets, and no individual venue was verified for this guide. For the Alexander Pushkin Museum on Prechistenka, which belongs to the Pushkin State Museum, use the museum’s own site; the Tretyakov Gallery has its own guide on this site. Cafes and restaurants take their own reservations.
- Hotels: the Spektr Hotel Moscow, near the Sportivnaya station and the Novodevichy Convent, has its own article on this site.
- Payment: foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, and the sanctions rules of your own country may restrict some Russian payment services, so check this yourself.
Rates for Russian citizens and concessions differ at most venues, so check each venue’s own page for all categories; for the Pushkin museum the site is pushkinmuseum.ru.
Plan and Book
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Suggested itineraries Khamovniki
2 hours
Start at Kropotkinskaya and look at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. Walk down Prechistenka, past the Pushkin and Tolstoy museums, toward the Garden Ring.
3 hours
Follow the 2-hour route and continue to the Novodevichy Convent near the Sportivnaya station. Plan the convent visit with its own opening hours.
Half day
Add the Tolstoy Estate and the Church of St. Nicholas in Khamovniki, then walk the embankment along the river toward Luzhniki. Check each venue's hours first.
How to Get to Khamovniki
Khamovniki is served by several stations of the red Line 1. Kropotkinskaya serves Prechistenka, the cathedral and the Pushkin Museum, Park Kultury (Lines 1 and 5) the central part, and Frunzenskaya and Sportivnaya the Khamovniki streets, the Novodevichy Convent and Luzhniki. The exits and walking times were not verified.
- Metro: use Kropotkinskaya to start at the cathedral and Sportivnaya for the convent; the metro guides on this site explain the lines.
- Taxi: the taxi apps guide of this site explains the options; the streets around the cathedral are busy.
Accessibility
No accessibility information for the district was found. The pavements, the embankments, the convent and the museums differ, so ask each venue and check the metro maps before you go.
Food Nearby
Cafes and restaurants line Prechistenka, Volkhonka and the streets near the metro stations. No individual venue was verified for this guide, so check opening hours and menus on site.
What to Bring
Comfortable shoes for long walks and layers for the season. Bring rubles in cash for small purchases, since foreign cards are reported not to work.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Khamovniki
The Novodevichy Convent from the pond side
The convent's walls and towers with the pond in front, seen across the water. The reflections add depth to the view.
Best time: Morning light.
The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour from the river
The large cathedral with its golden domes seen from the embankment. The river gives room for the whole building.
Best time: Late afternoon light.
The Luzhniki embankment
The open river bend with the stadium on one bank and the older district on the other. It is the widest view in the district.
Best time: Dusk, when the lights come on.
Photography Rules
No general photography rules for the streets were found. The convent, the cathedral and the museums set their own rules, so look for signs and ask the staff before you photograph interiors, and avoid flash.
Family Suitability
The district suits families with older children, with the embankments and the convent grounds for walking. The museums are of interest to some children, and the Luzhniki area has space to run. Stroller access on the pavements and at the venues was not verified.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Walk Prechistenka from the cathedral toward the Garden Ring, since the museums and mansions line the street.
- Do not confuse the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts on Volkhonka with the Alexander Pushkin Museum on Prechistenka.
- Use the Sportivnaya station for the Novodevichy Convent and Luzhniki, and Kropotkinskaya for the cathedral.
- Look for the weavers' church on the way to the Tolstoy Estate, since it is a short detour.
- The Golden Mile is a residential area, so the streets are quiet in the evening.
- Walk the embankment between the convent and Luzhniki for the open river views.
Explore Nearby Khamovniki
Sights near Khamovniki
Cathedral of Christ the Saviour Moscow – about 3.0 km away · typical visit: 45 minutes to 1.5 hours; about 1 hour 20 minutes for the full guided tourMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts Moscowabout 3.2 km away · typical visit: 2–3 hours per buildingMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Novodevichy Convent Moscow – about 950 m away (~15 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–2 hours for the convent; 3–4 hours with the cemeteryMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Novodevichy Pond Moscowabout 950 m away (~16 min walk) · typical visit: 45–90 minutesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Novodevichy Cemetery Moscowabout 1000 m away (~16 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Leo Tolstoy Estate Museum Moscowabout 1.3 km away (~21 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Khamovniki
Sportivnaya Metro Stationabout 550 m away (~9 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Frunzenskaya Metro Stationabout 450 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Luzhniki MCC Stationabout 850 m away (~14 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Khamovniki
Due Forniabout 900 m away (~15 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Khamovniki
Spektr Hotel Moscowabout 700 m away (~12 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Maidens Hotel Moscowabout 1.6 km away (~26 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Golden Ring Hotel Moscowabout 2.2 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Khamovniki
Luzhniki River Pierabout 1.9 km away (~31 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kievsky Railway Terminalabout 1.9 km away (~31 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Khamovniki
Moscow Marathonabout 1.6 km away (~25 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
Novodevichy: Convent, Cemetery and UNESCO Walk in KhamovnikiMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Multimedia Art Museum Moscow: Photography, Hours and TicketsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Museum of Moscow: Tickets, Hours and What to SeeMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Khamovniki and Novodevichy Convent Walking Itinerary: Route and RulesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
10 Most Beautiful Churches and Cathedrals in Moscow: Domes and IconsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Browse more: More in Khamovniki · All Neighborhoods
FAQ: Khamovniki
What does Khamovniki mean?
The weavers' place, from the khamovniki who made linen for the princely court.
What is the Golden Mile?
The stretch between the Boulevard Ring and the Garden Ring, the most expensive housing in downtown Moscow.
Is the Novodevichy Convent in Khamovniki?
Yes, near the Sportivnaya station.
Is the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Khamovniki?
Yes, on Volkhonka Street.
Is Gorky Park in Khamovniki?
No, it is across the river in the Yakimanka District.
Which metro station is best?
Kropotkinskaya for the cathedral, Sportivnaya for the convent.
Is there an entrance fee?
No for the streets; venues charge their own admission.
How long does a visit take?
Two hours to a full day, depending on how many sights you add.
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Last updated: October 7, 2026.
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