The Museum of Russian Icons Moscow is a private museum of Byzantine and Old Russian art on Goncharnaya Street, in the Taganka area, about 10 minutes’ walk from Taganskaya Metro. It was founded in 2006 by the businessman and collector Mikhail Abramov and has been in its present buildings since about 2010 to 2011.
Admission is free, and the museum offers free excursions, lectures and concerts according to guides. This guide explains where the museum is and which buildings it occupies, what the collection covers, what to look for in the icons, how it differs from the Andrey Rublev Museum, how to arrange an excursion, which Metro stations are nearest, and how to combine the visit with a walk through Taganka and the Kotelnicheskaya Embankment.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Музей русской иконы имени Михаила Абрамова |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 2006 |
| Address | Goncharnaya Street 3, building 1, Moscow 109240 |
| District | Tagansky |
| Metro | Taganskaya (Line 5, brown, and Line 7, purple, about 750 meters, roughly a 10-minute walk) Marksistskaya (Line 8, yellow, named as a nearby station; a walk of about 10 minutes (estimate)) |
| Opening hours | Guides give the museum as open daily from 11:00 to 19:00 with Wednesday as the closed day, and a map listing shows an 11:00 opening, but the official site was not read, so confirm the current hours (as of October 2026 – check the official site). |
| Admission | Admission is described as free of charge, including excursions, lectures and concerts; check the official site for current rules and any registration. |
| Best time to visit | Weekday mornings are the quietest, and weekends are busier. The museum works all year round and suits a rainy or winter day; see the Moscow in the Rain: Indoor Sightseeing Itinerary. Remember that it is closed on Wednesdays according to guides. |
| Recommended duration | About 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Website | russikona.ru |
| Last updated | October 9, 2026 |
What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to Museum of Russian Icons Moscow?
| Part | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The permanent exhibition of icons | Included in the standard ticket | Free to visit according to guides. |
| Excursions, lectures and concerts | Included in the standard ticket | Described as free; check the schedule and whether registration is needed. |
| Storage and study collections | Not open to visitors | Not open to general visitors. |
| The Andrey Rublev Museum | Outside / not part of it | A different museum with early Russian art in the Andronikov Monastery; see the Andrey Rublev Museum Moscow guide. |
| Churches with active icon collections | Outside / not part of it | Working churches nearby are separate places of worship. |
| The Taganka area walk | Outside / not part of it | See the Taganka and Krutitskoye Podvorye Walking Itinerary. |
Why Visit Museum of Russian Icons Moscow?
The museum offers one of the larger private collections of icons in Russia in a free, quiet setting. Guides give the number of exhibits as roughly 4,000 to 5,000, including about 1,000 icons, from Byzantine examples to Russian works of the 20th century, with icons from the main centers such as Moscow, Novgorod, Rostov, Tver and Yaroslavl, and a complex of Pskov icons of the 15th and 16th centuries singled out as a special pride.
The museum was the first private Russian collection accepted into the International Council of Museums, and it occupies two reconstructed 19th to early 20th-century buildings. A traditional wooden chapel with icons is described on the top floor. It is a good way to learn how to read icons before visiting churches.
How Museum of Russian Icons Moscow Is Laid Out
The museum occupies two buildings of the 19th and early 20th centuries on Goncharnaya Street, one of the oldest streets in Moscow, which runs along the side of a hill. The buildings were reconstructed and equipped for storage, study and display.
The exhibition is arranged over several floors, with the earliest and most austere icons and later works in separate sections, and a wooden chapel with icons is described on the top floor. A lecture center and a space for concerts and presentations are part of the museum. Different sources give the building as 3 building 1 or 3 building 3, so look for the museum signs on the street. Check the official site for the current display and excursion times.
Highlights of Museum of Russian Icons Moscow
Icons from the main centers of Rus
The collection includes icons from the largest centers of Old Rus, among them Moscow, Novgorod, Rostov, Tver and Ryazan, the Volga region and the Russian North, and it spans Byzantine examples to Russian works of the 20th century. The icons show how styles and colors changed by region. Look for differences between schools. Check the labels, since English texts may be limited.
Tip: Compare an early austere icon with a later richly colored one in the same hall.
The Pskov icons
A complex of ancient Pskov icons of the 15th and 16th centuries is described as a special pride of the collection, with the strong colors and expressive style of the Pskov school. Look for the vivid reds and compact compositions. Check which icons are currently on show.
Tip: Ask a guide to point out the Pskov room.
The wooden chapel
A guide describes icons displayed in a traditional wooden chapel on the top floor, which gives a sense of how icons were originally seen in worship. Look at the carved details of the chapel. Check whether the chapel is open to visitors.
Tip: Save the chapel for the end of the visit.
Free excursions and lectures
The museum offers free survey and thematic excursions, lectures, concerts and presentations, according to guides, with museum staff available to answer questions. Excursions are the best way to understand the icons. Check the schedule and whether English is possible.
Tip: Arrange an excursion in advance if you want a guide.
The private collection and its founder
Mikhail Abramov (1963 to 2019) began collecting icons around 2003 and opened the museum on 26 May 2006 in a business center, then moved it to Goncharnaya Street. It became a member of ICOM and is described as funded by its founder. Check the museum's own history page.
Tip: Read the history page for the story of the collection.
The reconstructed mansion buildings
The museum occupies two buildings of the 19th to early 20th centuries on Goncharnaya Street that were reconstructed with modern facilities, in one of the oldest streets of Moscow. Look at the street's setting along the hill. Check the entrance, since sources give different building numbers.
Tip: Look for the museum sign if the building number confuses you.
Atmosphere
Behind a quiet street on the hill the museum is calm and softly lit, with dark panels and gilded halos glowing in the cases. The sounds are footsteps, the low voices of guides and occasionally a lecture or concert in the hall.
Visitors are Muscovites with an interest in icons, school groups and some tourists, and the museum is rarely crowded on weekday mornings. Because admission is free, the rooms fill with groups at weekends. The slow rhythm suits a visit of more than an hour.
History of Museum of Russian Icons Moscow
Mikhail Abramov began collecting and studying ancient icons around 2003, and on 26 May 2006 he opened Russia’s first Museum of Russian Icons in the premises of a business center, the Vereyskaya Plaza. It was the first private museum of its kind in Moscow and the first Russian private collection accepted into the International Council of Museums.
The collection moved to specially refurbished buildings on Goncharnaya Street in the center of Moscow, with the main building opening around 2010 to 2011, sources differ. The museum occupies two buildings of the 19th to early 20th centuries and operates at the expense of its founder, with visits, excursions, lectures and concerts free of charge according to guides.
The collection grew to roughly 4,000 to 5,000 exhibits, among them about 1,000 icons, with guides giving different figures. Mikhail Abramov died on 20 August 2019. Dates and details should be checked against the museum’s official site, and this history is shorter than requested because few facts could be verified; sources differ on the move and collection numbers.
Tickets and Booking for Museum of Russian Icons Moscow
Entry. Admission is described as free for the exhibition and for the excursions, lectures and concerts, and no ticket is needed according to guides; some listings mention preliminary registration for excursions, and the official site was not read, so confirm the rules at russikona.ru. Excursions are best arranged in advance, and rates and conditions for any paid services may differ for Russian citizens and others.
Payment. No payment is needed for entry, but cash in rubles is the safe option for any shop purchases. 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 Museum of Russian Icons Moscow
1.5 hours
Walk from Taganskaya Metro to Goncharnaya Street, see the icons from the earliest to the latest halls and finish at the wooden chapel.
2 hours
Join a free excursion or lecture, then walk toward the Kotelnicheskaya Embankment.
Half day in Taganka
Combine the museum with the streets of Taganka and Krutitskoye Podvorye, following the Taganka and Krutitskoye Podvorye Walking Itinerary.
How to Get to Museum of Russian Icons Moscow
Take the Metro to Taganskaya (Line 5, brown, or Line 7, purple) and walk about 750 meters, roughly 10 minutes, to Goncharnaya Street 3; Marksistskaya (Line 8, yellow) is also near.
- By taxi: ask for Goncharnaya Street 3, the Museum of Russian Icons.
- On foot: the museum is a walk from Taganskaya Square and the Kotelnicheskaya Embankment.
- Orientation: Goncharnaya Street runs along the hillside; building numbers vary between sources.
Accessibility
A map listing says the museum has an elevator, but another field says wheelchair access is unavailable, and the official site was not read, so check russikona.ru or call before you go.
Food Nearby
Taganskaya Square and the streets of Taganka have many cafes and restaurants; the exact venues were not verified. See the Moscow Food Tour: Russian Cuisine and Local Specialties itinerary.
What to Bring
Bring a translation app, since English labels may be limited, and comfortable shoes for the halls.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Museum of Russian Icons Moscow
Goncharnaya Street and the museum facade
A quiet old street along the hillside with the reconstructed buildings.
Best time: Morning light.
The icon halls
Dark panels with gilded halos in soft light; ask before photographing.
Best time: Weekday mornings.
The wooden chapel
A traditional wooden chapel on the top floor; follow the rules.
Best time: Off-peak hours.
Taganskaya Square
The busy square a short walk away.
Best time: Evening.
Photography Rules
Photography rules for the halls were not verified on an official source, so ask staff and follow signs; flash and tripods may be restricted, and drones must not be flown over the center.
Family Suitability
Suitable for older children interested in art and history, with free excursions and school programs described in listings; the halls are quiet and the visit works best with a guide. Stroller access was not verified.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Arrange an excursion in advance, since the free guides make the icons much easier to read.
- Check the building number on the street, since sources give 3 building 1 and 3 building 3.
- Remember that the museum is closed on Wednesdays according to guides.
- Do not confuse it with the Andrey Rublev Museum, which is in a monastery.
- Start with the earliest halls and end with the later icons to follow the change in style.
- Combine the visit with Taganka and Krutitskoye Podvorye on the same day.
Explore Nearby Museum of Russian Icons Moscow
Sights near Museum of Russian Icons Moscow
Andrey Rublev Museum Moscowabout 1.6 km away (~26 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building Moscowabout 200 m away (~3 min walk) · typical visit: About 30 minutes to 1 hourMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Bunker-42 Moscowabout 600 m away (~9 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–2.5 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Zaryadye Concert Hall Moscowabout 1.0 km away (~17 min walk) · typical visit: About 2.5 to 3 hours for a concertMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Floating Bridge Moscow – about 1.1 km away (~17 min walk) · typical visit: About 30 minutes on the bridge, 1.5 to 2 hours with the parkMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Zaryadye Park Moscowabout 1.2 km away (~19 min walk) · typical visit: 1–2 hours; 3 hours with the pavilionsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Museum of Russian Icons Moscow
Taganskaya Metro Stationabout 700 m away (~12 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Marksistskaya Metro Stationabout 750 m away (~12 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Novokuznetskaya Metro Stationabout 1.2 km away (~19 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Museum of Russian Icons Moscow
Masa Madreabout 1000 m away (~16 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Bjornabout 1.2 km away (~19 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Megobariabout 1.4 km away (~23 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nightlife near Museum of Russian Icons Moscow
Igor Butman Jazz Clubabout 650 m away (~11 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Esse Jazz Clubabout 1.2 km away (~19 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Museum of Russian Icons Moscow
Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscowabout 1.2 km away (~20 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ibis Moscow Centre Bakhrushinaabout 1.3 km away (~22 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Swissotel Krasnye Holmy Moscowabout 1.4 km away (~23 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Museum of Russian Icons Moscow
Kursky Railway Terminalabout 1.6 km away (~25 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Novospassky River Pierabout 1.9 km away (~30 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Museum of Russian Icons Moscow
Day of Slavic Writing and Culture in Moscowabout 1.4 km away (~23 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Non/fiction Book Fair in Moscowabout 1.5 km away (~24 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festivalabout 1.8 km away (~28 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Museum of Russian Icons Moscow
Is it free?
Admission is described as free, including excursions, lectures and concerts.
Who founded it?
The businessman and collector Mikhail Abramov, in 2006.
Which Metro station is closest?
Taganskaya, about 10 minutes on foot; Marksistskaya is also near.
Is it the same as the Andrey Rublev Museum?
No. That is a state museum in the Andronikov Monastery; see the Andrey Rublev Museum Moscow guide.
When is it closed?
On Wednesdays, according to guides; confirm on the official site.
How many icons are there?
About 1,000 icons within a collection of roughly 4,000 to 5,000 items, according to guides.
Do I need a guide?
Not required, but free excursions are offered; see the booking section.
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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