Novodevichy Cemetery Moscow is a large burial ground next to the Novodevichy Convent, inaugurated in 1898 on land south of the convent wall and designed by Ivan Mashkov. It is known less as a place of mourning than as an open-air gallery of monuments and a record of Russian cultural and political life.
The cemetery has its own gate on Luzhnetsky Proyezd and cannot be entered from the convent. This guide explains where the entrance is, how the old, new and newest parts are arranged, which graves visitors most often look for, how to read the monuments, what behavior is expected, which Metro station is nearest, and how to combine the visit with the convent and the Luzhniki embankment.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Новодевичье кладбище |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1898 |
| Architect(s) | Ivan Mashkov |
| Address | Luzhnetsky Proyezd 2, building 1, Moscow 119048 |
| District | Khamovniki |
| Metro | Sportivnaya (Line 1, red, walk out toward the convent, follow the wall along Luzhnetsky Proyezd to the cemetery gate at number 2; about 5 to 10 minutes (estimate)) |
| Opening hours | Guides give the cemetery as open daily from 09:00, with closing at about 17:00 in the cooler months and some listings giving later closing in summer, so check the current hours before you go (as of October 2026 – check the official source). |
| Admission | Entry for individual visitors is described as free in most guides, while the adjacent convent museum needs a ticket; no official site was verified, so check current rules before you go. |
| Best time to visit | Weekday mornings are the quietest, and weekends are busier, with autumn and late spring giving the best light and colors. Closing is earlier in winter, so arrive in the morning. Check the hours before you go. |
| Recommended duration | About 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Last updated | October 9, 2026 |
What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to Novodevichy Cemetery Moscow?
| Part | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The cemetery grounds and graves | Included in the standard ticket | Described as free for individual visitors in guides; follow cemetery rules. |
| Guided tours | Separate ticket or institution | Offered by outside guides and agencies with their own prices. |
| The Novodevichy Convent and its museum | Separate ticket or institution | A separate site with its own ticket; the cemetery is not accessible from it. |
| Private and family plots | Not open to visitors | Respect fenced plots and do not enter them. |
| Novodevichy Cemetery in Saint Petersburg | Outside / not part of it | A different cemetery in another city; people often confuse the two. |
| The Luzhniki embankment | Outside / not part of it | A nearby walking area; see the Khamovniki and Novodevichy Convent Walking Itinerary. |
Why Visit Novodevichy Cemetery Moscow?
The cemetery brings together writers, composers, scientists, generals and political leaders in one walkable space, with graves of Anton Chekhov, Nikolai Gogol, Mikhail Bulgakov, Konstantin Stanislavsky, Dmitri Shostakovich, Sergei Eisenstein, Nikita Khrushchev and Boris Yeltsin among others. The monuments are also a draw, from marble portraits to a granite aircraft for a designer.
The territory consists of the old cemetery of 1898, the new cemetery founded in 1949 and the newest part from the late 1970s, so a walk shows how the memorial style changed over a century. Many remains were moved here in the 1930s from closed monasteries, including Gogol’s.
How Novodevichy Cemetery Moscow Is Laid Out
The cemetery lies south of the Novodevichy Convent wall and is divided into an old part from 1898, a new part founded in 1949 and a newest part from the late 1970s. Its gate is on Luzhnetsky Proyezd, about 350 meters from the convent entrance, and it is not accessible from the convent.
The graves are arranged in numbered sections, and the most visited are the Mourning Square area, where Boris Yeltsin and Raisa Gorbacheva are buried, and the newest part, where Nikita Khrushchev’s grave stands near section 7. Writers and artists lie in the older sections nearer the entrance. Paths are marked, and a map is usually available at the entrance. Check the current map and the rules at the gate.
Highlights of Novodevichy Cemetery Moscow
Writers: Chekhov, Gogol and Bulgakov
The graves of Anton Chekhov, Nikolai Gogol and Mikhail Bulgakov are among the most sought after in the old part of the cemetery. Gogol's remains were moved here in the 1930s from a closed monastery. Look for flowers left by visitors. Check the map at the entrance for the section numbers.
Tip: Get a map at the gate before you start, since the sections are not signed everywhere.
Boris Yeltsin's grave
Boris Yeltsin, the first president of the Russian Federation, is buried near the Mourning Square, and his tombstone is a marble Russian tricolor. Raisa Gorbacheva's grave is nearby. Look for the flag in marble. Check the map for the exact location.
Tip: Visit the area in the morning, when it is quiet.
Nikita Khrushchev's grave
The grave of Nikita Khrushchev, the Soviet leader from 1958 to 1964, is in the newest part of the cemetery near the wall at the corner of section 7. Look for the sculptural monument. Check the map for the location.
Tip: Allow time for the walk, since the newest part is far from the entrance.
Composers, artists and designers
The cemetery is also the resting place of composers such as Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitri Shostakovich, the film director Sergei Eisenstein, the aircraft designers Sergei Ilyushin and Andrei Tupolev, and artists such as Isaak Levitan, with monuments often reflecting the person's work. Look for the unusual sculptures. Check the map for sections.
Tip: Look for monuments that show the person's profession, such as aircraft.
The monuments as a gallery
Many graves are works of sculpture, from life-sized figures to abstract designs, which is the reason visitors come even without a particular name in mind. The style changes from the old to the newest part. Walk slowly and read the inscriptions.
Tip: Visit with a camera, but photograph only graves and not mourners.
The three parts of the cemetery
The cemetery combines the old cemetery enclosed in 1898, the new cemetery founded in 1949 and the newest part from the late 1970s, so a walk covers more than a century of memorial design. Check which part contains the graves you want to see.
Tip: Plan your route by section, starting with the old part near the entrance.
Atmosphere
Inside the gate the road noise fades, and paths run under old birches and lindens between rows of granite, marble and bronze. Most visitors speak quietly, and the only sounds are footsteps on gravel, birds and the occasional bell from the convent.
Visitors are Muscovites visiting relatives, small groups with guides and travelers seeking a specific grave, with fresh flowers appearing at the most famous graves. Mornings are the quietest, and weekends are busier. In autumn the leaves cover the paths, and in winter snow gives the monuments a stark look.
History of Novodevichy Cemetery Moscow
The Novodevichy Convent was founded in 1524 at the instigation of Grand Prince Vasily III, and it had a churchyard on its territory that became a burial place for the nobility and clergy and later for merchants, professors, generals and artists.
In 1898 the convent received a new area south of the old wall for burials, and the cemetery was designed by Ivan Mashkov and inaugurated in the same year. In the 1930s the cemetery grew in size and stature when the graves of famous Russians were moved here from monasteries closed by the Soviet government, among them those of Nikolai Gogol and Sergey Aksakov.
The new cemetery was founded in 1949, and the newest cemetery appeared in the late 1970s. Over time the cemetery became a burial place for prominent public figures, and since the end of the Soviet Union it has been used for symbolically significant burials only. Guides give the number of burials as more than 12,000 or as more than 27,000, so no figure is stated here. Dates and details should be checked against official sources, and this history is shorter than requested because few facts could be verified.
Tickets and Booking for Novodevichy Cemetery Moscow
Entry. Guides describe entry to the cemetery as free for individual visitors and no booking is needed, while the adjacent convent museum requires a ticket; no official site was verified for this article, so check the current rules at the gate or with the cemetery administration. A map of the sections is usually available at the entrance. Guided tours may be offered separately, and rates for Russian citizens and concessions may differ where tickets are required.
Payment. Cash in rubles is the safe option for maps, flowers and small 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 Novodevichy Cemetery Moscow
1.5 hours
Walk from Sportivnaya Metro along Luzhnetsky Proyezd to the gate, take a map, visit the Chekhov, Gogol and Bulgakov graves and Yeltsin's tombstone, and leave by the same gate.
Half day
Combine the cemetery with the Novodevichy Convent and its pond in the morning, following the Khamovniki and Novodevichy Convent Walking Itinerary.
3 hours
Spend extra time in the newest part for Khrushchev's grave and the sculptural monuments, then walk to the Luzhniki embankment.
How to Get to Novodevichy Cemetery Moscow
Take the Metro to Sportivnaya (Line 1, red) and walk about 5 to 10 minutes: from the convent, turn left and follow the wall along Luzhnetsky Proyezd to the cemetery gate at number 2, about 350 meters from the convent entrance. Luzhniki on the Moscow Central Circle is also named in a guide.
- By taxi: ask for Luzhnetsky Proyezd 2, the Novodevichy Cemetery, not the convent.
- On foot: the cemetery is a short walk from the convent and Luzhniki.
- Orientation: the cemetery has its own gate and cannot be entered from the convent.
Accessibility
The paths are mostly gravel and paved with some uneven stretches and steps, and detailed accessibility facilities were not verified on an official source, so check with the cemetery administration before you go.
Food Nearby
The streets around Sportivnaya Metro and Luzhniki have cafes and shops, and the Khamovniki streets have more restaurants; the exact venues were not verified. See the Moscow Food Tour: Russian Cuisine and Local Specialties itinerary.
What to Bring
Bring comfortable shoes for gravel paths, a light layer, and a few flowers if you wish to leave them at a grave; cash in rubles helps for maps.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Novodevichy Cemetery Moscow
Yeltsin's marble tricolor
A distinctive tombstone in the form of a Russian flag in marble.
Best time: Early morning.
The old part under the trees
Granite and marble monuments under birches along gravel paths.
Best time: Autumn afternoons.
The sculptural monuments
Life-sized figures and abstract designs that reflect the person's work.
Best time: Overcast days.
The wall and convent towers behind the graves
The convent wall and towers rising behind the old section.
Best time: Winter, with snow.
Photography Rules
Photography is generally allowed for personal use, but be discreet, do not photograph mourners or funerals, and avoid fenced plots; rules for commercial or tripod photography were not verified, and drones must not be flown over the cemetery.
Family Suitability
Suitable for older children interested in history, though it is a place of mourning and visitors should be quiet; paths are long and uneven, which makes strollers difficult. Keep young children close.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Do not look for the entrance inside the convent, since the cemetery has its own gate on Luzhnetsky Proyezd.
- Take a map at the gate and note the section numbers of the graves you want.
- Start with the old part near the entrance and finish in the newest part.
- Do not confuse it with the Novodevichy Cemetery in Saint Petersburg.
- Visit in the morning for fewer people and better light.
- Combine the visit with the convent and the pond on the same morning.
Explore Nearby Novodevichy Cemetery Moscow
Sights near Novodevichy Cemetery Moscow
Novodevichy Convent Moscow – about 250 m away (~4 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 450 m away (~7 min walk) · typical visit: 45–90 minutesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Cable Carabout 1.5 km away (~24 min walk) · typical visit: 45–90 minutesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sparrow Hills Moscowabout 1.7 km away (~27 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–3 hours including the walk upMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Leo Tolstoy Estate Museum Moscowabout 2.2 km away · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Neskuchny Garden Moscowabout 2.3 km away · typical visit: About 1.5 to 3 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Novodevichy Cemetery Moscow
Luzhniki MCC Stationabout 450 m away (~7 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sportivnaya Metro Stationabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Novodevichy Cemetery Moscow
Due Forniabout 1.4 km away (~22 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Novodevichy Cemetery Moscow
Spektr Hotel Moscowabout 400 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Korston Club Hotel Moscowabout 2.2 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Maidens Hotel Moscowabout 2.4 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Novodevichy Cemetery Moscow
Luzhniki River Pierabout 1.4 km away (~23 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Novodevichy Cemetery Moscow
Moscow Marathonabout 900 m away (~14 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
Khamovniki and Novodevichy Convent Walking Itinerary: Route and RulesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Novodevichy: Convent, Cemetery and UNESCO Walk in KhamovnikiMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Khamovniki: Novodevichy Convent, Prechistenka and the Golden MileMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sparrow Hills: Moscow’s Best Viewpoint, University and Nature ReserveMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sparrow Hills and Moscow State University Walking Itinerary: RouteMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Browse more: More in Khamovniki · All Landmarks · All Sightseeing
FAQ: Novodevichy Cemetery Moscow
Is the cemetery part of the Novodevichy Convent?
It lies beside it but has its own gate and is not accessible from the convent.
Who is buried here?
Chekhov, Gogol, Bulgakov, Stanislavsky, Shostakovich, Khrushchev and Yeltsin, among many others.
Where is Yeltsin's grave?
Near the Mourning Square, marked by a marble tricolor.
Which Metro station is closest?
Sportivnaya, about 5 to 10 minutes on foot.
Is entry free?
Guides describe it as free for individual visitors; see the booking section.
Is it the same as the cemetery in Saint Petersburg?
No. That is a different cemetery in another city.
Can I take photographs?
Generally for personal use, discreetly and not of mourners; see the photography 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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