Novodevichy Convent Moscow, the New Maiden Convent, stands about four kilometers south-west of the center, in a bend of the Moskva River in the Khamovniki District. It was founded in 1524 by Grand Prince Vasili III to commemorate the capture of Smolensk, and it has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2004 as an outstanding example of Moscow Baroque.
The convent is still active and also works as a museum. Next to it lies the Novodevichy Cemetery, where many well-known writers, artists and politicians are buried, among them Gogol, Chekhov and Boris Yeltsin. The area is reached from the Sportivnaya metro station, and a visit takes about half a day.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Новодевичий |
|---|---|
| Address | Novodevichy Passage 1, Khamovniki District, Moscow |
| District | Khamovniki |
| Metro | Sportivnaya (Sokolnicheskaya Line (Line 1, red), The usual station for the convent; sources give 5 to 15 minutes' walk along 10-letiya Oktyabrya Street to the main gate, so allow about 10 minutes; the exit was not verified) Luzhniki (Moscow Central Circle (Line 14), Listed as an alternative station in one guide; the exit and the walking time were not verified) |
| Opening hours | The convent grounds, the museum rooms, the Smolensk Cathedral and the cemetery all keep different hours, and published sources disagree on them. The grounds are generally open in daytime, the museum has shorter hours and closing days (older sources name Tuesday and the first Monday of the month), and the Smolensk Cathedral opens only in the warm season. The cemetery's hours differ between summer and winter.
(as of October 2026 – check the official site) |
| Admission | Prices differ between sources and were not confirmed. One guide says walking the convent grounds is free, while others list a ticket for the museum and a charge for the cemetery for foreign visitors; check each price at the entrance or on the convent's own site. |
| Best time to visit | The convent can be visited all year, but the Smolensk Cathedral opens only in the warm season, so late spring, summer and early autumn give the fullest visit. The cemetery has longer hours in summer. Crowd patterns were not verified. |
| Recommended duration | Half a day |
| Last updated | October 7, 2026 |
What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to Novodevichy?
| Part | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Convent grounds and walls | Included in the standard ticket | Open in the daytime; one guide says walking the grounds is free, but sources differ. |
| Smolensk Cathedral interior | Separate ticket or institution | Open only in the warm season, with dates that differ between sources. |
| Museum rooms and exhibitions | Separate ticket or institution | A museum with its own ticket, hours and closing days, not confirmed. |
| Novodevichy Cemetery | Separate ticket or institution | Has its own entrance on Luzhnetsky Proyezd and its own hours; a charge for foreign visitors was reported in older sources. |
| Novodevichy Pond | Outside / not part of it | A pond beside the walls, which can be seen from outside. |
| Luzhniki Stadium | Outside / not part of it | A sports complex nearby, not part of the convent. |
| Prechistenka and Khamovniki | Outside / not part of it | Nearby areas with their own guides. |
Why Visit Novodevichy?
The convent is one of the best-preserved ensembles of old Moscow: a walled complex with 12 towers, the five-domed Smolensk Cathedral from the 1520s with its 16th-century frescoes, and later buildings in the Moscow Baroque style. Its restoration was completed in autumn 2024, for the 500th anniversary.
The cemetery next door, with more than 26,000 burials according to a travel listing, shows the history of Russia in its gravestones and sculpture. The convent is calm and far from the traffic of the center, and it combines well with a walk through Khamovniki. Hours and prices differ between sources, so check them before you go.
How Novodevichy Is Laid Out
The convent is an almost square complex surrounded by a thick wall with 12 towers, in a bend of the Moskva River. The main gate faces Novodevichy Passage, which is reached from the Sportivnaya metro station along 10-letiya Oktyabrya Street, and the Novodevichy Pond lies beside the walls.
Inside, the Smolensk Cathedral stands at the center, with the museum rooms, among them the Setunsky chambers, and other buildings of the 16th to 18th centuries around it. The cemetery lies next to the convent, with its own main entrance on Luzhnetsky Proyezd 2. Access from the convent to the cemetery is sometimes closed, so plan to use the cemetery’s own gate.
A sensible route starts at Sportivnaya, goes to the convent’s main gate, tours the grounds and the cathedral, then walks around the walls to the cemetery entrance.
Highlights of Novodevichy
The Smolensk Cathedral
The cathedral is the oldest and most important building of the convent, built in 1524 and 1525, and attributed to the Italian architect Aloisio da Milano, though the attribution is not certain. It is a traditional cross-domed church with five domes, famous for its 16th-century frescoes. The interior is open only in the warm season, because the church is not heated, and the opening months differ by source.
Tip: Check the dates of the cathedral's summer opening before you plan the visit.
The walls and towers
The convent was built as a fortress as well as a religious house, with strong walls and 12 towers. The walls are brown and the cathedral's domes are golden, and the contrast is the best view of the complex. The almost square plan can be followed on a walk around the outside.
Tip: Walk around the walls to see the towers and the pond.
The working convent
The convent was closed after the revolution of 1917, reopened as a state museum in 1926, and returned to its original function in 1994, with services held in the cathedral since 1995. Liturgies take place daily, in the morning and the evening, according to a travel guide. It is an active place, so dress modestly and keep quiet.
Tip: Cover your shoulders and knees, and women should bring a scarf.
The museum rooms
The convent's museum has an exposition in the Setunsky chambers called Moscow Eparchy: yesterday and today, open daily in the daytime, according to a travel guide. The museum's tickets, hours and closing days differ between sources and were not confirmed. The museum is separate from the cemetery.
Tip: Check the museum's hours at the ticket office, since sources disagree.
The Novodevichy Cemetery
The cemetery has been a place of burial for well-known people since 1923, and more than 26,000 people are buried there, among them Gogol, Chekhov and Boris Yeltsin. It has famous sculptural gravestones. Its main entrance is on Luzhnetsky Proyezd 2, and hours differ between summer and winter. A charge for foreign visitors was reported in older sources and was not confirmed.
Tip: Use a cemetery map at the gate, since the paths are long and the graves are spread out.
The approach from Sportivnaya
The usual way in is from the Sportivnaya metro station, along 10-letiya Oktyabrya Street, to the main gate of the convent. The walk takes about 10 minutes, according to sources. The street leads past the Novodevichy Pond and gives a first view of the walls.
Tip: Take this approach, since it shows the towers and the pond together.
Atmosphere
The convent is calm and green, with brown walls, golden domes and a pond beside the walls. Bells and services can be heard on the grounds, and the paths are quiet compared with the traffic of the center.
By day visitors, pilgrims and walkers move slowly between the cathedral, the museum rooms and the cemetery, and the cemetery is a long, shaded walk among sculpted gravestones. The mood is respectful and quiet. The crowd varies by season and day, and no figures were verified.
History of Novodevichy
The Novodevichy Convent was founded in 1524 by Grand Prince Vasili III to commemorate the capture of the old Russian city of Smolensk from Lithuanian rule. It stands in a bend of the Moskva River, southwest of the city center, and was built as a fortress as well as a religious house, with strong walls and 12 towers.
The Smolensk Cathedral, built in 1524 and 1525 and attributed to the Italian architect Aloisio da Milano, is the oldest building of the complex. Until the early 18th century the convent enjoyed the protection of the royal family, and its splendor was extraordinary, and it was among the most elegant in Moscow. It housed many women of the Russian nobility, some of whom were forced to take the veil.
Most of the buildings were built between the 16th and 17th centuries, which is why the dominant style is the Moscow Baroque, also called the Naryshkin style. Much of the ensemble has remained almost unchanged since the 16th to 18th centuries.
The convent was closed after the revolution of 1917 and reopened as a state museum in 1926. The cemetery next to it became a place of burial for famous people from 1923, and more than 26,000 people are buried there, among them the writers Gogol and Chekhov and later Boris Yeltsin.
Monastic life resumed in 1994, and services have been held in the Smolensk Cathedral since 1995. The complex was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004 as an outstanding example of Moscow Baroque. After about a decade of restoration work, the renovation was largely completed in autumn 2024, to coincide with the 500th anniversary of the convent.
Today the convent is both an active convent and a museum, and it lies in the Khamovniki District, next to the cemetery, the Novodevichy Pond and the Luzhniki sports area.
Tickets and Booking for Novodevichy
Prices, hours and the cathedral’s opening dates differ between the published sources and were not confirmed, so this guide gives no ticket prices. Tickets for the museum rooms are bought at the convent’s ticket office, and the cemetery has its own entrance with its own rules; one guide reports that the cemetery was free for visitors in general and another that foreign visitors paid a charge, so check on site.
- Cathedral: the Smolensk Cathedral is open only in the warm season, so confirm the dates for your trip.
- 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, and the convent’s own website, whose address was not verified for this guide, should be checked for all categories.
Plan and Book
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Suggested Itineraries for Novodevichy
2 hours
Walk from Sportivnaya along 10-letiya Oktyabrya Street to the convent's main gate. Tour the grounds and look at the Smolensk Cathedral from outside, then walk along the pond.
3 hours
Follow the 2-hour route and add the museum rooms, planned with the convent's own hours. Check whether the cathedral is open on your visit.
Half day
Add the Novodevichy Cemetery, entering by its own gate, with a map for the graves. Finish with a walk in Khamovniki toward Prechistenka.
How to Get to Novodevichy
The usual station is Sportivnaya, on Line 1, from which the convent’s main gate is a walk along 10-letiya Oktyabrya Street. Sources give 5 to 15 minutes for the walk, so allow about 10 minutes. The Luzhniki station on the Moscow Central Circle, Line 14, is listed as an alternative. The exits were not verified.
- Metro: use Sportivnaya; the metro guides on this site explain the lines.
- Taxi: the taxi apps guide of this site explains the options; the convent is outside the center, so a taxi is practical from there.
Accessibility
No accessibility information for the convent or the cemetery was found. The grounds have paths and uneven surfaces in places, and the cemetery is large, so ask at the ticket office before you go.
Food Nearby
Cafes and restaurants stand near the Sportivnaya station and along the streets toward Khamovniki. No individual venue was verified for this guide, so check opening hours and menus on site.
What to Bring
Modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees, a scarf for women, and comfortable shoes for the cemetery's long paths. Bring rubles in cash for small purchases, since foreign cards are reported not to work.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Novodevichy
The walls and towers across the pond
The brown walls and towers with the golden domes behind them, reflected in the Novodevichy Pond. The water gives a calm foreground.
Best time: Morning or late afternoon light.
The Smolensk Cathedral from the courtyard
The five-domed cathedral at the center of the complex, in the sun. The contrast with the brown walls is the point of the view.
Best time: Sunny late morning.
The cemetery's sculpted gravestones
The sculptures among the trees along the cemetery paths, a record of Russian sculpture. Photograph respectfully.
Best time: Autumn, when the leaves change.
Photography Rules
No official photography rules were found. One older guide lists a photography surcharge at the convent, which was not confirmed. The convent is active, so ask before photographing inside and avoid flash, and be discreet in the cemetery.
Family Suitability
The convent suits families with older children who are interested in history, and the grounds and the pond give space to walk. The cemetery is long and quiet and less suited to young children. Stroller access on the paths was not verified.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Check whether the Smolensk Cathedral is open before you travel, since it opens only in the warm season.
- Use the cemetery's own gate on Luzhnetsky Proyezd, since the passage from the convent is sometimes closed.
- Arrive on a weekday morning, when the paths are quietest.
- Take a cemetery map, since the graves are spread over a large area.
- Walk the approach from Sportivnaya, which shows the towers and the pond together.
- Combine the visit with Khamovniki and Prechistenka for a full day.
Explore Nearby Novodevichy
Sights near Novodevichy
Novodevichy Convent Moscow – about 50 m away (~1 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 200 m away (~3 min walk) · typical visit: 45–90 minutesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Novodevichy Cemetery Moscowabout 250 m away (~4 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Cable Carabout 1.7 km away (~28 min walk) · typical visit: 45–90 minutesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sparrow Hills Moscowabout 1.9 km away (~31 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 2.1 km away · 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 Novodevichy
Sportivnaya Metro Stationabout 600 m away (~9 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Frunzenskaya Metro Stationabout 1.4 km away (~23 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Vorobyovy Gory Metro Stationabout 1.8 km away (~29 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Novodevichy
Due Forniabout 1.2 km away (~19 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Novodevichy
Spektr Hotel Moscowabout 550 m away (~9 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Maidens Hotel Moscowabout 2.3 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Korston Club 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
Luzhniki River Pierabout 1.6 km away (~27 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Novodevichy
Moscow Marathonabout 1.1 km away (~18 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
Khamovniki: Novodevichy Convent, Prechistenka and the Golden MileMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Prechistenka: Moscow Mansions, Pushkin and Tolstoy MuseumsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Luzhniki MCC Station: Sportivnaya Transfer, Luzhniki Complex AccessMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sergiev Posad Day Trip from Moscow: Trains, Lavra and TimingMain 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.
Browse more: More in Khamovniki · All Neighborhoods
FAQ: Novodevichy
What is Novodevichy?
A walled convent from 1524 in the Khamovniki District, with a cemetery next to it.
Is it a UNESCO site?
Yes, since 2004.
Who is buried in the cemetery?
Among others Gogol, Chekhov and Boris Yeltsin.
Is the convent still active?
Yes, monastic life resumed in 1994.
Which metro station is the nearest?
Sportivnaya, on Line 1.
Is the Smolensk Cathedral always open?
No, only in the warm season.
Is there an entrance fee?
It differs between sources; check at the entrance.
How long does a visit take?
About half a day with the cemetery.
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Last updated: October 7, 2026. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.
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