Patriarch’s Ponds and Tverskoy Boulevard Walking Itinerary: Route

The Patriarch’s Ponds and Tverskoy Boulevard Walking Itinerary is a quiet walk through one of the most literary corners of central Moscow, for visitors who like old streets, benches and books more than big sights. It links a small pond, a lane of low houses and a long tree-lined boulevard.

It assumes about two to three hours at an easy pace, with time to sit and a coffee on the way. By the end you will have seen the pond that opens Bulgakov’s novel, the monument to Krylov, the oldest boulevard of the Boulevard Ring, the house that inspired a famous fictional writers’ club and Pushkin Square.

At a glance: Walk from Mayakovskaya to Patriarch's Ponds, follow Malaya Bronnaya to Tverskoy Boulevard, stroll the boulevard past its monuments and the Literature Institute, and finish at Pushkin Square.

Half Day: From the Pond to Pushkin Square

The route is short, flat and almost free of traffic, so the pace is set by how long you sit. It starts at a small pond, goes along a lane of low houses and then follows a long boulevard under trees, past monuments to writers. It ends at a busy square with a Metro station on three lines, so getting away is easy.

1. Patriarch's Ponds – Start at Mayakovskaya (Line 2, green) and walk about ten minutes to the pond, the setting of the opening scene of The Master and Margarita; the park is free and open all day, and one pond remains of the original ones (40 to 60 minutes)
2. Malaya Bronnaya Street – Leave the park along the quiet street of low houses that runs from the Garden Ring to Tverskoy Boulevard; the monument to the fable writer Ivan Krylov stands in the square by the pond (20 minutes)
3. Tverskoy Boulevard – Reach the oldest boulevard of the Boulevard Ring, laid out in 1796, and turn west for the short detour to the monument to Kliment Timiryazev at the Nikitsky Gate, which dates from 1923 (20 minutes)
4. House of Herzen – Walk back east along the boulevard to number 25, the old house that holds the Gorky Literature Institute and served as the model for the fictional Griboyedov House in Bulgakov's novel; you can look at the courtyard monument to Herzen from outside (20 minutes)
5. Esenin Monument – Stop at the monument to the poet Sergei Esenin at number 19 of the boulevard, from 1995, where a cafe once drew poets and their admirers (10 minutes)
6. Pushkin Square – End at the square with the monument to Alexander Pushkin of 1880 and the Pushkinskaya Metro station (Line 7, purple), linked to Tverskaya (Line 2, green) and Chekhovskaya (Line 9, light gray) (20 minutes)

Tip: Go in the morning or the early evening, when the benches around the pond are free and the light comes down the boulevard, and keep the Bulgakov museum for another day because it has its own ticket and hours.

Moscow Vibes Tips

• Look for the sign about talking to strangers in the park by the pond: it is a quotation from the novel's first page and a favorite photo spot.
• Sit on a bench on the Malaya Bronnaya side of the pond for the view of the houses around it, which is calmer than the side facing the cafes.
• Walk the boulevard along the central alley under the trees rather than the pavement, where the old plane trees and benches are.
• The Bulgakov House museum on Bolshaya Sadovaya is a separate museum with its own ticket and hours, and its wall of graffiti is famous; check its hours before adding it.
• In winter the pond becomes a skating rink in some years, so check on site before you plan to skate.
• Keep a few rubles for the cafes around the pond, since foreign cards are reported not to work.

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FAQ

Why is Patriarch's Ponds famous?

It is the setting of the opening scene of Mikhail Bulgakov's novel The Master and Margarita, and it is one of the most literary corners of central Moscow.

Are there several ponds?

Only one pond remains today, although the name is plural; the area was drained and ponds were dug in the 17th century.

Is Patriarch's Ponds free?

Yes, the park is public and free to enter, and it is open all day.

What is the House of Herzen?

A historic house at Tverskoy Boulevard 25 that holds the Gorky Literature Institute and was the model for the writers' house in Bulgakov's novel.

Which Metro station is best to start from?

Mayakovskaya on the green Line 2, about ten minutes' walk from the pond; Pushkinskaya and Tverskaya are nearby alternatives.

How long does the route take?

About two to three hours at an easy pace, with time to sit.

Can I link it with other walks?

Yes. Continue to Arbat or Chistye Prudy; see the Arbat and New Arbat Walking Itinerary and the Patriarch's Ponds guide.

Can I pay with a foreign card?

Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, and your country's sanctions rules may restrict some services, so carry some rubles and check this yourself.

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