The Taganka and Krutitskoye Podvorye Walking Itinerary is for visitors who want to leave the main tourist circuit and see an older, quieter part of the center. It follows the road from a busy square and a famous theater to a secluded church courtyard of the 17th century and a fortified monastery near the river.
It assumes about four hours at an easy pace, with one optional tour of a Cold War bunker. By the end you will have seen the theater square, the carved gallery and the two-level cathedral of Krutitskoye Podvorye, the walls of Novospassky Monastery and the river bank below it, and you will know which of these are free to enter.
At a glance: Start on Taganka Square, ride one Metro stop east to Proletarskaya, walk through Krutitskoye Podvorye to Novospassky Monastery and finish at the river pier below it.
Half Day: The Theater Square, the Courtyard and the Monastery
The route starts in a lively square and gets quieter with each stop, ending among churches and a river bank. The bunker is the only timed visit and can be left out. The walking is flat and short, and the churches are seen mostly from outside or in a short visit.
- Taganka – Start at Taganskaya (Line 5, brown, or Line 7, purple) on the square with the Taganka Theater, in an Art Nouveau building and founded in 1964 by Yuri Lyubimov, where Vladimir Vysotsky was a leading actor (30 minutes)
- Bunker-42 – An optional tour of the Cold War command bunker, about eighteen floors underground, which is visited by guided tour only, includes many stairs and needs a booking; check the details first (1.5 to 2 hours, optional)
- Krutitskoye Podvorye – Ride one stop on Line 7 to Proletarskaya and walk about eight minutes to the secluded church courtyard with the carved Teremok gallery of 1693 to 1694 and the two-level Small Assumption Cathedral, the churches of 1689 and 1700; the courtyard is a working church site, so dress modestly (45 minutes)
- Novospassky Monastery – Walk about ten minutes to the fortified monastery on Krestyanskaya Square, founded in the early 14th century and linked to the Romanov family and their graves; check the hours and the rules for the grounds (45 minutes)
- Novospassky River Pier – Walk down to the Moskva River, where boats for central cruises and the regular route start; see the Novospassky River Pier and How to take a Moskva River cruise guides (20 minutes, optional)
Tip: Leave the bunker out if you have less than four hours, since the tour is long and the stairs are steep, and spend the time at the courtyard and the monastery instead.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Look for the carved Teremok gallery above the gate of Krutitskoye Podvorye, which is the most photographed detail of the courtyard.
- Keep to the paths and the church rules in the courtyard and the monastery, since both are working religious sites and the quiet is part of the visit.
- Check the booking for the bunker on the official site and bring a warm layer, since the tour is deep underground.
- The area has few cafes between the sights, so eat near Taganskaya or Proletarskaya before you walk.
- Add a boat from the Novospassky pier if the day is long; the Moskva river cruise guide covers the routes and the seasons.
- Carry some rubles for the tickets and a snack, since foreign cards are reported not to work.
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Train stations and river piers near Taganka and Krutitskoye Podvorye Walking Itinerary
Novospassky River PierMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ
Is Krutitskoye Podvorye free?
The courtyard can be entered, but the opening hours and any tickets for the museum parts and churches should be checked on the official sites.
What is Bunker-42?
A former Cold War command bunker below Taganka that is now a museum visited only by guided tour; it has many stairs.
Is Novospassky Monastery open to visitors?
Yes, it is a working monastery whose grounds can be visited within its rules; check the hours.
Which Metro station is best?
Taganskaya for the start, and Proletarskaya or Krestyanskaya Zastava for the courtyard and the monastery.
How long does the route take?
About four hours with the bunker skipped, or six hours with it.
Can I combine it with other walks?
Yes. The Zamoskvorechye and Tretyakov Gallery Walking Itinerary and the Kitay-Gorod and Zaryadye Park Walking Itinerary are nearby.
Is the area safe to walk?
It is a normal city district; keep to the main streets after dark and take usual care with your belongings.
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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Last updated: October 8, 2026.
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