Tsvetnoy Boulevard Moscow is a short boulevard in the Meshchansky District that runs from Trubnaya Square in the south to the Garden Ring in the north. It was called Trubny Boulevard until 1851, and its present name, meaning colorful, recalls the flower market that once stood nearby.
The boulevard is known above all for the Nikulin Circus, one of the oldest permanent circuses in Russia, and for the monuments in front of it, a statue of the clown Yuri Nikulin and the Clowns fountain. It also has the Tsvetnoy Central Market department store and a column with a statue of St. George slaying the dragon. It is a quick, easy stop between Trubnaya Square and the Sretenka area.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Цветной бульвар |
|---|---|
| Address | Tsvetnoy Boulevard, from Trubnaya Square to the Garden Ring, central Moscow OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Meshchansky |
| Metro | Tsvetnoy Bulvar (Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya Line (Line 9, gray), The entrance vestibule is on the boulevard, close to the circus; green stained glass with a circus theme hangs above the stairs in the entrance hall; the walking time to other sights was not verified) Trubnaya (Lyublinsko-Dmitrovskaya Line (Line 10, lime), At the southern end of the boulevard, at Trubnaya Square; linked with Tsvetnoy Bulvar; the exit and the walking time were not verified) |
| Opening hours | The boulevard is public and can be walked at any time; the circus, the market and the cafes keep their own hours.
(as of October 2026 – check the official site) |
| Admission | Walking the boulevard is free. Circus performances need tickets, and the market and the shops set their own rules. |
| Best time to visit | The boulevard can be visited all year, and it is best on a dry day in spring, summer or autumn, when the fountain is running. Circus performances are scheduled in the afternoon and evening, so plan around them. Crowd patterns were not verified. |
| Recommended duration | 1 to 2 hours |
| Last updated | October 7, 2026 |
What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to Tsvetnoy Boulevard?
| Part | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tsvetnoy Boulevard and the fountain | Included in the standard ticket | A public boulevard and free monuments that can be seen at any time. |
| Monument to Yuri Nikulin | Included in the standard ticket | A free monument at the circus's main entrance. |
| Nikulin Circus performances | Separate ticket or institution | Performances need tickets from the circus itself. |
| Tsvetnoy Central Market | Separate ticket or institution | A department store with its own hours and prices. |
| Tsvetnoy Bulvar metro station | Included in the standard ticket | Seen with a metro ticket, with stained glass in the entrance hall. |
| Trubnaya Square | Outside / not part of it | At the southern end of the boulevard, a busy junction. |
| Sretenka and the boulevards of the ring | Outside / not part of it | Nearby areas with their own guides. |
Why Visit Tsvetnoy Boulevard?
Tsvetnoy Boulevard is the place to see the circus building that has stood here since 1880, together with the statue of Yuri Nikulin at its main entrance and the Clowns fountain across the boulevard, made by the sculptor Zurab Tsereteli in 2002. A performance in the circus is the main reason to come, and it can be combined with a short walk.
The boulevard also has the Tsvetnoy Central Market and the Tsvetnoy Bulvar metro station, whose green stained glass shows a circus theme. It is flat, free to walk, and close to Trubnaya Square, the Sretensky and Rozhdestvensky boulevards and the Garden Ring.
How Tsvetnoy Boulevard Is Laid Out
Tsvetnoy Boulevard is not part of the Boulevard Ring. It runs north and south from Petrovsky and Rozhdestvensky boulevards at Trubnaya Square to the Garden Ring, and it lies on the former bed of the Neglinnaya River, which was earthed up together with a large pond before the boulevard was laid out in the 1830s.
The Nikulin Circus stands at number 13, with the monument to Nikulin at its main entrance and the Clowns fountain on the boulevard opposite. The Tsvetnoy Central Market stands on the same boulevard, and a column with the statue of St. George slaying the dragon, the coat of arms of Moscow, rises along it. The Tsvetnoy Bulvar metro station is next to the circus, and Trubnaya is at the southern end.
A sensible walk starts at Trubnaya, follows the boulevard north past the fountain and the circus, and ends at the Tsvetnoy Bulvar station or at the Garden Ring.
Highlights of Tsvetnoy Boulevard
The Nikulin Circus
The circus is one of the oldest permanent circuses in Russia. It was founded in 1880 by Albert Salamonsky on the site of a former flower market, and its present building opened on 29 September 1989, after the old one was dismantled in 1985. Yuri Nikulin worked here for 33 years and led it from 1983 until 1997, and the circus now carries his name. Performances need tickets from the circus.
Tip: Check the circus's own site for the current performances, since the program changes through the season.
The monument to Yuri Nikulin
A monument to Yuri Nikulin, one of the most popular clowns and film actors in Russia, stands at the main entrance of the circus, and was erected in 2000. It shows the performer in an informal pose and is a popular place for photographs. It is a free sight on the boulevard.
Tip: Take the photo in the morning, before the circus crowds arrive.
The Clowns fountain
The Clowns fountain, by the sculptor Zurab Tsereteli, was inaugurated in 2002 on the boulevard opposite the circus. The composition is dedicated to Yuri Nikulin and to Albert Salamonsky, the founder of the circus. It stands in the middle of the boulevard and is a pleasant spot to sit.
Tip: Look for it in the green strip opposite the circus entrance.
The Tsvetnoy Central Market
The Tsvetnoy Central Market is a modern department store on the boulevard, with a wide choice of food, according to a travel listing. It is one of the notable landmarks of the boulevard and a shop with its own hours. The name recalls the old market of the area.
Tip: Check the shop's own hours, since they were not verified.
The column of St. George
A lofty column along the boulevard supports the statue of St. George slaying the dragon, which is the coat of arms of Moscow. It is one of the landmarks listed for the boulevard. It stands in the open and can be seen from a distance.
Tip: Look for it along the boulevard on the way to the Garden Ring.
The Tsvetnoy Bulvar metro station
The station, on the Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya Line, has its vestibule on the boulevard next to the circus. Its entrance hall has green stained glass with a circus theme above the stairs, and it connects to Trubnaya on Line 10. It is a short stop for metro fans.
Tip: Look up at the stained glass in the entrance hall.
Atmosphere
Tsvetnoy Boulevard is a short, calm green strip between busy roads. The trees and benches in the middle of the boulevard give shade, and the Clowns fountain makes a natural meeting point.
By day it is used by residents, shoppers at the Tsvetnoy Central Market and visitors on their way to the circus, and families gather before the afternoon and evening performances. In the evening the circus entrance is lit and the fountain draws walkers. The crowd varies by day and season, and no figures were verified.
History of Tsvetnoy Boulevard
Tsvetnoy Boulevard was called Trubny Boulevard before 1851. It was laid out in the 1830s to replace the bed of the Neglinnaya River, after the river and the adjacent large pond had been earthed up. Its present name comes from the Russian word for colorful, and refers to the flower market that stood nearby.
On the site of the former flower market, where traveling shows and artists performed at fairs, the circus proprietor Albert Salamonsky opened Moscow’s first circus in October 1880. It was a stationary circus, and it began the circus’s history on the boulevard, which became one of the most important in Russia.
A new circus building, with a Soviet-style facade, opened in 1937 under the name of the Moscow State Circus of the Order of Lenin, though Muscovites still called it the Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. In 1945 Nikolay Baikalov became its director, an era that was one of the most important parts of its history. Many of the best-known Russian clowns performed here, and Yuri Nikulin worked at the circus for 33 years.
The old circus building was dismantled in 1985, and the new building opened on 29 September 1989. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Maksim Nikulin negotiated the circus’s independence from the central circus organization. After the death of Yuri Nikulin in 1997 the circus was renamed the Nikulin Circus. A monument to Nikulin was erected at the main entrance in 2000, and in 2002 the Clowns fountain by Zurab Tsereteli was inaugurated on the boulevard opposite.
The boulevard also has the Tsvetnoy Central Market department store and a column with a statue of St. George slaying the dragon, the coat of arms of Moscow. The Tsvetnoy Bulvar metro station gives its name to the boulevard, and its entrance hall has a stained-glass window with a circus theme.
Tickets and Booking for Tsvetnoy Boulevard
There is no ticket for the boulevard. The Nikulin Circus sells tickets for its performances through its own channels, and its official website is eng.circus.moscow; the program and prices change by season, so check them there before you plan a visit. The Tsvetnoy Central Market and other venues set their own rules, and no individual venue was verified for this guide.
- Neighboring areas: Sretenka and Tverskoy, with their own guides, are close by.
- 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 at most venues, so check each venue’s own page for all categories.
Plan and Book
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Suggested Itineraries for Tsvetnoy Boulevard
1 hour
Start at Tsvetnoy Bulvar and look at the statue of Yuri Nikulin at the circus entrance. Cross to the Clowns fountain on the boulevard and walk toward Trubnaya Square.
2 hours
Follow the 1-hour route, then add the Tsvetnoy Central Market and the column of St. George. End at Trubnaya for a walk toward the Sretensky Boulevard.
3 hours
Add a circus performance, planned with the circus's own schedule, or continue to Sretenka Street. Check venue hours first.
How to Get to Tsvetnoy Boulevard
The Tsvetnoy Bulvar station, on Line 9, has its vestibule on the boulevard, next to the circus, and Trubnaya (Line 10) stands at the southern end, linked with it. The exits and walking times were not verified.
- Metro: use Tsvetnoy Bulvar to start at the circus and Trubnaya to start at the southern end; the metro guides on this site explain the lines.
- Taxi: the taxi apps guide of this site explains the options; the boulevard is quiet but the roads at its ends are busy.
Accessibility
No accessibility information for the boulevard was found. The paths are level, as far as is known, but the access to the circus, the market and the metro station was not verified, so check before you go.
Food Nearby
The Tsvetnoy Central Market offers food options, and cafes and restaurants line the boulevard and the streets around it. No individual venue was verified for this guide, so check opening hours and menus on site.
What to Bring
Comfortable shoes for a short flat walk, and layers for the season. Bring rubles in cash for small purchases, since foreign cards are reported not to work.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Tsvetnoy Boulevard
The Clowns fountain
The fountain by Zurab Tsereteli in the middle of the boulevard, with the circus building behind it. The sculpture group gives a lively foreground.
Best time: Morning light.
The Nikulin monument at the circus entrance
The statue of Yuri Nikulin by the main entrance, with the circus facade behind. It frames the building well.
Best time: Early morning, before crowds.
The metro entrance hall
The green stained glass with a circus theme above the stairs in the Tsvetnoy Bulvar station. The glass is the main detail.
Best time: Any time during metro hours.
Photography Rules
No general photography rules for the boulevard were found. The circus, the market and the metro set their own rules, so look for signs and ask the staff before photographing inside, and avoid flash during performances.
Family Suitability
The circus makes the boulevard a classic family stop, with the fountain and the green strip to walk in before or after a show. The performances suit children, though the program should be checked for age suitability. Stroller access on the paths and in the circus was not verified.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Check the circus's current program on its own site, since shows change through the season and some are aimed at younger children.
- Arrive early at the circus if you want the photos at the monument without crowds.
- Look for the stained glass in the Tsvetnoy Bulvar entrance hall, which is easy to miss.
- Do not confuse Tsvetnoy Boulevard with the Boulevard Ring; it runs north to the Garden Ring instead.
- Walk south to Trubnaya Square and on to Sretensky Boulevard for a longer green walk.
- Combine the boulevard with Sretenka Street, which is a short way east.
Explore Nearby Tsvetnoy Boulevard
Sights near Tsvetnoy Boulevard
Nikulin Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevardabout 50 m away (~1 min walk) · typical visit: About 2.5 to 3 hours for a performanceMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Gulag History Museum Moscowabout 400 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Vysokopetrovsky Monastery Moscow – about 450 m away (~8 min walk) · typical visit: 2–3 hours (if doing the overview tour and/or the belltower mini-tour)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Museum of Modern Artabout 500 m away (~8 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hours per venueMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hermitage Garden Moscowabout 600 m away (~10 min walk) · typical visit: About 1 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
State Museum of Decorative Arts Moscowabout 800 m away (~13 min walk) · 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 Tsvetnoy Boulevard
Tsvetnoy Bulvar Metro Stationabout 100 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Trubnaya Metro Stationabout 150 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sukharevskaya Metro Stationabout 850 m away (~14 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Tsvetnoy Boulevard
Sakhliabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Butcher Steak Houseabout 300 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Gorynychabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
La Maréeabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nightlife near Tsvetnoy Boulevard
Delicatessenabout 600 m away (~10 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Mendeleev Bar & Musicabout 700 m away (~12 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Tsvetnoy Boulevard
Petrovka Loft Mini Hotelabout 750 m away (~12 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Okno Aparthotelabout 600 m away (~9 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Rus Teatralnaya Hostelabout 850 m away (~14 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Tsvetnoy Boulevard
Circle of Light Festival in Moscowabout 1.1 km away (~19 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Pushkin Day and Russian Language Day in Moscowabout 1.1 km away (~19 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Tea Party Festivalabout 1.2 km away (~20 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Related guides
Tverskoy: Tverskaya Street, Bolshoi Theatre and Pushkin SquareMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sretenka: Moscow’s Old Pilgrim Road, Monastery and BoulevardsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Azbuka Vkusa: Gourmet Supermarkets in Moscow, What to BuyMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Cathedral Mosque: Visiting, History and EtiquetteMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Patriarch’s Ponds Moscow: Pond, Bulgakov Sites and Walking TipsMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Browse more: More in Meshchansky · All Neighborhoods
FAQ: Tsvetnoy Boulevard
Why is it called Tsvetnoy Boulevard?
After the flower market that stood nearby; the name means colorful.
What was it called before?
Trubny Boulevard, until 1851.
Is it part of the Boulevard Ring?
No, it runs north to the Garden Ring from Trubnaya Square.
What is the Nikulin Circus?
One of the oldest permanent circuses in Russia, founded in 1880.
What is the Clowns fountain?
A fountain by Zurab Tsereteli from 2002, dedicated to Yuri Nikulin and the circus's founder.
Which metro station is the nearest?
Tsvetnoy Bulvar, on Line 9, next to the circus.
Is there an entrance fee?
No for the boulevard; circus performances need tickets.
How long does a visit take?
About 1 to 2 hours, longer with a performance.
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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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