Explore Moscow's Yakimanka district, where riverside walks, major art museums and spacious parks offer a different perspective on the city centre. This page brings together local guides to attractions, restaurants, hotels and transport connections, supported by an interactive map. Discover places such as Muzeon Art Park, Gorky Park and the New Tretyakov Gallery, then browse the individual articles for more information. Use the map to compare locations and organise a walk that combines culture, architecture and time outdoors.
Yakimanka is a riverside district south of the Kremlin, with Gorky Park, Neskuchny Garden, the Muzeon sculpture park and both Tretyakov Gallery buildings. It also has a quiet convent on Bolshaya Ordynka and an Italian restaurant above the city.
The list on this page covers these places and the metro stations around them. Use the text below to choose between art, parks and a walk, and to avoid the common mix-up between the two Tretyakov buildings. Opening days vary, so check each venue's official site before you go.
Choose between the two Tretyakov buildings
Choose the Tretyakov Gallery on Lavrushinsky Lane for Russian art up to the revolution. It is the national collection in the historic house, open Tuesday to Sunday, with late hours on Thursday to Saturday and a Monday closure. Allow two to three hours. A standard adult ticket is moderate (₽₽).
Choose the New Tretyakov Gallery on Krymsky Val for the twentieth century: Malevich, Kandinsky, Chagall and Tatlin, then a long run of Soviet art. It is a separate building, also at a moderate level (₽₽), and a combined ticket with the Lavrushinsky building has been offered.
Late evenings from Thursday to Saturday are the quietest at the New Tretyakov.
Parks, a convent and an Italian lunch
Choose Muzeon Art Park for Soviet-era statues and modern works, free to enter and open daily. Neskuchny Garden is the historic part of Gorky Park along the river, also free, with ponds and a summer house. Krymsky Val ties the area together on foot.
Choose the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent for a quieter visit of about an hour. The grounds are free, and the house-museum offers free tours.
Mushrooms is an Italian restaurant above Bolshaya Yakimanka, with wood-fired pizza and house pasta, at an upscale level (₽₽₽). Hours differ between sources, so lunch and dinner are the safe times.
Metro stations and the summer market
Polyanka has a large sculpture of a couple with a child at the end of the platform. Oktyabrskaya on the Circle Line is an Empire-style station with a theme of 1812.
Tretyakovskaya and Polyanka serve the convent and the gallery, and Oktyabrskaya and Park Kultury serve Krymsky Val, Muzeon and Neskuchny Garden.
The Moscow Summer Fair is a summer market of Moscow-made goods on Bolotnaya Square, with a food court and an open-air cinema. Entering is free, and weekday afternoons are the quietest.
Frequently asked questions
Are the two Tretyakov galleries the same building?
No. The historic building on Lavrushinsky Lane has Russian art up to the revolution, and the New Tretyakov on Krymsky Val has twentieth-century art. A combined ticket has been offered.
Are the Tretyakov galleries open on Monday?
No, the galleries are closed on Mondays. Both have late hours on Thursday to Saturday.
Is Muzeon Art Park free?
Yes. The park and its sculptures can be visited without a ticket. The New Tretyakov Gallery next door and some indoor spaces have their own tickets.
Is Neskuchny Garden part of Gorky Park?
Yes, it is the historic part of Gorky Park along the Moskva River. Entry is free, though some attractions and events inside may charge.
Can I visit the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent?
Yes. Entry to the grounds is free, and the house-museum offers free tours. Check the official site for the days.
When does the Moscow Summer Fair run?
It runs only in summer on Bolotnaya Square, with its own hours, usually until the evening. Entering is free.
Final thoughts
Yakimanka is particularly convenient for combining museum visits with walks along the Moskva River. Start with an attraction that interests you, then use the interactive map to find nearby parks, restaurants and transport stops. Check the official source for current museum exhibitions and visitor information before finalising your route, especially when planning several indoor attractions.
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