Arbat Street in Moscow is not quite like anywhere we had been before, yet it seems every town has somewhere similar. In Moscow, “The Arbat,” as it’s more commonly called, refers to the old Arbat Street where visitors find a kilometre long pedestrian-only road lined with souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants, artists, street performers, and a few random museums.
One of the oldest surviving streets in Moscow, the first recorded mentions of Arbat Street are from 1493. Today it is a perfect spot for people watching.
Practical Information:
- Old Arbat Street is a tourist destination. Therefore, many “souvenirs” are over priced. However, most vendors are open to negotiation.
- “New Arbat” is home to many of Moscow’s rich and features some of Moscow’s most expensive restaurants and nightclubs. It is nearby, but a different location to old Arbat Street.
- We arrived via the Moscow Metro. Either the Smolenskaya (both blue lines) or Arbatskaya (both blue lines, from Dark Blue line, take west exit) station will get you to Arbat Street.
- Arbat Street is only 800 metres west of the Moscow Kremlin.
- We planned our days in Moscow with the Lonely Planet Moscow City Guide. If you prefer a tour, we have been impressed with Viator in other cities, and they offer several tours in Moscow.
- We stayed at the Moscow Marriot. Like most of the better hotels, they provided us with the sponsorship paperwork we need for our Russian tourist visa. Check prices and availability in Moscow at Booking.com.
We visited Moscow a few years ago, but like many of the photos we took, they somehow never made it onto Albom Adventures before now.
Does your town have an area like Arbat Street?
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Anda
I didn’t know you went as far as Moscow in Europe. I would have loved to go too, but I think it’s a rather expensive destination. It seems you had a lot of fun with all those street performance there.
Leah
As someone who has always wanted to learn Russian, I really enjoyed seeing the signs in the cyrillic alphabet too!
Rhonda Albom
I just liked the variety, I can’t speak any Russian.
Amila @Leisure and Me
So great pictures from Russia.The street performer is so talented and the capture is timely! I am so glad to see the Alexander Pushkin’s statue.In school days,I’ve read many of his books….
Rhonda Albom
The street was filled with so much, I think I could write a dozen posts about it. (don’t worry, this one is it).
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
This is not the stereotypical, drab Russia that I had pictured. It’s so lively and more diverse than I expected. My husband last visited when we was a kid in the 70s, and I’m sure he would find that it’s changed a lot.
Rhonda Albom
We didn’t find too much drab when we were in Moscow, but I think we seek out the more exciting spots.
Trekking with Becky
Wow! I was just on old Arbat Street on Thursday, and I hardly saw any of what you saw when it comes to people! I also didn’t see McDonald’s or Wendy’s! Were those people/things off the street on some of the side streets?
Rhonda Albom
There had been an earlier flash mob on the day we visited. I think it accounted for some of the crowds. I don’t remember the day of the week, but I imagine it was a weekend. Those restaurants were at one end of Old Arbat Street.
Esther
Wow, that’s pretty impressive. At the moment it’s a bit tricky for Dutch to travel to Russia (diplomatic problems) but I’d love to one day.
Rhonda Albom
It wasn’t that easy for us either. In fact, the visa process is the number one reason I will probably never go back. Too bad, as we really enjoyed Moscow.
Lexa Cain
It’s very interesting that such a melancholy people have so much beautiful architecture and have such reverence for poetry, writing, and the theater. (Russians make up the largest number of tourists where I live, and they waffle between coldly unfriendly and being loud, ebullient drunks.) Thanks for the awesome pics!
Rhonda Albom
LOL – I think you described many of the people we met whilst in the country. Yet, on Arbat street there was a mood of happiness and fun.
Suze - Luxury Columnist
The statues are so beautiful and I love the nesting dolls too. It’s nice to see the variety of outfits that people are wearing as well
Rhonda Albom
I love the nesting dolls too. I now have two sets, although one is really tiny.
Paula McInerney
Arbat Street looks like a lot of fun. It looks more European than what i would have thought. While I know that Russia is in Europe, i was not expecting so many cool nooks and crannies.
Rhonda Albom
Agreed. It was more western than I expected as well.
Ruth
There is some good people watching in that area! It is a place I would like to walk around. I am surprised by your Western “restaurant” finding but have to admit the writing looks cool.
Rhonda Albom
The western restaurants seem to be everywhere but they have “local” variations in the food. I found the cyrillic translations interesting as well.
Anda
I’d love to visit Russia, Rhonda. In fact, we were very close this summer when we went to Latvia. Time was too short though and from what you are describing there is a lot to see there. Great pictures!
Rhonda Albom
If you want to go to Russia, don’t forget to sort your visa. We were allowed 90 days from the issue date and we were visiting several countries first. To get the visa, I needed to be sponsored (a pre-booked hotel will issue the proper papers). The paperwork has to be completely correctly and exactly (even to the size of the paper). We were rejected at first because the borders on our form were off by several millimetres.
Jeanna
I guess the closest thing around here is State Street on game day. It’s heartening that this type of artistic gathering is allowed in Moscow, you wouldn’t guess where it was by some of these shots. Excellent freeze frame of the street performer.
Rhonda Albom
Yes, I was pleasantly surprised that there was so much expression and activity in the middle of Moscow.
Marcelle Simone Heller
Beautiful Street Photography. You captured precious moments which tell their own story. I’ve never been in Russia but I’d like to see this different country. #Wkendtravelinspiration
Rhonda Albom
Thanks. It was such an interesting street, quite different from the more touristy locations.
Ahila
Enjoyed the virtual tour of Arbat street
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Ahila.
Indrani
Fantastic street captures! Thanks for the info on the statues!
I liked the pic of women there in sarees! A great sight!
Rhonda Albom
Glad you enjoyed it, I almost didn’t included it.
budget jan
What an intriguing selection of street scenes. I do like the statue of Pushkin and his wife. Old fashioned but quite artistically done. Who would have thought all of these things would be taking place together.
Rhonda Albom
Exactly what I though about it.
Michelle | michwanderlust
Friends who have visited Moscow have complained that there’s really not much to see or do in Moscow outside of the obvious iconic landmarks like St Basil’s Cathedral, so it’s really nice to know that Arbat Street is another option! They’ve also said that Moscow is really not very tourist-friendly – was that your experience as well?
Rhonda Albom
Interesting, we found so much to do in Moscow we wished we stayed a few more days, despite it being not terribly friendly, it was very interesting.
Jessica @ Independent Travel Cats
Nice to read this – we were in Moscow this past autumn and only briefly saw Arbat Street while we were there. Looks like a fun place!
Rhonda Albom
It was a fun place to hang out for an afternoon.
Lydia C. Lee
What a fab post! Firstly, because it is so unexpected (as in it’s not what I would expect in Russia) and I love to have my misconceptions turned over! And secondly, the dude upside down – what a great capture!!!!
Rhonda Albom
That street performer was pretty amazing. Thanks.
eileen g
it reminds me a bit of Temple Street in Hong Kong, but with a distinct Russian flavor. definitely someplace we would checkout if we visited. Great photos!
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Eileen. I have not been to Hong Kong yet.
Merlinda Little (Glimmer of Hope)
Can I be honest, I thought that Russia is all gray and gloom but I am so wrong! The vibe is so alive and the colours are so vivid there! A lovely place to visit!
Rhonda Albom
It was at one point, but not so much now.
Claire
People watching is my all time favourite activity and this looks like a great place to do it on. I’m really looking forward to travelling to Russia, although I have a lot more places on my to do list before that!
Rhonda Albom
It is an interesting place to do it, that’s for sure.
Comedy Plus
Our town doesn’t have anything close to this. Living in the central valley of California you don’t get much of this type of thing.
I would love to visit Russia one day, but I know I never will.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Rhonda Albom
I’ll bet you get some interesting people watching though.
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Looks like a lively street to walk down.
McDonald’s is everywhere. Surprised they had Dunkin Donuts though.
Rhonda Albom
I was surprised to see three in one spot.
Mascha
I well know this place, but without all that colorful life (in 70ies in URSS all was very grey)
Bulat Okudshava is one of my favourite songwriter/singer, the Statue is new for me.
Have a nice weekend
Rhonda Albom
It must have been so completely different back in the 70s
Hilary
Hi Rhonda – I’d never heard of Arbat Street – and I’ve never been to Russia … what a fascinating place … cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
I hadn’t heard of it either, before we started planning our travels.
Kathy Marris
Isn’t people-watching the best? Especially in such an interesting place like Moscow. Fabulous photos.
Rhonda Albom
Sometimes it sure is.
Tony McGurk
You certainly do get around Rhonda. Great capture of the guy in mid-flip. It sure seems odd seeing a McDonald’s sign in Russian. When it comes to Fast Food there’s no escape
Rhonda Albom
LOL – I assume you mean that in a good way. 🙂
This one was a few years ago, but so many photos from our around the world travel. Our current count: 52 countries on 6 continents.
Faye
Great post! looks like Arbat street is the source of all fun. There’s a lot of modern street performer too. Wish to visit Moscow anytime soon.
Rhonda Albom
It was quite a bit of fun, with a huge variety of everything.