Arbat Street

Arbat Street is a historic pedestrian thoroughfare in central Moscow located in the Arbat district west of the Kremlin. It is one of the city’s best-known cultural streets and a longstanding commercial and artistic quarter.

The street’s core stretch is a pedestrian promenade of roughly 1.2 kilometres featuring souvenir shops, small galleries, cafes and frequent street performers. It remains popular for short visits, casual strolling and souvenir shopping.

Arbat has roots as a street outside the medieval Kremlin from the 15th century and later became associated with 19th-century writers, artists and a bohemian community. The modern pedestrian character dates from 20th-century urban developments and conservation of the historic facades.

The street sits in central Moscow a short distance west of Red Square and the Kremlin, served by multiple metro stations and surrounded by dense urban development.

• Length and character: The historic street dates back several centuries and the preserved section is roughly 1.2 kilometres long, fully pedestrianized in its core stretch.

What to See #

• Old Arbat: A narrow historic pedestrian street in central Moscow, running for about 1.2 km and lined with shops, cafes, and street performers.
• New Arbat (Prospekt Mira): A wide Soviet-era avenue built in the 1960s and 1970s that carries vehicular traffic and modern high-rise buildings several blocks east of the historic district.