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Sights Overview

As you move out from the center of Moscow you'll encounter historic neighborhoods no longer known by their names, but referred to by main streets or the nearest metro stations. Northeast of the Kremlin-Red Square area is Kitai Gorod, the historic center of the city, rich with palaces and churches. North of the Kremlin is Bely Gorod, or the White City, named after the white-stone ramparts that encircled the area in the 16th century. This neighborhood runs in a semicircle between Kitai Gorod and the Boulevard Ring north of the Moskva River (approximately between the Pushkin Museum of Fine Art and the Yauza River to the east). Bely Gorod includes the first half of Tverskaya ulitsa, Moscow's main shopping street; Kuznetsky Most, a street famous for its designer shops and the sights around the Tchaikovsky Conservatory on Bolshaya Nikitskaya.

The next main neighborhood is Zemlyanoi Gorod, or "earth city," historically a humbler area that encircles Bely Gorod running north of the Boulevard Ring to the Garden Ring. The term Zemlyanoi Gorod is never used by locals, who refer to parts of this area by what metro station is closest. Within this neighborhood are the second half of Tverskaya ulitsa, the pedestrian Arbat area, ever popular for strolling, and the U.S. embassy.

South of the Moskva River, the main area of interest is the Zamoskvorechye neighborhood. Among other sights here are the Tretyakov Gallery and several beautiful churches.

Most of Moscow's major sights, hotels, and restaurants can be found within the above-mentioned neighborhoods. Two other notable neighborhoods are Krasnaya Presnya and Taganka. The former lies to the west and contains the Bely Dom, Victory Park, and, in the southwest, New Maiden's Convent. Taganka lies in the east and has some beautiful churches.