Khamovniki

Individual walking tour of Khamovniki

From Sportivnaya to Zubovsky Boulevard
Walking tour
1 hour 30 minutes or 2 hours 30 minutes
from 7,000 ₽
Book the excursion

The Khamovniki district is a historical, architectural, cultural reserve, but at the same time a modern, dynamically developing territory. “Sleeping Bag for Oligarchs” is in fact the quintessence of a truly Moscow multi-component cocktail of tastes and eras. Whoever experiences Khamovniki will come closer to understanding the essence of ageless Moscow. On the route: gingerbread towers of the Maiden Convent, clinical campus of Sechenov University, Bulgakov’s apartment-museum, “alley of life”, Maiden’s Field, house-museum of L.N. Tolstoy, the headquarters of the Yandex campaign, the ancient chambers of palace weavers, the Church of St. Nicholas in Khamovniki.

Bureau guides

A guide suited to the route and your party

We match the guide to the subject, the group and your preferred pace. We confirm the name in advance, and you can view the profile on the website.

Meet all our guides
Bureau guide Anton
Anton
Bureau guide Anastasia
Anastasia
Bureau guide Alexander
Alexander
Bureau guide Maria
Maria

How the Khamovnaya Sloboda Became the Khamovniki District

Khamovniki, Central Administrative District... Four hundred years ago, weavers from the Tver village began to create Khamovnaya Sloboda in Moscow, thus receiving freedom (from this word “sloboda” comes from) - freedom from various duties, taxes and wars, that is, to some extent what today is called blat. From the weaver it was necessary to fulfill the production plan, and the word “khamovnik” means “master of weaving.” 

On this private walking tour of Khamovniki, you will learn about the weavers who made tablecloths, clothing, linen and other textiles for the princely court. You will also hear about the entrepreneurs and aristocrats who gradually settled in this remarkable district, as well as the scientists, artists, writers and, of course, doctors who populated its famous medical quarter.

Villages and settlements—including Khamovnaya Sloboda, Savvinskaya, Novodevichya, Rostovskaya, Konyushennaya, Stadnaya and the settlement of the Chudov Monastery—gradually merged along a bend in the Moskva River, forming the territory of today’s Khamovniki district. Afanasy Levshin, whose Streltsy regiment was stationed at the monastery in the 17th century, gave his name to Bolshoy and Maly Levshinsky Lanes. The street that now leads from the Kremlin to the Garden Ring once ran, in the 14th and 15th centuries, to an ostozhye—a place of hayfields and meadows, where the horses of Moscow’s princes grazed leisurely on fragrant grass while peasants gathered hay into great stacks. This is how Ostozhenka acquired its name; today, it forms part of Moscow’s most expensive neighbourhood, the “Golden Mile”.

Afterwards there were barracks, factories and estates built by the world's best architects... It is no coincidence that we conduct tours of Khamovniki not only for citizens and guests of the capital, but also for very interested people - realtors and developers. And then - Soviet and our days. Take a walk with our guide too!

Let's meet

Square of the Novodevichy Convent, near the sculpture “Peace to the World!”

Reviews

We took a tour of Taganka designed for 12-year-old children. It was an excellent programme. We covered a great deal of ground and learnt so much. We discovered the story of Dryanaya Street and discussed the Vladimir Highway, the surrounding monasteries and churches, and the Old Believers. We now know where Korovin was born, where Stanislavsky was born and raised, where the Morozov merchant children lived, and why Arseny Morozov was considered such an outrageous figure in his day. We also discussed Solzhenitsyn, discovered where Stalin Avenue was supposed to be built, saw the bunker, walked to the Russian metochion of the Mount Athos Monastery, and learnt why the Illuzion cinema made Taganka famous. Of course, no tour would have been complete without Vysotsky and Lyubimov. We also touched briefly on Taganka Prison, although naturally we did not go there. All in all, it was an exceptionally rich and informative tour! Our guide Alexander was superb!

Tatiana September 4, 2026

Our thanks to our guide Alexander for a magnificent sightseeing tour. Alexander’s love for Moscow and its history, his wide-ranging knowledge, elegant and engaging delivery, and personal charm make the tour not merely interesting and informative, but truly delightful! Thank you, Alexander! Tatiana and Tatiana, St Petersburg

Tatiana August 18, 2026

On July 18th, we participated in the "Soul of Moscow" group tour led by Alexander. Kitay-gorod and its surroundings revealed a new side to us, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. Some of us began intensively studying related materials to broaden our horizons. We'll be back, and we highly recommend it! You won't regret it.

Alexander July 20, 2026

Good afternoon, on June 23rd we had a tour called " The Soul of Moscow ," led by Alexander. He's a very pleasant young man. We visited such lovely courtyards and alleys with him that we never even knew existed, and we learned so much. We really enjoyed everything, and we hope to continue our acquaintance. Alexander! Thank you! We had a great time with you, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. See you there!

Tatyana, Galina, Nadezhda June 24, 2026

This isn't my first time with Radius. This time, I took the Moscow metro . The goal was not only to admire the underground palaces but also to learn how to navigate the metro. As a resident of a region without a metro, I was a bit apprehensive and didn't understand how to navigate the metro. Of course, the internet helps, but live communication is much better. Tour guide Yulia handled this task perfectly. The information was accessible and interesting, the presentation was calm, and the communication style was very friendly. Thank you very much for the tour and the practical experience.

Julia June 20, 2026

Good afternoon! I gave the "Soul of Moscow" tour to some of the capital's guests. We were thrilled to hear our guide, Anton. It was so informative and engaging, and very warm. To say we were absolutely delighted is an understatement. It turned out to be a truly family-friendly excursion. We learned so many interesting facts. The material was presented professionally, all our questions were answered, and we saw so much. It was simply WOW! Thank you so much, Anton, he's the best!!!!! From now on, I'll only come to you, the Radius team. I highly recommend it. I promise we'll see each other again soon on other tours.

Inna May 26, 2026

Overall, the tour left a positive impression! Thanks to Alexander for the walk through the courtyards and atmospheric spots of Kitay-Gorod; we certainly wouldn't have done it on our own. The tour was comfortable, and the guide spoke confidently and calmly. One thing we personally missed: we would have liked more of the historical part, relating to ancient Moscow and the history of Kitay-Gorod. There were quite a few stories about the Soviet period and the bar scene, but for our group, this wasn't particularly relevant. We think the program could be a little more tailored to the age and interests of the group. It would also have been interesting to add more historical facts, monuments, and details about old Moscow and the area itself. That said, the tour was still interesting, and some places and churches were truly memorable. These aren't really "cons," but rather suggestions for an even more comprehensive program.

Ksenia May 25, 2026

Hello! We had a corporate group of 10 people. Our guide was Anton, and we had a tour of Bulgakov. I would like to point out the excellent organization; everything went smoothly. The managers were very accommodating to our changes in the number of participants. The bus was very comfortable. Anton is a super-engaged and motivated guide. He lives this history and is delighted to share his knowledge and create an unforgettable experience. Everything went well. I highly recommend it!

Oleg February 19, 2026

Thank you for a fascinating tour! It gave me so much food for thought to explore! Note: Review of the "Zamoskvorechye" tour with guide Maria.

Eugene December 7, 2025

I'd like to express my gratitude on behalf of our team! Thank you for keeping to our scheduled schedule despite our lack of organization. Our colleagues appreciated your preparation for the tour! It was informative. Note: Review of the "Modern Residential Complexes, Factory Past, and Avant-Garde" tour of the ZILART residential complex with guide Maria. Maria prepared and conducted a customized tour for employees of the Samolet Group of Companies development company.

Team of the Samolet Group December 7, 2025

Thank you! You have great talent. Good luck! ☺️ You're a wonderful guide! Thank you again! Note: This is a review of the corporate tour "The Heart of the Capital" with guide Maria.

Dmitriy December 7, 2025

Thank you for a wonderful day today!!)) Note: review of the excursion "The Soul of Moscow" with guide Maria

Natalia December 7, 2025

On behalf of the whole family, I want to thank you for a very informative and interesting tour! Note: This is a review of the "Palace Dungeons" tour with guide Maria.

Eugene December 7, 2025

Good afternoon! I'd like to express my gratitude and that of my guide for organizing the tour! We were very pleased. We'd like to do it again in October, but on a different route — ZIL. Note: This refers to the tour for Samolet Group developers, led by guide Maria.

Elya September 27, 2025

Thanks to Alexander for the bar tour of Baumanka ! It was fun, exciting, and we discovered so many new places! Awesome! May we reach new heights!

Kira August 9, 2025

Good afternoon! I was on a tour of Sukharevskaya Square — we went all the way to Tsvetnoy Boulevard. I didn't expect it to be so interesting! For those wondering whether to go — go for it! It truly became one of my most memorable summer memories!

Kirill August 4, 2025

Anastasia, good morning! Thank you and Masha for yesterday! The speakers are happy. The connection through the headphones was often lost, especially at the checkpoint, but that's just our current situation. You could hear if you were standing close, no more than 1.5 meters away. Colleagues have already asked for your contact information. I'd be happy to share it and look forward to another opportunity to work with you. Special thanks to the Director for the Bureau . Note: " Heart of the Capital " tour for participants of the 2025 Moscow Oncology Forum. Guides: Anastasia and Maria.

Tina July 8, 2025

We'd like to thank Anton and Alexander for leading the tour! It was fascinating to hear how the Krasnaya Presnya district developed and how Prokhorov's influence on our city's development. It was a pleasant immersion into a quiet, previously unexplored area!

Dmitriy July 8, 2025

Good afternoon, thank you so much, Anastasia. The " Uncle Gilyai " tour was fantastic. Even though we're Muscovites and know a lot about Moscow, the experience was amazing, so much new and interesting happened. We'll definitely be back.

Victoria July 8, 2025

Thank you for the " Heart of Moscow " and " Khamovniki " tours. Anton, a knowledgeable and passionate Moscow guide, gave me the tour. He's a great storyteller, intelligent, well-read, and captivating. You've truly opened up my Moscow to me! I'll definitely be back next summer to explore Moscow with you. I'll recommend your wonderful tour program to all my friends!

Julia July 1, 2025

Excursions with the Radius travel agency are always a positive experience if you choose them. We planned a tour of Zamoskvorechye on our next visit. We've worked with our guide, Anton, before. We'll definitely recommend him to everyone we know. The tour is informative, not overloaded with dates, and the information is comprehensive yet easy to understand, as it's presented in a light, narrative manner, not like a history textbook, dry and academic. Thank you for this approach. We'll definitely use the Radius agency again on our next visit to Moscow.

Tatiana June 23, 2025

Thank you so much for the tour of Zamoskvorechye . Despite the weather, it was very interesting and informative! Note: this refers to the tour with guide Anton.

Tatiana May 6, 2025

A huge thank you to Anastasia. We had a fantastic tour of the Patriki district. We learned so much. Anastasia is a true master of her craft. The tour was captivating, not at all boring, lively and interesting. Everyone was delighted. We were full of new impressions. I definitely recommend it. You won't be disappointed!

Anna May 6, 2025

We explored the Soul of Moscow with my family and Radius on my birthday. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the walk! Anton shared so many interesting facts about the capital and its history, taking us into spiritual depths no one else had even suspected. Most of us were either born or longtime Moscow residents who spent a lot of time walking around. It was educational, heartwarming, and unforgettable. 🙂 Overall, this wasn't my first time walking around Moscow with Anton, and each time was a real adventure!

Olga May 4, 2025

Book the excursion

Loading the booking formPreparing the fields and current terms

Original articles about Khamovniki

Why the walls of Novodevichy Convent are dated to two different centuries
Why the walls of Novodevichy Convent are dated to two different centuries
Novodevichy Convent has had two stone enclosure walls. Archaeologists date the first to the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, with 1598–1603 considered the most likely period of construction; the present enclosure, with its twelve towers, was built in the 1680s. Remains of the earlier wall lie within the present one. So the question of when the walls of Novodevichy Convent were built cannot be answered with the date the convent was founded: 1524.
Tolstoy and Poverty in Moscow: What He Saw During the 1882 Census
Tolstoy and Poverty in Moscow: What He Saw During the 1882 Census
Leo Tolstoy and the 1882 Census — the story of how a ready-made scheme to help the poor collided with the realities of life in the Rzhanov House. His rounds showed that giving out money did not address the causes of poverty, and that a benefactor knew little about the people whose destinies he intended to determine. Over the next several years, Tolstoy transformed this failed endeavour into an exploration of personal r…

Advantages of individual excursions over group ones

How much more expensive are personal tours than mass tours?

If you are alone or in pairs, then the sum of several thousand for a walking tour of Khamovniki or twenty thousand for a tour by car is significant.

But if you're going for a walk with family or friends, the cost for an individual participant approaches one or two thousand - the amount that each person would pay for a group excursion with strangers.

For your group of 8 or more people, the price becomes even lower when calculated per person, which makes individual excursion truly attractive.

***
A mass excursion is tourism, an individual excursion is a journey through the city’s secrets with a personal guide.

The Radius excursion bureau offers cultural, historical and sightseeing tours of Moscow in Russian and foreign languages, including English, German, Spanish and Hebrew. You can choose either a walking tour of Khamovniki or an individual program by car. Corporate clients can use examples of successful projects with companies such as Yandex, Faberlik and Russian Railways. Our guides are stylish and intelligent, without the “old school”. We offer only live speech, without cliches and memorized texts. Tours are conducted on foot, by car, bicycles, scooters or on the Radisson Royal ship.

Collage