Old Arbat Street

Old Arbat, or Arbat ulitsa, is a pedestrian street of roughly one kilometre in the Arbat district of central Moscow, Russia, running between Arbatskaya and Smolenskaya. It is Moscow's best-known souvenir street, lined with shops and street stalls selling matryoshka nesting dolls, painted wooden boxes, amber jewelry, ushanka fur hats, Soviet-themed memorabilia, T-shirts, and postcards. Alongside them are street artists who paint portraits and caricatures, buskers, cafes, and a few bookshops. The goods differ from generic shopping in being aimed squarely at visitors, so quality varies widely: some shops sell hand-painted, artisan-made pieces, while many stalls carry mass-produced items imported or factory-made, and the ratio of tourist trinkets to authentic crafts is high. Prices are noticeably higher than at the Izmailovo market, so visitors comparing both often buy at Izmailovo. Bargaining is accepted and expected at street stalls and small souvenir stands, where a starting discount of 10 to 30 percent is commonly sought, while shops and cafes use fixed prices. Payment is by rubles in cash at stalls, and cards at established shops; international cards may not always work. Non-resident visitors may be able to request tax-free refunds from larger participating retailers. The atmosphere is lively and touristy, busiest at weekends and summer evenings, with performers and portrait painters drawing crowds. Food options are plentiful, from Georgian and Russian restaurants to fast-food cafes, bakeries, and coffee shops along the length of the street. As a linear street there are no stall aisles; the must-visit stretches are the area near Smolenskaya with its historic buildings and the wall dedicated to the singer Viktor Tsoi, and the section near Arbatskaya with the biggest souvenir shops. Shops usually open daily from 10:00 to 22:00, and stalls close earlier, around 21:00. A walk from end to end takes about 30 to 45 minutes without stopping.