There are 2 Arbats in Moscow – the Old and the New. By far the Old Arbat is much more beautiful, but just for comparison’s sake I wanted to see both! Plus White Rabbit is located in the neighborhood, so we took the New Arbat to lunch, and left taking the Old Arbat.

Because I first saw the New Arbat, I’ll start with it. There is really not much to see here. It reminds me of a cheap touristy strip that you can probably find anywhere. The New Arbat Avenue was part of Stalin’s Master Plan, to have a modern avenue running parallel to the picturesque Old Arbat Street.

 

 

 

Okay, now I can share more beautiful photos of the Old Arbat Street, but commonly just called the Arbat in English. The Arbat is one of Moscow’s oldest surviving cities, dating back to at least the 15th century, and is the heart of the Arbat District. In the 18th century, Russian nobility regarded the Arbat as the most prestigious living area in all of Moscow. Now it is a big attraction for tourists, to explore the historical buildings and see the artwork being sold on the streets.