View from the observation deck of sparrows. Observation deck on Sparrow Hills
How to get to Sparrow Hills on your own is the topic of this guide. The observation deck on Vorobyovy Gory is located opposite the high-rise building of Moscow State University.
Vorobyovy Gory how to get there the easiest way
Let's not deny that the easiest way to get to the observation deck is by car. The site is located on Kosygina Street. In the navigator you can put the address of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Vorobyovy Gory - st. Kosygina, 30.
Vorobyovy Gory how to get there by metro
We suggest using the fastest and most economical version for Moscow of “getting from point A to point B,” that is, using the metro. And even though young people use navigators all the time, we are old-fashioned people; in Moscow we navigate by map. In addition, the better half of the site’s team of authors suffers from geographic cretinism and, for their unfortunate friends, explains with their fingers and shows in photographs how to be in the right place at the right time.
The metro station closest to the observation deck is called “Vorobyovy Gory”, it is located on the red line of the metro.
There are two stations on this line in the city center. Not far from the Kremlin there is the Lenin Library station, and next to Red Square is the Okhotny Ryad station. From here to Vorobyovy Gory station the train takes 13 minutes, then you have to walk for about 20 minutes.
How to get to Vorobyovy Gory from the metro
We arrive at the Vorobyovy Gory station. There are two exits to the city.
We need access “to Kosygina Street.” That is, in the direction where the springboard, the Moscow State University high-rise building, is located.
View of Vorobyovy Gory from the Vorobyovy Gory metro station, residential building on Mosfilmovskaya Street.Let's follow the sign:
The necessary sign at Vorobyovy Gory station.We go up the escalator and go straight, we find ourselves under the bridge.
We reach the end of the bridge, here the road bifurcates, we need to turn right.
Don't be alarmed if you see a barrier tape - it is not for pedestrians. Calmly pick up the obstacle and move on. Below in the photo you can see both the ribbon and travelers walking towards the observation deck.
Along the pedestrian path
We reach the next fork.
Sidewalk to the Vorobyovy Gory observation deck.Here again we keep to the right, the desired direction is indicated by an iron fence, in 2014 - yellow. Having walked forward a little, we again see a fork.
It doesn't seem to matter which path you take here, both will lead to the right place. The author of this opus, like a brave hero, went around and took a left.
Sparrow Hills how to get through the park
There are benches and picturesque gazebos along the way.
A few meters after the wooden gazebo on the left you will see a pond with a pair of panoramic balconies.
Then, right along the way, you will see the gazebo again.
And another fork in four roads. Be careful here! You need to turn sharply to the left; from the fork, the desired asphalt path can be easily missed behind the trees and foliage.
There is a treacherous fork in the photo, the roads diverge down to the right, gently upward to the left, the required ascent to the left and up was not included in the frame.The road goes up sharply, steps are visible in the distance.
The staircase leads to the observation deck of the Sparrow Hills.I don’t know if the number of steps was specially adjusted, or if it happened by accident, but there are exactly 100 of them!
“Now we’ll climb the mountain, and there we’ll see Oh” (c).Having climbed up, do not deny yourself the pleasure of approaching the stele of Herzen and Ogarev, it is located a few meters from the top step, a sign leads to it. And we hurry on and soon go out onto Kosygina Street.
We turn right and continue along the side alley.
The alley along Kosygina Street leads to the observation deck.Sparrow Hills. Walking to the Observation Deck
After a few meters the cable car appears. Didn't work on May 25, 2014. And by 2018 it was dismantled and replaced with a modern one. So the photo below is already a fact of history
The desired object is visible immediately behind it.
The staircase leads to the Vorobyovy Gory observation deck.From here we admire the panoramic view of Moscow from a height of 200 meters above sea level or 80 meters above the level of the Moscow River.
View of the Moscow Business Center from the Sparrow Hills.From the observation deck you can clearly see the bridge, on its lower tier there is the Vorobyovy Gory metro station, from where we just ascended.
Photo from the site http://bestbridge.net/Eu/luzhneckii-metromost.htmlOn the left you will see the high-rise building of Moscow State University.
The building of Moscow State University on Vorobyovy Gory.At the end of the observation deck there is a church, colloquially called “Trinity in Sparrows”.
Church of the Life-Giving Trinity on Vorobyovy Gory.That's all the attractions of the observation deck. We return to the metro along the same road. Be careful, don’t miss the descent to the Vorobyovy Gory metro station from Kosygina Street.
If you don’t get distracted by benches, gazebos, ponds, ducks, squirrels, jackdaws, and walk at a calm pace, then you can walk from the metro station to the Vorobyovy Gory observation deck in 17-20 minutes.
Squirrel Another squirrel The general director of the park gives instructions to his subordinates.Subordinates, instead of listening with reverence, “make wings with their feet.”
But on a hot day, the road to the lookout can take half a day, because the park on Vorobyovy Gory is very romantic, quiet and well-maintained.
One of the iconic sights of Moscow, which has become a must-see point on the maps of tourists coming to the capital. It is from here that the widest panorama of the city opens, accessible all year round, at any time of the day or night - and, by the way, absolutely free.
The height of the observation deck is about 80 meters above the level of the Moscow River (200 meters above sea level).
The high altitude is due to the peculiarities of the relief: the site is located at the highest point of the Sparrow Hills - a steep cliff of the Teplostanskaya Upland, forming the high right bank of the Moscow River. Thanks to this, the Vorobyovy Gory significantly rises above the city, and visitors to the observation deck are literally on the edge of a cliff, from which a magnificent view of the central part of Moscow opens.
Observation deck on Vorobyovy Gory, September 2018
It is worth noting that Vorobyovy Gory is popular not only among tourists. Following a long-standing city tradition, newlyweds often come here, and in the evenings Moscow bikers and street racers gather at the site.
Panorama of Moscow
The Vorobyovy Gory observation deck is rightfully considered the main observation deck in Moscow: it is the only publicly accessible place from which you can really get a feel for the scale of the city.
Thanks to its favorable location in the center of Moscow, it boasts the widest and most varied panorama of the capital: no other observation deck has so many visible attractions.
From here you can see almost all the iconic skyscrapers of the capital, 6 of 7 Stalinist high-rises (including the Moscow State University building behind the site), a number of architectural landmarks in the central part of the city (and even the Kremlin!), as well as the embankments of the Moscow River. And if you look closely at the construction cranes on the horizon, you can even look a little into the future of Moscow and imagine how the city landscape will change in the future. The city's panorama is changing rapidly, and in a few years it will be noticeably different from what can be seen today (just as today's panorama is different from what it was a few years ago).
The view that opens up is very dynamic: if you look closely, you can see cars driving along the Third Ring Road and bright red Lastochka trains along the MCC.
And to make it even more interesting to admire the view of Moscow from Sparrow Hills, free viewing binoculars are installed on the site, thanks to which some buildings can be seen literally in detail.
Exactly opposite the observation deck is a noticeable round structure, the Luzhniki Grand Sports Arena. The Olympic Stadium, opened in 1956, makes a great base for exploring the city.
To the left of Luzhniki
At the very left point relative to Luzhniki, the eyes meet views of modern Moscow and the tallest Moscow skyscrapers: the Mirax Plaza business center, as well as residential complexes and the House on Begovaya. The business center "Nordstar Tower" on Begovaya Street is clearly visible on Krasnopresnenskaya embankment.
A little to the right - unexpectedly adjacent to the Ostankino TV tower and the pipes of CHPP-12, ("White House") and. In addition to the Ukraine Hotel, to the left of the Luzhniki you can see two more Stalinist skyscrapers: and. The view of the MFA skyscraper is impressive: from here it looks like a giant rock towering over the city. Between the Stalinist high-rises there are book-houses lined up in a row, and in front of them is the Novodevichy Convent and various residential buildings.
If you look a little more closely, you can also notice a 165-meter skyscraper, the silhouette of which tourists sometimes confuse with Stalin’s high-rise buildings.
The Vorobyovskaya and Luzhnetskaya embankments of the Moscow River are clearly visible, as well as the Berezhkovsky Bridge, connecting Novodevichy Embankment with Berezhkovskaya, and the Luzhnetsky Railway Bridge.
Center - "Luzhniki"
The Olympic sports complex "Luzhniki" is the undoubted dominant of local views: located exactly opposite the observation deck, the Large Sports Arena cannot be confused with anything or not seen.
Behind the dome of the arena you can see a number of iconic Moscow sights and simply noticeable places: St. Basil's Cathedral and the bell towers of the Kremlin cathedrals, the buildings of the Sechenov Moscow State Medical University, the Stalinist high-rise building on the Red Gate and the giant ("In commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the Russian fleet") by Zurab Tsereteli. The eye is especially drawn to the monument to Peter I - this is the tallest monument in Russia and one of the tallest in the world, its height is 98 meters.
Another interesting detail was the cable car, stretching between Sparrow Hills and Luzhniki over the Moscow River: from the observation deck you can see its stations and cabins moving over the water.
To the right of Luzhniki
On the right side of the panorama you can see another Stalinist high-rise -. Not far from the high-rise building is the building of the Swissotel Krasnye Holmy hotel, noticeable due to the design of its upper part: it looks like a flying saucer is parked on the roof. The Shukhov Radio Tower (Shabolovskaya Tower) stands apart: a unique hyperboloid structure peeks out from behind the green massif. The structure, erected in 1920-1922, is a recognized masterpiece of engineering, in no way inferior to the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
To the right of other notable objects is the 22-story building of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences, opened in the early 1990s. Muscovites liked the building of the Russian Academy of Sciences: for the unusual architectural forms on the roof they dubbed it “golden brains” and immediately invented many fantastic stories about their purpose - they say, these are antennas for communicating with extraterrestrial intelligence. "Golden Brains" has become one of the city's mysteries - perhaps it is for this building that Muscovites fell in love.
In front of the building of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences you can see a unique structure - the 2-level Luzhnetsky metro bridge, spanning the Moskva River between Luzhnetskaya and Vorobyovskaya/Andreevskaya embankments. On the lower tier there is the Vorobyovy Gory metro station (until 1999 - Leninskie Gory) - the world's first metro station located above the river: it opened in 1959. The upper tier of the bridge is given over to cars - a busy highway passes through it. In addition, on both sides of the bridge there are open pedestrian crossings through which you can cross the Moscow River without entering the station.
History of the observation deck
The observation deck was built simultaneously with the construction of the Moscow State University complex in 1949-1953.
The location for it was dictated by the relief itself: Vorobyovy Gory - the high right bank of the Moscow River, a steep cliff of the Teplostan Upland, washed away by the current. Construction over the cliff was unsafe due to the danger of a landslide: initially they wanted to build the main building of Moscow State University closer to the river, but this turned out to be impossible. The high-rise was built far from the cliff, and an observation deck was installed on its edge. Since its construction, the observation deck has changed little: these days, viewing binoculars have been installed on it, and an illuminated diagram of Moscow with the Moscow River has been built into the paving; otherwise, it has remained the same.
Various organizations have repeatedly had plans to build or install monuments on the Vorobyovy Gory observation deck (in particular, the city authorities considered the possibility of installing them here), but fortunately none of them came true.
According to urban legends, in the past, the Sparrow Hills more than once became a viewing platform for conquerors: they say that the Crimean Khan Kazy Giray II (Gazy II Giray) and the Lithuanian Hetman Khodkevich looked at Moscow from here during their campaigns.
How to get there
You can get to the observation deck on Vorobyovy Gory on foot from the metro station "Sparrow Hills" Sokolnicheskaya Line, it is located on Kosygina Street in the area of University Square.
However, the path from the metro is not so obvious: to walk from the station to the site, you need to exit the lobby towards Kosygina Street, then walk under the bridge to the end of the alley below it and turn right - there a paved path with steps and a log road rises up the slope of the Vorobyovy Gory parapet. The trail ascends to Kosygina Street, where there are signs towards the site (one of them is located right at the end of the trail).
Trail to the Vorobyovy Gory observation deck
The observation deck on Vorobyovy Gory is accessible around the clock and free of charge.
The observation deck on Vorobyovy Gory is perhaps the most famous observation deck from where you can look at the panorama of the capital. This is what many guests of the city do and the residents of Moscow do not lag behind - the views from here are truly worthy of attention. Especially when you know where and what to look at, all the most iconic points of the city emerge into a whole exciting story.
The site is part of a sightseeing tour of the city, a favorite place for wedding photographers, a walking alley for students of Moscow University (whose main building is very close), mothers with strollers, romantic couples, and even a long-standing meeting place for bikers.
The Sparrow Hills (in Soviet times they were called Lenin Hills for a long time, and only in 1999 the historical name was returned) is considered to be the right side of the Moscow River in the southwest of the city. Geographically, this area is located quite high (it is considered one of the seven hills on which, as you know, Moscow stands). The winding river washes away the high hilly bank, feeding the beautiful forest around, making this place one of the most picturesque areas of the city.
The observation deck was designed during the construction of the university complex and was built together with it from 1949 to 1953. The project was led by Vitaly Ivanovich Dolganov, a famous Soviet architect who took an active part in the landscaping of Moscow and the creation of the city's landscape and park culture.
Muscovites love this place on major holidays, when fireworks roar over the city. On the Sparrow Hills there is a “mission control center” - the main headquarters, from where all fireworks in the city are commanded. Here you can clearly see not only the “local” fireworks, but also a multidimensional picture when you simultaneously watch fireworks throughout the city. Photographers and videographers come here for this opportunity.
In recent years, the observation deck has become even more comfortable than before. Coffee shops on wheels and snack machines appeared. The site is beautifully lit at night. The territory is patrolled by police, but do not turn off your vigilance - the multimillion-dollar city attracts a variety of “characters”.
Attractions
It makes sense to go to Vorobyovy Gory for at least two reasons: to see the sights of Moscow from a flying height and to relax in nature.
Cable car on Vorobyovy Gory
From the observation deck you can clearly see several embankments - Novodevichy and Berezhkovskaya, Vorobyovskaya and Luzhnetskaya, and the bridges connecting them.
Directly behind the stadium, the multi-colored domes of St. Basil's Cathedral stand out, part of the bell towers of the Kremlin, and the power of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior are visible. Here you can also see another landmark of modern Moscow - the huge figure of Peter I, installed on the Red October Spit, a very odious work by Zurab Tsereteli. Right there in the gap is the third “Stalinist skyscraper” - near the Red Gate, and the famous Sechenov Medical University.
If you move from the central part of the panorama to the right, you can immediately see the fourth “high-rise” - the house on Kotelnicheskaya, the oldest residential complex on the embankment, living in which in the middle of the last century was a sign of special elitism. The house is familiar to many - it played an important role in the popular Soviet film “Moscow Doesn’t Believe in Tears.”
If you move your gaze further, it is difficult to miss the Shukhov TV Tower - an engineering project of incredible courage and implementation, created in the 20s of the last century. At the moment, the tower is practically not used for its intended purpose and is left as a historical monument.
Even further to the right you can find in the panorama the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences - a 22-story high-rise building built in the 1990s.
In a word, it’s difficult to even name another place other than the observation deck on Sparrow Hills, from where you can see so many of the capital’s attractions at once and understand how they relate to each other.
Panoramic view of Moscow from the observation deck on Sparrow Hills - Google Maps
Sights of Sparrow Hills
If you get to the observation deck, be sure to check out the interesting places around. First of all, of course, the territory of Moscow State University - still the main stronghold of science and classical education in Russia. The main building of Moscow State University (it’s hard to miss, it dominates the entire space around) has its own observation deck. The site is located at an altitude of 200 meters (24th floor). True, you won’t be able to get there for free - access is only allowed as part of an excursion group.
For nature lovers, the territory of the Sparrow Hills is almost ideal: there is a botanical garden of Moscow University, the Moscow River embankment, Andreevsky Pond, many pleasant paths and routes: no matter which direction you go, there is great walking everywhere.
How to get to the observation deck
The landmark for getting to the Vorobyovy Gory observation deck can be considered Kosygina Street. Entrance to the site is absolutely free from anywhere on the street - free of charge and around the clock. Even binoculars here that provide 15x magnification are available completely free of charge, which is a rarity these days.
View of the observation deck from Kosygina Street - panorama Yandex Maps
How to get there
The main landmark for the observation deck is the main building of Moscow State University (this is University Square). There is very little public transport directly near the University. A trolleybus (route No. T7), which runs along Kosygina Street, can take you directly to the place. You can get off at the “Observation Deck” or “University Square” stops. Bus number 111 also stops on the square near the main building of Moscow State University. From here you will need to walk about 500 meters to the observation deck. For more details, see the Mosgortrans company website.
A funicular will soon open on Vorobyovy Gory, which will take you up from the embankment. It will start from the Luzhniki Arena and include 3 stations (one on the left bank, one on the right, and one at the top).
Trolleybus stop near the observation deck - Yandex Maps panorama
Metro to Vorobyovy Gory
The most guaranteed way to travel around Moscow (from the point of view of calculating travel time) is the metro. The Vorobyovy Gory observation deck is located near the Sokolnicheskaya Line metro station of the same name. When leaving the metro, follow the signs - you need to exit towards the embankment.
From the metro to the observation deck it is about 1.5 kilometers - you can easily walk there. It is more convenient to do this not along the main road, but to take a “shortcut” by walking along an eco-trail. It's difficult to get lost here - there are signs along the road.
Coordinates of the observation deck for the navigator: 55.709315, 37.542163.
You can also get to the observation deck on Sparrow Hills by taxi. There are plenty of opportunities for this in the capital. There are mobile applications for calling a taxi, such as Yandex. Taxi, Uber, Gett, Maxim, Rutaxi. Also, if you drive, you can use the car sharing system (car rental service) - Delimobil, Anytime, YouDrive and others.
Video: Sparrow Hills from above (drone filming), review
Observation platforms in Moscow allow you to enjoy fantastically beautiful views of the capital from a bird's eye view: skyscrapers, Stalinist high-rise buildings, ancient monuments of the Kremlin, etc. Let's consider the most popular objects that have conditions for a panoramic view.
Free observation decks in Moscow
1. Observation deck on Sparrow Hills
Probably the most famous and traditional observation deck in the capital, and therefore the most beloved. Just take the metro to the Vorobyovy Gory station, climb the paths towards Moscow State University, and you can already admire the opening views of the city: the Moscow River, the Luzhniki sports complex, Moscow City skyscrapers, the Ostankino TV tower, etc. In the distance you can see the Temple Christ the Savior, some of the many modern multi-storey business centers.
2. Observation deck next to the Russian Academy of Sciences
Not far from the observation deck on, literally a 20-30 minute walk from it, there is a lesser-known observation deck - near the building of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Here we can see the same thing as from the site on Vorobyovy Gory, only from a different angle. From here you have a beautiful view of Moscow State University and. The historical center of the city is clearly visible, as well as the Vorobyovy Gory station itself. The only negative is the rather dense construction, due to which the view is a little limited.
3. Observation deck on the roof of the Central Children's House
This observation deck appeared not so long ago, after the reconstruction of the Central Children's Store, and is located on its roof. The store building is 8-storey, so from it you can see only the upper part of the nearest attractions and the towering towers of the Kremlin, the bell towers of churches and cathedrals, the Stalinist high-rise on Kotelnicheskaya Embankment, Lubyanka Square and the FSB building are clearly visible, and of course, there is a beautiful view of the roofs of the nearest ones stretching into the distance buildings in the city center.
There are special binoculars installed at the observation deck, through which you can view the surrounding area, but due to the high number of visitors, it is quite difficult to get to them.
The store is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00. It's best to come after lunch, because... at this time the sun will shine in the back, which will allow you to take good photographs.
Store address: Teatralny pr-d, 5/1, metro station - Lubyanka.
The store has underground parking, the cost is from 100 to 200 rubles per hour.
4.
This is a pedestrian bridge located near the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, which connects Prechistenskaya and Bersenyevskaya embankments. It offers a beautiful view of the Kremlin, the chambers of Averky Kirillov, the famous House on the Embankment and the no less famous art cluster “Red October”. You can get here from the station. Kropotkinskaya metro station.
5. Observation deck of the Triumph Palace skyscraper
"Triumph Palace" is a residential complex, which in 2003 was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest residential building in Europe. Its height with its spire is more than 260 m. Externally, the Triumph Palace is similar to the famous Moscow Stalinist high-rise buildings, but it is still clearly noticeable that this is a remake.
The observation deck is equipped at an altitude of 200 m. It offers a breathtaking view of the northern and northwestern parts of the city, and the sights of the capital’s center are also clearly visible.
The main disadvantage is that, because... This is an elite residential complex equipped with a checkpoint; it is almost impossible for an outsider to get here, only through acquaintance, or somehow negotiate with the concierge.
Paid observation decks in Moscow
1. Ostankino TV tower
The observation deck is equipped with binoculars so that you can examine objects of interest in detail.
The cost of visiting is 300 rubles. The price includes viewing the museum's exhibition and access to the observation deck. Opening hours: from 10:00 to 22:00.
4. Bell tower of Ivan the Great in the Kremlin
The tallest building in the Kremlin, the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, was erected in the 16th century during the reign of Boris Godunov. The observation deck is located in the first bell tier at a height of 25 m above the ground. In order to climb it, you need to overcome 137 steps of a steep staircase. From this height there is a view of Cathedral Square, cathedrals, ancient streets of Zamoskvorechye, .
Excursions to the observation deck are held strictly according to the schedule: 10:15, 11:15, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, from May 15 to September 30 there is a session at 17:00, Thursday is a day off . Those wishing to see the panorama of the Kremlin ensemble must pay entrance to the Kremlin territory - 500 rubles, and purchase a separate ticket to visit the bell tower - 250 rubles. The number of tickets is limited.
The height of the bell tower is 25 m, children under 14 years old are not allowed. Tourists can take advantage of an audio guide. The audio-guided tour lasts 45 minutes.
5. Observation deck at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior
Observation deck on the Zhivopisny Bridge
Separately, we can mention the observation deck. Currently it is not functioning, because... not all construction work has been completed. The opening is planned for 2016, authorities said.
The Zhivopisny Bridge in Serebryany Bor is a complex screw-pylon structure with a total length of more than one kilometer. Its highlight will be the glass observation deck installed at its highest point. The platform, reminiscent of a flying saucer, offers panoramic views of the Moscow River, Grebnoy Canal, and the Krylatskoye district. The site will be available only to newlyweds, since it is planned to open a registry office here in the near future.