The Arbat is a synonym to all the pedestrian streets in Russian cities. It is not a very long street with the length of only 1.2 km (0.75 miles). That is why it is better to combine a walk along the street with a visit to the Red Square or Alexander Garden.
Although one can walk along the Arbat all day long. In the Arbat one can visit plenty of souvenir shops, have lunch or dinner in one of its restaurants, order a portrait from a street artist or stop and listen to street musicians. With such a program a day will go too quickly and may be will not be enough for the whole Arbat. Arbat, Moscow
As for the name of the street there are several versions none of which is 100 percent true. Anyway, the most popular one says that the name «arbat» was brought by eastern merchants. In their language the word «arbad» means suburb, outskirts. The street was not officially renamed to the Old Arbat though there is the New Arbat Street nearby since 1994. A part of Kalinina Prospect received this new name. The New Arbat is not a pedestrian street that is why the Arbat still remains to be the center of attraction for tourists and has an unofficial name of the Old Arbat.