Gorky Park
Gorky Park is Moscow’s central park, which is very popular among Muscovites and visitors. The green alleys are sprinkled with bright flowers, which make the space resemble a lively blooming garden. Gorky Park is open around the clock, so you can come here even late in the evening to find nature and tranquility.
Among other things, the park is famous for a variety of entertainment. Here you can ride a bicycle along the picturesque paths, visit exhibitions of modern art in the Garage Museum, or enjoy open-air concerts in the Green Theater. For children, there are playgrounds, carousels and rides. For adults, there are cozy cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy delicious food and a pleasant atmosphere. The park even has Wi-Fi, so many people come here to work in the fresh air.
Address and Operating hours
Hermitage Gardens
A magical green corner in downtown Moscow that is good for strolling, and relaxing with children. Picturesque pathways are decorated with sculptures and fountains, creating a particularly exquisite atmosphere.
Despite its small size, Hermitage Gardens offers entertainment for every taste. You can have a picnic, go to an open-air movie theater or listen to musicians. There are also free fitness, jazz dancing, karate and Argentine tango classes.
For young visitors, there is a summer urban camp where kids are taught theater and dance, and at the end of each week they put on concerts.
Address and Operating hours
Zaryadye Park
Combining modern art and innovation against the stunning backdrop of Moscow’s historic center, the capital’s newest and most modern park was built on the site of the former Rossiya Hotel. Zaryadye Park has won numerous international awards for architecture and urban design. It harmoniously combines non-standard architectural solutions with current landscape design best practices.
Zaryadye is an island of nature in the heart of the capital. It’s difficult to imagine, but here you can wander through four climatic zones! The park has plants from Arctic landscapes, steppe and mixed forests, and even flood meadows.
In Zaryadye you can admire the stunning natural surroundings, visit multimedia installations and modern exhibitions, take photos on the 140-meter Soaring Bridge, and relax in the amphitheater with its unforgettable views of the Kremlin.
Address and Operating hours
Moscow State University’s Botanical Gardens
One of the oldest parks in Moscow, which is famous for its amazing variety of flora. Come here to enjoy a stroll along picturesque paths amid the scent of exotic flowers and delightful birdsong. This place is ideal for getting away from the city’s hustle and bustle.
The Botanical Gardens are famous for their unique collection from all over the world. Here you can find rare and exotic plants, study their life cycles, as well as immersing yourself in the world of science. For children, the garden offers botany and horticulture classes — kids are taught how to grow vegetables, take care of them, as well as how to make a herbarium. While parents enjoy the beauty of nature, young guests have the opportunity to learn something new, and perhaps find a hobby for life.
Address and Operating hours
Muzeon Park of Arts
A trendy modern space near Gorky Park, where every corner is buzzing with creativity. Here you can see sculptures created by masters from all over the world, as well as visit the New Tretyakov Gallery, which holds gems of twentieth century art. There are many open spaces in the park, from which, no matter which way you look, you are sure to see something iconic or beautiful: the Crimean Bridge, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, or the monumental statue of Peter the Great on the picturesque Crimean embankment.
Muzeon will please not only art lovers, but also those who prefer to stay active. Come here to ride rollerblades, scooters, skateboards or bicycles. You can also sign up for yoga and fitness training with professional instructors. In addition, the park has many charming cafes where you can relax after a walk or some sightseeing. Exhibitions, concerts, festivals, movie screenings and master classes are often held in Muzeon. You won’t be bored!
Address and Operating hours
Losiny Ostrov National Park
A real oasis offering an ideal hiding place from the noise of the Russian capital. Here, among dense forests, you can truly find and enjoy the silence and tranquility of untrammeled nature. The size of this urban national park means it has no equivalent in the world!
Losiny Ostrov (which means Moose Island) is famous for its natural landscapes, as well as the diversity of flora and fauna. It is a perfect place for walks, picnics, bike rides and sports. Come here to spot a moose, or to go birdwatching and horseback riding. For history and culture buffs, there are several iconic locations in the park, such as the Russian Life Museum, which is housed in a building with a hundred-year history.
Address and Operating hours
Izmailovsky Park
One of the largest city parks in Europe, it attracts millions of Muscovites and tourists every year. Izmailovsky Park is famous not only for its natural environment, but also the abundance of entertainment options for adults and children.
Kids will be delighted with a visit to the Elfiti amusement park, where you can ride on carousels, steam trains and boats. Nor will children be bored in winter: the park has an interactive entertainment area called Forest of Wonders, where you can ride on ice slides, and visit a husky park to take pictures with the cute animals.
Izmailovsky Park also has plenty for adults. Come here to enjoy an open-air movie, tone your body at a street gym, or learn new skills at a huge variety of master classes.
Address and Operating hours
Pokrovskoye-Streshnevo Park
This is a protected nature reserve that has unique ecosystems. Come and see beavers and muskrats, and listen to the songs of rare birds!
The main attraction of the park is a cascade of 7 ponds surrounded by luxuriant willows. As local rivers mostly do not freeze in cold weather, waterfowl over-winter in the park.
Address and Operating hours
Kuskovo Estate
Discover this architectural monument from the XVIII century, where you can plunge into the atmosphere of Russian noble life, and learn a lot of interesting things about the life and culture of that time. In its time, Kuskovo was called the Versailles of Moscow, as this estate is breath-taking and compares to the gardens of French kings.
Today visitors come here to stroll along the picturesque paths, admire the unique buildings in the style of neoclassicism, see the collection of paintings and sculptures, and listen to classical music concerts. The Big Stone Orangery, the largest pavilion of the estate, is especially popular with Kuskovo’s guests, where you can see a permanent exhibition of porcelain, glass and ceramics.
Address and Operating hours
Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve
Admire this island of tsarist Moscow amidst a modern metropolis! The luxurious Grand Palace echoes the architectural masterpieces of St. Petersburg and Paris. The vast park and picturesque ponds suggest such a parallel to Versailles that Tsaritsyno is often called Moscow’s Versailles.
Make sure that your electronics have enough space — you can make a lot of great pictures here! The palace, made at the junction of neo-Gothic and classicism, looks equally spectacular both under the sunlight and in the evening lights; the same applies to the cozy bridges over the ponds. In Spring and Summer, rainbows dance across the splashing fountains and flowerbeds are dotted with flowers. In the golden autumn, “Tsaritsyn” is a work of natural art.
If you like outdoor activities, you can rent bicycles, scooters, and velomobiles, take a boat ride, and get an adrenaline rush in the ropes park. For children, “Tsaritsyno” offers exciting interactive excursions and informative master classes.
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Novodevichy Ponds
A picturesque corner of Moscow that attracts with its beauty and tranquility. Here you can enjoy the peace and quiet, strolling along well-maintained paths among sprawling trees and flowers of all colors of the rainbow.
Feed the people-friendly squirrels, who will gladly accept treats from the hands of visitors. Watch the families of ducks on the pond, hiding in the shade of trees. There’s a lot of room for newbie birdwatchers at Novodevichy — you can find finches, robins, woodpeckers, thrushes, chirps and many other birds.
How to get there: Khamovniki, between the Novodevichy Convent and the embankment of the same name.
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