Parks and estates

Gorky Park is the central park of Moscow, which is very popular among Muscovites and guests of the city. The green alleys are sprinkled with bright colours that make the space resemble an amazing blooming garden. Gorky Park is open around the clock, so you can come here even late in the evening to enjoy 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 open-air concerts in the Green Theatre. For children there are playgrounds, carousels and amusement rides, and for adults there are cosy cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy delicious food and a pleasant atmosphere. In addition, the park has Wi-Fi, so many people come here to work outdoors.

This picturesque architectural and park ensemble from the 18th century, which has been preserved in nearly immaculate condition to this day, is frequently referred to as the Russian Versailles. This was the summer home of the Sheremetev family, one of the richest and most powerful aristocratic families in Russia. They would host elaborate receptions, theatrical performances, and crowded parties in Kuskovo. Visitors to the estate may still enjoy the palace's beautiful interiors and marvel at the collection of artworks by Russian artists, admire two dozen heritage-listed buildings, and visit ancient pavilions and grottos. The world's largest collection of ceramics and glassware is housed in the Museum of Ceramics, which is located in the Great Stone Greenhouse. The Church of the Saviour the Merciful, which features statues of the four apostles on its octagonal dome, has never been rebuilt. The estate meticulously restores and faithfully upholds the ancient customs of opulent estate festivities and frequently offers thematic tours, exhibitions, and classical music concerts.

One of the oldest parks in Moscow, famous for its amazing variety of flora. Come here to enjoy a leisurely stroll along the picturesque alleys, all kinds of flower scents and birdsong. Is is a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and be alone with yourself.

The Botanical Garden of MSU is famous for its unique collection of plants from different parts of the world. Here you can see rare and exotic plants, study their life cycles and features, as well as immerse yourself in the world of science. For children, the garden offers botany and horticulture classes, including learning how to grow vegetables, care for them and make a herbarium. While parents enjoy the beauty of nature, young guests have the opportunity to learn something new and perhaps gain a lifelong hobby.

Kolomenskoye used to be the favorite countryside residence for great princes and tsars. In 1923, it was turned into a museum/nature reserve, whose main exhibits are remarkable old wooden structures moved here from various regions of the country for preservation: the Holy Gates, the memorial house of Peter the Great, the Mokhovaya Tower, etc.

The palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich built in 1672 is a must-see attraction. It was disassembled under Catherine the Great due to its dilapidation, but rebuilt in 2010. This is a true gem of Kolomenskoye, featuring luxurious interiors. A guided tour will cover the current exhibitions, which familiarize visitors with the subtleties of royal etiquette and traditional Russian rituals.

The estate's historical apple orchard is a popular spot for photoshoots and picnics. Don't forget to make a wish at the two legendary stones—the Girls’ Stone and the Goose Stone lying in the Golos Ravine! Incidentally, legend has it that the mythical library of Ivan the Terrible is supposedly hidden away somewhere at Kolomenskoye.

The largest of Europe's urban parks, which attracts millions of Muscovites and city guests every year. The park is famous not only for its picturesque nature, but also for its abundance of entertainment for adults and children.

Young guests of the park will be delighted after visiting the Elfity amusement park, where you can ride carousels, steam trains and boats. In winter, children will not be bored either, as the park has an interactive entertainment area ‘Forest of Wonders’, where you can ride on ice slides, visit the husky park and take pictures with cute pets.

Izmailovsky Park has also taken care of entertainment for adults. Come here to enjoy an open-air cinema, tone up your body at the street gym, and learn new skills at master classes, the variety of which is the envy of any other festival.

This palace, once favored by the greatest poets of the Russian Golden Age, earned the label "Russian Parnassus" thanks to Pushkin's apt remark. In 1899, it became a public museum. It houses four permanent exhibitions, to which current exhibitions are frequently added. In the Oval Room, the one where Pushkin once read the chapters of his Eugene Onegin, you can still experience the “flavor of the olden days.” Classical music concerts, performances and splendid historical-themed balls are held here these days. Don’t forget to take a walk in the park, where monuments to famous writers are erected, along the linden grove, as well as explore the temple of Apollo and walk along the humpback bridge. Actually, you can visit the Ostafyevo Estate on a guided tour or go on your own, using an audio guide with comprehensive information about the permanent exhibition of the museum, the history of the mansion, and all the specific features of its architecture.

A real natural oasis, which is ideal for hiding from the noise of the capital's central districts. Here, among the dense forests, you can truly enjoy the silence and tranquillity of nature. By its size this urban reserve has no analogues in the world!

Elk Island is famous for its unique natural landscapes, as well as the diversity of flora and fauna. It is an ideal place for walks, picnics, cycling and sports. Come here to meet moose, watch birds from a tower, and ride horses. For history and culture buffs, the park has several iconic locations, such as the Russian Life Museum, housed in a building with a hundred-year history.

This picturesque park is rightly considered one of the nicest in Moscow. Here you can see cascades of landscape ponds, a forest with centuries-old oaks, Chinese and Italian gardens, and preserved architectural treasures from the XVIII-XIX centuries. In the summer, guests rent boats or catamarans, play sports on closed grounds or simply relax in the shade of trees, while in the winter, they go skating on an outdoor ice rink. Each month, local history experts lead free tours around the Vorontsovo Estate telling visitors unique stories every time. The park's appeal is enhanced by frequent open-air photo displays. Visitors can admire the centuries-old architecture which includes wings and service buildings; they also can go inside the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity. It’s great to take a walk along the eco-trail leading to the main natural attractions of the park, go horseback riding on the weekends, and take the kids to the amusement park. If you need a snack, you can stop by one of the little cafés or food stands.

At this residence on Nikitsky Boulevard, Nikolai Gogol, a famous Russian writer, spent his final years and passed away. Here he burned the second volume of his novel, the renowned Dead Souls. Today, the two-story mansion featuring stone arcades and elegant balconies is called the Gogol House—a memorial museum that houses a research library, which has more than 250,000 books, including more than 300 volumes from Gogol's lifetime and later editions. The furnishings of the writer's former living quarters have been meticulously recreated. In the six rooms on the first floor, visitors can see the ill-fated fireplace, where Gogol burnt his manuscripts, the writer's postmortem mask, items from the personal collection of his sister's descendants, and his traveling trunk in the hallway. It is worth visiting the Gogol House not only to see the museum exposition, but also to attend one of the exhibitions or lectures, listen to a concert or enjoy one of the theatrical performances that are frequently held in the mansion.

In any season, the estate and park ensemble offers a fascinating experience for its visitors. Here you can simply walk around the large park, go boating in the summer or see the picturesque grottos and architectural landmarks of the XVIII-XIX centuries–the guest wing, the church of the icon of the Vlacherna Mother of God, the blacksmith shop and, of course, see the crown jewel of the ensemble, the stables, part of which house the Museum of Homestead Culture.

Visitors are recommended to take a guided sightseeing tour of the historical part of the park, visit the museum of the manor's history and have a snack in one of the numerous cafes. Make sure to visit the one-of-a-kind museum called In Silence, where you can learn about how people with hearing impairments experience the world, practice sign language, and even listen to music. Also, do your best to find the Father Frost Temple on the park premises to participate in some interactive activities or workshops offered throughout the year.