Moscow: A Resort City
The capital offers far more than historic sights — discover its green spaces, nature trails, and outdoor pools for relaxation in every season.
The capital has many sights and architectural monuments. Yet Moscow is no concrete jungle. Alongside historic Moscow sights and busy avenues, the city is also known for its green spaces and outdoor leisure areas. It is a city where visitors are able to take a much needed rest while enjoying its countless parks, beautiful river walks, beaches, and unique nature reserves. For travelers planning Moscow sightseeing, these locations offer scenic views, local experiences, and some of the more relaxing things to do in Moscow.
Parks and estates
Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve
A residence loved by Russian tsars as far back as the 16th century, Kolomenskoye has been one of the capital's museum-reserves and a wonderful place for strolls since 1923. Today, it’s often featured in Moscow parks and gardens guides as one of the city’s most scenic historic spaces. During warm weather, leisurely wander along its paths and admire the blossoming of famous apple orchards first planted in the 17th century. In winter, an ice rink, a snow tubing hill, a skiing trail, and horse-drawn carriage rides are available for park visitors. This also makes Kolomenskoye a popular destination for Moscow winter activities.
The main sights at the museum-reserve are open all year round: the Church of the Ascension of the Lord (a UNESCO world heritage site), the Palace of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich, the Church of Beheading of John the Baptist (legend has it that Ivan the Terrible’s famous lost library is hidden under its foundation), the Peter the Great House, the Church of Our Lady of Kazan, etc. These landmarks make the estate one of the more important historic Moscow sights outside the city centre. In the Golosov Ravine, you should make a wish near two famous sacred stones (the Deviy and Gus stones).
In addition, many tours, workshops, lectures, and exhibitions are held in Kolomenskoye. It’s also a strong addition to Moscow cultural routes and walking tours focused on history, architecture, and nature.
Address: Andropova Avenue, 39
Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve
Back in 1776, Catherine the Great ordered the construction of a palace and park in the south of the capital. This was the only palace complex in Moscow built in the Russian Gothic style up to that point. Today, Tsaritsyno is often included in Moscow sightseeing routes for its distinctive architecture and landscaped park territory.
In addition to being a historic landmark, it is also a wonderful place for strolls. You should definitely visit the landscape park, check out its ponds (in summer, you can go boating and stand-up paddleboarding) and the greenhouse complex with exotic plants still grown like they were 250 years ago. The estate is also featured in Moscow parks and gardens guides thanks to its scenic views and outdoor activities. Don't miss the artificial grottoes and musical fountain. After the walk, you can attend one of the exhibitions, tours, or concerts that are regularly held in Tsaritsyno.
Address: Dolskaya Street, 1
Main Botanical Garden of the Academy of Sciences
One of the largest botanical gardens in Europe, located in the north-east of Moscow, covers an area of almost 332 hectares and is among Russia’s national treasures. It’s widely featured in Moscow parks and gardens guides and considered one of the city’s top природных attractions for seasonal walks and photography.
The Old Stock Greenhouse with expositions of tropical and subtropical plants is open to visitors, as well as the Japanese Garden (from April to October) and the pagoda in it, ponds with islands, stone lanterns, cascades of waterfalls, and about 70 species of plants, including the famous cherry blossom. For travelers planning Moscow sightseeing in spring, the garden offers some of the city’s most picturesque scenic views and local experiences. From June to October, you can visit the rose garden, which is consistently refurbished, and in spring, you can admire the blooming of roughly 200 types of lilacs in the Lilac Garden.
If you wish, you can sign up for one of the themed or general tours. It’s also a popular stop in Moscow walking tours focused on nature, landscape design, and seasonal blooms.
Address: Botanicheskaya Street, 4
Bauman Garden
This green oasis in the Basmanny District is one of Muscovites’ favourite places to relax. It’s often featured in Moscow parks and gardens guides as a quieter alternative to the city’s larger public parks. It is pleasant to stroll along the allées and rest on benches in the shade cast by crowns of centuries-old trees. During your promenade, it is worth looking for a local landmark, a basilisk-shaped fountain gifted to the garden by the residents of the Swiss city Basile. The famous Belvedere Grotto is also noteworthy (legend says it is connected to the library in Nikolai Stakheev’s mansion by an underground passage).
For those who enjoy active recreation, there is a sports area for outdoor activities, bicycles and roller skates available for rent, fitness and yoga classes, and an ice rink in winter. This makes the park a year-round destination for Moscow summer activities and Moscow winter activities alike. For children, there are playgrounds and various workshops in the garden, and they can attend interesting plays in the Fanny Bell House.
Address: Staraya Basmannaya Street, 15
Eco-trails
During your walk along the eco-trail on the slopes of Sparrow Hills, you can see the oldest ash tree in Moscow (it is over 300 years old), admire Andreyevsky Ponds and its inhabitants (ducks, geese, mute swans), and see many endangered plants. In fact, the 770-metre long route isn't the only one. The second trail (740 metres long) is a boardwalk that leads past a bird town and three springs to Forest Pond. A beautiful view of the area opens up from the nearby observation deck. These routes are also popular in Moscow scenic views and walking tours recommendations thanks to their combination of nature and panoramic landscapes.
There are many eco-trails in other Moscow parks. For instance, the aerial trail at VDNH is quite popular. It is propped up by iron stilts reaching a height of up to 6.5 metres. From this height, you can see all the beauty of Landscape Park at any time of the year. The eco-trail in Izmailovsky Park is also open all year round: there are regular tours that share the history of Izmailovo, along with the flora and fauna of the forest park. Together, these routes make Moscow eco tourism an increasingly popular part of modern Moscow travel guides.
Outdoor Pools
Chayka
The largest outdoor swimming pool in the capital was built in 1957 as an athletic training facility. Today, it remains one of the most popular spots for outdoor recreation in Moscow and is open year-round. Visitors come here not only for swimming, but also to relax, recharge, and enjoy wellness activities in the open air.
There are actually two separate pools (50 and 25 metres in size), with the water temperature maintained at a comfortable +28°C throughout the year. In colder months, guests can warm up in the sauna after a swim, while in summer they can cool off under the cascade shower or in the ice bath. The complex also includes a gym, which is included in the standard ticket price. For those looking for active leisure, wellness experiences, or unusual things to do in Moscow, it’s a great addition to any city itinerary.
Address: Turchaninov Lane, 3, bldg. 1
Aquatoria ZIL
Aquatoria ZIL features two 50-metre pools, including one outdoor swimming pool in Moscow open all year round. The complex has five swimming lanes with depths reaching 2.5 metres, as well as a shallow area (1.2 metres) suitable for more relaxed swimming. Visitors can access the outdoor pool directly from the changing rooms, making it especially convenient during colder months. A special heating system keeps the water at a steady +28°C, while evening illumination creates an atmospheric setting for night swims. The ticket price also includes access to the sauna, making it a popular choice for wellness activities and active leisure in Moscow. Please note that children aged 7 to 14 may enter only when accompanied by an adult, while children under 7 are not permitted in the pool.
Address: Avtozavodskaya Street, 23A, bldg. 4
Luzhniki Aqua Complex
The famous Luzhniki swimming pool, opened in 1956, hosted the 1980 Olympics and many other competitions. Today, it has been transformed into a large aqua complex where professional athletes train alongside visitors looking for relaxation and outdoor activities in Moscow.
For those who enjoy swimming year-round, the complex features a large water park on the second floor with slides and a wide range of aquatic activities for all ages. One of its main highlights is the heated outdoor pool in Moscow overlooking Sparrow Hills and Moscow State University. With the water temperature maintained at +36°C, visitors can comfortably swim outdoors even in winter, making it one of the more unusual things to do in Moscow during colder months.
In summer, the city offers even more options for summer activities in Moscow. At Rechnoy, visitors can relax in a beach-style area with heated pools, sun loungers, hammocks, a children’s pool, tropical cocktails, and restaurant dining. Another popular spot is The Bassein in Sokolniki Park, featuring shallow pools, beach areas, bungalows, and outdoor games such as volleyball and table tennis. Families can also visit Dream Beach Club at Dream Island — the largest beach club in Russia, covering more than 41,000 square metres and combining family-friendly entertainment with resort-style leisure.
Address: Luzhniki Street, 24, bldg. 1
Krasnaya Presnya Park
Krasnaya Presnya is a place to relax by the water — or in it. The park features a modern open-air swimming pool in Moscow that operates during the summer season. It’s a perfect spot for a refreshing dip on a hot day, whether you prefer to swim laps or simply unwind poolside. The area includes sun loungers, changing rooms, showers, and a café, making it a comfortable option for summer activities in Moscow.
Beyond the pool, the park offers green lawns, shaded alleys, and scenic views of the Moskva River embankment — ideal for a relaxed stroll before or after your swim. For visitors looking for outdoor recreation in Moscow or quieter local experiences, Krasnaya Presnya combines urban leisure with a calm riverside atmosphere.
Address: Mantulinskaya Street, 5