Picnic Perfect: Moscow’s Best Open‑Air Escapes
Whether you crave a riverside grill or a cultural backdrop, we’ve got you covered
The capital is full of parks where you can lounge on a blanket in the great outdoors or fire up the barbecue. So pack your picnic basket and head off to rest on the grass in the shade. Here’s our guide to where you can grill meat and where to go for a more romantic al‑fresco meal.
Gorky Park
One of Moscow’s most popular parks, and you can picnic here after a long walk without bringing your own food or blankets. Following a major revamp, the riverside has been completely transformed — with two‑level pedestrian promenades, modern glass pavilions, and plenty of comfy sun loungers and soft pouffes to sink into. There’s also a wide choice of cafés and eateries. In summer, the park buzzes with activities: basketball, beach volleyball, open‑air cinema, evening hustle dancing, or cycling along the river.
Address: Krymsky Val Street, 9
Hermitage Garden
Right in the city centre, you can spread your blanket on the lawn and relax in the dappled shade. It’s pretty much the perfect spot for a romantic date – especially popular with couples is the ‘Silver Heart’, installed in 2007. This tubular metal sculpture, dubbed the ‘Monument to All Lovers’, was based on a sketch found in the courtyard of Juliet’s House in Verona. In summer, the garden hosts yoga and dance workshops, and in July, there’s the traditional Chess & Jazz festival – so you can play a game and listen to some live music.
Address: Karetny Ryad Street, 3с1
Ostankino Estate-Museum
One of Moscow’s oldest parks, formerly part of the Sheremetev counts’ estate. Be sure to pop into the Egyptian Pavilion, designed by the Italian architect Vincenzo Brenna. There’s a dedicated picnic area here too — near the garden pond you’ll find tables and barbecues. If you’d rather just sit on the grass with a blanket, head deeper into the park along one of the paths and find your own shady nook.
Address: 1st Ostankinskaya Street, 5с1
Tsaritsyno Museum‑Reserve
Picnic with a view of the pseudo‑Gothic palaces of Catherine the Great’s residence. The large palace meadow, just behind the Grand Palace, is perfect for lounging on the grass. A huge pine tree stands right in the middle, offering a patch of shade – but there aren’t many other trees, so choose this spot on a cooler day. The meadow often hosts summer festivals, jazz concerts, and open‑air performances. In July, you’ll find the ‘Moscow Tea Time’ tent, where they hand out free iced tea.
Address: Tyurina Street, 1с2
Kuskovo Museum-Reserve
The former country retreat of the Sheremetevs, with lovely ponds where you can settle on the bank. The park is an architectural monument, dotted with marble statues, greenhouses, and tree‑lined paths. The grand estate museum also stands on the grounds. Tables and barbecues can be found in the north‑west part of the Kuskovo woodland, along Rassvetnaya Alley.
Address: Yunosti Street, 2
Kolomenskoe Museum‑Reserve
In the former residence of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, orchards were planted with apples, pears, plums, and currants. Today, apple trees still grow here, and when they blossom, people gather as if for a Russian version of hanami. You can spread your blanket on the grass (just not right under the trees, to protect the root systems) and take in the view of the Church of the Ascension. This white‑stone church was commissioned by Vasily III and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Address: Andropova Avenue, 39с33
Pokrovskoe‑Streshnevo Park
Leo Tolstoy once strolled among these pines — he rented a dacha not far from the Streshnev family estate. It was here, too, that the writer met his future wife, Sophia. Today, Muscovites come to the park for a walk or a picnic. The best spot to lay out your blanket and have a bite is by Ivankovo Ponds — people gather on the grass by the water to sunbathe and watch the sunset. Near the Fifth Ivankovo Pond there’s a picnic area with gazebos and grills, but it fills up fast, especially at weekends. After your picnic, you can stroll over to the estate and see how the restoration is coming along.
Address: Ivankovskoye Highway, 6
Kuzminki‑Lyublino Museum-Reserve
A huge park with room for any company. It covers a vast area, with large woodland tracts and several ponds. In August, the Moscow Tea Time tent pops up again, where you can sample traditional Moscow tea. There are also plenty of attractions and hire points for bicycles, roller skates, and scooters.
Address: Volzhsky Boulevard, 53к1
Serebryany Bor
One of Muscovites’ favourite escapes from the city bustle. This park, with its picturesque lake and pine forest, sits on the banks of the Moscow River. Near Bezdonnoye Lake you’ll find designated barbecue areas, wooden gazebos, and tables with benches. Once the swimming season kicks off, you’re allowed to take a dip here. There are also SUP rental points — you can paddle round the island or cruise across Bezdonnoye Lake.
Address: Tamanskaya Street, 2Ас1
Weekend Extra
And if you fancy something a bit more lively after your picnic, the city has you covered. Throughout the summer, weekend events unfold simultaneously at two open‑air venues, offering a delightful blast from the past. You can try your hand at traditional 19th‑century Russian games — gorodki (a folk sport rather like bowling crossed with horseshoes), croquet, serso (ring‑toss), and lapta (a bat‑and‑ball affair). For those with a taste for elegance, dance workshops teach the Viennese waltz, polka, quadrille, mazurka, and polonaise.
Where & When
Vorontsovo Estate: 4 July – 26 July
Tsaritsyno Museum‑Reserve: 4 July – 26 July
Lianozovsky Park: 1 August – 6 September
Izmailovsky Park: 1 August – 16 August
Bauman Garden: 22 August – 6 September
