Rainy Day in Moscow? Here’s What to Do
From amusement park rides to a Russian bathhouse — unusual entertainment to suit anyone
A rainy day is no reason to stay in your hotel room. Moscow has so many places to keep you entertained no matter what. Naturally, you can go shopping, but for this, you need a good mood, not just bad weather, and we know how to make this happen with rides, music, art, and all the most interesting things to do in the Russian capital during inclement weather.
Just Have Fun
Dream Island is an indoor amusement park with cafes and shops, and there is enough to do for the whole day. Start with a cup of coffee on the promenade, pop into a beauty salon or a perfume shop, take a photo against the background of a frightening carousel that lifts chairs on thin chains all the way up to the roof. Then head over to the rides! There are several themed areas, from Hello Kitty to the Abandoned Mansion, carousels for different ages, goodies, and beautiful locations. Make sure to take a photo of the map at the entrance (or download it on Dream Island’s official website) so you don’t get lost.
Enjoy Art
Moscow’s major art galleries showcase masterpieces by both Russian and European greats. Begin at the State Tretyakov Gallery, home to ancient icons and iconic canvases like The Appearance of Christ Before the People by Alexander Ivanov, Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan by Ilya Repin, the other-worldly Bogatyrs by Vasnetsov, Bathing of the Red Horse by Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, and other works by Russian masters.
Next, head to the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts: there you can see works by Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Sandro Botticelli, Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens, and other famous European artists. In addition, the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts regularly hosts exhibitions where you can see old Italian still lifes, rare engravings, and unique restored paintings.
If you are familiar with the classics and want to see something new, you should visit the Moscow Museum of Modern Art. It has several buildings in Moscow, and they all display works by young Russian artists, sculptors, photographers, and mixed media artists, as well as works by some Soviet masters. In addition, the city has smaller galleries of contemporary art, such as Cube, Art&Brut, Triumph, Askeri, Vladey, and Totibadze. Each space allows you to get a feel for the work of modern masters, as well as purchase the work that has caught your eye.
Listen to Music
Moscow may not be the birthplace of jazz, but it is an important point on the map for this musical genre. The city has more than twenty jazz bars where concerts are held daily. If you like classical jazz, swing by the Esse Jazz Club: there are concerts every evening, and on weekends, you can arrange a brunch with an amazing atmosphere - buy a ticket, order a nice meal, and enjoy a live performance. Another option is the Igor Butman Jazz Club. This is a spacious restaurant with regular concerts. You can catch both the founder himself and other modern jazz performers. Those who are interested in related genres and virtuoso improvisations should check out one of the stages at the Kozlov Club: there are four of them, each with a different show. For example, you can watch a classic jazz concert, an improvisation brunch, a funk singer, or even a wind ensemble. Finally, The Bix and The Hat are two bars with a very relaxed atmosphere, where you don’t need to buy a ticket. They’re admission-free and don’t have a fixed concert schedule, yet you may be able to catch a soulful concert or a solo performance for a select few there.
Watch a Film
There are many cinemas in Moscow that show films in their original language with subtitles, and most of them are historic venues over 50 years old. Perhaps, first of all, it is worth visiting Khudozhestvenny, a cinema that is over 115 years old; it is the first to open in the capital and is stunningly beautiful. Now it has been restored, and it has a coffee shop, a store, a restaurant, a bar, and a mini-library. Most importantly, new releases and world cinema classics are shown daily. In addition, there is a very cosy cinema in GUM, the Main Department Store of Moscow, which is also a beautiful marble palace with cafes and shops next to Red Square. After strolling along the long arched galleries, wide railings, and fountains, you should try some traditional Soviet ice cream and go to the GUM Cinema on the third floor.
Relax at the Banya
If you have come to the capital of Russia, then you should definitely relax Russian-style and enjoy a steam in a real bathhouse. The famous Sanduny, a historic 19th-century bathhouse, where quaint mosaics and thematically decorated rooms have been preserved, is perfect for this. Aristocrats used to relax there, famous films were shot there, and now it is a public recreation area where you can take a steam bath, get a massage, take a dip in a large plunge tub, or just have dinner. For those who want to have the unique experience of steaming in a Russian spa, we recommend visiting Expedition or Siberia, two excellent bathhouses.
