Outdoor Activities in Moscow
Information on the facilities in Moscow for outdoor activities: parks and gardens, cycling and winter sports…
Parks and Gardens
Moscow has many parks and gardens to enjoy. There are over 100 parks and estates in the city and many more gardens and squares. Attractions include wildlife and nature parks, with botanical gardens, zoos and forest trails, and leisure and memorial parks with landscaped gardens, lakes, watersports and beaches.
Gorky Park
Officially known as The Central Park of Rest and Culture Named After M. Gorky, this is possibly the most famous park in Moscow. Cycles and pedal car rental centres are available in the park as well free yoga and fitness lessons in the summer months. Boating, horse riding, tennis and bungee jumping are among the facilities on offer, and ice skating and skiing are major attractions in the winter. The park also features free Wi-Fi and rental of sun loungers at the beach area.
The park is open all year round, and entrance is free.
- Gorky Park
At: Ul. Krymskiy Val 9, Moscow
Tel: (499) 237 0707 / (499) 237 1251
Metro: Park Kultury, Oktyabr'skaya stations
Open: Daily 10:00-22:00
Tsaritsyno Park
This nature reserve, landscape park and museum is most famous for its palace built for the Russian empress Catherine the Great in the 18th century. Tsaritsyno is a popular location for hiking in the summer months, while in winter it offers sledging, skiing and skating. Skis, skates, sledges, Segways and electric carts are available for hire. Entrance to the park is free.
- Tsaritsyno Park
Metro: Tsaritsyno
Kolomenskoye Park
Kolomenskoye Park is one of the oldest in Moscow and houses a variety of historic buildings located on the site of an ancient settlement. The park offers horse riding, rental of electric carts, excursions and river tours. Cycling and roller-skating is prohibited in the park, however. Entrance is free of charge.
- Kolomenskoye Park
At: Prospect Andropova 39, Moscow
Tel: (499) 614 8880
Victory Park (Park Pobedy)
Victory Park is a relatively new park built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. There is an open-air museum of war vehicles, a Victory Monument and WWII museum here. Victory Park is popular with cyclists, roller-skaters and joggers. It is also very popular on national holidays, especially on Victory Day. Entrance is free.
- Victory Park
At: Ul. Bratyev Fonchenko 7, Poklonnaya Gora, Moscow
Metro: Park Pobedy
Izmaylovskiy Park
Izmaylovskiy Park consists of two parts: the woodland park area and the amusement park area. The woodland zone is home to a variety of wildlife suited to its forest, river and marshland habitats. The amusement park zone offers roller-skate rentals, various amusements and boat trips. During the winter months the park is a popular location for skiing and skating. Entrance to the park is free.
- Izmaylovskiy Park (in Russian)
At: Nardonyi prospekt, 17
Tel: (499) 166 6119
Metro: Partizanskaya
Main Botanic Garden (Glavniy Botanicheskiy Sad)
There are five botanical gardens in Moscow, this being the largest. It is officially known as The Russian Academy of Sciences' Main Botanical Gardens, and is adjacent to the All-Russia Exhibition Centre. Over 20,000 species of plant life from around the world are cultivated within the many collections. Guided tours are available.
- Main Botanic Garden (in Russian)
At: Ul. Botanicheskaya 4, Moscow
Tel: (499) 977 9145
email
Open: May to October 10:00-20:00 (except Monday and Tuesday)
Botanic Garden of Lomonosov MSU
This botanic garden is the oldest in Russia, with its origins in the apothecary garden created under the instruction of Peter I in 1706. The gardens are now maintained by Lomonosov Moscow State University.
- Botanic Garden of Lomonosov MSU (in Russian)
At: Prospekt Mira 26, Moscow
Tel: (495) 680 5880
Open: May to August 10:00-22:00, September, October 10:00-21:00, November to April 10:00-19:00
Cycling
Recreational cycling in Moscow's parks and forests is a popular activity among Muscovites. Many of the parks and gardens mentioned above allow cycling and cross-country cycling is also available.
Elk Island (Losinyi Ostrov)
Elk Island is a national park with scenic asphalted cycle paths. Wild animals, such as elks and boars live within the park. The cycle route is 27 Km long.
- At: Korolev, ul. Ordzhonikidze, Moscow
Metro: Ulitsa Podbelskogo - For a map of the Elk Island cycle route: Click here
Silver Forest (Serebryanyi Bor)
This is a forest and recreational park with asphalted cycle paths running through the forest. The cycle route is 12 Km long.
- Silver Forest
At: Prospekt Marshala Zhukova, Moscow
Tel: (495) 789 2570
Metro: Oktyabr'skoe Pole - For a map of the Silver Forest cycle route: Click here
Strogino Beach
This cycle track runs along Moscow River, passing by the popular beaches at Strogino. The cycle route is 3.3 Km long.
- Metro: Strogino
- For a map of the Strogino beach cycle route: Click here
Moscow Canal
The cycle track running along the Moscow Canal passes by floodgates and the museum of Naval Forces. The route is 11 Km long.
- Metro: Oktyabr'skoe Pole
- For a map of the Moscow Canal cycle route: Click here
Winter Sports
Although the countryside around Moscow is not mountainous, there are several places where skiing and snowboarding are possible. Skiing is also available in many parks and gardens of Moscow during the winter months, and is a very popular activity with Muscovites.
- Russian Skiing School (in Russian): The school has five slopes which are all are open for free skiing. It also offers equipment rental and training courses.
- At: Bumazhnyi proezd, 14/1 (Central Office), Moscow
Tel: (499) 257 3365
- At: Bumazhnyi proezd, 14/1 (Central Office), Moscow
- Vorobievy Gory
At: Ul. Kosygina 28, Moscow
Tel: (495) 939 0961 - Novo-Peredelkino
At: Proektiruemyi prozed 635, 9/1, Moscow
Tel: (495) 435 0138 - Severnoe Butovo
At: Ul. Starochkalovskaya 22, Moscow
Tel: (903) 796 0956 - Sevastopolsky Prospekt
At: Sevastopolsky prospekt 66, Moscow
Tel: (903) 796 0774 - Kurkino
At: Ul. Dolina reki Skhodnya, Landyshevskaya, Moscow
Tel: (903) 796 0910