Moscow in Winter: Guide to the Russian Capital's Ice Rinks
Visiting Russie in winter is a charming experience for many travelers. In Moscow, you can enjoy immense open-air ice rinks to experience true Russian life and see the city from a different perspective.
Visiting Russie in winter is a charming experience for many travelers. In Moscow, you can enjoy immense open-air ice rinks to experience true Russian life and see the city from a different angle. Here are some of the most beautiful ice rinks in the Russian capital :
Gorky Park Ice Rink
The ice rink at the famous Gorky Park covers approximately 19,000 m². It is generally open to the public from mid-November to mid-March. During your skating stroll, you'll be able to glide through a magnificent forest. Should you get hungry, dining on-site poses no problem, as several restaurants have set up along the circuit. The Gorky Park ice rink is divided into 13 large lanes, including areas reserved for children and one for ice dancing. In winter, various activities take place at Gorky Park for the enjoyment of everyone, across all generations.
Opening Hours and Prices
Tuesday to Thursday :
10 am to 3 pm (child: 150 rubles / adult 300 rubles) and 5 pm to 11 pm (child: 300 rubles / adult 450 rubles)
Friday to Sunday and Public Holidays
10 am to 3 pm (child: 200 rubles / adult 500 rubles) and 5 pm to 11 pm (child: 250 rubles / adult 600 rubles)
Good to Know
It's worth noting that entry is free for children under 6 years old. Gorky Park is closed every Monday. The price for the children's area is 150 rubles and access times remain the same as usual, but the Friday, weekend and public holiday rate is 200 rubles.
Sokolniki Park Ice Rink
The Sokolniki ice rink also attracts many locals and foreigners during winter. One could even say it's one of the best-equipped skating facilities in Moscow. Indeed, the ice rink has a special mechanism that allows ice creation outside of winter. With its large rink of approximately 5,300 m², everyone can enjoy their time without getting in each other's way. It should be noted that for those without skates, the facility offers rentals.
Hours and Prices
Sokolniki Park Ice Rink is open daily from 10 am to midnight.
Single entry: 1,000 rubles or 8 entries over one month: 6,800 rubles
The Pan-Russian Exhibition Center VDNkh Ice Rink
Each winter, VDNkh Park welcomes thousands of skaters on its immense rink covering 20,000 m². It's one of the world's largest ice rinks. In fact, it was even included in the "Russian Book of Records" in 2014. The venue itself, with its numerous Soviet-era pavilions, many fountains and space artifacts, adds tremendous charm to a skating session at VDNkh.
Hours and Prices
Tuesday to Friday :
11 am to 2:45 pm (child: 150 rubles / adult 300 rubles)
5 pm to 10:45 pm (child: 200 rubles / adult 450 rubles)
Weekends and Public Holidays :
10 am to 2:45 pm (child: 200 rubles / adult 450 rubles)
5 pm to 10:45 pm (child: 250 rubles / adult 600 rubles)
Note :
Hours remain the same for the children's area, but prices differ. Tuesday to Friday: 150 rubles and weekends and public holidays: 200 rubles.
Red Square Ice Rink
If you're not staying long in https://www.voyage-russie.fr/circuit/coeur-moscouMoscow, this is the ice rink you absolutely must visit. During the end-of-year festivities, Red Square and GUM light up in a thousand colors. The atmosphere is simply magical and will immerse you in the magic of Russian Christmas! The skating itself happens in a dreamlike setting with the most beautiful monuments of the Moscow capital such as Saint Basil's Cathedral, the GUM gallery, the Kremlin, etc. And it's an opportunity for a quintessential Russian photo: in a down jacket, on skates, in front of Red Square...
Hours and Prices
Hours may vary depending on the day, but generally speaking, the venue is open to the public from 10 am to 11:30 pm. Prices range from 300 to 500 rubles. If you rent skates, you'll need to add a 300 ruble surcharge.
If you have some time, consider visiting Lake Baikal in winter !
Frequently asked questions
The Pan-Russian Exhibition Center VDNkh ice rink is the largest in Moscow, with an area of 20,000 m². It was even listed in the 'Russian Book of Records' in 2014 as one of the world's largest ice rinks.
Yes, skate rentals are available on-site at several Moscow ice rinks, notably at Sokolniki Park. At the Red Square ice rink, skate rentals are offered for an additional 300 rubles. Contact each ice rink directly to find out about rental rates.
Moscow's outdoor ice rinks are generally open from mid-November to mid-March. Gorky Park ice rink is accessible Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 11 pm (closed Mondays). Sokolniki Park ice rink, equipped with an artificial refrigeration system, is open daily from 10 am to midnight, even outside of winter.
Entry to Gorky Park ice rink is free for children under 6 years old. For other age groups, discounted children's rates are offered at all ice rinks. For example, at Gorky Park, the child rate is 150 rubles on weekdays (off-peak) versus 300 rubles for adults.
The Red Square ice rink is arguably the most iconic, with Saint Basil's Cathedral, the GUM gallery and the Kremlin as a backdrop. During the end-of-year festivities, the illuminations create a magical atmosphere. It's the ideal choice if you want to combine skating and discovering Moscow's must-see monuments.
Moscow has a very efficient metro network. Gorky Park is accessible from Oktyabrskaya station, Sokolniki Park from the station of the same name (Line 5), and VDNkh from VDNkh station (Line 6). For Red Square, the closest stations are Okhotny Ryad, Teatralnaya or Ploshchad Revolyutsii.
