Russia Activities

Russia’s size and abundance of wilderness offers endless outdoor activities. In the last few years, the Russian government has opened up enormous areas that have been closed for decades. However, facilities and safety measures can be primitive, so get specialist advice before undertaking anything halfway dangerous. For many activities, hiring a professional guide is the best way to go.

Central Park of Culture and Rest
Traditionally St Petersburg's Central Park of Culture and Rest is famous for its water attractions. In the summer you can hire boats and catamarans to explore the fascinating water ways. Near the boat station there is a small town of fun games, attractions and rides. From a pier on the River Srednaja Nevka, a comfortable steam-ship makes hourly trips to the Gulf of Finland. In the winter kids can ice skate, sleigh ride, and slide down a hill or spiral chute. Visitors can also enjoy the Elaginoostrovsky Palace exhibition of wax figures. The park is open 24 hours a day and is located on Elagin Island, 4 near Staraia Derevnia, Krestovskiy Ostrov, and Chernaia Rechka subway stations. Phone: (812) 430-0911, 430-1010.

Circus
Travelling circuses, like theatre and ballet companies, stage shows most days of the week, featuring a wide variety of different types of gymnastics, daredevil, animal, and comedy acts. This is obviously a great place to take children, but the magic of the circus has the tendency to affect children of all ages. Renowned circuses are the St Petersburg Circus, the Great Moscow State Circus, Yuri Nikulin Circus or Old Circus named after Russia's most famous clown, and The Bolshoi Moscow Circus with its magical changing arenas.

Dolphinarium
Both St Petersburg and Moscow have a Dolphinarium where dolphins not only perform various tricks, but also sing, dance and even draw. Children sit amazed while dolphins jump out of water, fly through multi-coloured rings and disappear under water. White whales also gracefully perform, but the comic sea lions are a favourite.

Durov Animal Theatre
The Durov Animal Theatre was founded towards the end of last century by Vladimir Durov, a man who loathed cruelty to animals and shunned traditional circus training methods. Entirely eccentric and decidedly surreal at times, the theatre's performances always involved a bewildering array of mostly domestic animals and draw in crowds and crowds of delighted school children. It's a great afternoon or day out for the kids and is guaranteed to put a smile on their faces. 
Address: 4 Ulitsa Durova, near Tsvetnoy Boulevard subway station
Phone: (095) 281 7222, (095) 971 3047

Gorky Park
Situated just across the Moskva River from Park Kultury Metro Station, Moscow's Gorky Park is famed for the American writer Martin Cruz Smith's novel and later film of the same name. Opened in 1928, the park was created by combining the extensive gardens of Nezkuchny Palace and an old hospital covering some 300 acres. Today the park is filled with children's play areas, fun fairs, an original Buran spacecraft now open as a "Cosmic Experience for Kids", various rides and an enormous Ferris wheel next to the river, offering some spectacular views of the city! During the winter many of the footpaths are flooded and freeze over to allow children to ice skate around the park, and in February visitors can enjoy Moscow's annual Festival of Ice Sculpture. In the summer months hydrofoils and various other small boats depart from the jetty next to the park and take visitors on cruises right through the centre of the city and to most of her famous sights. Address: Krymsky Val, near Park Kultury subway station.

Moscow's Musical Theatre
The theatre offers a charming repertoire of operas and ballets directed specifically at children. These productions include Mozart's The Magic Flute, Kolmanovsky's production of Snow White, Rubin's Three Fat Men, Terentiev's Maximka, Rauhverberger's Cinderella, The Wizard of Oz and the magical Peter and the Wolf. Before each performance the actors don costumes and mingle and talk with the children. Address: 5 Prospekt Vernadskovo, near Universitet subway station. Phone: (095) 930-7021.

Puppet Theatre
The Puppet Theatre of Fairy Tales is one of St Petersburg's best and well-known theatres. The participant of many Russian and international festivals, this theatre tours Europe, the UK and even the Middle East. It is located at Moskovsky prospect, 121, near the Moskovsky subway station. Call: (812) 296-2496, (812) 298-2263. The Large Puppet Theatre is based in St Petersburg, but tours the country, entertaining audiences of all ages with modern plays and old classics of Russian and foreign theatre. Telephone: (812) 273-53-03, (812) 273-66-72 for more information.

Moscow's Obraztsov Theatre is the largest puppet theatre and puppetry teaching centre in Russia. The centre houses the theatre as well as the Russian State Museum of Theatrical Puppets containing over 3,000 puppets from over 50 countries, making it one of the largest puppet museums in the world. The theatre presents shows for both children and adults, with matinee performances full of humour and ideal for children and evening shows more likely to be silent or mimed. Address: 3 Sadovaya-Samotechnaya Ulitsa near Tsvetnoy Boulevard subway station. Phone: (095) 299-3310, (095) 299-5373.

Terrarium
In Moscow's Zoological Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences is the creepy-crawly exhibit of live insects. The exposition includes 50 terrariums. Address: Saint Petersburg, Vasil'evsky Island, University quay,1 near Nevsky Prospect subway station. Call for more information: (812) 327-1958 or 440-3298.

Zoo 
The Moscow Zoo is one of the largest in the world and the oldest zoo in Russia, established in 1864. It houses a unique collection of over 7,000 species. Along with its numerous playgrounds, souvenir shops and cafes the Moscow Zoo is the perfect day out for the children of all ages. Address: Bolshaya Gruzinskaya Street, 1

The Leningradsky Zoo is the second oldest zoo in Russia. Located in the historical centre of St. Petersburg, not far from the famous St. Peter and Paul Fortress, the zoo occupies an area of about 7.5 hectares and houses nearly 2000 animals belonging to 410 species. Located at Alexandrovsky park, 1 nearest Gorkovskaya subway station. Phone: (812) 232-4828.

Ballet
From the country who brought us Anna Pavlovna and Tchaikovsky, Russia is world famous for its exquisite ballet. See classic performances such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Romeo & Juliet, done by the some of the best dancers in the world! Regular ballets are held in Moscow and St Petersburg in elegant and historical venues such as Moscow’s Kremlin Palace. Visit www.aha.ru/~vladmo/ for more information.

Banya Bathing
This Russian-style sauna is an excellent way to experience authentic Russian social life and warm up during cold weather. There are banyas everywhere, ranging from little wooden huts in the forest to palatial banyas in fancy hotels and spas.

Boat cruises
This is an excellent way to see historical sights, scenic wilderness and meet interesting people. The main route is the Volga River with boats going to/from Moscow, St Petersburg, Novgorod, Volgograd and many other attractive cities. Volgograd to Rostov-Don is one of the most interesting sections. Boat tours are the easiest and safest way to get around Russia, plus some tours offer on-board Russian language lessons. Boat tours run from June to September only. A reputable tour company is Intrav, offering Journey of the Czars River Boat Cruises; visit www.intrav.com for more information

Climbing
The Elbrus area, and the Caucasus, Altai, Sayan, and Stanovoy mountains all offer fantastic climbing; as do the peaks along the Kamchatka peninsula.

Fishing
Opportunities for salmon fishing are unmatched anywhere else on earth. Try your hand at catching salmon out east in Vladivostok and Khabarovsk. Veselovskaye Reservoir in the Rostov-on-Don region is noted for pike, perch, bream, gudgeon, bullhead and roach. There are many reputable companies that lead fishing expeditions.

Hiking
There is an abundance of spectacular trekking terrain, yet marked trails and maps can be hard to find. Therefore, getting information from locals is essential, so it’s best to hire a guide or learn a few words of the language. Lake Baikal, west Ural Mountains and Altay Mountains are prime hiking areas. The Far East offers dramatic volcanic peaks and steaming hot springs of the Kamchatka peninsula, along with oodles of wildlife. Expert and reliable guide companies have sprung up all over Russia in recent years, making expeditions to even the most remote regions possible for Western visitors.

Ice Skating
Ice Skating is perhaps Russia’s most popular pastime with frozen lakes and outdoor rinks all over during the long winter and even indoor rinks open in the summer. St Petersburg’s Central Recreation Park is a favourite among skaters and it also has a ski centre. Ice rinks tend to be inexpensive and very cheerful.

Skiing
Ski areas are in the Caucasus, at Teberda-Dombay (west) and at Baksan Elbrus (north), and Kamchatka. As for the big cities, Moscow has a ski jump in the Vorobyevi Hills and days of cross-country skiing, with poles and boots provided, at Suzdal. There are at least 20 ski slopes within 80 km of Moscow and some can even be reached by metro.

Cross-country skiing is available outside Moscow at Olgino on the Gulf of Finland. Downhill skiing has a short season, generally from January to March. North of St Petersburg, in the wilderness of Karelia, cross-country skiing is routed through the taiga and over a terrain of frozen rivers and lakes including Ladoga and Onega.

Heli-skiing is now available in the Caucasus and Kamchatka where, it is claimed, the powder snow rivals that of Colorado and there is a guarantee of snow throughout the short season.

Skiing in Russia calls for much more fitness and skill than the average skier, as facilities are in need of modernization. However, they should improve rapidly in the next several years. The best facilities to be found are in the western Caucasus, around Dombay.

White Water Rafting
The Katun and Chuya Rivers in the Altay Mountains of Southern Siberia and the Lake Baikal region offer exciting, challenging and beautiful white water adventures. For a more relaxed journey, float down the placid waters of the Lukh and Kerzhenets Rivers in Novgrod. Any route will take you through the country’s most breathtaking scenery.

There are many delicious and inexpensive cafés and fast food places in the cities. Moscow and St Petersburg in particular have seen an enormous growth in cafés, bars and restaurants, including Chinese, Japanese and Italian cuisine, western fast food chains and traditional Russian cuisine.

Russian food tends to be rich, especially in winter. Dishes such as meaty dumplings, cabbage rolls, cabbage soup with sour cream, borscht (beetroot soup), blinis (pancakes), shashlik (shish kebab), and caviar keep one warm and satisfied, while lighter foods like superb soups and salads are around in the summer. Sturgeon and crayfish are prepared delightfully as well. Whole roast suckling pig, roast goose stuffed with buckwheat, and roast duck stuffed with apples are served at parties and for special occasions.

Each station of the Trans-Siberian Railway, there are old ladies who sell homemade food. They offer warm, hearty food like pelmeni (dumpling soup), bread, sausages, pickles, and smoked fish. Each station has something different and delicious.

Russia is world-famous for its vodka, usually consumed chilled and in one gulp, but there is also a fine selection of local beers with lively flavours, good champagne, and not so good wine. Russians love to push drinks on foreigners so prepare your excuses now… or practice chugging!

Visitors to Russia will find plenty of ways to spend their money, particularly in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Here you'll find art and antique stores, souvenir shops, department stores and outdoor flea markets.

Russia's shops, stalls and department stores sell many items, including crystal bowls, leather bags, and woollen sweaters, as well as fine amber jewellery, paintings and sculptures.

Perhaps the most significant symbols and ideal souvenirs of Russia are the traditional and amusing Matryoshka nesting dolls (wooden dolls within dolls), amber jewellery, Gzhel porcelain, and Faberge eggs (jewelled Easter eggs).

Khokhloma wooden cups, saucers and spoons that are painted gold, red and black, and Kholui and Palekh lacquered boxes make attractive souvenirs. Dymkovskaya Igrushka are pottery figurines based on popular folklore characters. A Samovar (a metal urn with a spigot at the base, used to boil water for tea) also makes a good souvenir, as does intricate Vologda lace.

It is necessary to allow extra time for souvenir hunting: shopping can be a time-consuming activity, owing to the relatively chaotic state of Russia’s retail trade. It is also advisable to shop around, as prices vary significantly. A good bargain-hunting strategy is to choose your souvenirs in a department store, and then buy them in a smaller, less centrally located shop. Shops accept payments in roubles and, occasionally, by credit card.

Antiquities, valuables, works of art and manuscripts other than those offered for sale in souvenir shops may not be taken out of the Russian Federation without an export license.

Russian's general shopping hours are Mondays – Saturdays 9:00am to 7:00pm and most food stores are open on Sundays. 24 hour stores are only now becoming somewhat more common.