Historical Ice: Moscow’s most unusual ice skating rinks
Do you want to visit a century-old ice rink or a fashionable ice rink with colorful lighting? The capital offers a choice of ice rinks to suit every taste. This season, almost 1,400 natural and artificial ice skating rinks will open in the capital, including 39 spots in parks. On some of them, residents of pre-revolutionary Moscow learned to skate, while others opened relatively recently, yet they feature great design and convenient location.
Now winter sport fans can enjoy artificial ice skating rinks. They opened in the courtyards of residential buildings, parks and natural areas. The sites have all the necessary infrastructure: lighting, rental and first aid centers, locker rooms and food outlets. Many of the ice skating rinks are open every day, with most of them open until late in the evening or around the clock. Natural ice skating rinks will open soon when temperatures are below zero. Traditionally, natural ice skating rinks open a little later than artificial ice skating rinks.
Read on to learn more about city’s unusual skating rinks.
Favorite ice skating rinks of many generations
For more than 100 years, one of Muscovites’ favorite winter recreation area has been the skating rink at Chistye Prudy (12 Chistoprudny Boulevard), operating since 1914. Located in the downtown of the capital, the skating rink will be open around the clock, allowing residents to enjoy skating at any time. The natural ice skating rink will open when temperatures are below zero, and the Moscow rescue teams confirm ice thickness safe for skating. The total area of the skating rink is 12,000 square meters, allowing visitors to skate without disturbing anyone.
The skating rinks in the Vorontsovo estate (3 Vorontsovsky Park) are also very popular with city residents. In 2012, a convenient artificial ice skating rink opened in the park area. This year, it was modernized: the renovated side railing and the locker room became much more spacious, and the lighting was replaced. While skating, you can admire the beauty of the old park, and when tired of winter activities, you can relax in a warm room.
The skating rink is open from 10:00 a. m. to 10:00 p. m. on weekdays and from 10:00 a. m. to 11:00 p. m. on weekends. A sports equipment rental center is also available to visitors. The area of the skating rink is 800 square meters, about 17,000 people visiting it annually.
For hockey fans and sports history experts
Fans of famous Soviet hockey players Valery Kharlamov and Anatoly Tarasov will be happy to visit the skating rink next to Timiryazevskaya metro station. It is an artificial ice hockey rink with a total area of over 1,400 square meters, installed in a park stretching along Akademika Lisitsyna Street. According to the residents’ idea, the skating rink was named after Valery Kharlamov since the hockey player spent his childhood in Timiryazevsky district. In the 1970 s, the city’s First Puck hockey competition took place for the first time on this site. Anatoly Tarasov took part in the event, so the skating rink is associated with the names of two famous athletes. Renovated in 2023, it reopened to city residents. This season, the skating rink offers a free hockey training program. It is open every day from 10:00 a. m. to 10:00 p. m, featuring a rental center and a warm locker room.
In 2019, Lianozovo district got its first artificial ice-skating rink along Vologodsky Proyezd, next to Altufyevsky Pond and the Altufyevo estate. It complements the walking area around the pond. Three years ago, a canopy over the biotech ice field fitted with the color music system was installed. However, its original design is just one of the advantages as this large ice rink can host big hockey and figure skating competitions. It welcomes park visitors who want to skate on the flat ice and hosts trainings of the regional children’s team and matches as part of the Golden Puck tournament.
Family activities
The ice skating rink in Yauza Park has enough space for everyone who likes to cut the ice loudly with their skates, offering four artificial ice skating rinks free of charge. Visitors can use warm locker rooms and select skates of the correct size at the rental center. The skating rink at the Rostokinsky Aqueduct (Bazhova Street, opposite building No. 2) is covered by a canopy, so visitors are welcome there in any weather. Visit the park’s website to find out the locations and opening hours of other ice rinks.
The major ice skating rink in Zelenograd gets everyone in the New Year mood. It opens annually on Yunost Square in the city center featuring a New Year tree sparkling with multi-colored lights and beautiful music. The skating rink has a rental center and a convenient locker room. It is the winter hotspot among Zelenograd residents.
Those who want to enjoy an unusual figure skating rink are invited to visit Sosenki Park in Tsaritsyno district (Southern Okrug). Ice skating enthusiasts can enjoy an exciting route: figured ice tracks go around the trees, creating a winding path. Decorations around the entire perimeter of the skating rink and pleasant music creates a romantic mood. Sosenki Park has a rental center and a warm locker room; skate sharpening services are also available.
Immerse yourself in a fairy tale dream
The Hermitage Garden immerses its visitors in a fairy tale dream and creates the special New Year atmosphere. In winter, there will be two skating rinks. The artificial ice skating rink is located in the ground floor of the garden, while another skating rink-with natural ice-will open when stable frosts set in. It is located on the alleys and paths in the shady part of the garden. Visitors to the Hermitage Garden will find everything they need for enjoyable skating: skate rental and sharpening stations, warm locker rooms, storage lockers and a cafe. Visit the park’s website to find out the opening hours and prices.
Unforgettable skating awaits visitors to the skating rink at the Avangard stadium in Perovo district (Eastern Okrug). This year, its reconstruction was completed and a skating rink with a total area of 1,700 square meters was installed for the first time. Guests can rent skates and other sports equipment, use a locker room and buy meals at a café. The admission is free on weekdays from 10:00 a. m. to 3:00 p. m., and on weekends from 10:00 a. m. to 1:00 p. m; at other times, you need to buy a ticket. Click the link to find out the opening hours and prices.
Another famous skating rink is located at VDNKh, turning 10 this year. It opened on the Industry Square around the Vostok launch vehicle model. The season’s motif will be the Time Flight alluding to dreams of space and ambitions for high achievements. The ice area in the new winter season is about 9,000 square meters. Up to 1,900 people can be at the rink simultaneously. It will be a pleasure to skate here as you can see the historical pavilions while moving on the ice, the Main Alley and the new Atom Pavilion. The skating rink has three entrance pavilions: two main pavilions (on the podium opposite Pavilion No. 57) and a business pavilion (opposite Pavilion No. 20) where you can put on skates and leave your belongings. A doctor is always ready to provide first aid if necessary. Visitors can have a cup of hot tea and a snack in the cafe.
This winter, Muscovites have plenty of recreation options available in parks, squares and even in courtyards. Residents of all ages can enjoy the skating rinks, cross-country skiing trails and ski slopes.
A total of 4,075 facilities is to open, including 1,387 skating rinks (222 of which are artificial ice skating rinks) and 396 ski slopes covering an area of 503.4 kilometers.
New facilities are also to open this winter season. For example, there will be two new artificial ice skating rinks in the 850-Letiya Moskvy Park, the largest park in the south-east of the capital, located in the three districts (Maryino, Lyublino and Kapotnya). Learn more about winter activities here.