Christmas and New Year are closer! All cities are transfigurating with lots of decoration and pre-Chritsmas fairs and markets. We offer you ideas of activities and Christmas celebration of you winter tour to Russia!

Sincerely,
Helen Isaeva

Cristmas festival in Moscow and St. Petersburg

Christmas fairs and markets invite visitors of Moscow to take part in multiple fun winter activities. “Journey into Christmas” is considered to be the biggest and most picturesque annual festivals in Moscow as it combines original traditional elements of Russian Christmas fun fairs and new contemporary ideas for all ages. Dress warmly and start your festive Christmas adventure in Moscow!

Winter activities in Moscow

• Young guests of Russia will have a plenty of things to do during “Journey into Christmas”. Tverskoy Boulevard will turn into a “Small town of Storytellers” where experienced instructors will teach children how to do figure skating, snowboarding, play hockey — absolutely free including all sports equipment. Tverskaya Square is planned to be the main kids attraction for the festival. At this small Christmas town children will dress up a Christmas tree, take a ride on the carousel, learn to sew dolls and cook candies.

• The Red Squere Ice-Skating Rink. Ice-skating rinks are plentiful in Moscow during winter. In the heart of historic Moscow, there is an ice rink in front of the GUM department store in Red Square every year. There are more than 45 rinks in Moscow. Other popular ice skating rinks can be found at Gorky Park, Sokolniki Park, Izmailovsky Park, VDNH, and Patriarch's Pond.

• Hermitage Garden Now tourists can spend New Year holidays at the world-famous Hermitage Garden. This is a romantic and quiet place within walking distance of Chekhovskaya. The garden has a shadow theatre where live music performances are held from time to time. Tourists can spend quality time in the cafes and pavilions. The Hermitage Garden has a heart-shaped ice rink with natural and synthetic ice. Tourists can rent skates and enjoy delicious Russian cuisine.

• Icebreaker Cruise on the Moscow River. Boat cruises down the Moscow River offer a special view of Moscow. Previously only available during the warm seasons, you can take an icebreaker boat cruise that can break up the ice that crusts over the river during the winter. You can enjoy dinner or lunch during this 2-hour cruise while viewing the snow-capped sights of Moscow from within the glass-enclosed deck.

• The VDNKH Ice-Skating Rink. The dynamic VDNH Park is now equipped with a big ice-skating rink which is the largetst in Europe - 16,000 sq m!. Be thrilled as you skate around ancient monuments mingling with contemporary artistic constructions and light shows. Whether novice or knowledgeable, be swept away by the glorious surroundings. The VDNH also has rental skates available. If ice skating is not your forte, wander between the dazzling lanes of snowy white and blue lights with glimmering gold from the famous ‘friendship of people’ fountain, or rest at one of many vendors selling just about everything from coffee to corn. For more solace, have a seat at the quaint outdoor restaurants, or go for a walk between the serene snow-capped trees and head deeper into this enormous park.

Winter activities in Saint Petersburg

During the New Year holidays, St. Petersburg is especially beautiful, thus so many tourists prefer to spend their holidays here. Spectacular illumination and decorations allow you to look at popular attractions in a completely new way. Even if you have been to the Northern Capital more than once, the New Year season city will surprise and impress.

• St. Petersburg Winter Fairy Tale The beautiful tradition of riding a horse-drawn carriage dates back to the early years of the Russian Empire. It became as much a symbol of the Christmas season in Russia as the Jingle Bells in the Western world. Imagine yourself dashing through a thick layer of crystal white snow in a richly decorated carriage with amazing strong horses upfront and majestic palaces in the background. Add to this the iconic jingle of the traditional harness bells and you will get the sight and sound of the Russian winter fairy tale. We offer you to play an integral role in it, to place you in the front seat and indulge yourself in the true spirit of the Russian Christmas culture. Our company provides several fantastic locations to choose: from the Yelagin Island in the heart of St. Petersburg to the more secluded but not less magnificent imperial estates surrounding the city

• Enjoy troyka ride in the suburbs of Saint Petersburg! Replacing a regular transport for tours with a horse carriage is not really difficult; however, some visitors have a more special interest and wish to try sleigh ride with reindeer, a lately adopted symbol of Christmas, leading the way. In the suburbs of Saint Petersburg, not far from famous Pavlovsk park, there is a cozy barn with high-bred horses, cute ponies and clever reindeer. Upon request, the workers of the farm will decorate an animal, put it in a festive harness and will organize a sled ride in Pavlovsk, Pushkin or other towns nearby. Take a sled ride around Pavlosk park with breath-taking landscapes!

• Husky and Malamute Alaskan Malamute or Siberian Husky sledding is becoming more and more popular winter activity in Saint Petersburg region; you will not find a dog farm in the city centre, however, historical parks in suburbs (Pushkin, Pavlovsk, Gatchina and Peterhof) offer huskies and malamute sled riding; there is a possibility to include professional photo shoot in a tour. Generally, husky farms and parks offer a 1 hour ride; in that time the dogs usually manage to run 8-16km. Visit a former summer residence of Royal Family and meet beautiful sled dogs during a special winter tour to Peterhof. We offer to you an opportunity to combine historical excursions with fun activities.