While All are Sleeping: What to Do on January 1

Go to the ice rink 

The major winter entertainment is perfect to unwind after the celebration. On the first of January all ice rinks in Moscow will be open. It is a great chance to visit popular skating locations (for example, the ice rink near GUM or the longest skating rink in the city on VDNKh), and it is quite possible that in the places which are more remote from the city center you will be skating all by yourself. 

Walk around the empty streets

On January 1, you have a sterling opportunity to see Moscow’s central streets nearly deserted. To get the most out of your walk, start at the Smolenskaya metro station and walk along Arbat, reach the Lenin Library and get to the Bolshoi Theater, then turn to Tverskaya Street and continue your promenade along the Boulevard Ring. 

Take a walk in a park 

Do not want to look at the deserted streets? Then go for a walk in one of the city parks, where it is particularly quiet and peaceful on January 1. Historic architecture fans should choose Kolomenskoye or Tsaritsyno, and Sokolniki and Izmaylovsky are good for a walk in nature. A universal solution is to go to Gorky Park and walk to the Vorobyovy Gory, stopping at the Neskuchny Garden on the way. 

Go out of town

Taking a little trip is a great idea for the first day of the year. Within half an hour of the city are destinations like the Museum-Estate Arkhangelskoye with its amazing palatial architecture, Art-Park Malevich with many walking paths and outdoor art exhibits, and the Peredelkino Writers’ Colony with its rich past and the winter fairy tale atmosphere. 

Go to theater or cinema

You can open the theater season as early as January 1 as the repertoire of Moscow theaters includes both special holiday plays and regular performances. Tickets should be bought in advance as for January events they sell out quickly. If it doesn’t work out with the theater, there’s the cinema. It is a good opportunity both to watch the premiere and to visit one of the capital’s historic cinematheques.

Cover photo: website of Kolomenskoye Park