New Year’s Eve is a magical time, even if we are too old to believe in miracles. However, they do happen sometimes: a fabulous pudgy house in Sheregesh, the bulk of the Gothic cathedral above the Christmas market with fragrant mulled wine and the gentle sea in the middle of winter. We have collected travel ideas that will fill you with light and joy in the darkest time of the year, help you gain strength and wait for spring.
Contents
- Ice skating in Kazan
- Take a walk at the “Journey to Christmas” festival in Moscow
- Listen to music at the winter festival “Arts Square” in St. Petersburg
- Run the New Year’s marathon in St. Petersburg
- Live on a deer farm in Stavropol Territory
- Celebrate the New Year at the Karelian hotel
- Go skiing or snowboarding in Sheregesh
- Visit Santa Claus and Snow Maiden
- Have fun at the Christmas market
- Escape from the cold and soak up on the beaches of Phuket
- Try roasted chestnuts on the shores of the Bosphorus
Ice skating in Kazan
There is a reason to rush to Kazan and arrange a romantic on ice: the local ice rink on the Kremlin embankment is called the longest in Europe. Its length is a whole kilometer, so there is a place to accelerate and make a spectacular pirouette under the starry sky (yes, from garlands, but it glows!). The rental price last season was only 200 rubles per hour, going out on the ice cost the same. If the partner’s support is not enough, you can rent a support, it is also a skater’s assistant.
After riding, let’s go for hot echpochmaks or trdelnik, depending on what is closer to you and your plus one. Triangular Tatar pies are good in the Chiram restaurant, the Kystybai cafe, the Skullcap chain and the Tea House. Then go together to wander around the city decorated for the New Year: admire the Kremlin towers, scratch the Kazan cat behind the ear and make one wish for two under each star.
The local ice rink on the Kremlin Embankment is called the longest in Europe. Photo: romankub/Shutterstock.com
Take a walk at the “Journey to Christmas” festival in Moscow
The traditional winter Moscow festival unites 36 venues, and everyone will find entertainment to their liking. The program includes theatrical performances and concerts, various master classes for children and adults, including figure skating, concerts, fairs and Christmas quests, historical reconstructions, gastronomic joys and much more.
It is worth coming to feel the spirit of a hospitable Christmas, admire the decorated Tverskaya and learn something interesting about the New Year traditions of Moscow – or just enjoy life walking around the elegant capital with a glass of hot drink.
The traditional winter Moscow festival unites 36 venues, and everyone will find entertainment to their liking. Photo: moscowseasons.com
New Year in the Moscow region
More ideas for a bright New Year’s Eve in the Moscow region have been collected in this article: read about ice rinks, dog sledding, fairs and hotels with New Year’s programs.
Listen to music at the winter festival “Arts Square” in St. Petersburg
The list of ballet and concert joys in December is not limited to the cherished “Swan Lake” and “The Nutcracker”. Thus, the XXIV International Winter Festival “Arts Square” will be held in the Northern capital from December 14 to 24. The organizers promise a rich musical program: Denis Matsuev, Valery Gergiev, the Moscow Soloists Ensemble and other famous performers will perform.
Of course, we recommend buying concert tickets and booking accommodation in St. Petersburg in advance. At the same time, take a look at one of the city’s New Year’s bazaars — for example, in cozy New Holland. Here, at the end of December, a Christmas tree is decorated, garlands and street fires are lit, and fragrant firs and fir trees are sold at the Christmas market. There is an ice rink in the center of the island, after skating on which it is so pleasant to sit in a cafe or restaurant in a “Bottle”.
Take a look at one of the city’s New Year’s bazaars — for example, in cozy New Holland. Photo: Dina Photo Stories/Shutterstock.com
Run the New Year’s marathon in St. Petersburg
And no, it is not necessary to rush from your favorite sofa to all 42 km at once — there are a lot of distances to choose from at the Sosnovka Snake marathon, including for those who promise themselves to start running only from the new year. In addition to the starts from 1 to 63.3 km, the program of the sports festival in Sosnovka Park includes other activities: nordic walking, canicross and even cotocross. Yes, yes, running with a cat! Just do not forget to wrap your fluffy pet up properly and take care of its safety: we do not recommend taking animals unaccustomed to street walks with you.
All finishers will be awarded unusual medals: they depict a snow-covered pagoda and a snake, because according to the Eastern calendar, the coming year 2025 will be held under the sign of this creature. Another feature of the medal is a good wish on the reverse side. You definitely need to participate in order to have fun among like-minded people and replenish your home medal with an original and beautiful souvenir (yes, the author also plans to take up running in January).
The program of the sports festival in Sosnovka Park includes other activities: nordic walking, canicross and even cotocross. Photo: Ricky Howitt/Shutterstock.com
Live on a deer farm in Stavropol Territory
Lovingly decorated A-frames, hobbit houses, chalets and a farmstead are not the main attraction on Deer Farm territory. Local stars are almost tame European and spotted deer, which you can meet right on a walk through the territory — a lot of emotions and dozens of photos are provided. And on a sightseeing tour of the farm, cute animals can be fed from the palm of your hand — an experience that will appeal to guests of all ages.
In addition to communicating with deer, wine tours with tastings and cooking classes are held on the farm. You can rent ATVs or fishing gear, and in the evening bask in a bath tub with herbs, admiring the stars. A luxury option is to take a antler bath in the spa: that’s where the young deer horns have gone.
Local asterisks are almost tame European and spotted deer, which you can meet right on a walk through the territory.
Celebrate the New Year at the Karelian hotel
An option for lovers of snow and silence is to go to Karelia, a land of rocks, mighty pines, lakes as huge as the sea and delicious local cuisine. The Dot on the Map hotel chain offers panoramic views of the winter fairy tale with room service, cozy gatherings by the fireplace, an area decorated with hundreds of lights, magnificent beautiful Christmas trees, New Year fireworks and, of course, a festive dinner that will be remembered for a long time with new tastes and gastronomic discoveries.
Santa Claus and Snow Maiden will congratulate the little guests, and adults will be able to make a wish by watching the stars — there are also many of them here,like blueberries in the local forests and fillings in the gates. And, by the way, we warn you — there will also be a lot of photos in your phone after such a beautiful vacation.
The Dot on the Map hotel chain offers panoramic views of the winter fairy tale.
Skiing or snowboarding in Sheregesh
There, in Siberia, mighty fir trees are wrapped in snow dresses, and behind the layers of overalls and ski jackets, the hot hearts of freeriders are beating. They are attracted by the famous Sheregesh snow: snow-white fields that you just want to ride, and the forest untouched by skis and snowboards. Many newcomers here taste freeride for the first time, and after trying it, they can no longer forget it and are looking for puffy all over the country.
Among the main advantages of the local freeride, except for the cool snow, is safety, because there are practically no avalanches in Gesh. The possibility of a so-called freeride from the lift is also attractive, when you can go into the forest directly from the cable car station or from a prepared track (and, importantly, it is just as easy to return back to the track or to the lift).
Track skating is also diverse here: for beginners there are instructors and gentle “green” trails, for long—time skaters there are interesting “black” and “red” ones. In total, there are about 35 km of trails in Sheregesh, plus freeride routes: enough for a good week of snow buzz.
For dancing, music and new acquaintances with snow fanatics, go to the famous Grelka bar, “Drunk” or the Clever Irish pub. But remember that whoever gets up first rolls out the puffy and corduroy!
There, in Siberia, mighty fir trees are wrapped in snow dresses, and behind the layers of overalls and ski jackets, the hot hearts of freeriders are beating. Photo: AnnaTamila/Shutterstock.com
Bo-o-olshe snow!
Catch a list of our ski guides:
- Sheregesh
- Elbrus
- Dombay
- How the ski resorts of Krasnaya Polyana are arranged
- Top 17 ski resorts in Russia
And, of course, we can’t help but share our top harmful tips for skiers: read and do the opposite.
To visit Santa Claus and the Snow Maiden
The main New Year’s wizard has many fiefdoms throughout Russia, but the most famous, of course, is located in Veliky Ustyug. And although it is open all year round, the most atmospheric time here is in December, on the eve of the holiday. Grandfather’s possessions are spacious: there was a place for a fairy-tale terem, a forest pharmacy, a blacksmith shop, a winter garden, a meadow of sweetmeats and a trail of fairy tales, where old and young people have fun from the bottom of their hearts.
The property of his granddaughter Snow Maiden is much more modest: we found only one tiny residence in Kostroma. But it is sincere and inexpensive there: a half-hour excursion or a 40-minute interactive “Tangerine Tales” will cost 250 rubles, and even three-year-olds will be delighted.
The main New Year’s wizard has many fiefdoms throughout Russia, but the most famous, of course, is located in Veliky Ustyug. Photo: Elena Serebryakova/Shutterstock.com
Have fun at the Christmas market
Oh, this atmosphere of a celebration of life and light, flavored with a fair share of delicious mulled wine! Bright lights, elegant houses with such necessary handmade toys, souvenirs and cute trinkets, alluring aromas of Bavarian sausages and fried nuts, happy people and cute mugs with spicy wine are the name day of the heart, not a short December day.
Blessed is the one who, having a valid Schengen visa, can go to European Christmas markets to taste Dresden Stollen and flammkuchen. But do not be sad if your passport does not have the coveted sticker: festivals are waiting for you on Kant Island in Kaliningrad, on Elagin Island in St. Petersburg and on Red Square in Moscow, on the Kremlin Embankment in Kazan, on Minin and Pozharsky Square in Nizhny Novgorod and on Sovetskaya Square in Yaroslavl. The list, of course, is far from complete, so walking around the fairs is not too much.
Festivals are waiting for you on Kant Island in Kaliningrad, on Elagin Island in St. Petersburg and on Red Square in Moscow. Photo: dimbar76/Shutterstock.com
Dedicated to fans of foreign fairs
Catch a couple of useful fair links:
- 6 recipes from European Christmas fairs
- How to get a Schengen visa for a year in 2024: personal experience
Escape from the cold and soak up on the beaches of Phuket
A classic proven by time and millions of travelers: Karon Beach, four kilometers of golden sand and the warm Andaman Sea. A fairy tale in the middle of winter, a tropical paradise, a carefree life on the seashore by the water, which warms up to +28 °C in December.
Admit it, did you want to? But we have not yet told you about ripe mangoes, funny fluffy rambutans and other joys of the fruit ruins of Asia, about stunning sunsets and slender palm trees. For exciting surfing lessons and incendiary parties in local bars and nightclubs, go to neighboring Patong Beach — life is in full swing there even at night.
An article with an overview of local beaches and areas in Phuket will help you choose the right resort in Phuket! The blog.
A classic proven by time and millions of travelers: Karon Beach, four kilometers of golden sand and the warm Andaman Sea. Photo: Netfalls Remy Musser/Shutterstock.com
Try roasted chestnuts on the shores of the Bosphorus
In December, the streets of Istanbul are enveloped in the alluring smell of kestane kebab — roasted chestnuts. Red carts with movable braziers appear near the main points of attraction for tourists, creating a sense of celebration and helping to survive the coolness. The subtle smell of smoke and coal, hot baked treasures that kestaneci (chestnut seller) carefully weighs and packs into a pound — and here it is, happiness, in the palm of your hand.
At the same time, for Siberians and Uralians, winter in Istanbul is very pleasant — at +10 ° C it is quite possible to walk in a thin jacket. There are few tourists in the city in the middle of the month, so you can get to the museums and buy coffee and sweets at the Egyptian market without the accompanying crowd. Keep in mind that there are no New Year’s fairs in the former capital of Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire. But a Christmas tree and huge Christmas balls appear on the Galataport embankment.
However, a walk around Istanbul in itself is a celebration and a festival of aromas, sounds, smells and tastes, so have time to enjoy it without the seasonal fuss. At the same time, check out our guide to free Istanbul in practice — it is very relevant taking into account inflation.
In December, the streets of Istanbul are enveloped in the alluring smell of kestane kebab — roasted chestnuts. Photo: FrentaN/Shutterstock.com
Travel, discover new cities, countries and hobbies, listen to the sound of the surf and enjoy all the best that December can give. And of course, the Island will help you realize your travel dreams!
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Cover photo: OPOLJA/Shutterstock.com
