Summer holidays are in full swing and I want to spend them in an interesting and informative way. And it wouldn’t hurt for children to throw out their accumulated energy. Catch options where you can get out with the whole family for a weekend in the vastness of Russia and have great fun.
Contents
- Nikola-Lenivets, Kaluga
- Kudykina Gora, Lipetsk
- The House of Santa Claus, Veliky Ustyug
- Sviyazhsk Island-grad, Kazan
- “Medieval city of Svargas”, Vyborg
- “Andersengrad”, Sosnovy Bor
- “Bumba Country”, Elista
- “Sarai-batu”, Astrakhan
Children will definitely not get bored in these hotels
When you take a child on vacation with you, you want him to be able to easily find something to do, without relying on the ingenuity of his parents. Just for this occasion, we have collected the best family hotels in the country with water parks, gaming and entertainment areas and amazing fairy-tale characters. Book a hotel for a summer vacation, apply the promo code “Ooooh!” and get the opportunity to win 100% cashback!
Nikola-Lenivets, Kaluga
- How to get: by car from Moscow along the Kiev or Minsk highway (200 km) or by bus through Kaluga to the city of Kondrovo, and then by taxi to the park.
- Operating mode: daily and around the clock.
- Cost: 400 rubles. for adults, children under 18 years old — free of charge.
Many people have at least once seen photos of the bizarre installations of the largest landscape art park in Europe in Nikola Lenivets. Its territory is 650 hectares, it is about 900 football fields — children will have a place to roam. Nikola-Lenivets is located near Kaluga.
At the same time as the ticket to the art space, you need to issue a pass to the Ugra National Park, it costs 200 rubles per adult, admission is free for children. It is pleasant to walk along the 7 km long ecotrope, laid out among the protected forest. You can also stay in a small forest glamping in the park.
Many people have at least once seen photos of the bizarre installations of the largest landscape art park in Europe in Nikola Lenivets. Photo: Maks Ershov/Shutterstock.com
Kudykina Gora, Lipetsk
- How to get:by car from Moscow (427 km) or by bus from Yelets, Lipetsk or Voronezh to the city of Zadonsk, and then by taxi.
- Operating mode: daily from 10:00 to 20:00.
- Cost: for free.
For a revived Russian fairy tale, come to the Kudykina Gora Park on the banks of the Don, 73 km from Lipetsk. On weekends, the Lipetsk – Dolgorukovo direct bus runs here. The rest of the time, you will be able to get to the city of Zadonsk by public transport, and then take a taxi.
The main local attraction is the 15—meter Gorynych Snake, which on Saturdays and Sundays, after waiting for dark, spews flames. Do not miss the ancient Russian fortress, wooden towers and a huge heroic helmet.
For a fee, you can ride around the park in a horse-drawn carriage or try on village life and learn how to feed livestock properly.
Come to Kudykina Gora Park for a revived Russian fairy tale Photo: S.O.E/Shutterstock.com
The best amusement parks in Russia
Are children crazy about rides, interactive installations and workshops? There is a way out — go to the amusement parks! The best samples are collected in a thematic collection.
House of Santa Claus, Veliky Ustyug
- How to get: by Severstal aircraft from Cherepovets or Vologda Aviation Enterprise from Vologda.
- Operating mode: Monday–Friday — from 8:30 to 17:30, weekends — from 9:00 to 18:00.
- Cost: 1900 rubles. for adults, 1,750 rubles. for children, visitors under three years old are free of charge.
On the territory of the residence, you can walk along the “Fairy Tale Trail” and complete exciting tasks from well-known characters. Then you should go to the “Forest Pharmacy” and learn about the healing properties of northern herbs, and then try yourself in blacksmithing.
Santa Claus House in Veliky Ustyug welcomes big and small guests all year round. Photo: Borisb17/Shutterstock.com
Island-city of Sviyazhsk, Kazan
- How to get:by car on the M-7 highway from Kazan (72 km) or Moscow (794 km) or by boat or bus from Kazan.
- Operating mode: on weekdays — from 9:00 to 18:00, on weekends — until 18:30.
- Cost: 800 rubles. for adults, 600 rubles. for children.
“The island lies on the sea, the hail stands on the island,” — this is how Pushkin described the island of Buyan in “The Tale of Tsar Saltan”. It is believed that it was Sviyazhsk, 72 km from Kazan, that became the prototype of the magic city.
The fortress itself was built in the XVI century by order of Ivan the Terrible. Since then, the wooden Trinity Church, built without a single nail, and the white-stone Assumption Cathedral with medieval frescoes have remained on the island.
The fortress was built in the XVI century by order of Ivan the Terrible. Photo: Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock.com
In Sviyazhsk there is a museum of the archeology of the tree “Tatarskaya Slobodka” — there are only two similar ones in the world. It will certainly be interesting for schoolchildren to see how huts were built in Russia, and to learn the technology of working with wood.
For children of all ages in Sviyazhsk, master classes were prepared on weaving dolls from bast, painting wooden spoons in the style of Khokhloma or Tatar ornaments, as well as quests based on Pushkin’s fairy tales. However, you need to order them in advance through the application form on the website. There are requirements for a minimum number of participants (usually from five people).
Students will certainly be interested to see how huts were built in Russia, and learn the technology of working with wood. Photo: AKlion/Shutterstock.com
“Medieval town of Svargas”, Vyborg
- How to get: by car along the A-181 “Scandinavia” highway from St. Petersburg (137 km) or by train “Swallow” from Finlandsky railway station. You can get to the ethnopark from Vyborg by bus or taxi.
- Operating mode: Friday–Sunday, the program starts at 13:00, tickets must be booked in advance.
- Cost: 800 rubles. for adults, 700 rubles. for children.
Every year at the end of summer (August 16-18, 2024), the Medieval Days Festival takes place on the territory of Vyborg Castle. It gathers fans of reconstructions and Scandinavian history. If you can’t go to the festival, go to the “Medieval town of Svargas” 16 km from Vyborg.
There, guests will enjoy a walk through the reconstruction of the medieval city with a visit to traditional residential buildings, acquaintance with blacksmithing, weaving and leather business. Children and their parents can shoot arrows or play Scandinavian games. Well, the program ends with a performance of a street theater and shopping at a local Varangian shop.
The ethnographic complex is open from Friday to Sunday and can only be visited as part of the excursion program. Tickets must be booked in advance.
Every year at the end of summer, the Medieval Days Festival takes place on the territory of Vyborg Castle. Photo: Vladfotograf/Shutterstock.com
Andersengrad, Sosnovy Bor
- How to get: by car along the ring road and Krasnoflotskoye highway from St. Petersburg (105 km), by bus from Avtovo metro station or by train from Baltiysky railway station to Kalishche station.
- Operating mode: daily and around the clock.
- Cost: for free.
- Please note: to enter Sosnovy Bor, nonresident Russian citizens are required to show their passport and children’s birth certificate.
The Andersengrad Children’s play complex is located in Sosnovy Bor, 80 km from St. Petersburg. It was built in the 1980s in honor of the 175th anniversary of Hans Christian Andersen. The entrance to the territory of the complex and the neighboring park “White Sands” is free.
Inside, you can stroll through the streets of the fortress city inspired by Andersen’s works and meet the heroes of fairy tales – for example, the persistent tin soldier and Ole Lukoye. For a fee, you can join an organized tour and climb to the observation deck of the local town hall.
The Andersengrad Children’s Play complex was built in the 1980s in honor of the 175th anniversary of Hans Christian Andersen. Photo: Anna ART/Shutterstock.com
“Bumba Country”, Elista
- How to get:by car or with an excursion from Elista to the village of Adyk (136 km).
- Operating mode: daily from 8:00 to 18:00.
- Cost: 500 rubles
If you want something unusual, we suggest you take a closer look at the steppe ethnoparks in the south of the country. The first in line is the “Bumba Country” in the village of Adyk in Kalmykia. This is a private project of a local resident Badma Mushkaev. Here you can get acquainted with the culture of the Kalmyks, visit a traditional yurt, change into national clothes and even practice archery and lasso throwing. At the end, you can ride camels and learn the technique of throat singing.
On the way back to Elista, it is worth stopping at the Mekletian pink lake and the singing dunes, where, according to legend, Genghis Khan was buried with his army — which makes whistling sounds from under the ground.
Read about how to plan a trip to Kalmykia in our travel guide.
Here you can get acquainted with the culture of the Kalmyks, visit a traditional yurt and ride camels. Photo: Artur & Alexey/Yandex.Maps
Sarai-batu, Astrakhan
- How to get:by car or taxi from Astrakhan (140 km).
- Operating mode: daily from 9:00 to 19:00.
- Cost: 450 rubles. for adults, 200 rubles. for children, visitors under seven years old are free of charge.
We turn from Genghis Khan to his grandson Batu Khan and offer to go to the capital of the Golden Horde. Sarai-Batu is a cultural and historical complex built on the site where the main Golden Horde city was located in the Middle Ages.
The historical park invites you to stroll through the streets of the steppe settlement in the old style, enter the sandstone buildings and visit the traditional oriental bazaar. There will be workshops on shooting crossbows and bows, as well as camel riding. In addition, it is worth visiting the khan’s yurt, a medieval torture chamber (only it is better not to take kids there) and a traditional oriental tea room.
If your children are not the biggest history buffs, then we have prepared an offer that they will not be able to refuse. Not far from Astrakhan is the Ryn-Peski desert, known to every fan of the Harry Potter universe. It was here, according to the book, that one of the Quidditch World Championships took place. Learn more about how to visit this legendary place in our desert collection.
The historical park invites you to stroll through the streets of the steppe settlement in the old style, enter the sandstone buildings. Photo: Sytilin Pavel/Shutterstock.com
I just want to be able to do everything: ride a child on a camel, dress up in medieval armor, and introduce the heroes of Russian fairy tales. It’s good that there are many warm summer weekends ahead and you can not deny yourself anything. But it’s better to book hotels on the Island in advance.
Cover photo: S.O.E/Shutterstock.com
