Moscow Beyond the Postcards

Moscow’s best-known park stretches from Krymsky Val all the way to Sparrow Hills, forming the city’s vast green heart. Once a Soviet classic, today it’s a symbol of modern Moscow. In autumn, golden leaves turn the paths into glowing tunnels; in winter, the park becomes a vast ice rink with twinkling lights and the scent of hot chocolate in the air. Spring brings blooming trees and open-air cafés, while summer fills the lawns with cyclists, yoga classes, and picnics by the Moscow River. Every season here feels like a celebration of the city itself.

A masterpiece of Soviet architecture, the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy (VDNH) blends grandeur and innovation. The Cosmos Pavilion dazzles with its soaring rocket and shimmering dome; nearby, the Atom Pavilion turns science into art through immersive displays. The Sun of Moscow observation wheel offers sweeping city views. Pavilion No. 1 hosts The Image of Moscow in Russian Art — a large-scale exhibition featuring masterpieces of Russian painting brought from the State Russian Museum in St Petersburg. In winter, VDNH transforms into Moscow’s largest skating rink; in spring and summer, fountains sparkle and festivals fill the air. Majestic yet welcoming, it’s Moscow’s most vivid tribute to both heritage and progress.

This modern landscape park bridges Moscow’s centuries, located between Red Square and Kitay-Gorod, where glass and steel meet the city’s oldest stones. Designed to mirror Russia’s natural zones, it shifts moods with the seasons: snow-covered tundra one month, blooming meadows the next. Beneath the Glass Crust, the city glows even on grey days, while inside the Ice Cave, winter never ends. The Floating Bridge arcs out above the Moscow River, offering views of the Kremlin and the ever-changing skyline. Zaryadye is both futuristic and deeply human — a reminder that nature still shapes life in the heart of the metropolis.

More than just a stadium, Luzhniki is a symbol of Moscow’s energy and ambition. Once the stage for Olympic triumphs, it’s now part of a vast sports and leisure complex where locals come to run, skate, swim, or simply enjoy riverside views. The grounds also feature a large aquapark with pools and water attractions, making it a favourite spot for families year-round. In summer, cyclists glide along the embankment as boats drift past; in winter, the park around the stadium turns into a snowy playground. The observation point on the opposite Sparrow Hills offers one of the best panoramas in the city — a view that captures both history and motion.

A rare surviving example of 18th-century aristocratic life, Kuskovo feels like a dream preserved in green and marble. Once the summer residence of the Sheremetev family, it’s filled with classical pavilions, mirrored ponds, and manicured alleys that reflect the grace of old Moscow. In autumn, the park glows with amber light; in spring, lilacs scent the air. The small palace and the Dutch House evoke Europe’s influence on Russian art, while the quiet lake invites unhurried walks — a timeless pause amid the city’s rhythm.

The heart of one of Moscow’s most beloved neighbourhoods, Patriarch Ponds, is less about landmarks and more about atmosphere. Locals come here for morning coffee, evening strolls, or simply to people-watch. The pond itself — immortalised in The Master and Margarita, the celebrated classic of Russian literature — reflects the golden façades of pre-revolutionary mansions, while around it bloom dozens of restaurants, bookstores, and bars. In winter, the ice sparkles under streetlights; in summer, couples gather by the water until late. It’s where Moscow feels most like a city to live in, not just to visit.

A cathedral of modern art housed in a former power station, GES-2 is one of Moscow’s boldest transformations. The space, redesigned by Renzo Piano, feels like an art piece itself: flooded with natural light, filled with installations, and surrounded by open public areas leading to the river. Outside, a new large-scale sculpture — Garden Spade by pop-art masters Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen — greets visitors, symbolising the cultivation of ideas and creativity. Exhibitions change seasonally, blending visual art, performance, and sound. The adjoining café and bookshop have become meeting points for the city’s creative crowd — proof that Moscow’s cultural energy never stands still.

Rising like a ship on the horizon, the Northern River Station is one of Moscow’s most photogenic landmarks — part transport hub, part architectural fantasy. Built in the 1930s and lovingly restored, it now welcomes visitors with wide promenades, fountains, and sunset views across the water. In summer, it’s the departure point for river cruises up the Volga; in autumn, a peaceful spot for long walks among maples and birches; in winter, the square in front of the station turns into a skating rink surrounded by festive lights. Locals come here for the quiet — and for the feeling of stepping into a postcard from another time.