Thinking about traveling with a child is not an easy task, because it should be interesting for children, but not tiring. It is better to prepare for such trips in advance, so we have made for you a selection of Russian destinations for holidays with children: it includes unusual museums, a scout school, master classes and a park with animated dinosaurs.
Rosa Khutor Resort
Sochi in general and Rosa Khutor in particular are an excellent choice for traveling with a child at any time of the year. Right up to the frost, the resort operates a “School of Survival”, a kind of scout club, for children from 7 years old. Professional instructors teach you how to properly pack a backpack for a hike, navigate the terrain, set up a tent, provide first aid, and distinguish edible berries from inedible ones. Acquaintance with wild nature takes place surrounded by mountains, wild rivers and relict forests.
The resort also regularly hosts master classes and workshops, for example, on soap making (Krasnopolyanskaya Cosmetics manufactory), pottery (Olgiz workshop), archery and crossbow shooting (shooting range on the Lavender Embankment). The cultural program should also include the interactive ethnopark “My Russia”, which tells about the traditional crafts of different regions of Russia.
At the end of November, the ski season opens in the mountains. Local slopes are an ideal place to introduce a child to skiing or snowboarding: experienced instructors clearly and clearly explain the intricacies of skiing and monitor safety. For those who prefer less extreme types of winter leisure, there is a luge center.
Here you can also get to know the animal world better: for example, go on a hike accompanied by the dogs in the care of Husky Farm (not only huskies live there, but also malamutes and huskies), feed deer, rabbits and chinchillas at the Deer Farm, see demonstration flights of wild birds – eagle owls, tawny owls, scops owls, kites and eagle – in the Sovarium, pet goats and try farmer’s cheese and village pastries in the Shishin Dvor ethnic farmstead.
Where to stay:
In the three-star AZIMUT Freestyle hotel (rating 9.7) – from 2,700 rubles per day.*
In the four-star apart-hotel “Mountain Residence” (rating 9.1) – from 3,300 rubles per night*.
In the four-star hotel “Golden Tulip Rosa Khutor” (rating 8.7) – from 4,100 rubles per day*.
How to get there: by plane to Sochi, and from there by bus or taxi to the resort.
Myshkin
Fabulous Russian towns are an excellent option for traveling with children and getting to know the history of our country for the first time, especially the way of life of past times. The city of Myshkin in the Yaroslavl region has not only perfectly preserved its pre-revolutionary image, but also acquired many unusual and very interesting museums for young travelers.
The most popular of them is dedicated to the mouse and refers to the name of the city: here you can see a wide variety of figures and images of this animal, as well as learn about the history of Myshkin. Information is presented in a fun and simple form that is understandable and interesting to children. Nearby are “Russian felt boots” (a museum dedicated to felting) and the Flax Museum, where they tell you what path lies between flaxseed and clothing made from this fiber. Olga Pavylycheva’s doll gallery presents pre-revolutionary and modern designer dolls, the Miller’s House will show how an ancient steam mill worked, in the Museum of Living Crafts you can try your hand at forging and creating ceramic products, and in the “Old Garage” museum of retro technology, visitors will see vintage cars , motorcycles and even gas stations. Theatrical excursions are held in the Myshkin Chambers, and at the Mahayev Dvor, the museum of the Myshkin merchants, the excursions include tea drinking with traditional Russian sweets.
The City of Craftsmen deserves special attention – numerous workshops are held here, which show that even children can work with clay, wood, metal, glass.
Where to stay:
At the guest center-hotel “Myshk Inn” (rating 9.1) – from 2,300 rubles per day*.
In the three-star hotel “Cat House” (rating 9.5) – from 3,100 rubles per night*.
How to get there: There is no airport or train station in Myshkin, so it is more convenient to travel here from Moscow by car. Travel time will take 4-5 hours. You can also take a train to the Volga station, 18 km from the city, and call a taxi.
Veliky Ustyug
This tiny ancient town in the Vologda region, founded back in 1147, is known to everyone as the patrimony of Father Frost and the capital of the New Year. However, you don’t have to wait until December 31st to come here, because the holiday atmosphere is here all year round – even in summer and autumn in Ustyug you will meet Father Frost in his full attire. A trip to Veliky Ustyug can be planned for November 18, when the city celebrates the birthday of Father Frost. On this day, a gala performance with traditional master classes is held at his residence. The wizard’s domain also includes a zoo where you can see and feed deer and other northern animals, a glacier with ice sculptures, several slides from which you can ride sleds or cheesecakes as soon as the snow appears (and in the Vologda region it falls already in October!) , an observatory with a telescope and a winter garden.
We also recommend exploring the city itself. Check out ancient churches, visit the New Year’s Toy Museum, and check out the local attractions. For example, in Veliky Ustyug there is a monument to bast shoes, 2.5 meters high, carved from aspen logs. You can keep your child busy with master classes in wood carving, birch bark weaving, and blacksmithing. The city is also known for its folklore groups, which will delight listeners with the performance of Russian folk songs and, of course, Christmas carols.
Where to stay:
At the Guest Hotel (rating 8.9) – from 2,900 rubles per night*.
In the two-star Sukhona Hotel (rating 8.8) – from 4,600 rubles per night*.
How to get there: by train to Kotlas station (for example, by the Polar Arrow express), and then take a bus directly to Ustyug.
Kostroma
If Veliky Ustyug is called the birthplace of Father Frost, then Kostroma is the city of his granddaughter. Here is the Terem of the Snow Maiden, where interactive excursions are held in the company of fairy-tale characters – Kota-Bayun, Domovoy and Domovikha. We also recommend going to a puppet show that tells the story of the Snow Maiden herself from pagan times, because she appears in Slavic myths and legends. Young guests especially like the Ice Room in Terem, where the temperature is maintained all year round at minus 14°C: here you can see the Snow Maiden’s personal belongings (not real, but very realistically carved from ice) and even try old Russian drinks from ice glasses (sweet for children, and fortified for adults).
Of other interesting places to visit with children, it is worth mentioning the open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture, which looks like a small settlement: you can go into all the houses and touch any exhibits – objects of ancient life. The Museum of Theatrical Costume at the Kostroma Drama Theater hosts children’s performances at noon on weekends. If you come to Kostroma by car, be sure to visit the Sumarokovskaya moose farm in the suburbs: you can hand-feed its inhabitants bread.
By the way, in winter there is a tourist train from Moscow connecting Veliky Ustyug and Kostroma: this route makes it possible to spend a day in each of the cities.
Where to stay:
In one of the fabulous houses of the Berendeyevka park hotel (rating 8.3) – from 2,000 rubles per night*.
In the three-star Azimut hotel (rating 9.5) – from 2,400 rubles per night*.
In the guest house Skvorechnik (rating 9.6) – from 4,300 rubles per night*.
How to get there: most travelers choose to get to Kostroma by train: the Lastochka high-speed train departs daily in this direction from the Yaroslavsky station.
Kaliningrad
A trip to the Kaliningrad region in itself is already an adventure, because this is the westernmost region of the country, real Russian Europe. Almost every city here has preserved ancient East Prussian castles. Not all of them are in perfect condition, but local enthusiasts try to maintain them as best they can. For example, in Chernyakhovsk, at the Insterburg Castle, reenactors have settled down and conduct costumed excursions and organize knightly tournaments. The nature of the region is also rich in treasures: just look at the Curonian Spit, which is washed on one side by the Baltic Sea and on the other by the Curonian Lagoon: it is on it that the famous “Dancing Forest” with intricately curved trees and one of the highest dunes in Eastern Europe are located – Efa.
In Kaliningrad itself, children of any age (and adults) will undoubtedly be interested in the Museum of the World Ocean. This is not only a lot of aquariums with the most bizarre inhabitants of rivers and seas, but also a submarine, an operating ecological station and two ships – “Vityaz” and “Cosmonaut Viktor Patsayev”. We recommend setting aside a whole day to visit the museum.
Where to stay:
In the three-star hotel “Ibis Kaliningrad Center” (rating 9.9) – from 4,000 rubles per night*.
In the four-star Kaiserhof hotel with its own spa center (score 10) – from 6,300 rubles per night*.
In the four-star Radisson Blu Hotel (rating 10) – from 6,000 rubles per night*.
How to get there: by plane to Kaliningrad.
Kazan
The capital of Tatarstan is an original and colorful city, where children can be introduced to the culture of this region. Be sure to take a walk around the Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda with a quest tour, stop by the ethnic village “Tugan Avalym” for a photo in national costumes and attend a tea party at the Chak-Chak Museum. Young travelers will enjoy the performances of the Ekiyat puppet theater, whose building looks like a palace from an oriental fairy tale. Another interesting location for a family visit is the Temple of All Religions, which tells about the representatives of which religions inhabit Russia. And, of course, the impressive Kazan Kremlin will not leave little tourists indifferent.
Kazan is also home to one of the largest water parks in the world – Riviera, which is open all year round (there are indoor and outdoor pools). Take a ride on the Around the World Ferris wheel, where each cabin corresponds to one of the tourist capitals of the world, spend the day at the Kyrlay amusement park, or just take a walk through the Gorkinsko-Ometyevsky forest.
Where to stay:
In the five-star hotel “Corston Royal Kazan” (rating 9.9) – from 6,600 rubles per night*.
In the five-star Courtyard Marriott Kazan Kremlin hotel (rating 10) – from 8,000 rubles per night*.
In the four-star Riviera hotel with a water park (score 10) — from 8,700 rubles per night*.
How to get there: by plane or double-decker train.
Kirov
One of the most ancient cities in the north-east of Russia is known as the center of the Russian province. On Spasskaya Street there are three interesting museums – Dymkovskaya Sloboda, where it is worth visiting a master class on making the famous Dymkovo toy, as well as ice cream and chocolate museums, where tastings and master classes on making sweets are held. Other must-see places include the Vyatka Kunstkamera Museum of Local Lore, the Planetarium and the Children’s Center at the K. E. Tsiolkovsky Museum. Just 10 kilometers from the city is located “Yurkin Park”: as you might guess from the humorous name, there are models of dinosaurs that can move and make very realistic sounds. In addition to them, the park has attractions, game rooms, a petting zoo and a skating rink (in the summer – a swimming pool with water slides).
Where to stay:
At the hotel “Old Yard on Orlovskaya” (rating 9.7) – from 3,900 rubles per night*.
At the Alfa business hotel (rating 9.3) – from 4,000 rubles per night*.
In the four-star hotel Four Elements Kirov (rating 10) – from 7,300 rubles per night*.
How to get there: by plane from Vnukovo or Domodedovo or by train from Yaroslavsky station.
*Prices are current at the time of publication
