# Gorky Park, Moscow

> Moscow’s best-known city park, open since 1928 along the Moskva river: a colonnaded main gate, a riverside promenade, the old Neskuchny Garden and the Muzeon sculpture park. Entry is free and the grounds never close. Allow about 90 minutes to walk from the gate to Neskuchny Garden. Only extras charge — the Garage Museum (600 ₽), the winter ice rink, rentals. Nearest metro: Park Kultury or Oktyabrskaya.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/gorky-park

- City: [Moscow](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow), Russia
- YesGo score: 51/100 (Yes, go)
- Time on site: 1 h 30 min
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Entry: Free, no ticket needed
- Hours: 24/7, every day
- Address: Krymsky Val 9, Moscow — main gate
- Metro: Park Kultury (lines 1 and 5), ≈ 15 min over Krymsky Bridge; Oktyabrskaya (lines 5 and 6), 10–15 min along Krymsky Val
- Garage Museum: Daily 11:00–22:00, last tickets 21:30; 600 ₽, free for some concessions
- Museum and viewing deck in the main arch: Temporarily closed during the arch restoration (mos.ru, 28.08.2026); no reopening date
- Ice rink: Winter only, paid; last season 450–1,200 ₽, skate hire 500 ₽. 2026/27 dates and prices not announced
- Bikes and scooters: Since August 2026, walk them on the embankment between Krymsky and Andreyevsky bridges
- Paying: Roubles in cash or a Russian bank card — foreign Visa and Mastercard don’t work in Russia
- Coordinates: 55.73135, 37.60464
- Facts checked: 29.10.2026

## Key facts

- **12 Aug 1928** — the Central Park of Culture and Leisure opened (source: Russian and English Wikipedia, “Gorky Park (Moscow)”; Sputnik8 guide)
- **≈ 219 ha** — including Neskuchny Garden, Sparrow Hills and Muzeon (source: Russian Wikipedia (219.7 ha); KudaGo and Sputnik8 (over 219 ha))
- **1955** — the colonnaded main gate was built, designed by Yu. Shchuko and A. Spasov (source: mos.ru; m24; Russian Wikipedia)
- **1932** — the park was named after the writer Maxim Gorky (source: Russian and English Wikipedia; Sputnik8 guide)
- **2011** — a major makeover removed almost all the old fairground rides and kiosks (source: English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **15,000 m²** — the artificial-ice rink opened in December 2011 (source: English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **2015** — the Garage Museum moved into a 1968 Soviet restaurant rebuilt by Rem Koolhaas (source: Garage Museum press materials; Afisha Daily; Gazeta.Ru, 12.06.2015)
- **18th century** — the estates that became Neskuchny Garden, the park’s oldest part (source: English Wikipedia (1753); Sputnik8 guide (1720s))
- **2009** — the main gate complex was listed as a cultural heritage site (source: mos.ru; m24)
- **1990** — the Scorpions sang “I follow the Moskva down to Gorky Park” in “Wind of Change” (source: English Wikipedia, “Wind of Change”; Russian Wikipedia)

## Is Gorky Park free?

**Yes — entry is free and the park is open 24 hours a day.** There are no gates or tickets: you can walk the riverside promenade, Neskuchny Garden and the Muzeon sculpture park at any hour. Only a few things inside charge.

The **Garage Museum of Contemporary Art** costs 600 ₽ and opens daily 11:00–22:00 (last tickets 21:30); students, pensioners and children under 7 get in free with ID. The **winter ice rink** is paid too — last season 450–1,200 ₽ depending on the day, plus 500 ₽ for skate hire. Boats on the ponds, bike hire and cafés are extra.

Pay in roubles — cash or a Russian card. Visa and Mastercard issued abroad haven’t worked in Russia since March 2022, so bring cash for a day like this.

> **Autumn 2026: parts of the park are still under works** The park is open, but the third phase of its rebuild isn’t finished. The museum, viewing deck and shop inside the main arch are temporarily closed, and the gate’s railings are being restored until the end of the year. Since August, bikes and scooters must be walked on the embankment between Krymsky and Andreyevsky bridges.

## How to get to Gorky Park

1. **Park Kultury** metro (red line 1 and brown circle line 5). Despite the name, the station is on the other bank: follow signs to Krymsky Bridge (Krymsky Most) and walk across the river on the bridge’s footpath. The colonnaded gate is just past the bridge, on your left — about 15 minutes, with a good river view.
2. **Oktyabrskaya** metro (brown circle line 5 and orange line 6). Exit towards Krymsky Val and walk down it towards the river — 10–15 minutes to the main gate. Side entrances by Pioneer Pond are closer to this station.
3. From [Red Square](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/red-square): take the red line from **Okhotny Ryad** three stops to Park Kultury, about 10 minutes, then walk over the bridge. On foot from Red Square it’s around 40 minutes.
4. From [GES-2](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/ges-2): walk along the embankment and through Muzeon to Krymsky Bridge, 20–25 minutes.
5. For Neskuchny Garden and the southern end, Shabolovskaya and Leninsky Prospekt stations are closer; for the far end, Vorobyovy Gory station.
6. By river: sightseeing boats stop at the Gorky Park piers on Pushkinskaya Embankment.
7. Metro signs show station names in Latin letters as well as Cyrillic — the names above are spelled the way you’ll see them.

## Is Gorky Park worth visiting?

Yes, if you want to see how Muscovites actually spend a free evening. It isn’t a single sight but a long riverside walk: the 1955 main gate, a granite promenade with cafés over the water, the shady Neskuchny Garden and, at the far end, the wooded Sparrow Hills. Free, safe and lively until late.

Lower your expectations if you picture a fairground. The big rides and the Ferris wheel were removed in 2011 — the park today is about walking, cycling, skating in winter and art. Don’t make it your first stop on a short trip either: start with the Kremlin and [Zaryadye](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/zaryadye-park), and save Gorky Park for an afternoon or a sunset.

YesGo’s pick: pair it with the Muzeon sculpture park and the [New Tretyakov](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/tretyakov-gallery) opposite the gate, then end the day on the embankment.

## What to see in Gorky Park

- **The main gate** — a monumental double colonnade from 1955 on Krymsky Val, and the park’s signature photo. Since the 2026 makeover there are flower beds and small kids’ carousels in front.
- **Pushkinskaya Embankment** — the granite riverside promenade, now lined with ship-shaped pavilions, restaurants and viewing terraces.
- **Garage Museum** — contemporary art in a 1968 Soviet restaurant pavilion, reworked by Rem Koolhaas and OMA.
- **Neskuchny Garden** — the oldest, quietest part: ravines, old trees, the Alexandrinsky Palace and the open-air Green Theatre.
- **Muzeon** — a sculpture park by Krymsky Bridge, home to toppled Soviet monuments moved here after 1991 alongside contemporary works.
- **Golitsyn and Pioneer ponds** — rowing boats in summer, and a lounger beach at Pioneer Pond.
- **Andreyevsky Bridge** — a pedestrian bridge over the river with views back over the park.
- **Sparrow Hills** — the wooded slopes at the southern end; climb them to the [Sparrow Hills](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/sparrow-hills) viewpoint over the whole city.

## The Garage Museum and Muzeon

**Garage** is Moscow’s leading contemporary art museum, set deep in the park by Golitsyn Pond. It opens daily 11:00–22:00 and a ticket is 600 ₽. The building was the Vremena Goda (“Seasons”) restaurant of 1968; Rem Koolhaas kept its Soviet mosaic and tiles and wrapped it in a translucent skin. The museum opened here in June 2015.

**Muzeon**, by Krymsky Bridge, is free to walk. It began as the place where Soviet statues ended up after 1991 and now mixes them with modern sculpture under the trees. Next door is the **New Tretyakov**, Moscow’s home of 20th-century Russian art — the gallery plans to close that building for reconstruction in March 2027, so go before then if Malevich and Kandinsky are on your list.

## Gorky Park in winter: the ice rink

In winter the paths are flooded to make one of Moscow’s biggest outdoor rinks — 15,000 m² when it opened in 2011. It is paid and usually runs from late autumn to late winter, from morning until late evening.

Last season a ticket was 450–700 ₽ Monday to Thursday, up to 1,000 ₽ on Fridays and weekends and 1,200 ₽ over the New Year holidays; skates in sizes 25–48 (EU) were 500 ₽. The 2025/26 rink closed early, on 11 January, because of works in the park. Dates and prices for 2026/27 haven’t been announced yet.

## Why is it called Gorky Park?

It was opened in 1928 as the Central Park of Culture and Leisure, on the grounds of the former All-Russian Agricultural Exhibition, and named after the writer **Maxim Gorky** in 1932 to mark 40 years of his literary work. Locals still call it simply “Park Kultury”, which is also the name of the metro station across the river.

Abroad the name is famous for other reasons too: Martin Cruz Smith’s 1981 thriller *Gorky Park*, and the Scorpions’ 1990 hit “Wind of Change”, which opens with a walk “down to Gorky Park”. There was also a Russian rock band called Gorky Park — none of these have anything to do with the park’s opening hours.

## Before you go: checklist

- [ ] Route planned: Park Kultury metro → over Krymsky Bridge → main gate
- [ ] Roubles or a Russian card — foreign Visa and Mastercard won’t work
- [ ] Viewing deck in the arch: check if it has reopened
- [ ] Bike or scooter: walk it on the embankment
- [ ] Garage: arrive before 21:30
- [ ] Winter: check whether the rink is open
- [ ] Comfortable shoes — gate to Neskuchny Garden is a couple of kilometres

## Gorky Park vs Zaryadye vs Sparrow Hills

|  | Gorky Park | Zaryadye Park | Sparrow Hills |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What it is | Big riverside park with a garden and a museum | New landscape park by the Kremlin | Wooded slope with a city viewpoint |
| Best for | A long walk, sunset, Garage, winter skating | The floating bridge and Kremlin view | The whole-city panorama |
| Where | South of the centre, Krymsky Val | Next to Red Square | South-west, by Moscow State University |
| Entry | Free; Garage 600 ₽ | Free; pavilions from 300 ₽ | Free |
| Time needed | 1.5–2 h | 1 h | 1 h |

On day one, do Zaryadye — it’s next to Red Square. Gorky Park is for a slow afternoon by the river; if you have the legs, keep walking through Neskuchny Garden up to Sparrow Hills.

## Moscow by the water compared

Every riverside and lakeside place in Moscow rated by YesGo.

- [Patriarch's Ponds](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/patriarch-ponds) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free
- [Gorky Park](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/gorky-park) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Free
- [Chistye Prudy](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/chistye-prudy) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free
- [GES-2 House of Culture](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/ges-2) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry with registration, exhibitions 400–1,000 ₽
- [Sokolniki Park](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/sokolniki-park) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free
- [Tsaritsyno](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/tsaritsyno) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Park free, palace 900 ₽

## Christ the Saviour to Sparrow Hills along the river

Start at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, cross the Patriarshy footbridge to GES-2, follow the embankment through Muzeon to the Gorky Park gate, then walk Neskuchny Garden to Sparrow Hills. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and walks.

1. [Cathedral of Christ the Saviour](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/cathedral-of-christ-the-saviour) — YesGo score 72/100 (Yes, go) · 40 min · Free
2. [GES-2 House of Culture](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/ges-2) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry with registration, exhibitions 400–1,000 ₽
3. [Gorky Park](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/gorky-park) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Free
4. [Sparrow Hills](https://yesgo.io/russia/moscow/sparrow-hills) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free

> **Go in the evening** Arrive an hour or so before sunset: the light falls across the river, the embankment lights come on, and the terraces look straight at Krymsky Bridge. On weekday mornings the park is nearly empty — the time for a clean photo of the gate.

## Good to know

Park Kultury metro station is on the opposite bank — you have to cross Krymsky Bridge to reach the park. Many Russian cities have their own Gorky Park; this page is about Moscow’s, on Krymsky Val.

## Tips

- 90-minute loop: main gate → Pushkinskaya Embankment → Andreyevsky Bridge → Garage by Golitsyn Pond.
- Half-day walk: Muzeon → main gate → embankment → Neskuchny Garden → up to Sparrow Hills.
- Cross the road to the New Tretyakov before it closes for reconstruction in March 2027.
- Head back to the centre by river boat from the Gorky Park pier.
- Cycling? Enter from Oktyabrskaya by Pioneer Pond to skip the walk-only embankment.
- For quiet, go deep into Neskuchny Garden — even on weekends it’s calm.

## Questions

### Is Gorky Park free to enter?

Yes. The park is free and open 24/7. You only pay for extras: the Garage Museum (600 ₽), the winter ice rink, rentals and food.

### What are Gorky Park’s opening hours?

The grounds never close, any day of the week. Individual venues keep their own hours — the Garage Museum is open daily 11:00–22:00.

### What is the nearest metro station to Gorky Park?

Park Kultury (lines 1 and 5), about 15 minutes’ walk over Krymsky Bridge to the main gate, or Oktyabrskaya (lines 5 and 6), 10–15 minutes along Krymsky Val.

### How do I get from Red Square to Gorky Park?

Take the red line from Okhotny Ryad three stops to Park Kultury and walk 15 minutes over Krymsky Bridge. Walking the whole way takes about 40 minutes.

### Is Gorky Park open at night?

Yes, the grounds are open around the clock, and the embankment stays busy late on summer evenings. Museums and most cafés close earlier.

### How long do you need in Gorky Park?

About 90 minutes for the gate, the embankment and a pond; add an hour for the Garage Museum, or half a day to walk on through Neskuchny Garden to Sparrow Hills.

### Does Gorky Park have rides or a Ferris wheel?

Not any more. The big fairground rides and the wheel were removed in 2011. There are small kids’ carousels by the main gate, playgrounds, boats in summer and skating in winter.

### Is there ice skating in Gorky Park?

Yes, every winter on a huge paid rink. Last season tickets were 450–1,200 ₽ and skate hire 500 ₽; dates for 2026/27 haven’t been announced yet.

### Why is it called Gorky Park?

It opened in 1928 as the Central Park of Culture and Leisure and was named after the writer Maxim Gorky in 1932.

### Can you cycle in Gorky Park?

In most of the park, yes — but since August 2026 the embankment between Krymsky and Andreyevsky bridges is walk-only, so push your bike or scooter there.

## How we checked

The park’s official website didn’t load on 29.10.2026 — its domain wouldn’t resolve. Free entry, 24/7 access, the address and metro routes therefore come from Wikipedia and guides (Sputnik8, T—Zh) and are marked “verifying”, though every source agrees. Garage hours and price are from the museum’s official website. The state of works is from mos.ru (28.08.2026) and MSK1 (08.09.2026); nothing official says the arch rooms have reopened since, so we call them temporarily closed. The embankment bike ban is from T—Zh (24.08.2026). Rink prices are last season’s; none are out for 2026/27. Sources disagree on the area: Russian Wikipedia gives 219.7 ha for the whole complex with Neskuchny Garden, Sparrow Hills and Muzeon, English Wikipedia 120 ha, apparently without them — we say “≈ 219 ha” and explain. Sources give the arch’s height as 17, 18, 29 or 30 m, so we leave it out. Walking times from the metro are our estimate from the map.

## Sources

- mos.ru: third phase of works in Gorky Park, restoration of the main arch and railings, 28.08.2026; articles on the 1955 main gate
- MSK1: works at the main gate completed, 08.09.2026; Gorky Park 2 pier reopened, 26.07.2026
- T—Zh: “Gorky Park in 2026”, 24.08.2026; “Moscow ice rinks”, 15.12.2025
- Official website of the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art: hours, tickets, address, 29.10.2026
- English and Russian Wikipedia: “Gorky Park (Moscow)”, «Парк Горького (Москва)», “Wind of Change”; Wikidata Q126877
- Sputnik8 guide: Gorky Park — address, hours, history, walking routes from the metro
- m24 on the main gate; KudaGo on Gorky Park
- Afisha Daily and Gazeta.Ru on the opening of Garage in the Vremena Goda building, June 2015
- Snob and Moskvich Mag on the March 2027 closure of the New Tretyakov, 2026
- Visa and Mastercard statements on suspending operations in Russia, March 2022

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