Take a break from sightseeing in Moscow and relax in the Hermitage Garden, an elegant park in the Tverskoy District. The garden is the home of three celebrated arts venues and it also hosts open-air events throughout the year. This is a particularly popular spot among locals, who come here for a break in a tranquil, tree-lined area that is decorated with colorful flowers and a variety of trees.
Mingle with Moscow’s locals in a peaceful park area that has existed since the late 19th century. People have been visiting the gardens since 1830 and famous figures such as Tolstoy and Lenin used to come here. The garden in its current form, however, was designed by theatre entrepreneur Yakov Schukin and opened in 1894.
Wander along the paths, which run past flower beds that grow lilacs, honeysuckle and roses, among other plants. Take a seat on a bench beneath the shade of linden, maple and poplar trees.
Watch a show at one of the three arts venues on the site. The Hermitage Theater stages classics and the works of modern dramatists. The Sphere Theater and the New Opera also host a range of performances throughout the year in historic auditoriums. Visit the websites of each venue to see what is playing.
Attend one of the open-air events that take place in the gardens. The Hermitage Garden Jazz Festival has been running since 1998 and takes place every August. Simply turn up to enjoy a wide range of free music performances that start in the afternoon and run well into the night.
Come back to the garden in winter, when a natural ice rink forms in the gardens and the area takes on a romantic, snowy atmosphere. In December, you can also enjoy the bustle of a Christmas fair that sets up in the gardens.
Take one of the local buses that stop outside the gardens to get here from the city center. Red Square is about 20 minutes away by bus.
