As a commercial, cultural, and historical center, Moscow is not very kid-friendly. Public transportation is crowded (even adults can get separated from each other in the subway), drivers are inattentive (crossing the street can be death-defying), and attractions that will delight adults will bore kids to tears . . . probably literally.
Great Moscow Circus or Gorky Park . . . Really Good for Kids?
Guidebooks may steer parents towards the Great Moscow Circus or Gorky Park, but this Russian traveler recommends neither. The Great Moscow Circus has bigoted acts with oversized puppets representing caricatures of members from certain ethnic groups. Circus-goers have also been witness to abuse of the animals in the ring.
Gorky Park is an amusement park, but the safety regulations may be lacking or nonexistent, and the rides are sure to be old and rickety. However, if you choose to keep the kids away from the rides, they may enjoy some of the other attractions, including a Russian spaceship that never made it into space.
Moscow Zoo and the Cat Theater
Alternatively, kids will enjoy the Moscow Zoo or the Cat Theater, the latter which features performing cats – housecats, that is. The human acts of the Cat Theater may be less than exciting (or just bizarre and disconcerting), but the cats (and dogs!) are sure to rank 10 on your cute meter.
Moscow for Kids and Adults
If you really want your kids to take something from Moscow that they’ll enjoy now, but may appreciate even more when they’re older, definitely take them to Red Square and the Kremlin. St. Basil’s Cathedral is an amazing labyrinth of chapels, some with miniature doors, nooks, and crannies that will appeal to childlike sensibilities. Let children throw spare change into the grates for good luck. The Kremlin can also be interesting with its diverse architecture, park, and the Armory Museum. The Armory Museum is full of dazzling riches from Russia’s royal rulers, who lived their own fairy tale reality by riding in golden carriages and dressing in silver threads.
If your kids are a bit older, they might appreciate a Moscow boat tour. These are relaxing, fun outings, and being on the water can be refreshing on a hot summer day while giving you a chance to rest your feet.
If you want to do some souvenir shopping, kids are sure to enjoy Izmailovo Market, which features everything from matryoshka dolls to fur caps. It’s easy to find small souvenirs here that kids will adore, and buying gifts for grandma or friends can be fun for everyone.
Taking your kids to Moscow has the potential to help them develop a lifelong interest in Russian culture, especially if you show your enthusiasm and explain to them what they’re seeing (and why it’s significant). While Moscow’s most obvious attractions for kids may not be ideal upon further examination, some aspects of Moscow will wow kids as much as they will adults.
