Celebrating your beloved New Year with traditional feasts with numerous salads, tangerines and champagne is increasingly becoming a thing of the past. You can meet the arrival of the new year much more interestingly, turning the holiday into a road trip to places of interest. Autobahns and highways are getting better, and if you reliably prepare your car for an intercity run, then the trip will be a real pleasure.
Tour of the Golden Ring of Russia
If you have never been to the "constellation" of ancient Russian towns that are part of the historical and architectural pearl of Russia - the "Golden Ring", then this New Year's tour will be an amazing discovery for you. Among the forests, dressed in snow caps, are located in different Russian regions truly Russian cities, with ancient white-stone churches, monasteries and temples that make up the "golden ring" of Russia. They are especially beautiful against the background of the winter sky, surrounded by a white snow carpet - a real Russian fairy tale, in which it is doubly pleasant to celebrate the New Year.
In which of these cities: Sergiev Posad, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Yaroslavl, Suzdal, Vladimir or Kostroma - you will not find yourself on New Year's Eve - everywhere you will find a hospitable meeting at the hotel, a luxuriously laid table, a fun entertainment program, dancing until the morning. In Suzdal, you will be captivated by the beauty of the Kremlin, the Intercession Monastery, the Borisoglebsk Church. In Kostroma, the birthplace of the Snow Maiden, visit her Svetlitsa, the Ice Hall, where you can treat yourself to mead from glasses made of ice. You will visit Susaninskaya Square, admire the Fire Tower, and feel the spirit of Russian history in the Ipatiev Monastery.
An unforgettable experience will remain from visiting the ancient city of Uglich, Yaroslavl region, if it becomes the object of your voyage. It is worth visiting here, where there is so much to do with the history of the country. Everything is provided for travelers here: a generous New Year's table in the hotel restaurant, a show program, contests, cozy rooms. Local temples and churches (the Transfiguration Cathedral, the Church of Tsarevich Dmitry) will amaze you with their incredible beauty and amazing history. The New Year's tour by car along the Golden Ring and the New Year's celebration in one of its cities will be the most wonderful event in the coming year.
We recommend unusual excursions:
To Santa Claus in Veliky Ustyug
If once Santa Claus was only an episodic New Year's or fairy-tale character, then since the 90s of the last century he has become a completely real person living in his own residence, located in a mighty pine forest, 13 km from the glorious Vologda city of Veliky Ustyug. The creators of the patrimony of Santa Claus arranged everything here so that the surrounding reality turned into a fairy tale, in which every child dreams of being in. You will also feel like children after visiting some truly magical places. Fabulously beautiful, carved wooden tower of Frost, the Throne Room, where New Year's gifts are presented; many other extraordinary rooms - will enchant your children. Here they will see the long-awaited meeting of Santa Claus and his granddaughter Snegurochka.
A journey along the Path of Fairy Tales, leading from the tower to a pine forest, will give even more emotions from visiting the Lesovichka house, the Wise Owl, grandmother Aushka, Mikhail Potapych. The Magic Well and "12 Brothers Months" will meet there, inviting you to warm yourself up by a real fire. The admiration of children will be boundless after participating in interesting game programs, attractions, fun sledding of various types and even on the fabulous Emelya stove.
Healing pine air, an exciting and interesting walk will bring maximum benefits and positive, previously unknown, emotions. Give your children this great opportunity! In Veliky Ustyug itself, where there are many ancient architectural masterpieces of Russian northern architecture, there is the official representation of Santa Claus, where letters from children from all over the country come. Like any modern person, the "grandfather" has his own website (pochta-dm.ru) - you can also write to it.
To the Snow Maiden in Kostroma
No less fascinating will be a visit to the charming companion of Santa Claus on New Year's Eve - the Snow Maiden in Kostroma, where she was settled, probably because it was in this city that the great playwright A. N. Ostrovsky wrote a touching story that became a classic of the drama The Snow Maiden. Also because Kostroma is next to the ancestral land of Santa Claus, so that the granddaughter does not have to travel far to him. Here, in the vicinity of Kostroma, the famous feature film about the Snow Maiden was filmed. The shooting took place in the fake village of Berendeyevka, which was later transported to the city, making it the basis of the park of the same name. In it (the park) they built a wonderful little house made of wood, with carved platbands, with openwork balconies and patterned porches - a real fairy-tale house "love to look".
Snegurochka's dwelling is surrounded by a magical courtyard with a restaurant for guests "Metelitsa", a small belfry, a swing in the form of a Russian spoon, a huge boulder with a famous fairy-tale saying, and a wooden slide. How picturesque it all looks on a clear frosty day, against the background of sparkling snow, how the truly Russian style of buildings touches the soul. The hospitable Hostess will guide you through the halls of the tower, tell you how miracles happen, introduce you to myths and legends about the Snow Maiden, and show you talented crafts from Kostroma children. There will be no limit to everyone's delight in the Ice Room, stunning with its interior, completely made of ice: walls, floors, sculptures, dishes. For warmth, children are served fruit juices in ice glasses, adults - strong drinks in ice glasses.
Karelia
The "blue-eyed" land, about which there are lines about "eyelashes of fir trees" above the "eyes of lakes", falls in love at first sight with the unprecedented beauty of nature, the generosity of coniferous forests and countless lakes. A trip to meet the New Year in Karelia will become the most romantic and unforgettable. Tea drinking in the Sami chum, meeting with the Karelian brother of Santa Claus - Ded Halla, the "school of elves" will give unusual impressions to children and adults.
If you opt for Petrozavodsk, you will find an incendiary New Year's party at the hotel, with dances, live music, and entertaining contests. The next day, you can go to the flat Kivach waterfall, visit the Karelian Grandfather Hall, the arboretum of the Karelian birch, and the nursery for riding khasok. If you wish, you can ride with the breeze on a dog sled or snowmobiles.
St. Petersburg
A trip to the "Venice of the North" in Russia on New Year's Eve by car is a truly festive journey. Although the M10 highway is not everywhere in perfect condition, the views on both sides are simply amazing: mixed and coniferous forests under a white cover, just like in Yesenin's poems or in the paintings of Russian painters.
After settling in the hotel (you can book in advance in a good place with a magnificent view from the windows), having rest from the road, go for a walk along Nevsky Prospekt, go out to Palace Square. There, together with the crowd of tourists, celebrate the New Year, and then return to the hotel and continue to celebrate. The next day is a fantastic voyage around the world famous places of the “great city of Petrov”. You can go to Gostiny Dvor and book a sightseeing tour there to get to know the main sights of the city. But self-acquaintance with them will bring no less pleasure.
Going out to the embankment, you will see the legendary "Aurora", Troitsky Bridge, Peter and Paul Fortress on the Hare Island, where the changing of the guard takes place at noon. Passing the Troitsky bridge, you need to throw a coin to the "bunny" installed under the bridge for good luck. After passing the fortress, go through the Field of Mars, visit the Russian Museum and go out to Nevsky Prospect.
If you walk along the Palace Embankment, you can walk to the Winter Palace and the Hermitage. The latter should be devoted to the whole day in order to at least briefly examine its main exhibits. Unforgettable impressions of St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, the Triumphal Arch, the Alexander Column, Kazan Cathedral and other magnificent architectural masterpieces await you. New Year's days in St. Petersburg will become emotionally and aesthetically intense, fill you with light spirituality.
Sochi
Are you tired of winter cold, slush and snow, want to celebrate the New Year in an atmosphere of sunshine among palm trees and other subtropical vegetation? Then, celebrating the New Year in the paradise corners of Sochi is the most suitable option. Even if snow falls here at this time, it will only add magical exotic beauty. Today's Sochi is a world-class infrastructure, sports arenas, courts, tracks, ski slopes - everyone on them will find something to their liking.
Upscale hotels, guest houses, boarding houses, hostels for tourists with any opportunity will provide comfortable accommodation and a wonderful New Year's Eve. The entire city and its surroundings will shine with New Year's illumination, bloom with decorated Christmas trees and at midnight illuminate with a kaleidoscope of rainbow fireworks. In a stunning festive atmosphere, you will spend an unforgettable vacation, swim in warm pools with sea water, attend concerts of stars, art exhibitions, climb the cable car into the mountains. If you are good at skiing, the best ski slopes are at your service. New Year in Sochi is a wonderful time!
Crimea
The pearl of the Black Sea - Crimea - is another great place for the New Year holidays. And although the unique bridge connecting the peninsula with the mainland is not ready for use, there will be no problems with a trip by car. In winter, there are no queues for the ferry, and you will not have to languish for a long time while waiting for the crossing. In all Crimean cities, they thoroughly prepare for the New Year: in sanatoriums and hotels they carefully think over how to entertain guests so that the holiday becomes a fairy tale.
Various options are offered, in addition to traditional evenings and balls - you can go to the mountains, find yourself in one of the caves or even under water. But these adrenaline-pumping methods are not for everyone. You can limit yourself to participation in festivities in the central squares, admire the fireworks, and enjoy the night beauty of southern cities. All days of staying in Crimea are full of charm. By car, you can explore the unique sights of the legendary peninsula.
In the beautiful Yalta you will see the famous Livadia and Vorontsov palaces, the uniquely beautiful "Swallow's Nest" on Cape Ai-Todor, Nikitsky Botanical Garden. In the vicinity of Sevastopol, visit the Bakhchisarai sung in Pushkin's poetry, be impressed by the ancient Chersonesos, visit the Inkerman monastery. Near Sudak, visit the authentic buildings of the Genoese fortress, walk along the picturesque Golitsyn path. Enchanting landscapes will accompany you on all trips, causing unremitting admiration.
We recommend unusual excursions:
Kazan
A trip to Kazan for the New Year is an opportunity to see the Muslim-style celebration of the change of the year in one of the most beautiful cities in Russia. It combines modern buildings in the Russian Art Nouveau style with classic minarets and towers, ancient cultural and historical monuments. Here Russian Orthodox traditions are intertwined with Muslim customs, so visiting Kazan on New Year's days is a special event.
The central meeting place for the New Year is the Millennium Park, where a luxurious spruce tree is installed, an ice rink is set up, souvenir booths are opened, and various contests and competitions are held. New Year's Eve is full of fun: music, dances and songs sound until the morning. In the following days, you can visit the Ice Town, created every year near the puppet theater. Everyone admires the art of ice sculptors - they create ice masterpieces.
Children can ride down the ice slides, skate the Nefis stadium "Kazan Arena" and other areas. Acquaintance with the sights of Kazan (Kazan Kremlin, Kul-Sharif, Hermitage-Kazan, Black Lake, etc.) will give you new impressions. It will not be difficult to book accommodation through the Hotellook.ru Internet service before the trip - there are many recreation centers, country cottages, hotels and hotels.
Kaliningrad
If Kazan is a combination of Russian and Tatar mentality, then Kaliningrad is a city where Russian people live in a European atmosphere of purity, comfort and well-groomed. You can feel the atmosphere of European comfort by visiting Kaliningrad, the former German Konigsberg, where the spirit of Kant soars in medieval buildings, where German paving stones and a special gloss inherent in European cities have been preserved. You will not be disappointed with the New Year's days spent in this beautiful city, which has many restaurants, cafes, clubs preparing holiday programs. You will also like the annual theatrical performance on the square. Victories at the Cathedral, the sincere hospitality of Kaliningraders.
Even just walking around the city will bring a lot of pleasant things: wonderful adjoining gardens, lawns, beautiful mansions with red tiled roofs will delight the eye. In all city squares, in parks, funny shows are held, concerts are organized (the mild Baltic climate will not spoil the fun). Vivid impressions will remain from visiting the museums of Amber and the World Ocean, from excursions to the suburbs, where wonderful objects of ancient German architecture have been preserved. You will like the desire of the Russian population to preserve and enhance the elements of European luxury, comfortable service and other attributes of civilization.
Holiday houses in Moscow region
You can have a good rest from the noise of the metropolis and have a great New Year's holidays among the wonderful nature of the Moscow Region, which inspired all Russian classics with its beauty to create artistic masterpieces. New rest houses and boarding houses have been opened in the most charming places of the Moscow region and continue to receive guests. Snow-covered mixed and coniferous forests, picturesque rivers, surrounding temples and monasteries create a unique backdrop for the holiday. Enchanting shows, fun animation, sparkling fireworks, various contests, secular balls and luxurious banquets are waiting for you in each institution.
You can sleep comfortably in cozy rooms to take part in winter attractions, sledding, Russian troika, snowmobiles, ski races in the fresh frosty air. And then take a steam bath in a Russian bath with a birch broom or in a sauna with a swimming pool and feel like a reborn. A lot of rest houses, recreation centers and boarding houses are waiting for guests, offering inexpensive prices (from 1200 to 4500 rubles per day) for accommodation and the organization of various types of recreation. Check websites and book places, choose places with free parking.
Trip to europe
If you want to find yourself on New Year's Eve in the Christmas atmosphere of the fairy tales of Andersen or the Brothers Grimm, go on New Year's holidays to Europe: Latvia, Estonia, Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Finland or Germany.Whichever country you choose, sparkling New Year celebrations with massive processions, fantastic fireworks, interesting excursions to medieval sights, royal palaces and museums await you everywhere. You can enjoy the cozy atmosphere of European cafes with a cup of aromatic coffee with some delicacies, wander through the old streets, along the extraordinary bridges, see unique monuments.
Excursions to the best museums in the world will help you to raise your intellectual and cultural level, allowing you to get in touch with the outstanding artistic masterpieces of the past. The comfortable climate of Europe will contribute to a wonderful rest from the winter cold Russian cold and dank slush, when you can walk in a light jacket and sneakers on the cobblestones, feed the pigeons in the areas shining with cleanliness. Drive around the picturesque surroundings and famous monuments and return with a baggage of pleasant experiences.
