Kolomenskoye's Ice Rink Falls Short of Expectations

I recently visited the new ice rink in Kolomenskoye, located on Tsarskaya Embankment. Be aware that there are actually two ice rinks in the area – one on the embankment and the other on the festival square. We visited the first one, which is a bit of a walk from the metro.

Kolomenskoye Ice RinkThe Ice Rink on Tsarskaya Embankment in Kolomenskoye

This ice rink boasts the longest track in Russia, stretching an impressive 1.7 km. That's almost 2 kilometers, and you get to skate the entire length and then back. Along the way, you'll see beautiful New Year's garlands, which are a nice touch at first, but after a while, you might start to crave some variety in the decorations.

Kolomenskoye Ice Rink Photo ReviewAt the beginning and end of the ice rink, there are lovely Christmas trees, but in the center, there's only one decoration. I have to admit, I preferred ice skating in other parks, where the paths are flooded, and you can skate in a circle, turning onto alleys with changing scenery. For example, the ice rink at VDNH is a great spot.

Ice Rink on Tsarskaya EmbankmentKolomenskoye Ice Rink Operating Schedule

Operating Schedule:

From Tuesday to Sunday Monday - closed

Schedule:

10:30–12:00 12:00–13:30 13:30–15:00 Technical break for ice processing: 15:00–17:00 17:00–18:30 18:30–20:00 20:00–22:00 (Extended evening session)

Kolomenskoye Ice Rink Photo Ticket Price During the New Year's holidays, prices are higher. We paid 1380 rubles for adult tickets, 405 rubles for student tickets, and 810 rubles for children up to 18 years old. Some ticket machines weren't working, but we managed to get through the line quickly by showing our tickets.

Queue to the turnstiles

It's a good idea to buy tickets in advance online, especially for evening sessions, which tend to sell out quickly. You can also prepay for skate rentals – 1000 rubles for adults and 400-800 rubles for kids. We brought our own skates, but there was still a huge queue for rentals. Arrive early, and be prepared for a long wait in the first pavilions. Pavilion number 3 is a bit further from the start of the track, about 300 meters away, and it's larger, but there's still very little space.

Queue in the pavilionThe organization of the track falls short of a comfortable level I was surprised that the organizers couldn't copy the existing tracks in Moscow, where everything is well-oiled and works perfectly. The biggest inconvenience is the lack of lockers or cubbies in the dressing rooms. There are only three tiny lockers for a huge number of people. You can see how small they are in the photo.

Tiny lockers, just three of themIn the pavilion, there are hundreds of people, and there's nowhere to put your shoes. Fortunately, we were able to skate with our skates and put our stuff in bags, but it's not comfortable to skate with shoes on the track. On big tracks like VDNKh and Gorky, there are always dressing rooms where you can hand in your shoes for a number. Those who rent skates just leave their shoes under the bench. And that's for 1380 rubles. On the VDNKh track, the ticket is cheaper, and it includes a dressing room where you can hand in your shoes for a number.

So, the track in Kolomensky is not worth it, the price is overpriced.

There's not enough space to change.

track in KolomenskyImpressions

We went ice skating at 5 pm right after the ice was cleaned. The ice was smooth and skatable at that point, but within an hour, you could start to feel the imperfections. And by the time our 6:30 session rolled around, nobody was cleaning the ice anymore, and people were just staying on the rink. I guess the 5-6:30 time slot is just a formality, because nobody checks if you leave at 6:30. But you'll get tired of skating eventually.

Kolomenskoye Ice RinkWe took about 15-20 minutes to get to the other end of the rink. There are some bumps on the ice, but they're not too frequent. You can only take a break at the exit.

You can take a break at the exitOne of the downsides is the lack of food options. There's just one little hut with coffee and mulled wine in the middle of the rink, and that's it. At other parks, they have food stalls all over the place, and you can even buy things right from the rink. Here, you have to leave the rink to get a coffee. One food stand for 2 kilometers of ice is just not enough.

Kolomenskoye Ice Rink review

Kolomenskaya Ice RinkThe idea is great, but the execution isn't. And to get to the rink, you have to walk 30 minutes from the metro through the park. Is it worth going to this rink? If you have your own skates and there's nothing better nearby, then yeah, it's worth a visit. But be prepared to skate with your bags. Otherwise, for the price, there are more convenient options available.