The celebration of the beloved New Year with traditional feasts with numerous salads, tangerines and champagne is becoming more and more a thing of the past. You can meet the arrival of the new year much more interesting, turning the holiday into a road trip to places of interest. Autobahns and highways are getting better, and if you properly 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, truly Russian cities are located in different Russian regions, 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 Pokrovsky Monastery, the Borisoglebskaya Church. In Kostroma, the birthplace of the Snow Maiden, visit her Svetlitsa, the Ice Hall, where you can treat yourself to mead from glasses cast from ice. You will visit Susaninskaya Square, admire the Fire Tower, feel the spirit of Russian history in the Ipatiev Monastery.
Unforgettable impressions 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 so much is connected 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 (Savior Transfiguration Cathedral, the Church of Tsarevich Dmitry) will amaze you with their incredible beauty and amazing history. New Year's tour by car along the Golden Ring and New Year's Eve in one of its cities will be the most wonderful event in the coming year.
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 very 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 Father Frost's patrimony arranged everything here in such a way that the surrounding reality turned into a fairy tale, which every child dreams of being in. You will also feel like a child after visiting truly magical places. Fabulously beautiful, carved wooden tower of Moroz, the Throne Room, where New Year's gifts are presented; many other unusual rooms – will enchant your children. Here they will see the long-awaited meeting of Father Frost and his granddaughter Snegurochka.
Traveling along the Trail of fairy tales leading from the tower to the pine forest will give even more emotions from visiting the house of Lesovichka, the Wise Owl, grandmother Aushka, Mikhailo Potapych. You will meet there the Magic Well, and the “12 brothers-months”, inviting you to warm yourself by a real fire. The admiration of the kids 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, a breathtakingly interesting walk will bring maximum benefit and positive, previously unexplored emotions. Give your kids this great opportunity! In Veliky Ustyug itself, where there are many ancient architectural masterpieces of Russian northern architecture, there is an official representation of Father Frost, 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 exciting 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 drama “The Snow Maiden”. Also because Kostroma is near the patrimony 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. Filming took place in the fake village of Berendeevka, which was later moved 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 “it's nice to look.”
The house of the Snow Maiden 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, a wooden slide. How picturesque it all looks on a clear frosty day, against the backdrop of sparkling snow, how truly Russian style of buildings touches the soul. The hospitable Hostess will take you through the halls of the tower, tell you how miracles happen, introduce you to the myths and legends about the Snow Maiden, and show you the talented crafts of the Kostroma children. There will be no limit to the general delight in the Ice Room, stunning with its interior made entirely of ice: walls, floor, sculptures, dishes. For warming, children are served fruit juices in ice glasses, adults are served strong drinks in ice glasses.
Karelia
The “blue-eyed” region, about which the lines about “eyelashes of fir trees” are composed over the “eyes of the lakes”, makes you fall in love at first sight with the unprecedented beauty of nature, the generosity of coniferous forests and countless lakes. A trip to celebrate the new year in Karelia will be the most romantic and unforgettable. Tea drinking in the Sami tent, meeting with the Karelian brother of Santa Claus – Grandfather Hull, the “school of elves” will give unusual impressions to children and adults.
If you choose Petrozavodsk, you will find an incendiary New Year's party at the hotel, with dancing, live music, and entertaining competitions. The next day, you can go to the Kivach flat waterfall, visit the Karelian Grandfather Hull, the Karelian birch arboretum, and the riding husky nursery. If you wish, you can ride with the breeze on a dog sled or on snowmobiles.
Saint Petersburg
A trip to the “Northern Venice” of Russia on New Year's Eve by car is a truly festive journey. Although not everywhere the M10 highway is 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.
Having settled in a hotel (you can book in advance in a good place with a magnificent view from the windows), having a rest from the road, go for a walk along Nevsky Prospekt, go out to Palace Square. There, together with a crowd of tourists, celebrate the New Year, and then return to the hotel and continue to celebrate. The next day is a fantastic trip to 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 more fully. But independent acquaintance with them will bring no less pleasure.
Coming out on the embankment, you will see the legendary Aurora, the Trinity Bridge, the Peter and Paul Fortress on Hare Island, where the changing of the guard takes place at noon. Passing along the Trinity Bridge, you need to throw a coin to the “bunny” installed under the bridge for good luck. Passing the fortress, pass the Field of Mars, visit the Russian Museum and go to Nevsky Prospekt.
If you go 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 await you from St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Church of the Savior on Blood, the Triumphal Arch, the Alexander Column, the Kazan Cathedral and other magnificent architectural masterpieces. New Year's days spent in St. Petersburg will become emotionally and aesthetically rich, fill you with bright spirituality.
Sochi
Are you tired of winter cold, slush and snow, do you want to celebrate the New Year in an atmosphere of solar warmth among palm trees and other subtropical vegetation? Then meeting the New Year in the heavenly 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 will find something to their liking.
High-class hotels, guest houses, boarding houses, hostels for tourists with any possibilities will provide comfortable accommodation and a wonderful New Year's Eve. The whole city and its surroundings will shine with New Year's illumination, blossom with decorated Christmas trees and at midnight will be illuminated by a kaleidoscope of rainbow fireworks. In a stunning festive atmosphere, you will spend an unforgettable vacation, swim in warm pools with sea water, attend star concerts, art exhibitions, climb the cable car to the mountains. If you are “on you” with skis, 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 operation, there will be no problems with traveling by car. In winter, there are no queues for the ferry, and you do not have to languish for a long time waiting for the crossing. In all Crimean cities, they are thoroughly preparing for the New Year: in sanatoriums and hotels they carefully consider 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 such adrenalin methods are not suitable for everyone. You can limit yourself to participation in folk festivals in the central squares, admire the fireworks, enjoy the night beauty of the southern cities. All the days of your stay in the Crimea are a real charm. By car, you can travel around 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, the Nikitsky Botanical Garden. In the vicinity of Sevastopol, visit Bakhchisarai, sung in Pushkin's poetry, be impressed by the ancient Chersonese, visit the Inkerman Monastery. Near Sudak, visit the authentic buildings of the Genoese fortress, walk along the picturesque Golitsyn trail. Enchanting landscapes will accompany you on all trips, causing relentless admiration.
Kazan
A trip to Kazan for the New Year is an opportunity to see the celebration of the change of the year in a Muslim way in one of the most beautiful cities in Russia. It combines modern buildings in the style of Russian Art Nouveau with classical 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 is set up, a skating rink is arranged, souvenir kiosks 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 sculptors working with ice – they create ice masterpieces.
Children are waiting for skating from the ice slides, on the Nefis roller skates at the Kazan Arena stadium and other venues. Acquaintance with the sights of Kazan (Kazan Kremlin, Kul-Sharif, Hermitage-Kazan, Black Lake, etc.) will give new impressions. Booking accommodation before the trip through the Internet service Hotellook.ru is not difficult – 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 cleanliness, comfort and well-groomedness. You can feel the atmosphere of European comfort by visiting Kaliningrad, the former German Koenigsberg, where the spirit of Kant hovers 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 festive 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 pleasure: wonderful house gardens, lawns, beautiful mansions with red tiled roofs will please the eye. In all city squares, in parks, funny shows are organized, 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 beautiful objects of ancient German architecture have been preserved. You will like the desire of the Russian population to preserve and increase the elements of European luxury, comfortable service and other attributes of civilization.
Holiday houses in the Moscow region
You can have a good rest from the noise of the metropolis and have a great New Year holidays among the wonderful nature of the Moscow region, which inspired all Russian classics to create artistic masterpieces with its beauty. In the most enchanting places of the Moscow region, new rest houses and boarding houses 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, funny animation, sparkling fireworks, various competitions, social 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 troikas, 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 pool and feel like a reborn. Many rest houses, bases and boarding houses are waiting for guests, offering inexpensive prices (from 1200 to 4500 rubles per day) for accommodation and organization of various types of recreation. See sites 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, the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Finland or Germany. Whichever country you choose, sparkling New Year celebrations with mass 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 unusual bridges, see unique monuments.
Excursions to the best museums in the world will help you improve your intellectual and cultural level, allowing you to get in touch with outstanding artistic masterpieces of the past. The comfortable climate of Europe will contribute to a wonderful rest from the Russian winter cold and dank slush, when you can walk in a light jacket and sneakers along cobblestone pavements, feed pigeons on sparkling clean squares. By car, drive around the picturesque surroundings and famous monuments and return with a baggage of pleasant impressions.