10 Moscow beaches to beat the summer heat

1. Serebryany Bor-2

This is one of most picturesque places for sunbathing. Situated on the bank of the Moskva River, this location has all the conveniences of a beach resort and overlooks both green spaces and urban areas. The beach is secluded enough from the city to be nice and calm.

2. Serebryany Bor-3

This beach is more remote than Serebryany Bor-2, and is quite a long walk away from the other beach, so we recommend that you chose just one of these destinations before you go. This place is further out in the countryside and is surrounded by greenery. However, there are still all the amenities and activities you’d expect, both in water and on land, including beach sports and opportunities for relaxation. You can rent a tent here, but we recommend that you do so in advance.

3. Mescherskoye Recreation Area

While Serebryanny Bor is situated on the Moskva River, Mescherskoye is a small lake not far from the Moscow Ring Road. This place is located in a village so you are likely to encounter locals cooking shashlik. Next to the beach is a large forest and a park where you can rent a bike or boat. However, there are no beach chairs for rent here.

4. Beloye Lake

There are three lakes in the Kosino district of Moscow: Beloye (White), Chernoye (Black) and Svyatoye (Saint). Local residents swim in all of them and they are in close proximity to each other. Officially, however, swimming is only allowed in Beloye Lake, the water is said to be cleaner and there are fish. One of the local landmarks is located right on the bank of the lake, the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

5. Beach Club

This is one of the most luxurious beaches and there are lots of bars and restaurants. The rental price for beach chairs and other services is quite high, but the views are nice. In fact, this is one of the most popular places for wedding photoshoots. At the beach, you can find the Royal Yacht Club where water sports are available. The most spectacular thing about this beach is that the sand was brought in from the Maldives. Why not?

6. Levoberezhny Beach

There are no beach chairs here, but you will find free parking, a number of cafes, volleyball courts and soccer pitches. The beach here is grassy and doesn’t have sand. It can also get crowded because the Moscow Ring Road and Leningradsky Highway are nearby. At this beach, it’s a great idea to take a riverboat tour and you can purchase tickets for these from the station.

7. Big City Pond

This is a cozy pond right on the edge of a park. There are also several cafes and sports fields. The only disadvantage of this beach is that it is located really far away from the city center, in the town of Zelenograd, the northwestern district of Moscow.

8. Chernoye Lake

This lake is also situated in Zelenograd and the name translates to Black Lake. However, don’t confuse this with the other Black Lake mentioned in listing four. This lake got its name because it was once filled with peat and there is still some peat on the bottom of the lake. This is not dangerous but it does is make the water appear dark. This lake is situated in a nice, natural area and is a bit primitive with a lack of infrastructure. This lake is only a 20-minute walk from the Big City Pond in case you happen to find yourself craving more company or amenities.

9. Shkolnoye Lake

This pond has an interesting history. In the 19th century, when the railroad between Moscow and St. Petersburg was being built, this pond was constructed as a reservoir for trains. This nice, small pond is located in an urban area and you can swim or rent a boat here. There are cafes and stores nearby.

10. Troparyovo Recreation Area

With boats and catamarans, this place has plenty of entertainment for both children and adults. The water here isn’t especially clean, and at the end of the summer, it can actually get quite dirty. Still, this is a beach where swimming is officially allowed.