What to do in moscow with kids

Most sights and museums offer reduced-rate tickets for children up to 12 or 18 years of age. Kids younger than five are often free of charge.

The planetarium has interactive exhibits that allow kids to perform science experiments, taste freeze-dried space food and run around on the surface of the moon.

You might not let your children play with guns, but how about tanks, trucks and missiles at this museum?

A place for children to discover for themselves the answer to the endless 'Why?'

This Soviet relic contains countless kid-friendly exhibits, including special sites dedicated to sea creatures, space travel and robots.

With over 100 parks and gardens, Moscow has plenty of space for kids to let off steam – many parks include playgrounds. Larger spaces such as Gorky Park and Vorobyovy Gory Nature Preserve rent bicycles, paddle boats and such. The new Park Zaryadye will have plenty of interactive exhibits to capture kids' attention.

Most little ones love a boat ride. It's the perfect way for kids to see the historic sights, as there’s no need to fight the crowds or linger too long in one place. When you and your child need a break, consider going on a boat tour through Moscow. These boat rides are soothing. The cool air, slow movement of the boat, and the Moscow architecture passing by has a lulling effect. And, because your child is confined to the boat, you can relax your white-knucked grip on him or her and know that your son or daughter won't get lost in a crowd.

Even toddlers will get a kick out of the Moscow Zoo, with close-up encounters with their favourite animals.

Little ones have never had such a range of entertainment choices.

Musical Theatre

Local legend Natalya Sats founded the Moscow Children's Musical Theatre to entertain and educate kids with song and dance.

Puppet Theatre

Kids will see hundreds of puppets at the Obraztsov Puppet Museum, then see them come to life at the attached theatre.

Animal Theatre

Kuklachev's cats and Durov's animals put on a good show for kids of all ages. The Moscow Cat Theater features a cast of housecats that perform acrobatic tricks to delight all audiences. The supporting canine cast alternates with human clowns, whose performances can border on the disconcerting. Just concentrate on the animal actors - that's what you've come to see anyway.

Circus

The acrobatics will astound and amaze, while clowns and animal tricks will leave them laughing. Choose between two acclaimed circuses: Bolshoi Circus on Vernadskogo and Nikulin Circus on Tsvetnoy Bulvar.

The Moscow Dolphinarium offers afternoon and evening performances where dolphins, whales, seals, and sea lions balance balls, jump through hoops, and interact with trainers to the delight of the audience. If you prefer to sit and rest after a day of walking, this children's attraction might be preferable to the Moscow Zoo.

Even children will love shopping for souvenirs at Izmailovo Market. While some souvenir displays may be hands-off even for adults, Russian souvenirs that appeal to children abound at Izmailovo Market. Matryoshka dolls, child-sized fur caps, classic Russian wooden toys, and small animal figures are wonderful memorabilia for children - and even more special if they get to pick what they like best. Choose gifts for friends and family back home or find an item your child can use at her next show-and-tell.

It may be asking a bit much of children to drag them around the Kremlin grounds, but this important attraction may interest them due to the variety of buildings and the grand scale of . . . everything. The Tsar Cannon and Tsar Bell are huge, but look even larger to a child, and are therefore impressive. And while children may not grasp the full significance of what they are seeing, when they're older they'll certainly appreciate having been to the Moscow Kremlin.

Moscow has a lot to offer to you and your kid.