Sokolniki Park, Public park in Sokolniki District, Moscow, Russia.
Sokolniki is a large park in the district of the same name in Moscow, covering more than 600 hectares of forest with pine, spruce, birch, oak, and maple trees. Hundreds of paths run through the grounds, leading to lakes, clearings, sports facilities, and an exhibition center in the middle of the park.
In the 14th century the area served as hunting grounds for Russian rulers who practiced falconry here. In the 19th century it was opened to the public and became a popular leisure destination for Moscow citizens.
The name comes from the Russian word for falcon, recalling when hunting birds were bred here for the court. Today families use the paths for walking, joggers train under the trees, and in summer visitors row on the lakes.
The main entrance is located near a metro station, making the journey easy. Several wide avenues lead to different areas, in summer there is boat rental on the lakes and in winter an outdoor ice rink.
In 1959 the American National Exhibition took place here, where Nixon and Khrushchev held their famous debate in front of a kitchen model. A museum in the park has been showing objects from different centuries on the history of leisure culture in Moscow since 2015.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
