sailboats in central park

Central Park Sailboats

If you love nautical activities and are visiting New York City, maybe the Central Park Sailboats have been on your “must-do” list of experiences while you’re here. If you’re a local just searching for a way to spend a leisurely Saturday check out our thoughts on what it’s like to sail the “open” waters of Central Park.

Is sailing RC boats in Central Park the most exciting activity in the city that never sleeps? Definitely not. We rented a sailboat for 30 minutes and quite honestly that amount of time was just the right amount for us to learn that maybe sailing isn’t our skill set. For most of the time, the wind was pretty tame resulting in most of the sailboat rentals stay still in the water.

It’s hard to get excited when your sailboat isn’t doing anything. Maybe that’s just a product of wanting instant gratification, but it may be frustrating for you too. It took us half of our rental time to really hone in on how to make the sailboat move.

When to Rent

Quite honestly, we arrived right when the Central Park sailboats opened on a Saturday at 1:00 PM EST. The line quickly grew behind us and I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets much busier throughout the day.

So if you have your heart set on sailing your blues away, or reliving your Stuart Little dreams, I would recommend arriving when the stand opens for the given day, OR be okay with having to wait a bit for an available sailboat on some of the busier days through the week. I heard one mom buy six rentals for her kids, so I’m sure the boats go quick.

Where is the Central Park Sailboats

Address: E 72nd St, New York, NY 10021

The Central Park sailboats rental stand is located on the east side of the Conservatory Water pond. You will see a little stand with sailboats outside where you can rent your sailboats.

The closest bus stops include bus access to M1, M2, M3, M4 @ 5 Av/E 75 St

For our ultimate guide on New York City public transit: READ HERE

Costs to Rent Central Park Sailboats

In total after-tax, we spent $11.98 for 30 minutes of RC sailboat playtime. It’s super affordable, don’t get us wrong. If you’re taking a kid to the park and need to keep them occupied for 30 minutes so you can have a breather then spend the money. If you’re going on a date, walk a little further to the rowboats instead and pony up the extra cash to be romantic.

We were afraid that they would only take cash, but have no fear they accept cash or card!

Optional add-ons:

• Rental, Sailors hat
• Rental, Sailors hat, & t-shirt

You may be tempted to buy the sailor’s hat like we were. But trust us, don’t do it because you will get done with sailing and be glad you didn’t.

Overall Thoughts

In the end, if you’re into remote control things, sailing, or you are with kids this may be the perfect activity for you. For everyone else, I would recommend perhaps renting bikes to explore Central Park or head over to the Loeb Boathouse and rent a rowboat on the water for about the same price for an entire hour of fun.

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About Central Park

Find all the information you need to enjoy your visit to New York City’s iconic Central Park.

Model Sail Boating Returns to Central Park

The area around the pond is home of some of the park’s loveliest foliage. These include Lebanon Cedars, willows, pine and beech trees. It also features the park’s largest display of spring blossoming Cherry Trees, besides the stands on either side of the reservoir. The surrounding benches are the perfect place for either a brief respite from your park site-seeing tour or a more contemplative visit, relaxing while you watch the tiny white sails tacking against the breeze. If you actually hear tiny voices shouting out the commands Lenox Hill Hospital is only a few blocks away. Nearby you can also find two of the Park’s most popular statues, especially with children. At the northern end is the sculpture of Alice, of Wonderland fame, with all her favorite tea party playmates, and at the western edge a statue of master story teller Hans Christian Andersen.

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Enjoy remote controlled, wind-driven sailing at the iconic Conservatory Water in Central Park. Support the Bronx-based nonprofit Rocking the Boat each time you set sail.

July-August 2024 Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays: 11am-7pm Saturdays: 1-7pm

$15 for 30 min rental Walkups are welcome

2024 schedule, july-august.

Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays: 11am-7pm Saturdays: 1-7pm

September-October

Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays: 11am-6pm Saturdays: 1-6pm

Kerbs Memorial Boathouse in Central Park

Off Fifth Avenue between 72nd and 76th Streets Manhattan, NY

Special Event Inquiries

Contact: [email protected] or 860-931-0453

What is Rocking the Boat?

Rocking the Boat is a nonprofit youth development organization in the Hunts Point section of the South Bronx dedicated to empowering young people through hands-on experiences in traditional wooden boat building, environmental science, and sailing.

May 1, 2024 Model-Boat Sailing Returns to Central Park

May 6, 2024 You can finally float a miniature boat in Central Park again!

June 11, 2024 Remote-controlled sailing returns to Central Park in partnership with Bronx-based nonprofit

June 19, 2024 Sailboats Return To Central Park Waters

July 4, 2024 Bronx non-profit rents sailboats in Central Park

© 2024 Sail Central Park

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You can finally float a miniature boat in Central Park again!

The beloved tradition went on hiatus back in 2019.

If it seems like forever ago since you last noticed miniature boats floating over Central Park's Conservatory Water pond, that's because the tiny crafts have not graced the body of water in five years. 

But now, for the first time after the pandemic, New Yorkers can once again sail the iconic remote-controlled vessels at the park: model boat sailing is officially back!

RECOMMEDNED: NYC pools and beaches may soon stay open well into fall

Rocking the Boat, a non-profit based in the Bronx that teaches teenagers how to build life-size boats for sailing on Long Island Sound, is behind the relaunch of the beloved activity, reports the New York Times . 

According to Central Park's own  website , model boating is a tradition that is just as central to the character of the city as the park itself, with towns across the world also partaking in the pastime, including at Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. 

A word on Conservatory Water, the pond where the boats float in: first made famous by E.B. White in his beloved 1945 children's novel  Stuart Little , which was adapted to a movie in 1999, the area is named after a large greenhouse of glass and metal that the city had planned to build but never finished. Originally, the pond was meant to reflect the greenhouse. Now, the body of water is known for turning into an ice skating rink during the winter, when the water freezes all the way through, and for its model boat racing, which attracts children from all over the city, during warmer months.

You can rent the model boats, which are built by members of Rocking the Boat, for $15 for a 30-minute session. If you decide to bring your own miniature boat, you'll need to secure a $15 permit from the city's parks department. 

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

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New York Today

Model-boat sailing returns to central park.

I tried operating a boat on Conservatory Water, the pond famous for model boating. It’s harder than it looks.

By James Barron

Good morning. It’s Wednesday. We’ll look at the return of model boating in Central Park for the first time since the pandemic. We’ll also get details of the penalty that Donald Trump was ordered to pay for breaking the gag order in his criminal trial .

And then I crashed the boat.

It wasn’t my fault. Really, it wasn’t. A puff of wind came out of nowhere and drove the boat into the stone wall I had been steering it toward. Gently. Smoothly.

The vessel I was captaining was not a cruiser with an engine whirring below deck — it had no engine at all. Mine was a miniature sailboat on the model boat pond in Central Park, the setting famous from E.B. White’s story “Stuart Little.”

Model boats are being rented on the pond for the first time since 2019, the last full year before the coronavirus hit. The concessionaire is new: Rocking the Boat, a nonprofit from the Hunts Point section of the Bronx. The organization also teaches teenagers how to build full-size boats for rowing and sailing and how to pilot them on Long Island Sound.

Jasmine Benitez, who is managing Rocking the Boat’s operation at the boathouse east of the pond, said that the transition from the Sound to the diminutive world of the model boat lake (officially, Conservatory Water) had not been difficult. “The physics is exactly the same as on a big boat,” she said.

Physics? Yes, physics, said Sue Donoghue, the parks commissioner, adding that Rocking the Boat’s workshops introduce “the importance of STEM in a fun way,” referring to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Teams from Rocking the Boat assemble the three-and-a-half-foot-long model vessels from components. The group plans to conduct workshops to teach people how to build their own.

Adam Green, the founder and executive director of Rocking the Boat, said that the operation in Central Park was a departure for the group — its first venture in Manhattan. Rocking the Boat is charging Manhattan prices, $15 for 30 minutes of sailing. The price was $13 in 2019, he said, adding, “We thought it was obvious that everything is more expensive now.”

Green said that he was counting on model boats to boost the name recognition of Rocking the Boat and to bring in revenue for the organization’s programs. Starting today, Rocking the Boat will rent sailboats on Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Next month, it will add Thursdays and Saturdays to the schedule, and in July, the operation will expand to five days a week, from Wednesday to Sunday. The rentals are separate from races organized by the Central Park Model Yacht Club on Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

People can also bring their own boats during Rocking the Boat hours, but they need a $15 permit from the city’s parks department.

Green, 50, grew up on the Upper West Side and said that, when he was a child, he climbed all over the Alice in Wonderland statue just north of the pond. But he did not pay much attention to what was going on in the boathouse that Rocking the Boat is now using by Conservatory Water.

“As a New Yorker,” he said, “you never think about something like this existing here.”

The boathouse was built in the 1950s. Conservatory Water, one of the man-made wonders that Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted created, dates to the 19th century. Despite its age, the pond is not littered with (model) shipwrecks — it is not terribly deep. But boats can capsize.

I did not want that to happen when Benitez handed me the remote-control device used to control the miniature sailboat that she and Myah Recinos had placed in the water. The device looked something like an Xbox controller.

“I’m more of a PlayStation girl myself,” said Recinos, a Rocking the Boat veteran who is renting the boats and, as she put it, “helping people get them going.” People like me.

I had also read that the winds on the model boat basin are typically 3 to 6 knots, but at that moment there was not even a whisper. “Patience is key to dealing with these boats,” Recinos counseled. “When the wind dies out, you have to be patient.”

So I waited, and after a minute or two, a breeze carried the boat out. I maneuvered the controls. The boat zipped along nicely. I worked the remote control to turn the boat to head back.

Bad idea. At least the stern had what Recinos called a “nose,” a rubbery cone designed to absorb the shock of a slow-speed mishap.

“You cannot control the wind,” Recinos told me later. “You thought you were doing really bad when I didn’t think you were. I remember you crashing into the wall, and I was like, That’s pretty much bound to happen at some point.

Expect a cloudy day with temperatures in the high 60s. At night, the clouds will linger, and temperatures will drop to the low 50s.

ALTERNATE-SIDE PARKING

In effect until tomorrow, Holy Thursday (Orthodox).

The latest New York news

Arrests at Columbia : Police officers in riot gear arrested protesters occupying a building at Columbia University. The school said that the building had been “vandalized and blockaded,” leaving officials “no choice” but to call in the police for the second time in less than two weeks.

Abuse lawsuits: About 150 people filed lawsuits against New York City agencies, saying that they had endured abuse while in the city’s custody as minors in juvenile detention centers and on Rikers Island.

More scrutiny of judges? : A criminal justice group that led the fight against Gov. Kathy Hochul’s first choice to lead the state’s highest court last year is pressing for closer scrutiny of judges.

Sentenced for funding terrorism : A 44-year-old woman was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Tuesday for funding terrorism by using cryptocurrency. Prosecutors said that she had sent funds to Bitcoin wallets controlled by a terrorist training group operating in Syria.

Tied for the most Tony nominations: The semi-autobiographical Alicia Keys musical “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Stereophonic,” a play about a group of musicians struggling to record an album, each got 13 Tony nominations .

For Trump, a $9,000 fine for violating a gag order

The judge in Donald Trump’s hush-money trial held the former president in contempt and fined him $9,000 for violating a gag order with his social media posts.

Judge Juan Merchan also warned Trump of “incarceratory punishment” if he were to flout the gag order from now on — meaning jail.

For Trump, $9,000 is not much money. Merchan said so himself, in an eight-page decision. The penalties for repeatedly violating the gag order “unfortunately will not achieve the desired result” when the person penalized can easily afford the fine, Merchan said.

The judge ordered Trump to remove nine “offending posts” from his Truth Social account and his campaign website. In doing so, Merchan rejected claims by Trump’s lawyers that the former president had simply reposted messages written by others. Merchan called the idea that such reposts do not count as violations of the gag order “counterintuitive and indeed absurd.”

The jury heard from Keith Davidson, the lawyer who represented two women who claimed to have had sex with Trump: Stormy Daniels, a porn actress, and Karen McDougal, a Playboy model. Davidson’s testimony has pulled back the curtain on the negotiations for the hush-money payments made to both women ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

METROPOLITAN diary

Passing it on

Dear Diary:

Whenever I finish reading a magazine and it is in clean condition, I face a dilemma: Recycle it or leave it on a park bench or subway seat for someone else to enjoy?

By leaving it somewhere, I could be doing a public service. Or I could just be making trash for someone else to clean up.

One day not long ago, the question was answered for me as I watched.

I was sprinting to make a transfer at Columbus Circle when the magazine I had been reading flew out of my coat pocket and fell to the ground. Wanting to make my train, I decided not to stop to pick it up.

As the doors closed, I watched sheepishly while people streamed past my litter.

But just before the train pulled out, I saw a woman stop and examine the cover. Then she bent down, picked up the magazine and slipped it into her bag.

— Ryan Kailath

Illustrated by Agnes Lee. Send submissions here and read more Metropolitan Diary here .

Glad we could get together here. See you tomorrow. — J.B.

P.S. Here’s today’s Mini Crossword and Spelling Bee . You can find all our puzzles here .

Francis Mateo, Rachel Gomes and Ed Shanahan contributed to New York Today. You can reach the team at [email protected] .

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James Barron writes the New York Today newsletter, a morning roundup of what’s happening in the city. More about James Barron

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Model Sailboats in Central Park

Model sailboats have been racing on Conservatory Water in Central Park for over 140 years. It is one of the most iconic spots in Central Park and is often visited by locals and tourists alike. And during the sailing season, the pond is populated with spectators, amateur sailors, and long-term helmsmen.

Where can I use model sailboats in Central Park?

Visitors can pilot model sailboats at Conservatory Water on the east side between 72 nd and 75 th Streets. Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux originally plotted the site for a glass conservatory and reflection pond in their original plans for Central Park. But budget cuts meant the vision would never came to fruition. They decided to eliminate the conservatory and keep the pond to recreate an American version of the popular model boat ponds in Paris. Thus the name, Conservatory Water.

What equipment do I need for sailing?

The model boats allowed on Conservatory Water must be wind-powered. They are remote-controlled using the direction of the rudder and the trim of the sail. No other powered boats are allowed. Visitors can bring their own model sailboats to pilot. For some, model boats are a serious hobby and they spend a great deal of time designing and crafting their boats for speed and aerodynamics. You will see all types of masterpieces built and piloted by model boat enthusiasts.

Visitors can also rent boats from a small kiosk just outside of Kerbs Boathouse. For beginners, there will be a brief lesson as well as a page of simple instructions accompanying the model sailboat and remote control. There is no formal minimum age for sailing. All ages can participate as long as they can properly control and handle the remote. That said, you do not need a model sailboat to enjoy the spectacle.

When can I sail in Central Park?

Weather permitting, the typical boating season for central park runs from March to November. If you have your own watercraft you can sail almost any time of day. But if you are looking for a rental, you will need to check the hours at the Kerbs Boathouse. Just note, members of the Central Park Model Yacht Club race their boats on Saturday at 10 AM and the water is often dotted with vessels during this classic spectacle.

What are rental hours?

Monday to Thursday from 11 AM to 5 PM

Friday from 11 AM to 7 PM

Saturday from 1 PM to 7 PM

Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM

The rental kiosk is not open during rain. Hours are also subject to change. So call (917) 522-0054 to confirm rentals before your visit. Please note that reservations are not available and rentals are first-come, first-serve.

Is there boat storage?

City residents who wish to sail frequently can get a permit for storing their boat on-site at the Kerbs Boathouse during the week. Granted, space is limited. It is important to apply early in the season if you hope to get a space. For boat storage and permits call (212) 360-8133.

What else is close by Conservatory Waters?

There are restrooms located at the Kerbs Boathouse. There is also a small café on the east side of the pond with patio seating and an ice cream kiosk on the south side of the pond. Just to the north of the pond is a famous Alice in Wonderland statue and one of Hans Christian Andersen to the west.

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By: Zeke Quezada, ASA Learn To Sail

Learning To Sail in New York City

My boat was on a beam reach when a gust came over the water and nearly capsized my vessel. With that small diversion, the 13-year-old I was racing overtook me and made his way toward the finish line. On this course, sailing one of the most pristine bodies of water on the eastern seaboard, my reign as an undefeated captain came to an end. On this day a small mistake cost me the win and I would have to pay the victor with a hot dog and some soft serve from the vendor right across the street from the Plaza. Our sailing day was different than usual, it was on a pond in the middle of a metropolis, and our boats are measured in inches instead of in feet. My rented boat, #71, was beaten by #59 in Central Park on a pond populated with rented model sailboats sailed by amateur sailors, tourists and old salts alike.

As I told him my story, ASA Founder Lenny Shabes laughed as if he knew of the gusts that I spoke of. His love of sailing started right on this very same pond in the middle of New York City.  He would cherish the 15 cent train token that got him from 183rd Street and Broadway down to the conservatory on 72nd, as it was his ticket to a day of sailing. It was his diversion from his norm and an introduction to another world. A world predicated on his work, the wind and the natural environment.

Shabes’ sixth-grade teacher was the inspiration for his love of sailing. They took balsa wood and crafted a sailing vessel that would take on the currents, gales, and elements of Central Park’s Conservatory Water. The partnership that crafted a boat would be the design for a love of sailing for the rest of his life. “In those days we didn’t have remote controls, we sailed the boat on a beam reach and raced around the pond to gather the boat on the other side.” Shabes told me while describing the boat with his hands as if the model was right in front of him.

Today, people of all ages build boats and sail them in the pond. Saturday mornings you can find members of the Central Park Model Yacht Club racing boats that appear to be miniature versions of some of the most beautiful boats you can see on the open ocean. The water is dotted with sailboats with helmsmen at the controls who are as focused as America’s Cup racers.

On any given summer day you’ll find tourists and locals alike trying their hand at sailing the model boats that are available for rent at the boathouse. Adults sail right alongside children as everyone does their best to catch the wind and glide across the glassy surface of this pond only steps away from the hustle and bustle of New York City.

This is the beauty of sailing in a much easier and approachable package. No need for planning a weekend trip, just rent a boat and find a spot on a bench and sail.

Sailthepark.com Rental: $11 for 30 minutes Take a look at Central Park Model Yacht Club if you are interested in racing or just learning a bit more about making your own mini sailing vessel.

Want to Learn to Sail in NYC?

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80-year-old man dies after falling off boat on the Grand Canyon's Colorado River

The incident happened near fossil rapid inside the park. the identity of the man has not been released by officials at this time. this is the latest in a string of deaths inside the park this year..

An 80-year-old man is dead after falling from a boat on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon National Park.

The incident happened over on the afternoon of Sunday, August 25 near Fossil Rapid inside the park. National Park officials said a man had reportedly flipped in his boat on the river and officials with the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center had received reports that CPR was in progress on the man.

Despite life-saving efforts done by the group and park rangers flown into the area, the man was pronounced dead.

Both the National Park Service and Coconino County Medical Examiner are investigating the incident. The man's identity has not been released at this time, but officials said he was on a commercial river trip when the incident occurred.

Other deaths have happened at the park this year

Over the weekend, search-and-rescue crews located the body of Chenoa Nickerson, 33, from Gilbert, Arizona who was missing during a flash flood that swept through the area while she was on a hiking trip.

Justin Guthrie from St. Anne, Missouri fell to his death while BASE jumping from Yavapai Point on the South Rim back on Aug. 1. The day before, 20-year-old Abel Joseph Mejia fell 400 feet to his death after standing too close to the edge of the rim. Officials at the park said his death was the result of “an accidental fall.”

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

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• INTELLIGENT TRAVEL

Sailing Through Central Park

Central Park is the ultimate Manhattan playground. Here’s where to go and what to do in this 843-acre family-friendly wonderland.

> The Lake

The scoop: Once a large swamp, now a picturesque 18-acre lake and stopover point for herons, egrets, and other migrating birds in spring and fall.

What to do: Rent a rowboat at the Loeb Boathouse ($15 an hour), and head out for some pleasantly aimless rowing. Borrow binoculars at Belvedere Castle .

> The Zoo

The scoop: No, the zebras and lions of Madagascar don’t really live here. But there are 130 species ranging from red pandas to penguins. A pair of snow leopard cubs—the first ever to be born at the zoo—celebrated their first birthday in June.

What to do: Time your entrance or exit to the half hour, when the mechanical bronze animals rotate atop the musical Delacorte Clock just outside the zoo’s main gate. The 44 songs that play throughout the day change seasonally.

> Shakespeare Garden

The scoop: “Here’s flowers for you,” wrote Shakespeare in   The Winter’s Tale , and in 1913, the commissioner of Central Park returned the sentiment, dedicating this traditional English garden to the Bard of Avon.

• Nat Geo Expeditions

What to do: Many of the plants mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays make an appearance here. Look for sweet marjoram to cowslip to roses (by any other name).

• Fun fact: Central Park’s architects, Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted, planted all but a few of the park’s trees. Even the hills and streams were built from scratch.

This piece, written by Chris Bonanos , appeared in the June/July 2014 issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine.  

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Model Sailboat Rentals

Nov 3, 2019

Conservatory Water

Model Sailboat Rentals at Conservatory Water

Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you don't need a boat to enjoy the spectacle of the racing events. Rentals are available for all ages, with instructors available for assistance. 

Rental Hours

Monday - Thurs 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Friday 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Saturday 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Sunday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

***Not open during rain***

*Hours are subject to change. Please confirm by calling (917) 522-0054.

Reservations & Pricing

    •    Reservations not taken. Rentals are on a first-come, first-served basis.

    •    30 Minute Rental: $11.00 (plus tax)

"Boats on the Water" by CJay

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Stuart Little

by E.B. White

Stuart little the sailboat pond in central park.

Stuart Little delights in watching the sailboat races at the model sailboat pond, otherwise known as the Conservatory Water, and as the scene is a key one in the novel, readers may find it interesting to explore in greater detail.

The Water is one of the most famous spots in Central Park, situated just north of the entrance to the park at 72nd street on the east side. It is neighbors with the Alice in Wonderland statue and the Hans Christian Anderson statue. The area is also known as a prominent site for watching red-tailed hawks.

The Water was not part of Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux’s “Greensward Plan,” and was, as the official website for Central Park states, “initially intended to be a small pool for a glass house and a formal, ornamental flower garden.” But “when the upkeep of this plan proved itself too costly, Conservatory Water and Conservatory Garden were created in their place.” The pond was designed with a granite shoreline to resemble the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris.

During the winter months it is used for ice skating, but the sailing races are what it is best known for. Most of the time visitors can rent model sailboats and yachts at Kerbs Boathouse nearby. Both adults and children delight in this activity, and Stuart Little accurately depicts the shared excitement and competitive spirit. Races are held Saturdays mornings at ten, sponsored by the Central Park Model Yacht Club.

Stuart Little Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Stuart Little is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

How old is George Little?

I think George is nine-years-old.

Captain Torres brags about catching several revolutionary leaders during the four days that he had been gone

Novel title, please?

GradeSaver has a complete study guide for the novel, Stuart Little , that is readily available for your use. The study guide include a short, plot summary if that is what you are looking for.

Study Guide for Stuart Little

Stuart Little study guide contains a biography of E.B. White, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Stuart Little
• Stuart Little Summary
• Character List

Wikipedia Entries for Stuart Little

• Introduction

• Bahasa Indonesia
• Slovenščina
• Science & Tech
• Russian Kitchen

What to do in Samara? Here are 10 ideas for a trip!

1. Stroll along Russia's longest embankment

Yes, the embankment of the River Volga in Samara is the longest in the country. It is over four kilometers in length and one of the most popular places in the city. It has a small, sandy beach, where you can sunbathe or play volleyball. The embankment also has cycle lanes, intriguing art objects, monumental multi-level staircases, “singing” fountains, fountains with light effects and, of course, plenty of space for strolling (and taking scenic photos!).

2.  Descend to a real bunker built for Stalin

The bomb shelter under the Institute of Culture was only declassified in 1990. When the Great Patriotic War broke out, many factories, as well as cultural and official institutions, were evacuated to Samara (then Kuybyshev). The city was considered a "standby" capital of the USSR. The bunker was built in 1942 and was based on the designs of the ‘Aeroport’ subway station on the Moscow Metro. It lies 37 meters underground, with ample space for meeting rooms, office accommodation and Stalin's own office - incidentally, he never actually visited it himself. You will, however, have to go on a guided tour by appointment in order to gain access.

3. Learn about space

A real R-7 space rocket is installed next to the Samara Space Museum. Rockets of this series typically send crewed spacecraft and satellites into orbit. Rockets of the R-7 family have been produced by the Samara-based Progress Rocket Space Center since 1958.

The main building of the museum is currently closed, due to the construction of a new planetarium. A temporary space exhibition is currently housed at the nearby ‘Gudok’ shopping center.

4.  Stop by the oldest brewery

Samara is the birthplace of the most famous Soviet beer. Waiting lines still form outside the flagship store at the Zhigulevsky Brewery for a freshly-brewed batch. It only keeps for a couple of days and has become a local tourist attraction. You can take it home or down a glass at the brewery’s restaurant. 

Zhigulevsky Brewery was founded in 1881 by Austrian entrepreneur Alfred von Vacano: He chose Samara, because of the clean water in the River Volga and the town's convenient logistics. In the Soviet period, production was regulated by a state standard and Zhigulevskoye beer was made at more than 700 breweries across the country.

5.  Take a look at the merchant houses

Samara was founded in 1586, but the majority of its historical houses date from the 19th century. The city center has Gothic mansions, wooden buildings and Art Nouveau houses. All this rubs shoulders with Soviet and contemporary architecture.

6.  Take a boat ride to the Zhiguli Mountains

The Zhiguli Mountains, located in the Samara Bend National Park (named after a hairpin bend in the river), can be seen from the Volga embankment. One of the most interesting places there is the village of Shiryayevo, which can be reached on a scheduled service from the river boat station. There, amid tree-covered mountains, Ilya Repin painted sketches for his 'Barge Haulers on the Volga'.

7.  See a factory-kitchen in the shape of a hammer and sickle

In the early years of the Soviet Union, it was a popular belief that people should be released from domestic chores. One of the country's first "factory-kitchens" (i.e. large public canteens) was put up in Samara in 1929 - and it was built in the shape of a hammer and sickle. Three thousand dinners were cooked there every day. The building now houses a branch of the Tretyakov Gallery.

8.  Take a ride on the subway

Samara is one of seven Russian cities with a subway system. It was opened in 1987 and consists of just 10 stations. ‘Gagarinskaya’ station has a space theme: The dark blue mosaics on the walls depict a starry sky, while the columns are star shaped. ‘Pobeda’ station was designed in honor of the USSR's victory in the Great Patriotic War. ‘Sportivnaya’ station, meanwhile, is dedicated to Russian sporting achievements.

9.  Pet a cat on a radiator

At the front entrance of the Samara State Regional Power Station stands an unusual art object. It portrays a cat lounging on a window sill warming itself above a hot radiator. It was installed in 2005 to mark the 150th anniversary of the invention of the radiator (yes, they were invented in Russia - in St. Petersburg, to be precise). And the figure of the cat was based on numerous photographs sent in to the power plant by local residents.  

The cat has already become the object of myths - it is said that if you stroke its nose, your wish will come true. Please note how brightly polished its nose is!

10.  See the sunset in Pushkin Square

The most romantic place in Samara has to be the observation point in the Pushkin Square park. The whole city and the Volga River can be seen from there and the sunsets here are particularly picturesque!

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