Izmaylovsky Park

Izmailovsky Park in eastern Moscow covers nearly 16 square kilometres, making it one of Europe's largest urban parks - more a city forest than a designed garden. In the 17th century the land was a Romanov country estate, and the young Peter the Great is said to have learned to sail on its ponds, an episode often cited as the birth of the Russian navy. Soviet-era additions like sports grounds, a Ferris wheel, boat hire and an open-air theatre still survive, slowly softening back into the woods. Locals jog, skate and ski under oaks and lindens, with proper cross-country trails groomed in winter. Although accessible by metro from the city centre, you often hear nothing but birdsong.