The largest outdoor skating rink in the world. The largest skating rinks in the world. Liege Arena: in the belly of the “whale”

Recently a new skating rink was opened in St. Petersburg, which is also the largest in northern capital. We decided to see where else there are skating rinks that impress tourists and local residents their size, and present a selection of the eleven largest skating rinks in the world.


Perhaps the largest winter skating rink in the world can be called mountain lake Joux (Lac de Joux) in Switzerland: its area is almost 5,000,000 sq.m. Tourists from all over Evprova come to this place to skate. The lake is not only beautiful, but also “exclusive” in a sense: it freezes only for two weeks a year. Therefore, the most experienced ice skating enthusiasts are looking forward to these days with some impatience. During the high season, Lake Zhu hosts competitions figure skating, as well as ice carnival evenings.


Lake Paterswoldsemeer, located southwest of the Dutch city of Groningen, is almost half as large as the leader - its area is 2,700,000 sq.m. Paterswoldsemeer is part of the lakes of Groningen-Drenthe. In the warm season, lovers of light walks rush here sea ​​vessels, and in winter the place turns into a huge ice skating rink. This lake is not only one of the largest in area, but is also the longest skating rink, stretching for as much as 10 km. Its water surface in winter is covered with a durable crust of ice, which lasts until the beginning of spring, allowing thousands of outdoor leisure enthusiasts to enjoy daily skiing.


Third place in our ranking of the largest skating rinks in the world is occupied by the Rideau Canal in Canada with an area of ​​1,620,000 sq.m. The canal stretches through almost the entire center of the Canadian capital, Ottawa, and it is worth noting that in winter, local residents here practically do not take off their skates, quickly using this environmentally friendly form of “transport” to anywhere in the city center. In Ottawa, city authorities even came up with road signs for ice skating fans: green - go ahead, red - too warm, the ice has lost its strength!

IN in this case, not only the skating rink is impressive, but also the work of the local Canadian administration.


In fourth place mexican capital with its own skating rink located in the center of Mexico City. The area of ​​the skating rink reaches 32,000 sq.m. and has artificial turf. The skating rink in Mexico City is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest artificial skating rink in the world. For the skating rink to exist long time, 74 km were laid under the ice. pipes that are connected to special devices that maintain the required temperature.


Next on the list of the largest ice arenas is a domestic participant - the skating rink in the park named after. Gorky. The size of the skating rink is 15,000 square meters. meters. There are 4 sectors: dance, children's, basic and hockey. A long wooden bridge runs along paths filled with ice.


The new skating rink in Udelny Park in St. Petersburg is currently operating in test mode. The area of ​​this largest skating rink in the city is about 4000 square meters. Photo: Egor Tsvetkov


“The main skating rink of Russia” is in 7th place on our list - Red Square in Moscow has become an ice rink for Muscovites and guests of the capital for 6 winters in a row. The open GUM skating rink occupies a tenth of Red Square, and on its territory of 2,700 sq.m, vacationers not only have fun (capacity - 450 people), but also hockey matches and figure skating demonstrations are held. A fabulous wooden town has been erected near the ice rink, from where you can watch the skaters.


There is an almost identical skating rink in area (2600 sq.m.) in New York: Wollman Rink is spacious, beautiful, but most importantly, it has become a legend thanks to its participation in numerous romantic scenes in Hollywood films. In reality, the skating rink is just as beautiful as in the movies, and what’s nice is that you can skate here around the clock - great place leisure for all types of romantics. By the way, the skating rink is already 64 years old - figure skaters first appeared on its ice back in 1950! A nice bonus winter holiday At the skating rink there is an opportunity to run into a movie star - they say that Wollman Rink is very popular with Jim Carrey, Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman.


Every year, the City Hall of Paris pleases the townspeople by installing an ice skating rink right next to its walls: everyone enjoys skating in the 1,635 square meter arena. m.


Seefeld, Austria. This quiet Tyrolean village can rival the best international ski resorts. All conditions for winter sports have been created here, first of all, alpine skiing. However, those who still have energy left after skiing are invited to the skating rink, open from December to March in the Zillertal valley with an area of ​​1,500 sq.m.


And finally, our hit parade of the most “grand” skating rinks in the world is completed by the arena, although not the largest (only 200 sq.m.), but certainly the most spectacular and romantic, because it is located in the heart of Paris, on Eiffel Tower, at an altitude of 57 meters. The 200 m² skating rink also offers visitors a stunning panorama of Paris. Ice skating is great fun, and the atmosphere in this place is also supported by French music, as well as original lighting effects. To warm up in this kingdom of metal and ice, there is a bar where you can buy hot coffee, hot wine and other drinks. The ice premiere took place back in 1969, but the ice is not poured every year, and the skating rink is open only until January 31. The skating rink at the Eiffel Tower is also one of the five most visited Christmas skating rinks in the world.

Also in great demand among tourists are skating rinks in Vienna at the City Hall, on Museum Square in Amsterdam and in London at the Natural History Museum.

The largest artificial skating rink in the world has opened in Moscow, which may soon enter the market. Its area is more than 20 thousand square meters, and at the same time it can receive up to 5 thousand visitors. There are 100 thousand LED light bulbs embedded in the ice. The skating rink is divided into several zones: a children's zone, a hockey zone, an extreme zone, and a spacious area for comfortable skating. The ice will be renewed twice a day during...

1. The skating rink officially opened at 7 pm, but those wishing to skate were allowed in earlier.



2. The skating rink is really big; there are many skate rental points.

3. This is already the 190th skating rink with artificial turf and artificial ice cooling in Moscow. And he really the largest artificial skating rink in the world - 20 thousand sq.m.. The previous record holder has a thousand less - this is Fluonis in the Netherlands. Bronze - Moscow again - Gorky Park and its 15 thousand square meters of ice.

4. True, there are bigger skating rinks in the world. But they were created not by people, but by nature itself. So, the largest skating rink in the world is on swiss lake Zhu. It's hard to believe, but its area is 5 million square meters. It's like 4. Another natural skating rink opens in winter in the Canadian capital - the Rideau Canal freezes there, with a total area of ​​more than 1.5 million square meters. But this is not even a skating rink, but rather a transport artery: local residents simply get to anywhere in the city - on skates.

6. At about 20 pm the grand opening began.

7. A lot of people came to the opening.

8. It was a French theatrical show.

9. Buffoons?

10. A structure with bells and musicians, similar to a church, was raised up.

13. The children quickly took the vacant seats.

16. Light installations.

Recently, a new ice skating rink, the largest in St. Petersburg, was opened in the northern capital. We invite you to find out which other cities boast the largest ice skating rinks in the world:

10th place
Ziller Valley, Seefeld ski resort, Austria
skating rink area - 1,500 m²

Ice skating rink with an area of ​​1,500 m² located in the Ziller Valley in the Austrian ski resort Seefeld invites everyone to go ice skating from December to March.

9th place
Square Hotel de Ville, Paris City Hall, France
skating rink area - 1.635 m²



The most popular skating rink in Paris is installed every year near the city hall. The 1,635 m² ice arena becomes favorite place Parisians and tourists.

8th place
Wollman Rink, New York, USA
skating rink area - 2,600 m²



The Wollman Rink in New York has an area of ​​2,600 m². This beautiful and spacious ice arena has been featured more than once in various plots of numerous romantic films shot in Hollywood. By the way, you can easily find Jim Carrey, Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson skating here.

7th place
Red Square, Russia
skating rink area - 2,700 m²



The main skating rink in Russia is undoubtedly the ice rink, which has been installed on Red Square for the sixth year in a row. The skating rink covers an area of ​​2,700 m², which is 1/10 main square Moscow.

6th place
Udelny Park, St. Petersburg, Russia
skating rink area - 4,000 m²



Visitors Specific park in St. Petersburg they can ride on a brand new skating rink, which is currently operating in test mode. The area of ​​the largest St. Petersburg skating rink is 4,000 m².

5th place
park named after Gorky, Moscow, Russia
skating rink area - 15,000 m²



Another popular skating rink in Moscow is the skating rink in the park named after. Gorky, covering an area of ​​15,000 m². Geographically, it is divided into four skating rinks: children's, hockey, dance and main.

4th place
Mexico City, Mexico
skating rink area - 32,000 m²



The largest skating rink in Mexico is the ice rink installed in the capital. The skating rink is the world's largest artificial skating rink and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Its coverage covers an area of ​​32,000 m².

3rd place
Rideau Canal, Ottawa, Canada
skating rink area - 1,620,000 m²



The largest ice skating rink in Canada is located in the country's capital, Ottawa, and occupies the Rideau Canal. Its area is 1,620,000 m². It's funny, but many residents hardly take off their skates in winter, getting to any point in the central part of the city, thanks to the most environmentally friendly form of “public transport”.

2nd place
Lake Paterswoldsemeer, near Groningen, Netherlands
skating rink area - 2,700,000 m²



The Netherlands is also one of the countries that has one of the largest ice skating rinks on the planet. Every winter it becomes Lake Patersvoldsemer, located near the city of Groningen, in the north of the country. The area of ​​the ice skating rink, which is 10 km long, is 2,700,000 m². A strong crust of ice covering water surface in winter, lasts until the beginning of spring.

1st place
mountain lake Joux, Switzerland
skating rink area - 5,000,000 m²



But the world's largest ice skating rink, with an area of ​​5,000,000 m², is the Swiss mountain lake Zhu. True, this ice rink is a kind of “exclusive”: beautiful lake It freezes only for 2 weeks a year, but during this time fans of this sport have time to attend the ice carnival evenings organized here, as well as figure skating competitions.

+ bonus
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
area - 200 m²



It may not be the largest, but it is one of the most unusual and romantic skating rinks. Located on the Eiffel Tower, in the very heart of the French capital, it is the most visited Christmas skating rink in the world. At a height of 57 meters there is an ice surface of 200 m² where you can skate while admiring the stunning panorama of Paris. The pleasant, festive atmosphere is supported by original lighting effects and French music.

With the onset of cold weather, almost all world capitals are immersed in an atmosphere of winter magic, giving their squares and streets to ice arenas. Moreover, ice skating is one of the most popular and, perhaps, the most exciting winter activities.

Of course, there are many indoor skating rinks that are open all year round. But it’s much more interesting to ride outdoors, on frozen rivers or canals.

Airlife presents 18 of the most famous skating rinks in the world.

  • New York, USA
  • Go ice skating in Central Park , surrounded by picturesque trees and skyscrapers of Manhattan, is one of the most popular activities of citizens and guests of New York. It was poured for the first time in 1949, and to this day it is filled year after year. If you've never been to New York, you might have seen it in the movies. It is on this skating rink that the heroes of almost all films set in winter New York spin.

    Ice skating rink Rockefeller Center- one of the main symbols of the city, especially popular during the holiday seasons, from November to January. The expensive tickets to this skating rink are worth it.

  • National natural park Yosemite, California, USA.
  • This outdoor ice skating rink Yosemite park is not only one of the largest, but also one of the most beautiful in the world, with the towering silhouette of the granite Half Dome Mountain in the background. It is worth noting that the tradition of organizing ice skating in this park dates back to 1928. It was then that the employees natural park For the first time, they decided to flood an abandoned car park with water.

  • Seefeld, Austria
  • The quiet Tyrolean village rivals the best international ski resorts. All conditions for winter sports, especially alpine skiing, have been created here. However, those who still have energy left after skiing are invited to the skating rink, open from December to March in Ziller Valley.

  • Vienna, Austria
  • “Ice Dream” fully lives up to its name: here you can not only skate to music (from waltzes to jazz and disco), but also race at speed (415 meters of tracks) and even play curling on one of the six courts. And all this is against the backdrop of the magnificent city hall building. And don't forget about Viennese delicacies and mulled wine!

  • Weissensee, Austria
  • Initially, it is worth noting that Weissensee is one of the cleanest and deep lakes on Earth, and in winter it is the largest skating rink in the old world. The water is so clean that it was awarded the international Tourism for Tomorrow Award. The skating rink has an area of ​​6.5 square meters. kilometers, where you can speed up decently on skates.

  • Paris, France
  • Winter skating rink at the Eiffel Tower- a good old tradition. The ice premiere took place back in 1969, but ice is not poured every year. If you are lucky enough to attend the opening of the skating rink, you will have a unique opportunity to skate at a height of 57 meters.

    An equally popular French skating rink opens to everyone on the square every year before Christmas. before famous building city ​​hall- one of the attractions of Paris.

  • Kinderdijk, Holland
  • Sleepy village in 15 kilometers from Rotterdam known for her windmills. Located along the canals, they serve not only to pump out rising water (most of Holland lies below sea level), but also picturesque landscape for a winter skating rink.

  • Toronto, Canada
  • It’s easy to guess that there are dozens of open skating rinks in Toronto – the climate not only allows it, but strongly recommends it! One of them is at Nathan Phillips Square- represents a practical and witty solution: in summer it is a rather pretentious fountain, and in winter it is a cozy skating rink, under the “arches of freedom” it is pleasant to cross in the brilliance of the evening lights. Hockey is banned here, but illegal games of shinny (a street version of hockey) often start after 10 pm, when the skating rink keepers leave their post.

  • Banff Lake Louise Resort, Canada
  • This skating rink forms when it freezes lake lake louise, surrounded by mountains. No wonder beautiful landscape adorns many Canadian postcards. The resort itself is a 2-hour drive from Calgary.

  • Ottawa, Canada
  • When heading to Canada's capital, don't forget to bring your skates. in winter Rideau Canal, connecting Ottawa and Kingston, turns into one of the world's longest skating rinks, stretching across almost the entire city center.

  • London, UK
  • Rivers in the UK have not frozen for many years in a row, but ice skating is very popular among residents of Foggy Albion. The best skating rinks are traditionally filled in the most beautiful historical places— near museums, fortresses, squares. The skating rink in South Kensington has become a favorite place for skating enthusiasts and fits perfectly into the city skyline.

    Hampton Court is a beautiful tourist attraction and in winter it turns into an ice skating rink romantic couples. There is beautiful lighting, a bright carousel, the smell of hot chocolate, as well as appropriate music.

  • Lake Joux, Switzerland
  • Transforms into Europe's largest natural ice skating rink Lake Joux in Switzerland. True, it does not work for long, since the lake freezes only for 2-3 winter weeks. But during this period, it hosts figure skating competitions, as well as ice carnival evenings.

  • Medeo, Kazakhstan
  • Kazakhstan has the highest mountain skating rink in the world, which allows it to delight residents and guests of the country for six months. This skating rink is located in sports complex"Medeo", near Almaty. Height at its location ( Medeo mountains) 1,691 meters above sea level, and the area of ​​the ice field is 10.5 square meters. km.

  • Berlin, Germany
  • If you find yourself in Berlin in winter, you can have a great time at the outdoor skating rink on Potsdamer Platz. The skating rink itself is not very large - 40 x 15 meters, but it is one of the attractions of the German capital during the cold season. To the ice skating rink, the organizers decided to add the Winterwelt winter amusement park with a 70-meter snow slide, from which you can ride both sleds and skis.

  • Brussels, Belgium
  • Elegant Brussels invites you to take a ride on one of the main squares of the city, which bears the ancient name of the square Fish market. Besides great ice and the invariably cheerful Brussels residents (by the way, who navigate the skating rink very professionally), the skating rink offers a lot of entertainment in the surrounding area.

    Where would you go for ice skating?

Incredible facts

During the cold season, it is always nice to have an active time skiing or skating.

Skating rinks are usually installed in cities so that you and your family and/or friends can have a good time during the cold season.

There are a huge number of places in the world where you can relax in winter, and here you can get acquainted with twenty of the most interesting outdoor skating rinks in the world.

These skating rinks welcome everyone, from young to old, and their prices are acceptable for any segment of the population.

The skating rinks that made it into the top ten were named by CNN as the most beautiful in the world.


20. Ice skating rink in Kazakhstan


Kazakhstan has the highest mountain skating rink in the world, which allows it to delight residents and guests of the country for six months. This skating rink is located in the Medeo sports complex, near Almaty. The height at its location (Medeo Mountains) is 1,691 meters above sea level, and the area of ​​the ice field is 10.5 square meters. km.

19. FlevOnice skating rink, Holland


This skating rink can be found in an open field, namely in a little-known Dutch village called Biddinghuizen. Its outlines are similar to racing tracks, so speed skating competitions are held here. It is worth noting that the route stretches for 3 km. There is also a hotel next to the skating rink for everyone. The skating rink is open until February.

18. Skating rink on Lake Joux, Switzerland


This skating rink usually opens at the end of January. It is formed after the freezing of the highest mountain lake in Switzerland - 1,004 meters. This skating rink is also one of the largest in Europe - its area is about 9.5 sq. km. His frequent guests are residents of the neighboring cities of Geneva and Lausanne. Here you can not only go ice skating, but also admire the snow-covered slopes of the Vaudoise Alps.

17. Skating rink at Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, Canada


Like many of the skating rinks on this list, the Nathan Phillips Square Ice Rink is one of the most popular places, where residents and guests of the city can spend their leisure time. It is located in front of the city hall and is painted with many bright lights. It is open until March.

16. Ice skating rink in the city center of Helsinki, Finland


It was filled in November in the center of Helsinki. The skating rink itself is located opposite Railway station Helsinki is called Icepark. It has long become a favorite vacation spot for local residents and city guests. Both adults and children skate here. There are even experienced instructors who will teach you how to skate properly.

15. Skating rink on Lake Weissensee, Austria


Initially, it is worth noting that Weissensee is one of the cleanest and deepest lakes on Earth, and in winter it is the largest skating rink in the old world. The water is so pure that it was awarded the international "Tourism for Tomorrow Award". The skating rink has an area of ​​6.5 square meters. kilometers, where you can speed up decently on skates.

14. Ice skating rink on the roof of a hotel in Vienna, Austria


This small ice skating rink is located on the roof of the Schloss Wilhelminenberg Hotel. And his total area is 200 sq. meters. Despite the fact that it was opened relatively recently, the skating rink has already become famous due to the fact that it is located at a high altitude and from it the capital of Austria is visible at a glance.

13. Ice skating rink in Berlin at Potsdamer Platz, Germany


If you happen to be in Berlin in winter, you can have a great time at the outdoor skating rink at Potsdamer Platz. The skating rink itself is not very large - 40 x 15 meters, but is one of the attractions of the German capital during the cold season. Around the skating rink you can find many stalls with treats. But that's not all - the organizers decided to add the Winterwelt winter amusement park to the ice skating rink with a 70-meter snow slide, from which you can ride both sleds and skis.

12. Ice skating rink in Yosemite National Park, USA


This outdoor ice skating rink in Yosemite Park is not only one of the largest, but also one of the most beautiful in the world, with the towering silhouette of the granite Half Dome Mountain in the background. It is worth noting that the tradition of organizing ice skating in this park dates back to 1928. It was then that the staff of the nature park first decided to flood the abandoned car park with water. Now you can not only skate here, but also rent skates, drink coffee, and have a snack.

11. Hampton Court Ice Rink, London


The site where the skating rink is located is a beautiful tourist attraction, and in winter it turns into an ice skating rink for romantic couples. There is beautiful lighting, a bright carousel, the smell of hot chocolate, as well as appropriate music.

10. Ice skating rink at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia


To create this skating rink, 25,000 liters of water were frozen. The result was a slab measuring 45 x 20 meters. It is worth noting that the air temperature here always exceeds 0 degrees, however, despite this, the winter festival has not been canceled, and the organizers have created an ice skating rink that can withstand temperatures up to +30 degrees Celsius.

9. Skating rink on Lake Evergreen, Denver, Colorado, USA (Evergreen Lake)


The skating rink is located 30 minutes from Denver. The entire territory covers an area of ​​almost 35 square meters. km and includes 11 hockey rinks and a huge ice skating arena. Nearby is Evergreen Mountain, decorated with snowy spruce trees. Here you can drink hot chocolate and have a snack.

8. Somerset House Ice Rink, London


If you somehow north wind brings you to London, try visiting the skating rink next to Somerset House - a huge building built at the end of the 18th century in a neoclassical style. In winter, the main attraction of Somerset House is the ice skating rink, where you can not only skate, but also listen to modern music from specially invited DJs. Here you can also snack on cupcakes and drink hot tea.

7. New Year's skating rink with artificial ice at the Eiffel Tower, Paris


The Eiffel Tower is not only the main attraction of the French capital, but also a place where you can have a good time, especially in winter, when the skating rink with an area of ​​200 square meters is filled. meters. From this skating rink located on the first floor observation deck, you can see Paris in full view from a height of 57 m. 80 people can fit here at the same time. It opened on December 15 and will remain open until the end of February.

6. Big skating rink on Lake Shichahai, Beijing, China


This favorite place local residents and visitors. In the Shichahai area, anyone can rent skates and skate on real ice. With frost, these icy expanses open up to everyone. Here you can find two skating rinks - for professionals and for amateurs. It is worth noting that this lake is actually a connection of three lakes: Qianhai, Houhai and Xihai and surround it historical architecture China.

5. Artificial Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center, New York


This skating rink is one of the most famous in the world. It could be seen in many Hollywood films, surrounded by New York skyscrapers, hundreds of lights, and, of course, a Christmas tree. The skating rink is open from October to April. It was once one of the largest skating rinks, and yet today it can accommodate up to 150 people at a time. It is always popular among residents and guests of the metropolis.

4. The largest ice skating rink in the world: Rideau Canal Ice Rink, Ottawa, Canada


This skating rink near Parliament Hill was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest in the world. It is also protected by UNESCO and extends along the canal between Lake Ontario and the Ottawa River. It's worth noting that the Rideau Canal was built in the 19th century as an emergency waterway between the Great Lakes and Montreal in case of war. Its length is 202 kilometers. The skating rink itself has an area of ​​approximately 150 square meters. km, and its length is 7.8 kilometers. In some places its width reaches 70 meters.

3. Moscow skating rinks: skating rink on Red Square


The skating rink on Red Square in Moscow is one of the most beautiful in the world. Its artificial surface allows residents and guests of the capital to enjoy beautiful view and lighting, and of course the skating process itself. The skating rink will be open until March 16 - opening hours from 10-00 to 00-00.

2. Ice Dream outdoor ice skating rink in Vienna, Austria


Two large skating rinks in the center of the Austrian capital were connected by a small isthmus of ice to create one large skating rink with an area of ​​6,000 square meters. meters. The isthmus can be used as a acceleration strip. There are many shops around the skating rink where you can buy drinks and food.

1. Outdoor skating rink at Banff & Lake Louise, Canada


This skating rink is formed when Lake Louise, surrounded by mountains, freezes. No wonder the beautiful landscape adorns many Canadian postcards. The resort itself is a 2-hour drive from Calgary. It is worth noting that you can not only skate at the skating rink, but also, if you are cold, warm up.