Many are irresistibly drawn to heights—mountains, cliffs, and the pursuit of reaching and conquering peaks. People obsessed with climbing often prefer trips to the Caucasus, Carpathians, Alps, or Himalayas over seaside vacations. However, spending a few hours “on the wall” within a metropolis is quite possible—thanks to climbing gyms.
Below is a review of the top five climbing gyms in Moscow: Skalatoria, Marina Club, Big Wall, Elma, Cosmos, and Raduga.
Skalatoria
One of the most popular climbing gyms in the capital— “Skalatoria” —was located near Paveletskaya metro station. Unfortunately, the club had to close as the building is being demolished to make way for residential properties. Currently, the Skalatoria team is searching for new premises and working on a design project for a modern climbing gym.
scalatoria
Since its inception in 2009, when a group of climbing enthusiasts opened the first routes, the gym grew from obscurity to being recognized as one of the best places for climbing training in Moscow.
The main focus of the routes was bouldering . However, “Skalatoria” had something for everyone. Visitors could learn top-rope and lead climbing, and it even featured Moscow’s only MoonBoard, which allows climbers to tackle the same routes as others worldwide.
A MoonBoard is a climbing simulator designed to a specific standard, enabling climbers from different parts of the world to attempt identical routes and share experiences. Its name comes from one of the creators of the idea—Ben Moon.
In addition to 400 square meters of rock climbing simulation, there was also a gym on site to warm up muscles before tackling the routes. Convenient locker rooms offered a place to rest and freshen up after training. A store selling climbing gear and literature was also available.
The routes at “Skalatoria” ranged from difficulty levels 5 to 8, making them suitable for both professionals and beginners. The gym often hosted competitions such as the Moscow Cup and stages of the Russian Climbing Cup.
Safety and comfort were the top priorities for the staff. A team of climbing enthusiasts worked hard to ensure enjoyable training sessions for visitors of all skill levels. We wish Skalatoria the best of luck and hope for its speedy return!
Climbing Gym at Marina Club
The Marina Club fitness center features its own climbing gym. This makes sense, as climbing not only helps to strengthen all muscle groups but also combats depression, trains memory, fosters logical thinking, and provides unforgettable sensations.
Climbing Gym at Marina Club
Families often visit Marina Club together. This affordable yet highly beneficial activity allows many to maintain great physical shape without having to attend separate sessions.
Special attention is given to children. Dedicated kids’ climbing routes are available, and a specialized trainer ensures the safety of young climbers.
Routes at Marina Club
The difficulty of the climbing routes ranges from 5 to 7. The wall, measuring 12 by 15 meters, is certified according to European standards. Climbers can warm up using a special hand and wrist trainer before starting their sessions. Trainers create personalized training programs for every individual. To support overall physical fitness, visitors can use cardio equipment before climbing.
Each visitor is approached individually. You can choose between group sessions or one-on-one personal training. Additionally, gear and climbing equipment rental is available—because using proper gear is the foundation for effective training.
Elma and Cosmos Climbing Gyms in Zelenograd
Elma and Cosmos are located not directly in Moscow but in Zelenograd, on the premises of the famous tech park. They are well worth visiting, especially for families who want to introduce their children to the joys of climbing. The routes here feature a variety of elements that help users develop body coordination, solve climbing challenges of different complexities, and simply enjoy the sport.
Elma in Zelenograd
At climbing gyms, there is a climbing school for both children and adults. In addition, “Cosmos” offers a state-of-the-art trampoline arena. It is recommended for children aged six and older, although exceptions to the rules are sometimes made. Classes follow a specially developed program that helps beginners acquire basic climbing skills.
batut-kosmos-zelenograd
In addition, during training, participants learn how to move across various terrains, the basics of using climbing gear for safety, theoretical knowledge on safety techniques, and how to organize independent training sessions. Beginner classes typically occur twice a week, with each session lasting about two hours. These sessions are engaging for both children and adults, and instructors tailor individual training programs based on participants’ current skills and physical preparedness.
Beyond standard training, the “Elma” climbing gym offers a unique way to spend leisure time: organizing children’s parties and birthday celebrations right at the climbing gym. This service has several key advantages:
- It’s a creative and memorable way to celebrate a child’s birthday.
- These events are equally fun and engaging for both boys and girls.
- Children are constantly supervised by experienced instructors.
- During the event, children learn climbing skills in the form of entertaining competitions.
- A dedicated area is reserved for setting up a festive children’s table with food and beverages.
- Equipment rental for every child is included in the organization’s fee.
Another great feature of the Zelenograd climbing gym is the organization of outdoor climbing trips on natural rocks. Groups, led by trainers, take excursions to rock formations near Antalya, Turkey. Here, participants can try out approximately 1,000 different climbing routes and enjoy a dynamic program outside of training hours. The fee for such a trip includes round-trip airfare, accommodations in a five-star hotel, travel insurance, climbing sessions, and equipment rental.
Raduga (Rainbow)
The “Raduga” climbing gym in Shcherbinka is justly regarded as one of Moscow’s most accessible climbing facilities. It’s located just a few minutes away from the Moscow Automobile Ring Road (MKAD). Thanks to its spacious grounds, convenient parking, and high capacity, it has long won the hearts of professional climbers as well as amateurs who enjoy active family outings or group leisure activities.
Sports Center Raduga
Climbers can rent a full set of climbing gear from leading global manufacturers—special climbing shoes, harnesses, safety gear, descenders, and top-quality chalk.
The climbing wall system at Raduga is designed to accommodate all three types of climbing training: speed, difficulty, and bouldering. The total climbing surface exceeds 300 square meters, with wall heights ranging from 8 to 11 meters. The traversing length of 27 meters allows for training routes up to 25 meters long. There are up to 1,500 holds on the climbing wall, and the maximum overhang angle reaches 90 degrees.
Raduga Climbing Gym
The construction of the climbing gym incorporates the latest innovative engineering technologies, including the exclusive “Arch” module, assembled from plastic parts that mimic diverse terrain and equipped with friction coating.
Another perk of “Raduga” is its focus on family recreation and children’s climbing. Separate groups are available for kids, where experienced instructors conduct classes on a child-friendly climbing wall. If a child isn’t interested in climbing, they can stay at a special kids’ club where skilled supervisors keep an eye on them while parents conquer the climbing walls.
Additional services at the climbing gym include safety training, equipment rentals, instructor-led safety support, trial climbs, and extra climbing opportunities. Another major activity at “Raduga” is the organization of children’s parties and corporate events.
For children, animated show programs are held with such themes as:
- “Adventures in the Grinning Deadman’s Grotto,”
- “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,”
- “The Incredible Adventures of Rapunzel,” featuring animators, trained animals, life-size mascots, and themed surroundings.
During these celebrations, children enjoy supervised free climbing and can also participate in the stage performances, becoming part of the adventure.
Corporate events at the climbing gym offer a unique way to host an unconventional office celebration and build team camaraderie. It’s no surprise that climbing is a favorite sport among office employees. Corporate services include a cozy café, video and audio equipment, and fun celebratory programs such as masterclasses from renowned climbers, a cocktail party under the ceiling, team rope-walking contests, alpine knot-tying workshops, fire shows, and much more.
Big Wall Climbing Center
Big Wall Climbing Gym is not just a sports complex. It was created with the goal of bringing together all lovers of climbing, extreme sports, and mountain activities under one roof. The main objective of the project is to provide a space where extreme sports enthusiasts can communicate, create a community of people who love an active lifestyle, and train while exchanging experiences and impressions.
big wall climbing center
To climb quickly, beautifully, and technically, the climbing gym operates the Big Wall Rock & Indoor Climbing School. This school uses modern techniques developed by leading global climbers and focuses on a sequential program-based approach.
The school offers over 130 routes: from simple “ladders” to the most challenging ones, including natural terrain routes. All this is spread across 2500 square meters!
Thanks to training at the Big Wall Rock & Indoor Climbing School, individuals attain all-round development—physical, psychological, and social. And the satisfaction gained from conquering a new route is incomparable.
Big Wall Climbing Center
Special mention should be made of the children’s climbing school, which also operates within the Big Wall Climbing Gym. Here, children are taught the basics of this sport from the ground up to a professional level, prepared for competitions, given the opportunity to socialize with peers, and taught sports rules and fundamental competitive skills.
Children's routes at Big Wall
Climbing training for children is an opportunity to strengthen the musculoskeletal system, improve posture, boost self-confidence, learn to face challenges, and become responsible and disciplined. Classes are organized in both group and individual formats, with trial sessions allowing trainers to assess a child’s abilities and create a personalized training program or place them in a suitable group according to their skills and capabilities. Children aged 6 and older are welcomed to participate.
Additionally, for both children and adults, the school organizes outdoor climbing trips, both in Russia and abroad, to train in natural environments.
Big Wall gear store at the center
Another area of activity at the climbing gym is the organization of children’s parties, such as birthdays, elementary school graduation events, and New Year’s celebrations. The climbing gym has developed extensive and compact holiday programs that allow children to participate in fun quizzes, learning games, and competitions. Throughout these celebrations, children remain under the supervision of trainers, ensuring their complete safety.
Corporate events are also hosted at the Big Wall Climbing Gym. For this purpose, there is a separate hall within the complex, accommodating up to 400 people. A tropical bar is available for companies, along with separate rooms for various competitions, as well as catering and staff service facilities.
The facility can host regular corporate events, as well as car exhibitions, promotional campaigns and presentations, training sessions, and team-building events. Experienced staff at the climbing gym assist in organizing and executing events at the highest level, designing original competitions for teams of employees and team-building activities.
Moscow’s Climbing Gyms Rival the World’s Best
The variety of climbing gyms and the range of services they offer demonstrate that climbing in Russia, and specifically in Moscow, is actively growing, evolving from a sport into a full-blown ideology for active and goal-oriented individuals.
The services offered at climbing gyms expand every year, incorporating new processes, trends, and technologies. This allows more and more people to dedicate their free time to an active lifestyle without having to leave the city—a highly convenient option for those living and working in the capital.
