Routes
Routes
An event trip is built around one main point: a stage, a fairground or an exhibition hall. Everything else fits around it: when to leave so you arrive for the opening, where to eat while everyone else is queuing, and how to get back to your accommodation when the programme ends. Below are three sample routes with no addresses or names. You can apply them to any city and any event of the right type. We do not give times or distances: every event has its own schedule, and you should check it with the organiser.
The best route at any celebration has a pause before the headline act and time to spare after it.
How this section works: each route sets out the order of stops for one type of event, and you fill in the exact addresses, hours and timetables yourself from the official websites.
A festival weekend in another city
Arrive the evening before, enjoy a long festival day, leave without rushing.
Arrive the evening before
Get there a day before it starts: check in, buy water and snacks for tomorrow and work out how to walk to the site. You won't have to rush in the morning.
On the way to the site
Leave earlier than seems necessary: there is often a queue for bag checks at the gates. Take a photo of the site map on the board if you haven't downloaded it already.
Meeting point
Agree straight away with your companions on an easy-to-spot landmark: a signpost, a tower, the information tent. It will come in handy when the signal gets weak.
A break in the shade
The middle of the day is the time to step away from the stages, eat, refill your water and charge your phone. You will need the energy in the evening.
The headline act
Pick a spot with a clear path to the exit rather than the densest part of the crowd. That makes it easier to leave if it gets too packed or stuffy.
Back to your accommodation
Don't rush to the gates with everyone else. Wait for the first wave to pass, or plan a walking route to where you are staying in advance.
Departure morning
A leisurely breakfast, a short walk around the centre and a train that isn't the earliest one. After a festival, your feet will thank you.
A weekend fair and a walk around the centre
A couple of hours among the stalls, and the rest of the day for the city.
Arrive at opening time
It's best to go to a fair in the morning: the stallholders aren't tired yet, the aisles are quieter and the most interesting treats haven't sold out.
The craft stalls
Walk all the rows first without buying anything, then go back to what caught your eye on the way out. You'll buy less and enjoy it more.
Lunch among the stalls
Seasonal food is part of the celebration. Choose a stall that cooks in front of you and sit down away from the main flow of people.
A walk through the old town
With your purchases in your backpack, wander through the neighbouring streets. On fair days there is often music in town and courtyards are open.
Waterfront or viewpoint
Finish your walk somewhere you can see the whole city. Only choose official viewing areas with railings.
The journey back
Leave plenty of time for your return train or coach: on holiday weekends services are full and queues form at the ticket offices.
An exhibition and a museum in one day
A morning in the halls, an evening in a quiet museum gallery.
Registration and entry
If the exhibition requires registration, complete it in advance and save the confirmation on your phone and as a separate copy.
A plan of the halls
Pick up a map at the entrance and mark three or four main halls. Trying to see everything is a sure way to run out of steam by lunchtime.
A talk or demonstration
Exhibition programmes often include talks. Check the schedule on site, as it is often more accurate than the announcements.
A break outdoors
Step out of the hall for at least half an hour. After a long walk under artificial light, fresh air brings your focus back.
A museum in the centre
A small museum in the evening makes a pleasant contrast to the noisy halls. Check that it is open that day: opening hours change on public holidays.
Heading back
Choose a route that doesn't pass the exhibition centre at closing time; it will be much less crowded.
How to adapt a route to suit you
- If the programme shifts, hold on to the main event and cut the secondary stops
- In hot weather, move your city walk to the morning or evening and spend the middle of the day in the shade
- With children, choose daytime hours and spots at the edge of the site that are easy to leave
- If you're short on energy, one event and one walk a day beats three rushed stops
- Mark your accommodation, the site entrance and a back-up route to transport on an offline map
Related sections
- Destinations
Six types of events, from music festivals to fairs, and four things to look at when choosing a city.
- Sights
How to combine an event with sightseeing, and why you should only go up to rooftops and viewpoints through official access.
- On site
How to behave at a celebration, where to find food and water and how not to lose each other in the crowd.
Sources
- EMERCOM of Russia — safety advice for mass events
- Official websites of cities and events
Information is correct as of the date it was prepared. Event programmes, entry rules, ticket sale and refund terms and holiday transport services all change, so check them on the official websites before you set off.