A Hidden Gem on the Finnish Gulf: Flagstaff Ice Rink Exceeds Expectations

Hello everyone!

I was putting off visiting this awesome ice rink for a long time. I thought it was going to be super pricey, with huge lines and crowds of people on the ice all day and night. Even last year, we couldn't get tickets online for New Year's, it was that busy, and I was like, no thanks.

But then I saw the news that the ice rink at Flagstaff was open for the season, and I decided to give it a shot. I was intrigued by the massive rink that takes over the entire waterfront around Zenit metro, and I wanted to see it for myself. And yeah, it was way less intimidating than I thought - the key is just to pick the right time to go, and you'll get a great deal (or even free admission, but I didn't take advantage of that, I was worried about the crowds).

Compared to the ice rink in Suvorovskiy Prospekt, I'd choose Flagstaff any day - they're both by the Finnish Gulf, but Flagstaff is way bigger, and the skating sessions are longer, so that's a no-brainer for me.

The views of the gulf in Suvorovskiy Prospekt are pretty amazing too, though. But we'll get to that later.

⛸️ THE BASICS ⛸️

This is the world's largest artificial ice rink, with an impressive 28,000 sq. m of pristine ice space.

Operating Hours: We're open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Thursdays and Fridays from 9:00 AM to midnight, and Mondays are a no-go. The first session of the day is free, but be aware that there's a limited number of free tickets available on weekends. We opted for the 12:30 PM session on a Tuesday instead.

All sessions, except the first one, last for 1.5 hours. But here's the kicker – the first session is free and goes on for 2 hours. I'm a bit jealous, to be honest, since I live far away and I'd need to rent skates, which aren't cheap.

Free sessions are held:

from 9:30 to 11:30 AM on Tuesdays through Fridays;on weekends from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, with a limited pool of free tickets available. Once they're gone, it's all paid sessions!We care about our guests' comfort, so we limit the number of visitors. To attend a free session, you'll need to book your tickets in advance. You can do this on our website or at the ticket counter.

Tickets go on sale four days before the session.

I've got to say, the prices for 2025 are pretty sweet.

Flagpole Luge - ReviewI don't see any compelling reasons to spring for the Comfort tier. There aren't any extra perks - you'll just be changing in the Comfort pavilion, which, according to the website photos, has a living area with couches, TVs, and a cooler, plus a table for table tennis and a separate bathroom. Although, if you're planning to visit during peak hours, it might be a good idea, as it'll likely be less crowded than the standard changing rooms, which can get pretty cramped. Plus, the Comfort tier includes skate rentals, so if you bring your own skates, you'll end up overpaying.

The standard changing rooms are pretty small, with storage lockers and plastic bins for your shoes, which are supposed to be left under the bench. I get that it's unlikely someone would steal your boots, but I still prefer the idea of handing over your shoes in exchange for skates. It's just more psychologically comfortable.

I was surprised to see that they offer skate rentals (the service is paid separately when you buy the ticket). They gave us the skates without any booties or socks, which is unusual, as they usually provide something to wear over your socks. To be honest, I didn't like the skates much, but I have to admit that rental skates are rarely good. They even have a black anti-theft layer, just like in stores, which doesn't look great. But the worst part was that when I took off the skates, I saw that my legs were bruised from them, they were really hard and gave me a lot of pressure. Although, overall, it was comfortable to skate, but that's often the case with uncomfortable shoes: everything's fine while you're walking, but as soon as you take them off, you see the damage.

Where is the Ice Rink near the Flagstaff?

The ice rink is located on the territory of the public space 'Flagstaff'. You can easily access the space on foot from the «Zenit» metro station, which is open at the same time as the St. Petersburg metro. 'Ice Rink near the Flagstaff' is the only ice rink in the city that's so conveniently located near the metro!

The rink has an unusual shape, it wraps around the Finsky Bay coastline and resembles the shoreline. From the ice, you can enjoy stunning views of the «Gazprom Arena» stadium and the Lachta Center.

The rink is literally a stone's throw from the Zenit metro station, and I finally saw some sense in it, beyond just connecting Vasileostrovskaya and Begovaya. It's a 2-minute walk from the metro exit. You can spot the rink pavilions right away, grab tickets, and head to the locker room. As for parking, I'm not sure – we took the metro, but I suspect it's a nightmare. They scan the ticket code at the pavilion entrance – don't lose it, as you'll need it to get in and out of the rink. You'll also use it to rent and return skates.

There are tons of helpful skating aids for figure skaters of all heights, shaped like various animals: penguins, mice, squirrels, and more. You can grab them right as you exit the dressing room. I'm actually a total newbie when it comes to ice skating – I only manage to get on the ice about 1-2 times a year, and let's just say my skills are, uh, not exactly Olympic-level. But this time, I finally got to use the skating aid and it was a total game-changer. For the first half of my session, I was zooming around with it, having the time of my life. Then, I left it behind and was shocked to find that I was skating way more confidently and quickly than usual. It was like the aid had somehow given me a magic technique that made me glide across the ice like a pro – I didn't even stumble once the entire time. I mean, I'm not exactly a seasoned pro, but I've been ice skating for about 15 years now, so that's a pretty big deal for me. So, if you're a bit of a wobbly ice skater like me, I highly recommend giving these adorable aids a try. They're not just for kids, either – some of them are even designed to let you glide across the ice like you're on a sled, which is perfect for little ones or exhausted adults who just want to take a break and get a ride.

Skating aids come in different sizes for adults and kids.

One thing I loved about this place was the free admission.

⛸️ MY IMPRESSIONS ⛸️

The rink itself immediately blew me away with its massive size – it's huge, especially when you compare it to those standard, enclosed rinks where you're stuck skating in circles, trying not to get hit by someone who's spinning out of control with their arms flailing.

Here, you feel like you've got the whole place to yourself, carving through the path along the waterfront without feeling trapped in a circle. The rink is massive, and not super circular, which is a nice change of pace.

When I thought I was flying like a pro figure skater, but I ended up stumbling. The weird thing is, you can see the scale of the rink in this shot) What's key to remember is where you picked up your skates and left your stuff, since different pavilions are located in different areas – but each one is easily accessible.The ice quality really impressed me, although it was clear that some areas of the rink were significantly better than others. Maybe it's because some pavilions are more popular and get more use, but overall, I didn't notice any major issues with the ice. My blades never caught on any rough spots or cracks, and I never had to worry about getting tangled up in the ice.

I was actually surprised to see that in some areas the ice looked visually like it was melting, but I didn't notice any issues with skating. Now that the rink is all decked out for the new year, I think it's going to be a real treat for nighttime sessions when the lights come on. Our rink had a grey sky 50-shades-of-blue lighting setup, but it was still really pretty. They start warning you to head towards the locker rooms 15 minutes before the end of your session, which is plenty of time to get in a good skate and not kill your knees on those rental skates - at least, that's my take on it. I usually find that a standard hour isn't enough time for me, I always want to fit in just a bit more.So, all things considered, I'd definitely recommend Flagstaff Ice Rink - it's beautiful, there's plenty of space, and the ice is top-notch. The only thing I have to gripe about is the skates, but I guess the rule of thumb is: if you want good skates, you've got to buy your own. Flagstaff Ice Rink has become my go-to spot among the ice rinks in St. Petersburg, but I still want to check out the ice rink in Ohta Park - I think it could give Flagstaff a run for its money.

For now, though, it's well-deserved 5 stars.

Thanks for tuning in!See you next time!