Russia’s May holidays – May 1, 2 and 9, plus some or all of the days in between – are a good chance to relax and have fun. But since people don’t always know what to do with their free time, we decided to make a list of ideas to help you make the most of your holiday.

1. Go away for a weekend. Enjoy the sights of romantic Prague and don’t pass up the chance to attend the Prague Spring music festival. Or, fly to Morocco to celebrate the Grand Rose festival that takes place in Kelaa-des-Mgouna in the beginning of May.

2. Plan a picnic lunch. Prepare a basket with red caviar, shrimp and lobster, fresh bread, strawberries and cream and your favorite bottle of dry wine or champagne on ice and go to Kuskovo. Less kitchen-friendly picnickers can order takeout at China City restaurant. Spend some time horseback riding and stop to take in the spring scenery.

3. Low on cash? Take a trip to a family member’s or friend’s dacha and catch up with people you haven’t seen since Christmas. There are plenty of outdoor activities you can do: hiking, walking, fishing, barbecue, lounging in a hammock or riding a bike.

4. Make it a special May holiday rule to have a delicious meal in one of the swanky restaurants in Moscow. If you’re into French cuisine, go to St. Michel, Carre Blanc or Nostalgie, and for Italian, try Italyanets, Bellagio or Spago. Alternatively, if you want Japanese or Indian, head to Laluna or Guru.

5. You’ve been waiting to throw a huge party for a couple of months. Now all you need to do is call your friends, stock up on a few cases of beer and make a few snacks. And don’t forget your camera, so you’ll be sure to remember absolutely everything that happened.

6. You don’t have to leave home for a fabulous holiday. Show off your culinary skills and cook a lovely dinner for two. Even if it doesn’t turn out to be your dream meal, you can make up for the lack of taste on your plate with romantic candles, rose petals and relaxing music.

7. Spend some quality time gluing new wallpaper to the walls in your bedroom. Bear in mind that planning to redecorate is actually more stressful than doing it. Spontaneity and a sense of humor will keep you from getting bored before you finish.

8. Dress to the nines and go try your luck in one of Moscow’s numerous casinos. The spirit of adventure currently lives on at the Golden Palace Casino, where the adrenaline rush is guaranteed and fortunes are made (and lost) overnight.

9. Spending a couple of days at a luxurious spa is guaranteed to make the world look bright again. You can choose a spa that meets all your needs and your whole family can play tennis or squash while you relax in the sauna after a workout in the gym.

10. Aquatic adventurers shouldn’t miss the chance to spend the May holidays somewhere on the Red Sea – or Turkey, Bulgaria, the Maldives, Spain and more exotic places like Lebanon or northern Borneo.

Locations:

Kuskovo

2 Yunosti Ul.Metro: Ryazansky Prospekt Tel: 370-0160

Golden Palace

3rd 15 Yamskogo Polya Ul. Metro: Belorusskaya Tel: 232-1515

Italyanets

13 Samotechnaya Ul. Metro: Tsvetnoi Bulvar Tel: 288-5651

Spago

1 Bol. Zlatoustinsky Per., Bldg. 1 Metro: Lubyanka Tel: 921-3797

Bellagio

2 Pyryeva Ul. Metro: Kievskaya Tel: 143-8887

Laluna

69 Sadovnicheskaya Nab. Metro: Paveletskaya Tel: 725-4425

China City

11 Korovy Val Metro: Dobryninskaya Tel: 237-1537

St. Michel

23 Tverskaya Ul., Bldg. 1 Metro: Mayakovskaya Tel: 209-5020

Carre Blan

19/2 Seleznyovskaya Ul. Metro: Novoslobodskaya Tel: 281-3183

Nostalgie

12a Chistoprudny Bulvar Metro: Chistye Prudy Tel: 925-7625

Guru

20/30 Krzhizhanovskogo Ul., Bldg. 1 Metro: Profsoyuznaya Tel: 125-6276