Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk

Gagarin Park

Scrappy but loved, the 220-acre Gagarin Park is a nice place for a stroll, supposedly the largest in the far east and something of a leisure center for the local population. The park features athletic facilities, adventure playgrounds, a lake with small boats, a miniature railroad for kids, a zoo and a run down amusement park. On the eastern corner of the park there is a trail head leading up the hill for a nice view over the city.

Chekhov International Theatre Center
Kommunistichesky Pr 35
+7 4242 42-5262

Really not that much "International" about it, this theatre is in a rather unusual for a frontier region building covered by mosaics in the socialist realism style 1964. The theatre has roots back to the 1930s. It sometimes has musicals and concerts on the repertoire, if sitting through 2 hours of incomprehensible Russian is not your thing.

Gorny Vozdukh Ski center
Gorkogo 7/1
+7 4242 742416
From RUB100 for 1 ride, to RUB750 for 6 hours or more
noon-10PM

An alpine complex located within Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk city proper. It has nine runs 1 black, 5 reds & 3 greens and three lifts, including a spanking new 2.5 km gondola lift. There is also a bit of English information on the local snowboarding federation's website (http://www.snowboard.kato...).

Sakhalin Diving
77/71 Chekhova St
+7 4242 429738

This PADI dive shop can help with tours to Moneron island, listed in the Sakhalin guide. There is also a diving club on Kommunistichesky Pr 19 [email protected]/42-26-91

Sakhalin Regional Puppet Theatre
Karla Marksa St 24
+7 4242 42-3498

While mostly geared towards children, some of their shows are actually quite extraordinary, so it might be an option for a rainy day, even if you don't have kids. They are quite renowned within Russia and even booked abroad occasionally.

Cinema

cinema
Kinopanorama
Mira Pr 231
+7 4242 42-53-53
cinema
Komsomolets
Sakhalinskaya, 52
+7 4242 72-33-44 (voice message)
cinema
October
Kommunistichesky Pr 45
+7 4242 50-04-61 (ticket office), 42-96-12 (voice message)
cinema
Premier
Kommunistichesky Pr 20
+7 4242 42-90-00