Moscow is preparing for the New Year celebrations.

Streets and squares across the Russian capital have been decorated with festive lights and Christmas trees, while specially designated venues have opened to the public.

The main celebrating venue at Manezhnaya Square has been styled to resemble a 19th-century historical estate with a Christmas fair showcasing traditional food and beverages and decorated with traditional Russian toys made from cotton wool.

At the Kolomenskoye Museum and Reserve, a skating rink has opened, stretching 1.7 kilometers (one mile) along the bank of the Moscow River.

“There’s plenty of room to move around, usually you're just driving around in tedious circles,” one visitor said.

The Moscow Metro was also bringing a festive atmosphere to its passengers, with several stations receiving seasonal decorations.

A Santa Claus Residence photo zone has been set up at Mayakovskaya Station, and the facade of Krasnopresnenskaya Station has been decorated with garlands and three-dimensional illuminated figures.