A nude, wrinkled old man climbs out of the water, picks up his towel and does an acrobatic little dance as he dries himself off, taking care not to miss his genitals. In the bushes, an old woman nonchalantly whips off her clothes and slips into her bathing suit. Off to the left, a young man, carefully avoiding his gold cross, beats his chest proudly before diving into the water.

Yes, images from the beach in Moscow. This city is a long way from "Baywatch," but the locals have about as much discretion about their bodies as Pamela Andersen.
That shouldn't stop you from having a good time, though. The city has several nice sandy beaches for just lying in the sun or swimming, and quite of a few of them rent out boats and even water skis, if you have enough money. Sanepidemstantsiya, the municipal branch responsible for monitoring which beaches are safe, has approved 15 beaches this year. And the weather should be just right for swimming soon.

The summer is always a little slow to start up in Moscow, but by July temperatures should be soaring. Hopefully, the mercury won't reach the same frying-eggs-on-the-pavement temperatures as it did last year, but the season has only just begun. Last summer, searing 30-degrees-Celsius July temperatures sent Muscovites running for the beach, beer and shashlik in hand, searching for a good time. However, the weather, combined with copious amounts of vodka, claimed the lives of more than 124 people. Ouch.
So, remember to be prudent with your vodka drinking and swimming. The city is staffed with some excellent rescue-service personnel, but nothing will save you from stupidity.

Top five beaches:

Serebryany Bor-2
Said to be the second most popular beach in Moscow. It has a nice sandy shore to chill out on and a special children's village for those who want to bring the kiddies with them. There are also showers nearby and a restaurant in case you get hungry. Entrance is free, but it's a bit of a walk from the bus stop.

Serebryany Bor-3
They've pretty much got it all here, and the crowds pour in for that very reason. Has a total of eight volleyball courts, tennis courts and a gym. There are special play areas set up for children, and you can also rent scooters and paddleboats. Parking is 10 rubles an hour (in addition to the 60 rubles you have to pay when you enter the park itself) and there's even a nude beach.

Dynamo Beach at Vodnoi Stadion
One of the cleanest and nicest beaches in town, but it's also not free. Entrance costs 50 rubles for adults and 10 rubles for children aged 6-14. Kids under six get in for free. At night it turns into a sort of open-air club with performances by obscure musicians. You can also play pool and tennis and rent scooters.

Ozero Beloye
Ranks high on the list, due to the natural springs below - meaning pure, clean flowing water. But the lifeguards warn that underground springs can be dangerous. The 23-meter-deep lake means it's a great place for diving.

Akademichesky Prudy
A sandy beach surrounded by a forest, a real winner in anyone's book. They have table tennis and billiards, along with a volleyball court and a cafe. They also have boat- and jet-ski rentals, plus a special children's area with video games.

Others:

Khimki-2
A beach in a protected area of the Pokrovskoye-Streshnevo park. It's a nice spot to barbecue in addition to taking a swim. They also have a variety of unusual activities and games available, including chess and badminton, in addition to the usual volleyball and tennis. Entrance is cheap - 20 rubles - and they have a cafe.

Rublevo
A hot spot with young people and rumored to be hip, with a very fashion-conscious crowd. You can play volleyball or soccer, and there's a closed-off bathing area for children. They have changing rooms and showers; plus, parking is cheap.

According to the Moscow Sanepidemstantsiya, swimming is not recommended at:
Serebryany Bor-1
Stroginskoi Poime
Kirovoskoi Poime