Address: Moscow
Start of construction: 1935 year
Completion of construction: 1954 year
Coordinates: 55 ° 49'40.8 "N 37 ° 38'05.0" E
Content:
One of the most popular places that Moscow has to offer for children is the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy or VDNKh. On a vast territory of 317 hectares, there are many playgrounds, unusual museums and attractions. Parents bring their children to VDNKh so that they can take part in master classes, ride a pony, visit a virtual reality park and visit animals in a petting zoo.
General view of VDNKh
VDNKh territory
Thousands of Muscovites and guests of the capital visit the largest exhibition complex in Russia every day. VDNKh is considered one of the best places for family vacations in Moscow. It is pleasant to walk on a huge territory. Old and new pavilions are surrounded by flower beds, green park areas and beautiful fountains.
It is convenient to travel around VDNKh by auto-train and shuttle bus No. 533. Some parents rent bicycles and rollers and ride with their children along the exhibition paths for their own pleasure.
Large museum centers and exhibitions
Kids are interested in fountains, playgrounds and animals that can be viewed at VDNKh. With older children, visit the modern multimedia museums and exhibition halls.
The main entrance to VDNKh
Not far from the Vostok launch vehicle mock-up is the Moskvarium - a place where a huge collection of inhabitants of the underwater depths is located, and shows sea animals. The Moskvarium has 80 huge aquariums and pools, in which representatives of the marine and freshwater fauna from different seas and rivers of the planet live. Trained dolphins, killer whales, walruses and beluga whales take part in the Four Oceans water show.
In order for a child to be able to look at Moscow from a bird's-eye view, it is not necessary to take a plane or balloon into the sky. The Moscow Model pavilion houses an architectural copy of the central part of the capital, made on a scale of 1: 400. On an area of 369 sq. m reproduced the Moskva River valley, the Moscow Kremlin, Red Square and almost 20 thousand buildings within the Garden Ring.
Pavilion No. 1 "Central"
Houses, skyscrapers and historical monuments are beautifully illuminated. Sounds and special effects are actively used in the layout, so the miniature city seems alive and leaves a very strong impression.
A large Cosmonautics and Aviation Center has been opened in the renovated Space Pavilion since April 2018. There is an exposition here that tells about the achievements of Russian astronautics. Engineering master classes for children from 4 to 15 years old are held at the educational center "Kulibin Pro Cosmos". Under the guidance of experienced mentors, a child can independently design a space helmet, assemble a Jedi sword or an interplanetary rover.
Fountain "Friendship of Peoples"
Not far from Moskvarium, next to pavilion 20, there is an interactive complex "Buran". A film about "Buran" is shown inside the model of the orbital ship. In addition, children are invited to the dashboard in the command compartment so that they can “land” the legendary rocket plane at the Baikonur cosmodrome.
It is very interesting to visit the Crafts Park, where many talented artists, designers, carpenters and restorers work. In this part of VDNKh, master classes are held on making colored candles from wax, weaving from leather, wood carving and modeling pottery.
Pavilion No. 58 "Agriculture" ("Ukrainian SSR")
Historical park
Schoolchildren really like the large multimedia complex dedicated to the history of Russia. The historical park is located on two tiers of pavilion No. 57. The huge exposition consists of several sections that tell about the history of the royal dynasties of Rurikovich and Romanov, as well as the wars and revolutions that took place in the country in the first half of the 20th century.
It's hard to get bored in a modern multimedia museum! The halls of the historical park contain many holograms, touch screens, video panels and three-dimensional historical reconstructions. Here is a spectacular 3D panorama showing how the counter-offensive near Moscow took place in December 1941. A colorful canvas with a three-dimensional foreground depicts a battle near Volokolamsk near the village of Ivanovskoye.
Pavilion No. 66 "Culture" ("Uzbek SSR")
The multimedia park "Russia is my history" is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 to 20.45.
Robostation
Children who are not indifferent to robots will find a lot of interesting things in the Public Education Pavilion, where the Robostation is located. In the interactive museum, they will be able to ask tricky questions to the smart robot, play robotic basketball, draw their robotic portrait and meet robots brought from different countries. Fights, races and dances of robots take place at the "Robostation" every day.
Recently, a new attraction, Skala by Arena Space, has opened at Robostation. Visitors are offered to overcome the sheer cliff along the ledges equipped with touch sensors. On Saturdays and Sundays, master classes are held in the pavilion, where everyone is taught to create their own robots. "Robostation" is open to visitors any day from 11.00 to 20.00.
Pavilion No. 59 "Grain" ("Moscow, Ryazan and Tula regions")
City farm
Next to the Rabbit Breeding pavilion there is an unusual family educational center, which is very popular with both kids and schoolchildren. Once here, children find themselves far from the noise of the big city. In the shade of old trees on the shore of the pond, there are craft workshops, a greenhouse, outdoor areas and enclosures with pets. The total area of the complex is 3 hectares.
All year round, on the City Farm, a child can pet sheep, goats, zebu cows, raccoons, alpacas, rabbits, donkeys, chickens, ducks, pigeons and Kholmogory geese. On Saturdays and Sundays, the farm shows performances of the Touching Theater, based on the famous fables of I.A.Krylov.
Pavilion No. 51 "Meat Industry" ("Glavmyaso")
The employees of the City Farm conduct lessons in plant growing and beekeeping for children. Young visitors are told how animal feed is prepared, what fishing tackle is made of, and what methods are used to purify water. In the workshops, children are taught how to make soap, and are given classes in grain applique and finger painting. Here they can learn about the secrets of carpentry, clay molding and toys from felt and hay.
The City Farm is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10.30 am. On weekdays, she finishes work at 19.00, and on weekends - at 20.00.
Former cafe "Sadko" (pavilion "Uzbekvino")
Equestrian center
If a child dreams of horses and horseback riding, he should be taken to the Equestrian Center, which is located in Pavilion 48. The kids will be offered half-hour lessons and pony riding. And children over 6 years old will be able to attend the lessons of the PonyTown club and learn how to ride a horse from scratch.
For families with children, the staff of the center conducts tours of the stables and tells a lot about horse breeds, equestrian equipment and equestrian sports. The equestrian center accepts guests daily from 10.00 to 21.00.
Pavilion No. 64 "Optics" ("Leningrad and North-West of the RSFSR")
Rope park
The sports sector of VDNKh is home to Russia's largest "rope jungle" - the rope park "Sky Town", where parents with children of different ages like to come. At an altitude of 15 m and an area of 1000 sq. m, a complex of air arms was created, which includes an observation deck, a children's parkour area, giant swings and entertainment elements.
There are three levels of distances in the rope park, and children are allowed on the simplest and safest of them. For visitors, the territory of "Sky Town" is open daily from 10.00 to 20.00.
Pavilion No. 32-34 "Space / Mechanical Engineering"
Playgrounds
On the territory of VDNKh and the nearby Ostankino Park, nine modern playgrounds await children from 2 to 12 years old. All of them are equipped with a safe rubber-rubber coating.
The playgrounds have sandboxes, swings, slides, chimneys, horizontal ladders, carousels, and climbing walls. These are places where children can play, strengthen muscles, develop dexterity and coordination. Some playgrounds have activity zones for kids from 2 to 5 years old, and there are obstacles where teenagers who are partial to parkour train.
Pavilion No. 8 "Young Naturalists"
Working hours
The territory of VDNKh is open around the clock. The entrance is free. Tickets are required only for visiting selected exhibitions, museum complexes and attractions.
How to get there
The main entrance to the exhibition is easily accessible on foot from the VDNKh metro station. In addition, you can get here by monorail, city buses, trolleybuses, trams and minibuses.
