5+1 Best Science Museums In Russia

Planetarium No 1, St. Petersburg

Planetarium No. 1 in St. Petersburg is the world’s largest planetarium, with its dome measuring 27 meters in diameter. You can lay on bean bags in the central hall and enjoy different films about the universe projected onto the large dome. In combination with the surround sound this creates a truly mesmerizing effect! Upstairs, the planetarium also has a photo exhibition on space travel, and in the adjacent building you’ll find the “YotaLab“, an open space for startups to develop their products. The ticket price for the planetarium is ₽450 ($7) during the week (₽400 ($6) for students, seniors, children between 3 and 18 and disabled persons, and ₽500 ($8) (₽450 ($7) respectively) on the weekend. Children under the age of 3 enter the planetarium for free. For the opening and show times as well as special events or lectures, check out their website.

Museum of Cosmonautics, Moscow

Museum of Cosmonautics’ building alone - in the shape of a rocket taking off - is worth the visit and the interior is no less interesting. You can learn about the history of space travel, either by walking through the museum on your own, with an audio guide (in English, Russian or Chinese) or with a guided tour. Tours are available in English and Russian. If you’d like a true, Russian space adventure, it’s possible to book a training session in the Soyuz-TMA spacecraft simulator — the very same simulator that is used for training real cosmonauts. Tickets cost ₽250 and ₽150 for children between 7 and 18. They also have a family ticket which includes two children and two adults for the price of ₽750. More information on tickets and opening times can be found on the museum’s website.

The Nikola Tesla Electric Museum, Sochi

This one’s for those who love the spectacular side of science. The Nikola Tesla Electric museum will provide you with an extraordinary experience unlike any other museum. No boring pictures and plaques! Here you can actively take part in the exhibition. Everything is interactive, there is music and a lot of (harmless) lightning. For even more entertainment, they have a show called “Megavolt — Lord of Lightning” if that doesn’t spark your interest, will anything?

Since everything is guided, you can’t just visit whenever you want. Keep in mind that people with epilepsy, pacemakers or implants as well as pregnant woman and children under six will not be admitted into the museum. Entering is possible every hour on the hour between 11:00 and 19:00. Tickets cost ₽350 for adults, and ₽300 for children. Careful not to get zapped!

The Leonardo Da Vinci Mechanics Museum, Sochi

Located in close proximity to the Nikola Tesla Electric Museum you’ll find the Museum of Da Vinci’s Mechanics. It exhibits Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions, such as the perpetual motion machine, a glider, a crossbow and a trebuchet. Visitors can touch and test the machines to figure out how the mechanisms work. The museum is open every day from 10:00 until 21:00. Tickets cost ₽300 for adults, ₽250 for children.

Wonder Park Galileo,  Yekaterinburg/Novosibirsk/Krasnoyarsk/Nizhny Novgorod/Samara/Chelyabinsk

If you’re a fan of optical illusions and science, you might want to check out the Wonder Park Galileo. Visitors to the park can wander through the maze of illusions and experience the laws of physics from an entirely different perspective. Why is everything upside down? Answers to this question and more you’ll find when visiting the museum. ₽450 for adults, ₽350 for children, seniors and students. The park is open every day from 10:00 until 20:00 with the exception of December 31. and January 1.

Spoons Museum, Vladimir

The Museum of Spoons in Vladimir is exactly what you think it is. With more than 15,000 exhibits, it’s the largest collection of spoons in Russia. You can learn everything you’ve (n)ever wanted to know about spoons. For instance, their history and how they were made. If you happen to be in Vladimir, why not give it a chance? The museum is open every day from 11:00 until 18:00. Tickets for adults are ₽150, students, disabled persons and seniors pay ₽100.

Travelling with kids? Here are some ideas on fun activities for kids in Moscow and best family-friendly attractions in St. Petersburg.