Good afternoon friends. We all dream of seeing at least one glimpse of the underwater world of the oceans. Find out how fish, dolphins, sharks and other numerous living creatures of the seas and oceans live there, sometimes more similar to aliens than to our closest neighbors on the globe.
Today I will talk about the Moscow Oceanarium. People know it as the Moskvarium oceanarium at VDNKh . Where is Moskvarium located and how to get to it. And of course about prices and first impressions.
How much does a ticket to Moskvarium cost? How to get to it?
The Moskvarium building is a complex that is conventionally divided into an aquarium
and
the main hall
, where performances of sea animals take place.
The auditorium, which hosts various shows with performances of sea animals, has a capacity of 2,300 seats. Follow the news about the premieres of new shows on the official website www.moskvarium.ru.
How to get:
On the Moskvarium minibus:
You can use the free minibuses that depart from the VDNH metro station (southern exit, this is the last car from the center), operating hours from 9:30. There are also free minibuses running from the main entrance of VDNH, opening hours from 10:00.
The minibuses go non-stop along the route, the final stop is located opposite the Moskvarium building. From this stop our minibus goes back to the VDNKh metro station (southern exit) or to the main entrance of VDNH. The last minibus leaves from Moskvarium at 21:45.
Operating mode:
Every day from 10:00 to 22:00. Visitors can enter the aquarium until 21:00.
Every last Monday of the month is a sanitary day.
Ticket prices:
The price for visiting the aquarium varies depending on the age category, day of the week and time of visit (from 400 to 1000 rubles for one visitor), the cost of the show is from 1100 to 2500 rubles for one visitor, depending on the sector in the auditorium.
Privileges:
Benefits are provided to large families and disabled people of the 2nd group (except for Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays), disabled people of the 1st group and one accompanying person, disabled children and one accompanying person, WWII veterans, heroes of the Russian Federation and the USSR.
More detailed information about prices, schedules, benefits, etc. can be found on the official Moskvarium website www.moskvarium.ru and by phone for inquiries.
Feedback:
About Moskvarium on the website vdnh.ru:
In the “WHERE TO GO” section: “Moskvarium”
How to get to Moskvarium
A minibus runs through the territory of VDNKh, which also stops at Moskvarium. More information about the minibus
How to get to Moskvarium at VDNH
Every child, and even an adult, should visit a real water fairy tale at least once in their life. This fairy tale can be a visit to the Oceanarium at VDNKh in Moscow. Its second name is Moskvarium.
The Oceanarium itself is a five-story building that successfully combines glass and concrete in its facade, and is the largest indoor Oceanarium in Europe. By visiting it, you will not only relax, take a break from the hectic daily life of Moscow, observing the sedate life of marine inhabitants, but also learn a lot of new things.
An important advantage is the fact that all Moskvarium premises are adapted for people with disabilities.
Artists' presentation
The program of the Moscow Dolphinarium is one of the most interesting in the world. The abilities of the artists and the professionalism of the coaches - from this combination original performances are born, which will take the breath away of adults, and the children will squeal with delight.
During the show program, trained dolphins jump out of the water, either touching the hanging balls with their noses or hitting them with their tails, delighting all the spectators and drawing applause. Then the dolphins ride their trainers on themselves, throwing them out of the water several meters.
Next comes the walrus! Before starting his performance, he swims in the pool for a few minutes. Then the walrus crawls out to the “shore”, where, according to the trainer’s commands, he “pumps his abs”, catches hoops, holds balls on his face, demonstrates his willpower by holding a fish on his head and not eating it, and does a lot of other things, for which he receives his portion applause.
A delightful family of killer whales in the dolphinarium at VDNKh amazes viewers with their fiery performances. Cute Nora and Nord, although they look incredibly large, show excellent dexterity during the performance, and the growing Juliet charms little spectators.
The performance is interesting, children will especially be delighted. After the performance, all the children, without exception, are sure that Juliet smiled and laughed with them.
The program is constantly changing: new, more interesting numbers come to replace the old ones, and some fresh “tricks” appear. The show lasts 30–40 minutes, so even small children do not get tired of it.
Directions to the Oceanarium at VDNKh
By excursion bus
The easiest, but at the same time the most expensive way to travel to the Moskvarium is for a group of people to order a bus that will take you straight to the doors of the Oceanarium. But you will have to pay from 1,500 to 3,500 rubles just for entering the territory of VDNKh. On weekends and holidays the price doubles.
By car
For motorists on the territory of VDNKh, parking lots with approximately 1,000 parking spaces are open around the clock. All parking is paid.
- From the city center to VDNKh you should take Sretenka, which turns into Mira Avenue.
- After you pass the Alekseevskaya metro station, stay to the right so as not to accidentally drive onto the overpass.
- After the Cosmos Hotel, turn left before reaching the intersection with B. Galushkina Street.
- The first turn to the right is yours.
- From there the main entrance is just a stone's throw away.
If your path to VDNKh lies from the Moscow Ring Road, then you should go along the Yaroslavskoye Highway, which turns into Mira Avenue. The sculpture “Worker and Collective Farm Woman” will be your guide for turning right. In short, the path from the Moscow Ring Road to VDNKh is only 9 kilometers.
Metro
If you want to avoid Moscow traffic jams, and you don’t risk driving a personal car due to difficult junctions on Mira Avenue, then the Moscow metro in this case is an excellent way to travel.
The station of the same name is located on the orange Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya line. The main entrance to the VDNH territory is located a five-minute walk from the station exit.
It would be great if, at the point of departure, you immediately took the orange metro line to avoid transfers. But if transplants are unavoidable, then there is nothing wrong with that. In any case, the metro is the best way to get around the capital.
When boarding the metro from the city center, choose the first carriage.
From the metro station, finding your way to the Exhibition and to the Oceanarium is not difficult. The bulk of the people leaving the metro are moving towards VDNKh. Feel free to follow them. You will need to cross the tram tracks; on the left you can see the Cosmonautics Museum.
On the monorail
If you want to make a trip to VDNKh, turning it into a small exciting adventure, then feel free to go to the nearest station of the Moscow monorail transport system.
The departure point of the monorail is St. metro station "Timiryazevskaya". From there you will reach the main entrance to VDNKh in 10-15 minutes, and you will have an excellent opportunity to see all the sights of Moscow along your route from an advantageous angle.
Believe me, it will be an unforgettable trip, from which you will get a lot of emotions and beautiful pictures with your camera.
Train intervals are 7-15 minutes. Ticket price is 50 rubles.
By tram
In Moscow, only two tram routes pass near the main entrance to the VDNKh territory - No. 11 and No. 17. The stop is called “VDNKh metro station”.
Fare: 50 rubles.
By bus
The bus running on route No. 33 makes a stop at the Tourist Hotel. From there you will quickly reach the state farm entrance to VDNKh. From the entrance, walk straight for 5-7 minutes. The aquarium will be on your right.
At the main entrance to the VDNH territory there is a stop for buses traveling on routes No. 33, 56, 76, 93, 136, 154, 172, 195, 239, 244, 803.
Buses No. 33, 76, 154, 244, 803 run to the “Southern” entrance of VDNKh. To get from the stop to the Oceanarium, go to the Fountain of Friendship of Peoples.
- Continue along the main avenue of the exhibition, passing the Stone Flower fountain.
- At Industry Square, turn left and inevitably
- You will see the Moskvarium; it is impossible to go wrong with the building.
City buses No. 56, 76, 93, 136, 172, 195, 803 go to the Northern bus station of VDNH. The following suburban routes pass through this bus station: No. 392 from Korolev, No. 316 from Ivanteevka, No. 317 from Krasnoarmeysk, No. 425 from Sofrino, No. 451 from Pushkino.
Finding the way from the northern entrance to the Oceanarium is also not difficult - follow the previously listed landmarks - the People's Friendship Fountain, the Stone Flower fountain, Industry Square.
By minibus
It is very convenient that today you can travel around the territory of VDNKh by minibus for 40 rubles! This saves visitors from having to walk a long distance to local attractions. This minibus also makes a stop at the Oceanarium.
Fare for all categories of citizens: 40 rubles.
Believe me, the time spent on the way to the Oceanarium will be worth the emotions and impressions that you will receive while observing the marine inhabitants.
Oceanarium Moskvarium in Moscow
Moscow, Mira Avenue, 119, building 23
from 10.00 to 22.00 daily
Moskvarium is the largest oceanarium in Moscow, which opened in August 2015 on the territory of VDNKh. It is also called the center of oceanography and marine biology, since the complex’s mission is not only entertaining, but also educational. It regularly hosts lectures, master classes and thematic classes for children and adults.
This is a huge modern four-story building with glass facades, the total area of which is 53 thousand sq.m.
The territory of the oceanarium is large, modern, in technical terms and design everything is very, very good. If you have been, for example, to SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World in Bangkok, then you can compare them. In any case, this is a great option for a family day out, especially if you combine a visit to the aquarium with a marine show. The only negative is that the pleasure is not cheap. But, as they say, everyone’s capabilities are different. By the way, this oceanarium is not yet the most expensive in Moscow - prices for visiting the Crocus City Oceanarium, which opened in December 2016, are slightly higher.
1. Aquarium.
On an area of 12 thousand square meters. meters there are about 80 aquariums of various shapes and sizes.
They contain about 600 varieties of exotic fish and other marine and freshwater inhabitants. Among the most exotic are crocodiles, stingrays, sharks, beluga whales, dolphins, and killer whales. In total there are about 12 thousand individuals in the aquarium. It is especially pleasant that almost all fish that live on the territory of the Russian Federation are represented here.
The main part of the aquarium is located on the zero level - the entrance is via escalators and stairs from the ticket office on the first floor down. Please note that the entrance and exit from the exhibition are located at different ends of the room; you can return to the entrance, but you cannot leave it.
Near each aquarium there is an information display telling about the inhabitants. Some of them have sound effects (for example, aquarium 22).
In the center of the hall there is a lift to the upper, first level - there are observation windows of the pools with beluga whales, dolphins and killer whales (pools 52, 54 on the map), as well as the Deck cafe. The author of the article tried for a long time to look at the giant inhabitants through the windows where people were crowded, but, unfortunately, he was unable to see anything except distant silhouettes. But it also happens like this:
Basic zero level exposures:
- aquarium with rare stingrays (1);
- zone with freshwater inhabitants (aquariums 2-3);
- “Fish - crocodile”, “Giant fish of Asia” (4-5);
- seas section (5-9);
- “Small Rivers of Russia” (10);
- “Crabs, lobsters” (11-12);
- "Rainforests of New Guinea" (13-20);
- “Amazing fish” 21 – 25);
- “Reservoirs of Africa” (26 – 29);
- “Reservoirs of South America” (30 – 37) - piranhas live in aquarium 32, caimans and turtles in 35;
- "Flooded forest. Main freshwater aquarium" (38 and 39);
- “Deep Water” and “The Amazing Sea” (40 - 51);
- “Mangroves and coastal shallow waters” (55 - 58) - in this area there are contact pools into which you can put your hand;
- "Open sea. Main Marine Aquarium" (aquariums 73-78 and pool 79) - pool 73 is home to sharks Misha and Masha, and pool 79 is home to cute Baikal seals.
How much time you spend examining all the exhibits at the exhibition is up to you. For a quick walk around with a fleeting glance at each aquarium, half an hour is enough. But if you read information about each inhabitant, watch feeding, take photographs and generally take your time, you can spend several hours here.
Take a look at some of the inhabitants.
Current feeding schedule for 2021:
- feeding piranhas in aquarium 32 every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 18-30;
- feeding arapaima every Tuesday and Thursday at 14-00 in aquarium 38;
- diodons and arotrons in aquarium 76 are fed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 13-00; moray eel on the same days in the aquarium 78 - at 13-15;
- Baikal seals are fed every day except Monday;
- The most interesting feeding of sharks takes place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in aquarium 73 at 14-00.
Of course, it is most interesting to visit the aquarium with a guide - the Moskvarium offers individual or group excursions (1,500 rubles for 1-3 people, 2,000 rubles for 4-7 people). They will tell you about the most interesting inhabitants and the features of their habitat.
You can also use an audio guide. Cost 200 rubles.
For children, there is a children's corner with a glass wall for drawing opposite the main freshwater pool - by the way, it attracts not only kids, but also adult visitors.
You can have a snack not only in the cafe on the top tier, but also downstairs in the Amazonia cafe. You shouldn't count on a full lunch; hot and cold drinks, sandwiches and desserts are on sale.
Souvenirs are sold on the exhibition grounds and there are restrooms. You can mostly take photographs without a flash; special symbols near aquariums warn about this.
Video about visiting the aquarium.
2. Water shows.
On the 3-4 floors of the oceanarium there is a modern auditorium with 2,300 seats with a stage - a sea pool 14 meters deep. It hosts spectacular water shows with trained killer whales, beluga whales, dolphins, walruses and sea lions. The seats in the front rows are the so-called “wet” ones. They may get water from the stage, so the audience is given raincoats.
Sessions in summer 2021 are held at: 12:00, 15:00, 18:00 (Saturday only).
Special shows are being prepared for the holidays - for example, in mid-2017, tickets for the New Year's sea show "The Lost World", which will begin in mid-December 2017, are already on sale.
Tickets for the show are purchased separately from entrance to the aquarium; their cost starts from 1,500 rubles and depends on the selected seat and row. In 2021, there is a promotion under which, with a one-time purchase of tickets to the show and to the aquarium, the price of a ticket to the aquarium will be 500 rubles.
You can buy tickets for the show, for example, here.
3. Dolphin Swim Center.
On May 1, 2021, a swimming center with dolphins opened in Moskvarium on the 4th floor. Seven modern swimming pools are designed for this purpose, wetsuits, towels and necessary equipment are provided.
Eight dolphins are specially trained to work with people, including children over 3 years old. These dolphins do not perform in shows or learn complex tricks.
Watch a short video.
The entrance to the swimming center is separate - behind the building on the right.
It is worth especially noting that Moskvarium has taken care of people with disabilities - there are special toilets for the disabled, stair lifts and platforms, separate elevators, a separate entrance to the auditorium, handrails, and ramps. And it all really works, don’t hesitate to ask.
Moscow Oceanarium
The official name is the Moskvarium Center for Oceanography and Marine Biology.
It opened on August 5, 2015. The fact that Moscow will have its own giant aquarium-oceanarium has been written a lot in the media. Therefore, in the first days after the opening, crowds of people rushed into the building. The Oceanarium in Moscow is a unique modern spacious building designed for 2,300 or more visitors.
From the outside, it is a four-story building with huge windows along the facade. In fact, there are 5 floors. One is the ground floor, located underground.
The area of Moskvarium is 53,000 sq. m. Inside it is a complex consisting of three parts:
- Aquarium
- Main hall. Water shows with sea animals take place here.
- Dolphin Swim Center.
The building is designed for people with disabilities. There are ramps, an elevator, a toilet, handrails, and threshold-free movement.
On each floor there are recreation areas, restaurants, cafes, a toy store and everything a modern person needs.
Cafe and shop
In addition to the already mentioned cafes “Deck” and “Amazonia” on the territory of the aquarium, you can also have lunch at the “Narnia” restaurant on the second floor (Russian, Italian, American, Asian cuisine). It operates in aquarium mode - daily from 10:00 to 22:00.
For those with a sweet tooth and coffee lovers, the Shokoladnitsa coffee shop is open on the ground floor.
It is prohibited to bring your own food and drinks into the Moskvarium territory. There is a fairly thorough inspection of bags at the entrance. But the author of the article, for example, was not aware of this ban and calmly brought food and water for the child into the territory, and then calmly fed it to the child on the territory of the cafe.
To the right of the main entrance on the ground floor there is a souvenir shop with a large assortment of toys, games, and water-themed souvenirs. If you go there with your child, you definitely won’t leave without buying something!
There are photographers working on the territory of the aquarium, you can buy professional photos, and then also download them through the website using the code given to you.
Ticket prices for Moskvarium
Ticket prices for Moskvarium in 2021 (prices in brackets from Friday to Sunday and on holidays):
- 900 (1000) rub. — adult ticket;
- 600 (800) rub. — children's ticket (from 3 to 12 years);
- free - children under 3 years old;
- 2200 (2600) rub. — family ticket (2 adults and 1 child);
- 2800 (3400) rub. — family ticket (2 adults and 2 children);
- 600 rub. - members of large families;
- 10 rub. — disabled people of the 1st group, disabled children accompanying them, WWII veterans, heroes of the Russian Federation and the USSR;
- 450 rub. — pensioners (Mondays only).
All discount tickets are sold only at the aquarium box office upon presentation of a document confirming the benefit.
Tickets to the Moskvarium can be purchased at the box office of the aquarium itself, on the official website, as well as on this website. One of the ticket offices is located on the territory of VDNKh, not far from the main entrance, on the left side.
Tickets purchased online can be printed from terminals located on the ground floor of the building.
Current prices for show programs in 2020
Entrance fees:
- for adults – 1,000 rubles;
- for children aged 5–14 years – 500 rubles;
- social category (people of retirement age, disabled people of groups I and II, veterans of war and other military operations) - cost 500 rubles;
- preferential category (children under 5 years old, disabled children with an accompanying person, WWII veterans) - free.
Cost of entrance tickets including a visit to the dolphinarium:
- for adults – 1,200 rubles;
- for children aged 5–14 years – 600 rubles;
- social category (people of retirement age, disabled people of groups I and II, veterans of war and other military operations) - cost 600 rubles;
- preferential category (children under 5 years old, disabled children with an accompanying person, WWII veterans) - free.
You can see the current prices yourself on the official website of the Primorsky Oceanarium: https://primocean.ru/bilety/tickets.html
How to get to Moskvarium
Moskvarium is located on the territory of the VDNH exhibition complex, in pavilion No. 23 to the left of the model of the Vostok launch vehicle. Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 22:00, entry is only possible until 21:00. Every last Monday of the month is a sanitary day.
You can get to the Moskvarium oceanarium by metro or car.
Metro.
The closest metro station to the Moskvarium oceanarium is VDNKh. Located on the orange metro line (Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya line).
On foot
From the metro you need to go to the Museum of Cosmonautics (the first car from the center) and turn left, then go to the main entrance of VDNKh. Then move straight past the central pavilion, the Fountain of Friendship of Peoples to the monument to the Vostok rocket. It is impossible not to notice it - it is a huge white rocket 40 meters high near the Cosmos pavilion. Near the rocket you need to turn left, walk literally a hundred meters, and you will see the blue building of the aquarium.
Free minibus from VDNH metro station
Free minibuses run from VDNH metro station to Moskvarium and back. They are easy to recognize - they are blue themed minibuses with the name “Moskvarium” in large letters on the side.
Minibuses run from the southern exit of the metro (the last car from the center) starting at 09:30 and the main entrance of VDNKh from 10:00.
The stop for minibuses going to the metro is located 20 meters on the left if you stand with your back to the main entrance to the aquarium. The last one departs at 21:45.
You can also get there by paid minibus from VDNKh. The closest stop to the metro is located at the main entrance (on the left after the entrance). The fare in 2021 is 40 rubles. They run every 10 minutes,
Show programs
In a separate section of the main building of the oceanarium there is a wonderful dolphinarium. Up to 800 spectators can easily fit here at the same time. Cute dolphins, charming beluga whales, serious walruses and fur seals perform here.
Particularly popular is the walrus Misha, who can play many musical instruments. Talented animals with great photogenicity usually perform twice a day.
Dolphinarium artists:
- Misha the walrus is the most charming favorite of the dolphinarium.
- Emmy, Bonya, Sam, Vasya, Yosya are quite sociable, smartest Pacific bottlenose dolphins.
- Smokey, a Pacific dolphin with a white mark on his side, is a friendly, handsome creature.
- Miy, Jessica, Neil, Ler are graceful beluga whales that amaze the audience with their pretty smiles.
- The most “talkative” one here is the sea lion Ike.
- The fur seals Cheba and Zin are distinguished by their artistry and diligence. Great performers.
Of course, the highlight of the dolphinarium’s programs is the handsome walrus Misha . Other representatives of marine mammals do not lag behind him in their performances, amusing the audience with their acrobatic skills, all kinds of jumps and the “singing” of dolphins.
The unique show program “Dancing with Stingrays” also deserves special attention. As you know, they are dangerous due to their electrical discharges. Sea predators show a series of numbers that smoothly and consistently flow into each other.
In addition to stingrays, the program also includes eagle rays, the most dangerous fish with poisonous glands at the end of their tail. Animals, together with trainers dressed in special protective chain mail, spin in a waltz. The spectacle is unusual and fascinating.
Schedule for dolphinarium show programs
The Dolphinarium can be visited during the following hours:
- Demonstration performances – 11:00 and 15:00.
- The number of tickets is limited - up to 800 seats. The restriction is imposed on the tariff “Exhibitions of the Primorsky Oceanarium - show programs in the dolphinarium”.
- There is no separate ticket for the Dolphinarium.
It is advisable to purchase tickets in advance at the advance ticket office located on the territory of the Primorsky Aquarium. It is also possible to buy tickets using the online service. It is recommended to book tickets a week in advance.
