Russia's No. 1 exhibition complex has prepared a special excursion package for the Holiday Season. Project VDNH Excursions comprises both new general and themed guided winter tours, and old favourites. The excursions devoted to this winter season's keynote, Antarctic Winter at VDNH, are free for all. There is a limit on the number of people per excursion group, and safety precautions apply.
New Excursions of the 2020/2021 Winter Season
Four new free excursions have been designed for the 2020/2021 winter season, sharing the keynote theme of Antarctic Winter at VDNH, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the continent's discovery. The excursions titled Polar Expedition, Polar Station, VDNH Northern Route and If the Antarctic Had a Collective Farm are a Christmas present for VDNH visitors. The excursions will be available from 1 to 15 January 2021. The off-the-beaten-track routes will take visitors to the lesser-known but no less interesting parts of VDNH, where few visitors ever go. Depending on the excursion you choose, you will visit sites such as the Moscow, VDNH Agrometeorological Station, Pavilion No. 16 Hydrometeorology, Pavilions No. 510 Glavkonserv and No. 422 Glavkonditer, tour the buildings of Pavilions No. 46 Economics and Organisation of the Agricultural-Industrial Complex and No. 44 Rabbit Breeding, acquaint yourself with the sprawling flower gardens of Bolshaya Kartina Polei and the Michurin Garden, and even cross VDNH's 'Polar Circle' and take the Aerial Ecotrail.
The excursions are available from noon to 6:00 p.m. daily by prior registration on Timepad. The number of visitors per group is limited for safety reasons. For further information, please visit the project page.
Themed Excursions
We have also prepared some new excursions for those wishing to learn more about the architectural masterpieces at VDNH or check out the festive locations or more secluded areas on VDNH grounds. These excursions are available for a fee. Sign up on weekdays by dialling +7(495)544-34-96, +7(495)544-34-73.
National Flavours at VDNH is a tour of the old part of the Exhibition grounds. The tour guide will relate interesting facts about the ethnic styles of the republic pavilions, the decorative elements that make them all different and the ethnic architects who designed them.
The excursion A Journey Through Time. VDNH Through Years and Epochs narrates the eventful and difficult history of VDNH, originally VSHV, from a general perspective and through architectural history. Visitors will learn how the Exhibition was constructed, and which sculptors and painters contributed to its monumental masterpieces in the prewar and postwar years.
Those wishing to take a break from the tumult of the metropolis will appreciate the excursion Away from Urban Noise. A Stroll in Landscape Park. Visitors will enjoy the scenic winter landscapes interspersed with original art installations and find out more about the Kamenskie Ponds.
We have a festive tour in store for those visitors who choose the VDNH Holiday Stroll. The tour guides will show the visitors around the festively decorated vistas, explain the tradition of New Year's Eve celebration at VDNH and point out the best locations for scenic photos. The excursion itinerary traverses the historical part of the Exhibition, where the tradition of celebrating the winter's foremost festival goes back to the mid 20th century. The visitors will see beautifully illuminated festive installations, Christmas trees and many other decorations.
VDNH best-sellers: general excursions, quests and audio guide.
Offered daily, general excursions are tours mostly confined to the Central Alley. In 90 minutes, visitors will learn the Exhibition's entire history since the foundation date, interesting facts about the Friendship of Peoples and Stone Flower fountains, the history of the pavilions of Soviet republics, contemporary zoning and usages of the Exhibition and much more. Read more on the website.
Educational tours of VDNH are also available in 'quest' format: the participants have to take a series of tests, learning a wealth of unique and helpful information about VDNH. The VDNH excursions team have designed a series of quest tours that can be taken by two competing teams or a large group of visitors. To see quest programmes or sign up, please visit our website.
Visitors who prefer to stroll on their own can take advantage of our audio guide. The 90-minute recording will guide the visitor from the Main Entrance Arch to the Cosmos Pavilion and back. The narrative covers 38 landmarks, including the Soviet republic pavilions, fountains and other architectural masterpieces and VDNH symbols.
Moscow Through an Engineer's Eyes
If you wish to see the newly renovated pavilions and fountains and hear their story from original construction to restoration, you are advised to sign up for the excursion series Russia's Number One Exhibition. Past, Present and Future. The excursions are guided by the staff tour guides of the Moscow Through an Engineer's Eyes project on 7 and 30 January, at noon. An excursion takes in the newly renovated Central Pavilion, Pavilions of the Republics of Kazakhstan, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Cosmos and Glavkonserv Pavilions as well as the Friendship of Peoples and Stone Flower fountains. The excursion ends in the Park of Crafts, where modern architects, sculptors, painters and florists have their studios, all of which the excursion participants are welcome to visit. For more information, please visit our website.
Social distancing and other safety precautions are compulsory on all excursions.