The Grand Maket Russia Interactive Museum showcases everything this huge country has to offer on a smaller scale. Condensed into 8,611.1 square feet (800 square metres), this museum crams cities, towns, trains and thousands of miniature dolls into its exhibits. Feel like a giant as you explore the tiny replicas of Russia’s major sights, cities and regions.
Walk around the museum at will there are no set routes to follow. The exhibits are dominated by model recreations of St. Petersburg and Moscow, two of Russia’s largest cities. The St. Petersburg model looks particularly pretty when lit up “at night” before thousands of LED lights help simulate night turning into day. Don’t worry about visiting at the right time to see this. This event happens every 15 minutes at the museum so it is hard to miss.
The models are full of compelling little details that may be overlooked at first glance. Lean in to the mini-Moscow and you will even notice that the creators have staged an elaborate protest on its streets. Other scenes depicted in this museum include a funeral, firefighters coming to the rescue at a blaze and even a funfair in full swing.
Visit the beach resorts of the southern regions for a change of scene. For regular humans, they are just a stroll away, but the tiny museum inhabitants ride planes, trains and automobiles instead. Look for these vehicles, which occasionally whizz around the exhibits. Wild weather events like storms and snow are simulated too.
If you are curious about how the displays are constructed, watch a film about the museum’s creation. It lasts half an hour and is screened regularly throughout the day at the venue. During the documentary you will get insights from the very people who brought this unique museum to life.
There is an entry fee at the Grand Market Russia Interactive Museum, which is open every day. Rent binoculars from staff if you can’t get close enough to see all the detail. Audio guides are also available in several languages for an additional fee. Buses and trains both stop nearby the museum.