Zoological Museum of the Zoological Institute RAS
Zoological Museum of the Zoological Institute RAS
Zoological Museum of the Zoological Institute RAS
4.5
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
The Zoological Institute RAS (ZIN RAS) was established in 1832 as the Zoological Museum of the Imperial Academy of Sciences on the basis of zoological collections deposited at the Chamber of Curiosities (Kunstkammer) created by Peter I in 1714.The museum was renamed to the Zoological Institute in 1931 during reorganization of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR.
The largest in Russia and one of the largest in the world collection of the Zoological Institute comprises more than 60 million collection units of about 260 thousand animal species, constituting approximately one-fourth of the known world fauna.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Neighbourhood: Vasilyevsky Island
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4.5
329 reviews
Excellent
189
Very good
83
Average
33
Poor
16
Terrible
8
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ZBH88
Stoke-on-Trent, UK1,165 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
We had a lovely visit to the museum with 2 very young children. It's very cheap only 350 per adult. There's a huge range of species of animals including whales, insects on the upper level and some preserved woolley mammoths(definately a highlight for our eldest who is currently obsessed with woolley mammoths! Toilets were a bit grim was the only downside and no baby change in the mens.
Written 29 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
🩶⚜️ 𝓝𝓪𝓽𝔂® ⚜️🩶
Moscow, Russia165,502 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
The building in which the museum is located was built in 1832 according to the design of the architect F. Luchini. Originally a customs warehouse, the museum moved here in 1896. But since the premises were not at all suitable for displaying collections, the museum opened its doors to visitors only in 1901.
Written 22 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LidiaSemenova
Shchyolkovo, Russia106 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
A very interesting museum! There is a large collection of stuffed animals on display (the curator said they were all authentic). There are notes which animals are listed in the Red Book. The Zoological Museum, in my opinion, is much more interesting than the current Kunstkamera.
Written 12 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Юлия Ш
2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Not very impressive.
Firstly, the Pushkin card “crashes”, it is impossible to buy with it. As a result, they took the student for 200 rubles online. Later it turned out that we were on a free day for schoolchildren and students. At least there was a sign at the checkout with this information.
The line at the ticket office is like a mausoleum on the street. There is only one cashier working.
The museum itself is extremely stuffy in August. I really don’t understand why they don’t at least use fans. The exhibitions are interesting, but the stuffiness killed all desire.
The women's toilet is terribly uncomfortable. With a wide aisle, the booths were made super narrow. And it stinks like in Soviet times...
In short, we looked just for fun and won’t come back.
It's much more comfortable in Moscow's Darvinovsky.
Firstly, the Pushkin card “crashes”, it is impossible to buy with it. As a result, they took the student for 200 rubles online. Later it turned out that we were on a free day for schoolchildren and students. At least there was a sign at the checkout with this information.
The line at the ticket office is like a mausoleum on the street. There is only one cashier working.
The museum itself is extremely stuffy in August. I really don’t understand why they don’t at least use fans. The exhibitions are interesting, but the stuffiness killed all desire.
The women's toilet is terribly uncomfortable. With a wide aisle, the booths were made super narrow. And it stinks like in Soviet times...
In short, we looked just for fun and won’t come back.
It's much more comfortable in Moscow's Darvinovsky.
Written 17 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Юлия
Moscow, Russia65 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
I visited the museum for the first time. The exhibition is very interesting and extensive, including a huge range of fauna representatives. I would like to note the exhibitions created from entire animal families.
I was especially impressed by the whale skeleton located right at the entrance.
The exhibits on display will be of interest to both children and adults.
I recommend visiting!
I was especially impressed by the whale skeleton located right at the entrance.
The exhibits on display will be of interest to both children and adults.
I recommend visiting!
Written 1 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ольга К
4 contributions
May 2024 • Family
A rich collection illuminated by daylight and the thin light of old fluorescent lamps. If there was good lighting it would be impressive. The collection of insects is a separate topic. Unpleasant. She's gone. We went to see the spiders….. The gray remains of the collection sit in gray boxes on a background of indeterminate color, the signatures were typed on typewriters, hand-cut and glued, probably a long time ago. But this is not vintage. Is it really not possible to place the boogers on a black, non-glare background and highlight it as an accent? Dullness and wretchedness. Exit is a special article. Exit through the toilets and the back door into a shabby courtyard. Painful.....
Ashamed….
Ashamed….
Written 2 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
R_Anne_D
Toronto, Canada8 contributions
Nov 2013 • Couples
I wanted to like this museum, but I didn't have a chance. My boyfriend and I bought tickets from the cash, and then walked to the main entrance. The cashier appeared in the foyer, closing the door to the main hall behind her and demanded more money to see the exhibit. We asked why, and she asked to see the ticket, and then went to grab it, physically attacking me. I wrestled back the ticket, and she then started hitting me and jabbing me. My boyfriend had to hold her arms and push her back. She then started pushing us both. We got into the musem, but when we presented our tickets to the control lady, the cash lady actually succeeded in stealing away one of the tickets, and then claimed that we only ever bought one ticket. Shocked, we checked our change, and we had for sure bought two tickets. The rest of the ladies there then ignored us. We went to security, who ignored us. We ended up getting our money back two hours later, by talking to a tourist information attendant. This was not before the museum claimed they were willing to only refund one of the tickets due to this "misunderstanding" because one of us had already "used" a ticket (i.e. They accepted one ticket at the control, but stole the other. Neither of us actually visited the museum). Pretty disgraceful. Had it been a single person at fault in this situation, or a misunderstaning, I could overlook it, but the problem with this museum is a lot deeper it seems.
Written 28 November 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leah 💜
Halifax, West Yorks244 contributions
Dec 2011 • Couples
We went here on our second day, it was the highlight of my trip to St Petersburg.
I LOVED IT.
As you walk in there are cloak rooms and nice little cafe/gift shops, then as you go upstairs you are blown away! A skeleton of a blue whale sits at the top ,with various stuffed dogs/birds and allsorts around it! I will argue with anyone who says it isnt magnificent to see all these creatures! Its not creepy its amazing.
Everything has a thick layer of dust, and everything is randomly placed, its not the best taxidermy by a long shot but its so old and fab! Its having new windows put in and I think everyone is doing their best to keep it going and updated but needless to say I loved this place.
There is everything you could imagine, EVEN the only stuffed mammoth in the world. There are specimens of baby mammoths found in ice and this exhibit has travelled the world. There are various stalls with which you can buy postcards and guidebooks on the museum and the amount of animals kept there is beyond belief.
One thing which made me laugh and think it was extra special was the exhibits are so old you can see the stitching on some of the hides and the putty around the eyes :)
I LOVED IT.
As you walk in there are cloak rooms and nice little cafe/gift shops, then as you go upstairs you are blown away! A skeleton of a blue whale sits at the top ,with various stuffed dogs/birds and allsorts around it! I will argue with anyone who says it isnt magnificent to see all these creatures! Its not creepy its amazing.
Everything has a thick layer of dust, and everything is randomly placed, its not the best taxidermy by a long shot but its so old and fab! Its having new windows put in and I think everyone is doing their best to keep it going and updated but needless to say I loved this place.
There is everything you could imagine, EVEN the only stuffed mammoth in the world. There are specimens of baby mammoths found in ice and this exhibit has travelled the world. There are various stalls with which you can buy postcards and guidebooks on the museum and the amount of animals kept there is beyond belief.
One thing which made me laugh and think it was extra special was the exhibits are so old you can see the stitching on some of the hides and the putty around the eyes :)
Written 7 December 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marywhotravels
Washington DC, DC1,625 contributions
The Zoological Museum is my favorite place in St. Petersburg to pass a few hours quietly thinking to myself. There's an incredible number of animals collected here. I read somewhere that the number of specimens is in the millions. Walking through row after row after row of beautifully taxidermied birds and other animals is strangely calming. There are a number of large, impressive animals as well, such as a whale skeleton and, of course, their famous stuffed woolly mammoth. There's an insect zoo upstairs that costs a little extra, but not much. After all, the entrance fee for students is only 50 cents. Sadly, though, the museum is looking more than a little worn down. And most of the informational placards are only in Russian and still refer to Russia as the USSR. Which is why I'm such a cheerleader for this place -- give them your business and your money! This amazing collection should be maintained for future generations!
Written 23 August 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Belindatp
Sydney, Australia349 contributions
July 2019 • Family
Huge range of land animals and sea, the kids and I found this very interesting and a good escape from the cold.
The line on a Sunday afternoon was long as there is only one teller. It took around 20 mins
The line on a Sunday afternoon was long as there is only one teller. It took around 20 mins
Written 21 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Добрый день, хотела задать вопрос о зоологическом музее-билеты в него можно купить прямо на месте? нет необходимости бронировать зарание?
Written 27 May 2019
Здравствуйте! Билет в наш музей можно купить прямо на месте, но лучше приобрести его заранее на сайте, поскольку в выходные и каникулы у нас бывают большие очереди.
Written 26 January 2023
Уважаемые работники музея. Почему у вас такой грязный музей? Все чучела покрыты столетней пылью, замусолены стекла. Когда в последний раз мыли ветрины и полы,? Безобразное отношение к инвентарю Чучела птиц, животных стоят на голых грязных полках один к одному, какбуд то на складе. На втором этаже не музей , а грязный склад. На улице зима, а у вас кассир работает один, очередь как в Мовзалей . Показав ваш музей туристам иностранцам они были в ужасе. Не ужели вам нестыдно показывать достопримечательности России в таком виде. Ужас.
Written 4 January 2019
Добрый день! К сожалению, вы отчасти правы. Наш музей, это подразделение Зоологического института РАН, в государственном задании которого нет строки о музейной деятельности, т.е. музей не финансируется государством совсем. Ежегодные попытки решить этот вопрос с министерством положительных результатов не дают.
Наш институт, к сожалению, не может позволить себе тратить деньги на музей в большем объеме, чем это делается сейчас. Коллекция института насчитывает около 60 миллионов образцов (попробуйте сравнить с коллекциями других музеев и институтов, для сравнения - в Эрмитаже около 3 миллионов) и на её содержание нам тоже очень не хватает средств.
Мы отдаем себе отчет в том, что музею необходимы изменения, но на это просто нет средств, так же как и на ремонт здания, которое входит в список историко-культурного наследия федерального значения.
Мы стараемся привести музей в лучший вид, но действительно, ещё есть много недостатков.
Written 26 January 2023
What are the hours that the Zoological Museum, having trouble finding that information.
Written 23 January 2017
Open 11.00 am to 6.00 pm daily.
Closed every Tuesday
The website is easily found using google.
Written 24 January 2017
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