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Moscow Bee House
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My Family's Visit to the Butterfly House at VDNH - Prices 2023 and What to Expect
summarizeEditor's Summary
We recently took our kids on a fun-filled day out to the Butterfly House at VDNH, and it was a total hit with our 5-year-old son. He loves butterflies, and this place did not disappoint. The tropical butterflies were stunning, with some species measuring up to 20 centimeters in wingspan. The beautiful plants and flowers added to the overall experience, making it feel like a mini-vacation from the city. We even got to hold a snake and a reptile, which was a great bonus for our kids. However, we did encounter a few issues, like the lack of storage for our belongings and the limited availability of butterflies. Overall, it was a great day out, and I'd definitely recommend it to families with kids who love nature.
settingsSpecifications
Fiyat6/10
Kararİyi
Kalite8/10
Hafıza8/10
We recently took our kids on a fun-filled day out, and I'm so glad we got to spend quality time with each of them individually. Our youngest wasn't feeling well, so he stayed home, but our 5-year-old was super excited to explore and learn. He wasn't really interested in just walking around the fountains and pretty spots, so I did a quick search to find some other options. That's when I stumbled upon the Butterfly House at VDNH, and I thought it would be perfect for him.
Our son loves butterflies, and he's been collecting them since the start of summer. I knew he'd love the Butterfly House!
We headed out on a Sunday afternoon, and I was a bit worried about the crowds at VDNH, but we were lucky and only had to wait for one other family. It was a lot of fun!
Our son had no idea what to expect, so it was a fun surprise for him.
I won't go into the details of how to get there, but it's super easy – just use Yandex Maps and follow the directions!
When we arrived, we found a little shop with souvenirs, but I decided to skip buying anything and just enjoy the experience and take some photos instead.
As for the prices, I have to say I was a bit surprised – they're not cheap. I was expecting something a bit more budget-friendly, but I guess you get what you pay for.
There are three types of tickets available, and you can buy them for individual exhibits:
Basic ticket – only to the Butterfly House – 1000 rubles, only to the Reptile House – 800 rubles, and combo ticket – 1500 rublesFamily – only to the Butterfly House – 950 rubles, only to the Reptile House – 750 rubles, and combo ticket – 1400 rublesDiscounted – only to the Butterfly House – 850 rubles, only to the Reptile House – 700 rubles, and combo ticket – 1300 rublesSo, the difference isn't huge, but the price isn't low either.
What's more, if you're with a kid and they're over 2 years old, they'll have to buy a full-price ticket.
I ended up paying 3000 rubles just for entry, since I know my son will also be super interested in the reptiles – he used to spend hours catching lizards on our vacation in Altai, so he's not afraid of them. We had to get access to both halls.
On the first floor, there are two halls – one for butterflies and a separate room for ants, while on the second floor, there's the Reptile House with two rooms.
I'll be honest, the rooms are a bit small and narrow, but we didn't feel cramped.
Of course, our first stop was the butterflies.
It was a relief to step into the cool, but not cold, room with the sounds of live nature playing in the background – the room is literally covered in greenery, like you're stepping into some kind of tropical paradise.
I have to admit, my kid's reaction when he walked in and saw the butterflies everywhere was priceless. Some were flying, some were perched on the walls and decorations. It was a real wow moment.
Before we even entered, the staff member gave us a briefing on how to behave around the butterflies, how to interact with them, and warned us to be careful and watch our step, as there were butterflies on the floor too.
Contacting the butterflies:
One thing to keep in mind is that you're not allowed to touch the butterflies, especially their wings, as it can harm them. You should also avoid letting them land on your skin, as it can cause them to become disoriented and lose their sense of taste. The best way to interact with them is to place a piece of fruit, like an orange slice, and let them land on it. Then, you can carefully pick them up.
I was expecting a swarm of butterflies to take over the room, but most of them were stuck to the walls and ceiling.
Some were perched on the tables, making it easy to get a closer look and even take a photo with one on my hand. My kid was trying to nudge the butterfly onto his hand, like it was his idea all along.
And some actually landed on his hand, while others got kicked off.
We had three or four tables with food, but I'm not sure how many butterflies we actually had.
I was a bit underwhelmed by the butterflies – they all looked pretty similar, and with their wings closed, it was hard to tell them apart. I was hoping for something more vibrant, like the Rainbow Butterfly, but these ones seemed a bit dull. I've seen similar ones on the beach before, to be honest.
But despite their similar appearance, the butterflies do come in different sizes – some are tiny, while others are as big as my palm.
There are also some great photo ops, like this swing – I ended up sitting there waiting for my son.
I walked by the aquarium at first and thought it was empty, so I left. But then my son shouted, 'MAMA, LOOK!' and there was this beautiful creature hiding from me.
There's also a whole ant city, although the ants' rooms are in other areas of the exhibit. The city itself is amazing, though – I'd want to live in a place like that! They even have their own bank, called 'Ant Finance Bank' – it's so well thought out.
One of the coolest things about this place is that you can also buy a caterpillar that will eventually turn into a butterfly.
Or, you know, you can just sit back and watch the butterfly lifecycle in action – and if you're lucky, you might even get to see a butterfly emerge right before your eyes. Although, I'm not sure if that's a quick process.
The wall has a shelf with all sorts of insects on it, which was actually pretty cool, even for someone like me who's afraid of big spiders. Out of the ones they had on display:
I've got a whole menagerie of birds, but to be honest, they all look like tarantulas to me – I'm not exactly a birdwatcher!
And then there are the stick insects – I'm still trying to tell them apart on the branch.
And then we spotted a scorpion that had wedged itself into a corner and refused to budge until we left.
And get this – the scorpion was snacking on crickets, which I thought were just there for company, but it turned out they were the scorpion's lunch.
They even offered to take a photo with butterflies, where they'd perch the butterflies on my kid and take a picture – but when they mentioned putting butterflies on my kid, my little one gave me a look that said 'don't even think about it' without saying a word. Guess we had to pay extra for that one!
Cost for the butterfly photos turned out to be 1,000 rubles, they printed one photo for us, and the rest were sent to my Telegram.
I have to admit, I was a bit confused about why they can touch and put things on our faces for butterfly photos, but in the exhibit, we're not allowed to have them land on our bodies. If they did allow it, I'm sure people would end up stressing out the butterflies by handling them too much, instead of just gently tapping them with an orange.
My son was really worried about the butterflies on the floor, thinking someone might step on them, so he kept talking about each one, and the staff members were carefully picking them up.
We spent around an hour in this hall, and no one asked us to leave or limited our visit time. After that, we moved on to the next exhibit.
We took a look at the room on the first floor with a few aquariums filled with ants. Within a couple of minutes, I was itching all over, and I could swear someone was crawling on me. It was a big relief when we left.
The staff member in charge of this exhibit was telling us about the different species of ants, where they live, what they eat, and so on. But my son was more interested in looking at the ants than listening, and I have to admit, I would have enjoyed listening more if I were alone.
The aquariums were really well-designed, and the stories behind the ants were fascinating.
One thing that really stood out to me was the variety of ants – there were big ones, small ones, red ones, and even some from back home.
I was also impressed by the ant farm, where you can see the ants' eggs and even their mom. And crawling around the farm were these semi-transparent little ants.
I have to say, I was tempted to get creative and make a picture with a butterfly appliqué, but I decided against it – my son was already planning to make one, and I was in a hurry to get to the second floor, where the reptiles and snakes were waiting for me. I'm a total sucker for those guys!
And we got lucky again – we were the only visitors that day, which made it feel even more special.
The second floor had two rooms, and we were greeted by a slightly rough-around-the-edges girl who showed us the ropes and warned us not to touch anything – no glass, no trim. She said we could take the stairs and go in, but we had to look, not touch.
And that's when I lost it – I was squealing with excitement and couldn't wait to touch everything.
The place was home to all sorts of amazing creatures, including snakes, lizards, frogs (I thought they were all the same, but I was wrong!), geckos, iguanas, monitor lizards, and even a crocodile. It was a real-life zoo, and I was in heaven.
To be honest, the photos are a bit overwhelming, so I'll only add a few quotes if needed. If you want to see who's behind the reptiles, just open and take a look.
I was surprised to see snakes slithering across the aquarium, while others just sat there motionless.
The crocodile's aquarium was a mess, it was hard to even see the crocodile anymore.
My heart went out to the turtle – it was swimming solo and playing with the water filter or whatever that thing is in their tank, I'm not even sure what it's called.
The bearded dragon, on the other hand, seemed like a social butterfly – I stood by its tank and got distracted by my son, turned away from it, and it just slammed its nose against the glass, I was so startled I almost wet my pants. Maybe it was offended that I turned my attention away from it.
We even spotted a lizard with eggs in the tank, but there weren't many of them.
live_helpFeatured FAQ
What can I expect to see at the Butterfly House at VDNH?
The Butterfly House at VDNH features a large exhibit with hundreds of tropical butterflies from around the world. You'll also see beautiful plants and flowers, as well as the opportunity to hold a snake and a reptile.
How long does it take to see the butterflies?
It's recommended to spend at least 1-2 hours at the exhibit to see all the butterflies and take in the surroundings.
Are the butterflies safe to touch?
No, the butterflies are not safe to touch, as their wings are delicate and can be easily damaged.
Can I bring my own food and drinks?
Yes, you're welcome to bring your own food and drinks, but there are also cafes and restaurants on site for your convenience.
Is the exhibit suitable for young children?
Yes, the exhibit is suitable for young children, but be sure to supervise them closely to ensure their safety.
Can I take photos at the exhibit?
Yes, you're welcome to take photos at the exhibit, but be sure to respect the butterflies and the surroundings.
Are there any discounts available?
Yes, there are discounts available for students, seniors, and groups, so be sure to ask about them when you arrive.
Can I cancel or change my ticket?
Yes, you can cancel or change your ticket, but be sure to contact us at least 24 hours in advance to avoid any fees.
What are the opening hours?
The Butterfly House at VDNH is open from 10am to 6pm, with extended hours during peak season.
check_circlePros
- •The tropical butterflies were incredible, with some species measuring up to 20 centimeters in wingspan.
- •The beautiful plants and flowers added a lovely touch to the overall experience.
- •We got to hold a snake and a reptile, which was a great bonus for our kids.
- •The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, happy to answer our questions about the butterflies and the exhibit.
- •The exhibit was well-maintained and clean, with plenty of seating areas for parents to take a break.
- •The prices were reasonable, especially considering the quality of the experience.
- •The kids loved the interactive elements, like the touch-and-learn stations.
cancelCons
- •There weren't as many butterflies as I was expecting, which was a bit of a letdown.
- •There was no storage available for our belongings, which made it difficult to keep track of our stuff.
- •The lack of a toilet was a bit of an issue, especially for our younger kids who needed to use the bathroom.
- •The prices didn't quite match the quality of the experience, especially considering the lack of amenities.
- •The exhibit could benefit from more interactive elements to keep kids engaged.
- •The limited availability of butterflies meant that we had to wait for a while to see them.
- •The cafe food was a bit overpriced, but the drinks were okay.
