Things to See in Nizhny Novgorod with Kids: a Guide to Kids-friendly Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
The ancient Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin, an interactive museum, a ropeway, zoos, theaters, a kids railroad, and a planetarium with a real space simulator of a spaceship from the International Space Station: our review fills you in on the cool places that your kids will enjoy in Nizhny Novgorod.
Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street, a Pedestrian Street in Nizhny Novgorod
On the main street of the city, the pedestrian Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street, you can find a butterfly museum, two movie theaters, a cat exhibition, and a puppet theater. There’s always a lot of people there, both tourists and locals. Adding to the charm and delight of Pokrovka is a multitude of funny little monuments built all the way down the street. The most popular of them is the Funny Goat statue –the unofficial statue of Nizhny Novgorod. You can climb up on the goat and at another nearby sculpture, the shoe shiner, you can put your foot down and pose for a photograph.
You would surely be well-advised to stop by the main gates of the Kremlin, where you will be greeted by tanks, military cars, and airplanes “parked” next to the entrance. You’re also allowed to climb all of these military statues. From May to November, you can climb up on the old Kremlin walls and enjoy the view on the city center. One more decent, but safe place to walk is the steep along the fortress walls, which leads to the eternal flame.
The ropeway in Nizhny Novgorod isn’t intended as a tourist attraction –simply maintaining it happened to be cheaper for the city than a regular bridge. Nevertheless, since then, the “rope ride” has become a local attraction and a favorite attraction for the family and kids. In the 12 minute ride, you will get to see the top of the Kremlin, the Volga, the Arrow, and the Rowing Canal. The cabins are closed. Sometimes it’s stuffy in there or cold depending on the season. On the weekends, you have to wait your turn.
The Nizhny Novgorod Planetarium
In the Nizhny Novgorod planetarium are five halls. There they have programs for kids of different ages (4 and up) and there’s also a hall for celebrating holidays and birthdays with space light and sound effects.
In the Space Exploration hall, is a real space simulator –the pride and joy of the Planetarium. On it, kids can simulate space ship Unity with the International Space Station. There are no other such mechanisms at any other Russian planetarium and it’s used only by real astronauts. During clear weather the “Observatory” holds séances where you can observe using the telescope. Entrance is free, but you must schedule beforehand.
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As a rule, performances at the circus are held on holidays and weekends. There are seats for disabled people. Very soon, a church arts museum is going to open and you can also celebrate you kid’s birthday in the circus.
Kids Railroad in Nizhny Novgorod
A regular railroad, but all responsibilities are left to kid trainees of a special railroad hobby group. The railroad extends 3 km long and the train travels between three stations. The railroad works all summer (from June 1 to August 31) and kids have an actual opportunity to be engineers, serve at the stations, switch-men, and road workers. For everything to remain realistic, they need real passengers, and that is why anyone who likes (if you’re lucky, there will be room) may take a ride in the train cars.
Exotic Animal Museum of Nizhny Novgorod
The exotic animal museum contains the largest variety of wild animals. There is a large collection of spiders, large and small, living on water and dry land. There are also both carnivorous and herbivorous turtles, snakes, bats, giant frogs, and other animals inhabiting the land as well as unusual birds like owls and parrots. There is usually the most people at the crocodile and parrot aquariums. As far as the passage ways between the aquariums is fairly narrow, you’re better off going there during weekdays when it isn’t as packed. As a souvenir at the exit of the aquarium they also sell living geckos, iguanas, and crickets.
Schelkovsky Village in Nizhny Novgorod
The wooden open air museum is where they decided to bring some old peasant houses, mills, wells, barns, and churches from all over the Nizhny Novgorod Volga region. Interiors are restored in the huts and you can go in and check out spinning wheels, bassinets, ovens, and home utensils.
On Maslenitsa and Christmas, Schelkovsky hosts different city walks, which with such a traditional Russian countryside looks especially fitting. Not far away are the Schelkovsky Lakes, where all the locals like to go in the summer to sun bathe and go skiing in the winter.
Gardens and Parks, Zoos in Nizhny Novgorod
Switzerland Park, Zoo and attractions in Nizhny Novgorod
The park is located atop the sharp shores of the Oka and came about in the very beginning of the 20th century. There is a great view from its slopes of the city and the Oka. The park has its attractions along with Mishutka Zoo, where you can look at rabbits, wolves, foxes, raccoons, bears, monkeys, camels, tigers, and other animals.
Limpopo Zoo in Sormovsky Park in Nizhny Novgorod
This is the second bona fide zoo in the city. Lamas, camels, deer, yacks, tigers, and a puma share the territory there with attractions, trampolines, several adults, and a kids café. There is a petting zoo there with tamed goats, which you can pet and feed with fresh veggies (they sell them there). Make sure and check out the alpaca –an adorable animal with expressive, funny little faces. There is a store operating in the zoo, where you can buy decorative rabbits, doves, pheasants, and other animals.
The Botanical Garden of Nizhny Novgorod
The garden isn’t going through the best of times, but it’s still worth going there, especially in the spring. On Sirenevaya (Lilac in English) Avenue, there are different types of lilacs growing, there’s a large collection of coniferous plants, and in the green house they grow exotic plants and cacti.
Kids Museums in Nizhny Novgorod
Sun City science museum has everything the way we like it: not only can you touch the exhibits, but you can conduct your own experiments with them too. You can see lightening there, life a 24 kg balance weight, and unobtrusively get your child interested in chemistry and physics.
In the end of 2013, they opened one more science center called Quarks, where children can experiments with 100 interactive exhibits. They organize a show with electricity and dry ice on the weekend in Quarks center and people also try to make a ball move using their thoughts in the game “mind ball”. In Quarks, you can also tell apart colors for building blocks in the Dark Room and watch movies about space in the sphere-shaped planetarium.
Located on the territory of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin is the Art Museum with an interesting and inspiring main exposition (the most interesting is Russian art from icon painting to avant-garde) as well as special options for children. For example, they regularly hold sand animation and historical dance workshops (must sign up by phone: +7 (831) 439 13 73). There are dramatized travel programs for kids of different age levels throughout the museum: pirates, Olya and Yalo from The Kingdom of Curved Mirrors”, and other characters. The second building of the museum is not far from the Kremlin.
Situated on the territory of the Kremlin is Arsenal Modern Art Center. They have tours there for kids 7 and up as well as for students. They ask that you sign up for a visit at least 3 days in advance by calling +7 (951) 905-38-00.
Russian Train Museum of Nizhny Novgorod
This square without a ticket booth or a guard doesn’t look much like a museum –it’s basically an open air train station. There is also no sign telling you what to do. Then again, there are 20 trains manufactured in different years starting from the year 1900. There are also German trophies, both awarded during World War II and after. Almost all of them have a red star on their “chests” and the main thing is that you can climb and take pictures on absolutely all the trains. It’s easiest to get to the museum by train at the Nizhny Novgorod-Sortirovochny station.
Theaters for Kids in Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod Academic Puppet Theater
The theater is located on Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street and it is easy to recognize by its romantic towers with spires. In its repertoire are shows for kids of any age. They have About the Little Dragon and Teremok for kids 3 and up; The Red Little Hat, The Snow Queen, and The Brave Snip for preschoolers; and Alena’s Flower, Star Boy, and Ruslan and Ludmila for elementary and middle school kids. Whatever a kid’s age may be, the theater strives to remain serious –there are no pillows, just chairs and no messing around is allowed. Kids on especially bad behavior might get a talking-to during the intermission.
Youth Theater of Nizhny Novgorod
The theater hosts fairy tales, musicals, and melodramas, including school program productions like “The Heart of a Dog” and “The Figaro Marriage”, so there are often whole forms of children there. The Youth Theater of Nizhny Novgorod has received several “Golden Masks” and it has recently been equipped with Wi-Fi.
Vera Kids Theater in Nizhny Novgorod is small and it’s not easy to buy tickets for. Despite its modest size, it has quite a serious repertoire, from Shakespeare, Pushkin, and Chekhov to Dragunskaya and Sigarev.
Piano Movement Theater is at the Nizhny Novgorod Boarding School for Deaf Children. Acting in the shows are the boarding school’s trainees and “catching” theater in Nizhny Novgorod isn’t easy. The children often go on tour. Sometimes the performances are put on 5 times a month, sometimes once every three months. In any case, before a trip there it’s a good idea to go on their web site –you just might get lucky and make it to one of Piano’s performances.
Attraction Parks of Nizhny Novgorod
At The Nizhny Novgorod Culture and Outdoor Park, there are two little towns with attractions, which arе conditionally referred to as “for kids” or “family”.
Chippolino Park is for kids. Suitable for kids between the ages of 3 and 7, there is a bouncy castle, a sports trampoline, go carts, a little train, a variety of “swings”, and several carousels, including the prettiest one, which has horses.
Family Town in the Avtozavod Culture and Outdoor Park is designed for adults and children of 7 years or older (they let smaller ones ride if they’re accompanied by their parents). There are no roller coasters there or other exhilarating attractions. Perhaps the most appealing is the nostalgic Ferris Wheel, The Bell, and The Vortex (carousel on chains).
The towns are closed in bad weather. You can find out their schedule by calling +7 (831) 414-02-03.
Attractions in Sormovsky Culture Park in Nizhny Novgorod
The park has several types of trampolines, motorboats, a chained carousel, a house of mirrors, a shooting gallery, go carts, and more. There are also roller skates, motorbikes, badminton, ping pong tables, and a miniature golf area for rent.
Entertainment Parks of Nizhny Novgorod
Madagascar Entertainment Park has just opened for a little bit older kids. In the winter there you can ride on sleds and go visit Santa Claus. Awaiting kids in the summer is wall climbing, a bow shooting range, laser tag, a house of hobbits, and a pirate base. And the main thing, which is why it’s worth visiting, is high town. There are two possible obstacles: the easier one is from kids 4 years or older and the harder one is for those who have already turned 12.
Kangaroo Kids Entertainment Center in Nizhny Novgorod is located on the second floor of Carousel supermarket. In Kangaroo, there are attractions, jumping castles, and mini go carts.
In Fantastika Mall, you can find a Crazy Park center. Crazy Park has a total of 50 attractions for kids of different ages with traditional flying games, racing games, a labyrinth, and air hockey. You can set up a celebration for a kid, have them play around with animators, and visit a kids café.
Victory Entertainment Complex in Nizhny Novgorod
Initially, the complex was created for adults, but kids often come there for bowling and to goof around singing karaoke too.
Places to Go Ice-Skating in Nizhny Novgorod
The ice rink offers the free services of a trainer for anyone interested on certain days. There is a rental booth, wardrobe booths, lockers, and a café.
Katushka Ice Rink in the Avtozavod Culture and Outdoor Park
At Katushka in Nizhny Novgorod, there is a skate and protection rental, a wardrobe booth, bathrooms, and a café. If you come there in the summer, instead of an ice rink, there will be a roller skating course with the opportunity to rent roller skates.
Photo by: nnkd.ru, wikipedia.org, circus.r52.ru, dzdgorkiy.jimdo.com, terraria-nn.ru, vk.com/club16938909, vk.com/arsenal_nnov, vk.com/vkenguru, rail-museums.ru/novgorod.html, teatrvera.r52.ru, avtozpark.ru, vk.com/kvarky
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