The Vernadsky State Geological Museum Moscow stands on Mokhovaya Street, in the old university area next to Manezhnaya Square and a short walk from Red Square. Its collection began as the mineral cabinet of Moscow University, founded in 1755 on Mikhail Lomonosov’s initiative, and the museum describes itself as the oldest center of Earth sciences and education in Moscow.
Today it is a scientific and educational center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, with more than 300,000 minerals, rocks and fossils according to a guide. This guide explains how to find the entrance on Mokhovaya Street, what the main exhibition of minerals shows, how the museum differs from the Fersman Mineralogical Museum, which Metro stations are nearest, what hours and prices are listed, what the cafe and the souvenir shop offer, and how to combine the visit with Red Square and the Moscow State Conservatory.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Государственный геологический музей имени В. И. Вернадского РАН |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1755 |
| Architect(s) | Roman Klein (the building on Mokhovaya Street, according to one guide) |
| Address | Mokhovaya Street 11, building 11, Moscow 125009 |
| District | Tverskoy |
| Metro | Okhotny Ryad (Line 1, red, a walk of about 6 minutes) Alexandrovsky Sad (Line 4, light blue, named as a nearby station; a walk of about 6 minutes (estimate)) Teatralnaya (Line 2, green, named as a nearby station; a walk of about 6 minutes) |
| Opening hours | Listings give the museum as open Tuesday to Friday from 11:00 to 19:00 and Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 to 19:00, with Monday closed, but the official site was not read, so confirm the current hours (as of October 2026 – check the official site). |
| Admission | A map listing shows an entry ticket at a moderate price (₽₽) for the main category and prices from the budget price level (₽) for other categories; check the official site for current prices. |
| Best time to visit | Weekday mornings are the quietest, and weekends are busier with family groups. The museum is indoors and suits a rainy or winter day; see the Moscow in the Rain: Indoor Sightseeing Itinerary. Remember that Monday is the closed day according to listings. |
| Recommended duration | About 2 to 3 hours |
| Website | sgm.ru/eng |
| Last updated | October 9, 2026 |
What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to Vernadsky State Geological Museum Moscow?
| Part | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The permanent exhibitions, including The World of Minerals | Included in the standard ticket | Covered by the standard ticket. |
| Guided excursions | Separate ticket or institution | Offered with their own tickets according to a map listing. |
| Children's interactive classes | Separate ticket or institution | Have their own ticket and booking. |
| The Fersman Mineralogical Museum | Outside / not part of it | A different mineralogical museum in another part of the city. |
| The old Moscow State University building next door | Outside / not part of it | A working university building, not part of the museum. |
| Storage and laboratories | Not open to visitors | Not open to visitors. |
Why Visit Vernadsky State Geological Museum Moscow?
The museum shows the planet’s materials in one place: a large collection of minerals, rocks and fossils gathered over more than two centuries, including collections by Mikhail Lomonosov and Vladimir Vernadsky. The main exhibition is called The World of Minerals, and the displays illustrate the geological history of the Earth and the evolution of the biosphere.
The museum’s roots go to 1755, when Moscow University was founded, and in 1759 the mineralogical collection donated by the industrialist family Demidov became the basis of the university’s natural history museum. It also runs workshops and interactive classes for children, has a souvenir shop and a cafe, and offers the identification of gems and minerals, according to its description.
How Vernadsky State Geological Museum Moscow Is Laid Out
The museum occupies a historic building at Mokhovaya Street 11, building 11, in the old university quarter between Manezhnaya Square and the Alexander Garden, a guide credits its design to the architect Roman Klein. Other listings give the building as number 2, so look for the museum sign on the street.
The museum has halls with the main permanent exhibitions, among them The World of Minerals, and rooms for temporary exhibitions, interactive classes and lectures, as well as a souvenir shop and a cafe. Check the official site for the current floor plan, the exhibitions on display, excursion options and children’s workshops.
Highlights of Vernadsky State Geological Museum Moscow
The World of Minerals
The main exhibition, The World of Minerals, shows a large part of the museum's mineral collection, which as a whole numbers more than 300,000 minerals, rocks and fossils. It is the first hall to look at for crystals, ores and gems. Look for the largest crystals and the colors. Check which halls are currently open.
Tip: Start with this hall to see the museum's strongest pieces first.
Fossils and the history of the Earth
The displays illustrate the geological history of the planet and the evolution of the Earth's biosphere, with fossils from different eras. Look for the timelines and the larger specimens. Check whether English labels are available, since they may be limited.
Tip: Follow the halls in order to keep the timeline clear.
Lomonosov's and Vernadsky's legacy
The museum grew from the mineralogical collection of Moscow University, founded in 1755 on Mikhail Lomonosov's initiative, and follows the teachings of Vladimir Vernadsky on the biosphere and the interaction of living and non-living matter. Check the museum's own history page.
Tip: Read a short biography of Vernadsky for the context.
The Demidov collection
In 1759 the mineralogical office donated by the Demidov family became the foundation of Moscow University's museum of natural history, and in 1778 Pavel Demidov donated his own collection and substantial funding for its upkeep. Check the history page.
Tip: Ask a guide about the Demidov pieces.
Workshops and classes for children
The museum offers interactive science classes for children and their parents, as well as thematic excursions, lectures and master classes. Check the schedule and the price of a class, since classes have their own tickets.
Tip: Book a class in advance if you travel with children.
The historic building and the cafe
The museum stands in an old university building on Mokhovaya Street, near the old Moscow State University and the Alexander Garden, and has a cafe and a souvenir shop. Check the cafe's hours.
Tip: Plan a coffee stop before heading to Red Square.
Atmosphere
Inside, the halls are cool and softly lit, with glass cases full of glittering crystals, banded stones and fossil shells. The sounds are footsteps, the soft voices of school groups and, at times, a guide explaining a specimen.
Visitors are families with children, students and a few tourists from Red Square, and the museum is rarely crowded outside weekends. Children’s classes fill the halls on some days. The mood is that of a working scientific museum rather than a spectacle.
History of Vernadsky State Geological Museum Moscow
The museum traces its origin to the mineralogical collection of Moscow Imperial University, founded in 1755 with Mikhail Lomonosov’s involvement, and in 1759 the mineralogical office donated by the industrialists Demidov laid the basis of the first natural-science museum in Moscow. In 1778 Pavel Demidov donated his own collection to the university with substantial funding for its maintenance.
In 1791 the collection became the Museum of Natural History, in the Assembly Hall of the university’s main building on Mokhovaya Street, the museum’s present site. The museum today occupies a historic building on Mokhovaya Street, which one guide says was designed by the architect Roman Klein and built in 1918, though details differ between sources.
Over the years the museum has become a scientific and educational center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, named after Vladimir Vernadsky, with more than 300,000 minerals, rocks and fossils according to a guide. Dates and details should be checked against the museum’s official site, and this history is shorter than requested because few facts could be verified; a database page gives an establishment year of 1988, which is not used here.
Tickets and Booking for Vernadsky State Geological Museum Moscow
Tickets. Tickets are sold at the museum’s ticket office and on the official site, and a map listing shows an entry ticket at a moderate price (₽₽), an excursion ticket for a joint tour of the main exhibitions and a children’s class at a moderate price (₽₽), which should be confirmed because the official price list was not read; no booking window was verified. Rates for Russian citizens and concessions differ, so check the official site sgm.ru for all categories and the current hours.
Payment. Cash in rubles is the safe option at the ticket office. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, and your country’s sanctions rules may restrict some payment services, so check this yourself.
Plan and Book
Suggested itineraries Vernadsky State Geological Museum Moscow
2 hours
Start with The World of Minerals, move to the fossil and Earth history halls and finish with a coffee in the museum cafe.
3 hours
Add a guided excursion, then walk to Red Square, following the Red Square and Moscow Kremlin Walking Itinerary.
Half day
Combine the museum with the Moscow Museum of Archaeology and the Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 on Manezhnaya Square.
How to Get to Vernadsky State Geological Museum Moscow
Take the Metro to Okhotny Ryad (Line 1, red), about 6 minutes on foot, or to Alexandrovsky Sad (Line 4, light blue) or Teatralnaya (Line 2, green); the museum is at Mokhovaya Street 11, building 11.
- By taxi: ask for Mokhovaya Street 11, the Geological Museum.
- On foot: the museum is a short walk from Manezhnaya Square and the Alexander Garden.
- Orientation: look for the museum sign near the old university building.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities such as lifts and ramps were not verified on the official site, so check sgm.ru or call the museum before you go.
Food Nearby
The museum has a cafe, according to its description, and the streets around Manezhnaya Square and Tverskaya have many more; the exact venues were not verified. See the Moscow Food Tour: Russian Cuisine and Local Specialties itinerary.
What to Bring
Bring a translation app for the Russian labels and a light layer, since the halls are cool; cash in rubles helps at the ticket office.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Vernadsky State Geological Museum Moscow
The mineral cases in The World of Minerals
Large crystals and ores under spotlights; ask before photographing.
Best time: Weekday mornings.
The fossil displays
Fossil shells and bones in cases along the timeline.
Best time: Off-peak hours.
The museum entrance on Mokhovaya Street
The historic building facade near the old university.
Best time: Morning light.
Manezhnaya Square nearby
The wide square a short walk away.
Best time: Dusk.
Photography Rules
Photography rules were not verified on the official site, so ask staff and follow signs; flash and tripods may be restricted, and drones must not be flown near Red Square.
Family Suitability
Very suitable for children who like stones and fossils, with interactive classes offered; the displays are easy to follow and a visit lasts two to three hours. Stroller access was not verified.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Visit The World of Minerals first, since it holds the most striking pieces.
- Check the children's class schedule if you travel with a family.
- Look for the museum entrance on Mokhovaya Street, since the building number differs between sources.
- Do not confuse it with the Fersman Mineralogical Museum, which is a different museum.
- Combine the visit with the Museum of Archaeology and Red Square, which are close by.
- Stop at the cafe for a break before the walk back.
Explore Nearby Vernadsky State Geological Museum Moscow
Sights near Vernadsky State Geological Museum Moscow
Moscow Museum of Archaeologyabout 350 m away (~6 min walk) · typical visit: About 45 minutes to 1 hourMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Museum of the Patriotic War of 1812 Moscowabout 450 m away (~7 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Maly Theatre Moscowabout 750 m away (~12 min walk) · typical visit: About 3 hours for a performanceMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow State Conservatoryabout 500 m away (~8 min walk) · typical visit: About 2 to 3 hours for a concertMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Alexander Garden Moscowabout 250 m away (~4 min walk) · typical visit: 30–60 minutesMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
State Historical Museum Moscowabout 350 m away (~6 min walk) · typical visit: 2.5–4 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Vernadsky State Geological Museum Moscow
Aleksandrovsky Sad Metro Stationabout 350 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Alexandrovsky Sad Metro Stationabout 350 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Okhotny Ryad Metro Stationabout 400 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near Vernadsky State Geological Museum Moscow
Gvidonabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Ikraabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
WA Gardenabout 200 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Krasotaabout 200 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nightlife near Vernadsky State Geological Museum Moscow
Rule Taproomabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Rhythm & Blues Cafeabout 500 m away (~9 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near Vernadsky State Geological Museum Moscow
Hotel National Moscowabout 250 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
The Carlton Moscowabout 250 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Assambleya Nikitskaya Hotelabout 350 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near Vernadsky State Geological Museum Moscow
Tatiana Day (Students' Day) in Moscowabout 50 m away (~1 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Golden Autumn Festival in Moscowabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Gardens and Flowers Festival in Moscowabout 200 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Vernadsky State Geological Museum Moscow
How old is the museum?
Its collection traces back to 1755, when Moscow University was founded.
How big is the collection?
More than 300,000 minerals, rocks and fossils, according to a guide.
Which Metro station is closest?
Okhotny Ryad, about 6 minutes on foot.
Is it the same as the Fersman Museum?
No. That is a separate mineralogical museum.
Is there a cafe?
Yes, according to the museum's description.
Is it good for children?
Yes, with interactive classes.
When is it closed?
On Monday according to listings.
Can I pay with a foreign card?
Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, so carry cash in rubles; see the booking section for sanctions rules.
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Last updated: October 9, 2026.
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