Hello, fellow readers!
I recently treated my daughter to a weekend trip to Moscow after she wrapped up the school year with flying colors. We had a packed itinerary, and Kidburg in the Central Children's World was one of the places on our list.
We'd already been to Kidzania, and I wrote a review about it here. I was curious to compare Kidburg and Kidzania, as they essentially serve the same purpose – a city of professions for kids. My little one can try on different roles, from a Yandex food courier to a dancer or radio host. During the experience, kids earn local currency, which they can then spend on offered goods – all in a fun, playful way.
Places like Kidburg are super helpful. They give kids a rough idea of different professions, and it's a great way to spark their interest in what they might want to become when they grow up. I didn't have anything like this when I was a kid, and I'm still figuring out what I'm passionate about at 40! Secondly, kids learn some basic financial literacy and understand how hard it is to earn money in life and how to manage it wisely.
So, today I'm sharing my thoughts on Kidburg – what I liked, what I didn't, and whether I think it's better than Kidzania.
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Basic Info
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Address
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Moscow, Theatre Square, 5/1
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Metro Station
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Kuznetsky Most
Lubyanka
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Hours of Operation
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Monday to Sunday, 10:00 to 22:00
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Ticket Price
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You can find the ticket prices at the administrator's desk.
We paid 3,750 rubles for a child's ticket (all professions plus one masterclass) and 900 rubles per adult. Since we were a family, we had to pay 900 rubles each for my husband and me. This price includes the option for adults to participate in family activities, but we didn't use it. In essence, we paid to just chill while our daughter worked her butt off.
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WHAT KIDBURG REPRESENTS
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Kidburg is located on the 5th floor of the Central Children's World.
Kidburg looks very different from Kidzania. While Kidzania is like a big city with a huge territory, Kidburg is more like a village. The territory and locations are much smaller.
This has its advantages - you don't have to run around looking for a specific location; everything is more compactly arranged.xa0
As we walked through Kidburg, we came across these adorable plush chickens.
Some of the chickens looked pretty exhausted and decided to take a nap on their sides.
There's also a little café on the premises with some pretty steep prices for food. We didn't try anything there, but the place looked clean and seemed to be serving decent food.
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First, we paid for our ticket at the administrator's desk, which looked like this.
Everywhere you look, there are screens with the schedule of professions. Yep, here too, everything works on a schedule, and you need to line up. By the way, you can download the schedule to your phone using a QR code and stay on top of things.
When we registered, we were given a little notebook - a work log. As we progressed through the locations, we got a stamp in it.
When I got my starter cash in Kidzania, I was given a fake bank card. But in Kidburg, it's a bit old-school - they give you real cash instead. And before you start exploring the different professions, they take out a small amount as your starting capital. The money looks pretty realistic, to be honest.
It's not easy to earn money in Kidburg. To learn a new profession, you first have to pay for it, and then you can start earning. There are locations where you can earn more, some where the training costs more, and others where it's free. In one place, I earned 20 rubles, in another 30, and in a third, I earned a whopping 50. It's a bit of a gamble - trying to figure out where you can earn the most and heading there.
What's more, we realized that not all locations are equally interesting. When you first arrive in Kidburg, you might get a bit lost and wander around without a plan. But as the day goes on, you start to get a better sense of where you want to go and what you can skip.
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For example, the 'Port' location and the Captain of the Ship profession didn't really do it for me. They just tell you a lot of stories and let you turn the wheel a bit.
I took my kid to the dentist location, and it was a real drag. It felt like it went on forever and wasted a lot of our time. The job itself is kind of cool, though - the kids get to learn how to brush their teeth properly, watch a movie about oral hygiene, and even make their own natural toothpaste to take home. To be honest, we were a bit hesitant to use the homemade toothpaste 😊
It was informative, but super boring.
There are also some areas where you can't earn money, but you have to spend it. For example, there's an entertainment area with a hide-and-seek game. It costs 30 rubles (if I'm not mistaken). This is actually a great way to teach kids about financial literacy. They get to think about whether it's worth spending their hard-earned money on a quick game or saving up for something better.
I mean, who doesn't love a good game of hide-and-seek, right?
Masterclass - is it worth it? My daughter is absolutely obsessed with masterclasses - you can't feed her bread, but give her something to make and she's as happy as a clam. So, we grabbed a ticket that included a cooking masterclass, and it was a real treat. We made these adorable cupcakes in a jar that she could either devour herself or share with her parents.
Of course, it's all super cool, but let's be real - masterclasses aren't exactly a money-maker for kids, and I'd have spent that time running around the map to earn some cash. And I could've done without the cupcake. But kids see it differently, I guess.
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Which locations did my daughter love the most?
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I was totally surprised, but my daughter's absolute favorite was being a neonatologist.
Can you imagine how adorable it is - kids in white lab coats playing with toy babies, feeding them from tiny bottles, and swaddling them? They even get to take the little ones for a stroll in a stroller around the city.
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The most popular professions are those related to supermarkets. Specifically, it's the grocery store order picker, which bears a faint resemblance to a certain well-known supermarket.
And then there's the Sbermarket delivery on scooters. That was the longest queue I've ever seen! I mean, kids are dressed up in uniforms they've seen before, and they get to ride scooters around Kidburg. Plus, the familiar self-service kiosks are a bonus!
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I'd say one of the most fun locations is Farm. Not only do they not charge for classes, but kids get to horse around and ride sheep, cows, horses, and all sorts of other animals. My daughter had an absolute blast working on the farm.
I've got to give a shout-out to the Dancer profession. Kids learn a few moves, and then they get to perform on stage to music. I'd definitely recommend checking this one out – kids love it!
I have to say, being a stylist for my daughter's photo shoot was an absolute blast! I mean, who wouldn't love having the chance to dress up and get creative? In my opinion, being a stylist is a pretty amazing profession - it's a useful skill to have in life, and if someone can turn it into a career, that's just awesome!
So, we explained the basics of mixing and matching outfits to the kids, and then we let them loose to dress up the mannequins for different scenarios. They really enjoyed it!
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How many people were there? Of course, it's always better to visit on weekdays when it's less crowded. I think it's also a good idea to go during the summer on weekdays when the kids are at camps or on vacation. We actually visited Kidburg on a Saturday in June, right when it opened, and it was deserted! Yeah, we could walk around freely and participate in the activities without any issues. But by lunchtime, when everyone woke up and got going, the crowd started to pick up.
How much did my daughter earn in a day and what did she manage to buy?
We spent the whole day at Kidburg, from 10 am to 7 pm, with no breaks for lunch. My daughter worked for 9 hours straight - I'm not even kidding! As for how much she earned, I'm not entirely sure...
Let's be real, the selection of things you can buy with your allowance in Kidburg is pretty limited. Compared to the huge store in Kidzania, where you could get everything from cosmetics to toys, it's a bit of a letdown. My daughter was able to splurge on a 48-page notebook with grid paper and a set of 12 crayons. And let me tell you, it's a whole day of hard work with just a notebook and crayons!
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THE VERDICT
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Despite the downsides I mentioned about Kidburg's setup, we actually really enjoyed our time here! In fact, I'd say it's even better than Kidzania. Sure, it's smaller and less modern, but the atmosphere is way more relaxed and cozy.
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First of all, there aren't as many people here. Kidzania is just packed, with long lines and it's hard to get to the popular spots. But in Kidburg, we felt right at home and managed to visit everything we wanted.
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Secondly, there's no unnecessary chaos and rushing around. We had a great time, and I even got to relax a bit. It's not too loud here either.
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So if you're deciding between introducing your kid to the world of professions, I'd definitely recommend Kidburg in the Central Children's World. We're even planning to come back, and we rarely go to the same place twice!
Let's break down the PERKS of Kidburg.
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✅ convenient location right in the heart of Moscow
✅ Hands down, this place is a winner!
✅ There are so many cool professions to explore!
✅ It gives kids a solid understanding of personal finance.
✅ Helps them figure out what they want to be when they grow up.
✅ Teaches the importance of counting money.
✅ The staff here is top-notch!
✅ Just the right number of people to make it feel cozy.
Now, let's talk about the downsides.
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❌ It's a bit cramped, to be honest.
❌Not a huge selection of locations.
❌ The system could use an update – paper pay stubs and cash payments are a thing of the past!
I'd give Kidburg a solid 4 out of 5 stars and definitely recommend it for a fun day out with the kids!
Wishing you all the best, and until next time – see you later!