I never thought I'd end up in Perm, but life had other plans. Growing up, I knew the city for one thing: 'Real Men.' That was it.
I wasn't a huge fan of the show, but I'd catch episodes out of boredom, wondering how the characters spoke and what their crazy habits were.
Fast forward to me being in Perm as a local, and visiting Kolyan's museum apartment was a no-brainer.
General Info
The museum is private, so don't expect those Pushkin cards to work here.
The entrance fee is a steal at 300 rubles per person, but be warned: your visit will be cut short at 30 minutes.
The tour guide has a terminal, so you can pay with card or cash. Easy peasy.
And yeah, the museum is where the show was filmed, and the interior remains largely unchanged.
Finding the place is a breeze – it's smack in the city center, in the old fund houses, at:
Monastry Street, 171, entrance 1
We drove there, but you can take the bus and walk for 10 minutes to get to the house.
The house is big, with a 'P' on the front, and the museum is in the light-green zone on the right.
The important thing is to call the museum before visiting. The apartment is small, so they can't fit many people in, so book in advance.
Our Tour Experience
I've got to say, our tour was pretty intense. The museum staff member gave us a whirlwind tour of the apartment and the filming locations, and that was it.
And you know what? That's not a bad thing at all. People come here to see the place where the show was filmed, not to sit through a lecture. They want to experience it for themselves.
The apartment is packed with all sorts of props from the show. The interior is still the same as it was in the series, and you're free to touch everything. Want to take a selfie with the lamp? Go for it. Want to pose with the glasses on the kitchen counter? Be my guest.
We were asked not to get too rough with the props, just in case they break. But to be honest, I wouldn't have even thought of it.
I wasn't the only one on the tour - my mom came along, and she's a bigger fan of the show than I am. She was really impressed with the museum, and I'm glad I got to share the experience with her.
It's like you're right there in the show. The kitchen, the decor, the atmosphere - it's all so familiar.
While we were walking through the apartment, the staff member put on the show's soundtrack, which just added to the atmosphere.
I loved how they set up scenes all over the place, so you can take photos with them, and even recreate some key moments from the show in the same settings.
The notes scattered around the apartment really made me smile. Like this one from 'mom':
And she wasn't kidding! When you head to the bathroom, you'll find that they're actually drying bras!
Before heading to the museum, I read some reviews, but I was pretty sure it wouldn't really hit me: I was going to the museum mostly to entertain my mom, but in the end, I ended up having a blast too.
Despite not being a huge fan of the show, being on the set was a total surprise. It's not the same as reading reviews or looking at photos online. It's a different atmosphere, and different feelings altogether.
You can almost touch the show with your hand. It's both surprising and captivating and addictive.
Of course, from an artistic standpoint, it's just an old apartment with a century-old renovation, like the ones you can find in every house. But the atmosphere that reigns here brings back memories from my youth.
My impressions of Kolyan's Apartment
I'm thoroughly impressed. I'm not a big fan of museums where you walk along a string and admire exhibits behind glass, trying to take in the artwork. I love interactive experiences, I love examining small details, and I love touching things with my own hands. And here, that was allowed.
Everywhere and anywhere, they've hung all sorts of references to the show - photos, notes, props for photo shoots. Yes, the apartment is small, but if you want to take some photos, you'll barely make it through the 30 minutes it takes to explore everything.
I have to say, I recommend taking your time to explore. We walked through the rooms a few times, and at first, we didn't notice much. The small details just slipped our attention. For instance, I didn't immediately spot the plates and photos of actors on the wall. My attention was drawn to something else!
There are plenty of moments like that. I'll be honest, I didn't really enjoy the museum at first – for the first 5 minutes, that is. But, as they say, appetite comes with eating. So, the more I looked around, the more interesting details and references I noticed!
On the way out, I even recognized the entrance. I'm pretty sure I saw it in the series a few times!
The only downside to this whole experience was me. I visited the museum right after the hospital, after some physical therapy. My neck was sore, I was swollen, puffy, and... not feeling great. So, on 90% of the photos, I'm not a fan of how I look. I've got a face like a balloon everywhere.
And that's no reason to be down. I've decided for myself that I'll just head back to the museum another time when I'm feeling better.
Servicing and souvenirs
As for comfort, I've got no complaints about the museum.
We managed to get through to them on the first try (hello botanical garden, which never answers the phone), and the female staff member was impeccably polite. The museum was always in touch. When we got a bit lost, they gave us directions.
Inside, it's spotless. Even with people walking around in shoes, you can't see any dust, dirt, or water damage on the floor. It's clear they take care of the place. Even the numerous shelves with decorations are clean!
The prices for tickets and souvenirs are more than fair.
Take, for example, a poster with actor signatures – it's just 100 rubles. And a postcard is 30! I haven't seen prices like that in a long time.
In general, even for a picky person like me, there were no issues.
Conclusion
Naturally, the museum isn't for everyone. We brought a family with a schoolboy who walked around the apartment asking, 'Who is this Kolyan guy, anyway?'
This museum is a must-visit for fans of the show, or people who love Feduniki, KVN, and TNT. And honestly, it's a great spot for tourists in general - this series did put Perm on the map, after all. Before it, many people didn't even know the city existed.
If you're still unsure, I'd recommend checking it out. The museum is budget-friendly, super atmospheric, and has a cozy feel to it.
I think Perm needs more spots like this, where you can not only walk around and listen to stories, but also take photos, touch things, and recharge for the rest of the day. And it's all at reasonable prices.
I wasn't exactly in the best shape when I visited, and I'd love to come back with a clear head and a plan. And I'd definitely recommend it to others.
Other cool spots in Perm to check out
The Permskii Period Ecotrail in Hisikhinskaya Valley
The Elka Glintvein winter wonderland - a must-see!
The Kaminsky Embankment - Perm's pride
I was blown away by the Ethnographic Museum "Khokhlovka" - it's like stepping into a real-life village from the past.
Big Savino Airport is a total surprise - I've flown out of some rough places, but this one's a gem.