Moscow State University and Sparrow Hills

2016-06-22 · Updated: 2026-08-11 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Read the original Korean post →

Exterior of a massive white government building with the Russian flag flying — The Russian Presidential Palace across from the Radisson Royal Hotel

After getting a refund for the cruise, I decided to travel a bit differently today. The older brother I'd been traveling with and I decided to split up and see the parts of Moscow we each wanted to see. Come to think of it, we had been sticking together a bit too much. Plus, Moscow is so vast and has so much to see that our priorities were bound to differ, so we made today a special solo day.

I headed toward Moscow State University, considered the most magnificent of the Stalin Sisters (Seven Sisters). My plan was to start at the university, head north through Sparrow Hills for a panoramic view of Moscow, and continue further north to see the Novodevichy Convent, a UNESCO World Heritage site. I was especially interested in Moscow State University. Just like in Korea where the bustling bar streets outside a university feel completely different from the campus inside, I wanted to see what the atmosphere of a Russian university was like.

Exterior of a building in Moscow with an Aeroflot sign on the roof — The Aeroflot headquarters I saw on the way to the subway station. It feels like I'm only flying with them on this trip.

Golden statue of two dancing figures in the center of a park fountain

Long row of brown brick apartment buildings behind a park with a fountain

Large buildings in Moscow lined up on both sides of a promenade shaded by green trees

Stairs of an arched stone bridge studded with golden decorations at regular intervals

Bronze statue of a woman holding a book and a tree branch with a bird on it, with an apartment building behind her — There was a beautifully landscaped park between the apartment complexes. Judging by the bridge decorations and statues, it doesn't seem like just an ordinary park.

I came out of Universitet subway station to work my way up from the south. (The name somehow feels similar to "University".) As soon as I exited the station, I could see the red star—a signature of the Stalin Sisters—atop a massive building in the distance. It seemed quite far away, but the fact that I could spot it at a glance and easily get my bearings made me look forward to how huge it would actually be up close.

Befitting Russia's top university, the parks surrounding Moscow State University are incredibly well-maintained. The path leading to the school, in particular, is so lush with trees and pleasant to walk on that you'd think it was a country road rather than a big city. In Seoul, maybe only Seoul National University has a campus like this, but there you'd be cursing as you hike up the mountain, whereas here it's flat and easy to walk. On the flip side, while buses run frequently inside the Seoul National University campus, I didn't see any buses or trams running inside this campus. Maybe the Moscow students who have to cross this massive garden on their way to class curse even more.

Bicycle lane and pedestrian path next to a road lined with green trees

Statue of a man sitting on a chair holding a book, erected next to a wooded park promenade

Bronze statue of a man sitting on a chair holding a book in one hand against a background of green trees — There are statues of great historical figures dotted along the way. But I have no idea who they are...

Park promenade densely lined with tall green trees on both sides

Cars parked and people walking along a roadside lined with green trees

When I reached the front (well, technically the back) of Moscow State University, it was so unbelievably huge that I was at a loss for words. If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building feels large, Moscow State University feels truly majestic. Even though it was drizzling, it made me just sit on a bench and stare blankly at it. If it were just a plain, bulky building, I would have just thought of it as a giant lump, but this massive structure is carved with countless sculptures and statues. Each corner tower also features a unique clock that makes you wonder how to read it, making the fine details fun to look at. Stalin built the Stalin Sisters for propaganda purposes, but at this scale, it goes beyond propaganda—visitors from other countries must have felt a sense of overwhelming pressure.

Statue of Lomonosov standing on a round stone pillar holding a book in one hand — The statue in front of the back of Moscow State University. I looked it up and it's Mikhail Lomonosov. I didn't recognize the name, but you'd immediately know him by his achievements. He discovered the famous "Law of Conservation of Mass" and founded Moscow State University.

Moscow State University building with a massive spire and the statue of Lomonosov in front of it

Grand central tower of the Moscow State University main building with a star decoration on top

Spire with a star-shaped decoration on top of the Moscow State University building

Grand main building of Moscow State University towering under a cloudy sky and surrounding green trees

Square pastry held in a hand with the Moscow State University building in the background on a cloudy day

Wrapper of Russian Alyonka chocolate featuring a cute baby face wearing a scarf — Lunch. I'm slowly running out of money, so I bought some bread from the supermarket to tide me over, but it was so delicious.

Massive Moscow State University building and clock tower seen beyond trees and a promenade

Large clock displaying a thermometer and barometer installed on the exterior wall of the Moscow State University building — The clock is so unique. Actually, it's not a clock, it's a thermometer.

Former Soviet Union emblem and CCCP lettering decoration carved on the top of the Moscow State University building

Front view of the Moscow State University main building looking up from up close

I was so curious if the inside was as beautiful as the outside, and what Moscow would look like from the top of the building, so I tried to go in. Unfortunately, you can't enter unless you're a student, so I had to turn back. ~~Still, having police guard it seems a bit much.~~ It must be a spectacular view, like looking at Seoul from the 63 Building, so I was deeply disappointed.

Perhaps because the main Moscow State University building is so massive, there don't seem to be many other buildings around it. It feels like almost all the lecture halls and labs are inside that one structure, but if you walk around a bit, you'll notice low-rise buildings scattered here and there. (It's much clearer if you look at a map.) As I sat and watched the students passing by, I couldn't feel any difference from Korea: comfortable yet stylish clothes, transport like bikes or skateboards, couples walking and laughing playfully, and a few people with thick glasses reading books as they walked.

Grand front entrance of the Moscow State University main building decorated with massive pillars and statues — I really wanted to go inside, but...

Grand panoramic view of the Moscow State University building with large clock towers on both sides

Spire of Moscow State University seen blurrily beyond blooming purple lilac flowers

Russian commemorative plaque attached to the exterior wall of the Moscow State University building

Grand Stalinist-style main building of Moscow State University seen beyond a long rectangular pond — This is the front from here on. It's perfectly symmetrical like a decalcomania, so the shape looks the same from any angle. However, the front has a beautiful garden and a pond.

Main building of Moscow State University towering behind a flowerbed full of red and white tulips

Wide, quiet paved road lined with street trees and yellow streetlights

Massive Moscow State University main building standing symmetrically behind a calm rectangular pond

Heading north past Moscow State University, you soon reach Sparrow Hills (Vorobyovy Gory). The guidebook described it as a lively place, but maybe because of the rain today, there were few tourists. Even then, most were flag-following tour groups who just stopped by on buses, making it feel even more desolate. Just as the guidebook said, there really isn't anywhere to buy food, and you can only get a few drinks from street vendors, so you can't stay long. On a clear day, the view of the Novodevichy Convent must be spectacular, but due to the cloudy weather, most of the buildings looked blurry, and even the nearby ones felt gloomy, which was a bummer. However, the mountain path from Sparrow Hills down to the Vorobyovy Gory subway station is one of the few places in this asphalt-filled city where you can step on actual dirt. The trail is well-maintained and perfect for a short, relaxing trek. Most of the people who came here were tourists on buses, and it was a bit of a shame that they just took photos and left without walking this trail. I feel like this is the real highlight. They really missed out.

Open view of Luzhniki Stadium and high-rise buildings in downtown Moscow beyond a green forest

Wide panoramic view of a massive circular stadium and the city spreading out beyond trees under a cloudy sky. — The stadium you see in front is Luzhniki Stadium (home of Spartak Moscow), which received a 5-star rating from UEFA. From Sparrow Hills, you can see this stadium and the Novodevichy Convent. The view isn't great today because it's cloudy.

A person walking on a wide paved road lined with tall trees on both sides.

Stairs and a promenade through a lush green forest leading downwards.

Dirt promenade with streetlights winding through a lush forest. — Moscow State University
Sparrow Hills, Vorobyovy Gory

Expenses

Breakfast 215 RUB
Lunch 83 RUB
Dinner Chicken 250 RUB

Total Expenses 548 RUB

Total Trip Expenses 525,936 KRW + 21,560 RUB + $53.16