Kazan what to see

Kazan, Russia

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About Kazan

As the capital city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan is a glorious city that represents Russia’s Tsarist past. With complex palaces, towering churches, and a thriving cultural scene, Kazan is a pure Russian city with incredible beauty and heart.

Main Attractions in Kazan

As the «Third Capital of Russia,» there is plenty to see and to do while staying in Kazan. Visitors can enjoy long walks down the streets of the city, as each of them offers a new arrangement of colors and historic buildings. Kazan is also one of the largest economic, political, scientific and cultural centers of the country.

Kazan Kremlin

One of the main attractions is the Kazan Kremlin. Built by Ivan the Terrible on the ruins of the palace of the Kazan Khanate that he destroyed, this white fortress is a beautiful sight in any season. The Kremlin of Kazan reflects not only the ethnic mix of Tatars and Russians that make up this important region of the Russian Federation, but also the combined strength of the region’s two great religions: Islam and Orthodox Christianity.

Kul Sharif Mosque

Annunciation Cathedral

As an equally important place of Orthodox worship, the Annunciation Cathedral within Kazan’s Kremlin is an architectural gem completed in 1561, 9 years after the city was conquered. The cathedral is said to have been designed by Postnik Yakovlev, the same architect who was said to be blinded after completing St. Basil’s Cathedral on Moscow’s Red Square.

Temple of All Religions

Today’s Kazan appears to be equally strongly tied with its unique mixture of religious beliefs. Philanthropist Ildar Khanov began work on his Temple of All Religions in 1992 near the shores of the Volga River, and this unique building is still under construction. The Temple makes use of religious architecture from all over the world, and has an Orthodox church dome, a minaret, synagogue-like fixtures, and other items representing 16 of the world’s many faiths.

In 2005 Kazan celebrated its millennium jubilee. Despite such venerable age, the city is growing and dynamically developing in all respects.

A prevailing feature of life in the city is peaceful, creative coexistence of different religions and nationalities. Due to its gorgeous architecture, breathtaking scenery, and welcoming locals, Kazan is the perfect destination for travelers of all ages. So if you’ve already decided to add Kazan to your bucket list, browse our collection of Russia tours below and choose your ideal Kazan itinerary!

10 Must Things to Do in Kazan, Russia

Has it ever happened to you that after seeing a picture of the place you knew you have to go there? It happens to me, a lot! One picture, one sentence in the book or one random fact is already a good reason for me to visit a destination.

That was the story with Chernivtsi, Ukraine or with Kotor, Montenegro. And that was also the case of Kazan, Russia.

When I planed my 9 days trip to Russia I knew I can use this whole time in Moscow only and still I wouldn’t be able to explore it properly (after all seeing all the beautiful Moscow metro stations takes a day or two!).

But I figured I can also visit Kazan since it’s not that far away (at least in the Russian standards, it takes one night by train to get there from the capital).

Once I started researching more about the city I knew it was a perfect idea – there were so many things to do in Kazan that I knew my one day in Kazan might not be enough.

Kazan exceeded my expectations. The city turned out to be super interesting, with some beautiful sights and a laid-back vibe. I can definitely recommend visiting Kazan when you are in Russia.

And to give you a little overview of what to do in Kazan here is my small Kazan guide.

Table of contents

Where is Kazan

Kazan, with a population of around 1,2 million inhabitants, is the sixth-largest city in Russia and the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan.

The city is located in the European part of Russia, some 700 km east from the capital – Moscow. Kazan lies at the confluence of the impressive Volga and Kazanka rivers.

How to get to Kazan

I went to Kazan by train from Moscow and it was really easy. I took the night train and the whole journey was around 11 hours, from 9 pm to 8 am.

The train was very comfortable and I slept very well – that was crucial as I had only one day in Kazan before catching the next train to Sankt Petersburg and so I needed to be in the top shape. If you plan to travel around Russia – taking the train is your best option.

You can also fly to Kazan. The local airport is located around 25 km away from the city and serves mostly domestic destinations but you can also get here from Baku (Azerbaijan), Nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan), Minsk (Belarus), Budapest (Hungary) or Istanbul (Turkey).

Where to stay in Kazan

I stayed in the hotel just around the corner from Bauman street – the main pedestrian zone in Kazan. I can definitely recommend this area – you will be within walking distance to most of the Kazan attractions.

Here are some of the recommended places to stay in Kazan:

Short history of Kazan, Russia

The city was founded in the 11th century, however, the exact year is not known. In medieval times, Kazan was an important center of the Golden Horde and in 1438 it became the capital of the Khanate of Kazan.

A bit over a hundred years later the city was captured by Ivan the Terrible and incorporated into Russia. During the rule of Catherine the Great in the 18th century, Kazan grew significantly and flourished.

Today Kazan is one of the main Russian cultural, religious and industrial centers. It is also often called the “Third Capital” of Russia due to its significant importance in the country.

Things to do in Kazan

Now, that you know a bit about Kazan let’s talk about what to do in Kazan. I can guarantee you won’t be bored there!

Visit UNESCO listed Kremlin

Visiting Kremlin in Kazan is a must. The historic citadel was built when Ivan the Terrible was ruling the country in the 16th century, in the place where the former castle of the Khanate of Kazan used to stand.

On the Kremlin’s premises, you can find numerous important monuments, the oldest one being the Annunciation Cathedral which is the only Russian church from the 16th century with six piers and five apses.

You will definitely also notice Söyembikä Tower, most likely from the times of Peter the Great. Not only it is the highest structure in Kremlin and one of the city’s symbols, but it is also a leaning-tower.

The most impressive building, however, is the Kul Sharif Mosque – the main reason why I wanted to visit Kazan so badly as it just looked like from a fairy tale on the pictures I’ve seen.

This is one of the largest mosques in Russia and in Europe (besides Istanbul) and it is pretty big indeed, taking a decent picture of the building was a challenge. It was completed in 2005 (for the 1000th birthday of Kazan, although this date is just agreed on) and is standing in the place where originally the mosque was located before Ivan the Terrible captured the Kazan’s castle.

Be sure to visit the mosque inside too as the interior is just as stunning as the building itself.

If you have time I recommend visiting Kremlin twice – during the day time to visit all the monuments inside but also around the sunset time. The place will be pleasantly empty with only a few people around and the monuments, especially Kul Sharif Mosque, are beautifully illuminated.

In the evening Kazan Kremlin feels like a completely different place and that’s when you fully can enjoy its vibe.

Enjoy the pedestrian Bauman street

Bauman Street is the heart of Kazan, connecting Kremlin with Tukay Square in the center of the city. That’s where you usually find people strolling down, street musicians, lots of shops, restaurants, and events.

The street is named after Nikolay Bauman, the Russian revolutionist from the bolshevik party who was born in Kazan.

To be honest I wasn’t very impressed with Bauman street (I preferred Kremlyovskaya Street) but it is a pleasant place and definitely one of the spots you can’t miss in Kazan!

Climb the tower of Epiphany Cathedral

The Epiphany Cathedral is located at Bauman street, close to Tukay Square. Be sure to climb the 74-meter bell tower from the 19th century, a perfect example of the Russian neo-Baroque architecture.

From the top, you can admire the beautiful view of Bauman street and beyond, all the way to Kremlin. I was there just before the sunset when the whole city was covered in the soft yellow light – it was the prettiest.

I was also lucky to witness the bells concert up there – it was super loud but very beautiful!

Visit the Museum of Soviet Lifestyle

Located just off Bauman Street, this is such a fun museum to visit. It shows numerous artifacts from the Soviet times, mostly from the 1970s and 1980s. Everything is super kitschy but the fun part is – you can touch and play with many of the items!

If you were raised in the Soviet reality visiting the museum is like a walk down the memory lane (it was for me as I remember many of those artifacts from my childhood).

Otherwise, it’s a great introduction to how cheesy but sad life under the communist rule used to be.

Walk the Kazanka river embankment

Just below Kremlin, you can find the Kazanka river embankment – one of the favorite places of the locals to relax and hang around. You can find there numerous cafes, restaurants, open-air gyms, merry-go-rounds, sunbeds and more.

You might rent a bike to ride around or just walk and enjoy the place and views across the river. You can also stop by at the nearby Museum of the 1000 Anniversary of Kazan.

When you are going from Kremlin down to the embankment don’t miss the spectacular building of the Farmer’s Palace. This eclectic masterpiece is among the most photographed buildings in Kazan and it is popular for a reason – it’s one of the most unique architecture pieces you can see in Kazan.

Apparently it is possible to visit The Farmer’s Palace inside too and it’s worth doing so – I can’t confirm as I was in Kazan on May 1st when everything was closed but otherwise, I would have definitely gone inside as that’s what I always do.

Find Soviet remnants

If you like Soviet architecture and artifacts you will enjoy your trip to Russia to the fullest. There are so many interesting Soviet remnants all over the place and Kazan is no different.

As in every other Russian city, you can find here the statue of Lenin, standing proudly in the crucial place. In Kazan, he is guarding Svobody Square, within a walking distance from the Bauman street.

On the way take a closer look at the Physics Institute – you will see a nice themed bas relief there!

You can also go underground to see the Kazan metro. Even if it’s fairly new, opened in 2005, it can give you an overview of how grand Soviet metro stations can look like.

It’s not as spectacular as the metro in Kharkiv (Ukraine), Tashkent (Uzbekistan) or Moscow metro but it is definitely worth seeing.

Admire beautiful architecture on Kremlyovskaya street

While Bauman Street is among the most popular places in Kazan, my personal favorite street was Kremlyovskaya. It’s parallel to Bauman street, leading all the way to the Spasskaya Tower – the main entrance to Kremlin in Kazan.

The street is lined with beautiful buildings from the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century (that was probably the reason why I liked it so much) and wandering around is pure pleasure.

The most impressive buildings include Ushkova House (from 1908), Aleksandrovsky passage (built between 1880 and 1883) or The National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan (from 1894) but the whole street is very interesting really.

Be sure to also walk a few steps down to Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral – probably the most beautiful one of Kazan’s churches. It dates back to the 18th century and is one of the city’s symbols that you simply can’t miss!

Learn more about Tatar culture

As you probably have noticed Kazan is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. Tatars are the Turkic ethnic group, living mostly in this part of Russia, as well as Ukraine or Uzbekistan.

Kazan is the center of Tatar people and there is no better place to learn more about their history, culture, language and more.

You should definitely visit The National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan, located right across the Spasskaya Tower of Kremlin – it has a great collection of artifacts connected to Tatar culture and some famous local people.

Afterward, you can visit the old Tatar quarter, dating back to medieval times, with some of the important historical and cultural monuments. You can find it across Kaban Lakes, not far from Tukaya Square.

Try Tatar cuisine

Speaking of Tatar culture – be sure to try some of the local food too! There is no better place to get acquainted with the Tatar cuisine than Kazan.

On Bauman Street, you can find some restaurants serving local food, such as Dom Chaya – it might not look any special but it’s among the oldest and most famous Tatar cafeterias in Kazan.

My favorite one, however, was the fast-food chain Tubatay, located on Kremlyovskaya street. Don’t make the “fast-food chain” fool you – the food there was really good, they had vegetarian options and the menu had pictures so it was easier to choose as the names didn’t ring any bells in my head.

Everything I tried there was very good but don’t ask me what exactly I ate as I have no idea.

By the way, in Kazan you can find the chak-chak museum, dedicated to the most famous Tatar sweet dessert. I’m not a big fan of it, to be honest, but the museum can be a great place to learn more about chak-chak and Tatar cuisine.

Visit Temple of All Religions

This is one of the craziest temples I’ve ever seen! Unfortunately, I could see it only from the train when I was leaving Kazan but I was still very impressed.

The Temple of All Religions is located a bit away from the center of Kazan but if you have the time it’s definitely worth the trip.

The complex serves as the universal temple, inside you can find the Orthodox church, the mosque, the synagogue as well as architecture typical for other religions, including the past ones.

Despite the crazy idea, the Temple of All Religions, thanks to its uniqueness, is among the most popular Kazan attractions. And it looks so unreal, like from a fairytale really!

Is it worth to visit Kazan?

While my main reason to visit Kazan was to see the stunning Kul Sharif Mosque it quickly turned out that the mosque is only one of many things to do in Kazan.

The city is full of attractions, is much more beautiful than I expected, the vibe is laid-back and cool, there is so much to learn about (like the Tatar culture or the long and interesting history of Kazan). Not to mention all the great cafes I didn’t have time to visit!

I only wish I had more than just one day in Kazan so when you plan your trip to Russia give yourself more time there because as you can see there is a lot to see and do in Kazan!

Travel Resources

Revolut bank card is the best way to save money when traveling. It’s a pre-paid service that offers very good exchange rates and no fees for ATM’s use. Click here to learn more and order your Revolut card.

You can find the best accommodation options at Booking. They have many discounts and excellent customer service. Click here to look for the place to stay in Kazan

Never travel without travel insurance, you never know what might happen and better safe than sorry. You can check the insurance policy for Russia here.

I recommend joining organized tours to get to know the place better and to visit more places during your trip. You can find a great selection of tours at Get Your Guide – click here.

Make sure to have the offline map always installed on your phone, they can save you so many troubles. I always use the free app Maps.Me.

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10 Must See Things to See in Kazan

Traveling to Kazan, Russia

You won’t find the city of Kazan in most people’s list of top cities to visit in Russia. This is quite a shame considering the fact that Kazan has a lot to offer. You owe it to yourself to check it out so you can see for yourself why more and more tourists are discovering this hidden gem and are actually making return trips with their family and friends.

The perfect time to visit Kazan is right now. The city underwent a major facelift back in 2005 in celebration of its 1,000 year anniversary. Read this guide in order to convince yourself that your trip this year should be to Kazan, Russia.

About the City

According to the 2011 census, the city has a population of more or less 1.3 million people. It’s an influential city with strong influences in economics, culture and history. This makes it worthy of its title, “The Third Capital of Russia” right after Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Moscow and St. Petersburg are both very popular tourist destinations. We can recommend you to check out this list of the must see places to visit in Russia – there on the travel blog you can find some more ideas for your future trip to Russia.

10 Must Things to See in Kazan, Russia

As mentioned, the city has a lot to offer. There are dozens, maybe even hundreds of things to see in the city. Of course, most tourists don’t have the time and resources to check out all of them. If you’re one of these tourists, refer to the list below for the 10 must things to see in Kazan, Russia.

No thanks to Ivan the Terrible who led the destruction of this fortress, it’s not really a fortress anymore. Fortunately, the Kremlin was reconstructed and was constructed with new fortifications and even new institutions. See the Kremlin to see the Russian influence of the 16 th and 17 th century when the reconstruction took place.

Entrance is not free, but affordable. You only need to pay 20 Rubles to gain entry or 300 Rubles for a guided tour. Very cheap with today’s rate (Russian currency Ruble is very low right compare to the US Dollars and Euro).

This is a popular destination because of the legend of the Tatar Princess Suyumbike. While locals generally don’t believe the legend, the romantic aspect is still quite a draw.

This is a relatively new mosque, having been completed last 2005 after 10 years of construction. Located inside the Kazan Kremlin, you can enter for free. Make sure to check out the Museum of Islam below the mosque’s ground floor. You can learn more about Kul-Sharif Mosque here on Wikipedia.

This should be included in your itinerary if you’re a fan of museums. This was constructed as part of the city’s 1,000 year anniversary so you just know that it’s an amazing museum. Entrance to the museum is cheap at just 20 Rubles.

If the usual museums bore you, then you have to visit the unconventional Soviet Lifestyle Museum. It’s very original and should provide you with an experience like no other. If you want to experience what it was like back in the USSR, this is a museum that you should visit. Make sure to look for Rustem who’s the curator of the museum. You’ll get a good lesson on the life before as compared to the life now.

This is located along the borders of Kazan. This is a must-see if you consider yourself an architecture buff. In here, you’ll see 16 different towers that represent various religions. You still can’t visit the place inside because it’s not yet finished, but it’s still a must-see from the outside because you can already see the structures.

Can a street be a tourist destination? It can be if it’s Bauman Street. This pedestrian zone has everything from souvenir stores to bars. This is also a good spot to watch and observe locals and tourists alike. You should also check out the statuary.

Satisfy your inner child by visiting the Ekijat Tatar Puppet Theater. You’ll have a lot of fun checking out this theater. It’s a good way for you to just have some simple fun. As a bonus, the building itself is very beautiful.

Cathedrals are always a must-see and the Cathedral of the Apostles Peter and Paul is not an exception. It’s a very beautiful church both from the inside and the outside. It’s built differently from other cathedrals so that’s an incentive for you to check it out. Make sure to check the schedule of service so that you’ll know when you can check it out from the inside.

You may find it surprising that locals generally don’t like this building, although it’s a hit among tourists especially those who are a fan of architecture. It presents the new beauty that the new Russian architecture has to offer – one that is supposed to be lavish. Make sure to check it out and compare it with the Kazan Kremlin to see the glaring differences.

What to Do Now

These are the 10 must things to see in Kazan and you can bet that these are not the only ones. There are other places to see but this list is a good place to start. Start with these 10 and you’ll see why this guide is recommending them. You’ll also see why they’re very popular among tourists, and why most of them are very popular among locals as well.

Kazan offers architectural sights as you can see on this list. This means that the city is meant to be enjoyed while you’re out there walking along its streets. It’s a historical city that has a lot to offer so it’s time for you to start planning a trip to Kazan right now.

This article has been translated from Russian language using an artificial intelligence-based translation algorithm. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the quality of the translation. You can read the original of this article in Russian here, and ask questions on the topic of our travel forum in English here.

You can visit the sights of Kazan on your own or with an excursion. If you choose the first, then you will be helped by developed public transport, although in fact most of the interesting places of Kazan can be seen on foot, because everything in the historical center is nearby. If you prefer excursion support, then you can buy excursions in travel agencies on the street, sightseeing tours are offered at the Kremlin ticket offices. There you can also buy excursions to the best sights of the Republic of Tatarstan: Sviyazhsk island, Bolgar settlement, Raif monastery, etc. (see for more information about the sights of Tatarstan). Also booking excursions is available online on these verified sites with reviews:

If you get bored with sightseeing, you can go to the recreation park «Kyrlay» or the entertainment complex «Riviera», where there is a water park and the highest ferris wheel in the city. You can have fun on Bauman Street, visiting one of the entertainment attractions-museums «Mirror Maze», «House of the giant», «Museum of illusions», or an unusual museum of Soviet life. On the same street there is a theater, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Well, if you come with children, and you have enough time, you can go with them to the Water Park, Zoo, Aquarium or puppet theater.

Sights of Kazan on the map

You can download ⤓ points of interest, important transport points (bus stations, airports, etc.), districts and beaches from our map in KMZ/KML format. These files can be downloaded to the navigator or smartphone for use with offline or online Google Maps applications, Maps.me and others that support this format, and use them to navigate and explore resorts.

And now we present you a list of the most popular and interesting sights and entertainments of Kazan, which are worth visiting in the first place:

Historical, architectural

Kazan Kremlin

The Kazan Kremlin is the main attraction of the city, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. In addition to the fact that the Kremlin itself is a historical architectural object, on its territory of 15 hectares there are: the main mosque of Tatarstan Kul-Sharif, the Annunciation Cathedral, the Syuyumbike tower, nine museums and galleries, several viewing platforms, as well as many other monuments and attractions. In addition, there are administrative buildings and the residence of the president of the Republic.

Visiting the Kremlin is free, visiting museums and exhibitions is paid. You can also join a group or buy an individual sightseeing tour for a fee. Excursions are sold in the windows at the entrance to the Kremlin through the main gate of the Spasskaya Tower, as well as in travel agencies in the city. Learn more about the Kazan Kremlin and photos here.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price admission to the Kremlin is free, visiting museums and exhibitions is paid extra. Walking tour 900 rubles per group (up to 10 people), 90 rubles per person in a group tour. Audio guide – 200 rubles.

Bauman Street

The main pedestrian and tourist zone of Kazan is located in the pedestrian part of Bauman Street, which originates from the main entrance to the Kremlin and stretches to Gabdulla Tukai square. Its length is 1.3 kilometers, and it is almost all closed to traffic, with the exception of two intersections with other streets. This is the most popular place for hiking in Kazan. There is always something going on here: street artists perform, public and political actions take place. The street is the center of attraction for all tourists, and therefore they always try to be located within walking distance from it. Of course, along Bauman there are many cafes, restaurants, nightclubs, shops, boutiques, some of the sights and entertainments of Kazan. In general, you can walk along the street endlessly, it will always be interesting and there will be something new. Learn more about Bauman Street and photos here.

🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda

Another pedestrian tourist area, Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda, is located in the historical part of the city, but a little away from Bauman Street, behind the lower Kaban Lake. But the pedestrian part, which stretches for 500 meters along Kayuma Nasyri Street, is not the whole Old Tatar settlement. The territory of this area is very large, for tourists, first of all, the pedestrian street and the surrounding streets and alleys are interesting.

This area was formed after the conquest of Kazan by Ivan the terrible, during the 18th and 19th centuries. A distinctive feature is the large number of mosques. In the evenings, you can hear the singing of the muezzin, inviting to prayer, and there is a feeling that you are in a distant Eastern country, and not in Russia at all. The pedestrian part of the settlement is not at all the same as, for example, Bauman Street. There is not a large number of tourists, and there is practically no entertainment, souvenir shops and flashy signs of boutiques, but the architecture and way of life of the old settlement are carefully preserved. Along the street there are several cafes, a hotel, a hotel and entertainment complex «Tatar Manor» with a children’s cafe and a contact zoo, but all this does not spoil the view and the old style of architecture. Learn more about tatarskaya Sloboda and photos here.

🕐 Working hours: around the clock, it is most interesting to visit in the evening

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

St. Petersburg Street

Another pedestrian tourist zone is located on part of Petersburgskaya Street, starting from Tukaya Square and the ring shopping center, and stretches for 500 meters. It is not as interesting as Bauman Street, there are much fewer people here. There are no attractions, cafes and restaurants, and along most of it stretches the building of the shopping center. It is remarkable, perhaps, only by the fact that it was built to celebrate the millennium of Kazan and is made with elements of the architecture of St. Petersburg. Learn more about St. Petersburg street and photos here.

🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

🚶 How to get there Petersburgskaya Street continues immediately after the end of Bauman Street after Tukaya square. You can get from one street to another through an underground passage, and it is also the entrance to the metro station » Gabdulla Tukai Square «(Street on the map )

Wedding palace

The wedding palace or Family Center «Kazan» is a modern architectural landmark of Kazan, which appeared in 2013. The unusual structure, sparkling with copper, is perfectly visible from almost any point of the embankment, and it is located on the peninsula opposite the Kremlin. You can not only explore this unique building from the outside, but also climb to the observation deck on the roof. From there there is a wonderful view of the Kremlin, the historical part of the city and the Kazanka River. It is better to climb, of course, in good clear weather. Read more about the wedding palace and photos here.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price climbing to the observation deck costs 50 rubles.

Palace Of Farmers

The palace of farmers is the building of the Ministry of Agriculture of Tatarstan, and, perhaps, the most unusual architectural landmark of the city. The modern eclectic style building was built from 2008 to 2010, and although the controversy over its construction is not inferior so far, you should definitely see it with your own eyes. Yes, unfortunately, huge budget money was spent on the construction of this monumental structure, and it was built on the site of the old building, which could become an excellent attraction after restoration. But now this administrative building has become an integral part of the city facade, and invariably attracts the views of tourists. You can only look at it from the outside, you can not get inside. An excellent view of it opens from the observation deck of the Kremlin, as well as from the park of farmers in front of the building itself. Learn more about the palace of farmers and photos here.

🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

🚶 How to get there the palace of farmers is located next to the Kremlin and is perfectly visible from the observation deck (Palace on the map ).

Alexander passage

Alexander passage is an architectural landmark and one of the most beautiful buildings in Kazan. It was built in 1883 by the merchant-millionaire Alexander Sergeevich Alexandrov as an apartment building, or as it could be called now – a shopping complex. Unfortunately, the profitable House did not become, and after the death of the merchant was transferred to his sister by inheritance, and then donated to the city as a building for the museum. However, the museum did not appear here because of problems with the building itself (the foundation was washed away and cracks appeared in the walls). After the restoration in the Soviet years, a children’s cinema worked here, and today the building is under restoration. Especially to get here to see it, most tourists should not, but if you walk along the Kremlin street, along which there are several more wonderful historical buildings and attractions, be sure to stop near the Alexander passage and consider the building in more detail. Learn more about Alexandrovsky passage here.

🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

🚶 How to get there Alexandrovsky passage is located on 17/22 Kremlin Street, which runs parallel to Bauman pedestrian street (building on the map ).

Syuyumbike Tower

This is one of the iconic architectural sights of Kazan. Her image can be seen on souvenirs, postcards, booklets, and, of course, with your own eyes on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin. Its peculiarity is that it is «falling», i.e. slightly tilted like the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, and this is clearly visible to the naked eye. Its height is 58 meters. Tourists can explore the tower, take pictures on its background, but you can not get inside.

Initially, it was a watchtower, built presumably during the Kazan Khanate, i.e. around the 16th century, but even the century of construction is not known for certain. But for tourists, the legends associated with the tower and the origin of its name, which guides tell during a sightseeing tour of the Kremlin, are much more interesting. Learn more about Suyumbike Tower here.

🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

🚶 How to get there: the tower is located on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin (tower on the map ).

Museums

In Kazan there are at least fifty museums, and what only among them there are: from bicycle museums to the National Museum of Tatarstan. Of course, you will not be able to see them all during your vacation in the city, and this is not necessary. It is enough to determine for yourself the most interesting museums, and of course visit the most important historical museums, without which a visit to the capital of Tatarstan will not be complete. Below we have selected the most interesting museums of Kazan that will be of interest to a wide range of tourists, and for a complete list of Kazan museums with opening hours, cost of visiting and how to get to them, see here:

National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan

The National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan (Kazan museum) is the main museum from which acquaintance with the city and Tatarstan should begin. His exhibition is dedicated to the history and culture of Tatarstan and the Tatar people. Periods ranging from prehistoric to the present day are covered. There is a section devoted to the nature of the region, where stuffed animals living in these parts are presented, and not only. For some reason, stuffed inhabitants from other parts of the country came here. Of great interest to visitors is the carriage of Catherine II, in which she arrived in Kazan.

It is necessary to visit the National Museum, and in the first place. True, we can not but note that there are certain drawbacks to which one should be prepared. Learn more about the National Museum of Kazan and photos here.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adults-120 rubles / schoolchildren – 50 / students-70 / preschoolers for free. Excursion support 800 rubles. More about prices in the museum here

Museum of the 1000th anniversary of Kazan

This museum is a great place for those who want to learn something new and are interested in the culture and history of Kazan and the Tatar people. The collection consists of three halls (levels): ancient times; Middle Ages; art and culture, modern achievements of Tatarstan. There are several interactive exhibits: musical instruments, gramophone, archaeological excavations. Unfortunately, most of the artifacts presented are only copies, while the originals are stored in other state museums.

🕐 Working hours Tuesday-Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00, Monday – closed.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price adults-75 rubles, schoolchildren and pensioners-30 rubles, preschoolers free of charge. Photographing with a camera – 50 rubles, on a mobile phone-for free.

Natural History Museum

In our opinion (the authors of the site) this is one of the most interesting museums in Kazan, and one of the few where children will like it. The exhibition tells about the geological history of Tatarstan, its fossil, animal and plant world.

On the first floor there is a section about astronomy and the formation of the planet Earth, about minerals and how to extract them. A special place is given to» Black Gold » – Oil. The second floor is dedicated to wildlife, and here you can see fossils and skeletons of animals. There are skeletons of dinosaurs and mammoths, which children especially like. But the exhibition is not limited to traditional exhibits, and many interactive ones are offered, such as a telescope, interactive whiteboards and screens, magnetic puzzles, archaeological excavations, etc. Learn more about the Natural History Museum in Kazan and photos here.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adults-200 rubles ( weekends – 250) / students, pensioners – 100 / schoolchildren-80 / preschoolers free of charge. Every last Friday of the month persons under 18 are free.

🚶 How to get there: located in the building of the Hermitage-Kazan Center on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin, the entrance is from the Kul-Sharif mosque (Museum on the map )

Museum of the history of statehood of Kazan

The museum tells about the history of tribes and the formation of states on the territory of the modern republic of Tatarstan from the steppe empires to the modern period. It consists of two floors: on the first an interactive exhibition, on the second an exhibition of artifacts and thematic exhibitions. There are very few traditional exhibits in the form of artifacts, mostly information is presented in the form of maps, films and interactive audio guides in the form of headphones attached to the exhibits.

In general, the museum is small and will not be very interesting to a wide range of tourists, unless you are a history lover. Children have nothing to do here, they start to get bored from the first minutes. The exhibition on the first floor of the museum, which is available for an additional fee when purchasing a basic ticket or separately, helps to diversify the visit to the museum. Learn more about the Museum of the history of Kazan statehood and photos here.

🚶 How to get there the museum is located on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin next to the Syuyumbike Tower (Museum on the map )

Museum of socialist life

This is one of the most famous museums in Kazan, and perhaps the most unusual. Here on two floors are collected all kinds of items from the era of the Soviet Union. Among the exhibits are a large number of toys; a couple of Soviet slot machines; Soviet equipment and cameras; a collection of bottles from drinks produced in the USSR; clothes that can be tried on and photographed, and a bunch of other things. Almost all objects can be touched, and you can even play in sea battle. And do not forget to look into the Soviet toilet, the entrance to which is on the stairs on the second floor.

In fairness, it should be noted that among the exhibits there are those that do not directly relate to the Soviet period. Well, if you do not feel interest or nostalgic feelings for the Soviet period, keep in mind that visiting the museum may disappoint you a little, since excursions are not held here, the exhibits are arranged in a chaotic order, there are no signatures. Learn more about the Museum of social life in Kazan and photos here.

🕐 Working hours: from 10:00 to 20:00, seven days a week

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adults-250 rubles / pensioners, schoolchildren, students — 150 / preschoolers-100 / children under 3 years-free of charge.

🚶 How to get there the museum is located in a residential building on the street. Universitetskaya, 6, entrance from Universitetskaya Street (Museum on the map ). It is very close to the pedestrian street Bauman and next to Tukaya square. The nearest transport stops: Metro «Gabdulla Tukai Square», «Ring shopping center» or «combine of Health»

Museum of happy childhood

In continuation of the theme of socialist life in Kazan there is another museum-happy childhood. In general, it is not much different in subject matter from the Museum of socialist life, there are also objects from the Soviet period in the collection that can be touched, played musical instruments, photographed anything. Except that the exhibits themselves differ, and there is more bias towards children’s goods and toys, and nothing more.

If you have already visited the first museum, then maybe you should not go here, especially since the price is also quite high. If you decide which of these two museums to go to and children with you, then you should definitely choose this one, since there are many more toys here, and children will be much more interesting here. Learn more about the Museum of social life in Kazan and photos here.

🕐 Working hours: from 10:00 to 20:00, seven days a week

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adults-250 rubles / pensioners, schoolchildren, students — 150 / preschoolers-100 / children under 3 years-free of charge.

🚶 How to get there the museum is located in the house on the street. Universitetskaya, 9 (Museum on the map ). It is very close to the pedestrian street Bauman and next to Tukaya square.

Museum of Islamic culture

The Museum of Islamic culture is located in the basement of the Kul Sharif mosque and is usually visited along with the mosque itself. It is best to visit the museum first, and then go to the mosque itself.

The museum’s collection is not very large, mainly includes books and information exhibits. Most of the exhibits, unfortunately, are just copies. The museum is modern, and there is even an electronic interactive Koran, but without excursion accompaniment a wide range of tourists will be bored here.

🕐 Working hours: from 09:00 to 19: 30

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: entrance to the Museum-200 rubles adult / 80-children; Tour of the museum-350

🚶 How to get there the museum is located in the basement of the Kul-Sharif mosque on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin, the entrance is separate (Museum on the map ).

Museum of the Great Patriotic War

A very worthy museum dedicated to the feat of the Soviet people during the Second World War. The museum’s collection, although not very large, is very competently and conveniently compiled, there are a lot of really worthy exhibits. There are weapons, uniforms, military items, orders, documents, photographs. We recommend that you bring children here and tell about the feat and the sacrifices of the people, and even better to take advantage of the excursion escort, which is offered for an additional fee at the entrance. In addition to a simple inspection of the exposition, you can also take pictures with real weapons of the Second World War. Learn more about the Museum of the Great Patriotic War and photos here.

🕐 Working hours: daily from 09:00 to 19:00

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adult-80 rubles; children-40; excursion service-500; photography-50; video-100

🚶 How to get there: the museum is located on the territory of the Kremlin in the Hermitage-Kazan building, the entrance is from the mosque (Museum on the map ).

Ushkova House and Museum

The Ushkova House is another architectural landmark and an object of cultural heritage of federal significance on the Kremlin street. But unlike the building of the Alexander passage on the same street, which has been under restoration for many years, the National Library of Tatarstan and the museum are located in the Ushkova House. You can visit with an excursion «Ushkova House-history and modernity», which are offered at the entrance.

The building is made in an eclectic style, very richly made both outside and inside. If you like unusual tourist places, where there are no huge crowds of tourists, but there is a «historical highlight», then you will definitely like it here. Learn more about the Ushkova House and Museum here.

🕐 Working hours: excursions are conducted in 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00,16:00, 17:00, Duration-40 minutes. To clarify the opening hours or to make an appointment for a tour, please call 8(843)238-79-00

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: the cost of the Tour-200 rubles per person

Geological Museum

A. A. Shtukenberg Geological Museum operates at the State University. Inside is a large collection of minerals and ores, meteorites, fossils of wild plants and animals. In total, as stated, more than 150,000 exhibits.

Unfortunately, like most similar museums, it works almost on enthusiasm. Moreover, it works unstable, not always adhering to the schedule. To get into it, it is advisable to call in advance and arrange a visit. Guided tours are also available upon reservation.

🕐 Working hours: from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 18:00, in practice it is closed, it is better to call in advance by phone (843) 292-08-19

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: entrance 45 rubles, excursion 300 rubles for a group of up to 15 people

🚶 How to get there: located at 4/5 Kremlin street (55.793857, 49.113713). From Bauman Street you can walk. The nearest metro station is «Kremlin».

Temples and mosques

Kazan has a lot of temples and mosques worthy of tourists ‘ attention. We can even say that the historical appearance of the city today is formed by temples and mosques, since there are very few really old buildings in the city. That is why the inspection and visit of the religious buildings of Kazan should be included in the program of any traveler and tourist. Which temples and mosques should be chosen for inspection in the first place, because their number is so large? We offer you our list of cult objects of Kazan, which are worth seeing. For a full list of the most interesting temples and mosques in Kazan, see here.

Kul Sharif Mosque

This is the main mosque of Kazan and Tatarstan, and one of the symbols of the city. Her image can be seen on postcards, souvenirs, and, of course, live on the territory of the Kremlin. However, it is visible from many places in the city, especially at night, when it is very beautifully illuminated. Built from 1996 to 2001.

Inside the mosque you can go, inspect and photograph everything in detail. Of course, you should be dressed appropriately, and behave accordingly. At the entrance, capes are offered free of charge, which will hide your bare shoulders and legs, scarves, and shoe covers should also be worn. Inside, the ground floor is equipped with something like a museum with a couple of exhibits telling about the mosque, and in the basement there is a museum of Islam (for a fee). Then you can go up to the upper floors, from where you can see the prayer hall from the balconies. Tourists are not allowed to enter the hall itself. Learn more about the Kul-Sharif mosque and photos here.

🕐 Working hours: from 09:00 to 18:00

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: entrance to the mosque is free; entrance to the Museum-200 rubles; tour of the museum-350

🚶 How to get there: the Kul-Sharif mosque is located on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin (mosque on the map ).

Annunciation Cathedral and Museum

The Annunciation Cathedral of the Kazan Kremlin was built in 1552, immediately after the capture of Kazan by the troops of Ivan the terrible. Initially it was a wooden church, and nine years later the wooden structure was replaced by a stone one.

See the architecture of the cathedral from the outside, and if you want to go inside. Of course, inside you should behave and be dressed appropriately, because this is not only a landmark, but also a functioning temple. There is also a museum of the Annunciation Cathedral (for a fee), which tells about the history of this place. The exposition is small, and will be interesting to a wide range of tourists only with excursion service, which is offered at the entrance to the museum for an additional fee. Learn more about the Annunciation Cathedral and Museum here.

🕐 Working hours the cathedral is open from 09:00 to 18:00 daily. The museum is open Monday-Thursday, Saturday, Sunday-from 10:00 to 18:00; Friday-from 11:00 to 20:00

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price admission to the cathedral is free, donations are welcome. Admission to the museum adults-100 rubles; schoolchildren, students, pensioners-80; preschoolers free of charge. A tour of the museum (with a group of up to 20 people) – 300 rubles, a tour of the museum + a tour of the Cathedral – 500 rubles.

🚶 How to get there: the cathedral is located on the territory of the Kremlin (Cathedral on the map ).

Cathedral of the Epiphany and observation deck

The Cathedral of the Epiphany of the Lord is located directly on thepedestrian street of Baumana, but most tourists are familiar only with the Epiphany bell tower made of red brick, which is one of the most recognizable symbols of Kazan. The cathedral itself is located behind the bell tower, and rarely attracts the attention of tourists, since most believe that the bell tower is the whole cathedral.

Since 2016, access to the bell tower to the observation deck has been opened. This is the only place from where you can see the historical part of the city from a bird’s eye view. The entrance to the observation deck is paid, money is collected for the purchase of bells. Learn more about the cathedral and photos here.

🕐 Working hours daily from 10:00 to 11: 30 and from 13:00 to 18: 30

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adult-100 rubles; children under 18 years – 50; children under 12 years free of charge.

🚶 How to get there: the cathedral and bell tower are located on the pedestrian street of Bauman (Cathedral and bell tower on the map ).

Peter and Paul Cathedral

This is one of the most beautiful and unusual cathedrals of Kazan, as well as an architectural monument of federal significance. Built in the Russian baroque style, which was very popular in the time of Peter I. Actually, as a gift to Peter I on his fiftieth birthday, this cathedral was built.

Today it is one of the most popular religious and architectural attractions of the city, which is visited by tourists and pilgrims. You can see its architecture from the outside and go inside, but it is especially interesting to visit it with a tour. Specially here excursions are not carried out, but his visit is included in the program of some sightseeing tours. Learn more about the cathedral and photos here.

🕐 Working hours: during daytime

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

Temple of all religions

According to the author of this architectural landmark, the temple should become a symbol of religions, cultures and civilizations. Its construction began in 1994, but to date has not been completed.

Despite the fact that the name contains the words «temple», in fact, it is not a temple. No rites and services are held here. Read more about the temple and photos here.

🕐 Working hours: from 8:00 to 20:00 in summer, from 09:00 to 18:00 in winter

Roman Catholic Church

The Catholic Church of the exaltation of the Holy Cross or simply Vozdvizhenskaya church is the only Catholic Church in Kazan. It was built in the period from 2005 to 2008 to replace the church, originally built in 1858, because even then in the city lived quite a lot of Catholics, mainly Germans and Baltics. The old church was closed during the Soviet period, and its building was transferred to the A. N. Tupolev Technical University. It was equipped with a wind tunnel, and it turned out that it was cheaper to build a church in a new place than to restore a new one, which was done. Remarkably, the new church was illuminated exactly 150 years after the lighting of the old one.

From a tourist point of view, the church is interesting as an architectural object. It can be viewed from the outside and freely get inside, the main thing is not to disturb the believers of the parish with a flash and a click of the camera shutter. The ministers are friendly, and even welcome interest in their church.

🕐 Working hours daily from 10:00 to 19:00, break from 13:00 to 15:00 (except Sunday)

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free, donations are welcome

Church Of The Descent Of The Holy Spirit

This is one of the oldest churches in Kazan, was erected in 1731-1735 in the Sukonnaya Sloboda of the city. At that time, it became the largest in Kazan, and could accommodate up to 4 thousand parishioners. During the Soviet period, it was closed and looted, the dome top and stepped bell tower were destroyed. After closing in 1930, the cult object was adapted for a club, then the puppet theater «Ekiyat»was located here. Only in 2012 the building was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church.

The temple has great architectural and historical significance. It is very beautiful, and you can see it from the outside and from the inside while walking along St. Petersburg street to the Tatar village and the puppet theater «Ekiyat», which are nearby. Especially to get here, just to see the temple, ordinary tourists may not be worth it. Learn more about the temple and photos here.

🕐 Working hours: during daytime

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

Old Believer Church of the Icon Of The Mother of God

Two Old Believers ‘ churches are located near St. Petersburg street in Kazan. One of them is the beautiful red-brick Old Believer Church of the icon of the mother of God, which stands out for its turquoise domes. The church was built in 1912 with elements of the then fashionable «non-Russian» style, and today is a monument of urban planning and architecture of regional significance. Like most churches, during the Soviet period it was closed, and transferred to the use of a car repair shop. But unlike other religious sites, it was almost not destroyed or looted, and has come down to our days almost unchanged. Learn more about the temple and photos here.

🕐 Working hours: during daytime

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: Enter the grounds and view the temple from the outside ungodly at any time

Entertainments

Entertainment complex «Kazan Riviera»

If you want to have fun during your vacation in Kazan, then there is no better place than the «Kazan Riviera». There is a year-round Water Park, Ice Rink, billiards, bowling, 3D and 5D cinemas, fitness room, concert hall, nightclub, many restaurants and cafes. There is even a private summer beach.

Tourists can stay at the four-star Hotel «Riviera» right in the entertainment complex. Prices can not be called democratic, from 12,000 rubles per room, but what is nice, hotel guests can use some of the entertainments of the complex completely free of charge. Learn more about the entertainment complex here.

🕐 Working hours: entertainments of the complex work according to their own schedules

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: for the cost of entertainment, see the official website. Hotel guests enjoy some entertainments for free.

Riviera Water Park

This is one of the largest water parks in Russia. It is indoor, and is open all year round. There are about 50 attractions, several pools, bath and sauna, spa area, HydroMassage, massage, fish foot massage, and much more. Part of the slides and pools is open-air and accessible only in summer.

If you decide to visit the water park during your vacation in Kazan, you should know about some of the difficulties when visiting this place. First of all, the inconvenience causes overcrowding of the water park, especially in summer. Sometimes the slides have to stand in line for 30 minutes or more. The attractions themselves are mainly for children over 120 centimeters tall, and this is usually older than 6 years. The smallest remains only a few children’s pools. There are also queues in the bath and sauna, there is little space. Not all infrastructure works, much is faulty. And yet, do not forget to take with you additional money for food (from 500 rubles per person), and other services, because it will not be possible to limit yourself to paying only for the entrance. Learn more about the water park here.

🕐 Working hours: weekdays from 10:00 to 22:00; Sundays from 09:00 to 22:00; Saturdays and holidays from 09:00 to 23:00

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: the cost of the visit starts from 500 rubles per visit for 2 hours for adults, 200 for children. Children under 4 years old inclusive and height below 120 cm free of charge. You can get acquainted with all prices on the official website kazanriviera.ru/aquapark/

🚶 How to get there: The water park is located on the opposite side of the Kazanka River from the tourist area, Fatykh Amirkhan STR., 1 (water park on the map ).

Ferris wheel «around the world»

The new Kazan Ferris wheel » around the world «is located next to the Riviera Water Park and is part of the Kazan Riviera entertainment complex. You can visit it separately from other attractions of the complex, and as most of the tourists who have ridden on the wheel respond, it is worth coming here. Its height is 65 meters, which is approximately the height of a 28-storey building, and it is 10 meters higher than the old wheel in the park «Kyrlay». The booths are new, modern, closed, with transparent walls. Each cabin is dedicated to one of the popular tourist countries, inside on the ceiling there is a drawing dedicated to this country. Learn more about the ferris wheel here.

🕐 Working hours: Monday-Friday 11:00-00:00; Saturday, Sunday, holidays 10:00-00:00; in bad weather, the ferris wheel is interrupted, you can clarify the work by Phone +7 (843) 526-57-57

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: ticket price (adults/children from 5 to 12 years) on weekdays before 18:00-200/100 rubles; after 18:00 – 300/200; on weekends-300/200; on holidays the price may rise to 400/250. Children under 4 years old inclusive and height below 120 cm free of charge.

🚶 How to get there: The ferris wheel is located next to the Riviera Water Park, Fatykh Amirkhan STR., 1 (Ferris wheel on the map ).

Krylai entertainment park

This is the main entertainment park in the city, and if you come to stay in the execution with children, then you should definitely visit here. There are attractions ranging from simple for the youngest children, and ending with extreme entertainment for adults. But there is no point in describing them, it is better to come and try everything on the spot. In addition, the park has its own website, where everything is described in detail.

The inconvenience for guests of Kazan visiting the park is the system of payment for attractions. You can not buy a ticket for a separate attraction. First you need to buy a card at the cash desk or terminal for 30 rubles, which you then need to replenish with money using a plastic card or cash, and then pay for the rides. Then you can return the card, unspent funds on it and its cost, but this is done on a written application and with the provision of a passport.

🕐 Working hours daily from 11:00 to 23:00, weekends from 10:00 to 23:00

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price admission to the park is free; rides from 80 rubles to 250; Ferris wheel-550 rubles.

Baryonix Water Park

Baryonix water park is another popular year-round water park in Kazan. It is Cheaper Than The Riviera, there are fewer visitors (queues, respectively, are also less), and it is located relative to the tourist area a little more convenient. There is not such a wide variety of related services and entertainments as in the «Riviera» (baths, massage, etc.), But Everything you need for a fun holiday with children is available.

Of course, it should be borne in mind that for a lower price you will have to pay for the fact that this water park is much more modest than the Riviera. The building of the water park, both inside and out, looks dilapidated, many things do not work (showers, lockers for storing things), although everything is fine with the attractions. The attitude of staff to visitors is also not up to par. Learn more about the water park here.

🕐 Working hours Monday-Thursday from 11:00 to 21:00; Friday from 11:00 to 22:00; Saturday from 10:00 to 22:00; Sunday from 10:00 to 21:00

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: the cost of the visit starts from 400 rubles per visit for 2 hours for adults, 200 for children. Children below 120 cm free. There is a favorable family rate and also offers promotions and discounts. You can get acquainted with all prices on the official website baryonix.ru

Oceanarium

In the same building where the baryonix water park is located, there is an oceanarium of Kazan. It is claimed that here you can see about 3000 inhabitants, including: penguins, sharks, crocodiles, turtles, and, of course, many exotic fish. True, for some reason, in practice, when visiting, it is not possible to see such a large number of inhabitants. If you have already been to similar places in the capital or in other countries, then here you may find it boring, and the price is too high. But if you and your kids have never been to aquariums, it’s worth a visit.

🕐 Working hours: from 10:00 to 21:00, Monday is a day off.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adult 700 rubles; children (4-12 years) 500; children under 4 years free of charge. It is profitable to visit the aquarium on a single ticket with a water park

Puppet theater «Ekiyat»

The repertoire of the theater includes classic children’s performances Mukha Tsokotukha, Teremok, The Wizard of Oz, etc., as well as performances based on Tatar folk tales. If time permits, be sure to bring your kids here during the trip. Tickets are purchased for both children and accompanying adults. Learn more about puppet theater here.

🕐 Working hours performances in the theater take place according to the schedule, which is presented on the official website, usually it is once or twice a day, but not every day

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: on weekdays-200 rubles, on weekends-300 rubles. 512-25-35, 8-917-275-52-22, 8-917-893-04-01, or purchased at the box office

Tatar village

Right in the center of Kazan, not far from the tourist area, there is a cozy corner in which the traditional National Village is recreated. How it turned out, you can assess for yourself, but the place is in any case interesting and worth a visit.

Of course, do not expect too much, we do not even classify the village as attractions, but have included it in the «entertainment»section. The most important entertainment here is lunch or dinner in one of the restaurants, cafes, pancake house or in the barbecue yard. There is also a guest house with a sauna, a rope park for children, a children’s play park (swings, slides), a souvenir shop, A Museum of author’s toys «Mishkin’s house» (open from 11:00 to 19:00), a children’s petting zoo. Well, at the main entrance, guests are greeted by a monument to echpochmak. Learn more about the Tatar village here.

🕐 Working hours entertainments and restaurants are open from 10:00 to 24:00

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: entrance to the village is free, entertainment and lunch are paid extra

Observation deck

Behind the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kazan Kremlin is an excellent observation deck, which offers a wonderful view of the city, the river, the palace of farmers and the Church of Paraskeva Friday. Access to the site is free, for a fee (10 rubles) you can explore the city through binoculars. We recommend visiting this place twice, in the afternoon and in the evening after dark. The views are wonderful, for photography it is better to take a tripod with you.

🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

🚶 How to get there: the observation deck is located on the territory of the Kremlin behind the Annunciation Cathedral (viewing platform on the map ).

Lower Kaban Lake

Lake Nizhny Kaban is another great place in Kazan, where it will be nice to go for a walk. The embankment of the lake is very much loved by locals. On the eastern side of the lake, along the Old Tatar settlement, there is a promenade where families with children and tourists come to feed the Ducks that live in the lake and pigeons. Do not forget to buy a loaf of bread in the store for feeding. Well, even if you forget, it does not matter, because enterprising Kazan residents have installed devices for selling feed here, and for 10 rubles you can get a small portion of seeds or grain.

In the north of the lake, in front of the Kamal theater, you can walk among the fountains, flowers, as well as several interesting sculptures donated to the city. However, Fountains work only in the summer. Well, you can complete the hike to the lake with a walk on the water in a boat or pedal catamaran (water bike), which are offered for rent at a reasonable price: 2-seater catamaran from 250 rubles for 30 minutes, 4-seater from 300 rubles for 30 minutes, 5-seater boat from 250 rubles. Learn more about the lake here.

🕐 Working hours: around the clock, visit Best in the afternoon or evening

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

🚶 How to get there: from Ploshchad Tukaya Metro Station 10 minutes on foot (Lake on the map ).

Kamala Square and fountains

In front of the Kamal theater there is a square with fountains, which is very pleasant to walk, especially in the evenings. On the square there are fountains, which in the evening are illuminated with different colors, music plays. Of course, this is far from singing fountains, as, for example, in Adler, but in general the place for walking is pleasant, besides it offers a view of Lake Nizhny Kaban. There is also a funny sculpture «riddles of Shurale». In walking distance from the Square is the Lake «Lower Kaban», a little further pedestrian street in the Old Tatar settlement. Learn more about Kamala Square here.

🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

Kremlin embankment

This is perhaps the most popular pedestrian zone in Kazan with locals, especially in summer. But it will be interesting and pleasant for tourists to walk along it. The embankment stretches along the city Bank of the Volga from the Kremlin to the National Cultural Center, which houses the Museum of the 1000th anniversary of Kazan.

The embankment is very well-groomed and beautiful, and every year it appears in a new form, something new appears. In summer, it offers rental of roller skates, Bicycles, children can ride on a children’s locomotive. Of course, there are souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants. During the walk there are views of the Kremlin, the registry office, the Millennium Bridge.

🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

🚶 How to get there the embankment stretches along the banks of the Volga River from the Kremlin to the National Cultural Center (embankment on the map ).

Kazan Millennium Park

Kazan Millennium Park or «Millennium Park» may not be the place to go specifically to walk around it. But if you find yourself somewhere nearby, you can go to the territory and take a walk. The park is very large, but mostly empty, because it is still too young, the trees have not yet grown here. As in any other park, there are beautiful flower beds, there are walking paths, benches for recreation, and in the center there is a beautiful fountain «Kazan».

🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

🚶 How to get there Millennium Park is located in the historical center of Kazan within walking distance from Petersburgskaya Street, Bauman and tukaya metro station (Park on the map ).

Petting zoo in Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda

On the main walking street of Kayum Nasyri in Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda on the territory of the GRK «Tatarskaya usadba» there is a small open-air petting zoo. Here children can touch and feed goats, sheep, ponies, chickens, roosters and turkeys. The variety of animals is small, but children like it. In addition, the zoo is free. There is also a children’s cafe and a gallery of folk crafts. Learn more about the zoo here.

🕐 Working hours: during daytime

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

🚶 How to get there: the petting zoo is located on Kayuma Nasyri Street, the entrance to the courtyard of the Tatar Manor (petting zoo on the map ).

Petting zoo

A beautiful petting zoo is located almost in the tourist center, not far from the Metro Gabdulla Tukaya in the shopping center «Republic». Here you can touch and feed many animals, including exotic species. There are squirrels, raccoons, chickens, ducklings, guinea pigs, rabbits, turtles, mice, piglets and many more. Some animals can not only be stroked and fed, but even picked up. If you come to Kazan with small children, then they will be simply crazy with joy from visiting this place. Learn more about the zoo here.

🕐 Working hours: daily from 10:00 to 22:00

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: entrance 200 rubles, children under 3 years old free of charge.

🚶 How to get there: the petting zoo is located on the 3rd floor of the shopping center «Republic «(petting zoo on the map ). Entrance to the shopping center from St. Petersburg street. There is also a branch of the zoo in the XL shopping complex on Yamasheva Avenue, 97 (open from 10.00 to 21.00).

Kazan Zoo

Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden contains more than 140 species of animals, and its arboretum contains more than 900 species of plants. The territory is very large, and you can see tigers, lions, zebras, leopards, bears, camels, hippos, monkeys, many reptiles, birds and much more. There is a small petting zoo.

Unfortunately, the condition of the zoo is not the best: the cages are old, the animals are kept in not the best conditions. Therefore, if you have been, for example, in the Moscow Zoo, you will not see anything special here, but rather, you will be a little upset. If there is no Zoo in your city, and you came to Kazan with children, you can bring them here, children always like it here.

🕐 Working hours: from 08: 30 to 19:00

🚶 How to get there: located near the tourist area, 112 Hadi Taktasha Street (Zoo on the map ). You can get there by bus № 5, 12, 25, 27, 43, 77, 68, or by Metro to Sukonnaya Sloboda station, and then 25 minutes on foot.

Just in case, we remind you once again that the best way to get acquainted with Kazan is excursions. And even better, if they are held by local residents who know and love their city well. Find and Book Group or individual excursions from locals with reviews on these trusted sites:

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Гид по Казани: самобытная культура, уникальные места и много-много теста

Если вы хотите оказаться в совершенно другой культуре, не выезжая из России, пристегните ремни. Мы отправляемся в Казань — город, который, кажется, собрал буквально все народные звания: гастрономическая, спортивная, третья столица России, город с богатой историей и даже «российский Стамбул». Региональная аутентичность сильно бросается в глаза, за ней сюда и едут.

Готовы продать душу за вкусный эчпочмак и чак-чак? Предлагаю гид, из которого вы узнаете, как набрать пару «татарских» килограммов и ощутить душевность жителей Татарстана. А пока вы погружаетесь в атмосферу города, послушайте мой плейлист с местными музыкантами и новым взглядом на татарскую музыку. Ну всё, АЛГА!

Что посмотреть в Казани

Казань — это мультикультурный город. Русских здесь так же много, как и татар, но татарскую речь можно услышать всё реже. Это смешение культур и даёт городу особую самобытность, в том числе и в смешении всевозможных стилей в архитектуре городов. Впрочем, сейчас вы всё сами увидите — расскажу, куда идти и какие достопримечательности Казани нужно посетить.

День 1: погружение в культуру. Спектакль на национальном языке и Старо-Татарская слобода

Начнём с главной точки маршрута, где вы сразу почувствуете национальный дух, — Театра имени Галиаскара Камала. Все постановки здесь — на татарском языке. Тем, кто не понимает языка, выдают наушники с одноголосым переводом на русский или английский. Разъём для наушников находится прямо в сиденье.

В репертуаре театра много комедий с колоритным татарским юмором. Например, популярный «Мэхэббэт FM» о жизни и влюблённостях современной молодёжи и «диалогами в духе Тарантино», как заявлено в афише.

Билеты на балкон можно купить за 200 ₽ на официальном сайте или в кассе. В антракте зрители идут в буфет: бутерброды с икрой стоят 70 ₽, а бокал игристого — 250 ₽.

Крышу театра украшает огромная горка, хотя архитекторы говорят, что это парус, а сам театр — вообще корабль. На крышу взобраться, увы, нельзя.

Рядом с театром — ещё одна достопримечательность: озеро Нижний Кабан. По легенде, на дне его спрятаны сокровища Ивана Грозного, которые загадочно исчезли во время осады Казани и не найдены до сих пор.

Вряд ли вы отыщете золото на илистом дне (купаться здесь, кстати, нельзя), зато вокруг озера настоящее сокровище — одна из лучших российских набережных, которую открыли только в 2020 году. Фитоочистные каскады, велодорожки, гамаки, современные детские площадки, уютные мостики и много растений, которые помогают очищать воду, — прогулка займёт у вас примерно час.

Дальше вас ждёт погружение в Старо-Татарскую слободу с деревянными цветными домиками и историческими зданиями. Это одна из самых привлекательных туристических частей города, но можно забрести на тихие улочки и увидеть, как жили татары в дореволюционные времена. Конечно, сейчас там уже нет разделения на татарскую и русскую общины, а среди деревянных домиков расположились современные монолитные дома.

Одно из популярных у туристов мест — Татарская усадьба, где проводят мастер-классы по приготовлению национальных блюд. Например, за 800 ₽ можно научиться печь эчпочмаки. А на улице Парижской Коммуны расположился Музей чак-чака, в котором за 900 ₽ научат его готовить. Предварительная запись — через сайт музея.

В продолжение прогулки позвольте себе затеряться в городе и побродить по дворикам и красивым переулкам улиц Шигабутдина Марджани, Каюма Насыри и Габдуллы Тукая.

Обязательно прогуляйтесь вокруг мечети аль-Марджани, которая символизирует начало веротерпимости в России, а ещё сфотографируйтесь на фоне цветных деревянных домов

Идём по Московской улице, сохранившей старинный торговый дух, к месту, которое перенесёт вас в нынешнюю Казань: Центру современной культуры «Смена». Здесь можно купить книги одноимённого издательства, например «Мифологию казанских татар» с красивыми иллюстрациями (за 300 ₽), виниловые пластинки. Обязательно закажите в местной кофейне татарский раф на травах. Если останутся силы — загляните на выставку или лекцию, которые проходят в «Смене».

«Смена» находится в здании бывшей сеносушилки

Направляемся в сторону кремля, по пути рассматриваем Казанский цирк в виде космической тарелки. И, конечно же, заходим в кремль, чтобы самостоятельно посмотреть на самые узнаваемые здания Казани. Вход свободный.

Многие думают, что у Мечети Кул-Шариф древняя история, однако современное здание построили лишь в 2005 году на месте одноимённой культовой мечети, которую разрушили ещё войска Ивана Грозного. Вход бесплатный и свободный для исповедующих любую религию, время работы — 9:00–19:30.

Башня Сююмбике — татарская «Пизанская башня», которая отклонена от оси примерно на два метра. Была названа в честь царицы Казанского ханства. В 1500 годах в мусульманском мире женщинам разрешали участвовать в государственных делах, что указывает на особые гендерные взгляды казанских татар. Поэтому я всегда воспринимаю эту башню как символ прогресса восточного народа.

Отправимся на набережную реки Казанки через Дворец земледельцев с деревом, встроенным прямо во входную арку. Известный блогер Илья Варламов считает это здание одним из самых уродливых в России, а туристы — одним из самых красивых. Почему его украшает огромное бронзовое дерево? Всё просто: внутри расположилось Министерство сельского хозяйства.

На набережной зимой заливают длинный каток, а в тёплое время здесь можно покататься на самокате по специальной велодорожке до парка Горького и огромного экстрим-парка «Урам» под мостом Миллениум. Для зимних прогулок есть крытая часть с разными трамплинами. Четыре часа катания в выходные обойдутся в 400 ₽. Есть секции скейта и, к примеру, самоката.

День 2: студенческая Казань и ночная жизнь

Чтобы прочувствовать революционный дух молодого Ленина и прогуляться по улицам, где будущий вождь обдумывал свои амбициозные планы, отправляйтесь к Казанскому федеральному университету. Для начала предлагаю «пожариться» на «Сковородке» — так называют площадь напротив входа в главное здание КФУ. Потом загляните в уютный внутренний дворик университета. Увидите калитку справа от главного здания — смело проходите, вход свободный.

Если дойти до смотровой площадки во внутреннем дворике, откроется панорамный вид на Казань и здание физфака КФУ

Дальше прогуляемся ещё по одной из главных туристических улиц — Кремлёвской, на которой сохранилось много исторических зданий.

Напротив Главного здания КФУ — дом Ушковой в эклектичном стиле. В инстаграме этого дома можно записаться на экскурсию. Там же довольно мило замечено: «рождён в 1906 году свадебным тортиком». Всё потому, что Зинаиде Ушковой подарили этот дом на свадьбу. Внутри — грот с растениями, больше похожий на пещеру, и много тайных комнат. Долгое время в этом здании располагалась Национальная библиотека, но недавно переехала — мы доберёмся до неё завтра.

Загляните в Петропавловский собор в стиле русского барокко, построенный в честь визита Петра I. Проектом занимался местный зажиточный купец. За основу был взят обычный план посадского храма, но на четвёртый год строительства свод обрушился, так как не учли, что традиционный проект не предполагает огромной высоты. Тогда Пётр I прислал мастеров из Москвы, которые восстановили здание.

В Национальном музее Республики Татарстан есть настоящая карета Екатерины II, на которой она приезжала в Казань, и много экспонатов — больше расскажут об истории татар. Стоимость билета — 350 ₽.

Возвращаемся к маршруту: сворачиваем к парку Чёрное озеро. Зимой из развлечений здесь есть каток с видом на Кремль, а летом — озеро и уточки. Идеальное место для пикника на деревянной лестнице или травке. Одно из важных мест Чёрного озера — легендарный Мергасовский дом 1928 года постройки, один из немногих сохранившихся памятников конструктивизма в городе. Когда-то это здание было новым словом в архитектуре — первый в городе многоквартирный дом с водопроводом, отоплением и канализацией. Жильцов отсюда расселили только в 2019 году, сейчас здание находится в аварийном состоянии.

Идём на улицу баров — Профсоюзную. Здесь можно потанцевать на летней веранде в баре «Соль» или Zero, зайти в стилизованный под хрущёвку бар Kommunalka или в колоритную пивнушку «Бегемот» с пивом за 100 ₽. А можно просто переходить из бара в бар, как это делают местные.

Если вам не хватило впечатлений и вы ещё не посетили Баумана — главную туристическую улицу Казани, отправляйтесь туда сейчас, чтобы поставить галочки в списке всех популярных мест Казани (копия кареты Екатерины Великой, фонтаны с героями сказок Габдуллы Тукая, Старая Проломная аптека, Национальный банк Татарстана и Богоявленская колокольня). Можно ещё сделать ироничную фотографию около памятника пухлому Казанскому Коту.

Особых рекомендаций по барам не будет — просто оставайтесь там, где вам особенно понравится