Kazan is one of the oldest cities in Russia, its history goes back over a thousand years. It has preserved the architectural and cultural monuments of the Volga-Bulgar, Golden Horde, Khan, Russian and Soviet periods. Kazan is a city of unpredictability and contrasts. Here Eastern and Western cultures, different religions and mentality are closely intertwined and mixed, townspeople and tourists of different nationalities walk the streets.
The ancient Kremlin is laid out imposingly on one side, and modern skyscrapers of the 21st century on the other. Mosques and Orthodox churches coexist here, cats, frogs and carriages in the form of monuments can be found on the streets. The ultra-modern Millennium Bridge was built across the Kazanka River, and the Khan's treasures, which have not yet been found, rest at the bottom of Lake Kaban.
Kazan - the best city and surroundings tours
What to see, where to go and what to do?
Sightseeing tour by bus
In 3-4 hours of comfortable and exciting travel by bus, the capital of Tatarstan will reveal itself in all the splendor of its ancient streets, squares, museums and architectural monuments. Tourists will see the white-stone walls of the ancient Kremlin with the Spasskaya Tower, the luxurious Kul-Sharif mosque, and the unique Syuyumbike tower. In the historical area of the Old Tatar Sloboda, you can admire the ancient mosques, perfectly preserved mansions, the mysterious Kaban Lake. The route of the excursion will pass by the fabulous puppet theater, the majestic Wedding Palace in the form of a cauldron or bowl, Freedom Square, Kazanka embankment, etc.
On the City Sightstting double-decker bus
In 2013, a bus tourist route was opened in Kazan with the principle of operation “Hop on-hop off”. Those who wish take a bus ticket, at any stop they can go out for sightseeing, and then continue the excursion on another bus, without paying anything extra. For traveling around the city, buses are provided in two floors with an open upper platform, the text of the excursion sounds in several languages, the buses travel very slowly. The route was developed taking into account the fact that you can explore as many interesting places in Kazan as possible. It consists of ten stops, starts at Tukay Square and ends at Freedom Square.
Walking around the city
For everyone who wants to keep fit, and at the same time replenish their knowledge, walking routes have been developed along the central historical part of the city. In a few hours you can see all the main attractions of the capital of Tatarstan, visit iconic places that keep the spirit of history. Visit the territory of the ancient Kremlin and the campus of Kazan University, see the Mother of God Monastery, walk along the streets of Bauman, St. Petersburg, Kremlin, Kaban Lake embankment, visit the historic Old Tatar Sloboda, the magnificent Black Lake Park, museums. Such a walk will be remembered for a long time.
Sviyazhsk
The ancient city on the island was founded during the conquest of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible. It was here that he gathered troops for the main attack and prayed for victory in the wooden church, which has survived to this day, and its age is more than 460 years! Here you can see old Russian architecture, temples and cathedrals of Sviyazhsk are unique. These are the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, and the Holy Dormition Monastery, and the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh, and the Cathedral of Our Lady, and the Church of Nicholas of Mirlikisky. The program "Shooting Games" is popular on the island - in the medieval fortress you can see weapons, try on the armor of a knight, and learn archery.
Kazan Kremlin
The white-stone walls of the Kazan Kremlin, covered with ancient legends, are located in the very heart of Kazan. Its construction, by order of Ivan the Terrible, was started immediately after the capture of the city, on the site of the wooden fortifications of the Tatars. A trip around the Kremlin traditionally begins with the Spasskaya Tower with chimes. This is followed by the Spaso-Prebrazhensky monastery founded in 1556, the magnificent Kul Sharif mosque, the Annunciation Cathedral, visited at different times by almost all members of the imperial house. There is also the falling seven-tiered Syuyumbike tower and the Taynitskaya tower - real pearls of the complex, as well as the Junker School, within the walls of which 4 museums are open.
Bulgar
The Great Bulgar is a sacred place for the Tatar people, it was here in the 10th century that Islam was adopted as the religion of the state. This is an open-air museum city that amazes with the splendor of its architectural monuments. There are minarets, khan's baths, tombs, the White and Black Chambers. A new building also appeared in this place - the magnificent White Mosque, where the largest and most expensive Koran is kept, which is leafed by four people. Also among the sights of Bulgar there is a museum of crafts and a museum of bread with a real mill and a bakery, where you can make bread and taste it right there.
Night Kazan
The fabulous atmosphere of the night city, beckoning with the magic of thousands of lights and the beauty of deserted streets, will not leave anyone indifferent. The tour includes a sightseeing tour and visits to places that are especially charming and mesmerizing in the evening and at night. You should definitely see the puppet theater, reminiscent of a fairytale castle, the Kazan circus in the form of a flying saucer, the House of Landowners with a twenty-meter tree, the Family Center in the form of a boiler, the illuminated facade of the Kazan-Arena stadium, the Kremlin walls with unusual lighting design. Also noteworthy are the grandiose Millennium Bridge, Freedom Square, the embankment, and the singing fountains.
Photo excursion
A pedestrian photo walk in Kazan passes through all the brightest and most beautiful “photogenic” places that have repeatedly fallen into the lenses of cameras, all of them have been viewed in magazines and the Internet, but not many have seen in reality. There is a unique opportunity to take your personal photos against the background of these species, as well as learn all the secrets of their history. The route of the excursion will pass through the territory of the Kremlin, the streets of the Old Tatar settlement, the fabulous puppet theater, the delightful Palace of Farmers, the Wedding Palace in the shape of a bowl, the pedestrian Bauman Street, the city subway. The magnificent embankment of the Kazanka River will present colorful photographic landscapes.
In sports Kazan
Kazan is capable of surprising not only with its architectural monuments, but also with grandiose sports facilities. Since the beginning of the 2000s, championships in various sports have been held in the city, in the summer of 2013 the Universiade was held, new sports complexes and stadiums appeared. The bus tour introduces the main thematic objects and biographies of famous athletes. You can see a football stadium of the highest category Kazan Arena, an ice Tatneft arena, a Basket Hall, a Martial Arts Palace, a field hockey center, Kazan hippodrome, and a water sports center. It is also planned to visit the Universiade Village.
Old Tatar settlement
Tatarskaya Sloboda is a historical district of Kazan, founded during the time of Ivan the Terrible, when the Muslim Tatars were forbidden to live in the upper part of the city and were evicted over Lake Kaban. The old houses of Tatar merchants have been preserved here. One of them houses a museum of chak-chak delicacies. A real masterpiece of the settlement is Shamil's house in the form of a castle with towers. Now there is a literary museum. Mosques amaze with their magnificence: Azimovskaya, Burnaevskaya, Apanaevskaya and the oldest mosque made of stone - Mardzhani. It is worth visiting the embankment of Lake Kaban to find out the secret of the treasures at its bottom, to admire the theater in the form of a sailing ship.
By bike
A bicycle tour of the city allows you to feel the whole atmosphere of the old streets and enjoy the beauty of the architectural structures. You can freely travel long distances in a short period of time without fear of traffic congestion. Plus, it's also good for your health. The route allows you to see the main sights of Kazan, including the Kremlin, Kazanka embankment, Lake Kaban, Tatarskaya Sloboda, University, Wedding Palace, Millennium Bridge, Gorky Park and much more. And during the stops, the guides will tell you interesting facts from the history of the city and the life of the townspeople.
Bauman street
The most popular pedestrian street with a length of 3 km, analogous to the Moscow Arbat or Kiev Khreshchatyk. Souvenirs, national dishes, entertainment are offered here for every taste and budget. Of the architectural monuments, it is worth paying attention to the John the Baptist Monastery, Nikolsky Cathedral, the Kachalov Theater, the old Brening pharmacy, the highest bell tower of the Epiphany Cathedral in the city. The House of Tatar Cookery and the House of Tea offer you to get acquainted with Tatar cuisine. Here you can also see a monument to the Kazan cat, a copy of the carriage of Catherine II in bronze, fountains with frogs and a fabulous water fountain, a monument to Chaliapin, etc.
Raifa Monastery
The monastery is located on the territory of the majestic Volzhsko-Kamsky reserve, on the shores of the picturesque Raifskoe Lake. The air here is saturated with tranquility and unity with nature. Not far from the monastery there is a source of holy water. The monastery itself is active and quite modern; it has its own website on the Internet, a newspaper, a singing group performing at various festivals and concerts, and a hotel for pilgrims. On the territory you can see many sculptures and fountains, several souvenir shops and cafes. The most valuable shrine of these places is the icon of the Georgian Mother of God, it is located in the main church where services are held.
Gastronomic tours
It is impossible to be in Kazan and not taste the national dishes of the original Tatar cuisine. There are many excursions on a gastronomic theme. Within their framework, you can learn about the history, legends and traditions associated with Tatar dishes, the rules of tea drinking in Tatar culture. You can attend a master class on baking chak-chak and echpochmak delicacies in a Tatar restaurant. Or you can look into Arysh-May, a shop and a museum, learn the history of the creation and production of national alcoholic beverages. Having visited the hospitable House of Bai, you can not only taste the dishes - soup Tokmach, Peremyach, Kystyby, Kosh tele, etc., but also get acquainted with the traditions, customs and life of the Tatars.
National Museum - a treasury of the history of Tatarstan
One of the oldest museums, was opened at the end of the nineteenth century. An excursion to this museum is perfect for the first acquaintance with the history, culture, traditions and life of the Tatar region, starting from ancient times. The collection of the well-known archaeologist in the region Likhachev served as the basis of the museum exposition. In total, the museum funds number about 700 thousand unique exhibits. Noteworthy are the collections of gold coins and antique sculptures, ancient manuscript books, memorial things that belonged to prominent figures of Tatar literature. As well as artifacts from the excavations of the Novo-Mordovskoye and Ananyinsky burial grounds.
Kazan religious
Kazan is multinational and multi-confessional, for several centuries different peoples live here in peace and harmony, different religions are professed. There are 52 mosques and 48 Orthodox churches in the city. The most famous are the Holy Cross Church, the Annunciation and Peter and Paul Cathedrals, Zilantov and the Transfiguration Monasteries. And also the main mosque in Tatarstan Kul-Sharif on the territory of the Kremlin complex, the oldest mosque in Marjani and other mosques in the area of the Old Tatar settlement. The symbol of the unity of all religions is the one-of-a-kind Ecumenical Temple, consisting of 16 temples of different religions.
Literary Kazan
Kazan has long attracted many famous writers, artists, musicians who found inspiration here for their work. Two houses have survived to this day, where Pushkin visited while working on his work about Emelyan Pugachev. You should definitely visit the museums of Baratynsky, Gorky, Aksenov, the great Tatar poets Gabdulla Tukai and Musa Jalil. Within the walls of Kazan University at different times studied Aksakov, Lev Tolstoy, Velimir Khlebnikov, Mayakovsky, Yevtushenko performed. During the excursion, excerpts from the works of writers are heard, you can find out the prototypes of which famous literary heroes lived in Kazan.
Kazan parks
Acquaintance with Kazan will be incomplete without visiting its picturesque gardens, squares and parks. During the excursion, there will be a great opportunity to walk through the greenest and most beautiful places of the city, learn the history and legends of its gardens and parks, in many of them the townspeople had a rest 200 years ago. Black Lake and Fuksovsky Gardens, Lyadskoy and Nikolaevsky Gardens, Gorky Park and Victory Park, the Khimikov Park and Millennium Park of Kazan - and this is not the whole list of green corners of the city. And in Kazan there is an unusual park of tropical butterflies, where, in addition to bright winged beauties, you can also see animals - inhabitants of the tropics.
Iske-Kazan Museum-Reserve
Translated into Russian, Iske Kazan means "old Kazan". On the site of an ancient settlement, 40 km from modern Kazan, there is a historical and natural museum-reserve. A medieval fortress with towers and defensive weapons, a pottery workshop, a mill and a smithy was recreated here. The nearby museum contains items from archaeological excavations - coins, tools, ancient weapons, ceramics, stone, glass. There is also a rich ethnographic collection. On the territory of the complex, you can see the remains of ancient cemeteries, and there are also springs, the water of which is considered healing.
Yoshkar-Ola
The capital of the Republic of Mari El is mesmerizing at first sight. In it, majestic historical monuments of past centuries are intricately intertwined with bold architectural compositions in the spirit of modernity. The Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the National Art Gallery in Italian style, the Arkhangelsk settlement in the Flemish style and the Gothic castle of the registry office, the Bruges embankment and the complex of 12 apostles, the Kremlin and small copies of the Annunciation and Spasskaya towers cause true delight. There is also a square of Gogol, Pushkin, the fountain of the Archangel Gabriel. And, of course, a kind of unspoken symbol of the city - Yoshkin's cat.
Cheboksary
An excursion to the capital of Chuvashia includes, first of all, a journey through the old city. Here are the old Vvedensky Cathedral, the Assumption Church, the Holy Trinity Monastery. You can see the monuments to Chapaev, Bender and Vorobyaninov, the Patron Mother, the stone of love and good luck taganait. You should definitely walk along the Cheboksary embankment - one of the most beautiful embankments of the Volga. Chuvashia is the capital of brewing, about 80% of all Russian hop grows here. And it is quite natural that all tourists are offered an entertainment program with a national flavor and obligatory tasting of local beer.
Elabuga
The city, 200 km from Kazan, surrounded by forest nature, is one of the oldest settlements of the Tatars, which celebrated its 1000th anniversary in 2007. It is an open-air fairytale city with unique architecture and rich history. The great artist Shishkin lived here, and you can see his estate museum. Marina Tsvetaeva spent her last days here, the house of memory of the poetess is open to all admirers of her work.No less interesting for tourists are the museum of district medicine, the cavalry maiden Durova, the public laundry of the century before last. The symbol of the city is the Devil's Settlement and in the middle of it is a lonely medieval tower.
Chistopol
A unique ancient city that has preserved to this day ancient streets and quarters, merchant estates, temples, mosques, architectural buildings of the 18th-19th centuries. On one of the city outskirts are the remains of the ancient city of Djuketau, presumably founded in the 10th century. During the war years many famous writers, musicians and artists found refuge in Chistopol. Among them are Marshak, Pasternak, Fadeev, Paustovsky, Gaidar, Isakovsky, Tsvetaeva, Akhmatova, Chukovsky and many others. It is not for nothing that since then the city has been called literary Athens. And also Chistopol is the birthplace of the famous watches, which are produced at the Vostok plant.
Blue lakes of Kazan
The real pearl of Tatar nature is the picturesque forest Blue Lakes. The water in them is crystal clear, because has a spring origin. And its chemical composition has a truly magical healing power for the whole organism. You can fully experience it by plunging into the lake. Although not everyone is ready for such water procedures, since the water temperature does not rise above + 5 ° C throughout the year. But even just relaxing on the shore of the reservoir, enjoying its beauty, breathing the forest air will be very useful. For this, there are wooden arbors, benches, and bridges along the perimeter of the lake.
Mari El
The Republic of Mari El is surrounded by taiga forests. Here, wild, pristine nature reigns everywhere. The route of the excursion passes through the Mari Chodra National Reserve. Here you can see many rare plant specimens, some of which are listed in the Red Book. One of the attractions is the old gigantic oak, near which Emelyan Pugachev himself stopped before the trip to Kazan. Mari Chadra is also famous for its crystal karst lakes, some of which are declared natural monuments. There are more than two hundred mineral springs among the mountains. The largest of them is the Green Key.
