This post should actually be the first because I have lived here for many years. Even at school, I dreamed of moving from a provincial village to the capital of Bashkiria. When I moved to Ufa in my first year of college, it struck me to the heart. Now its brightness in my eyes has dimmed a little and today I will show you all the significant places and attractions of my hometown.
So, what to see in Ufa and its surroundings if you come here for the first time will be in this article
Features of Ufa you need to know about
Ufa is located on the so-called Ufa Peninsula, which is washed by the river of the same name and the beautiful Belaya or Agidel, about which Shevchuk from DDT once sang, in winter it really is white
The official symbol of the city is three screws, since in the Bashkir language Ufa is written as “ӨФӨ”, a funny logo can be found at the local airport and numerous art sculptures.
The marten is considered another symbol of the city; it is also depicted in street art. She is not only the heroine of many Bashkir legends, but is also depicted on the Coat of Arms of Ufa as a running marten.
In general, there are many interesting sculptures in Ufa, for example, next to the building of the Iskra cinema there is a naked boy with a kuray. The composition has a beautiful name “Spring Song”, but the people called it “Sell everything - buy kurai”.
If you walk around the city on foot, you will notice that some attractions seem to be at a height; indeed, Ufa is considered a city on the hills, there are many observation platforms. Previously, this area had defensive functions; patrol posts were located on the hills to protect the city from enemy raids.
When coming to Ufa, be sure to try the national Bashkir cuisine - this is bishbarmak, kazy, shurpa, kystyby, bukkens and chak-chak. Don’t give up kumys or katyk, they are not only very tasty, but also good for the stomach. Once upon a time, even Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was healed in our area with kumis treatment.
These dishes have been familiar to me since childhood, and every time I leave home I miss my mother’s uchpochmak - these are juicy pies in the shape of a baked triangle with meat and potatoes.
TOP 20 things to see in Ufa and its surroundings
Significant places
And now I will tell you about those attractions, when we talk about which we immediately remember Ufa.
Monument to Salavat Yulaev
The monument to Salavat Yulaev is located on Cherkalikhina Mountain; it greets tourists if you come to Ufa by rail from Moscow. The monument to the Bashkir national hero is the main symbol of the city. The majestic 10-meter sculpture was opened in 1967 and since then it has been the most popular place for meetings and walks
Opposite the stone horseman there is a curved building with a glass facade - this is the “House of Friendship of Peoples” or Congress Hall, where meetings of heads of state and concerts of stars are held. A pedestrian alley with unusual fountains in the form of a river and a bowl leads from the Salavat monument to the building. In the evening, the water is illuminated and you can see the symbol of Bashkiria - the kurai flower, consisting of 7 petals - fountains. And the area with yurts, benches and walking paths around is called the Vatan ethnic park
Where is it, how to get there: stop. "BGU" and "Telecenter", buses 75E, 272, 290, 6, 202, 227, 228, 242, 249
And if you want to visit not only the monument to Salavat Yulaev in one day, it is best to do this on a sightseeing tour with a guide; he will make your walk around Ufa memorable and tell you about all the highlights of our beloved city
Fountain Seven Girls
The prototype for creating the fountain was a Bashkir legend according to which seven sisters were kidnapped by an enemy tribe, and when they managed to escape, they sank into the river and disappeared forever. The granite girls were modeled after real dancers of the Miras ensemble, and at night, along with the lighting in the park, the composition of the original dance “Seven Girls” is turned on.
Where is it: stop “Gostiny Dvor”, next to the Bashkir State Opera and Ballet Theater
Fountain Dancing Cranes
Another unusual fountain, the opening of which took place the other day, although the sculpture was founded in the last century. It immediately became popular because of the light and music fountains dancing to the beat of the compositions. And in warm weather, happy children run around under the streams of water.
Where is it: stop "GDK", Dubki square
Friendship Monument
A huge stele made of pink granite can be seen immediately at the entrance to Ufa from the side of the bridge over the Belaya. Up close you can see two women sitting on both sides; they symbolize the voluntary entry of Bashkiria into the Russian kingdom. Today it is difficult to imagine, but the Republic once belonged to the Kazan Khanate, which after the conquest of Grozny passed to Russia.
Where is it: “Friendship Monument” stop
Also, in honor of the 450th anniversary of the voluntary entry of Bashkortostan into Russia, a bronze sign “Zero Kilometer” was installed near the Main Post Office on Lenin Street.
Ufa embankment
The main point of attraction of Ufa and the face of the capital is its embankment, which has recently been modernized and can now compete for the title of the longest in Russia. And although people have already dubbed it a concrete jungle due to its continuous covering of gray concrete, it is worth coming here if only to sit on the benches of the amphitheater overlooking Agidel and breathe in the fresh river air.
Where is it: “Friendship Monument” stop
Winter tourism
For lovers of winter sports, Ufa provides the opportunity to visit two ski resorts - Ak Yort and Olympic Park. The first has three slopes for skiing and snowboarding and two tubing slopes. The second one has 4 tracks, one of which is educational.
Both complexes offer equipment rental, lifts and the services of professional instructors. Lighting of the trails allows you to ride even in the dark. After an active holiday, you can have a snack in the restaurants and cafes there. One of everyone's favorite winter activities is ice skating.
Several sites provide this service in Ufa:
- "Ufa-Arena";
- Hippodrome "Akbuzat";
- area in front of the Lifestyle Center Bashkiria;
- roof of the Iremel shopping center;
- stadiums "Dynamo" and "Stroitel";
- parks: named after Yakutov, named after Gafuri, Kashkadan;
- Gostiny Dvor.
Parks
You can escape the gasoline-smelling city in city parks - these are real oases of fresh air and unity with nature among high-rise buildings.
Matrosov Park
This park is one of the first public spaces in Ufa, founded in the 19th century. I like it because after passing through the entire park you can come to the building of the Republican Government, standing on the steep bank of the Agidel
In Matrosov Park there are two huge fountains, benches, large lawns for a picnic, and residents of Ufa come here in early May to take pictures against the backdrop of the blooming bright pink lush crown of Japanese cherry blossoms. Although in fact the plant is an ordinary apple tree.
Where is it: Zaki Validi street 3, stop “Bashgosdram theatre”
Garden named after Salavat Yulaev on Sluchevskaya Mountain
A small park that bears the name of the national Bashkir hero Salavat Yulaev is located in different places with the monument of the same name. The garden stands on two hills of Sluchevskaya Mountain, and over the crevice between them there is a suspension bridge on the railings of which it has become a tradition to leave the locks of the newlyweds, so it is popularly nicknamed the “Bridge of Love”. At the observation points there are snow-white hexagonal gazebos from which a breathtaking view of the overpass across the Belaya River opens.
Where is it, how to get there: st. Salavata 22, stop "School of Arts", buses 14, 31, 51, 57, 57a, 101, 101k, 110, 127k, 164k, 164t, 234
Yakutov Park
This is my favorite park in Ufa; I have warm childhood memories associated with it. Here my mother and brother and I came for the first time to go on the rides, and after a busy day we ate ice cream while riding a catamaran on the lake.
Interestingly, this place was previously called the Temperance Society Garden, and a brass band was formed from the fire station adjacent to the park, which played here in the evenings. By the way, the bright red fire tower can be seen when approaching the park from Lenin Street.
The highlight of the park is undoubtedly Soldatskoe Lake, in the center of which there is a 15-meter fountain. Most recently, reconstruction was carried out here and comfortable benches were installed. Now you can get very close to the water to feed the local ducks.
There is also a children's railway where little visitors can ride on a real miniature train, where the controllers and the driver are the same children.
Where is it, how to get there: st. Lenina 65/3, stop "Ufa Arena", "Aviation College", "Yakutov Park", buses 3, 74, 214, trolleybus No.: 22
Art square
An art square is a space that is a courtyard with nooks and establishments decorated in different styles. There are examples of ancient Ufa houses made of red brick and wood, a former merchant building that housed the Karavan tea-packing factory. The estates have been interestingly restored using mosaic panels and stained glass windows depicting scenes from the lives of wealthy residents. Despite the fact that Art Square is still being developed, it has already become a popular place among tourists and citizens.
Where is it, how to get there: st. Chernyshevsky 88, stop “Hotel Bashkiria”
To learn even more about Art Square, you can sign up for an author’s excursion, where you will be told about the masterpieces of pre-revolutionary architecture and interesting examples of modern architecture
Aksakov Park mid-19th century
A miniature park, which is loved because it is the quietest and most comfortable place in the city. The park with swans was erected on the site of the estate in which the writer Sergei Aksakov, author of The Scarlet Flower, was born. In honor of the popular children's fairy tale, a sculpture in the form of a bright scarlet flower was placed in the garden.
It’s also worth coming to this place to see real ancient monuments - the Kraevsky house (Pushkina 112/1), the house of the Blokhin merchants (Pushkina 112/2) and the Blokhin vodka factory (Pushkina 112/3)
Where is it, how to get there: st. Pushkina 112/1, stop "School of Arts", buses 14, 31, 51, 57, 57a, 101, 101k, 110, 127k, 164k, 164t, 234
Sofyushkina alley
The tender name of the pedestrian alley comes from Sophia, the wife of the first Ufa governor Grigory Aksakov, the heir of the famous Russian writer. Sofya Alexandrovna was a very active lady, so in the place of unfinished construction, overgrown with weeds, this historical landmark appeared, planted with flowering apple trees, pears and lindens.
On the alley, trees are planted in a checkerboard pattern parallel to each other on both sides of the pedestrian path. A picturesque path leads to the memorial house - the Aksakov Museum, S. Yulaev Park and the oldest cathedral mosque.
Lesovodov Park
There is no zoo in Ufa, but there is an open-air cage where you can see bears, wolves, foxes, lynxes and peacocks. You can only look at the animals from the walking path, but it’s free. Here you can rent bicycles, scooters or electric cars for children, have a picnic and barbecue on the grill area, visit the forest museum
Entry to the park is free, the forest museum is 100 rubles for adults, and 30 rubles for children over 7 years old.
Where is it located : stop “Reserve” or “Sagit Agisha”, buses 69, 110c, 51, 51a, 207, 213, 223, 232, 235, 260, 262k, 269, 55, 203, 242
Museums
National Museum
You need to allocate enough time for visiting the National Museum, since it is voluminous, with many exhibition halls and expositions, where every visitor, regardless of age, will be interested. In the museum you can see the saber of Salavat Yulaev, learn about the Burzyan bee - the provider of the famous Bashkir honey. Our family took more than two hours to explore the National Museum, we stayed there until it closed, and I think this is the best finishing touch to sightseeing in Ufa.
Entrance ticket - 150 rubles, children, schoolchildren, students, pensioners - 50 rubles.
Opening hours: Tue – Fri: 11.00-18.00, Sat – Sun: 11.00-17.30. Mon. - day off
How to get there - stop "Sovetskaya Ploshchad", buses 31, 51, 57, 57A, 110, 121k, 126k, 234, 432a, 122, 171, 211, 214, 216, 247, 257k, 272, 350
Aksakov House Museum
As you understand, there are many significant places in Ufa dedicated to the popular Russian storyteller, but the most important one is the house in which the writer lived with his family. The wooden two-story mansion has survived to this day in its original form and is an example of Russian architecture. Inside the rooms you can see household items of the writer’s family - books, photographs, furniture from the 19th century. By the way, life in this house was written about in Aksakov’s work “The Childhood Years of Bagrov—Grandson,” and the museum preserves the rooms of Seryozha and his sister and even a homemade puppet theater in which performances were performed for children.
Opening hours: Tuesday - Friday from 10.00 - 18.00, Saturday - from 12.00 - 20.00. The ticket office closes an hour earlier. Sunday, Monday - closed.
Entrance - adult 150 rub. Schoolchildren, students and pensioners - 50 rubles.
Where is it, how to get there: st. Z. Rasuleva, 4, stop "School of Arts", buses 31, 51, 51a, 57, 57a, 101, 110, 122, 126k, 127k, 151, 171, 164t, 214, 234, 277, 291, 298, 350
No. 7. Center for Contemporary Art "Clouds"
https://artoblaka.ru/
Located on the ground floor of the Iremel shopping and entertainment complex. The center prides itself on hosting all forms of art, including music and theater. Moreover, the center has an escape room, a recording studio, a sewing studio, an antique store and a bookcrossing area (a place for exchanging books). Dance evenings are held periodically. I think you will definitely find something interesting for yourself here. A significant part of the exhibits can be purchased.
“Oblaki” tries to support creative people and provides them with their own platforms. Exhibitions change frequently, which maintains high interest among Ufa residents in the gallery. In addition, he is working on creating a unified electronic catalog of all works of art in Russia.
You can relax, have a snack and discuss ideas in the cafe at the center.
PS: While exploring the map of Ufa, I discovered a rather peculiar manifestation of contemporary art - some unknown “hackers” named the Forest Museum after a modern popular performer. Link here.
Price: Free
Mosques and cathedrals
Ufa is a multinational city; in our city there are Muslim mosques, Orthodox and Catholic churches, a Lutheran church and a synagogue. Even if you are not a believer, then I advise you to come to at least one temple to feel the blessed healing energy of such places.
The first cathedral mosque "Tukaevskaya"
Despite the fact that the appearance of the building with one minaret is very modest and there are much more pretentious mosques in Ufa, it is worth your attention because it is the oldest in the city. On the territory of the mosque there are ancient tombstones at the burial places of muftis.
Where is it, how to get there: st. Tukaeva, 48. You can reach the mosque on foot from Sofiushkina Alley or Salavat Yulaev Park
Cathedral Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary
I’ll probably be right if I call this sky-blue building with golden domes the most beautiful in Ufa. Eight bells work on its bell tower, and the interior decoration of the temple is no less impressive - rich paintings on the walls and ceilings, and materials imported from Italy, South Africa, Pakistan and Greece were used in the decoration. The temple building went through many difficulties and did not immediately become a place of worship. During revolutionary times, its walls housed a hospital, then a cinema, the dome part was destroyed and the supporting pillars were half demolished, and only in Soviet times was the temple returned to the Orthodox Church and restored.
Where is it, how to get there: st. Kirova, 102 stop “st. Kirov", "UKSIVT" or "Ayskaya", buses 218, 220, 224, 233, 270, 329a, 202, 252, 256, 266, 55, 270
Evangelical - Lutheran Church
I didn’t expect that in Ufa you could find a real church, now if I miss Kaliningrad and organ music, I know where to come. This is the only Catholic church in Ufa, and the most interesting thing is that this unusual place is located in the city center.
Where is it, how to get there: st. Belyakova 2, next to Yakutov Park
No. 10. Evangelical Lutheran Church
https://www.kirchufa.ru/
No, I’m not suggesting that you change your religion.
It’s just that this building in the Romanesque style looks very unusual among the urban landscape of Ufa. In addition, it fully reflects the multinational history of the city: more than a century ago, Germans, Latvians and Estonians came here to pray. The service was conducted in their native languages.
Unfortunately, in 1930, the city authorities transferred the church to a repair plant, and for the next 70 years it turned into a warehouse. In 2000, it was returned to the community and restoration work began. After some time, the service resumed.
Today the church is used for its intended purpose, open Bible readings are held there, lectures are listened to and films are watched. Anyone can enter. The Ufa community actively cooperates with other Evangelical Lutheran churches in the country.
Price: free
Neighborhoods of Ufa
Aigir
This is the highest mountainous region in our republic, which makes it attractive for technical mountaineering and hikers. In general, Aigir is not the name of a mountain, but rather a place or local station; it is located twenty kilometers from the Bashkir village of Inzer, between the Maly Inzer and Aigirka rivers. At the height, a rocky terrain begins, which is a bit reminiscent of the rocky ridges on the islands of Thailand and Mount Ai-Petri in Crimea.
You can read about our mini-trip to Aigir, how to get there and where it is located here>>>
Peak Ufa
Ufa Peak is the highest point in Bashkiria, where a stone with a sign is installed on the top - 919.9 meters. On the approach to the top, the landscape from a forest path turns into a pile of large stones or a kurumnik, popularly nicknamed a stone river. Without special hard shoes and poles, you can easily get injured here, so be thoroughly prepared for the trip.
You can read about our family trip to Ufa Peak, how to get there and where it is located here>>>
Pink rocks
This mountain range is included in the list of the most visited excursion routes. And it’s not just the unusual pink hue of the rocky ledges, but also the panoramic picture that opens from the top. You can clearly see the railway loop along the Inzer River, framed by a stone embankment.
You can read about how to get there and where the Pink Rocks are located here>>>
No. 4. Ufa Botanical Garden
ufabotsad.rf
Where should nature lovers go in Ufa if not to the botanical garden? Moreover, he is excellent here. A large territory of 23 hectares (that’s like 30 football fields), interesting landscape design, as many as one and a half thousand species of ornamental, medicinal and rare plants. There is a lilac garden and a tropical greenhouse. Clean paths, well-groomed flower beds, cozy alleys, a peaceful atmosphere.
In addition to preserving the existing green fund, the botanical garden is working on breeding new species. The Ufa residents themselves come up with names for them (the choice goes through a competition for the best option). Gardening courses are held here, exhibitions of cacti, blooming violets and the like are organized.
Price: 75 rub. children's, 150 rub. adult
