36 Samara attractions recommended for viewing

First day Second day What else to see on the second day Stories, routes and tips from tourists Where to stay in Samara Where to go from Samara for 2 days

Samara is a city chosen as the reserve capital of the USSR during the Great Patriotic War. Then the city was called Kuibyshev in honor of the prominent party leader V.V. Kuibyshev. At the beginning of the war, many factories, government agencies from Moscow, and the Bolshoi Theater were evacuated here. The city made a significant contribution to the aircraft manufacturing industry. The names of such famous people as the writer A. Tolstoy, cosmonaut Yu. Gagarin, composer D. Shostakovich, director E. Ryazanov, and the main leader of the revolution V. Lenin are associated with Samara. Each of them spent a different amount of time in the city, but their memory is preserved in history and local museums. And back in the 20th century, due to its rapid economic and industrial development, Samara was called “Russian Chicago”. There were many rich people here, but criminals were also drawn here.

Samara for 2 days is a popular weekend trip option. You will see wooden houses with carvings and mansions in the Art Nouveau style, large squares and monuments. During this time, you will also have time to visit several interesting museums, taste local Zhiguli beer and go to the observation deck with a breathtaking view of the Volga and Zhiguli Mountains.

Kurlina's mansion (Modern Museum) Photo: © Irina Psareva

The best attractions in the vicinity of Samara:

Mastryukov Lakes

If you turn off the highway leading from Samara to Togliatti, you can find yourself in a fabulous place - a natural lake ensemble. The cleanest reservoirs have become a refuge for many animals and birds, including those listed in the Red Book. Fishermen also like to visit these lakes. And bards: this is where the legendary Grushinsky festival takes place.

Address: railway station "Mastryukovo"

Opening hours: daily, 24 hours a day

The entrance is free

Greve Brothers Cave

Not far from the city there is a real Paleolithic monument. The crevice between the Studeny and Koptev ravines in the Sokoli Mountains hid for many years a site for people who lived in the Bronze Age. Evidence of this were knives, pieces of dishes, broken arrowheads and animal skulls.

Experts warn that visiting the grotto without an accompanying person, as well as without equipment and proper physical training, can lead to dire consequences.

Address: Samara, Sorokin Khutora stop

Opening hours: daily, 24 hours a day

The entrance is free

Samarskaya Luka National Park

Not far from the city of Togliatti, on 134 hectares, there is a protected area. Its main value is the Red Book representatives of flora and fauna, as well as the only Zhiguli Mountains on the Russian Plain that grew due to tectonic activity.

In addition to natural attractions, Samara Luka preserves traces of the ancient city of the 8th–13th centuries.

Employees welcome nature lovers, picnics, fishing, sports and active recreation, as well as professional tourists, to the national park all year round.

Address: Samara region, Zhigulevsk, st. Tkacheva, 109 A

Opening hours: daily from 8:00 to 17:00, Saturday and Sunday – days off

Admission: adults – 100 rubles, schoolchildren – 50 rubles, children under 7 years old – free

Official website: https://npsamluka.ru/

What to visit in Samara for free:

Lutheran Church

The monastery of the Lutheran community was built and illuminated by 1865. Ten years later, the temple was destroyed by fire, but quickly restored by local residents. During the Soviet years, the building faced the fate of a warehouse, but in the early 1990s, the church was returned to its purpose.

In addition to Sunday services, the church hosts events on the Bible and religion, spiritual concerts, and organizes clubs for all ages. Here you can also see a rare instrument for Russia - an organ.

Address: st. Kuibysheva 115-117

Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00, Wednesday - from 10:00 to 20:00, Saturday - closed

The entrance is free

Official website: https://elk63.ru/

Strukovsky Garden

You can take a break from the bustle of the city right within its boundaries - in Strukovsky Park. Back in the 19th century, here, in addition to the dense forest, there was an estate and garden of G.N. Strukov.

Now the park occupies about 8.5 hectares, and its main attractions are wide alleys, beautiful slopes and stairs, beautiful flower beds, fountains, grottoes, and gazebos. Here you can also find several attractions, but the park is not overloaded with entertainment complexes.

Address: st. Krasnoarmeyskaya, 2a

Opening hours: daily, 24 hours a day

The entrance is free

Intercession Cathedral

White stone walls, golden and heavenly domes are the main decoration of the historical center of Samara. The cathedral was built in the mid-19th century in the traditions of ancient Moscow architecture. The rich decoration with frescoes and marble decoration was destroyed by fire in the 1970s, but after restoration the temple again amazes with its luxury.

The shrines of the Intercession Cathedral are the miraculous icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a cross with a piece of the sacred Cross of the Lord, the relics of the Voronezh wonderworker Mitrofan, a piece of the Holy Sepulcher.

Address: st. Leninskaya, 75A

Opening hours: daily from 7:00 to 19:00

The entrance is free

Ascension Cathedral

This functioning Orthodox church is unique in its architecture - it is made in the style of classicism with strict lines and shapes. Most of it has been preserved since 1841, but the dome and bell tower had to be restored from scratch after the Soviet regime.

Today, inside the temple you can admire frescoes and stylized ornaments. Believers can venerate the main shrines of the Ascension Cathedral - the icons of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” and “Gerontissa” from Athos.

Address: st. Stepana Razin, 78

Opening hours: daily from 8:30 to 19:00

The entrance is free

Iversky Convent

The first temple of the Orthodox pearl of Samara was built in 1882. Over the course of several decades, the monastery acquired churches, a hospital, a school, and workshops. During the Soviet years, the complex lost some significant monuments, but since 1992 active work has been underway to restore and restore it.

The Iversky Monastery today is a place of attraction for pilgrims from all over Russia. Visitors can touch the relics of St. Alexander Chagrinsky, as well as visit churches, icon-painting and gold-embroidery workshops, and a library.

Address: Volzhsky pr-t, 1

Opening hours: daily from 7:30 to 19:00, closed on Wednesdays

Free admission

Official website: https://iverskiy.rf

Where to go in Samara and what else to see:

House-Museum of M.V. Frunze

The exhibition, located in the house of the Soviet military leader Mikhail Vasilyevich Frunze, tells the story of a difficult time in the history of the country.

Guests will learn all the most important things about the events of the Civil War, the confrontation between the “whites”, “reds” and “greens”, the struggle of the Eastern Front and much more. Separate pages are devoted to the life and work of Frunze himself.

Address: st. Frunze, 114

Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00, Sunday and Monday - closed

Entrance: adults – 50 rubles; children 16-18 years old – 40 rubles; children under 16 years old – free

Samara Regional Art Museum

The museum building is the hallmark of Samara architecture. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, the mansion resembles a rich palace, and its Art Nouveau interiors match the external chic.

In the huge exhibition halls you can see original works by Chagall, Dali, Aivazovsky, Levitan, Shishkin and other geniuses, as well as works of contemporary artists, ceramics, and sculptures.

Address: st. Kuibysheva, 92

Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00, Thursday and Saturday - from 13:00 to 21:00, Tuesday - closed

Admission: adults – 100 rubles, preferential categories – 50 rubles.

Official website: https://artmus.ru/

Kurlina's mansion

An example of Art Nouveau arose on the streets of Samara more than a hundred years ago. The mansion managed to end up on the pages of Alexei Tolstoy: in “Walking Through Torment” the writer called it absurdly luxurious. The house received its modern name from the owners - the Kurlins, a couple of philanthropists.

You can admire the building not only from the outside. Within its walls is the Museum of Art Nouveau, the exhibits of which are harmoniously integrated into the recreated interiors.

Address: st. Frunze 159/Krasnoarmeyskaya 15

Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00, Tuesday and Thursday - from 13:00 to 21:00, Monday - closed

Admission: adults – 80 rubles, children under 16 years old – free

Official website: https://samaramodern.ru/

Zoo museum

The museum has been building its rich collection for almost a century. During this time, some zoological artifacts became historical: for example, stuffed brown bear and Canadian lynx were made in 1913. The modern exhibition is represented by four halls with invertebrates, fish, birds and mammals.

Address: st. Antonova-Ovseenko, 24

Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 16:00, Saturday - from 10:00 to 13:00, Sunday - closed

Entrance: adults – 100 rubles, children – free

Official website: https://museum.pgsga.ru/museum_zoo/

House with elephants

The ancient dacha of the merchant Golovkin is famous not only for its combination of Art Nouveau and the Viennese Secession. Its main decoration was two sculptures of elephants. The animals are cast from concrete in full height, the inside of the statues are hollow. True, you can’t even see the elephants up close to the mansion, but they are clearly visible from the street and from ships sailing along the Volga.

Address: st. Soviet Army, 292

Opening hours: daily

Entrance: the area is closed to the public

Samara Academic Drama Theater named after M. Gorky

The Samara Drama Theater is recognizable not only by its repertoire and performance, but also by its building. The “Gingerbread House”, which became a decoration of the historical center of the city, was built in 1888. It is distinguished by brickwork with white stone carved details, the combination of which forms the Old Russian style.

On the stage of the Samara Academic Drama Theater the works of such classics as Shakespeare, Moliere, Chekhov, Ostrovsky come to life. The repertoire also includes modern experimental performances.

Address: pl. Chapaeva, 1

Opening hours: daily from 11:30 to 18:30, lunch - from 14:00 to 15:00

Entrance: cost depends on the performance

Official website: https://www.dramtheatre.ru/

Children's art gallery

The fairy-tale mansion of the late 19th century with turrets, weather vanes and original elements houses a world of children's creativity. The gallery exhibits works by young artists not only from Russia, but also from abroad.

The permanent exhibition with dolls, in whose faces you can recognize European rulers, nobles, and discoverers, deserves special attention.

Address: st. Kuibysheva (Dvoryanskaya), 139

Opening hours: daily from 9:00 to 18:00

Admission: adults - 100 rubles, children under 7 years old - free

Samara Oceanarium

A visit to the aquarium will give both children and adults an incredible experience. The aquariums, which include the longest in Europe, display more than 4,000 species of inhabitants of the deep sea. You can learn about the peculiarities of their life during thematic excursions. At certain hours, employees conduct public feedings of fish and penguins.

Address: Moskovskoe highway, 25

Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 21:00

Admission: adults – 700 rubles, children under 11 years old – 500 rubles, children under 3 years old – free

Official website: https://oceansamara.ru/

Samara Philharmonic

The modern building was built on the site of another significant place - the Olympus Circus Theatre. Famous poets and composers performed on its stage, after which the established Philharmonic took up the baton in 1940. After 34 years, a new building appeared here - in the Art Nouveau style, with architectural elements of the old Olympus.

Now you can come here for cultural and educational lectures and performances by Russian and foreign musicians.

Address: st. Frunze, 141

Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 19:00, lunch from 14:00 to 15:00

Admission: depends on the program

Official website: https://filarm.ru/

Museum-estate of A. N. Tolstoy

The only wooden mansion preserved on the streets of Samara houses a branch of the literary museum. Guests can visit the memorial apartment of Alexei Tolstoy - experts tried to restore the appearance that existed at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries.

In six halls, the life story of the famous writer from the moment of birth and the main stages of his creative path are revealed. Young visitors will especially enjoy the interactive exhibition “Golden Key”.

Address: st. Frunze 155

Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00, Thursday - from 12:00 to 20:00, Monday - closed

Entrance: single entrance ticket – 200 rubles.

Official website: https://www.samlitmus.ru/muzey-usadba-a-tolstogo/

Samara Space Museum

The museum and exhibition center received its first visitors in April 2001. The permanent exhibition includes elements of rocket and space technology and large-scale models of rockets.

Interactive platforms reveal the topics of modern space achievements, immerse them in the daily life of astronauts on the ISS, and also bring them closer to space and its endless distances.

Address: Lenin Ave., 21

Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday – from 10:00 to 18:00; Thursday – from 13:00 to 20:00; Saturday – from 11:00 to 17:00; Sunday – from 11:00 to 15:00; Monday - closed

Admission: adults – 250 rubles, students and pensioners – 200 rubles; schoolchildren under 16 years old – 100 rubles.

Official website: https://samaracosmos.ru/

Half-Timbered House

Turning onto Frunze Street, you can suddenly find yourself in the atmosphere of a Bavarian town or even an Astrid Lindgren fairy tale. An example of European frame house construction arose in Samara at the end of the 19th century thanks to Osip Grigorievich Girshfeld.

Unfortunately, the monument is in urgent need of restoration, but for now its unique façade, straight out of a Christmas card, can still be admired.

Address: st. Frunze, 75 a

Opening hours: daily

Entrance: the building is closed to the public

Zhigulevsky brewery

The brewery in Samara is not only one of the oldest in Russia, but is still functioning to this day. The foundation of the industrial building was laid in 1881 on the initiative of the Austrian Alfred von Vacano. The plant survived the revolution and war, and now tourists can enjoy its authentic architecture.

On weekdays, the plant hosts excursions with tastings of Zhigulevsky. Here you can buy the freshest beer - for yourself or as a gift. Strictly 18+.

Address: Volzhsky Prospekt, 4

Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 14:00, Saturday and Sunday – days off

Entrance: 1100 rub.

Official website: https://www.samarabeer.ru/

Samara Academic Opera and Ballet Theater

The Opera and Ballet Theater troupe gave its first performance in 1931. In 1938, the artists acquired their own building, where the theater is still located today.

By the beginning of the 21st century, the team had formed a solid repertoire, which is annually replenished with new performances. It includes operettas, operas and ballets for adults, as well as performances for children's audiences.

Address: pl. Kuibysheva, 1

Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 19:00

Entrance: cost depends on the performance

Official website: https://opera-samara.net/

Where to stay

Apartments in the center and beyond are not cheap: apartments for a day are rented out for an average of 2,000 rubles. Through Airbnb you can find cheaper options: an apartment in the embankment area can be snatched here for 1,400 rubles per night excluding fees, a nice one-room apartment in a residential area - for 1,600 rubles.

There are also more budget options: for example, a bed in the Yo! on the local Arbat, Leningradskaya Street, costs from 500 rubles per night. However, we do not recommend choosing a place of residence based only on pedestrian traffic: there is absolutely nothing to do there. Accommodation in a shared room at Mishka will cost the same 500 rubles. Time Hostel, located six kilometers from the center, charges from 400 rubles for an overnight stay.

If your plans for the Samara weekend do not include savings, then you should take a closer look at proven chain hotels like Renaissance and Ibis. They are located side by side on Novo-Sadovaya Street, a little further from the historical center, and were previously considered the local “premium” hotel - a room for one here will cost between 2,900 and 2,430 rubles per day, respectively.

For the World Cup, the Lotte Hotel was built in Samara - a huge palace that does not fit into the surrounding reality, but amazes with its appearance and scale. For a night here you will have to pay from 5,500 to 250,000 rubles. Other hotel options include the 7terrass boutique hotel on the very banks of the Volga (from 4,000 rubles), the “Count Orlov” on Kuibyshev Street (from 4,500 rubles) and the Holiday Inn in the very center of Samara (from 4,400 rubles), which is even praised locals - at least for the architectural solution.

The stop list includes the Oktyabrskaya Hotel at the bus station, which Elena Letuchaya rated Revizorro in the city of Samara - the Oktyabrskaya Hotel at 0 out of 5, and the Bristol Zhiguli. The latter lures tourists not with the quality of service, but with the story of how Fyodor Chaliapin spent the night here and sang from the balcony. Let's remember: this was a long time ago.

What sights of Samara can you see in one day:

Kuibyshev Square

This part of the city is unique in that it is the second largest square in Europe. Here, on 15 hectares, there are the Samara Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, several green squares and a monument to V.V. Kuibyshev.

During the warm season, fairs, festive events, and concerts are held on the square. In winter, its territory turns into a skating rink, full of a fabulous New Year's atmosphere.

Address: pl. Kuibysheva

Opening hours: daily, 24 hours a day

The entrance is free

Sculpture “Barge Haulers on the Volga”

The sculptural composition on Leningradsky Spusk came from the canvas of the great artist Repin. Ilya Efimovich created the painting “Barge Haulers on the Volga” while in the village of Shiryaevo not far from Samara.

Local residents decided to immortalize the work in bronze for the 170th anniversary of the author’s birth, while maintaining its actual dimensions.

Address: st. Maxim Gorky, Leningradsky Descent

Opening hours: daily, 24 hours a day

The entrance is free

Stalin's bunker

The defensive facility was built in 1942 by order of Joseph Stalin. Here the Supreme Commander-in-Chief had to take refuge in the event of an unforeseen military situation.

Nine floors go 37 meters deep. The bunker was declassified only in 1990. Today, anyone can go down into the Stalinist dungeon with a guide.

Address: st. Frunze, 167

Opening hours: daily from 11:00 to 15:00, Saturday and Sunday – days off

Entrance: adult – 500 rubles, children under 10 years – 300 rubles.

Official website: https://www.bunkerstalina.com/

Samara embankment

This embankment is rightfully considered one of the most comfortable in the country. For summer holidays there are beaches here - free and paid, with water attractions. Lovers of picnics and fishing can also find a secluded place here.

At other times of the year, the Samara embankment is also worth a visit, because here you can enjoy the beauty of the local nature. The total length is almost 4 kilometers.

Address: embankment of the Volga River

Opening hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Admission: free (excluding paid areas)

Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

There has been a Catholic parish in Samara for more than a century. The church was built at the beginning of the 20th century in the Gothic style at the expense of the Polish community. In the 1930s, the temple was looted, but in general the object was preserved thanks to the local history museum. In 1996, it was restored and illuminated again.

The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus can be visited individually, on a guided tour or during a sacred music concert. In addition, the church has a Bible study group, a library and an editorial office for the parish newspaper.

Address: st. Frunze, 157

Opening hours: daily from 9:00 to 19:00, lunch from 13:00 to 15:00, closed on Mondays

The entrance is free

Stories, routes and tourist tips

What should a tourist see in 2 days in Samara? It will be easier to create a route by reading the experiences of other travelers. Tourist materials about two days in the city contain useful information, route options, and real photographs. You can find travel stories in different seasons. Trips to Samara during the 2022 FIFA World Cup were especially popular. If you are a football fan, then take a look at the modern Samara Arena stadium , where the local club “Wings of the Soviets” trains.

Story by miljkovic14 - “Samara”
Material by Tatyana Tolstousova - “Ah, Samara is a town...” and photo album “Weekend in Samara”
Yulia Tsareva's travels around the Volga region - “Dreams come true... Summer cruise. Part I"
A series of stories by Victoria Sarkisova “Samara. Provincial modern": part 1 and part 2

Read all tourist reviews about Samara

FAQ

Where can you go with children in Samara? Country Park, Yuri Gagarin Park (children's park of culture and recreation), Zoological Museum, Samara Oceanarium, Samara Space Museum.

What can you see in Samara on your own? Leningradskaya street, Ascension Cathedral, Stroikov and Yakimov flour mill, Lutheran Church.

4 main attractions of Samara that are definitely worth a visit? Samara Embankment, Zhigulevsky Brewery, Railway Station, Samara Boat Monument.

Second day

What to see in Samara in 2 days? After an intense exploration of the historical center, plan a more relaxed program on the second day. Walk through the famous square with the symbol of the city, optionally visit a brewery or museum, and then head to the observation deck for a picturesque view.

Zhigulevsky brewery

The next day’s route begins not far from Strukovsky Garden. The first object on the way is the Zhigulevsky Brewery . It will be interesting to go on an excursion with product tasting. If visiting the factory does not interest you, you can limit yourself to an external inspection of the ancient brick buildings. The company was founded in 1881 by the Austrian Alfred von Vacano. Over time, the Zhigulevskoye beer variety began to be produced at many Soviet factories. However, until the 1930s, the foamy drink produced here was called "Vienna".

More details: Zhigulevsky brewery

Iversky Convent

Opposite the plant's territory is the Iversky Convent . A petition to create a sister community was submitted in 1850. Initially, it was allocated the lands that the plant now occupies. In 1860 the community was renamed a monastery. It existed on donations and income from workshops (gold embroidery, seamstress, icon painting, etc.). During Soviet times, the monastery was closed and many buildings were destroyed. Since the end of the last century, the monastery has been restored. In 2008, the restored Iversky Church was consecrated. On the territory you can also see the only building that survived after the closure of the monastery - the Jerusalem Temple.

Details: Iversky Monastery

Glory Square

Next, move along Volzhsky Prospekt or Molodogvardeyskaya Street to Glory Square . It is included in the list of the main attractions of Samara. Here stands the Monument of Glory , erected in honor of the merits of the workers of the Kuibyshev aviation industry, who made a great contribution to the victory in the Great Patriotic War. It was created in 1968–1971, money for it was collected by the whole city - a ruble per factory worker. The pedestal is 40 m high, with a 13-meter figure of a worker on top. His arms are extended upward and hold two inclined planes, similar to the wings of airplanes. In addition to the monument, on the square there is a bas-relief “Motherland” and a memorial wall, and the Eternal Flame burns. The square offers panoramic views of the Volga.

More details: Glory Square

Samara embankment

Go down from Glory Square to embankment . You have already walked along the first part of it the previous day, now it’s worth walking through another section. In front of you will be singing fountains, alleys with sculptures and cafes. Pay attention to the monument to the founder of the city - Grigory Zasekin . Further along the embankment stands the Ladya stele , built at the end of the last century.

Samara Space Museum

After walking along the embankment, return to the city streets. Walk down the street. Chelyuskintsev and turn onto Lenin Avenue to see the Soyuz launch vehicle . It is installed on the museum and exhibition . The exhibition features unique items telling about space and rockets. You can look at a real space suit, space food, engines and much more. The city's aviation industry is its special pride. Yuri Gagarin's Vostok spacecraft was launched into space on April 12, 1961 by a launch vehicle, 2/3 of which was manufactured in Samara. After returning to Earth, Gagarin arrived by plane in Kuibyshev and rested at a dacha near the Volga.

More details: "Samara Space"

Observation deck "Helicopter"

You can end the day at the Helicopter observation deck with a stunning view of the Volga nature. The road to the village of Upravlencheskiy by car will take 40 minutes (more than 20 km), or you can get there by bus. From here you can see the Volga, Samara Luka, Zhiguli Mountains. The site is equipped for tourists, there are benches, cafes, snack counters, and parking (entry fee on weekends and holidays). Previously, “Helicopter” served as a landing site for the helicopter of N. Kuznetsov, the chief engine designer. If you still have enough time left and want to change the location, you can go to the Tsarev Kurgan observation deck, 13 km from here.

Details: “Helicopter”

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