What to see in Kazan in 2 days: top 9 beautiful and popular places

Although true fans of Nizhny Novgorod claim that this city is the third capital of our country, anyone who has visited Kazan at least once will definitely want to argue with this statement. Kazan is getting better and better every year: what is old and imbued with the spirit of bygone times is being updated to splendor, and new things are being built so quickly and on such a scale that no one doubts which metropolis ranks third after Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Kazan is a modern and at the same time archaic city, where Eastern and Western cultures are closely intertwined, Islam and Orthodoxy peacefully coexist, and architectural buildings of bygone eras coexist with futuristic skyscrapers. Indigenous residents and tourists of various nationalities walk through the streets of the city, each at their own pace: the first quickly, performing their daily tasks, the second slowly, trying to discern the smallest details of the next attraction they encounter along the way.

And in Kazan there really is something to see and be impressed by. All the sights of the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, be it temples, monuments, monasteries, museums, unique cultural or historical buildings, were created under the influence of Tatar and Russian traditions. They ideally reflect the centuries-old history of Kazan, which celebrated its millennium in 2005, and in 2017-2018 took an honorable third place in the ranking of the most popular Russian cities among tourists.

☑ What to see in Kazan: top 9 popular places to explore the majestic city

Kazan attracts both domestic and foreign tourists at any time of the year. Here you can have a pleasant and useful time in both winter and summer. It is unlikely that you will be able to thoroughly explore all the sights of Kazan in a short period of time, because their diversity and content pleases and frightens at the same time. But there will be one more reason to return to this beautiful and unforgettable city, which will definitely leave its unique and authentic mark on the soul of not only a novice tourist, but also the most discreet and sophisticated traveler who has visited different parts of our planet.

Kazan is one of the largest cultural, economic, educational, scientific, religious and sports centers in the country, which has a registered brand “The Third Capital of Russia”. In 2013, the city hosted the twenty-seventh World Summer Universiade, and in 2022 it hosted a number of FIFA World Cup matches. In 2022, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, Kazan was awarded the title “City of Labor Valor”.

Temple of All Religions

Address: Kazan, Staro-Arakchinskaya st., 4

The sights of Kazan are a clear example of the eclecticism of styles and the synthesis of cultural traditions, which is manifested in the unusual architectural appearance of the Temple of All Religions.

The modern building of the temple, built on the initiative of the public figure and creative person Ildar Khanov, embodies the humanistic idea of equality of all religious faiths and movements - both existing and disappeared or legendary. This idea is reflected by the lack of a unified style, multi-colored mosaics and the general pretentiousness of the decor.

The temple was supposed to include 16 halls dedicated not only to Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, but also to exotic movements: Egyptian mythology, Freemasonry, Mayan religion, etc. At the moment, the temple is being completed.

☑ 1. Kazan Kremlin

The Kazan Kremlin is the heart of Kazan and its main attraction, therefore it occupies a leading position on the list of must-see sites. Since 2000, the Kazan Kremlin has been included in the list of World Heritage Sites according to UNESCO . And this is quite logical, because it is a unique archaeological, historical and architectural complex containing the centuries-old history of Kazan.

There is no quick way to visit the Kazan Kremlin, which is open 24 hours a day and at any time of the year. You need to set aside at least 2-3 hours to at least see in general terms this small fortress town, in which a Muslim shrine stands across the road from an Orthodox one. Is it possible? Yes, it happens when we are talking about Kazan.

The thing is that at first Kazan developed under the auspices of the Volga Bulgaria and the Golden Horde. In the fifteenth century, the city became the capital of the Kazan Khanate, and in the mid-sixteenth century, when Ivan the Terrible took it, a white-stone Kremlin with the Annunciation Cathedral was erected on the site of the destroyed Khan's fortress with mosques, which is currently the oldest Orthodox church in the Middle Volga region. Kazan officially became multi-confessional during the reign of Catherine II, who reconciled the ever-warring religions.

Kazan Kremlin

The architectural ensemble of the Kazan Kremlin initially consisted of 13 towers (7 round, 5 travel towers and 1 pentagonal in plan). In the nineteenth century, due to dilapidation, the Pentagonal, Northern, Eastern and one unnamed western tower were dismantled.

On the territory of the Kazan Kremlin in 1994, a museum-reserve was founded, which represents a number of unique structures: a complex of public places, a complex of defensive structures, a Cannon Yard, the Annunciation Cathedral, the Khan's Yard (Governor's Palace), the Junker School, the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery and Kul Sharif mosque.

Kazan

Tourists who have already visited Kazan believe that every guest of the city who comes here for the first time must do the following:

Syuyumbike Tower
© Nomad
Visit the Kazan Kremlin, check whether the Syuyumbike tower is really falling and take a funny photo, and in the evening admire the city from the Kremlin hill;
Take a walk along Kazan Arbat and take a photo with the famous Kazan cat;
Get acquainted with the national Tatar cuisine in one of the restaurants or just eat echpochmak in the House of Tea cafe on Bauman Street, they say that they are the most delicious there. Have you eaten horse meat soup?
Take a walk around the Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda and take a photo in a skullcap against the backdrop of the Al-Marjani Mosque, the oldest mosque in Kazan;
Remember your youth at the Museum of Socialist Life, where things from the 70s to 90s are collected in a former communal apartment. Do you still remember the “March of Young Pioneers” or how to play table hockey?
Climb to the highest observation deck in Kazan and admire the panoramic views of the thousand-year-old city;
Tired of the sights, get a boost of energy in the Riviera water park, going down the red slide, or relax in the bathhouse, depending on your mood;
Take a boat to the island of Sviyazhsk, admire the wonderful Volga landscapes, unique frescoes of the 16th century, and maybe think about the eternal.

Pilgrimage routes

If you are going to Kazan with the aim of making a pilgrimage or religious-educational tour, then the city, where religious sites of two great religions - Orthodoxy and Islam - peacefully coexist, provides great opportunities for this!

Those interested in Orthodox churches can see all the churches and monasteries in a day, located quite compactly in the Vakhitovsky district of the city. We propose a route for such a hike from St. Nicholas Cathedral to the Church of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, the length of the route is about 7 kilometers .

Route diagram for the Orthodox shrines of Kazan

Church of the Life-Giving Trinity, Raifa Monastery

We recommend devoting the next day to a trip to the Raifa Mother of God Monastery, whose history begins in the mid-17th century.

Those who want to visit or see local mosques should go to the Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda, although there are mosques in other areas of the city. Mosques built before 1917 are practically the only surviving monuments of monumental Tatar architecture in Kazan.

We offer a route of about 9 kilometers , connecting the most beautiful mosques of the city. It runs from the Kul-Sharif Mosque on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin, the main Muslim temple of Kazan and Tatarstan, to the Zakabannaya Mosque (Mosque of the 1000th anniversary of the adoption of Islam).

Route diagram for the Islamic shrines of Kazan

Let's not forget that in Kazan, in addition to Orthodox churches and mosques, there is also the Catholic Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Chabad-Lubavitch synagogue and the Intercession Church of the Old Believers.

Excursions around Kazan

Night Kazan, Chernyshevsky street

City travel companies and private guides organize a variety of excursions visiting the most interesting sights of Kazan and the Republic of Tatarstan. The most popular are sightseeing tours of Kazan with a visit to the Kremlin and Bauman Street, as well as “Evening Kazan”.

There are also thematic excursions: “Walk through the Tatar Settlement”, “The historical heart of the city - the Kazan Kremlin”, “Merchant Kazan”, “Old Believer Kazan”, “Sports Kazan”, “Excursion to the Raifa Mother of God Monastery and the Temple of All Religions”; excursion dedicated to the Tatar poet Gabdulla Tukai “In the footsteps of “Tatar Pushkin””, “Literary Kazan” and many others. Private guides conduct custom excursions.

Event tourism

Event tourism is one of the most popular trends in recent years. In Kazan and Tatarstan, many different events are held annually: national holidays, events dedicated to significant events and dates, historical reconstructions. This attracts thousands of tourists to the republic; it is not for nothing that in 2022 Kazan received the international Golden Apple award for the development of event tourism.

Here are the most interesting events that take place in Kazan and the settlements closest to the capital of the republic.

Opera and Ballet Theatre

The International Opera Festival named after F. I. Chaliapin has been held in Kazan every February since 1982. The place was not chosen by chance; Kazan is the birthplace of the great singer. Every year, famous conductors, as well as Russian and foreign pop performers, take part in concerts and performances.

Maslenitsa is celebrated annually in Kazan at the end of winter and attracts a large number of tourists every year. The holiday is celebrated at many city venues, but the most popular place is the Sviyazhsk Island-Grad Museum-Reserve.

The Kazan International Muslim Film Festival is held in the capital of Tatarstan every year; the main criterion for selecting films is that they should call for goodness and justice. Directors from Russia, Europe and Asia take part in it. In addition to film screenings, the festival includes creative meetings with film artists, master classes and Muslim fashion shows. The festival is loved by both Kazan residents and city guests. Here you can see films from exotic countries that residents of European countries rarely see. Dates must be clarified on the festival website.

The International Festival of Ballet Art named after Rudolf Nureyev is traditionally held in May on the stage of the Tatar Academic State Opera and Ballet Theater named after Musa Jalil. Since Rudolf Nureyev was a supporter of innovation in the art of dance, the festival pays great attention not only to classics, but also to modern choreography.

The International Festival named after Sergei Rachmaninoff “White Lilac” is held annually in May in the State Grand Concert Hall named after Salikh Saidashev. Famous Russian and foreign musicians come to it to perform works by Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, Scriabin and Prokofiev.

Restaurant "Uryuk"

“Tasty Kazan” is the main republican gastronomic event and one of the most popular gastronomic festivals in Russia. The program includes master classes on preparing various dishes from the best Kazan restaurants, seminars on proper nutrition, but most importantly, the food here is very tasty: guests of the city have the opportunity to try the culinary delights of Tatar cuisine and dishes prepared according to ancient recipes. You can take part in the popular vote for “The most delicious restaurant in the city.” The time and location of the festival changes annually.

Sabantuy is a national holiday that marks the end of sowing and the onset of summer. It is usually held in June on one of the Sundays. Sabantuy in Kazan is a celebration of folk festivals, food and games. The most interesting thing is sports competitions, in which participants receive prizes for winning. At the final stage, the warrior warriors measure their strength in national wrestling, where the traditional prize for the winner is a live lamb.

The international summer festival of jazz music “Jazz at the Sandetsky Estate” annually in July-August brings together the best of domestic and foreign jazz music in the capital of Tatarstan. It takes place on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin and lasts two months, each evening dedicated to one direction - from mainstream and funk to avant-garde. As part of the festival, in addition to music, there are other events: photography and painting exhibitions, performances.

The ethnic festival “Krutushka” is a festival of ethnic music and folklore, which is held every year in August on the banks of the Kazanka River. Theater and dance groups, masters of decorative and applied arts and national crafts not only from Russia, but also from near and far abroad perform concerts here. Here you can watch ethnographic feature films, unique works of unusual artists and photographers, and also learn how to sculpt from clay, make jewelry from leather and felt, weave beads or play ancient musical instruments.

The international opera festival "Kazan Autumn" - a festival in a modern open-air format since 2011, has been held in August on Republic Day near the walls of the Kazan Kremlin on the square in front of the Palace of Farmers. The organizer of the festival, the State Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Tatarstan, soloists of the Tatar opera, as well as world-famous stars perform at the festival.

City Day is an annual holiday celebrated on August 30. On this day, festive events take place - parades, processions, fairs, concerts, and everything ends, as usual, with fireworks and fireworks.

Seasonal holidays

Kazan is a city of year-round tourism, but there are some features that will be of interest to lovers of active recreation, which directly depends on the time of year.

Winter

Despite the fact that we called the warm season the best time to visit Kazan, you shouldn’t even ask yourself whether it’s worth going here in winter! The capital of Tatarstan is beautiful at any time of the year, and a winter trip can be unforgettable, the main thing is to take care of organizing an interesting holiday for yourself.

Free zone of the New Year's town on the Kremlin embankment

Do you know that Kazan has the longest skating rink in Europe ? A skating rink 1000 meters long is being built on the Kremlin embankment, which stretches from the walls of the Kazan Kremlin along the Kazanka River for almost four kilometers. This is a wonderful place for walks at any time of the year, and for the New Year holidays a winter town is set up nearby, decorated differently every year. The Kremlin embankment looks fabulous in New Year's attire! Here you can rent skates, get a charge of positive emotions, especially since there are no problems where to have a snack or warm up.

But this skating rink, of course, is not the only one. Last winter season, 18 skating rinks operated in Kazan: indoor ice arenas, where clothes can be left in the cloakroom, and outdoor skating rinks, where you need to dress according to the weather.

Indoor skating rinks: Ice arenas “Golden Puck”, “Tatneft Arena”, “Ak-Bure”, “Basko”, Sports complexes “Forward”, “Zilant”, “Triumph”. Before the New Year, a 4,000 m² skating rink was opened at the Kazan Arena stadium.

There are open-air skating rinks at the Trudovye Reservy stadium, in the Black Lake park, Khansky Dvor on the territory of the hippodrome, at the Tasma stadium and others in every district of the city.

For ski lovers, there are illuminated ski slopes in Kazan. ski slopes in Victory Park, Central Park of Culture and Culture named after. Gorky, in a forest area on the street. Kasimov brothers, in the Gorkinsko-Ometyevsky forest. You can ski on the ski slope overlooking the Kremlin at the Central Stadium.

There are ski resorts where you can rent skis in different areas of the city:

Stadium "Labor Reserves" in the Vakhitovsky district;
Sports complex "Motor" in the Aircraft Construction District;
Dynamo base and Lokomotiv stadium in the Kirovsky district;
Sports base "Dynamo" in the Volga region;
Republican Youth Sports School for winter sports "Bars" in the Sovetsky district, etc. There are 12 ski resorts in Kazan.

There is also a ski complex “Sviyazhskie Hills” 35 kilometers from Kazan - with well-equipped ski slopes of varying difficulty, lifts, trails for snowboarders and snow tubing, and an ice skating rink. For children there are children's ski slopes, you can ride ordinary cheesecakes or spend time in a well-equipped children's town while adults are busy skiing. This is one of the largest ski resorts in central Russia, but it is also all-season. In summer, golf, shooting ranges and other activities are offered here.

Ferris wheel at the Riviera water park in Kazan

If you are not interested in “snowy” fun and want summer in the middle of winter, go to the Kazan water park “Riviera”, where you will find dozens of different attractions, slides, steep turns, wave pools, hammam, saunas and jacuzzi. A feeling of happiness and an adrenaline rush are guaranteed; here you will forget that there are frosts, snowstorms and winter outside the window yet!

By the way, there is entertainment nearby, which is not yet available in every city in the country, a Ferris wheel with heated cabins, i.e., it works even in winter. The Kazan Wheel is called “Around the World” because all of its 36 booths are dedicated to different cities of the world, decorated with images of city attractions, and each one plays popular music of the country. You can remember your travels or plan future ones.

Well, for those who are not interested in active recreation, a win-win option would be museum and theater routes that do not depend on the weather and time of year.

Summer

Summer is a season with virtually no restrictions on any type of entertainment! Do you like skiing and skating? Rollerblade! But still, in the summer, everyone, first of all, is looking for a place where they can swim.

The sandy part of the coast between the Kremlin and Kirov dams

As elsewhere, in Kazan, before the start of the season, Rospotrebnadzor conducts studies to determine the compliance of water bodies and beaches with hygienic standards. As a result, not all of them are considered suitable for swimming; information about this is posted on the department’s website.

Thus, in 2022, only the beaches “Lokomotiv”, “Komsomolsky”, “Nizhneye Zarechye” and Lake Glubokoe were tested.

Lokomotiv Beach is the only municipal beach in the city, which is located on the Volga, almost in the city center behind the railway station.

Nizhneye Zarechye Beach - on the banks of the Kazanka River next to the Kyrlay amusement park. Both of these beaches are easily accessible by public transport.

The most remote and most popular is the beach on Lake Glubokoe, located in a coniferous forest. You need to travel about 40 minutes by public transport to get there, and then walk another 20 minutes through the forest, where entry to any vehicle is prohibited.

The beach on Lake Komsomolskoye is located in the village of Derbyshki, far from the main part of the city. Kazan residents don’t really like to get there, and locals protect their only vacation spot. Therefore, the beach is well-maintained and the water is clean.

Rest on Lake Nizhny Kaban

There are still places in Kazan that are well-equipped for recreation, but swimming there is officially prohibited. This is only a recreation area by the water on the shores of Lake Lebyazhye, Lake Emerald and the lake in Victory Park, where you can sunbathe, have a picnic with friends or fish.

There is also a commercial beach in Kazan. This is the beach of the Kazanskaya Riviera entertainment complex on the banks of the Kazanka River, where there are several swimming pools and a good selection of entertainment. Of course, swimming is allowed here, but the pleasure is paid.

On hot summer days it is difficult to find a free place on the beaches of Kazan. But not far from the city there are excellent places to relax by the water, not crowded compared to the shores of city reservoirs. These are beaches in the Laishevsky district, which are easy to get to from Kazan, especially if you are on wheels.

Let's not forget about river walks. To admire the Volga, you can take a boat to Sviyazhsk or Bolgar, unique historical places in the vicinity of Kazan.

Vacation with children

If you are wondering whether it is worth taking your child on a trip, rest assured, he will find it interesting in Kazan. The main thing is to plan the trip correctly, prepare and combine interests so that the trip to the capital of Tatarstan becomes enjoyable for the whole family.

How to interest a child in the main attraction of Kazan - the Kremlin? Take him to the Museum of Natural History of Tatarstan, which is located on its territory. There you can take part in paleontological excavations and see with your own eyes the skeletons of dinosaurs, mammoths, woolly rhinoceros and cave bears; weigh yourself on a cosmic scale and find out your weight on any planet in the solar system; chat with the inhabitants of the Ice Age and walk with a cheeky lizard. We think that this museum will be interesting not only for the child, but also for you.

You can also take part in the Children's educational quest around the Kremlin; this is not just an excursion, but an excursion-game that allows you to get acquainted with the history of Kazan in the 16th–20th centuries, see the iconic sights of these eras, and learn interesting facts and legends.

From the Kremlin the route usually goes to Bauman Street. Pedestrian streets are very convenient for walking with children; here parents can relax a little and children can feel freer. Prepare for the walk in advance so that while walking you can tell your child the legends about the dragon Zilant or the Kazan cat. It will be even more interesting for them to take pictures with them.

There are several museums and attractions on Bauman Street that are interesting for children of all ages; the main thing is to choose the right ones on the company’s website. This:

Museum of Illusions and the Giant's House
© Nomad
The Giant's House, where you can feel like a tiny person;
The house is upside down, where the laws of physics are violated, and the floor and ceiling have changed places;
A labyrinth of fear where you can test how brave you are;
Petting zoo, where you will find funny monkeys, fluffy rabbits and bright parrots that you can touch, feed and stroke;
And also the Museum of Illusions, the Ribbon Maze, the Ball Pool, the Mirror Maze and much more.

We recommend not to miss the opportunity to go with your child to the Tatar State Puppet Theater “Ekiyat”; you will enjoy not only the performance, but also the theater itself, which children consider to be similar to the castle of a fairy-tale princess. In winter, an Ice Town grows on the square in front of the theater, which is illuminated with multi-colored lights after sunset, and in summer there are fountains. Two Kazan Theaters for Young Spectators and other theaters in the city offer performances for children of all ages.

A great addition to a trip to Kazan with children at any time of the year would be a visit to the Riviera or Baryonyx water park. Baryonyx is more suitable for preschool children, but the Riviera’s various attractions will not leave both children and their parents indifferent.

Kazan circus

As always, a win-win option is the Circus and the Zoo. There is also the Kyrlay Amusement Park, the Children's Railway in the Lebyazhye Forest Park, wonderful parks of Kazan, walks along the Kremlin embankment and Lake Nizhny Kaban, where you can ride boats or feed the birds.

In winter, in December-January, you can go to the “Residence of Kysh Babai and Kar Kyzy,” the winter wizard of Tatarstan and his daughter. It is located 80 kilometers from Kazan in a fabulous snow-covered spruce forest in the village of Novy Kyrlay. There are a variety of interesting events taking place there at this time, which can be found on the residence’s website.

You can read more about everything that will be interesting for parents with children in Kazan in the article Kazan for children.

Party places

During the day, Kazan is a strict cultural and historical city, and in the evening the doors of many clubs open, offering entertainment of a different kind. Many tourists are attracted here precisely by the fact that the active nightlife turns Kazan into a party city, where you can choose concerts, shows, fashion parties and other entertainment for every taste, age and every mood.

Cultural and entertainment complex "Pyramid"

The largest leisure center in the city is still the Pyramid Cultural and Entertainment Complex, where everything you need for a good rest is gathered under one roof: a concert hall, a restaurant, a cafe and a fitness center. Russian and world pop stars perform here and organize show programs and fashion shows.

If you want to dance until you drop, you will find “Bash Night club” and “IDOL” on Pushkin, the “Coyote Ugly” bar on Bauman, “Hands Up” in the Svita Hall shopping center and “Sweet Life” in the Novo-Savinovsky district.

Karaoke lovers will also not be disappointed; the choice of places where you can satisfy your singing ambitions is very large: “Karaoke Club No. 1”, karaoke club “Mirage”, karaoke room “Little Polovin”, karaoke bar “Bla-Bla” , karaoke restaurant "Tusk XL", entertaining.

The fourth “Stand up Club Kazan” in Russia recently opened in Kazan; if you want to laugh and aspiring comedians appreciate their strengths, then this is the place for you!

The list of establishments is constantly updated: new ones appear, old ones change in accordance with modern requirements. Kazan's club life is active and varied, you are sure to find something you like!

☑ 2. Kul Sharif

The Kul Sharif Mosque is the pearl of the Kazan Kremlin and the main cathedral mosque not only of Kazan, but of the entire Republic of Tatarstan. It is located in the western part of the Kremlin and is a complex of a multi-minaret building with two half-pavilions built on the sides, and a two-story administrative, utility and firefighting pavilion made in the same style, standing separately from the main building.

✔ The square in front of the mosque can accommodate about 10 thousand people, and another one and a half thousand inside. Construction of Kul Sharif began in 1996 and was completed in 2005. It was built on the site of an old mosque destroyed in 1552 during the capture of Kazan by the army of Ivan the Terrible, which in the sixteenth century was the center of not only religious education, but also the development of sciences in the Middle Volga region. The new mosque is named in honor of Kul Sharif, one of the leaders of the defense of Kazan and the last imam of the seid.

Kul Sharif Mosque

Any person can enter Kul Sharif. And it doesn’t matter which god he prays to and whether he believes in a higher power. You just need to put on the shoe covers sold at the entrance and cover your shoulders and head with a scarf. Finding Kul Sharif is not at all difficult, because its main minarets, whose height is 58 meters, are visible far beyond the Kremlin. When you are inside the mosque, be sure to go up to the balcony to see with your own eyes the indescribable beauty of this fabulous structure.

Government body

When you hear the words “Ministry of Agriculture” or “General Directorate of Veterinary Medicine,” you feel like yawning, because you imagine a dull building from the outside with dimly lit corridors and a flickering lamp inside.

The interior decoration should be judged by employees and visitors of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Tatarstan. The tourist can only be amazed at the appearance of the palace, the columns and the twenty-meter tree inscribed in the arch of the building, because the Kazan landmark captured in the photo is an ordinary administrative building. The architect created it in the spirit of classicism and empire style, inspired by the Hofburg Palace in Vienna.

The Palace of Farmers was built between 2008 and 2010, although its appearance does not betray youth and looks organically opposite the ancient Kremlin walls, decorating the square on the embankment of the Kazanka River.

☑ 3. Syuyumbike Tower

The Syuyumbike Tower is one of the most recognizable landmarks of the city, which is located on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin. It was built for patrol and protection of the surrounding territories, but the history of its creation still gives rise to mysteries and causes lively debate among experts.

The Syuyumbike Tower is not only a watchtower, but also a “leaning” tower, as it has a tilt towards the northeast that is noticeable to the naked eye. The deviation of the tower spire from the vertical is almost two meters. The height of Syuyumbike is about 58 meters. It consists of 7 tiers that differ from each other.

Tower Syuyumbike

An eagle was installed at the top of the tower from 1730, but in 1917 it was replaced by the crescent moon characteristic of the Muslim tradition. Later, the crescent was removed, and only in 1990 the symbol was returned to its rightful place.

✔ There have been dozens of different legends around the Syuyumbike tower for several centuries. One of them says that after the capture of Kazan, Ivan the Terrible wanted to marry the Kazan queen Syuyumbika and take her to Moscow. The queen replied that she would marry Ivan the Terrible only if he built a tall and slender tower for her. Grozny agreed to fulfill the beauty’s conditions. Seven days later the tower was built, and the queen wanted to climb to the very top of it so that before leaving for Moscow she could take another look at her hometown. As soon as Syuyumbike was at the top of the tower, she jumped out of the window. The girl decided to commit suicide rather than connect her life with the hated king.

It is not at all necessary to believe this one of many legends, because for tourists, belief in miracles is a priority. If you close your eyes, touch the tower and repeat your deepest wish seven times, it will definitely come true! It is best to do this at sunset, when the red bricks of Syuyumbike glow red in the slanting rays of the sun and give you the opportunity to erase the boundaries of time and completely immerse yourself in the original and majestic atmosphere of the Middle Ages.

Attractions for little tourists

If you are traveling with children, then visit the following interesting places:

The Riviera water park is one of the largest in the world. On the territory of the recreation area there are: 50 rides, including steep turns; indoor and outdoor swimming pools; SPA area; pond with live fish; cafeterias and restaurants. Coordinates: Fatykh Amirkhan Ave., 1. The water park operates all year round. Working hours: Monday-Friday - from 10.00 to 22.00, Saturday - from 9.00 to 23.00, Sunday - from 9.00 to 22.00. Travel by buses No. 28, 54, 97, trolleybus No. 1. Get off at the stop “Sibgat Hakim Street”.

Water park "Riviera" is one of the largest in the world
Kazan Zoological and Botanical Garden. The fauna of the natural complex includes more than 200 species of plants, including exotic ones. At the zoo, children will get acquainted with turtles, rabbits, camels, wolves, and porcupines. The reptile class is represented by iguanas, pythons, and crocodiles. The garden is equipped with children's playgrounds and various attractions. Opening hours and entrance fees can be found on the official website of the zoo.

The Kazan Zoological and Botanical Garden is home to various animals, including giraffes
Kazan Circus, located in a building that resembles a flying saucer. The circus is equipped with a spacious auditorium for 2 thousand seats and two arenas. At one time, such celebrities as Ivan Poddubny and the Durov family performed here. Location: pl. Millennium, 2. Entry cost - from 300 rubles. For children under 5 years old, admission is free.

The Kazan Circus building looks like a flying saucer

☑ 4. National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan

The National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan is one of the largest research institutions of national importance in the republic. The museum was opened in 1895 in the building of the former Gostiny Dvor (a monument of history and architecture of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan) and was called the Kazan City Scientific and Industrial Museum. Since then, the museum has not only changed its name, but also expanded its collection with many interesting exhibits.

The basis of the museum's exposition is the exhibits of the scientific and industrial exhibition of 1890 and the private collection of the well-known collector, archaeologist and historian A.F. Likhacheva. At the current time, the museum's holdings number more than 780 thousand exhibits.

National Museum

The first floor of the National Museum will appeal to lovers of antiquity. Here you can see how prehistoric people lived, what tools and household items they used in their daily lives. The museum halls also display the armor of Turkic warriors, their clothes, chain mail and helmets.

The collection of ancient coins is the pride of the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan. Coins from different eras are collected here. Some coins are so ancient that they have already lost their original round shape.

The hall with festive Tatar national costumes of the nineteenth century is one of the most popular halls among tourists. Here you can admire clothes embroidered in silver and gold and exquisite jewelry.

✔ One of the most valuable museum exhibits is the original carriage of Empress Catherine the Second , which she once left in Kazan. The carriage managed to survive all the wars and revolutions, so even today tourists can touch a piece of the history of our country.

Carriage of Empress Catherine II

☑ 5. Bauman Street

Located in the historical center of Kazan, Bauman Street is somewhat reminiscent of Moscow's Arbat: it is just as noisy, long and fully conveys the special city atmosphere. Not only city guests hang out here, but also local creative personalities: wandering artists, street artists and musicians.

Bauman Street is one of the oldest streets in the city. It became pedestrian only in 1986, at which time it began to be landscaped and decorated. And before that, trolleybuses, trams, buses and skates ran along the street.

Bauman Street

✔ The length of the street is 1885 meters. It starts at the Kazan Kremlin and ends at Tukay Square. Bauman Street lives its own life, so you can simply walk along it and enjoy every moment of time spent here. Here, at every step, there are ideal scenery for photographs: you can take a photo with the monument to the Kazan cat, popular among tourists, and a copy of Catherine the Second’s carriage (the original carriage is in the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan), admire the chic architecture of the Epiphany Bell Tower and the National Bank of Kazan, and visit the Virtual Reality Center " The Deep VR”, have a snack in the vegetarian cafe “Culinary”, where they prepare inexpensive, tasty and always fresh chak-chak, buy souvenirs in one of the many souvenir shops.

City of contrasts

Kazan is at the crossroads of styles, cultures, religions and traditions. In this city, architectural structures made in the Old Tatar style and in the Old Russian, Empire style and Soviet constructivism harmoniously coexist. Representatives of different religions live and work here peacefully, respect family values, smile politely and strive to provide any possible help.

Kazan is an attractive city for tourists, which combines cleanliness, comfort, traditional Tatar cuisine, mild climate and the breadth of the Russian soul. The descriptions and photos of the sights of Kazan presented in the article do not exhaust the list of interesting places, but are a cultural and aesthetic minimum for review when visiting the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan.

☑ 6. Arabic style clock

The monument to an artistically decorated bronze clock in the Arabic style, which is located in the central square of Tukay, appeared in 1999. The diameter of the watch dial is 1.5 meters, and the numbers in Arabic script are indicated in Tatar words.

An Arabic-style clock is not some modest monument, but an entire sculpture of incredible beauty. At the top, the clock dial is decorated with a boy blowing a trumpet, a pegasus driving a carriage, and a muse towering above the boy. Inscribed in the circle of the dial are the lines of the famous poet and honorary resident of the city Gabdula Tukay, to whom this monument is dedicated.

✔ The monument to the Arabic clock is a kind of landmark for both the indigenous residents of Kazan and tourists. Here lovers and friends meet, travelers take a lot of bright photographs and make interesting videos, and children learn about the surrounding reality and enjoy the best time of their lives. The locals just say: “Meet me at one o’clock on Bauman Street.”

Arabic style watch

In terms of its architecture and design, the monument is one of the most complex. All details of the sculpture are made with jewelry precision. The Arabic-style clock can be seen from afar, as the dial is placed on a high column.

In 2013, a cafe “At the Clock” opened next to the landmark, so if you suddenly get hungry, overheat in the sun or freeze while looking at the details of a bronze clock in the Arabic style, you won’t have to go far to relax and have a tasty meal.

Ekiyat

Address: Kazan, Peterburgskaya st., 57.

An unusual building, in the form of a fairy-tale castle, appeared in Kazan in 2012. It houses the country's largest puppet theater "Ekiyat", a theater museum, as well as children's clubs, shops and cafes. The word “ekiyat” is translated from Tatar as “fairy tale”. The puppet theater in Kazan was created in 1934, most performances are held in Russian, but there are also in Tatar.

The building of the puppet theater has become a landmark of Kazan; it is proudly shown to tourists as a beautiful and original structure. In fact, the building is heavily overloaded with details and does not fit into the surrounding area in style; this is another architectural bad taste of Kazan.

☑ 7. Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda

The Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda is rightfully considered one of the main and most popular historical attractions of Kazan among tourists. In this historical quarter of the city, located near Bauman Street and Lake Kaban and running for 500 meters along Kayuma Nasyri Street, you can get acquainted with Tatar customs and way of life, enjoy the view of old buildings and feel the special atmosphere of that life that has remained in the distant past.

This part of the city was restored in the 2000s. Before this, there were barracks and places where suspicious individuals without a fixed place of residence gathered. Currently, the Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda is a full-fledged tourist center with chic architecture, unique historical sights, museums, restaurants and other entertainment for every taste and budget.

✔ The ensemble of historical buildings of the Old Tatar Settlement includes dozens of different buildings: mosques, residential buildings of merchants, clergy and ordinary traders, shopping arcades. There is a peaceful and calm atmosphere here, so you can fully enjoy the view of the historical alleys and small streets, examine every detail and arrange a photo shoot. The lack of souvenir shops and fun entertainment is fully compensated by the carefully preserved architecture of the Tatar settlement.

If you come here in the evening and, having heard the call to prayer, give free rein to your imagination, then for a while you can forget about reality and find yourself in a distant eastern country. Where else, if not in Kazan, can you experience the unforgettable experience of a mental journey abroad without physically leaving the borders of your native country?

Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda

✔ The main attractions of the Staro-Tatar Sloboda: Sennaya Mosque, the apartment house of the merchant Appakov, the al-Mardzhani Mosque, the Apanaevskaya Mosque, the Burnaevskaya Mosque, the house of the Yunusov-Apanayevs, the Azimov Mosque, the Tatar cemetery in the New Tatar Sloboda, the Blue Mosque, the Gabdulla Tukai Literary Museum , Galeevskaya Mosque, Chak-Chak Museum (former printing house of the Karimovs), Church of the Icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God, House of Shakir the Soldier, Iske-Tash Mosque.

Peter and Paul Cathedral

Address: Kazan, st. Musa Jalil, 21.

Built in the Russian Baroque style on the site of the 16th-century Peter and Paul Church, the cathedral is one of the symbols of Kazan.

It is known that the cathedral was consecrated in honor of the apostles Peter and Paul in the 18th century, but information about its creators has not been preserved. There is a legend that Emperor Peter I, who, along with other rulers, visited Kazan, was involved in the construction. In memory of this event, local merchant Ivan Mikhlyaev decided to build a stone two-story cathedral. The building burned and was rebuilt several times.

Nowadays, valuable relics are kept within its walls: the miraculous Sedmiozernaya Icon of the Mother of God, the relics of St. Jonah and Nektarios of Kazan, Metropolitan Ephraim of Kazan, as well as a richly decorated iconostasis.

☑ 8. Central Park of Culture and Leisure named after Gorky

Gorky Park is located in the city center and occupies one hectare of territory. From the north, the park is bounded by Podluzhnaya Street, from the south by Ershov Street, from the west by the Suvorov School and Tolstoy Street, and from the east by Vishnevsky Street. In the second half of the eighteenth century, rich Kazan residents built their houses in this place, which was then a suburb. The hilly and dense Arsky forest grew here, popularly called “Russian Switzerland”.

Many famous people visited “Russian Switzerland” at one time. It was here that the incomparable Fyodor Chaliapin performed his first concerts, the first Kazan student Sergei Aksakov was inspired and charged with positive energy, Maxim Gorky felt a craving for romantic philosophy, Alexander Pushkin walked along the Arsky field and worked on “The History of the Pugachev Rebellion.”

In the 30s of the last century, the Soviet authorities decided to build a central park of culture and recreation in Kazan, as in all other regional centers of the Union. Like Moscow's Neskuchny Garden, the former Russian Switzerland was remodeled and named after the iconic figure of Russian and Soviet literature, Maxim Gorky.

Central Park of Culture and Leisure named after Gorky

✔ The main attractions of the Gorky Park: an interactive color and musical fountain in the form of a chessboard, a monument to those who fell for Soviet power, a Sky Park, an open-air skating rink open from December to February, a historical memorial cemetery.

☑ 9. Island-city of Sviyazhsk

The island-city of Sviyazhsk attracts the attention of our and foreign tourists at any time of the year. Some guides claim that it was Sviyazhsk that became the prototype for the famous fairytale island of Buyan from Alexander Pushkin’s “The Tale of Tsar Saltan.”

The idea to build an island-fortress came to the mind of Ivan the Terrible after a series of failed operations to capture Kazan. To support the army, the king needed a stronghold, which Sviyazhsk became. They tried to build the fortress so that the enemy would not notice anything, so with the onset of spring, the fortifications built near Uglich were dismantled and floated along the waters of the Volga to the island, and then dragged to the foot of the Round Mountain - the elevated area of the island, from which the distant approaches are visible.

Island town Sviyazhsk

The people of Ivan the Terrible, under the leadership of the famous Russian architect Ivan Vyrodkov, had to spend about one month reassembling the fortress. Since Kazan was taken a year after the construction of the fortress, we can conclude that it fully fulfilled its purpose.

✔ On the island-city of Sviyazhsk, the architectural ensemble of which several years ago was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites , you can see the following Orthodox sights: the Assumption Monastery built in the mid-sixteenth century, St. Nicholas Church, Assumption Cathedral, Trinity Church, St. John the Baptist Monastery , Cathedral of Our Lady of All Sorrows Joy, Church of Constantine and Helen, Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh. There is also the State Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve “Island City of Sviyazhsk”, the “Horse Yard” Museum, memorial buildings and secular buildings of the nineteenth century.

We recommend: Top 10 best attractions in Nizhny Novgorod

Our channel: Yandex Zen