New Year in Yaroslavl – report and some tips

Winter is not a reason to give up traveling. Russian cities are still as beautiful and mysterious. It is at this time that the opportunity opens up to calmly, without haste, get acquainted with the sights, take exciting routes and walks in unknown places.

Those who want to plunge into the world of the unknown will certainly enjoy a holiday in Yaroslavl in December. The city is full of ancient temples, original monuments and statues, museums with rich collections. He carefully preserves Russian traditions and honors the memory of his ancestors. And the snow cover only gives Yaroslavl even more charm.

What to see

Yaroslavl is a city with a rich history. A lot of ancient sights have been preserved here. The city center is under UNESCO protection. There are no modern buildings here. You should definitely take a walk through the historical district to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of soulful antiquity.

All guests of the city come to admire the Temple of Elijah the Prophet. It fascinates with its grandeur. In winter you cannot go inside. But even such an inspection will be remembered for a long time. Visit Red Square. Here, house 21 or the house with the arch, as the locals call it, deserves attention. There is also a huge monument to Lenin. Walk along Kirov Street and exit to the exit gate. They were installed back in the 17th century.

Also of interest are such architectural monuments as:

• Drama Theater building
• apartment buildings
• Gostiny Dvor
• Belfort factory
• Yaroslavl Museum-Reserve
• Demidovsky Garden
• Chopped City
• Museum of Ancient Russian Art

This is not a complete list of local attractions. Yaroslavl can be explored endlessly.

• Sights of Yaroslavl
• What to see in Yaroslavl in 1 day - 22 most interesting places
• Churches and temples of Yaroslavl - 18 main shrines

Arrival in Yaroslavl at the railway station

We arrived in Yaroslavl on schedule. We took a taxi from the station for 300 rubles. and went to check into the Ibis hotel, which we had pre-booked. A review of the Ibis hotel in Yaroslavl can be read here. You can book the Ibis here.

We were lucky with the hotel - it was very conveniently located, in the historical center, next to the Kazan Monastery. And the price-quality ratio was also pleasing. After taking a short rest in the room, we decided to meet our friends. By this time they had already walked around Yaroslavl and seen a lot.

The only thing is that by 17 o’clock the body urgently required food. To quickly get rid of the feeling of hunger, we decided to drop into the local Yaroslavl McDonald's on Volkov , with the original name McMaster . The food was very vaguely reminiscent of Makov’s, but from hunger it was a joy.

We decided to meet with friends near the Church of Elijah the Prophet - in the heart of Yaroslavl. From Volkov Square we slowly walked towards our intended goal, looking at the city along the way. In my hands was a detailed map of the center of Yaroslavl, which was very helpful in finding my way around the city (download in pdf Map of the Center of Yaroslavl).

Vacation with children

Holidays with children will be exciting if you know the places where the child will be interested. We list the most popular sites visited by young travelers with their parents:

• Yaroslavl children's railway. The children are in charge here. They create train routes, manage them, and sell tickets. In general, everything here is like an adult!
• KidBurg. This is a city of professions. Here the child will be able to feel himself in the role of a particular specialty. In addition, master classes are often organized here.
• Planetarium. Middle and older children will like it. A telescope has been installed. Visitors watch the heavenly bodies.
• Yaroslavl Zoo. Animal lovers will love visiting the zoo.
• Yaroslavl Dolphinarium. Popular place. Check the show date.

In addition, you can take your child to the local circus, theater, and see museum collections.

• 25 best things to do in Yaroslavl for children

New Year

Many tourists come to Yaroslavl to celebrate the New Year. The main Christmas tree is on Sovetskaya Square. In general, more than 30 green beauties are being installed throughout the city. Folk festivities are organized on the main square. The authorities shared that they will equip a snow labyrinth for children and build an ice town. You can celebrate the New Year right on the street. Many tourists and residents do this. It can be interesting and fun. Recreation centers, hotels and sanatoriums are suitable for romantics and couples in love.

We list the popular places:

Park Hotel "Yaroslavl". Those who want to celebrate the New Year away from the bustle of the city often choose this place. Guests are offered to stay in cozy houses. You can go sledding, skiing or skating. A festive banquet will be organized for those who wish.

Complex "Podolino". The ski resort is chosen by lovers of active recreation. The entertainment program includes a visit to the winter forest, breakfast in the fresh air, and an entertainment program.

Hotel "Yaroslavl Compound". A budget option. A buffet, a festive banquet and a concert are organized.

Sanatorium "Red Hill". You will be able not only to celebrate the holiday in luxury, but also to receive medical treatment. Those wishing to celebrate the New Year holidays in Yaroslavl should consider making a reservation. There is a high risk that there will be no available rooms.

Excursions

You can get acquainted with the city and its attractions accompanied by a guide. Thus, you will be able to expand your knowledge, learn about local traditions and legends, and also see the most interesting places. Guests are offered many excursion programs.

• 20 best excursions in Yaroslavl

Let's describe the most popular routes:

• Review group. Introduces the history of the city and the most significant sights. Usually takes place by bus. Tourists are given the opportunity to go out to interesting places, take photographs, and purchase souvenirs.
• Walk through the historical center. The route runs through the historical center of the city, where the main architectural monuments are concentrated.
• Yaroslavl for beginners. An ideal option for those who find themselves in Yaroslavl for the first time.
• Yaroslavl for real. The guide will tell you about local temples, their history, and tell ancient legends and traditions.
• Secrets and mysteries of the ancient city. It takes place in the format of a quest game, during which tourists get acquainted with the symbols of the city and hear mysterious legends. At the end of the event, each participant receives a memorable gift.
• Three pearls in a Yaroslavl necklace. A car tour introduces you to the surroundings of the city and its shrines.
• Yaroslavl: true stories. The guide tells the history of the city, interesting facts about the personalities who once lived here.

These and other excursion routes will allow you to get a complete impression of the city. Individual routes can be adjusted taking into account the age and wishes of the participants.

Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery

Address: Bogoyavlenskaya Square, 25 Opening hours: from 8.30 to 18.00, except Monday Telephone

This is the oldest building in Yaroslavl, located in the very center. Before the revolution, there was a repository of ancient manuscripts and books here. Once upon a time, the only surviving copy of “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign” was discovered here.

For a long time, this monastery played the role of the Kremlin, owning many surrounding villages and being a spiritual and economic center. Ivan the Terrible alone gave him more than 200 villages. In the 16th century, the monastery, built of wood, suffered from a fire; later it was rebuilt from stone, following the example of some cathedrals of the Moscow Kremlin.

Here you can admire wall frescoes dating back almost a thousand years and pray at ancient icons. There is an exhibition at the monastery where visitors are introduced to ancient Russian art and ancient sculpture. You can even visit the cells where monks lived in the Middle Ages.

The Transfiguration Cathedral, which is the center of the monastery, is open to visitors only from May 1 to October 1.

The cost of travel

Yaroslavl is located not far from Moscow, so most people travel there by bus. Tour operators offer package tours at competitive prices. So, the cost of such a tour lasting 2 days and 1 night costs an average of 7,500 rubles per person.

The price already includes hotel accommodation (one night) and meals. This is a budget option and is cheaper than traveling on your own. Bus travel to Yaroslavl costs approximately 1,500 rubles per person one way. Hotel accommodation per day – 3,000 rubles per person. In addition, you need to take into account the costs of food and excursion services.

Sights of Yaroslavl that are worth seeing: addresses, cost of visiting

Yaroslavl (sights that are quite difficult to see in two days in a city with a 1000-year history are practically everywhere) is famous for its abundance of attractive places for tourists. But you can identify the most interesting of them.

In addition, the city has many beautiful park areas, monuments and other interesting places that tourists can see on a walking route or on an excursion.

Reviews from tourists

Reviews from tourists who visited Yaroslavl in December suggest that there is no reason to regret the trip. Travelers were pleased with the hospitality of the local residents and the beauty of the city. Some tourists especially enjoyed visiting Yaroslavl on the eve of the New Year holidays.

They claim that the city is amazingly beautiful at this time. Decorated streets create a New Year's mood, and new experiences complete the picture. Tourists were pleased with the affordable prices for bus tours. They liked the excursion service, and they were also satisfied with the hotel rooms in which they lived.

The trip was especially enjoyable for parents with middle-aged and older children. They say that this is a great opportunity to broaden a child’s horizons and expand his school knowledge. Tourists also noted that it is worth taking care of booking rooms if the trip is planned at the end of December.

Housing

Photo of a winter sunset in Yaroslavl
At first we wanted to rent a hotel room, but on New Year all the places were occupied, and even if there were any, they were very expensive.

Then we decided to check into a hostel. We were attracted by the low price, but when we saw the living conditions, we immediately refused. I didn't want to live in a room that had 4 bunk beds. It is very unpleasant to live with so many people. We also feared for our things, which someone could steal while we were sleeping.

A friend offered to rent an apartment, and I agreed.

We found a good studio near the water park. It cost only 1000 rubles per day . The apartment turned out to be good, newly renovated and a pleasant owner. He met us at the entrance and escorted us to the apartment.

The apartment had one double bed and a folding sofa, a kitchen and a bathroom with a shower. The owner gave us the keys and left.

Conclusion

Thus, a trip to Yaroslavl in December will not be overshadowed by bad weather or poor service. The main thing is to dress for the weather and enjoy walking and the beauty of the great Russian city. Getting to know your native country and its most beautiful corners is an excellent alternative to traveling abroad.

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Video about Yaroslavl

Video tour of Yaroslavl:

Beautiful video with the main attractions of the city using Timelapse technique:

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