Top 35 Attractions in Kazan

Kazan is recognized as a real decoration of the Volga region and the pride of all of Russia. In terms of attractiveness for tourists, Kazan has long overtaken Moscow and St. Petersburg. The ancient capital of Tatarstan is a student, cultural, sports and historical center, where all the most interesting things always happen.

A trip to Kazan promises to please with a rich excursion program, which, in addition to the famous Kazan Kremlin and the brilliant Kul-Sharif mosque, will include dozens of historical places. Tourists will be given the opportunity to plunge into the world of national traditions of the Tatar people, taste local cuisine and look at beautiful rituals.

In the warm season, there is nothing better than a river walk along the Volga or a romantic dinner on a pleasant summer veranda. Evening Kazan promenade is the best pastime after an eventful day.

What to see and where to go in Kazan?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.

Kazan Kremlin

Cultural ensemble and the main archaeological complex of Kazan, where historical monuments of the XII-XX centuries are located. On the territory of the Kremlin, Eastern and Western cultures are harmoniously intertwined - the domes of the mosque are perfectly combined with the bell towers of the Orthodox church, the Turkic tower is adjacent to the mansions built in the classical European style. The Kremlin also houses the residence of the head of the republic and its government.

Kul Sharif Mosque

The main mosque of Tatarstan is located within the Kazan Kremlin. It was erected in the period 1996-2005 on the site where the most famous mosque of the Kazan Khanate previously stood. The ancient temple was destroyed by the troops of Ivan the Terrible during the conquest of Kazan in the 16th century. The modern building is an architectural masterpiece of white stone with sky blue domes. The mosque surprisingly harmoniously fit into the ensemble of the Kazan Kremlin.

Bauman street

The main walking alley of the city, where all tourist routes lead. It became a pedestrian street in 1986. The alley starts at the Kazan Kremlin and stretches through the city center for 4 km. During the reign of the Golden Horde, the Nogai road ran in this place. There are many historical buildings, monuments, museums, a theater, countless cafes and souvenir shops on Bauman Street.

Old Tatar Sloboda

One of the important historical sights of Kazan. Its pedestrian zone stretches for half a kilometer from Bauman Street and occupies part of Kayum Nasyri Street. The area was formed in the XVII-XVIII centuries. Architectural beauties, mosques and other attributes of Tatar culture appeared. In Soviet times, most of them were lost. In the zero years, the territory was reconstructed to give it its former splendor.

Cathedral of the Annunciation in the Kazan Kremlin

An architectural and historical monument of the 16th century, erected in the era of Ivan the Terrible. Over the past centuries, the cathedral burned six times and was restored several times. The last renovation took place in 2005. The building is an example of Pskov church architecture; it was built from limestone mined on the banks of the Volga. The relics of the primate Guria are buried in the temple. At various times, Peter the Great, Catherine II, A. Pushkin, S. Rachmaninov attended services in the cathedral.

Peter and Paul Cathedral

Orthodox church of the 18th century, built in honor of the visit of Peter the Great. The construction was carried out according to the idea and at the expense of the merchant Mikhlyaev. Important shrines are preserved here: the icon of the Mother of God of Iver, the icon of the Mother of God of Smolensk, as well as the relics of Metropolitan Ephraim, who crowned the first representative of the Romanov dynasty. After many years of misuse and desolation, in 1989 the temple was returned to the Church.

Temple of all religions

An interesting and a little strange (according to some tourists) landmark of modern times. The Ecumenical Temple was built by Ildar Khanov, who was a prominent humanist and sought to harmonize space with the help of his creations. Within the framework of the “temple of all religions” concept, 16 confessions are united on one territory, but no religious rites are held here, since the complex has a symbolic meaning.

Al-Marjani Mosque

In the second half of the 18th century, local merchants enlisted the support of Catherine II and received permission to build a stone mosque. The current name of the religious object is in honor of one of the imams. The minaret is built on the roof. The decoration is dominated by the Tatar ornament. Nearby are an Islamic college, the administrative building of the local clergy, an Islamic literature store and a halal grocery store.

Tower Syuyumbike

The attraction is located within the territory of the Kremlin. This is a building of the 17th century, earlier in the 11th-15th centuries a wooden tower stood in its place. One of the legends about the origin of the tower tells about Queen Syuyumbika, to whom Ivan the Terrible allegedly wooed. The queen did not agree and set an impossible condition - if in seven days he can build a high tower, then there will be marriage. The king coped, and Syuyumbike threw herself down from this tower.

Belfry of the Cathedral of the Epiphany

The building is 74 meters high, crowning the Cathedral of the Epiphany. Located on the promenade tourist street Bauman. For a long time, the bell tower was considered the highest in the capital. It was erected in the 19th century according to the project of the authors G. Rush and M. Mikhailov in the style of "Russian baroque" with a myriad of external decorative elements. Inside the tower is a small temple of John the Baptist.

Palace of Farmers

Palace complex 2008-2010 buildings in a solemn, monumental and somewhat pompous style (somewhat reminiscent of the Austrian and Italian palaces of the XVIII-XIX centuries). During and after the completion of construction, the ensemble was criticized for the inappropriateness and inadmissibility of finding such a building near historical sites. More than 2 billion rubles were spent on the project. The Ministry of Agriculture of Tatarstan is located here.

Kazan Family Center

The original attraction is a remake that appeared in 2013. The building serves as the Palace of Marriages. Inside there are three thematic zones, which are decorated and furnished in the style of the Volga Bulgaria, the Kazan Khanate and in a classical manner. The top is crowned with a huge cauldron (Turkic cauldron). On days free from registration of marriages, tourists can visit the attraction and climb to the observation deck.

Puppet theater "Ekiyat"

Founded in 1934. Translation of the name from Tatar - "Fairy Tale". By the standards of puppet theaters, it is quite large: about a hundred employees, and a third of them are puppeteers. The repertoire consists of 50 fairy tales, many of which have been running for decades. The dolls themselves are different in appearance and manner of manufacture: the whole spectrum is presented from classic to modern. In 2012, the theater building was reconstructed, a colorful park appeared around.

National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan

The main museum of Tatarstan, one of the largest in the entire Volga region. Opened to the public in 1895. The museum collections contain about 800 thousand exhibits that tell about the culture, history, life, and traditions of the peoples of Tatarstan. Visitors consider this museum one of the most interesting in Kazan and return to it again with pleasure, since it is impossible to see all the exhibitions at once.

Museum of Natural History of Tatarstan

The only museum in the Volga region with such a detailed exposition on this topic. It has been welcoming visitors since 2008. One of the first collections is a collection of minerals. Dinosaur bones, fossil invertebrates, meteorite samples, and a working model of a mud volcano were added to it. Mini-excavations have been created for children. In the aquarium you can feed "prehistoric" fish. Astronomy enthusiasts have access to a large telescope and individual excursion programs.

Hermitage-Kazan Center

The program of cooperation between the Hermitage and Tatarstan began in 1997. Large exhibitions of works of art were organized until 2004. Then the Hermitage-Kazan center was founded, which became part of the Kazan Kremlin Museum-Reserve. In addition to exhibition halls, there are rooms for lectures and conferences, computer classes. And exhibited not only paintings, but also objects of arts and crafts.

Gallery-workshop of Slava Zaitsev

It is located in the historical center of the city - on the station square, at the intersection of Chernyshevsky and Burkhan Shakhidi streets. The exhibition space is occupied by paintings and installations created by the artist without the usual tools, including without paints. Slava Zaitsev uses improvised materials, such as earth, thread, nails. Visitors have access to the creator's workshop: they can watch the birth of another masterpiece in real time. There is also a creative studio.

Museum of Socialist Life

Founded in the 90s on the personal initiative of Rustem Valiakhmetov. He bought paraphernalia and goods that were popular in the recent past. The collection was placed first in the apartment, then in the basement of the house. Artists and musicians gathered here, making a private collection also a creative living room. In 2011, the government of the republic allocated a former communal apartment to the museum, and it received official status.

Museum of Konstantin Vasiliev

An art gallery named after the artist has existed in the city since 1996. In 2013, a new museum was opened on Bauman Street in a historic building - the Petzold House. The permanent exhibition consists of 160 works by Vasiliev. There is also a corner with his personal belongings and a capacious archive. Lectures and various social events are held on the basis of the museum, which makes it also a leisure center.

Alexandrovsky passage

An architectural monument of the late 19th century by St. Petersburg masters N. Pozdeev and V. Suslov. The building was erected with the money of a wealthy merchant Alexandrov. The businessman planned to place retail space on the lower floors and an apartment building on the upper ones, but he did not manage to benefit from the lease. The house was bought by the merchant's sister, but soon resold it to the city authorities, seriously losing in price.

Shamil's house

A 19th-century mansion that once belonged to the family of the notorious Imam Shamil. After a fire at the beginning of the 20th century, the building was restored in the best European architectural traditions, adding a few national touches. After the confiscation in 1919 in favor of the state, the mansion became a residential building. People lived here until 1981. Five years later, a museum was opened in the house. poet Gabdulla Tukay.

Ushkova's house

Luxurious building of the beginning of the 20th century, designed by Carl Muefke. Before the Revolution of 1917, it was owned by the surname Ushkovs, a well-known trading dynasty. Alexey Ushkov built this house for his bride. Until now, the mansion is considered the most beautiful in Kazan. Once there were apartments for rent and fashion shops here, after 1919 the local authorities placed a library inside.

Millennium Park

The park, laid out for the celebration of the millennial anniversary of the founding of the city in 2005. The territory consists of several thematic areas. The Millennium Alley is designated as the central zone. A special place is occupied by the Crossroads zone, as it symbolizes the intersection of Asian and European cultures. The park is a sought-after place for recreation, walking, holding mass festivities and various performances.

Victory Memorial Park

In the 70s of the last century, the swampy urban area was planted with shrubs according to the number of days of the Great Patriotic War - 1418. The modern memorial complex was opened in 2005. The eternal flame was surrounded by a pantheon, where the names of Heroes of the Soviet Union and holders of other high orders are carved. In an artificial lake, competitions are held among radio-controlled models. There is a museum of military equipment, for example, tanks are exhibited in the open.

Gorky Park

One of the largest parks in the city. Its area has decreased since the 18th century and is now about 1 ha. The territory has a long-standing name - "Russian Switzerland". In his youth, the park was visited by Maxim Gorky, after whom this corner of greenery was later named. The last renovation took place in 2014. Then about a thousand trees were planted, sports grounds and outdoor cafes were built.

Monument to Musa Jalil

A monument dedicated to the revered national hero, poet Musa Jalil, who actively fought against the Nazi occupation and was executed by the Germans in 1944. He posthumously became a Hero of the Soviet Union. The monument adorns a square not far from the Kremlin. Twice a year, flowers are laid at the foot and solemn processions are held, paying tribute to the memory of the feat of the fearless poet.

Monument to the Cat of Kazan

A funny statue of a cunning, contented and fat cat on Bauman Street in the center of Kazan. Dedicated to the fictional cat Alabrys, who was brought from here to St. Petersburg to catch mice and showed himself well in hunting. So good that it was marked by Empress Elizabeth. This sweet story inspired the sculptor I. Bashmakov, and in 2009 the city received an interesting, funny and good-natured "monument".

Monument to the dragon Zilant

This mythical creature can be called a symbol of the city. The dragon adorns the flag and coat of arms of Kazan. It has appeared on the streets of the capital of Tatarstan since 2003. The monument was created by Marat Gubaidullin. Several legends are associated with Zilant, so visiting the sights is a mandatory point on the itinerary of sightseeing tours. Restoration work took place in 2011: golden scales were added to the sculpture and made it slimmer.

Waterpark Riviera"

The entertainment complex is divided into two parts - closed and open. The first is open all year round, the second is seasonal. In total, there are about 50 attractions. There is a zone for the little ones, as well as for those who want to tickle their nerves. The highest speed slide is called "Kamikaze", and the longest - "Niagara". A Turkish bath, several jacuzzis and a Finnish sauna will appeal to lovers of a measured rest. There are bars and cafes on site.

Kazan Arena Stadium

The home stadium of the Rubin football club was built from 2010 to 2013. The sports facility is multidisciplinary: competitions in various sports were held here, a media center for major events was based, and concerts were organized. Kazan Arena is the only football facility where several world records in swimming have been set. The stadium was temporarily rebuilt to host the World Aquatics Championships. In addition, the facility hosted the Universiade and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Blue Lakes

Kazan is about 20 km from this natural complex. 3 lakes are part of the reserve of the same name. Flowing, Big Blue and Small Blue were formed thanks to springs gushing from the ground. The sulfate composition of the water gave the reservoirs the appropriate color, hence the name. The temperature in the lakes does not exceed 8 °C. The sanatorium "Krutushka" is open nearby, using local mud for procedures. Diving is popular on the Great Blue Lake. The area around is ennobled: there are changing cabins and comfortable lifts.

Island-city of Sviyazhsk

An unusual and incredibly picturesque place that attracts tourists with its historical sights and beautiful panoramas. The city was founded in 1551 during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. It is located on a small area of ​​land, in the middle of a green-blue flood formed by the waters of the mighty Volga and the Sviyaga River. The sights of the island include religious sites, monasteries and churches, a horse yard and memorial buildings.

Lake Kaban

A hydraulic system of 3 lakes connected by straits and canals, which is located within the city. According to one version, the name was given in honor of Khan Kaban-Bek, according to another, it came from the Turkic “kab-kub” (reservoir, excavation). The myth about the execution of the last Kazan Khan is connected with the lake, who allegedly hid it at the bottom when he learned about the approach of the troops of Ivan the Terrible. All witnesses of that event died, and the treasures were never found.

Kremlin embankment

One of the main places for walking, recreation of citizens and tourists, perfectly furnished and equipped. Along the embankment stretches a well-maintained pedestrian alley, decorated with lanterns, decorative lighting, green lawns. From the path you have a picturesque view of the river. Kazanka and the Kazan Kremlin. In winter, there is a skating rink, and in summer you can go down the stairs directly to the water.

Millennium Bridge

The modern bridge over the Kazanka River is more than one and a half kilometers long. The maximum height of the structure above the water is 64 meters. There are three car lanes and one footpath in each direction. The bridge was built for the millennium of Kazan in 2005, but it was completely commissioned only in 2007. The central supporting structures are made in the form of the letter "M". In the evenings, the bridge is generously illuminated by a large number of light sources.