What to see in Kazan in 1, 2, 3 days? (detailed routes with prices and maps)

We made the decision to travel to Kazan 2 days before departure. On Tuesday morning we had not yet thought about a mini-vacation in the third capital of Russia, and on Thursday evening we were already walking along Kazan Arbat and the Kremlin embankment.

Below we will tell you how we spent 3 days in Kazan, what we saw and what excursions we went on. What myths were destroyed, what were the most delicious things we tried, and what of our plans did not work out. Our guide has clickable links to related articles. Photos of Kazan sights with names and descriptions will help you capture the atmosphere of the city and get inspired for your trip.

Photos and descriptions of Kazan sights

We have highlighted the main attractions of Kazan that are worth seeing during your 3-5 days stay in the city. We didn’t have time to visit the water park and didn’t go to Bolgar, but we recommend that you do it if your budget and time allow.

Kazan Kremlin

The Kazan Kremlin is the heart of the capital of Tatarstan. Since 2000, UNESCO World Heritage signs have appeared above the entrance to the Kremlin. The main attractions of the Kazan Kremlin: the Kul Sharif Mosque, the Annunciation Cathedral, the Syuyumbike Tower and the Spasskaya Tower, and from the observation deck there is a beautiful view of the city and the Kazanka River. Near the Kremlin there are the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Kremlin Embankment and the Palace of Farmers.

Kul Sharif Mosque

Kul Sharif is the largest mosque in Europe and the world, with a capacity of 1500-1700 people.
Its opening was timed to coincide with the 1000th anniversary of Kazan in 2005. The scale, symbolism and thoughtfulness of every detail are especially impressive. In the interior space, the hall and benches along its perimeter are convenient for parishioners and tourists. The acoustic system is designed so that round-the-clock recitation of the Quran and groups of tourists do not disturb each other. At the entrance to the mosque, you are given skirts and scarves.

Blagoveshchensky cathedral

The cathedral is dedicated to the main Orthodox shrine - the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. It, like the mosque, was opened in 2005 after restoration. Inside you will see ancient frescoes, a very beautiful iconostasis and a unique floor covering made of Ural cast iron from the 18th century.

More articles about Kazan:

• Kul Sharif Mosque
• Kazan Kremlin
• Review of the Nogai Hotel
• Where is the best place to live for a tourist?
• Tour of the city at night
• Selection of excursions
• Trip to Sviyazhsk

Tower Syuyumbike

The Kazan-Leaning Tower of Pisa is named after Queen Syuyumbike.
The height of the tower is 58 meters, and the deviation is 1.98 m. It has an obvious resemblance to the Borovitskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin. Many sources say that Queen Syuyumbike threw herself from the tower so as not to marry Ivan the Terrible. In fact, she didn’t jump from the tower, these are all legends. Syuyumbike died as the wife of Khan Shah Ali. In 1551, a year before the fall of Kazan, the rulers themselves handed over Syuyumbike to Ivan the Terrible as a hostage.

National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan

The museum occupies the building of the former Gostiny Dvor in the neoclassical style and is impressive with its decoration.
The museum exposition begins with a short film about the museum building and covers the history of the development of the territories from the Stone Age to Soviet times. Objects of decorative and applied art, jewelry, paintings by Tatar artists are presented, and interiors are recreated. The museum contains the carriage of Catherine II on which the Empress visited Kazan in the second third of the 18th century. We can say that this is an 18th century Maybach. A copy of the cast iron carriage is installed on Bauman Street.

Kremlin embankment

It is pleasant to walk along the Kremlin embankment at any time of the day. We were there early in the morning, when the townspeople are running and playing sports. And in the evening, when the lights of restaurants, fountains and attractions light up, and a light breeze blows from the river.

Palace of the Farmers

The Palace of Farmers houses the Ministry of Agriculture, Veterinary Service, and Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision. The most luxurious building of the Ministry of Agriculture in the world, it is very beautifully illuminated in the evening and at night. The palace was built in three years, investing more than 2 billion rubles. In 2008, Dmitry Medvedev came to lay the stone.

Bauman Street

The main pedestrian street of Kazan is the city center, it is called the Kazan Arbat.
In the very center, opposite the Nogai hotel, there is kilometer zero. Musicians, artists and other creative people gather here. On the right in the photo you can see the bell tower of the Epiphany Cathedral. It costs 100 rubles to climb it, and the entire Bauman Street is at your fingertips.

Bell tower of the Epiphany Cathedral

The tallest 74-meter bell tower in Kazan was built in 1897 at the expense of the merchant Krisovosonov.
Here he married, baptized his children and was elected by the parishioners of the old Orthodox community. He was involved in charity work, supporting hospitals and orphanages. In the appearance of the bell tower one can read the motifs of ancient Russian architecture and modernist geometric shapes. In the central part of the lower tier there is a passage to the Epiphany Cathedral and the entrance to the bell tower.

Peter and Paul Cathedral

The unique decoration of the Peter and Paul Cathedral attracts with its decor and bright colors.
The composition of the temple and bell tower is made in the Russian or “Naryshkin” Baroque style. The main shrine of the Peter and Paul Cathedral is the miraculous Sedmiozernaya Icon of the Mother of God. During our visit, the facade of the cathedral was under reconstruction and was covered with scaffolding. We hope that the work will be completed by the time of your trip. The cathedral is open to the public.

Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda

Colorful wooden houses and exemplary apartment buildings, old harmonious mosques and shopping malls.
You will find all this in the Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda. Instablogger's paradise! In 1767, Catherine II introduced a law on tolerance of all religions and allowed the construction of stone mosques and Tatar public buildings in the Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda. The enlightener Kayum Nasyri in his essay wrote about the denunciation and concern of the city authorities about the height of the minarets, to which the queen replied: “I have assigned them a place on earth, and they are free to rise into the sky at their own discretion, because the sky is not part of my domain.” The Kazan Murzas affectionately nicknamed her “ebi-patsha,” which translated means “grandmother-queen.”

The Azimov Mosque deserves special attention as the most beautiful. Built in eclectic style in 1890 on the site of an old wooden mosque.

Lake Kaban

After a walk through the Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda, go to the embankment of Lake Kaban. Rent a catamaran (350 rubles for 30 minutes), swim to the fountain and look at the village from the water. Diving from a catamaran in search of treasure is prohibited.

Puppet theater "Ekiyat"

The Tatar State Puppet Theater “Ekiyat” is one of the oldest puppet theaters in Russia, operating since 1934.
The new building opened on March 1, 2012. It is very beautiful and fabulous, and this is not surprising, “ekiyat” translated from Tatar means a fairy tale! The theater's repertoire offers more than 40 performances. About 100 people work here, 29 of them are actors. On our next trip to Kazan, we will definitely take the golden key with us and open the door to the world of childhood.

If you live in the city center, you will see the theater on the way from the airport. This photo was taken as part of the “Evening Lights of Kazan” excursion.

Waterpark Riviera"

Kazan Water Park "Riviera" is one of the largest in the world.
More than 50 different slides and attractions are created specifically so that everyone can find entertainment to their liking. If you book a Comfort room with a city view at the water park hotel, you will receive free access to the water park and the Ferris wheel. During our visit to Kazan there was not a single available hotel room, so we advise you to book in advance.

Kazan is a city-cauldron, due to the mixture of faiths, cultures and peoples. Therefore, the main wedding palace was built in the form of a huge cauldron. In the evening, a fire is lit under the boiler - blue and red lighting. Local wits called it “the hellish cauldron of family life.” Built in 2013.

Kazan Arena

Kazan Arena is a universal football stadium, one of the most spacious in Russia, designed for 45,379 people.
The media façade of the stadium is the largest Full HD screen in Europe, with an area of ​​3,700 square meters. m. It shows advertising, sports and social broadcasts, and movies. You can visit the stadium as part of a group tour - 350 rubles per person; you must register for the tour in advance by calling: 8 (843) 245-34-34.

Temple of All Religions

Ildar Khanov, the author of the Temple of All Religions, was born into a Muslim family, but adhered to all faiths. The main meaning of the Temple: “All religions come from one source and help to comprehend one single God.”

Island town Sviyazhsk

On July 9, 2017, by decision of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, the architectural ensemble of the Sviyazhsk Assumption Monastery was included in the World Heritage List.
You can get to it by river transport or by land through a bulk dam. We went on a group excursion by bus.

Raifa Monastery

Raifa Bogoroditsky Monastery is the largest operating monastery of the Kazan diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. There we collected holy water and saw the Georgian Icon of the Mother of God.

Bulgarian

Bolgar or Bulgar is a city in the Republic of Tatarstan, which is located 200 km from Kazan. Near the city is the Bulgarian Historical and Archaeological Complex, which is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is called the “Russian Taj Mahal”. We didn’t get to it, we left it for next time.

Monument to the Cat of Kazan

There are several dozen monuments in Kazan.
You don’t need to look for them specifically; you will come across them while walking around the city. The monument to the Cat of Kazan is one of the most popular monuments in Kazan. The work of sculptor Igor Bashmakov is located at the intersection of Bauman and Musa Jalil streets. It is dedicated to the collective image of the mousecatcher, who caught all the mice not only in Kazan, but also in the Winter Palace of St. Petersburg.

The history of the Kazan cat began during the time of the Kazan Khanate. According to legend, the Mari kings decided to dig under the Kazan Kremlin in order to kidnap the khan and give him to Ivan the Terrible. It was at night and only the cat heard rustling noises, woke up the owner and saved him from death.

Another story talks about popular popular prints in medieval Rus' with the following subjects: “The Kazan Cat” and “How Mice Buried a Cat.” This is a series of funny images, some of which can be seen in the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg or online.

Monument to Catherine II's carriage

The monument to Catherine II's carriage is located at the exit from the Nogai Hotel. This is where our photo walk began. The original carriage can be viewed in the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan.

Monument to Musa Jalil

The monument to Musa Jalil is located at the entrance to the Kazan Kremlin, opposite the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan. Dedicated to the famous Tatar anti-fascist poet, executed by guillotine in a concentration camp.

Monument to the Philanthropist

The monument was built with personal funds from the family of the first president of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiev, in honor of the honorary citizen and benefactor Asgat Galimzyanov.
A beautiful and complex sculpture with many details and characters. Asgat Galimzyanov’s whole life was a feat of labor. He delivered goods to the market and secretly raised livestock on his farm. Later received official permission. He donated more than 80 buses and cars to orphanages. Helped victims of earthquakes, disasters and refugees. He considered himself a happy person, because “I fulfilled my only calling - to help people.”

“He was always dressed very modestly, one might even say poorly: a jacket or padded jacket that was frayed at the elbows. He was seen for several years in the same clothes... - Of course, he was considered an eccentric. But he stopped all questions instantly, saying: “I leave it for myself to develop the farm, I feed my family. And if there is too much left over, why not give it to those in need!” Svetlana Ivanovna Derkach, defectologist, Kazan orphanage No. 1.

Monument to Fyodor Chaliapin

The monument to Fyodor Chaliapin is located at the entrance to the Chaliapin Hotel on Bauman Street. It is notable for the fact that it is here that street musicians like to perform in the evenings.

Parks

Gorkinsko-Ometyevsky forest

• Location: entrance between the Republican Clinical Hospital (83 Pobeda Ave.) and the Avtodorstroy gas station.
• How to get there: Chishmyale stop (Victory Avenue). Bus number 1 and tram number 5. You will have to get there with transfers.

The Gorkinsko-Ometyevsky Forest is a specially protected natural area of ​​the city, a forest in which dirt paths have been preserved and new ecological paths have been designed. The concept of the park was based on the idea of ​​caring for the environment. The peculiarity of the park design is that every design step was discussed with local residents and environmental activists. This helped to identify the people needed and develop unique and at the same time necessary spaces. Previously, the park was not considered the safest place. And in 2015, they planned to build a medical center on the territory. The news of this raised a wave of indignation among city residents and, by the mayor’s decision, it was included in the park improvement program. The architects were able to create spaces for visitors to relax and at the same time preserve the unique nature of the forest. The park has children's playgrounds, rope courses, a sports base, bridges and walkways, canopies, dog walking areas, sculptures, arches, a fountain and numerous art objects made of wood. You can rent bicycles, scooters, ski equipment and have fun not only with family and friends, but also alone. Varlamov even talked about it; the video is on the blogger’s YouTube channel.

Gorkinsko-Ometyevsky forest

Millennium Park (Millennium Park)

• Location: Lake Kaban embankment.
• How to get there: Stop “st. Artem Aydinov." Trolleybuses No. 6, No. 8 and No. 12. Buses No. 1, No. 31, No. 47, No. 37, No. 2. Metro station - Tukay Square.

Millennium Park, with an area of ​​5 hectares, opened in 2005 to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Kazan. The main alley of the park is the Millennium Alley. The main city holidays and events are held here. A fountain in the shape of a cauldron is installed in the center. According to legend, the city was founded on the spot where a cauldron buried in the ground boiled. Other fountains and gates of the park are made in the shape of the mythical creatures Zilantov.

Millennium Park

Lover's Arch

• Location: Black Lake Park (Lobachevsky St.).
• How to get there: stop “University”. Buses No. 10a, No. 30, No. 35, No. 54, No. 63, No. 91; trolleybuses No. 2, No. 3, No. 5, No. 7, No. 8.

If you want to take a break from the bustle of the city, have a snack in the open air in solitude, go to the Black Lake Park . In the middle of the park there is a lake with fountains, and at the entrance to the park there is a Lovers' Arch. It is notable for its unusual acoustic effect: if two people stand on opposite sides of the arch and whisper words, each of them will hear each other. Hence the second name of the structure - Arch of Whispers.

Lover's Arch

Where is the best place to live in Kazan?

You should start your acquaintance with the city from the main pedestrian street of Kazan - Bauman Street.
People call it the Kazan Arbat and the similarities are really present. There is entertainment for children and adults outside. Many creative people sing, play musical instruments, draw cartoons and henna patterns, and paint pictures. There are also cafes and restaurants with delicious food for every taste and budget (from 70 rubles for lunch). Therefore, we recommend living here to fully enjoy the entire atmosphere of the city of students.

We lived on Bauman: 1 night at the Nogai hotel and 2 nights at Kaganat. We liked Nogai better, so we made a separate post about it. We also thought about where it is better to live in Kazan for tourists.

Karl Marx Street and Kekin House

We are moving along Karl Marx Street. If you watched it earlier, then go down to Bolshaya Red, if not, we continue the journey. An ancient street of Kazan, which contains many old merchant buildings. Here you can also see the Lutheran Church of St. Catherine.

At Freedom Square, we advise you to turn a little and walk along Gorky Street. This is where the famous building stands, called the “Kekin House”. The merchant Kekin built it in the shortest possible time, which won the dispute. The house cost him almost nothing. Moral: Argue wisely and enjoy the architecture of the building. After watching, we return to Karl Marx Street. Further along the way we have the estate of Sandetsky, commander-in-chief of the Kazan Military Corps at the beginning of the 20th century. Nowadays there is the Museum of Fine Arts of Tatarstan. A very beautiful, noble old building.

Further down the street we will be met by universities, the Kazan Art School (the building also looks very interesting) and the Varvara Church. Let's go to the park and take a walk through Russian Switzerland.

Where tourists can go in Kazan in summer

Bauman Street is good because it has easy access to other must-see attractions in Kazan. If you go in one direction, you can walk to the Kremlin, on the territory of which the main visiting card of Kazan is located - the Kul Sharif Mosque, as well as the Annunciation Cathedral and the Syuyumbike Tower. Opposite the entrance to the Kremlin is the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan. Nearby is a circus building in the shape of a flying saucer, which is brightly illuminated in the dark. From the Kremlin embankment on the opposite bank you can see the bowl-shaped registry office building.

Walk along the embankment to the Palace of Farmers and admire the panoramic view of the Kremlin walls. You can visit it on your own or take a guided tour of the city in the evening.

If you go along Bauman Street in the opposite direction, you will find:

• Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda, with colorful wooden houses;
• Lake Kaban with rental of catamarans and boats;
• Kazan Millennium Park.

There are also 2 metro stations on Bauman Street: Kremlevskaya and Tukaya Square. These stations are considered the most beautiful in the city. The ride costs 27 rubles, we took a ride and liked it.

Very creative people live and work in Kazan. This can be concluded by studying the names of stores and cafes: “ParkKur”, “Rocknrolls”, “Sirota Kazanskaya”, “Pelmenia”, “Uryuk”, flower base “Klumba”, “Cheburasha”, “Knopik”, “Dut” , “Dobropek”, “Kruton”, “Sterlyadka”, “Brutality”.

See a cathedral and a mosque in one Kremlin

In the Kazan Kremlin, an Orthodox shrine stands across the road from a Muslim one. The key to the mix of cultures is the city's history. Kazan grew under the rule of the Volga Bulgaria and the Golden Horde, and in the 15th century it became the capital of the Kazan Khanate. In 1552, Ivan the Terrible took it, and on the site of the destroyed Khan’s fortress with mosques, a white-stone Kremlin with the Annunciation Cathedral appeared. Now it is the oldest Orthodox church in the Middle Volga region. Catherine II reconciled religions, and since then Kazan has officially become multi-religious.

In 2005, a stone's throw from the Annunciation Cathedral, also inside the Kremlin, the amazingly beautiful Kul-Sharif Mosque was erected - they say it replicates the former main Khan's mosque. Anyone can go inside, no matter who believes what. Just don’t forget to wear shoe covers, which are sold at the entrance, and cover your head and shoulders with a scarf. After watching the light beautifully filter through the stained glass windows in the prayer hall, go down to the ground floor to the Museum of Islamic Culture. Admire the ornate Arabic script in the handwritten Koran, appreciate the national women's costume of the 19th century, and examine the compass used to calculate the direction to Mecca.

Excursions in Kazan around the city and surrounding areas

When traveling to other cities and countries, we try to go on excursions to better understand the cultural and spiritual components of the location. In Kazan we visited:

1. “Why you should love Kazan” - an individual excursion with a candidate of historical sciences. What a level!
2. “Evening lights of Kazan” - group budget excursion by bus. Kazan lights up in the evening with thousands of colorful lights.
3. “Sviyazhsk, Raifa Monastery and Temple of All Religions” - a group out-of-town excursion by bus to UNESCO monuments, three in one.

All three excursions are different and good in their own way. We made a separate article about each, sharing the pros and cons, emotions and photographs. We have also prepared a separate post with a selection of the best excursions in Kazan.

Author's excursions

For those who value their time and want to fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere and history of a place, I would recommend taking advantage of the author’s excursions (group and individual). There are both standard and very unusual. Most with reviews will make it easier to choose.

Take a look at the selected author's excursions below, perhaps you will like something. First of all, pay attention to the individual tour “Why you should love Kazan” as well as the group inexpensive sightseeing tour “Sightseeing tour of Kazan with a visit to the Kremlin.”

Prices for excursions in Kazan →

What to try from food in Kazan

We really liked the olesh with broth, which we tried at the “House of Tea”. The pie should be eaten with your hands and washed down with broth. We have never heard such a name or seen such a format before. Imagine: a medium-sized pie with beef (or chicken) made from a thin pastry, with lots and lots of filling, and a bowl of broth attached to it. You get the first and second at once, for only 149 rubles, on the main street of the city. Very filling and tasty. Additionally, it is better not to take anything, so as not to burst.

And our favorite place, which we have been to 3 times and would gladly return again, is Tyubetey (or Tubatai). Manti, echpochmak, kystyburgers, eleshi. Salads, soups and even vegetarian dishes. Our average bill was about 600 rubles for two, but we had a very satisfying meal and enjoyed it. We would rather open this establishment as a franchise throughout the country.

Black Lake Park and Arch of Sighs

The Black Lake Park is called so not because everything here is black or because oil comes out of the ground. This name came a long time ago, when instead of a park there was a clean lake, the waters of which were teeming with well-fed fish. The lake was called Black. According to one version, because of the baths that were located on the shore. They drowned them in black. That's where it went from there. Today the lake is of artificial origin. The bottom was concreted and fountains were installed (hello Bulak). There is a belief that it was because of its concreting that the waters went under the Alexander Passage, part of which collapsed (read the full story).

Zilantik

The main mascot of the project. I give advice to city guests and lift their spirits

By the way, sometimes the phrase “Black Lake” is associated among Kazan residents with the KGB, like “Lubyanka” among Muscovites or “Liteiny” among residents of the northern capital. And all because the KGB of the TASSR, and now the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Tatarstan, was located here.

But the most interesting place in the park is the Arch of Lovers or Sighs, whichever you prefer. If one person stands on one side and another on the other and says something, everything will be heard by the interlocutor. Try it, interesting place.

Next to the arch, notice a flower shop, which for more than 100 years has been pleasing women with bouquets given to them by men in love. And we move on...

Grocery stores in Kazan

We visited several stores, looked at the range and cost of products. Prices are the same as in St. Petersburg, maybe even a little cheaper. National products include: kumis, chak-chak, pastries, Tatar tea and many different horse meat products (kazylyk, basturma, shuzhuk).

We bought basturma and they cut it into pieces for us. And in order not to eat dry salted meat, we tried Kazan beer “White Kremlin” and “Old Kazan”, a wonderful combination.

First impression

As soon as we exited the metro near the Kazan Kremlin, a downpour and a sweeping wind hit our faces. The closest place where we could take shelter and get directions to the hotel was the Central Department Store, where we were the first visitors that day.

Due to the violent weather, there were few people on the street, but their faces were distinguished by a confident calm, absence of fuss and tension, despite the morning of a weekday. And this first impression turned out to be correct; people here are really much calmer than in their native Tula.

Gifts and souvenirs

We did not bring matryoshka dolls, skull caps, echpochmak-shaped magnets and horse meat sausage. Here is a list of what we grabbed from Kazan for ourselves and friends:

• Silver earrings with blue cubic zirconia;
• Handkerchief;
• Postcard;
• Five packs of chak-chak;
• Three boxes of sweets “Dear Bird” from the Bakhetle store;
• Three packs of Tatar tea;
• Cool photos;
• Good mood.

When you buy gifts for loved ones in stores, make sure that they were definitely made in Kazan. For example, some beautiful boxes of chocolates with images of Kazan sights are made in Moscow, and gingerbread cookies are made in Vladimir.

Go underground

On the Kazanka River there is an island no larger than a helipad, and on it there is a strange structure in the shape of a truncated pyramid with columns and porticoes. This is a temple and monument to the soldiers who fell during the capture of Kazan and were buried in this place. In Soviet times, the Temple in honor of the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands was completely destroyed. Over the past ten years, it has been sluggishly restored, and most often it is closed.

If you come on Sunday at noon, when the caretaker is in the temple, there is a chance to see the most interesting part - the underground. You are led through dark galleries to the central hall - the church-tomb of St. Elijah of Murom, where in ringing silence stands a small altar and a sarcophagus with the skulls of soldiers. The atmosphere is more invigorating than espresso. Even if you see a lock on the door, don’t be upset: it’s better to look at the view of the Kazan Kremlin from the temple.

Don't miss: Ghost Hunt: Russia's Most Outstanding Abandoned Places

How to get from Kazan airport to the city center

We ordered a transfer from KiwiTaxi in advance, it cost exactly 1000 rubles. The driver met us with a sign at the exit from the baggage claim area, and 30 minutes after arrival we were already at the Nogai hotel. The driver Amir, a man with a good sense of humor, immediately teased us: “First time in Kazan? Did you take tenge with you? There’s nothing to do here without tenge!” We believed it even for a second and were taken aback. They thought we were in Kazakhstan. The currency in Kazan is rubles.

We almost always order transfers from KiwiTaxi when we arrive in a new city or country. It is not clear what is there at the airport: is it possible to call a taxi through popular applications.

Order a transfer from Kazan airport to the city center.

We went back to the airport by Yandex.Taxi, the trip cost 460 rubles. Not as fun, but 2 times cheaper. In Kazan it is quite convenient and cheap to take a taxi. For example, a trip from the Palace of Farmers to the Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda cost 110 rubles (also on Yandex.Taxi).

We didn’t take a ride on the famous trams around Kazan, there was no time. There are no trams in the center, and I didn’t want to travel around the city 2 km from all the attractions.

Where to eat?

I have already revealed the secret that you can snack on local baked goods literally at every step. In addition, we decided to go to one of the most famous restaurants in Kazan, “Bachelor's Shelter”.

Great place, no wonder they praise it. Dinner for three with desserts without alcohol will cost about 2 thousand rubles, the food is delicious, the service is excellent, I recommend it.

And one more place, or rather a chain of restaurants, that has sunk into my soul is the “Old Barn”. They are, without exaggeration, the gods of marketing. Fast, very tasty, very affordable. While you are waiting, the administrator will come up to you and ask if everything is okay, if you need anything. On a sheet of newsprint, which is laid on the table under the dishes, there are: funny jokes, time standards for service (from 2 to 15 minutes for different types of dishes and requests) - they checked, everyone complies, a little advertising, telephone numbers and emails for feedback from manual and something else, I even took this piece of paper as a souvenir. Everyone would work like that. I hope this network will flourish, take over the whole world and show other establishments how to work!

What didn’t work out as planned

Not everything on the trip went according to plan:

1. We did not see a stuffed 4-meter fish, since the room with it was closed for renovation at the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan. But we looked at the original carriage of Catherine the Great.
2. We didn’t take pictures near the walls of the Peter and Paul Cathedral, since it is being restored and is covered in scaffolding. You can go inside.
3. We didn’t see the “Cascade of Fountains” show at Lake Kaban. The fountains work but are not illuminated. We were told that this was temporary.
4. We didn’t manage to stay at the Riviera Hotel with a panoramic view of the city, since we had gathered spontaneously and there were no more rooms available. That’s why we didn’t go to the water park; we would have definitely gotten there that way. And to the Ferris wheel too.

We were happy with the trip and really liked Kazan. Now you know where tourists can go in Kazan in the summer. We hope that our review of your holiday in the capital of Tatarstan will help you have a great time in this beautiful city.

Return to your happy childhood

To feel nostalgic, go to the Museum of Socialist Life - in a former communal apartment with brick walls, things from the 70s to 90s are collected. Wander among vinyl records, cotton Santa Clauses, shopping bags, jeans and cup holders. Look through the “Pioneer Songbook” and remember how they rewound cassette tapes with a pencil and tore the corners of triangular milk cartons. Also, turn the dial on your phone and play table hockey - in this museum you can touch and try everything. If you weren’t even in the project in those years, come anyway: you’ll feel the atmosphere and understand why your parents were fans of the Soviet “Battleship” machine gun.

It’s also good to indulge in fond memories at the Museum of Happy Childhood. This branch of the Museum of Social Life contains dolls, cars, Cheburashka fur coats, school textbooks, calculators and soda machines. Take a photo as a pioneer at an old desk and look at Sergei Shnurov’s briefcase in the original.

What to see in Kazan in 3, 4, 5 days

Summarizing all the material in this article, we recommend that you see the following in Kazan in 3 days:

• If you live on Bauman Street, you will be able to explore the Kazan Arbat automatically, without setting aside additional time for this.
• The first day will be devoted to the Kazan Kremlin and its attractions. Take a walk during the day along the Kazan embankment and near the Palace of Farmers.
• On the second day, go towards the Staro-Tatarskaya Sloboda and Lake Kaban. Photo session, catamarans, Chak-Chak Museum and Kazan Millennium Park. In the evening you can see the lights of Kazan.
• On the third day, go to the island town of Sviyazhsk. You can stop by the Temple of All Religions or Innopolis.
• If you have a fourth day left, then go to the Riviera water park. You can have a good rest there both in summer and winter. Ideally, book one night at the water park hotel and take a walk along the right bank of the Kazanka: visit the Kazan Arena and go up to the observation deck of the registry office. Getting around is convenient and inexpensive using Yandex.Taxi.
• On the fifth day, visit Bolgar. Then you will collect a set of all three UNESCO monuments of Tatarstan: the Kazan Kremlin, Sviyazhsk and Ancient Bolgar.

Such a program for 5 days in Kazan can be carried out in any order. Just don’t arrange outings for two days in a row so that your butt doesn’t get sore from driving. And with a cultural and historical background, studying the city is more interesting and meaningful.

Take a selfie at the Farmers' Palace

On the way to the Kazanka embankment, take a photo with the palace in the background and get ready for a holivar on Instagram. The pompous building with columns, domes and a giant bronze tree on the facade was built in 2010 for the Ministry of Agriculture of Tatarstan. While inside they are counting the wheat and potato harvests, outside they can’t agree on whether the Palace of Farmers is beautiful or terrible and whether it harmonizes with the Kremlin. To form your own opinion and at the same time find the best angle, take a walk in the park in front of the palace. At the end of August - September you will immediately find the Kazan Autumn opera festival in the open air.