Kostroma celebrated its 865th birthday last year on a grand scale. The small city, located on both banks of the Volga, has something to please its guests – entire blocks with unique architectural monuments, cafes and bars with delicious cuisine, a cozy embankment and the leisurely flow of life in a provincial town.
Kostroma is one of 8 Russian cities included in the tourist route of the Golden Ring of Russia. This is the birthplace of the Snow Maiden and the cradle of the Romanov dynasty. Spending a weekend in this city will be interesting for anyone interested in the history of Russia.
Approximate travel budget for one person – from 4000 rubles*.
- Round train tickets from the capital from 1400 rubles*;
- 1 night in a hostel – from 400 rubles* or in a 3* hotel from 1,500 rubles*;
- The average bill in a cafe is 300 rubles;
- Walks around the city, travel on public transport, souvenirs – 1000 rubles.
1. Ipatiev Monastery
Photo: @maxim_chuhray/Instagram.com
The Ipatiev Monastery is a landmark place for Russia. The history of the Romanov dynasty began here, when in 1613 young Mikhail Fedorovich, hiding in a monastery from enemies, agreed to ascend the throne. Before this, the Poles tried to seize the pretender to the throne, but, as the legend says, the peasant Ivan Susanin led an enemy detachment into a swamp, where he heroically died along with the interventionists. Since then, Russian tsars began to consider the monastery a family shrine.
In the active monastery you can visit the museum and walk around the beautiful grounds. Be sure to walk along the embankment, which begins immediately behind the monastery: here you can relax on the river bank and admire the views of the right bank of Kostroma.
Address: Prosveshcheniya Street, 1
Website: ipatievsky-monastery.ru
2. Sumarokovskaya elk farm
Photo: @imwlf
Near Kostroma there is the only elk farm in Russia. This is a state nature reserve located on an area of about 200 hectares. Elks have been domesticated here since 1963, and the freedom of the animals is practically not limited – only pregnant elk and one-year-old animals spend some time in the pens, while everyone else lives in the forest and regularly comes to the base for tasty food.
The moose farm is about 20 kilometers away towards the village of Krasnoe-on-Volge. Distance stops few people – there are a huge number of visitors on holidays and weekends. Despite the great popularity of this place, everyone has the opportunity to feed the animals (food is given when purchasing an excursion),
pet the moose and observe their behavior in natural conditions.
Address: Krasnoselsky district, Sumarokovo, Kostroma region, 156005
Site: loseferma.ru
Visit cost: 150 rubles
How to get there: by private car or taxi. A taxi ride will cost 250-350 rubles
3. Art site “Station”
Photo: @stantsia_art/Instagram.com
“Station” appeared in Kostroma in 2009 and became a place of attraction for all lovers of contemporary art. Contemporary dance and theater performances, screenings of original films and cartoons, photo exhibitions and concerts, as well as the international festival of modern dance duets “Diversion” are held here. The permanent resident of the “Station” is the “Dialogue Dance” company, which is engaged in the development and popularization of modern dance not only in the city, but throughout Russia. In 2017, “Dialogue Dance” became the winner of the Golden Mask Award for the third time.
Address: Erokhova street, 3a
Site: stantsia.com
4. Bar “Honey, I’ll be late”
Photo: @dorogayabudupozdno/Instagram.com
You can have a delicious meal and have fun in one of the popular Kostroma establishments. It is located in an old mansion right in the city center. There is an excellent grill menu, delicious steaks and burgers, a large selection of “Kostroma” dishes: Kostroma rabbit steak, smoked Kostroma quail, Kostroma green cabbage soup.
Address: Nizhnyaya Debrya street, 2/15
Opening hours: Sunday-Thursday 12:00-02:00, Friday-Saturday 12:00-06:00**
Site: budupozdno.ru
Average check: 500 rubles
5. Berendeyevka Park
Photo: @berendeevkakostroma/@bd_pro/Instagram.com
The park got its name by accident. Director Pavel Kadochnikov came to Shchelykovo to film his “The Snow Maiden”. After filming was completed, the scenery for the film, which took place in the fairy-tale kingdom of Berendey, was transported to the park. They did not survive, but the name “Berendeevka” stuck. Now in “Berendeyevka” you can walk through the coniferous forest, ride a bike, swim, sunbathe and feed ducks on the ponds, swim on a catamaran, go fishing, visit a cafe, skating rink, hippodrome and wake park, as well as exercise on outdoor exercise equipment.
Address: Mira Avenue, 157
6. “Frying pan”
Photo: @z_nadin/Instagram.com
The central place of Kostroma, from which streets and avenues fan out, is called “frying pan” by local residents. One of the streets connecting this patch with the Volga is called Molochnaya Gora. It is a kind of “handle”, and the round area itself is the “container of the frying pan”. It is very hot on the patch in summer, which adds aptness to the name. Next to the “frying pan” there is a 35-meter fire tower, shopping arcades, a monument to the fire dog Bobka, who collects donations for the care of stray animals, monuments to the Snow Maiden, Ivan Susanin and Yuri Dolgoruky, as well as the construction of the Kostroma Kremlin – the ensemble is now being actively restored after destruction by the Bolsheviks.
Where is it: Central square of the city (Susaninskaya)
7. Kostroma Sloboda
Photo: @kostroma.city/Instagram.com
The open-air museum of wooden architecture is located next to the Ipatiev Monastery. Monuments of wooden architecture began to be brought here from Kostroma villages in the mid-20th century: ancient churches, authentic peasant houses, as well as barns, barns and mills. The museum regularly organizes folk festivals in the traditions of pre-revolutionary Kostroma and holds folklore festivals. Folk arts and crafts are also supported and promoted here.
Address: Prosveshcheniya Street, 1B
Site: kostrsloboda.ru
Admission fee: 150 rubles
8. Ostrovsky’s gazebo
Photo: @polisha_shitova/Instagram.com
Ostrovsky’s gazebo is located on the Volga embankment in Kostroma. In summer it is always crowded here: tourists and newlyweds take pictures, citizens stroll. It is known that the great playwright himself never visited the gazebo (it was built in 1956),
however, I often admired the Volga views while standing in this very place. Ostrovsky’s gazebo is also famous for the fact that it appears in the film “Cruel Romance” – a film based on Alexander Ostrovsky’s play “Dowry” Eldar Ryazanov filmed in Kostroma.
Where is it: on the embankment near the pier
9. The Snow Maiden’s Tower
Photo: teremsnegurochki.ru/@teremsnegurochki/Instagram.com
10 years ago, a local restaurateur built an unusual museum in Kostroma. The place has become popular not only among tourists, but also among Kostroma residents. Here you can go on an interactive excursion, have fun and make some noise in a fairy-tale courtyard, meet the Snow Maiden, Bayun the Cat, Domovikha and Domovoy.
In Terem there is a real ice room that works even in 30-degree heat. People are allowed inside only after guests put on special zipuns and felt boots. In the room you can look at the ice figures, and also treat yourself at the bar: adults are served mead in ice glasses, and children are served snow cocktails.
Address: Lagernaya street, 38
Site: teremsnegurochki.ru
Visit cost: 220 rubles
10. Husky kennel
Photo: @bebetter18/Instagram.com
20 kilometers from Kostroma there is a breeding husky nursery “Ice dog”. Here you can play with huskies, ride dog sleds, snowmobiles and ATVs. Extreme lovers will be able to play paintball. Another husky nursery is located in the village of Simakovo – about 15 kilometers from Kostroma. In the tourist complex “Northern Lights of Kostroma” you can also cuddle and play with puppies and adult dogs, ride a dog sled, take part in an interactive program, and even go on a hike with sled dogs and spend the night in tents.
Where is:
Kennel “Ice dog”: Oblomikhino village, Kostroma region, 156553
Social network page
Operating hours: daily 10:00-20:00
Nursery “Northern Lights of Kostroma”: Simakovo village, Kostroma region
Social network page
Operating hours: daily 09:00 — 19:00
How to get there: Simakovo village – taxi or personal transport.
Oblomikhino village – taxi, personal vehicle or regular bus Kostroma – Nerekhta (the nursery is about 200 meters from the stop). The cost of a taxi ride is 250-300 rubles.
It’s convenient to make hotel reservations on OneTwoTrip.
* Prices for travel and accommodation are indicated at the time of writing. The cost indicated in the material and the final price may vary depending on the season and time for which tickets are purchased.
**Operating hours of organizations are indicated at the time of publication of the text. Opening hours may vary depending on the time of year.
Text author: Irina Ochagova
Preview photo: 9love_kst
