Eight hours of flight from Moscow, seven days from there by train and here it is – a city on the banks of the Amur. Khabarovsk is not only the administrative capital of the Far Eastern Federal District, but also the heart of the region. By the way, the same one where Far Eastern hectares are distributed. If you are not yet ready to explore virgin lands, you can simply take a walk around the city and its surroundings. Suddenly the desire to move appears. So, what can you see in the Far Eastern capital?
Spending a weekend in Khabarovsk will be interesting for residents of Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Vladivostok, Birobidzhan, Blagoveshchensk and other nearby cities, the journey from which will not take much time.
Approximate travel budget for one person – from 3,700 rubles*.
- Round-trip train tickets from 1,850 rubles*. You can fly from Moscow to Khabarovsk every day. Prices start from 10,793 rubles* one way. The flight lasts on average 8 — 10.5 hours.
- 1 night in a hostel – from 250 rubles* or in a 3* hotel – from 1,500 rubles*;
- The average bill in a cafe is 400 rubles;
- Walks around the city, travel on public transport, souvenirs – 800 rubles.
Area named after. Lenin
Photo: @evgeny_karlson/Instagram.com
The main and one of the most beautiful squares of the city is named after V.I. Lenin. Here is a monument to him and, as it should be, the regional government. But if we ignore the officialdom, at any time of the year this is truly a vacation spot. In summer there are fountains that are refreshing. In winter, there is the main city Christmas tree and dozens of ice figures. This is where the international competition “Ice Fantasy” takes place. Masters compete in skillful carving of snow and ice cubes. Moreover, it’s not only the finished sculptures that fascinate, but the process of creation.
Muravyov-Amursky Street
Photo: @bksrus/@olya_ribka/Instagram.com
Central street is the historical part of the city. There are many architectural monuments here. Most of the most striking ones were built in the early 19th century. There are many shops, souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants on the street. You can have a meal here on a budget in pizzerias or in restaurants serving Japanese, German, Pan-Asian or European cuisine. In the summer, one of the blocks on this street turns into open air. Artists write and immediately sell their works. By the way, you can order your own portrait. The cost of paintings is from 1500 rubles. Muravyov-Amursky Street ends with Komsomolskaya Square. There is a monument to the Heroes of the Civil War and the Assumption Cathedral. And, of course, an observation deck on the Amur River.
Nevelskogo Embankment and Amursky Cliff
Photo: @olga_guseva_photo.khv/Instagram.com
A hundred steps down from Komsomolskaya Square and you are on the embankment. In 2013, it was all under water due to the largest flood in the modern history of Khabarovsk. The embankment has been restored, and now pleasure boats depart from here. On one of them you can drive under the Amur Bridge – the same one that is depicted on the five thousand dollar bill. If you decide to take a ride in the evening, then a disco on board will be a bonus to the beautiful view of Khabarovsk at night.
There is a Cliff on the embankment. It is he who usually decorates commemorative Khabarovsk postcards. There is an observation deck on it, from where a stunning view of the Amur sunsets opens. If you stay in Khabarovsk, you will have the opportunity to go to China – the border city of Fuyuan is no more than an hour and a half on the Meteor ship. There is no need to worry about a visa – it is processed by the travel agency from which you purchase the ticket.
Ticket prices for pleasure boats: adults – 350 rubles, children – 150 rubles.
Departure: once an hour from 12:00 to 00:00.
The cost of a tour to Fuyuan is from 3000 rubles.
Khabarovsky Bridge
Photo: @dinar_khakimov/Instagram.com
Who hasn’t held a five thousand dollar bill in their hands? This is its main element – the Khabarovsk Bridge or the “Amur Miracle”. Two and a half kilometers, part of the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Amur federal highway. The photo on the bill was taken from a nearby hill. Namely from the so-called Infendel Tower. This object of place lovers is a la “Stalker”: an unfinished building with its own ambiguous history. The structure is also called the Crow’s Nest and is shrouded in a lot of legends. There are ghosts, gatherings of Satanists, and mysterious signs. A lot is mixed in, it all depends on the imagination and sensitivity of the tourist. Well, what you definitely can’t argue with is the beautiful view – photos from this point will be the most memorable.
You can get to the tower by buses running from the bus station to the village. Priamursky or by taxi. From the center it will cost 250-300 rubles.
Recreation center “Zaimka”
Photo: @zaim.ka/Instagram.com
In 20-30 minutes by taxi from the city center you can get to Zaimka Plyusnina. Several hotels, restaurants and plenty of entertainment. Both children and adults will find something to do here. Equipped beach, tennis court, swimming pool and sauna. In summer, all kinds of trampolines, ATV trips, in winter: ski slope, tubing and skate rental. The complex also offers thematic programs, for example, “children’s holidays” or “romantic night”.
Address: Krasnorechenskoye village, Imperial street, 5
Site: riverahotel.ru
A taxi from the city center will cost about 250 rubles.
Priamursky Zoo named after V.P. Sysoeva
Photo: @mattymazzei
There is no full-fledged zoo in Khabarovsk, but there is a zoo where you can see representatives of wildlife. About 150 representatives of the local fauna live on an area of almost 6 hectares. Almost all pets are inhabitants of the Far East. An African lion recently joined their company. The animals live in spacious enclosures. The zoo is integrated into the natural landscape, it seems as if it has always been here.
Opening hours: from April 1 to September 30 from 10:00 to 19:00, from October 1 to March 31 from 10:00 to 18:00, closed on Monday **
Visit cost: 300 rubles
Petroglyphs of Sikachi-Alyan (Amur petroglyphs)
Photo: @ludmila_noskova/@tatiana_manukhina/Instagram.com
Amur petroglyphs are rock paintings, the first of which date back to the 12th-9th centuries BC. Archaeologists suggest that the wild horses depicted on the boulders were found in the Amur region only during the Ice Age. Also on the boulders you can see images of a mammoth and Nanai spirits. This place is sacred to the indigenous people; shamanic rituals are still not uncommon here. The rock paintings are included in the tentative UNESCO World Heritage List. The most comfortable way to get to the village is by taxi, and everyone there will tell you where to look for petroglyphs. Nearby there is an original farmstead where you can feel the atmosphere of the Amur region and try national dishes.
Where is located: Sikachi-Alyan village (70 km from the city center)
Approximate cost of a taxi – 2000 rubles
Bus ticket – 153 rubles one way. Buses depart from the bus station daily.
Contacts of the national village: sikachi-alyan.ru
Restaurant “Sopka”
Photo: @sopka_restaurant/Instagram.com
You don’t have to leave the city to taste Far Eastern cuisine. In the center, near Glory Square, there is the Sopka restaurant, which was built right on the river bank. The windows offer a stunning panorama. All Far Eastern delicacies are here: Kamchatka crab, smelt, Far Eastern salmon and other delicious seafood. The cost of food here is higher than the city average, but gourmets say it’s worth it.
Restaurant website: sopka-restaurant.com
Operating hours: daily from 12:00 to 00:00**
Where is: Kavkazskaya street, 20
City ponds
Photo: @panorama.dv/Instagram.com
Go down from the main Lenin Square onto Ussuriysky Boulevard and you will find yourself in front of the city ponds. Walking here is a pleasure: paved paths meander under the treetops. Fountains have been operating on the first pond since May, delighting vacationers with music and laser shows all summer long. There is a Chinese restaurant on the second pond. It’s like a cosmic saucer floating above the water. Along the ponds there are bronze figurines of Soviet cartoon characters. Folk festivities take place on the main alley in winter.
Where they are: on Ussuriysky Boulevard between Dikopoltsev and Pushkin streets
The fountains are open from May 1 to September 30
If you are looking for a place to stay in a new city, we recommend paying attention to the OneTwoTrip hotel vertical – set the minimum distance to the center in the filters and you will quickly find the nearest hotels near the most interesting locations.
* 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: Anna Kalchuk
Preview photo: @antonik8_2/Instagram.com
