A sightseeing tour along the Volga is an opportunity to touch different chapters of the history of our country and at the same time see a diverse nature. And, of course, swim in one of the largest rivers on Earth. We offer you to travel by train from Moscow to nine main Volga cities. We’ll tell you what you can do and see there: there are options for both a weekend trip and a full-fledged vacation.
Yaroslavl
You can get to this city with a thousand-year history from the capital in just 3-4 hours. You will probably recognize the Volzhskaya embankment here – it was featured in the film “Cruel Romance” by Eldar Ryazanov. The pearl of Yaroslavl is the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, founded back in the 13th century (by the way, it was in its library that the chronicle “Tales of Igor’s Campaign” was discovered). Also worthy of attention is the Church of John the Baptist in Tolchkovo, the same one that is depicted on the thousand-ruble bill, the white stone Church of Elijah the Prophet, the Yaroslavl Art Museum and the Tolga Monastery. Overall, this city can be a real journey into the past, because its streets have well-preserved ancient buildings.
If you want to stay here longer than a day? Then see our detailed weekend plan. And if you plan to thoroughly explore the entire region and its surroundings, we also have a ready-made route.
Where to stay: at the luxurious Ring Premier Hotel with its own spa complex (about 6,700 rubles* per night in a double room).& ;nbsp;
Where and what to try from local cuisine: duck pate (foie gras) with onion and currant jam and baked pike perch at the Penaty restaurant “(Visitors call it “Yaroslavl Michelin”).
Kostroma
The city of the Golden Ring, which is called the cradle of the Romanov dynasty and the birthplace of Ivan Susanin, was founded in 1152 by Yuri Dolgoruky. Kostroma can often be seen in films: thanks to the preserved architectural appearance of the streets, it often plays the role of a provincial Volga town of past centuries. The TV series “Demons”, “Doctor Zhivago”, “Bloody Lady”, as well as the films “The Barber of Siberia”, “Boris Godunov” and “Inception” were filmed here. Among the most iconic sights are the Ipatiev Monastery, the Kostromskaya Sloboda Nature Reserve, Susaninskaya Square, the embankment of the old part of the city, and Gostiny Dvor. But in general, it’s just nice to walk around Kostroma and imagine yourself as the hero of some historical novel – as if you really find yourself in the bygone 19th century.
If you decide to come here for the weekend, we recommend that you read our city guide.
Where to stay: in the fabulous wooden houses of the Berendeyevka Park Hotel (about 2,700 rubles* per night in a double room).& nbsp;
Where and what to try from local cuisine:Volga catfish pate with lingonberry caviar, elk meat with wild berries and Kostroma cabbage soup in the floating restaurant “Old Pier”.
Nizhny Novgorod
The capital of the Volga region did not immediately become a popular tourist destination. A couple of decades ago, people came here to simply admire the sunset over the Volga and Oka, stroll around the Kremlin and find a couple of historical buildings – the State Bank and the Church of the Nativity. Today it is a very comfortable and developed city, which can be compared with Moscow and Kazan: they are constantly improving infrastructure, holding festivals and gastro weekends, opening new public spaces and supporting contemporary art. Recently, the Nizhny Novgorod Fair was revived here, which is similar to the Moscow Depot, but with a Russian folk flavor. We also recommend taking a ride on the cable car over the Volga itself.
You can’t properly explore the whole of Nizhny Novgorod in a couple of days, so we advise you to stay here for four days – we even have a detailed travel plan for the most iconic sights of the city.
Where to stay:in the historical Nikitin Hotel, which occupies a building dating back to the 19th century (about 7,400 rubles* per night in a double room).
Where and what to try from local cuisine: pike caviar, pike dumplings with caviar sauce and lake crucian carp with mushrooms and potatoes at the Pyatkin restaurant “, decorated in traditional Russian style.
Kazan
The capital of Tatarstan has become a fashionable tourist destination in recent years: the city itself is almost as good as Moscow in terms of the number of stylish locations, entertainment and amenities. Among the must-see attractions are the Kazan Kremlin with the Kul-Sharif Mosque, Bauman Street, the Temple of All Religions, the Peter and Paul Cathedral, and the Palace of Farmers. Here the weekend will fly by unnoticed, as there is definitely something to see and where to visit. From Kazan you can take a one-day trip to the island city of Sviyazhsk or the ancient capital of the Bolgars.
Where to stay: at the Apart-hotel on Pushkina 26 with a terrace and restaurant (about 6,000 rubles* per night in a double room) .
Where and what to try from local cuisine: Mashkhurda, manti and rabbit soup in Tatar style in the Rubai restaurant with a luxurious interior.
Cheboksary
Chuvashia is not yet the most popular travel destination. However, if you have already traveled to everything you can, why not take a look here? Tourists visit the Cheboksary Bay, the Historical Embankment, the Resurrection Church, Merchant Efremov Boulevard and the Vvedensky Cathedral, and then usually go out of town to enjoy a vacation near the Volga . However, in the surrounding forests there is also a lot of interesting things: for example, the park of wooden ritual sculpture “Suvar” or the Ibresinsky open-air ethnographic museum.
Where to stay: at the suburban Garden Hotel and Spa in the middle of the forest (about 6,800 rubles* per night in a double room).& ;nbsp;
Where and what to try from local cuisine: dumplings with porcini mushrooms, pork kalagach and baked heart at the Ehrem Khusa restaurant. & nbsp;
Samara
Some tourists call this city the capital of Russian Art Nouveau, and if this era is close to you, take a look at the mansion of the merchant of the first guild, Kurlin, and his wife. Also, take a walk along the Volga embankment, go down to the “Stalin Bunker” (by the way, the largest bunker in the world), visit the Iversky Monastery and try real “Zhigulevskoe” beer, which is produced right here. The amazing Volga nature stretches around Samara: travelers can relax in the Samarskaya Luka Park and admire the Zhiguli Mountains. There are many beaches around – be sure to take a swim in the river! All in all, you can spend a very busy weekend here.
Where to stay: at the “Moya Glinka” cottage hotel on the banks of the Volga (about 3,600 rubles* per night in a double room).
Where and what to try from local cuisine: fried carp, pike sirloin, champagne pike perch according to a pre-revolutionary recipe and local beer at the Kipyatok pub “.
Saratov
It has not been considered a wilderness for a long time, but it is always nice to escape there from the hustle and bustle. In this city, you can listen to the organ in one of the oldest conservatories in Russia and admire the building itself, which looks like a European castle – the architects were inspired by German Gothic. And also walk to the very embankment along the local Arbat, Kirov Avenue, look into all its fashionable shops and attractive little bars, visit the Trinity Cathedral, look at the 19th century mansions, stroll along the Volga, go to the courtyards of national villages (near Victory Park on Sokolova Gora) . And don’t forget to try the royal kalach – in Saratov, as they say, there is a real cult of baking: even at the beginning of the last century, bread was supplied from here to the imperial table.
Where to stay: at the Era Hotel overlooking the Volga (about 9,200 rubles* per night in a double deluxe room).
Where and what to try from the local cuisine: watermelon pickles, rustic carp from the oven and salmon and pike perch meatballs at the Tary restaurant -Bars.”
Volgograd
When we mention this hero city, we all immediately remember the majestic statue of the Motherland crowning Mamayev Kurgan. Everything here is truly permeated with the spirit of military glory: Volgograd itself was almost completely destroyed during the Great Patriotic War, and then “rose from the ashes” through the efforts of the best Soviet architects and the hands of German prisoners of war. Most of the attractions here are somehow related to military themes: for example, the large-scale panorama museum “Battle of Stalingrad”, the “Memory” museum in the basement of the Central Department Store, Pavlov’s house and Gerhardt’s mill. You can visit the former German settlement of Sarepta, which gave its name to the city area. Better yet, go to the beach with a huge watermelon, a pot of boiled crayfish and local craft beer (or wine from the surrounding wineries – it’s who you prefer): this is what Volgograd residents themselves usually do on hot days.
Stay for the whole weekend – you won’t regret it, because both in the city itself and its surroundings, there are a lot of interesting places.
Where to stay: at the Volgograd Hotel, which occupies one of the historical “Stalinist” buildings in the city center (about 4,300 rubles* per night in double room).
Where and what to try from local cuisine: cheburek-cloud, Volga fish soup and catfish steak in the panoramic restaurant “Reka” in the river station building .
Astrakhan
Summer in Astrakhan, as in Volgograd, is usually hot – the air temperature can reach 40 degrees, but it is all the more exotic for residents of the middle zone. This city is famous for its white-stone Kremlin, built in 1580-1620, as well as the Persian courtyard, several ancient mosques, and the historical buildings of Preobrazhenskaya Street. Mostly people come here to try river fish and buy it with them at the Selenskie Isady market. This southern region attracts lovers of fishing and birdwatching, as well as those who want to admire the lotus fields in the picturesque rumbles of the Volga. And don’t forget to swim in the most famous salt lake in Russia – Baskunchak. In general, we can name at least five reasons why you should definitely come here.
Where to stay: in the luxurious Astrakhanskaya Hotel, decorated in Baroque style (about 4,500 rubles* per night in a double room).
Where and what to try from local cuisine: carp belly in sour cream sauce, hot smoked sterlet and black caviar at the Beluga restaurant. & nbsp;
*Prices valid at time of publication.
