Kazan

The Tatar capital at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka rivers, where a mosque and Orthodox cathedrals stand side by side in the Kazan Kremlin, Bauman Street bustles, and Sviyazhsk island monastery lies nearby.

Kazan is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia, located where the Kazanka River meets the Volga, about 800 km from Moscow, and is often called Russia's "third capital". It is a meeting point of Tatar and Russian, Islamic and Orthodox cultures, and celebrated its millennium in 2005. The main attraction is the UNESCO-listed Kazan Kremlin, where the Qolşärif Mosque, the Annunciation Cathedral and the leaning Söyembikä Tower share the white walls. North of the walls are the Ministry of Agriculture building and the Kremlin Embankment, and across the river you can take in the view from the "Kazan" Family Centre (the "Cauldron"). To the south is lively Bauman Street, and further south still the Old Tatar Quarter, with its colourful wooden houses and mosques, and Lake Kaban. Classic day trips include Sviyazhsk island, Raifa Monastery, the Temple of All Religions and the ancient city of Bolgar, reached by hydrofoil. The climate is temperate continental: May–Sep is warm, and the Sabantuy festival in June is the liveliest time; winters are bitterly cold, dropping below -20°C, though the snowy scenery and Christmas lights have their own charm. There's an airport and rail links; from Moscow it's about 12 hours by express train or night train, and a single metro line connects the main sights in town. Plan on 3–4 days. Don't miss Tatar specialities like chak-chak, echpochmak (triangular pastries) and kazylyk (horsemeat sausage). Before travelling, check visa and international payment policies, as some foreign bank cards may not work.

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Where to eat

Itineraries