Kazan is on the bank of the Volga, is the capital of Tatarstan and does not resemble Russia’s other cities. Here a mosque and a church stand side by side inside the same fortress walls, and the street signs are written in two languages. There are direct flights from Baku and, because the city is compact, two or three days are quite enough. Below I have written how to spend those days.
The Kazan kremlin and the Qolsharif mosque
The white-walled kremlin is on top of a hill and is on the UNESCO list. Entry is free, while the museums inside have separate tickets. The area is large, so set aside at least three hours to walk it comfortably.
The Qolsharif mosque is the kremlin’s best-known building and its blue domes are visible from far off. A few steps away from it stands an Orthodox church, and this closeness is the main image with which the city presents itself. The leaning tower nearby carries the legendary name of Soyembika and tilts enough to be seen with the naked eye, as in Pisa.
Streets, the waterfront and Tatar cooking in Kazan
Bauman street is the pedestrian line of the centre and runs down from the kremlin. Along the street there are cafés, souvenir shops and street musicians, and in the evening this is the liveliest place in the city. The shore of lake Kaban has been rebuilt in recent years and is comfortable for a walk.
In the food, be sure to taste the triangular pie called uchpochmak, filled with meat and potato. On the sweet side there is chak-chak, small balls of dough cooked with honey, convenient to take as a gift. In traditional restaurants pilaf served in a cauldron is also widespread.
A day out of the city
The small island settlement called Sviyazhsk is roughly an hour from the city and you can also go there by boat. An old monastery complex and wooden houses are preserved there, and in the summer months historical re-enactment programmes are held. Half a day is enough.
The ancient city site called Bolgar is further away, but the journey along the Volga is an experience in itself. It is for those interested in history and takes the whole day. Taking the day excursions in advance is easier than looking for transport.
Transport and budget in Kazan
The metro consists of one line, but it covers the centre and is cheap. A suburban train runs from the airport to the city and the journey takes about half an hour. In the centre most places are within walking distance, so a taxi is rarely needed. Comparing hotels close to Bauman street in advance shows you the price difference.
| Hotel | A three-star night in the centre, roughly 35–70 euros |
| Lunch | 7–15 euros a head in a local café |
| Museum ticket | Cheap, cash and card both work |
| The Sviyazhsk trip | Half a day, by boat or bus |
On the payment question preparation in advance is needed, because foreign bank cards do not work everywhere and cash turns out to be the comfortable option. The same logic works for the internet: connecting to a local tariff with an eSIM is cheaper than roaming. If your flight dates are flexible, it pays to follow the price of Baku–Kazan flights for a few weeks. Official tourism information about the city and the region is on Tatarstan’s tourism portal.
Season in Kazan
May–September is the most comfortable period, the weather is 18–26 degrees and a walk along the waterfront becomes possible. In the middle of summer boat trips run on the Volga and this shows the city from another angle. December–February passes harshly, the temperature can drop to minus fifteen, but in exchange the white kremlin under snow looks striking. April and October are transition months and the chance of rain and mud is high.
In short
Kazan is a short, cheap and culturally interesting destination, especially in the summer months. Go to the kremlin in the morning, keep Bauman street for the evening, be sure to taste uchpochmak and chak-chak, and have cash with you. If you want to combine several cities in Russia, you can look at the tour options on the Volga routes. For entry rules and a route, fill in the application form.
Note: prices and payment conditions are changeable, so check the current situation before travelling.
