Super Bowl in Kazan: where to stay, what to eat and see over the weekend

This year’s Russian Supercup match will be held for the first time in Kazan, at the Ak Bars Arena. On July 15, Russian champion Zenit and CSKA, the country’s Cup winner, will meet here. The capital of Tatarstan is already preparing to welcome the fans, and we’ve put together a guide to the city. We tell you how to get to Kazan, where to live, what to eat and how to spend your free time.

How to get there

From Moscow

Head of press service of OneTwoTrip travel planning service

“The fastest and easiest way to get to the capital of Tatarstan is by plane: a round-trip ticket on a July weekend will cost about 9,000 rubles, the flight is direct, and it takes 1 hour and 35 minutes to fly.”

Another option is to travel by train. Although it is cheaper (a one-way ticket costs from 1600 rubles), but much longer: you will spend 11-13 hours on the road. Approximately the same amount of time will be spent traveling by bus (one-way tickets are also about 1600 rubles) or by private car (take the M7 highway through Nizhny Novgorod).

From St. Petersburg

There are also direct flights from the Northern Capital to Kazan: 2 hours and 15 minutes in the air and you’re there. Tickets for the weekend of the match now cost around 15,000 rubles.

You can get there cheaper by train: a trip on the company train “Povolzhye” will cost from 6800 rubles (one way), you will spend 24 hours on the road. There is also a bus option, it is even more budget-friendly (from 4,000 rubles per ticket) and slightly faster (21 hours and 20 minutes).

Millennium Bridge

Where to stay

Kazan has plenty of accommodation options, from cheap hostels to hotels of major international chains. On match weekend, there are rooms available at these hotels close to the stadium.

• Capslock Hostel (rated 9.2 out of 10) with futuristic individual capsules instead of traditional beds in a shared room. The cost of a night from 1500 rubles.
• Berison Mayakovsky Aparthotel (rated 9.9 out of 10). Many different room options, from modest studios to junior suites. The cost of a night from 5600 rubles.
• Four-star hotel “Riviera” (rating 10 out of 10) with an aqua park and spa complex. The cost of a night from 14,300 rubles.

What to see in the city

In one or two days you’ll have time to get acquainted with Kazan and map out routes for future trips – almost all guests return here.

You should start with the heart of the city – the Kazan Kremlin. All the landmarks are here: the Kul-Sharif Mosque (the largest in Russia), the famous falling tower of Syuyumbike, the Governor’s Palace, the Annunciation Cathedral. There is also the Museum of Islam, the Museum of Natural History of Tatarstan and even a branch of the Hermitage. In general, you can easily spend a whole day on the Kremlin territory – or take a couple of photos and move on.

Kul Sharif Mosque

For example, walk along the Kremlin embankment. Here, along the bank of the Kazanka River, there is a large organized promenade zone with numerous cafes and attractions. Here you can also see one of the most ambiguous sights of the city – the Palace of Farmers. The building, which appeared in 2007, is considered by some to be an ugly new building, while others consider it a worthy addition to the image of Kazan. We recommend coming here closer to evening, when the facade and the 20-meter bronze tree in the central part are beautifully illuminated.

Many tourists are attracted by the central pedestrian street Baumana – a kind of local Arbat, where there are cafes, souvenir stores and several interesting buildings: St. John the Baptist Monastery, Kachalov Drama Theater, National Bank of Tatarstan and the House of Printing. At the intersection of Bauman Street and Musa Jalil Street , a bronze Kazan Cat, a symbol of Kazan, lies in a bizarre pavilion, which tourists like to take pictures with.

Ministry of Agriculture and Food (Farmers’ Palace) in Kazan

If you love the adventures of the boy who survived, check out the Rodina shopping mall on Bauman Street, 44/8 – there is an interactive exhibition “The World of Harry Potter”, where you can look into Kosoy Lane and take a photo on the platform 9 ¾.

There is an opportunity to look at Kazan from a height on the observation deck on the fourth floor of the Kazan Family Center. The building itself is unusual: it is built in the shape of a huge bowl, around it there are sculptures of leopards and mythical creatures zilantes – the former symbolize the power of the republic, and the latter keep family unions. The park offers a beautiful view of the river and the Kremlin embankment on the other bank.

If you don’t get tired after your walks, take a look at one of the most unusual places in the city – the Museum of Happy Childhood. Those who were born and grew up in the USSR will be able to take some nostalgic photos. On the first floor you will find things familiar to Soviet schoolchildren, and you can touch or try on many things. On the second floor there is an exposition “Life Line”: here you can trace the life path of a child from 1970-1980s. Toys, magazines, clothes – and also personal belongings of celebrities that they donated to the museum.

Kazan Family Center

What to see outside the city

If you have a chance to stay in Tatarstan, we advise you to spend a few days in the countryside.

For example, you can go on vacation to the Blue Lakes. However, you will not be able to swim even in summer. Beautiful blue water is very cold, but in the reserve it is pleasant to walk and grill kebabs (there are specially designated areas for this purpose).

We also advise to go to see the unusual island-grad Sviyazhsk. There are unique architectural ensembles here, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. These are mostly churches and monasteries. All of them are very beautiful. There are also several museums and an art gallery on the island. Here you can spend an interesting whole day. The trip from Kazan by bus will take two hours.

For national fun go to the ethno-village Tatar Avyli. Here you can get acquainted with the history of the Tatar people, see real huts and craft workshops, take part in master classes and unusual activities for city dwellers. For example, you will learn how to cut grass with a real scythe or harness a horse. The ethno-village is located 50 km from Kazan, on the way to Sviyazhsk.

Assumption Cathedral on the island of Sviyazhsk

Another interesting excursion can be made to the Museum of Beer. It is located in the town of Chistopol (1.5 hours on the way from Kazan). The guide will tell you about the history of Kazan brewing and the “White Kremlin” brand, will take you around the brewery and show you the main workshops. At the end, of course, everyone will have a tasting of five varieties of the branded foamy drink.

Where to eat

Traditional Tatar cuisine leaves few people indifferent. Chakchak and talkysh-kaleve are usually taken as souvenirs from Kazan, and local cafes are the place to try echpochmaki (triangles of dough with meat stuffing) and beshbarmak (lamb with dough and vegetables).

We advise you to have lunch or dinner in one of the following establishments:

• Cafe “House of Tea” (64 Bauman Street, Baumana Street) – an inexpensive pleasant establishment on the local Arbat. It has been operating since Soviet times, so the interior may seem simple, but this is where locals come to have lunch. In the cafe you can try all traditional Tatar dishes;
• Kystybyy café chain – nice places where Tatar dishes are cooked. Quick, tasty and inexpensive. The closest cafe to the stadium is located at 76 Yamasheva Street;
• Brasserie “Birpoint” (1, Musina St.) – an excellent bar with a huge selection of beer and very tasty steaks. It is located near the stadium, on weekends it is better to book tables in advance;
• popular restaurant “Bachelor’s Shelter” (27a Chernyshevskogo St.) – huge menu, there are dishes of different cuisines: from Tatar to European and even Japanese;
• Beerhouse (10 Astronomical St.) is one of the best beer restaurants in the city. In addition to sausages and steaks, there are Tatar dishes on the menu. It is better to book a table in advance, the pub is very popular.