What to do in Kazan in winter? 6 ideas for those who want to get to know the city better

President of Pro-Vision, author of the Vinogradov.story community

“Kazan is consistently on the list of the most popular tourist destinations among Russians. There are objective reasons for this: the city is friendly, beautiful, rich in attractions and has good transportation accessibility. I like Kazan a lot too. It is especially beautiful in winter, when the national scope and color are added to the fabulous sculptures, music sounding from cafes and garlands sparkling with millions of lights. I’m sharing my own check-list of things to do in the capital of Tatarstan during this cold, but at the same time very warm time of the year.

Touch the history of the city on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin

Any tourist guide probably starts with such advice, but the Kazan Kremlin is exactly the case when a popular attraction really has a huge historical, architectural and artistic value. And although the white stone walls of the ancient fortress make an impression at any time of the year, it is against the background of the snowy landscape that they look truly fabulous.

And when the photos are taken, and the initial delight begins to be replaced by curiosity, you can move on – for example, to look at the turquoise spires of minarets, which decorate the nearby Kul Sharif Mosque. On the territory of the historical and architectural complex there are also the Annunciation Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Syuyumbike Tower, the Palace Church and other significant buildings.

Marvel at the ingenuity of ancient and modern builders in Sviyazhsk

The small village, located on an island 64 km west of Kazan, has the status of a museum-reserve of federal significance for a reason. “What, temples and museums of everyday life again?” – travelers may think and they will be right… but not quite.

Of course, there are enough monuments of antiquity in Sviyazhsk (and all of them are at least worthy of attention), but Sviyazhsk is also an example of building ingenuity, thanks to which Ivan the Terrible’s troops in his time managed to gain a foothold near Kazan, and later to take the city. In order to create an outpost on the island, the Grand Duke’s builders erected a fortress in Uglich, dismantled it, signing each log, floated the building materials down the Volga River, and then assembled them by numbers on the island of Sviyazhsk.

It is interesting that this was far not the only bold construction experiment that Sviyazhsk saw. Already in our days among the archaeological excavations made on the site of urban development of the XVI-XVIII centuries, glass platforms were erected, which allow you to walk along the ancient streets without disturbing their peace. Modern technology has made the immersive effect so powerful that you literally feel that you have been transported back several centuries.

Sviyazhsk

See where it all began by visiting Great Bulgar

Great Bulgar, aka Great Bolgar (both names are considered correct) is an ancient city founded by the Bulgars, the ancestors of modern Tatars. The buildings that have survived to this day form a single ensemble-reserve, listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Book.

The main attractions are the Cathedral Mosque (or rather, the minaret left from it), Gabdrahman’s well hiding in the shadow of a magnificent graceful arbor, the Eastern Mausoleum, inside which there is a historical exhibition, the White Chamber and the Church of the Assumption. A trip here is a great way to feel the breath of history.

Great Bulgar

Sample local delicacies in the Old Tatar Sloboda

This is the name of a colorful district of Kazan, which is a gastronomic Mecca for residents and guests of the city. Many cafes and restaurants are opened right in the old buildings, preserved from the XVI-XVII centuries. Here you can snack on hot echpochmak – the national Tatar pie, warm yourself with fragrant tea, try kystybiy flatbreads, gubadiya pie and kazy horse sausage (if you like it, you can take it home with you – the product easily survives the road). And as a dessert – sweet pyramid talkysh kalyave and legendary chak-chak, which even has its own museum in the Old Tatar Sloboda.

I also advise you to visit the workshops of Tatar craftsmen – you won’t find a better place to find gifts and souvenirs in the city.

Dream about the technological future in Innopolis

Many travelers do not even guess about the existence of this amazing city of IT-technology (or think that it is somewhere near Moscow). However, Innopolis is located very close to Kazan, actually being its satellite city. A trip here will impress anyone interested in technology and the latest urban trends.

Unusual buildings combining ecological materials and futuristic architecture, barrier-free safe environment, delivery robots, digitalization of everything that is possible – in Innopolis it is literally at every step. However, for the sake of fairness, it should be noted that there are not so many steps to be taken, as there are only two streets in the city. But how many impressions! And there is also a ski resort nearby – no less technological and modern.

Innopolis

Get a charge of inspiration at the Palace of Impressions

The Palace of Impressions, a unique art space created by artificial intelligence with the participation of 252 sculptors, artists and designers, has recently opened in the heart of Kazan, on Bauman Street.

The creators promise a completely new emotional experience, but warn: it is very easy to lose touch with reality here. For escapism in the “Palace of Impressions” there are mirror worlds with visual play of music and light, a magical forest where fantastic creatures hide, and a surreal supermarket with goods that cannot be bought – for example, canned chocolate in tomato sauce.

Most of all, the art object resembles Pandora from Avatar, which happens to be the office of a mad inventor, a million mirrors and light installations. In short, everything necessary to go beyond space and time for a couple of hours, while remaining on the main tourist promenade of the city.