Kazan, Russia: travel guide
Tatarstan's capital where the Kazanka meets the Volga, and its UNESCO-listed Kremlin holds the Kul Sharif mosque, the 1560s Annunciation Cathedral and the once-leaning Söyembikä Tower side by side.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
- Country
- Russia
- Currency
- RUB
- Time zone
- Europe/Moscow
- Nearest airport
- KZN
Top places to visit in Kazan
Kazan Kremlin
Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 3 h
UNESCO World Heritage citadel and seat of Tatarstan government, blending Russian Orthodox and Tatar Islamic architecture.
Kul Sharif Mosque
Mosque · 4.8 rating · about 1 h
Grand mosque inside the Kazan Kremlin, reconstructed in 2005, one of the largest mosques in Russia.
Soyembika Tower
Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h
Leaning brick tower in the Kremlin, an iconic symbol of Kazan with a notable tilt.
Annunciation Cathedral
Church · 4.7 rating · about 0.7 h
16th-century Orthodox cathedral within the Kremlin, the oldest surviving structure of the citadel.
Bauman Street
Cultural · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h
Lively pedestrian street lined with shops, cafes, fountains and street performers.
Temple of All Religions
Cultural · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · entry RUB 600
Eclectic architectural complex combining symbols of many world religions, founded by artist Ildar Khanov.
Kazan Family Center (Chasha)
Viewpoint · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h
Cauldron-shaped wedding palace and viewpoint on the Kazanka riverbank, an iconic modern landmark.
Old Tatar Settlement
Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h
Historic Tatar quarter along Lake Kaban with restored merchant houses, mosques and museums.
Millennium Park
Nature · 4.4 rating · about 0.7 h
Central city park created for Kazan's 1000th anniversary, with the Zilant dragon fountain.
Sviyazhsk Island
Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 4 h
UNESCO-listed historic island town founded by Ivan the Terrible, with monasteries and churches, ~60km from Kazan.
National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan
Museum · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · entry RUB 400
Tatarstan's main historical and cultural museum, housed in a 19th-century building near the Kremlin.
Marcani Mosque
Mosque · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h
The first stone mosque built in Kazan after Catherine II permitted it in 1766.
Things to do
- Kazan Kremlin Guided Walking Tour Sightseeing · 2 h · from RUB 1,200 per person
- Sviyazhsk Island Day Trip Day Trip · 8 h · from RUB 3,500 per person
- Kazanka River Cruise Cruise · 1.5 h · from RUB 900 per person
- Tatar Cuisine Cooking Class Food · 3 h · from RUB 2,500 per person
- Temple of All Religions Tour Sightseeing · 2.5 h · from RUB 1,500 per person
- Old Tatar Quarter Heritage Walk Sightseeing · 2 h · from RUB 1,000 per person
Day trips and tours
- Sviyazhsk Island Excursion 8 h · from RUB 3,500
- Kazan Kremlin & City Highlights 4 h · from RUB 1,800
- Tatar Culture & Cuisine Day 6 h · from RUB 4,500
Where to stay in Kazan
- Bauman Street about RUB 5,500 per night
Pedestrian heart of Kazan with hotels, cafes and shops, walkable to the Kremlin.
- Kazan Kremlin Area about RUB 6,500 per night
Historic quarter beside the UNESCO Kremlin and Kul Sharif Mosque.
- Old Tatar Quarter about RUB 4,500 per night
Atmospheric Tatar district along Lake Kaban with traditional architecture.
Hotels
- Mirage Hotel Kazan 5-star · RUB 9,000 to RUB 22,000 per night
- Shalyapin Palace Hotel 4-star · RUB 7,000 to RUB 16,000 per night
- Courtyard by Marriott Kazan Kremlin 4-star · RUB 7,500 to RUB 15,000 per night
- Grand Hotel Kazan 4-star · RUB 6,000 to RUB 14,000 per night
- Hotel Giuseppe 4-star · RUB 6,000 to RUB 11,000 per night
- Korston Hotel Kazan 4-star · RUB 5,500 to RUB 12,000 per night
Where to eat
- Tatarskaya Usadba tatar, russian · about RUB 1,500 per person
- Dom Tatarskoy Kulinarii tatar · about RUB 1,400 per person
- Priyut Kholostyaka european, author · about RUB 3,000 per person
- Chak-Chak Museum Cafe tatar, cafe · about RUB 700 per person
- Tubetey tatar, fast_food · about RUB 600 per person
- Marusovka russian, tatar · about RUB 1,300 per person
- BiWorld european · about RUB 1,600 per person
- Dobraya Stolovaya russian, canteen · about RUB 400 per person
Getting around
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Metro main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
Safety and scams to avoid
Unofficial taxi overcharging
Kazan airport and railway station
Drivers without meters quote inflated flat fares to tourists, especially from KZN airport.
How to avoid it: Use the Yandex Go app or the official airport aeroexpress/bus for fixed, fair prices.
Overpriced souvenirs on Bauman Street
Bauman Street
Some stalls mark up chak-chak and souvenirs far above shop prices for tourists.
How to avoid it: Compare prices at supermarkets or the Chak-Chak Museum shop before buying.
Currency exchange poor rates
Tourist-area exchange kiosks
Kiosks near attractions advertise attractive headline rates but apply high commissions.
How to avoid it: Exchange at banks or withdraw rubles from ATMs of major banks like Sberbank.