Top places to visit in Kazan

• Kazan Kremlin

  fortress · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  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 · check the fee at the gate

  Grand mosque inside the Kazan Kremlin, reconstructed in 2005, one of the largest mosques in Russia.

• Soyembika Tower

  tower · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Leaning brick tower in the Kremlin, an iconic symbol of Kazan with a notable tilt.

• Annunciation Cathedral

  cathedral · 4.7 rating · about 0.7 h · check the fee at the gate

  16th-century Orthodox cathedral within the Kremlin, the oldest surviving structure of the citadel.

• Bauman Street

  street · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Lively pedestrian street lined with shops, cafes, fountains and street performers.

• Temple of All Religions

  landmark · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Eclectic architectural complex combining symbols of many world religions, founded by artist Ildar Khanov.

• Kazan Family Center (Chasha)

  landmark · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Cauldron-shaped wedding palace and viewpoint on the Kazanka riverbank, an iconic modern landmark.

• Old Tatar Settlement

  district · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Historic Tatar quarter along Lake Kaban with restored merchant houses, mosques and museums.

• Millennium Park

  park · 4.4 rating · about 0.7 h · check the fee at the gate

  Central city park created for Kazan's 1000th anniversary, with the Zilant dragon fountain.

• Sviyazhsk Island

  island · 4.7 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate

  UNESCO-listed historic island town founded by Ivan the Terrible, with monasteries and churches, ~60km from Kazan.

• National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan

  history · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  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 · check the fee at the gate

  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 to Kazan

Airport: Kazan (KZN)

How visitors arrive in Kazan

• Train from Moscow By train from Moscow · common

  Rail is the most emphasised long-distance link, with Kazan-1 as the downtown terminus; services also run from Saint Petersburg. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Flight into Kazan Airport By air from Moscow and Russian cities · common

  Domestic flights across Russia and seasonal charters; international scheduled service is limited. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus from regional towns By road from Tatarstan towns · possible

  Buses and minibuses are the main mode within Tatarstan and often end near the Kazan-1 station. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Aeroexpress train to Kazan-1

  An airport rail link runs between the airport and the main station, Kazan-1. The guide's own source is dated, so confirm the current service. Source: visit-tatarstan.com

• Bus 97 to Prospekt Pobedy metro unconfirmed

  Bus 97 runs from the airport to Prospekt Pobedy metro station, where you can continue by metro into the centre. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Yandex Go taxi app unconfirmed

  The Yandex taxi app is mentioned as offering fixed-price rides with an English interface. Booking ahead is advised over hailing a cab at the terminal. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bus main way to get around

  Buses are the most widely used form of public transport in Kazan, running alongside trams, trolleybuses and a single-line metro.

• Metro

  Kazan has a single metro line running from north to south-east across the city, including a crossing of the Kazanka River.

  Kazan Metro (Metroelektrotrans)

• Walking

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.

Best time to visit Kazan

• Jan -7°C
• Feb -6°C
• Mar 0°C
• Apr 11°C
• May 20°C
• Jun 24°C
• Jul 26°C
• Aug 24°C
• Sep 17°C
• Oct 9°C
• Nov 0°C
• Dec -5°C

More in Russia

• Moscow
• St. Petersburg
• Sochi
• Yekaterinburg
• Vladivostok
• Nizhny Novgorod

Frequently asked questions about Kazan

What are the top-rated places to visit in Kazan?

The highest-rated places in our Kazan guide are Kazan Kremlin, Kul Sharif Mosque, Annunciation Cathedral, Sviyazhsk Island, Soyembika Tower.

Where should I stay in Kazan?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Kazan: Bauman Street, Kazan Kremlin Area, Old Tatar Quarter.

How do I get around Kazan?

Ways to get around Kazan covered in our guide: City bus, Metro, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Kazan?

Scams reported to us for Kazan include Unofficial taxi overcharging; Overpriced souvenirs on Bauman Street; Currency exchange poor rates. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Kazan?

Average daytime highs in Kazan run from -7°C in Jan to 26°C in Jul.

Which airport is nearest to Kazan?

The nearest airport to Kazan has the code KZN.