Top places to visit in Veliky Novgorod

• Novgorod Kremlin (Detinets)

  fortress · 4.8 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The oldest surviving kremlin in Russia, founded in the 11th century. Its red-brick walls enclose St Sophia Cathedral, the belfry and the regional museum on the west bank of the Volkhov.

• St Sophia Cathedral

  cathedral · 4.8 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Built 1045–1050, the oldest stone church in Russia still in use, crowned by five domes. Its bronze Magdeburg Gates and ancient frescoes make it the spiritual heart of Novgorod.

• Millennium of Russia Monument

  monument · 4.8 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Monumental bronze monument unveiled in 1862 marking 1000 years of Russian statehood, with 128 figures from Russian history around a bell-shaped base, set inside the Kremlin.

• Yaroslav's Court & Marketplace

  historic_site · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Historic trading quarter on the Torgovaya (market) side, with a 17th-century arcade and a cluster of medieval merchant churches, once the commercial centre of the Novgorod Republic.

• Yuriev (St George's) Monastery

  monastery · 4.8 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  One of Russia's oldest monasteries, founded in 1030 on the bank of the Volkhov near Lake Ilmen, dominated by the white St George's Cathedral of 1119.

• Vitoslavlitsy Museum of Wooden Architecture

  open_air_museum · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Open-air museum near Yuriev Monastery gathering wooden churches, peasant huts and windmills from the 16th–19th centuries relocated from across the Novgorod region.

• St Sophia Belfry

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

  15th-century bell wall on the Kremlin's eastern rampart overlooking the Volkhov; visitors can climb for views and see historic Novgorod bells displayed at its base.

• Lake Ilmen

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

  Large shallow lake just south of the city, source of the Volkhov River and a historic trade-route hub, popular for sunset views, boat trips and the sandy Korostyn cliffs.

• Znamensky Cathedral

  cathedral · 4.6 rating · about 0.7 h · check the fee at the gate

  Late-17th-century cathedral on the Torgovaya side famed for its richly painted Baroque interior frescoes, now part of the Novgorod Museum-Reserve.

• Rurik Gorodishche

  archaeological_site · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Archaeological site 2 km south of the centre believed to be the original princely seat of Novgorod, with ruins of a medieval church and views over the Volkhov source.

Things to do

• Novgorod Kremlin Guided Walking Tour Heritage · 2 h · from RUB 1,200 per person
• Vitoslavlitsy & Yuriev Monastery Excursion Excursion · 4 h · from RUB 2,200 per person
• Volkhov River Cruise Boat · 1 h · from RUB 800 per person
• Medieval Crafts Workshop Workshop · 1.5 h · from RUB 1,500 per person
• Old Novgorod Old-Town Walking Tour Walking Tour · 2.5 h · from RUB 1,300 per person

Day trips and tours

• Kremlin & St Sophia Highlights 3 h · from RUB 1,800
• Vitoslavlitsy & Yuriev Monastery Day Trip 5 h · from RUB 2,800

Where to stay in Veliky Novgorod

• Kremlin / Detinets Side about RUB 4,500 per night

  Western bank of the Volkhov around the Novgorod Kremlin; quiet, green, walking distance to St Sophia Cathedral and the main museums.

• Yaroslav's Court / Torgovaya Side about RUB 4,000 per night

  Eastern bank by the historic marketplace and merchant churches; lively, near restaurants and the pedestrian bridge.

• City Centre (Bolshaya Moskovskaya) about RUB 3,500 per night

  Central business and shopping area with the widest hotel choice and transport links to the train/bus station.

Hotels

• Park Inn by Radisson Veliky Novgorod 4-star · RUB 6,500 to RUB 11,000 per night
• Yurievskoe Podvorye 4-star · RUB 5,500 to RUB 12,000 per night
• Hotel Volkhov 3-star · RUB 4,000 to RUB 7,000 per night
• Hostel 1011 2-star · RUB 700 to RUB 2,500 per night
• Hotel Sadko 3-star · RUB 3,500 to RUB 6,500 per night
• Truvor Hotel 3-star · RUB 2,800 to RUB 5,000 per night

Where to eat

• Telegraf russian, european, bar · about RUB 1,400 per person
• Dom Berga russian, european · about RUB 1,800 per person
• Detinets Restaurant russian · about RUB 1,500 per person
• Kholmgard russian, medieval · about RUB 1,500 per person
• Zavod russian, european, bar · about RUB 1,300 per person
• Charodeyka russian · about RUB 900 per person
• Na Skoryakh russian, caucasian · about RUB 1,000 per person
• Kofeynya Marusya cafe, bakery · about RUB 600 per person

Getting to Veliky Novgorod

Nearest airport: St. Petersburg (LED), about 154 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.

How visitors arrive in Veliky Novgorod

• Lastochka express from Moskovsky station By train from St Petersburg · common · unconfirmed

  Lastochka express and other trains run from St Petersburg Moskovsky and Vitebsky stations. Source: inyourpocket.com

• Bus from St Petersburg Obvodny Canal bus station By road from St Petersburg · common · unconfirmed

  Buses leave from the bus station on Nab. Obvodnogo kanala. Source: inyourpocket.com

• Overnight train from Leningradsky station By train from Moscow · possible · unconfirmed

  One overnight train links Moscow Leningradsky with Novgorod. Source: inyourpocket.com

From the railway station to the centre

• City bus or walk from the station unconfirmed

  Train and bus stations sit together on the west side; city buses from Oktyabrskaya st or a walk along Voskresensky bulvar reach the centre. Source: inyourpocket.com

Getting around

• Bus

  Local transport is a network of buses and trolleybuses, and the main railway station has rail links to Moscow and St Petersburg.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Unofficial "guides" at the Kremlin

  Around the Kremlin entrance and St Sophia Cathedral

  Freelancers approach tourists offering instant tours at inflated prices, sometimes with little real knowledge.

  How to avoid it: Book through the Novgorod Museum-Reserve ticket office or a licensed operator; agree the price before starting.

• Taxi overcharging without the app

  Train/bus station and tourist spots

  Drivers without a meter quote high flat fares to foreign visitors instead of using the app price.

  How to avoid it: Use Yandex Go so the fare is fixed in advance; avoid unmarked cars touting at the station.

• Souvenir markup at the marketplace

  Yaroslav's Court / Torgovaya side stalls

  Identical birch-bark and amber souvenirs are priced much higher at the first stalls aimed at tourists.

  How to avoid it: Compare a few stalls and city-centre shops; polite bargaining on craft items is acceptable.

Best time to visit Veliky Novgorod

• Jan -6°C
• Feb -5°C
• Mar 0°C
• Apr 9°C
• May 16°C
• Jun 20°C
• Jul 22°C
• Aug 21°C
• Sep 15°C
• Oct 7°C
• Nov 0°C
• Dec -4°C

More in Russia

• Moscow
• St. Petersburg
• Sochi
• Kazan
• Yekaterinburg
• Vladivostok

Frequently asked questions about Veliky Novgorod

What are the top-rated places to visit in Veliky Novgorod?

The highest-rated places in our Veliky Novgorod guide are Novgorod Kremlin (Detinets), St Sophia Cathedral, Millennium of Russia Monument, Yuriev (St George's) Monastery, Yaroslav's Court & Marketplace.

Where should I stay in Veliky Novgorod?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Veliky Novgorod: Kremlin / Detinets Side, Yaroslav's Court / Torgovaya Side, City Centre (Bolshaya Moskovskaya).

How do I get around Veliky Novgorod?

Ways to get around Veliky Novgorod covered in our guide: City bus, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Veliky Novgorod?

Scams reported to us for Veliky Novgorod include Unofficial "guides" at the Kremlin; Taxi overcharging without the app; Souvenir markup at the marketplace. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Veliky Novgorod?

Average daytime highs in Veliky Novgorod run from -6°C in Jan to 22°C in Jul.