Kazan is a city with a thousand-year history, the fifth most populous city in Russia, and also one of the country's largest economic, scientific, educational, religious, leisure, cultural, financial, and sports centers. Many architectural and cultural monuments make it a must-visit destination. We have compiled a list of sights worth seeing.
Museum-reserve "Kazan Kremlin"
Ensemble of the Kazan Kremlin (State Historical-Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve "Kazan Kremlin") (Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan, Kremlin). Photo: Maria Krivosheina.
The Kazan Kremlin is the heart of the city and includes several major museum sites. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Orthodox Annunciation Cathedral and the majestic Kul Sharif Mosque stand side by side.
SIGHTS OF THE KAZAN KREMLIN
Annunciation Cathedral
Annunciation Cathedral. Photo: Ele-chudinovsk.
The oldest stone church in Kazan, built by order of Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century, is a monument of Old Russian architecture.
Kul Sharif Mosque
Kul Sharif Mosque. Photo: Pixabay.
Kul Sharif Mosque. Photo: Pixabay.
Kul Sharif Mosque. Photo: Pixabay.
A majestic modern mosque, built in 1996–2005 as the revival of the legendary mosque of the Kazan Khanate destroyed in 1552. A symbol of peace and harmony.
Suyumbike Tower
Suyumbike Tower: Kremlin, Kazan, Tatarstan. Photo: Sergey Dorogan.
The legendary leaning tower, a symbol of Kazan, shrouded in many legends. It is believed to have been built during the period of the Kazan Khanate.
Presidential Palace (Governor's Palace)
The Presidential (former Governor's) Palace in the Kremlin. Kazan, Russia. Photo: A. Savin.
The former residence of Kazan's governors and now the President of Tatarstan. Built on the site of the palace of the Kazan khans.
Cannon Yard
Artillery (Cannon) Yard: Kremlin, Kazan, Tatarstan. Photo: Moneycantbuy.
A historic site where, in the 17th–18th centuries, cannons were produced and bells were cast.
Museum of the History of Statehood of the Tatar People and the Republic
The Palace (Vvedenskaya) Church in the Kazan Kremlin, where the museum is located. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
The museum's exhibition is devoted to the milestones in the development of Tatar statehood from ancient times to the present day.
Museum of Natural History
Museum of Natural History of Tatarstan, Kazan Kremlin. Photo: Engelberthumperdink.
This museum, located within the Kazan Kremlin, offers an exciting journey into the world of ancient animals and natural phenomena. Interactive exhibits, dinosaurs, mammoths, minerals, and the starry sky — it will be interesting and educational for children.
Museum of Islamic Culture
Exhibition "Cathedral Mosques of Kazan". Museum of Islamic Culture, Kul Sharif Mosque, Kazan. Photo: Vyacheslav Kirillin.
Located in the Kul Sharif Mosque building, it acquaints visitors with the history of Islam in the Volga region and Tatar culture.
Hermitage-Kazan Center and the National Art Gallery "Khazine"
Kazan Kremlin. The building of the Kazan Junker School. Now — the Great Patriotic War Museum-Memorial, the Hermitage-Kazan Center, the Museum of Natural History of Tatarstan, and the National Art Gallery "Khazine". Photo: Engelberthumperdink.
The Hermitage-Kazan Center and the Khazine art gallery are located within the Kazan Kremlin, in the former Junker School. The Hermitage-Kazan Center is a branch of the State Hermitage where exhibitions are held from the collections of the famous St. Petersburg museum. "Khazine" is a treasury of Tatar visual art. It presents a rich collection of works by Tatar artists, from the late 19th century to the present, including works by Baki Urmanche, Kharis Yakupov, and many others. It's the best way to get acquainted with the artistic culture of Tatarstan.
Kremlin Embankment
Kremlin Embankment, Kazan. Photo: Dmitry Sagdeev (Koyash).
An ideal place for romantic walks at any time of day. In the evening the embankment is beautifully lit, offering magnificent views of the Kazan Kremlin. There are cozy cafes, restaurants, benches, spots for photo shoots, and rentals of various transport.
Old Tatar Quarter (Iske Tatar Bistäse)
Old Tatar Quarter. Photo: Snowman47.
A historic district of Kazan where the unique Tatar culture, language, and traditions have been preserved for centuries. Here are old mosques, merchant houses, wooden buildings, and cozy streets that allow you to feel the atmosphere of pre-revolutionary Kazan.
SIGHTS OF THE OLD TATAR QUARTER
Al-Marjani Mosque (Yunusov Mosque)
Kazan, Old Tatar Quarter: Al-Marjani Mosque. Photo: Vyacheslav Bukharov.
The first stone mosque of Kazan, built after the capture of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible, in 1766–1770 with the permission of Catherine II.
Apanaev Mosque
Apanaev Mosque (Bayskaya). Photo: Igor Alekseev.
Another historic 18th-century mosque, an example of Tatar religious architecture.
CHURCHES AND CATHEDRALS OF KAZAN
Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (on the site of the Kazan Bogoroditsky Monastery)
Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (on the site of the Kazan Bogoroditsky Monastery). Photo: tatarstan.ru.
The site where the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God was found in 1579. The cathedral was destroyed during the Soviet era but fully rebuilt and opened in 2021. It is an important pilgrimage center and a symbol of the Orthodox faith.
Peter and Paul Cathedral
Peter and Paul Cathedral. Photo: Insider.
An outstanding monument of 18th-century Russian architecture in the Russian Baroque style, built in honor of Peter I's visit to Kazan. Its unique multi-tiered façade, vivid paintings, and rich interior make it one of the most beautiful and recognizable churches in the city.
Bornay Mosque (Bornay mäçete)
Bornay Mosque (the minaret completion of the Burnayevskaya Mosque). Photo: Natalya Azmanova.
A mosque built in 1872 with funds from merchant Mukhametsadyk Bornaev. It is a vivid example of Tatar religious architecture of that period with elements of Eastern style. It features a beautiful minaret and rich ornamentation.
Temple of All Religions
Temple of All Religions. Photo: Pixabay.
The Universal Temple, also known as the Temple of All Religions, the International Cultural Center of Spiritual Unity — an architectural complex in the Staro-Arakchino neighborhood of Kazan dedicated to the different religions of the world.
MUSEUMS, GALLERIES AND CHILDREN'S LEISURE SPOTS
National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan
National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan. Photo: Denis Pet'ovka.
One of the oldest and largest museums in Russia, founded in 1894. Its exhibitions cover the region's history from ancient times to the present, including archaeology, ethnography, culture, art, and the everyday life of the Tatar people. A must-visit if you want a comprehensive understanding of Tatarstan.
State Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Tatarstan (GMII RT)
State Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Tatarstan (GMII RT). Photo: Ekaterina Egorova.
Located in the former estate of the commander of the Kazan Military District, General A.G. Sandetsky (the name of the main building). The museum houses a rich collection of Russian, Western European, and Eastern art, as well as works by Tatar artists. Here you can see both classics and contemporary art.
A. A. Shtukenberg Geological Museum
Photo: Yandex.
Photo: Yandex.
The A. A. Shtukenberg Geological Museum is an educational and outreach geological museum. It was created on the basis of the geological cabinet in the Department of Geognosy and Paleontology of Kazan University.
City Panorama Museum
Photo: Yandex.
"City Panorama" is one of Kazan's new museums, opened in 2017. A world of amazing multimedia exhibits about the history and modernity of Kazan, created by scientists, artists, designers, and engineers using the latest digital technologies.
Museum of Socialist Everyday Life
Museum of Socialist Everyday Life. Photo: Mik Sid.
Museum interior. Photo: official VKontakte group of the museum.
A very atmospheric and nostalgic museum created by enthusiasts. It immerses visitors in everyday Soviet-era life through household items, clothing, toys, appliances, and artifacts from the 1950s–1980s. A great place to remember the past or learn how people lived in the USSR.
Chak-chak Museum
Chak-chak Museum. Photo: Raushaniya Suleymanova.
Museum interior. Photo: official VKontakte group of the museum.
A small but very colorful museum dedicated to the traditional Tatar sweet — chak-chak. Here they not only tell about the recipes and traditions associated with this dish but also serve freshly made chak-chak with Tatar tea. A great opportunity to get acquainted with Tatarstan's gastronomic culture.
BIZON Contemporary Art Gallery
Exhibition "After Illusions" by Ivan Plyushch. Photo: https://bizon.gallery.
Curator's tour of the exhibition "Our Own: Out of Control". Photo: https://bizon.gallery.
BIZON is a private contemporary art gallery that opened in Kazan in the summer of 2018. The gallery's mission is, on one hand, to acquaint the Tatarstan audience with key Russian artists, and on the other hand, to bring contemporary art of Turkic and Finno-Ugric peoples to the capital art scene. BIZON runs a wide educational program and supports young artists.
Gallery of Supermodern Art
Photo: Yandex.
The Gallery of Supermodern Art is the world's first exhibition hall dedicated to supermodern art, whose roots go back to the theoretical studies of S. E. Kurginyan.
Palace of Impressions
Photo: 116.ru.
"Palace of Impressions" is a creative art space created by artificial intelligence and a team of 252 artists, sculptors, decorators, and designers. Here time and space lose their force and immerse visitors in another reality.
Museum of Illusions and Giant's House
Photo: Yandex.
The Museum of Illusions and the Giant's House in Kazan are parts of the unified entertainment complex Smile Park. It is an unforgettable place with installations, attractions, and three-dimensional paintings on walls and floors. The museum will interest both children and adults, allowing you to dive into a world of illusions and enjoy unforgettable impressions.
Children's City of Professions "KidSpace" (KidSpace)
Photo: Yandex.
KidSpace is a children's city. More than 20 play stations: hospital, bank, rescue service, farm, car service, supermarket, confectionery, construction site, and other stations for children.
Puppet Theater "Ekiyat" (Fairy Tale)
Photo: Yandex.
The Tatar State Academic Puppet Theater "Ekiyat" is one of the oldest puppet theaters in Russia. It opened in 1934. The theater's repertoire includes more than 60 performances in Tatar and Russian.
Kazan Zoo "Zambezi River"
Cheetahs. Photo: https://kazzoobotsad.ru
Lichi (antelopes). Photo: https://kazzoobotsad.ru
At the entrance to the zoo. Photo: Viktor Sotov.
"Zambezi River" is the name of the new territory of the Kazan Zoo and Botanical Garden. Notable features: the area is designed like an African savanna, with spacious enclosures for animals, parking, cafes, and a thematically designed entrance group. Instead of cages, glass partitions and moats are used. The zoo houses African animals and birds: hippopotamus Zakharia; two white lions, lionesses, cheetahs; a group of chimpanzees; Kirk's dik-dik antelopes, Brazza's monkeys, ring-tailed lemurs; ostriches, marabou storks, and a group of pink flamingos.
PLACES FOR WALKS AND PHOTO SESSIONS
Central Park of Culture and Leisure named after M. Gorky
The "Millennium" Bridge from the 25th-floor height of the Korston Hotel (view from the Extra Lounge restaurant). Photo: MarSaf.
The Central Park of Culture and Leisure named after Gorky (CPKiO named after Gorky) is a large park in the Vakhitovsky district of Kazan, named after the writer Maxim Gorky. Since the 19th century the park has been a favorite recreation spot of Kazan residents and was nicknamed "Russian Switzerland" because of its landscape. In Soviet times the park received its current name and became Kazan's central park.
Kazan Family Center ('Chasha' Park) and observation deck
Kazan Family Center ('Chasha' Park) and observation deck. Photo: Bismarck.
The Kazan Family Center ('Chasha') is one of Kazan's recognizable symbols, located on the embankment of the Kazanka River. The building is shaped like a traditional kazan (cauldron), symbolizing the hearth and family comfort. The observation deck is on the roof of the 'Kazan' and consists of two levels. The first is a circular corridor with large round windows decorated with elegant latticework. The second platform is slightly higher, at a height of 32 meters.
Black Lake Park, 'Lovers' Arch'
View from the western part of the park towards the Kremlin. Photo: Alaexis.
"Black Lake" is a park in Kazan located in the city center and is an elongated and rather narrow green zone between two lanes of traffic on Dzerzhinsky Street. The "Lovers' Arch" is a Kazan landmark located at the entrance to Black Lake Park from the side of Lobachevsky Street.
Kazan Millennium Park
View from the central alley toward the park's southern gates and the Basket-Hall. Photo: TY-214.
Fountain in the Millennium Park. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
Millennium Park is a park in the Vakhitovsky district of Kazan. The park is also alternatively known as "Millennium Park". It is located in the center of Kazan, near the northern shore of Nizhny (Blizhny) Kaban Lake. The park's area is bounded by Salimzhanov Street to the south, Artem Aydinov Street to the east (near Basket-Hall), and Ostrovsky Street to the north. From the west the park adjoins the main building of JSC "Tatenergo".
Kaban Lake Embankment
View of Blizhny (Nizhny) Kaban Lake from the Kamal Theater. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
Kaban (Tatar: Kaban küle) is a system of lakes located within the city limits of Kazan. It consists of three lakes stretching from the center to the south of the city and connected by channels: Nizhny Kaban, Sredny Kaban, and Verkhny Kaban. It is the largest lake system by area in Tatarstan.
Bauman Street
Bauman Street, Kazan. Photo: Cyrios.
Bauman Street is the main and partially pedestrian street in Kazan, located in the historic center of the city in the Vakhitovsky district. Its length is about 1.8 km. During the Kazan Khanate era the street was called Nogai Road. In 1552, during the storming of the Kazan Kremlin by Ivan the Terrible's forces, the street was named Prolomnaya, later Bolshaya Prolomnaya. In 1930 the street was renamed after the revolutionary Nikolai Bauman. In 1996 the street became the city's first pedestrian zone.
