Idemvgorodan independent guide to city weekends in Russia's large cities

An independent guide to city weekends. Not connected with the former events listing on this domain; we do not sell tickets. Check dates, prices and admission rules with the organisers and venues.

Routes

Routes

These routes are described not by address but by type of place: the main square, the embankment, the local history museum. That way you can use them in any large city, from Perm to Novosibirsk. We don't give exact distances or times: everyone walks at their own pace, and the most interesting things are often found between the stops.

A route is a suggestion, not an obligation. If you like the look of a street, turn into it: you can always rejoin the route.

— Editor's note

How this section works: each route follows public streets, squares and embankments, can be walked on your own and for free (museums and concerts are optional), and starts and ends conveniently close to city transport.

Day one in a big city: the centre on foot

From the station or your accommodation to the river, so that in half a day you understand how the city is laid out.

Stops: 6 on foot, about half a day

  1. Main square

    Start at the central square: the main streets usually radiate from it, and nearby stand the administrative buildings and monuments that make handy landmarks.

  2. Main street

    Walk along the main street of the centre. You can see how the city's architecture has changed, and it's easy to find somewhere to eat or to shelter in bad weather.

  3. Historic quarter

    Turn off into the old quarters near the main street: merchants' houses, churches, quiet courtyards. Take it slowly here and look around.

  4. Local history museum

    If you have the time and inclination, visit the local history museum: it explains why the city grew up right here. Check opening days and hours on the official website.

  5. Theatre square or the opera and ballet theatre

    Walk past the city's main theatre so you know the way in advance if you are going to a show or a concert in the evening.

  6. Embankment

    Finish the route by the river: the embankment is a good place to rest and see the city from a different angle.

An evening with a concert or show

What to do, in order, from buying the ticket to getting home.

Stops: 5 evening, including the journey there and back

  1. In advance: tickets and venue rules

    Buy your ticket from the venue or from the seller it links to on its website. Save the e-ticket and check the rules: age restrictions, bags at the entrance, when the doors open.

  2. Getting to the venue

    Plan your route during the day and leave with time to spare: in the evening rush, traffic jams and queues at stops can be longer than usual.

  3. Cloakroom and entrance

    Arrive early: there may be a security check at the entrance and a queue at the cloakroom. Keep valuables and documents on you, not in the pockets of the coat you hand in.

  4. During the event

    Silence your phone and check whether filming is allowed: the venue or organiser sets the rules.

  5. Afterwards: getting back

    Decide in advance how you'll get back: the last transport service, on foot along well-lit streets, or a taxi booked through an official app. Agree with your companions where to meet if you lose each other in the crowd.

The embankment and parks

A relaxed walk by the water and among the greenery, well suited to day two.

Stops: 6 on foot, about half a day

  1. Embankment in the centre

    Start at the busiest stretch of the embankment: from here you can usually see the bridges and the historic centre on the bank.

  2. Viewpoint

    Find a higher spot (a slope, a flight of steps or a bridge) with a view over the river and the city.

  3. City garden or park

    Head into the nearest park: benches, shade, playgrounds. A good place for a break and a snack.

  4. Bridge across the river

    If the bridge is pedestrian or has a footpath, cross to the other bank: the city looks different from the water.

  5. Contemporary art museum or exhibition hall

    In large cities such venues often stand by the water or in former industrial buildings. Check current exhibitions on the official website.

  6. Back to the centre

    Take a different street on the way back to see another quarter, and finish at a transport stop.

How to adapt a route

  • If you're tired, cut the walk short: almost any point in the centre is close to a stop
  • If there's a concert in the evening, don't plan a long route for the day; save your energy for the event
  • With children, choose the embankment and parks route and allow for more breaks
  • In the cold season, alternate time outdoors with museums and covered arcades
  • If it rains, change the order so that the museum falls during the bad weather
  • Routes can be combined: the centre on foot in the morning and a concert evening on the same day
  • Destinations

    Perm, Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk, Novosibirsk and four kinds of city weekend.

  • Attractions

    The places people usually see in large cities and how to choose a venue for a concert or a show.

  • Transport

    The metro in the cities on our list, getting to the venue and back at night, taxis and car sharing.

Sources

  • Official websites of city transport operators and venues
  • Encyclopaedic sources on the cities

Information is correct as of the date of preparation. Concert and performance dates, ticket prices, transport timetables and venue rules change, so check them with the organisers and on official websites before you travel.