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Kazan

The Kremlin, Kul Sharif and chak-chak

660 km12 h on the road

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Russia's third capital: a thousand-year-old Kremlin, world-class sport and a city where East and West share one street

A white-stone Kremlin on the UNESCO list, the Kul Sharif Mosque, Bauman Street and the Old Tatar Quarter. Tatar cuisine alone is a reason to go.

Republic of Tatarstan

Tatarstan — the heart of the Volga

A republic where the Volga meets the Kama, and mosques and Orthodox churches have stood side by side for centuries. Here are ancient Bolgar and the island town of Sviyazhsk, the IT city of Innopolis, KAMAZ trucks in Naberezhnye Chelny and Sabantuy — the summer festival the whole republic turns out for. Tatarstan is one of Russia's sportiest and wealthiest regions, and very welcoming.

  • BolgarThe ancient capital of Volga Bulgaria, where Islam was adopted in 922. The White Mosque, a Quran museum, a UNESCO site.
  • SviyazhskAn island town on the Volga founded by Ivan the Terrible. Its Assumption Monastery is on the UNESCO list.
  • InnopolisA new city of IT specialists with its own university. People come here for a career of the future.
  • YelabugaAn old merchant town on the Kama: birthplace of the painter Shishkin, the Devil's Hillfort, quiet and pine trees.
  • Raifa MonasteryWhite walls by a lake in a protected forest — half an hour from Kazan.
  • SabantuyThe June plough festival: kuresh belt wrestling, horse races, sack races and climbing a pole for a prize.

For foreign citizens

Entering Russia

Buses from Uralsk cross the Russian border. If you don't hold a Russian passport, here's what to know in advance.

  • VisaKazakhstan citizens don't need a visa and can stay up to 90 days in every 180. Citizens of other countries: check whether you need a Russian visa before booking.
  • Gosuslugi RuID appIn 2026 Russia is introducing advance registration through the RuID app for visa-free foreign visitors — at least 72 hours before the border, with a QR code issued after the check. Sources differ on exactly who it applies to, so check in advance.
  • Migration card and registrationFor longer stays, a migration card is filled in at the border, and your hotel or landlord registers you with the migration authorities.
  • ChildrenA child needs their own passport. If a child travels with one parent or without parents, bring a notarised consent to travel from the parent(s).
  • Debts can block your exitIn both Russia and Kazakhstan, debts under enforcement proceedings (loans, alimony, fines, taxes) can lead to a ban on leaving the country — and you only find out at the border. Check a couple of days before your trip: it takes a minute.
Check debts — Kazakhstan citizens

Information as of November 2026, collected from open sources. Rules change — check them on the foreign ministry and border service websites before you travel.

Who will love it here

  • Students and applicantsKazan Federal University is one of Russia's oldest, where Lobachevsky and Tolstoy studied. KAI named after Tupolev, KNRTU, the medical university — and Innopolis nearby for IT.
  • Athletes and fansHost of the 2013 Universiade, the World Aquatics Championships and the 2018 World Cup. Ak Bars, Rubin, Zenit-Kazan and UNICS — top clubs in four sports.
  • Families with childrenThe Kremlin embankment with fountains, the Kazan Circus, Riviera water park, Black Lake Park and the Natural History Museum in the Kremlin — kids won't be bored.
  • Time to unwindSunset on the Kremlin embankment, the wooden houses of the Old Tatar Quarter, church bells and the call to prayer in one city. The quiet Raifa Monastery in the forest.
  • Older travellersUnhurried Kremlin tours, the Annunciation Cathedral and Kul Sharif, a Volga boat trip to Sviyazhsk, opera and ballet at the Jalil Theatre.
  • Young peopleBauman Street stays lively late: music, cafés, street performers. Concerts in big arenas, festivals and a buzzing student life.

Sport and outdoors

  • Ak Bars — hockeyMultiple Russian champion and Gagarin Cup winner. KHL games at the Tatneft Arena — the atmosphere fills all 9,000 seats.
  • Rubin — footballRussian champion in 2008 and 2009. Plays at the Ak Bars Arena, a 2018 World Cup venue.
  • Zenit-Kazan — volleyballOne of Europe's strongest clubs and a multiple Champions League winner.
  • UNICS — basketballPlays in the VTB United League and European cups; home arena — the Basket Hall.
  • Get moving yourselfRunning and cycling along the Kazanka embankment, the Kazan Marathon in May, skiing and skating in the parks in winter.

What to try

  • EchpochmakA triangular pastry with meat, onion and potato — Kazan's favourite snack.
  • Chak-chakDough in honey — the tastiest souvenir. There's even a chak-chak museum in the Old Tatar Quarter.
  • Gubadia and belishFestive pies: gubadia is a sweet layered pie with rice and raisins, belish a hearty meat pie.
  • Tatar teaWith herbs, milk and endless sweets — that's how guests are welcomed here.

Arenas, stadiums and sport

Water parks, parks and fun

Evenings and nightlife

Sights

Museums and parks

Universities

Buses Uralsk — Kazan

  • UralskUralsk bus station
    KazanKazan bus station
    FargoYutong ZK6122H9Crosses a border — you'll need a passport
    18 000 ₸15 300 ₸2 440 ₽per passenger
    Seats left: 17Select
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