7 Must-See Attractions in Perm

When you hear “Perm”, you probably think of an embarrassing hairstyle from the 80s. It might come as a surprise then that Perm is also the last city on the European side of the Ural mountains, and a place very much worth visiting. When you find yourself there, here are the attractions you absolutely cannot miss.
Permyak Salty Ears
This is the main symbolic landmark of the city. It is a sculpture consisting of an oval frame with big ears and a figure of a photographer taking a picture of it. The region is rich in minerals and in the past it was a very important salt mining location. The workers of salt mines would carry big bags full of salt on their backs. The salt would spill on their ears, making them big and red. Salt mining became so interwoven with the identity of the region that all of its inhabitants started being called Permyak’s Salty Ears. Now everyone can become one in one of the central squares of the city.
Permyak Salty Ears, Komsomolsky Prospekt 27, Perm, Permsky Krai, Russia

Salty Ears | © Shutterstock / Shevchenko Andrey
PERMM
Art Gallery, Museum

One of the culture ministers of Permsky Krai once called it a cultural capital of the universe. While it might be a little bit too exaggerated of a statement, Perm is indeed a place of unexpected cultural gems. PERMM Museum of Contemporary art is one of them. It holds temporary exhibitions and also hosts festivals, lectures, workshops and performances. It is the only contemporary art gallery of this kind outside of Moscow and St. Petersburg.
PERMM Museum of Contemporary Art, Bulvar Gagarina 24, Perm, Permsky Krai, Russia, +7 342 254 35 73

A sculpture in front of the PERMM museum, reading “Glory to the effort” in Russian | © Evgeny Nikiforow / WikiCommons
Museum of Permian Antiquities
Museum
Perm-36
Memorial, Museum

Perm-36 was one of the better-known forced labour camps in Russia. Political prisoners were kept here until the 1980s. It is also the only GULAG in Russia that was turned into a museum. The museum was founded by Memorial, an NGO devoted to helping the victims of Soviet political repressions. Since its establishment, the museum has constantly been at odds with the local authorities, who are perpetuating the pro-government version of history. The museum was closed in 2015 but has reopened now, with a slightly more apologetic administration in place. It is still a place very much worth visiting, another must-see to put on your list.
Memorial Complex of Political Repressions, Kuchino, Permsky Krai, Russia, +7 342 212 61 29

A special regime cell for political prisoners in Perm-36 | © Wulfstan / WikiCommons
Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre
Opera House, Theatre

Gorky Park
Park

Perm State Art Gallery
Art Gallery, Museum
Perm State Art Gallery is the most important art gallery in the region. The exposition includes very rare wooden sculptures of Orthodox saints, religious art of the region, and works of the Russian masters of the 19th-century. The museum also displays the folk art of the indigenous peoples of Permsky Krai.
Perm State Art Gallery, Komsomolsky Prospekt 4, Perm, Permsky Krai, Russia, +7 342 212 95 24
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!


Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.


KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.