The Best Things To See And Do In Perm Russia

Russia has so much more to offer than just the undeniable charms of Moscow and St Petersburg. The Ural Mountains are one of its undiscovered gems. Perm, one of the most significant cities in the region, is most certainly a place worth visiting. If you find yourself in the area, here are the best things to see and do in Perm.

Go for a walk along the Kama River and discover that happiness is closer than you might think

Perm lies on the banks of the Kama River, the proximity of which is a huge part of the city’s identity. A walk down the embankment is a truly local way to spend a Sunday afternoon. At some point during your stroll, you are bound to come across a sculpture that grew to be one of the symbols of Perm. The red letters read Счасте не за горами, Russian for ‘Happiness is not behind the mountains’. They are appropriately placed against the beautiful background of the river and its opposite bank.

Happiness is not behind the mountains, a sculpture by Boris Matrosov on the embankment of the Kama river in Perm

1. Indulge in some high culture and watch an incredible ballet

Russians are great fans of poetry, classical music, opera and ballet. Indeed, every major city in Russia has an opera and ballet theatre. Perm’s ballet is quite remarkable, and the quality of the pieces they stage puts them in the same rank as the country’s ballet giants: Mariinsky in St Petersburg and Bolshoy in Moscow. Watching a ballet performance in Perm is most certainly a thing to tick off your list even on the shortest visit.

Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre, Petropavlovskaya 25A, Perm, Permsky Krai, Russia, +7 342 212 30 87

Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre | © D V S / WikiCommons

Quite a few internationally renowned festivals take place in Perm every year. The most prominent ones include the International Documentary Film Festival Flahertiana. Every October, the festival, inspired by the art of Robert Flaherty, draws the brightest stars of both international and Russian documentary scenes. International Diaghilev Festival is another prominent event in Perm. It is entirely devoted to classical art and theatre and occurs every year in June.

2. Learn about some of the most difficult parts of Russian history right where it happened

Memorial, Museum

Perm-36, a forced labour camp located 100 kilometres (62.1 miles) north-east of Perm, was one of the most prominent Soviet detention centres for political prisoners. It was operating until the 1980s. In the 1990s, a group of former inmates and Memorial, an NGO dedicated to helping victims of the Soviet regime, converted the camp into a museum – the only GULAG museum in Russia on the site of an actual camp. Despite some problems with the current local administration, the museum is still operating and most certainly worth visiting.

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

3. Become a Permyak Salty Ears for a little while

Perm and its nearest surroundings are very rich in minerals. Throughout history, salt was the most prominent of them. Indeed, Perm appeared because people were relocating here to work in the salt mining industry, of which the legacy is a vital part of the locals’ identity. One of the most famous symbols of the region is the sculpture Permyak Salty Ears. In the early days of salt mining, the locals would carry big bags full of salt on their back. Some of the salt would then fall on their ears, making them big and red. The sculpture, located in the very city centre, consists of a frame with big ears attached to it and a figure of a photographer taking a picture of it. Putting your head in the Permyak Salty Ears frame and snapping a photo is an absolute must for every visitor to the city.

Permyak Salty Ears, Komsomolsky Prospekt 27, Perm, Permsky Krai, Russia

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbZXKdfg-1H/?hl=pl&tagged=%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BC%D1%8F%D0%BA%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5%D1%83%D1%88%D0%B8

4. See what Russian contemporary art has to offer

Museum

Perm is truly a city full of cultural surprises. On top of the festivals and the theatre mentioned above, it is also home to the only contemporary art museum outside of Moscow and St Petersburg. PERMM is a museum and exhibition space; it also hosts lectures, workshops and festivals. It is an extremely vibrant place and is most certainly worth a visit even on a short trip to the Urals.

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

Experience the incredible landscapes of the Urals

The Ural Mountains are incredibly scenic and largely undiscovered. Whether you’re a fan of hiking, rafting or simply camping for days in pristine nature, Perm and its surroundings have something to offer you. If you happen to find yourself with a little bit of time while in Perm, go camping and explore. Your trip will soon turn into an adventure you will never forget.

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.