The Top Attractions in Kazan, Russia

Take in the splendour of this World Heritage listed gem. It is the only remaining Tatar fortress in Russia and includes sections which date back to the 10th Century.

Delight in the kitsch cultural relics of the Soviet Union. Housed in a former communal apartment, this micro-museum celebrates the cultural happenings of life behind the Iron Curtain.

Destroyed by Ivan the Terrible in 1552, this resplendent mosque was only rebuilt 2005. The museum inside focuses on the history of Islam in the Volga region.

Brainchild of local artist and philanthropist Ilda Khanov, the design for this multi-faith place of worship was inspired by sixteen major religions. Built and maintained by Khanov and his assistants, it also serves as their residence.

Playing no small part in Kazan earning the title as Russia’s sporting capital, the stadium will host 2018 FIFA World Cup games including a quarterfinal. A word-class arena, it was designed by the same team behind the Sochi Olympic Stadium.

According to local folklore, Princess Suyumbike threw herself off the top of the tower to avoid having to marry Ivan the Terrible, however it is estimated that the tower was built over a hundred years after Ivan stormed Kazan.

Kazan’s main pedestrian artery, Bauman Street keeps locals going day and night. Filled with bars, shops, souvenirs and historic buildings, it is well worth a stroll down the strip any time of day.

Reminiscent of Tartar bazars of yesteryear, the central market is the place to go for an on-the-ground hit of culture. Filled with vendors and babushkas selling everything from clothes to home grown vegetables, it is a feast for the senses.

A massive cauldron-like structure, up to 100 couples can simultaneously get married in this purpose built building. A two-storey observation deck boasting a splendid view of the Kremlin across the Kazanka River is a treat to those who leave with their marital status intact.

Built in just two years, the new home of the Ministry of Agriculture typifies baroque grandiosity. Intricately designed, an enormous bronze tree is the building’s centrepiece while metal sculptures of Zilant, Kazan’s city emblem, also features in the design concept.

Built to commemorate Peter the Great’s visit to the city, this Russian Orthodox church is an ornate gem of Naryshkin baroque architecture.

Kazan’s insignia, Zilant, is part dragon, bird, canine and snake. Multiple and conflicting stories make up its legend, but Zilant has been coming and going as the city’s official symbol since Ivan the Terrible.

Plan a trip to relax and unwind in the tranquil abbey grounds, an easy getaway from Kazan’s bustle. Closed during Soviet times, it re-opened in 1991, with many of the monks returning to restore it to it’s former beauty.

A must for foodies, this museum offers its guests a taste of traditional Tatar food and drink, quite literally. Sample sweets, cakes and teas, and then learn how to make chak-chak, honey-baked dough balls brought out at festivities. Bookings essential.

Stroll through the brightly coloured collection of traditionally decorated wooden houses that mark the spot where ethnic Tatars were forced to live during the Siege of Kazan in 1552.

Punctuating the skyline along Bauman Street, is the impressive Epiphany Bell Tower. Climb up for an equally impressive view of the surroundings.

A Soviet Tatar poet and resistance fighter, Musa Jalil was captured and then executed by the Nazis in 1944. This contemplative statue was erected in his honour.

Designed by Postnik Yakovlev, the architect behind Moscow’s St. Basil’s Cathedral, the church has been destroyed and rebuilt many times since it was built in the 16th century. Restored to its current state in 2005, the interior iconostasis, while new, holds figures and statues that date back centuries.