What to do in Kazan, Russia
Among the cities I visited in Russia until now, Kazan was the most different of them! Why? The capital of the Republic of Tatarstan distinguishes itself for the Tartar culture present in the local daily life: on the food, on the people’s faces, on dressing, on architecture.
Another particularity of Kazan is the presence of Muslim religion, praticed in a very tolerant way without any religious restrictions. In the streets, I couldn’t distinguish who is Muslim and who is Christian, as religion is only taken as a matter of faith in Kazan. It’s quite common people go for a shot of vodka after visit the mosque, for example. It’s something you don’t see in Muslim countries, where people are usually not open about consume alcoholic drinks and its commerce is very restricted.
Below, I share tips about what to visit in Kazan.
Kremlim
Kremlin in Russian means fortress. Many people tend to associate Kremlin simply to that one located in Red Square, Moscow. But as you visit Russia, you’ll see that many cities have their own Kremlin.
Qul-Sharif Mosque
Built in the 16th century, it’s impressive throughout its blue and white colors! Located at the Kremlin of Kazan.
Soviet Lifestyle Museum
If you are interested in history and about the Soviet period, Soviet Life Museum is surely a must to visit place! It contains a collection of objects such as clothes, discs, advertisements and other artifacts that are cultural icons of the Soviet times.
Eykiyat Theater
Kazan Puppet Theatre Ekiyat, or simply Ekiyat, which means fairy tale. Decorated with fairytales artifacts and clocoks, It is one of the largest puppet theaters in Russia. The view of its building at night is astonishing!
Walk around Baumana Street
Baumana Street (in cyrillic, Баумана Ул.) is the busiest street in Kazan, with commerce, stores, cafés, bars and restaurants, music and dance performances.
One extra tip, Kazan is very beautiful at night! The contrasts given by the lighting of public places — including the Kremlin and the Qul-Sharif Mosque — and the dark sky is simply astonishing! Take a look at the pictures below:
For more travel tips about Russia, you can buy the Visual Travel Guide: Russia. Also on Kindle Edition.
