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Yekaterinburg - 4th largest city in Russia, administrative center of Ural Federal District

Yekaterinburg (Russian: Екатеринбу́рг yee-kuh-tee-reen-BOORG) is the capital of Sverdlovsk Oblast of Russia. A city of over 1.3 million inhabitants, it is a center of industry and culture in the broader Urals region, and the 4th largest city in the country after Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Novosibirsk. As such, it is one of Russia's most popular cities for foreign tourists, mainly known for its architecture.

Understand

The city was founded in 1723 by the order of Peter the Great as a metallurgical factory. It was named after the wife of Peter the Great, Yekaterina. In 1918, the last czar family was imprisoned, and later executed, a house in Yekaterinburg which was later demolished; the Church on the Blood now occupies the former site of the house. During World War II, the city grew rapidly as industries and people were relocated east to escape the war. Between 1924 and 1991, the city was known as Sverdlovsk (Свердловск), named after Communist Party leader Yakov Sverdlov and signs with this name still abound, particularly at the train station.

The city retains its metallurgical roots and the metal industry is the largest contributor to the economy.

The city is next to the Ural Mountains, which divide Europe from Asia. This border is marked by several symbolic monuments.

Get in

By plane

Koltsovo International Airport

By train

Yekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk) Station See Russia#By train 2 for general advice on traveling in Russia by train.

  • Central Railway station (Железнодорожный вокзал ст. Екатеринбург-Пассажирский), Ulitsa Vokzalnaya (Вокзальная), 22. (Metro: Uralskaya (Уральская)), 56.85841°, 60.60599°. All Trans-Siberian trains stop at Yekaterinburg-Sverdlovsk Railway Station. There is also an extensive network of local trains serving the Sverdlovsk Oblast.

By bus

Get around

Tourist information and maps

Information stand.

You can either buy a street map from one of the many newsstands and shops in the train stations, print out a street map of Yekaterinburg, or pick up a free detailed street map from the Ekaterinburg Tourist Information Service (dead link: January 2023) at 8 Marta St. #21, office #2, in the city centre.

By public transport

By metro

Yekaterinburg has 1 underground metro line, connecting the city centre (the stop is near the Circus) to Uralmash, a large industrial and residential area, with a stop near the main railway station. The metro is popular with locals because it is quick and inexpensive, costing per journey. The stations are impressive, decorated with native Ural stones, granite and marble.

All stations are open between 06:00 and 00:00. Train frequency on weekdays in rush hour is 4-5 minutes; all other times and weekends it is 8-11 minutes.

Metro stations from north to south:

Tram

Yekaterinburg has the densest tram network in Russia. Pay by contactless bank cards or cash to conductors. Use Yandex or 2gis app for route info.

Suburban rail

Stations from North to South

By Koltsovo Express

See

Embankment of the City Pond

  • Ekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts, 5, Voevodina str (just south of the Gorodskoy Prud, on the west bank of the river), 56.835128°, 60.603236°. Some fine works by Russian 18th- and 19th-century artists, minor artists of the 16th- to 18th-century European Schools and some lovely small sculptures and jewellery. 2019-03-12
  • Dam on the River Iset (Плотина Городского пруда на реке Исеть, «Плотинка»), 56.83795°, 60.60361°.
  • House of the Merchant Pshenichnikova (Дом купца Пшеничникова), Naberezhnaya. Rabochey Molodezhi (наб. Рабочей Молодежи), 2, 56.8409°, 60.59993°. 1830.
  • Building of the HQ of Mining plants (Дом Главного начальника горных заводов), Nab. Rabochey Molodezhi (наб. Рабочей Молодёжи), 3, 56.841025°, 60.599891°.

QWERTY Monument.

  • QWERTY Monument, 56.832328°, 60.607572°. Easily one of Russia's weirdest attractions is the gargantuan keyboard monument in this city. Big white stones rise from the earth, and as you approach, you see engraved upon them, words such as "Q" and "SHIFT."

Sevastjanov House

  • Sevastjanov House (District Court, House of Trade Unions, Дом Севастьянова, Окружной суд, Дом профсоюзов), Prospekt Lenina (пр. Ленина), 3, 56.83893°, 60.60593°.
  • Building of the Sverdlovsk Region Railways (Здание Управления Свердловской железной дороги), Ul. Chelyuskintsev (ул. Челюскинцев), 11, 56.85157°, 60.59237°. 1925-28.
  • Zotova-Tarasova Manor (Усадьба Зотова-Тарасова), Ul. Gorkovo (ул. Горького), 21, 56.83973°, 60.60606°.

Prospekt Lenina

  • Central Military District (Здание штаба Центральный Военный Округ, штаб Приволжско-Уральского военного округа), Prospekt Lenina (пр. Ленина), 71. (City train: Pervomayskaya (ОП Первомайская) 500m; tram 4, 8, 13, 15, 18 to stop 'Восточная улица'), 56.84133°, 60.62428°. Headquarters of the Volga Ural Region Military district. The district includes the territories of the former Siberian Military District. Units of its: the 2nd Army in Samara, the 41st Army in Novosibirsk, Special Forces (Spetsnaz Brigades) and Russian Air Force 2nd Command. Built in 1929.
  • Town of Chekists and Hotel "Iset" (Городок чекистов и гостиница "Исеть"), Prospekt Lenina (пр. Ленина), 69, 56.84071°, 60.62072°. An architectural complex in the neighbourhood of Streets Lenina—Lunacharskogo—Pervomayskaya—Kuznechnaya (1929-1936).
  • Opera and Ballet Theatres, Prospekt Lenina (пр. Ленина), 46А (Tram 2, 6, 13, 15, 18 to stop 'Оперный Театр'), 56.8387°, 60.6169°. There are many theatres in the inner city around Square of 1905.
  • Black Tulip War Memorial, 56.84317°, 60.61712°. This memorial opened in 1995 is dedicated to the memory of fallen soldiers who had died during pointless and ruthless Afghan War. The name Black Tulip is derived from the nickname of An-12 transport aircraft which carried dead bodies of Soviet soldiers back home from Afghanistan. The centerpiece of the memorial is a statue of a sitting soldier holding a rifle. His head is bowed and he is staring fixedly at the ground. Etched upon his face is the emotion of horror, defeat and devastation. Black Tulip War Memorial stands as a compelling reminder to all visitors of Yekaterinburg of inhuman cruelty of war. 2020-08-20

Other areas

The Church on the Blood.

Do

  • Cross-country skiing: the trails stretch away for miles. There are some downhill skiing resorts as well. It will take you approximately 25 minutes to get to the nearest of them from the center of the city.
  • Watch football at Yekaterinburg Arena, which hosted matches in the 2018 World Cup. The home team are FC Ural who play in the Russian Premier League, the top tier of Russian football - in 2018 they narrowly avoided relegation. The stadium dates back to 1957; it was upgraded and expanded for the World Cup but its capacity has now reduced to 23,000. The Arena is 3 km southwest of city centre, take tram or bus to Kommunarov Square.
  • Aquapark Limpopo (Аквапарк Лимпопо), 56.7915°, 60.6468°. The largest water leisure park in Europe.
  • Circus (Екатеринбургский Государственный Цирк им. В.И.Филатова), Ul. 8 Marta (ул. 8 Марта), 43 (Near the metro station Geologicheskaya (Геологическая)), 56.8256°, 60.6051°. Richly ornamented building which hosts all sorts of circus shows. Nearby is the abandoned television tower.
  • Yekaterinburg For You English Club. Every Wednesday at 20:30 at Havana Club. Great place to meet other foreigners and local Russians who speak English. minimum purchase required

Parks

  • Arboretum (дендрарий), 56.848056°, 60.651111°.
  • Ledovyj Gorodok (Ice Town, Ледовый Городок). During New Year's. A whole city block under the eyes of Lenin made out of ice. On the central Square of 1905. "Mafia Cemetery"
  • Shirokorechenskoye Kladbishche Cemetery (Широкореченское Кладбище), 56.813889°, 60.527778°. This is the infamous "Mafia cemetery" where there are dozens of ornate graves with big life-size images in stone of former Mafia members.

Learn

Buy

Markets

  • Chinese Market (Bazaar). The market consists of many hundreds of small outdoor stalls, selling everything from toilet paper to fur coats, all at the best prices in the city. This type of market is not really the right place to buy souvenirs.
  • Vaynera Street (Urals Arbat). A lot of shops with a wide range of small things to buy. Usually this street (it's pedestrian only) is called the Urals Arbat, after the famous Arbat in Moscow.

Leather in Russia is considered some of the best in Europe; handbags and wallets are of especially high quality. Gold jewellery, while expensive, is also very good. Markets, such as the Chinese market, are good for cheap bargains.

Malls

  • Grinvich shopping centre (торговый центр "Гринвич").
  • Dyryzhabl shopping centre (торговый центр "Дирижабль").
  • MEGA Mall. A huge mall on the outskirts of the city owned by the IKEA group with many Western/international stores including a decent food court.

Eat

Many cafés and restaurants provide the usual mix of Russian, Japanese and Italian food, but the level of international cuisine is not that high.

Budget

Mid-range

  • Il Patio/Friday's/Planeta Sushi. A franchise found across all Russia. They offer respectively Italian, American, and Japanese accessible cooking. Food is reasonably priced and always ok.

Splurge

  • Noble House, 8 Borisa Yeltsina St (At the 2nd floor of the Hyatt Hotel), +7 343 253 1234, yekhr.noblehouse@hyatt.com. Offering Southeast Asia cuisine. Sunday brunch every two weeks from 12:00 to 15:00. Sophisticated environment, good to impress a date or to quiet conversations. It is the only place in the city for spicy food. Portions are generous, contrary to what you might expect. Not the best oriental food, but it's the best in Ekaterinburg.
  • La Cucina, 8 Borisa Yeltsina St (At the 2nd floor of the Hyatt Hotel), +7 343 253 1234, yekhr.cucina@hyatt.com. Mediterranean-style and Russian favourite dishes in a modern and colourful setting. Excellent view on the river. Very good place for business lunch.
  • Troyekurov (Троекуровъ), Ulitsa Malysheva, 137, +7 343 378 81 18. This place of Russian cuisine is very similar to the Puskin cafe in Moscow, but without its atmosphere, its location or its clientele. This is the restaurant for a big closing dinner, for official situations (Medvedev and Angela Merkel were guests at this restaurant). Unfortunately you will find it empty most of the time, which gives you a sense of exclusivity but suggests that maybe you are overpaying for your food.

Drink

Bars/Cafes

Clubs

  • Alibi, Malysheva st, 74, +7 343 350-0690. It's a pub very busy after midnight. Better book a table if you are not alone. There is a small dance floor. It's impossible to avoid rubbing others.

Sleep

Budget

You can pay hourly rates at the resting rooms (Komnaty Otdykha) at the main train station. To get there, walk to the eastern end of the station to the last and small set of glass doors. First door on the right should lead you to a set of stairs which will take you there.

Mid-range

Splurge

  • Hyatt Regency Ekaterinburg, 8, Borisa Yeltsina St (Ekaterinburg City district), ekaterinburg.regency@hyatt.com. 296 rooms & suites with views of Cathedral-on-the-Blood and Iset River. Amenities: ergonomic work area, open bath concept, wireless internet access, tea and coffee making facilities. Regency Club Lounge for free continental breakfast, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.

Connect

Consulates

Visa centers

Go next

  • Ganina Yama (Ганина Яма), 56.942222°, 60.473333°. You can visit this wooden monastery semi daily by bus tours offered right in front of the main train station building. It is situated in the north direction from the city, near the village Shuvakish (Шувакиш). You can get there by train from the main station in the direction Nizhni Tagil (Нижний Тагил). When you get off the train, go to the bridge over the railway and turn right (not to the station). From the bridge turn to the right again and after a while you will get to the asphalt road. There turn left and go some two kilometres. Monument "Europe-Asia".
  • Europe & Asia border monument. There are semi-daily offered tours from the main trains station. If you can't make the tour, you might take the bus 150 from the northern bus terminal (Северный Автовокзал) near the metro station Uralskaya (Уральская). Ask the driver to let you get off at the border. This is common practice. When you get off the bus, there is a small, somewhat historic looking stone monument that has a red brick line where the border is. Go up a bit through the patch of wood and you will be at the big monument where the tour buses go on the big tour. It is a spot for weddings, so usually you will find a bride or two. After you are done taking pictures, go back the way you came, go on the other side of the highway and signal a bus driver to pick you up. Buses 150 or 180 take you back, however 180 takes you only near metro station Tsirk (Цирк). If no bus driver is willing to pick you up outside of a station (though this is common practice), you can walk into Pervoural'sk up to the second bus stop you encounter (buses 150 and 180 do not regularly stop at the outermost bus stops) and then get on a bus. From the outermost bus stop there is a little marshrutka going to the next one for . (bus 180) or (bus 150) one-way, or and upwards with a tour
  • Deer Streams National Park (Prirodniy Park Olenji Ruchji), Nizhnie-Serginskiy rayon, posyolok Bazhukovo (150 km W from Ekaterinburg, take tour or by bus/train), +7 902 2550062, olen@olen.ur.ru. A hiking tour in a national park "Deer Streams". A picturesque river, cliffs, deepest cave of Sverdlovkaya Oblsat region, beautiful forest. A very popular place to go among Russians in summer and in winter. Several different routes to choose from, depending on difficulty. To get by bus: take any bus that goes to Mikhailovsk (Михайловск), Arty (Арти), Urmikeevo (Урмикеево), Tulgash (Тюльгаш). Leave at the "prirodniy park Olenji Ruchji" stop. Then walk 2 km according to sign directions. By train: from the central train station take a suburban train to Druzhinino (Дружинино). From Druzhinino take another train to Bazhukovo (Бажуково). From Bazhukovo station it is a 5-minute walk to the park. The train goes 3 times/day. The road by bus takes 2½ hours. By train: 4 hours. entry ticket

Yekaterinburg

ekburg.ru
Postal code:620000–620999Date Time:Please wait...Timezone:Asia/YekaterinburgPopulation:1.5 MCoordinates:56.84, 60.61

Sverdlovsk Oblast

Primary administrative division

Russia

gov.ru/index_en.html
Population:144.5 MDial code:+7Currency:Ruble (RUB)Voltage:230 V, 50 Hz