Every guest of the capital of the Urals will find something amazing for themselves. Especially for independent tourists, the "Red Line" is marked on the asphalt, walking along which you can explore the main attractions of the city. Some of the iconic places are associated with the royal family - the Church on the Blood and the monastery near Ganina Yama. Among the unusual art objects - a monument to the keyboard, the group "The Beatles". To view the city from a height, an observation deck has been set up in the Vysotsky business center.
The center of tourist attraction is the City Pond in the city center. There are many interesting places around it - the dam, Yekaterinburg-City, the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center, the Historical Square, the Drama Theater, the Sevostyanov House. Within the city there are natural zones - the natural monument Shartash stone tents, Kharitonov garden, Mayakovsky park with attractions.
The most interesting and beautiful places
List, photos with names and descriptions of the best attractions of Yekaterinburg. He will help you plan routes to explore the top places of the city in 2-3 days.
Dam of the City Pond on the Iset River
The name “Plotinka” is known among local residents. The dam was completed in 1723. In 1998, a pedestrian tunnel was laid in a side section. The side walls of the dam are decorated with bas-reliefs. City festivals are held in the square near the dam; in summer you can enjoy a light show by the fountain. The Historical Square is adjacent to the dam. It houses old buildings, art objects, a monument to de Gennin and Tatishchev, a "rock garden".
Read about all the best places in the region: the main attractions of the Sverdlovsk region.
Sevastyanov's house
The striking and ornate building next to the dam is one of the city's most recognizable architectural symbols. The house was built in 1817 and stands out with a semicircular rotunda at the corner of the house. In the 19th century, the new owner, Sevastyanov, added baroque and neo-Gothic decorative elements to the classic appearance of the house. During the renovation, the house, which looks more like a palace, was returned to a festive color scheme of green, white and red.
Observation deck of the business center "Vysotsky"
The Vysotsky skyscraper was built in the city center and before the construction of the Iset tower was the tallest building in the city. The observation deck of the business center is located on the 52nd floor - 186 meters above the ground. It offers a wonderful panoramic view of the city. The main sights of the city are especially clearly visible - the City Pond and its dam, the Church on the Blood, the Yeltsin Center. Lake Shartash is visible in clear weather.
Weiner street
Uralsky Arbat is a pedestrian street in the city, which is always lively and crowded. One of the oldest streets in the city was first mentioned in documents in the 1740s. Many architectural monuments on it are protected by the state. For hundreds of years the street has retained its commercial value. There are many small shops and large shopping centers here. The original monuments to Michael Jackson and Gene Bukin have been erected.
Yekaterinburg-City
A business district designed to combine commercial areas, hotels, entertainment centers. The construction of all the planned buildings has not yet been completed, but the complex is already a visiting card of the Urals business. Tall and stylish buildings of modern architecture look great against the backdrop of the City Pond. The Iset Tower is 212 meters high. The complex includes the Hyatt Regency hotel and the Demidov business house.
Central Park of Culture and Leisure named after V.V. Mayakovsky
A large park for active leisure and outdoor recreation. The total area of the park is 90 hectares, of which 70 hectares are forest. More than 2.5 million people visit it annually. Themed walkways with sculptures are laid in the park - Newlyweds Alley, Retro Alley, Literary Alley. There is an area with attractions, a contact mini-zoo, a rope park, a park with dinosaurs. The park is decorated with a light and music fountain.
International Arts Center "Glavny Prospekt"
Opened in 2018. The center has united within its walls halls with exhibitions of painting and sculpture, an exposition of minerals, a Museum of Local Lore and a venue for concerts. The cultural urban space covers an area of more than 2,000 square meters, where a large number of significant events in Yekaterinburg are held. The center hosts permanent exhibitions POP Art, Alvitr Gallery, Gutenberg, and works by Andy Warhol.
United Museum of Ural Writers
Literary Memorial Museum, which made it possible to create events of a new format, combining theatrical and literary arts. It includes several branches, some of which form the Literary Quarter. This is a unique place in the city center, where you can feel yourself in the 19th century on excursions among the monuments of wooden architecture. On the site, the museums have recreated carriage sheds and a stable.
Temple on blood
The largest temple in Yekaterinburg, built on the site of the Ipatiev house, where the royal family was shot. The five-domed temple consists of two levels in different styles. The upper one is light, with many windows. The lower one is semi-gloomy, with a crypt, where the execution room is recreated. At the temple there is a heartfelt monument to the royal family - they are depicted at the time of descent into the basement for execution. The Museum of the Royal Family is located next to the temple.
"Red line"
The red line on the pavement appeared in 2011. She leads tourists to the most interesting and iconic places of the city. The self-guided walking tour is 6.5 km long. About 11,000 people voted to determine the best sights of the city. There are 35 objects in the list of places on the route. On the website of the Red Line route you can download the audio guide in Russian and English.
Working Youth Embankment
The old street of the city, founded in 1919, runs along the right bank of the City Pond. Its length is 2 km. There are a lot of historical architectural monuments on the embankment - the building of the men's gymnasium, the house of the merchant Pshenichnikov, the house of the head of the mining plants of the Urals. The Yeltsin Center, the Iset Tower are clearly visible, the Iset Olympic Embankment is visible on the opposite side.
The best museums in Yekaterinburg
The most interesting museums in the city, which are definitely worth visiting.
Museum of the History of Stone Cutting and Jewelry Art
Located in a 19th century building. Its extensive collections feature works by original Ural masters of the 1920s-1930s. The guides talk about the activities of the Russian Gems Factory, the traditions of the Imperial Lapidary Factory in Yekaterinburg, the history of Russian jewelry art since the 9th century. There is an exposition of mineral stones, works of modern jewelry and stone-cutting art.
About all interesting museums here: 25 best museums in Yekaterinburg.
Museum of the History of Yekaterinburg
Founded in the 1940s. Occupies several old buildings on Karl Liebknecht Street. The main building was built in 1840 and is a historical and cultural monument. The permanent exhibition of the museum tells about the history of Yekaterinburg, the streets of the old city, the natural wealth of rivers and lands. The archaeological exhibition tells about the first metallurgists of the region, shows artifacts from the 3rd-7th centuries BC.
Yekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts
An art gallery spanning two buildings. Among the permanent exhibitions of the museum are Russian icon painting and painting of the 17th-20th centuries, works of decorative and applied art by Ural masters, Kasli casting, collections of porcelain and glass, products of the Tobolsk folk bone. The works of Malevich, Savrasov, Levitan, Shishkin are exhibited.A separate subdivision tells about naive art, graphics, painting, sculpture are exhibited.
Sverdlovsk Regional Museum of Local Lore
Founded in 1870. The main thematic expositions are the nature of the Ural region, archeology, numismatics, ethnography, architectural and artistic history of the region. A unique exhibit is a wooden sculpture of the Great Shigir Idol, whose age, according to scientists, is more than 9000 years. In total, the funds of the branches of the museum have more than 700,000 exhibits. About 270,000 people visit it annually.
Museum of the Sverdlovsk Railway
It is located in a beautiful building of the Old Railway Station of 1878, decorated in a pseudo-Russian style. Visitors to the museum will learn about the history and development of the Ural railway, see old exhibits, models of railway stations, a collection of models of steam locomotives and trains. On the square in front of the museum, there are sculptures of railway workers from different eras. The original composition is the sculptural group "Passengers".
Photographic Museum "Metenkov's House"
It is located in the house of the famous photo-chronicler Metenkov. For 40 years, he traveled around the Urals, compiling photographic evidence of the passing time. The museum's expositions tell about the history of the development of photography in Yekaterinburg over the past 150 years. The oldest photo of the museum dates back to 1863. The room is designed as a photo studio. It hosts lectures, master classes, and creative meetings.
Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center
Community center located near the Yekaterinburg center. The main cultural object is the museum of the first president of Russia, Boris Yeltsin. It tells about the political life of the country and the personality of Boris Nikolaevich. Its 9 rooms are decorated using modern multimedia technologies, there are many interactive exhibitions. The opening of the center was attended by V. Putin, D. Medvedev, N. Yeltsin.
Architectural landmarks of Yekaterinburg
Monuments of architecture and urban planning, the most notable historical buildings and structures of the city.
The building of the Sverdlovsk City Council
The regional architectural monument is located on the 1905 square. The square is covered with paving stones, recreating its historical image in the 19th century. In the center of the square there is a monument to V.I. Lenin. Construction of the City Council building began at the end of the 19th century. The building received its final architectural appearance in the Stalinist Empire style in the 1940s. Design features - columns, monumental panel "Victory Salute".
Estate of the Rastorguev-Kharitonovs
An architectural monument that adorns the center of Yekaterinburg. The estate is located on Voznesenskaya Hill, which offers an excellent view of the iconic places of the city. The estate was built from 1794 to 1824. Its buildings have a classicism style. The asymmetrical composition and the corner house give the facade of the building from the central side an original look. Architects Malakhov and Adamini took part in the construction of the estate.
White Tower at Uralmash
Former water tower, built in 1931. It is 29 meters high. The hydrotechnical structure is an architectural monument of constructivism and an unofficial symbol of the Uralmash region. Thanks to the actions of public funds, the tower did not collapse after decommissioning. Theatrical performances and media panorama are shown at its converted venues.
"Town of Chekists"
An architectural complex from 1929-1936, consisting of 14 buildings. The constructivist-style monument occupies a block of buildings commissioned by the NKVD-OGPU. The command staff of this organization lived in them, which is why the quarter got its name among the people. Inside the commune there were also premises for outside work. The outer perimeter of the quarter had only two gates; you could get inside only with passes.
House of the Chief Mining Chief
The federal architectural monument of the early 19th century was built by the architect Melekhov. He reconstructed the already existing mansion of the berg-inspector Bulgakov, adding decorative details to it. The front of the house, facing the pond, is decorated with a mezzanine and a portico. An arcade is laid between the first and second floors, a colonnade is located just above. The third tier of the portico is made up of thin Corinthian columns.
The main theaters of Yekaterinburg
The best concert and theater venues in the city.
Opera and Ballet Theatre
Founded in 1912. The theater building is a historical monument. When creating his project, the architect was inspired by the opera buildings in Odessa and Vienna. The facade of the theater is decorated with balconies with balustrades, stucco moldings, sculptures of muses. The hall can accommodate 914 spectators, there are several categories of seats. Performances are shown every day. The repertoire includes about 20 opera and 20 ballet performances. The theater troupe often tours.
Kolyada Theater
It was founded in 2001 and has shown performances on the stages of other theaters for several years. Since 2014, the performances of the Kolyada Theater can be seen within the walls of the former Iskra cinema. The main auditorium is designed for 124 seats, the chamber hall - for 50. The theater troupe consists of 40 people. The repertoire includes performances for different age categories, it should be borne in mind that most of them are limited to 18+.
Sverdlovsk Philharmonic
Created in 1936. It is housed in a magnificent 1915 classicist building with neo-Gothic elements. The concert hall can accommodate 700 spectators, the chamber hall - 120 spectators. The halls contain unique grand pianos and a 4120 pipe organ. The Philharmonic has organized ensembles of Russian folk instruments, a symphonic choir, a trio of accordionists and concert performers. In total, 197 artists work in the Philharmonic.
Circus named after V.I.Filatov
The openwork dome of the circus on the western bank of the Iset can be seen from afar. Its height is 50 meters. The architecture of the building allows performing complex numbers within its walls. Both children and adults watch circus programs with pleasure. The performances involve artists of different circus genres - clowns, trainers, acrobats. Famous circus groups of the country and the world perform on the arena and hold festivals.
The best gardens and parks of Yekaterinburg
Among them are beautiful places for leisurely walks, and a popular sports complex for outdoor activities.
Yekaterinburg arboretum
Consists of two parks. The park on Pervomayskaya Street was founded in 1932. On the site of a pine forest near two lakes, about 300 species of plants from Siberia, the Far East, and North America have been planted. The first rose garden of the Urals is also located here, in which about 100 species of roses grow. Since 1948, a park on 8 Marta Street has been operating with an area of 7.5 hectares. It is designed in the style of regular French parks. A fountain has been installed, there is a winter garden.
Kharitonovsky Garden
Founded on the site of an English garden, laid out at the Rastorguev-Kharitonov estate in 1826. The natural landscape inherent in the English park style will bring coziness and comfort to the garden, which makes it one of the favorite places for walking among city residents. In the center of the garden there is an artificial lake, on the island of which there is an elegant rotunda. In the depths of the park, there is an old stone grotto where wines were kept.
Park "Green Grove"
Founded in the 18th century. The Green Grove was located on the territory of the Novo-Tikhvinsky Monastery. The quiet and cozy monastery grove was loved by the residents of the city as a place for quiet walks. The territory of the modern park is 24 hectares. It is dominated by coniferous trees. In the shady alleys, you can find squirrels who gladly accept delicacies. Children's and sports grounds are equipped.
Victory Park
Located in a forest near Lake Shuvakish. The forest consists of birches and pines. The forested area is used for walking and sports. Treadmills were laid, horizontal bars and exercise equipment were installed, sports grounds were equipped.There is an area with gazebos and barbecues. There is a bicycle and ATV rental point, a rope park. You can fish in the lake. In winter, the skating rink is flooded and the Christmas tree is decorated.
Sports complex "Uktus"
The ski complex is popular not only among the residents of Yekaterinburg, but also among the guests of the city. From the slopes of the mountains you can ski, snowboard, tubing and snowmobiles. The snowpark is equipped with two jumps, railings and a 6-meter spine. There is a sports school for children. In the summer, an amusement park is open, there is a rental of bicycles, gyro scooters, pit bikes. The thermal complex is open all year round.
Churches and temples of Yekaterinburg
Iconic places of the city, famous monasteries and majestic cathedrals.
Monastery of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers
Among pilgrims and tourists, the place is also known as Ganina Yama. In this place, in the mine of the mine, the remains of the executed royal family in 1918 were originally buried. In 2000, a monastery was founded in the tract. About 300,000 people visit it annually. The monastery consists of seven wooden churches. Monuments to members of the royal family have been erected. The territory of the monastery is beautiful, the buildings are located among tall pines.
Also interesting: 30 main temples of Yekaterinburg.
Temple of the Lord's Ascension
The construction of the stone church began in 1789 on the site of an old dilapidated church. It is considered the oldest temple in Yekaterinburg. The majestic temple is located on Voskresnaya Gorka - in one of the most picturesque places in the city. The rare Baroque temple is solemnly beautiful - its sky-blue walls are combined with white decorative elements and golden domes. The temple is decorated with a high bell tower.
Temple Big Chrysostom
The bell tower, reconstructed in 2006-2013. The temple is made in the classic Byzantine style. The unique layout makes the building an interesting architectural object. Initially, the bell tower was supposed to be located at the entrance to a detached temple. However, due to a lack of funds, the main building of the temple was never built, and the bell tower was consecrated as a temple. Its bell ringing can be heard far away on the streets of the city.
Novo-Tikhvin monastery
Convent, founded in 1809. It is considered one of the largest in Russia. Has two farmsteads - Elizavetinskoe and Svyato-Simeonovskoe. The main temple of the monastery is the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. It was built in the style of late classicism in 1838-1854. The sisters of the monastery are actively involved in the work of the famous icon-painting workshop, a publishing house, a charitable canteen, and a spiritual and educational center.
Holy Trinity Cathedral
The main temple of the city is located in the center of the city. Built in the 19th century. The luxurious cathedral is made in a classical architectural style. Unusual is the yellow color of the walls, over which gilded domes shine. The bell tower of the cathedral consists of three tiers. On Easter days, anyone can climb it and try themselves in the role of a church bell ringer. The inner walls of the temple are painted in bright yellow and blue colors.
Monuments and monuments of Yekaterinburg
There are a lot of sculptures in the city on Weiner Street. In addition to them, there are other art objects and monuments that have become popular with residents and guests of the city.
Monument to Tatishchev and de Gennin
The monument to the founders of the city was erected at the dam of the City Pond. The monument was opened in 1998, the year of the celebration of the 275th anniversary of Yekaterinburg. The bronze sculptures were made at the Uralmash plant. The author of the project is P.P. Chusovitin. The figures are depicted in full growth, they are standing next to each other. The figures are similar to each other, which is why they are often confused. Among the inhabitants of the city, the monument received the humorous name "Beavis and Butthead".
Even more on the topic: historical and modern monuments of Yekaterinburg.
Monument to the keyboard
Sculpture in the style of land art on the city embankment. Included in the list of the most visited attractions in the city. It is a concrete copy of a computer keyboard at a scale of 1:30. It includes 104 keys, the heaviest space bar weighs 500 kg. The total size of the entire monument is 16 * 4 meters. The unusual monument was visited by the author of one of the first programming languages "Pascal" - Niklaus Wirth.
Monument to the group "The Beatles"
The monument to the British group was erected not far from the keyboard monument. The sculptural composition has an unusual appearance. The figures of the musicians are made in the form of silhouettes against the background of a brick wall. The brick wall was decorated with graffiti works dedicated to the work of the Liverpool quartet. A black platform is placed in front of the figures to represent the stage. The unveiling of the monument was attended by the group The Quarrymen, founded by Lennon.
Monument to Vladimir Vysotsky and Marina Vladi
Located at the entrance to the Antey mall opposite the hotel where Vysotsky lived during his tour in Yekaterinburg. Vysotsky is depicted playing the guitar for his wife Marina Vlady. The creators first agreed on the idea of the monument with Vysotsky's son Nikita. The bronze figures are cast in full height. The opening of the monument in 2006 was attended by actors Zolotukhin and Filippenko, as well as the mayor of the city of Chernetsky.
Obelisk on the border between Europe and Asia
A 30-meter red granite obelisk was erected 17 km from Yekaterinburg, symbolizing the conditional border between the two parts of the world. It is surrounded by beautiful flower beds and cozy gazebos. The obelisk was first erected in 1837 for the arrival of the emperor. It was destroyed during the Civil War, but then a new one was installed - already without the emblem of the eagle at the top. In 2008, the obelisk was moved to another place - closer to the city of Novouralsk.
Natural attractions of Yekaterinburg
Within the city limits and in its environs there are popular places of recreation in nature, these are lakes, ponds and beautiful mountain formations.
Verkh-Isetsky pond
An artificial reservoir formed in the 1720s to provide water to a nearby plant. The area of the pond is 16 km², the maximum depth is 2.5 meters. The most popular swimming area is located near the yacht club. The entrance to the water is shallow. There is a pier, boat rental and catamarans. The most comfortable beach is considered to be on the Big Horse Peninsula - there is an outdoor pool, gazebos with barbecue facilities, and a playground with animators.
Don't Miss: 15 Best Lakes in Yekaterinburg.
Shartash stone tents
A unique natural monument within the city. It is a bizarre rock formations reaching a height of 12 meters, and together with a hill - 25 meters. The age of these unusual rocks is 300 million years. The forest area around the Stone Tents is landscaped and is a popular walking area. A stone amphitheater is built next to the natural monument, harmoniously blending into the natural landscape.
Lake Shartash
The lake was formed about 1 million years ago. Located next to the Stone Tents. The area around the lake is equipped for comfortable outdoor recreation. Hiking and cycling paths are laid among the forest, there are areas with gazebos and barbecues, a landscaped beach, a boat station, houses for living. You can rent gear and arrange fishing. Entertainment - rope town, shooting range, laser tag, baths.
