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Minin and Pozarsky Square.

Nizhny Novgorod (Russian: Ни́жний Но́вгород NEEZH-nee NOHV-guh-ruht), colloquially shortened to Nizhny, is Russia's fifth largest city, ranking after Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg. It had a population in 2018 of 1.26 million. It is the economic and cultural center of the vast Volga economic region, and also the administrative center of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast and Volga Federal District.

From 1932 to 1990 the city was known as Gorky (Го́рький), after the writer Maxim Gorky. Following the fall of the Soviet Union, the old name was restored.

Do not confuse Nizhny Novgorod with Novgorod (or, fully, Veliky Novgorod), which is a different city. In particular, do not shorten the name Nizhny Novgorod to Novgorod.

Districts

The city is divided by the river Oka into two major parts: the Upper city (Verkhnyaya or Nagornaya chast) on the hilly right side and the Lower city (Nizhnyaya or Zarechnaya chast — what literally means "the part over the river") on the left bank of the river. The Upper city is the old historical part of Nizhny Novgorod, whereas the Lower city is larger, newer and consists of more industrial districts.

Map of Nizhny Novgorod districts
 Center
It is formed around the Kremlin. The city center is not at the center, as in other cities. In Nizhny Novgorod the center is in the northeast. Includes the Kremlin, from which the central streets Bolshaya Pokrovskaya and Rozhdestvenskaya. Here is a large number of architecture of the 18th and 19th centuries, museums, theaters, nightclubs, restaurants and everything that is necessary for a fun holiday.
 Prioksky District
Along the whole district, on the right bank of the Oka, is a huge park Shveytsariya (Switzerland). Also on its territory is the forest park Shchelokovsky farm known as the Museum of Wooden Architecture.
 Sovetsky District
This district is not remarkable, except for the Ice Palace of Sports.
 Kanavino
Perhaps, this is the most commercial district of the city. This is not surprising, since here is the famous Nizhny Novgorod Fair. However, only the Main Fair Building, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Transfiguration Cathedral were left from the previous fair. All of them are popular symbols of the city. In this district, the largest number of all kinds of malls, markets, bazaars and retail stores. This can be seen immediately at the exit from the Moskovsky railway terminal. At the Revolution Square are three huge malls. Behind the station there are two more.
 Sormovo
City district in the style of the Stalin Empire. Here began the Revolution of 1905, so there are many monuments that remind of this. If you want to immerse yourself in the era of the Soviet Union of the 1930s, then this district is for you. The center of Sormovo was built up with Stalinist skyscrapers with beautiful facades. Here you can see the magnificent Sormovskie Zori department store, the Transfiguration Cathedral of Sormovo (it is a pity that it was blocked by high-rise buildings), a Barricade School, a hydrofoil rocket monument.
 Avtozavod
The main industrial center of the city. Here is the famous GAZ (Gorky Automobile Plant), the area of which is almost half of the district. It is considered the most comfortable city district, with several transport interchanges, metro and airport. This, the so-called "city in the city." There are many interesting places including the Park of Culture and the Palace of Culture, Sotsgorod, Kiselev Square and the Strigino forest.
 Moskovsky District
This district represents almost no tourist value. It is on Line 2 of the metro.
 Leninsky District
This district represents almost no tourist value. The exception is only Bugrov Business Park.

Understand

Map
Map of Nizhny Novgorod

History

The city was founded by Grand Duke George II of Russia in 1221 at the confluence of two most important rivers of his principality, the Volga and the Oka. Its name literally means Newtown the Lower, to distinguish it from the older Novgorod. A major stronghold for border protection, Nizhny Novgorod fortress took advantage of a natural moat formed by the two rivers.

Along with Moscow and Tver, Nizhny Novgorod was among several newly founded towns that escaped Mongol devastation on account of its insignificance and grew up into important centers of Russian political life during the period of Tatar yoke. For a short period of time it was the capital of the Suzdal Principality and competed with Moscow for the power in the region. However the competition with Moscow was lost and in 1392 the city was incorporated into Muscovy. Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was built in 1508-1511 (under supervision of the Italian fortress engineers) and became one of the strongest Russian citadels. There is a legend saying that the project was initially developed with participation of Leonardo da Vinci. However there is no documented proof of Leonardo's work for that project, the only thing the legend is based on is the striking resemblance of Leonardo's sketches and the actual Kremlin schemes. The fortress was strong enough to withstand Tatar sieges in 1520 and 1536.

In 1612, the so-called national militia, gathered by a local merchant Kuzma Minin and commanded by Knyaz Dmitry Pozharsky expelled the Polish troops from Moscow, thus putting an end to the Time of Troubles and establishing the rule of the Romanov dynasty.

In 1817, the Makaryev Monastery Fair, one of the liveliest in the world the 16th-18th centuries, was transferred to Nizhny Novgorod, which thereupon started to attract numerous visitors and by the mid-19th century it turned Nizhny Novgorod into trade capital of the Russian Empire.

Under the Soviet period, the trade connections of the city were abandoned and Nizhny Novgorod became an important industrial centre instead. During the communist time the city was closed to foreigners to safeguard the security of Soviet military research. The physicist and the Nobel laureate Andrei Sakharov was exiled there during 1980-1986 to limit his contacts with foreigners.

Climate

Nizhny Novgorod
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
 
42
 
 
−7
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33
 
 
−6
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28
 
 
1
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−1
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation+Snow totals in mm
Averages of Nizhny Novgorod
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
 
1.7
 
 
20
9
 
 
 
1.3
 
 
22
10
 
 
 
1.1
 
 
33
21
 
 
 
1.4
 
 
51
36
 
 
 
2
 
 
63
46
 
 
 
2.5
 
 
73
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3
 
 
74
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2.6
 
 
70
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2.2
 
 
59
44
 
 
 
2.3
 
 
44
34
 
 
 
2.2
 
 
30
22
 
 
 
2
 
 
24
13
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

The climate in the region is humid continental and it is similar to the climate in Moscow, although colder in winter, which lasts from late November until late March with a permanent snow cover.

Get in

By train

Moscow Railway Station in Nizhny Novgorod

The train station in Nizhny Novgorod is in the northern part of the city centre, near the Metromost Bridge. It is reachable via the metro. The main hall of the train station is beautiful and includes a chandelier as well as soviet-style mosaics symbolizing the life of Russian people.

See also: Trans-Siberian Railway

All Trans-Siberian trains from Moscow except for train 99/100 (which goes via Yaroslavl instead) stop at Nizhny Novgorod.

When searching timetables and fares on the RZD website, enter "Nizhniy Novgorod" as the station for Nizhny Novgorod.

There are several options for train travel from Moscow including high speed Sapsan trains (3½ hours, 1200-1700 руб) and slower late night trains (7 hours, from 700 руб). Trains are generally cheaper if purchased in advance. Most trains from Moscow arrive depart from Moscow's Kursky or Yaroslavsky train stations.

There are 2 daily overnight trains to/from Saint Petersburg (15-16 hours, from 900 руб).

There are also direct train connections with Vladimir, Dzerzhinsk, Kazan, Samara, Kirov (6-7 hours, from 550 руб), Yaroslavl (9 hours, from 450 руб), Kungur (16 hours, from 1200 руб), Yekaterinburg, (20 hours, from 1400 руб), Novosibirsk (40 hours, from 2500 руб), Irkutsk (69 hours, 10000 руб), Astrakhan, Simferopol, Novorossiysk (52 hours, from 1900 руб), Vladivostok, Beijing, Ulaanbaatar, and many other cities. Suburban commuter trains connect Nizhny Novgorod with towns within 200 km of the city.

By plane

The airport is connected to the city by public transport including buses 11, 20, T-29, T-46. The journey by public transport to the city centre takes approximately 1 hour. A taxi ride takes around 30 minutes and should cost under 1000 руб if negotiated in advance.

By car

Nizhny Novgorod is situated on the M7/E30 road. The road is in decent condition, although with traffic it can take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours to drive to/from Moscow.

By bus

There are several stops for buses arriving in Nizhny Novgorod; however, departing buses leave from either Kanavinskaya bus station, near the railway station, for buses going to points north and west, and the main bus station (Avtovokzal) near pl. Lyadova, for the buses going to points south and east.

Buses are generally uncomfortable and slower than the trains.

MR Trans [dead link] operates buses to/from Moscow (9 hours, 600-1000 руб), Yoshkar-Ola, Kazan, Cheboksary, and other nearby cities.

By boat

Turflot, Infoflot, and many other companies operate multi-day river cruises down the Volga from early May to the end of September.

Many companies operate passenger boat service between Moscow and Astrakhan, with stops at most cities along the Volga River.

Get around

By foot

The city centre is compact and walkable. However, there are many inclines or steps from the river banks. The bridges are not pedestrian friendly since the sidewalk is very narrow and cars drive extremely fast close to the pedestrians.

Via public transport

There is a network of s-trains, trams, trolleybuses, buses, marshrutkas and a 2-line metro system. Google maps can be used for directions via public transport.

The fare on public transport is 20 руб per ride and operating hours are generally 05:15 to 00:00.

On surface public transport (trams, trolleybuses, buses and marshrutkas) you are expected to pay within one stop after you enter, the fare is fixed for one ride. A konductor who will come to you, take money and issue a ticket; if there is no konductor, you should pay directly to the driver. Both the driver and konductor will give change if needed, although notes of 1000 руб and larger are sometimes denied. It is best to have exact change ready.

As of 2019, you can pay by Apple Pay/Google Pay/Visa PayWave/Mastercard Contactless on board on ANY public transport including marshrutkas.

By metro

Nizhny Novgorod Metro system map

The metro is open from 05:15 to 00:15. To get in, look for an underground passage with the red letter M on top and go down under the ground. At the entrance to the metro you need to go through the security system. Police officers have the right to examine you, if necessary. The metro is accessible by tokens, city transport smart cards and bank cards. The fare is 20 руб, as of May 2017. There are also electronic transport cards for 90 руб for 24 hours of travel on all types of public transport and 20 руб for 70 minutes.

The metro consists of 2 lines and 14 stations, with more stations planned in the future. The system was designed during Soviet times and stops are near factories and industrial areas. However, the demographics have shifted and as a result, the metro is not as useful as it once was and surface transport is more popular and more crowded. The 2 lines intersect at Moscovskaya Metro Station. This is the only metro station in the ex-USSR with 4 adjacent tracks. In the afternoon you can expect a train about 8 minutes, in the evenings intervals reach 13-15 minutes. Therefore, you can see what happens with the interval clock: after reaching 10 minutes they just go out and time stops. After 22:00, the movement of trains going in an interesting way. From the Park Kultury to the Proletarskaya train move from the right platform, then the passengers are planted at the station and they pass to the other side of the platform, where trains run from Gorkovskaya (or Burevestnik) to Proletarskaya and back. Meanwhile, passengers who need to get to the Park Kultury get on the train that came from this station, and go back to the Avtozavodsky City District.

The Nizhny Novgorod metro is useful for those travelers who want to visit the city center, the well-organized industrial Avtozavodsky City District and the Sormovsky City District with a large number of pre-revolutionary and Stalinist buildings, and, at the same time, spend a minimum of time for transportation. The first stations were built in the early 1980s, from an architectural point of view, they are of little interest. However, two of them deserve attention: Moskovskaya (the only station with four routes and 2 lines) and Gorkovskaya (its walls are decorated with a panel depicting the main attractions of the city). Transportation between them on the train, you'll see a metro-bridge, Oka panorama, Strelka and Rozhdestvenskaya street. Also interesting is the terrestrial covered station Burevestnik - this is the only station of the Nizhny Novgorod metro with lateral platforms. Another interesting station is Zarechnaya, where the walls are decorated in the form of a river wave, and in the end of the station there is a panel "Grad Kitezh".

By city rail

Nizhny Novgorod City Rail system map

The City Rail connects areas where there are no metro lines. Connects with the subway at the Moscow railway station. It has 2 lines: Sormovskaya and Priokskaya. The fare by train costs 28 rubles. According to the Citicard Transport Card, the fare is 26 rubles. Also by train you can get to the nearest suburb, or transfer to suburban trains to Dzerzhinsk, Bor, Semenov or Arzamas.

By bus and trolleybus

Trolleybus in the Minin and Pozharsky Square

As of May 2017 in each district of the city there are several city bus routes. The number of trolleybus routes is much less. In one district of the city there are 1-2 trolleybus routes. Trolleybus routes are completely absent in the Leninsky city district. It is worth noting that trolleybuses do not connect the Lower City to the Upper. This is because the trolleybuses do not have enough power to climb the mountain.

The trolleybus network is divided into 3 parts:

  • The upper trolleybus network (it unites all three districts - Nizhegorodsky, Sovetsky and Prioksky) with a turning circle on the Minin Square, near the Kremlin.
  • The lower trolleybus network (connects Kanavinsky, Moskovsky and Sormovsky districts)
  • The Avtozavod trolleybus network (connects all the distant sleeping microdistricts among themselves)

By tram

Throughout the city, land trams run. The longest route of all is 417. It connects the outskirts of Avtozavodsky district with the Moskovsky Rail Terminal. The journey takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. The route passes through the sleeping areas (approximately 75% of the way). Also in remote neighborhoods there are routes of several more trams, but in most cases, they are in the Upper City. By the way, you can reach there by tram 27 or 10 directly from the Moscow railway station.

By marshrutka

Marshrutkas do not stop at every stop. To indicate your intention to exit a marshrutka, press a button and to indicate your intention to enter a marshrutka en-route, you need to wave your hand.

By bicycle

Nizhny Novgorod has not very developed bicycle infrastructure. Special bike paths exist only on the Upper-Volga and Lower-Volga embankments and on Rozhdestvenskaya Street.

The upper city is very hilly and full of steep inclines and even many locals will get off their bicycles and push their bikes up the hill by foot. Drivers can be reckless and pose a danger to cyclists. The roads can also be icy during the winter. City cyclists solve this problem by replacing summer tires with winter tires.

Also, in 2017 the implementation of a new integrated transport scheme of the city began. It provides for a large number of bicycle paths in the Upper City (including on Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street) and in the Lower City.

Bike rental

See

The Kremlin
Exhibition Hall of the Fair

Streets and squares

  • 1 The Kremlin (Кремль), Nizhny Novgorod, Kremlin, ☏ +7 831 422-10-80. 10:00-19:00. It's worth a wander around and contains a church, war monument with eternal flame, a reasonable art museum and impressive views along the Volga River. Also you can take a walk atop (inside) the Kremlin's wall in summer (roughly from May to October), the entrance is by the stairs set a bit off the wall inside the Kremlin near the main entrance via Dmitrievskaya tower, the latter being one of Nizhny Novgorod's symbols. Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin (Q1550905) on Wikidata Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin on Wikipedia 
  • 2 Minin and Pozharsky Square (площадь Минина и Пожарского). The main square of city, at the south-east side of the Kremlin. A wide stairway (the Chkalov Stairs) descends from the Chkalov Monument to the Volga waterfront to the north. Also take a walk along a path goes from the square round the western part of Kremlin wall. Minin and Pozharsky Square (Q4365660) on Wikidata Minin and Pozharsky Square on Wikipedia 
  • 3 Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street (Большая Покровская улица). A pedestrian street, the main street of the city. Street vendors, souvenirs, shops and main restaurants, and several museums including the museum of Russian traditional art. Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street (Q4091587) on Wikidata Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street on Wikipedia 
  • 4 Rozhdestvenskaya st. (ул. Рождественская). Parallel to Oka river under the hill, this street contains a lot of 19th century buildings in rather good condition. The street was renovated in 2012, half-width becoming pedestrian, and now serves as a location for different festivals and events. Rozhdestvenskaya Street (Q4396177) on Wikidata Rozhdestvenskaya Street on Wikipedia 
  • 5 Ilyinskaya st. (ул. Ильинская). Merchant buildings of 19th century (and a few even older), some in good condition, some in rather worse one. Also interesting is the whole area around Ilyinskaya st., especially the small streets between it and Fedorovsky embankment — many old buildings, including wooden ones, still exist there, and the general quiet atmosphere of streets is quite different from what you see in other parts of central Nizhny. 
  • 6 Varvarskaya st. (ул. Варварская). Late 19th-century houses intermixed with early-21st century ones. Varvarskaya Street (Nizhny Novgorod) (Q4103648) on Wikidata 

Embankments

The Upper city is hilly and the slopes start not far from the waterfront, therefore in addition to embankments proper — the streets that run along the water — there is another kind of streets that are also called embankment. These are the streets running along the top of the hill slope, thus having a view of the rivers and opposite banks from 100-150 m above. The latter are great for walking, offering far-reaching views and good winds from the river.

  • 7 Upper Volga embankment (Верхневолжская набережная, Verkhnevolzhskaya nab.). Runs above Volga from Minin square to Sennaya square. Offers views over Volga, and also has some old, but mostly well-preserved buildings worth seeing. 
  • 8 Lower Volga embankment (Нижневолжская набережная, Nizhnevolzhskaya nab.). Runs under the Upper Volga embankment along the Volga. It connects the embankment of the Grebnoy Canal and the Kanavinsky Bridge. However, the waterfront area between Kozhevenny lane (near the Minin and Pozharsky Monument) and the Kanavinsky Bridge is under construction for 10 years. 
The Spit of Nizhny Novgorod
  • 9 The Spit of Nizhny Novgorod (Стрелка, Strelka). It is the place of confluence of the Oka and the Volga. In the middle is the yellow St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. It is surrounded by a former river port, which is now removed from there. Now there is a construction of a new park and a pedestrian embankment. 
  • 10 Fedorovsky embankment and Zalomov street (Набережная Федоровского, улица Заломова). Above Oka, starting not far from Kremlin and going south. There are several ways of accessing it from Bolshaya Pokrovskaya, all involving going by small side-streets; the old buildings on these are worth seeing on their own. You can also attempt climbing any of numerous stairways from Rozhdestvenskaya street. The embankment itself offers views over the Lower part of the city, and northwestwards views along Volga. Some festivals and events are sometimes held there; the hill slope has lots of paths and is very walkable. Also there are two pedesterian bridges — and a third one from Zalomov street, which leads to a small area of old wooden houses. 
  • 11 Shveitzariya park (Парк Швейцария, literally Switzerland park), along Gagarin Ave, . Although not a street and not an embankment, the park is on the slope of high Oka bank and has a lot of walking paths with views of the opposite Lower part of the city. The nature is said to be reminiscent of Swiss, and the park owns its name to this fact. Also contains a zoo, an observation wheel, and numerous cafes. Shveitsariya Park (Q4521742) on Wikidata 

Buildings

State Bank Building
  • 12 The building of State Bank (Здание Государственного Банка), 26 Bolshaya Pokrovskaya st (on the corner of Gruzinskaya Грузинская street). The building is notable for its architectural style. It was built in the early 20th century for the State Bank, and still is occupied by the Nizhny Novgorod branch of Central bank of Russia. The interiors of the building are also beautiful, but it is really difficult to get into; generally, the visitors are allowed only in groups with pre-arrangement. Only one day a year, in May, the building is opened to anyone wishing. 
  • 13 The main building of Nizhny Novgorod Fair (Главный ярмарочный дом), 13 Sovnarkomovskaya st. Совнаркомовская ул. The 19th-century building that used to be the main building of Nizhny Novgorod Fair, one of the main merchant's trading place in second half of the 19th century in Russia. Now it is the center for different expositions, exhibitions and conferences. 
  • 14 Nativity (Stroganov) church (Церковь Собора Пресвятой Богородицы (Строгановская)), 34a Rozhdestvenskaya st, ☏ +7 831 430-18-60. One of the most famous churches in Nizhny Novgorod, built in late 17th century by the merchant Grigory Stroganov, and known after his name. Bears a distinctive architectural style. Stroganov Church (Q1574846) on Wikidata Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Nizhny Novgorod on Wikipedia 
  • Several XVII-century brick houses:
    • 15 Peter the Great's house (Домик Петра (Дом Чатыгина)), 27 Pochainskaya st. ул. Почаинская. Here, it is said, Russian emperor Peter the Great stayed twice during his visits to Nizhny. Peter I house in Nizhny Novgorod (Q4165829) on Wikidata 
    • 16 Pushkinov's house (Палаты Пушкинова), 52 Gogol street ул. Гоголя (near the end of the street, surrounded by Soviet-time and more modern buildings). 
    • 17 Olisov's house (Палаты Олисова), 7 Krutoy per. Крутой пер. Probably the most beautiful of these old houses. In addition, separated by a small park from the hill slope that goes down Oka and Volga, it is not so overdominated by neighboring modern houses. A church nearby is also of the 17th century. 

Museums

  • 18 Museum-house of the writer Maxim Gorky, 19 Semashko st. ул. Семашко, ☏ +7 831 436 15 29. A big house with several rooms keeping the atmosphere of the 1900s. 
  • 19 Museum-flat of Andrey Sakharov, 214 Gagarin ave. (пр. Гагарина) (inside an apartment building), ☏ +7 831 466 86 23. The memorial flat of Andrey Sakharov, the father of the H-bomb, dissident, human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. 
  • 20 Russian museum of photography, 9a, Piskunov st. (ул. Пискунова), ☏ +7 831 434 25 23, +7 831 437 37 43. Old photos of Nizhny Novgorod, old photographic equipment, often different expositions. 
  • 21 Museum of steam engines (200m away from the suburb station "Nizhny Novgorod Sortirovochnaya"). 15 engines constructed before 1950 in various countries 
  • 22 History Museum of Nizhny Novgorod automobile plant (GAZ), 95 Lenin ave. (пр. Ленина). M-F 08:30-16:00. 
  • Nizhny Novgorod State Museum of History and Architecture (Нижегородский государственный историко-архитектурный музей заповедник), ☏ +7 831 422-10-80, .  It's an organization running several museums each holding some exhibitions and organizing different events:
    • 23 Rukavishnikovs' house (Усадьба Рукавишниковых), 7 Upper Volga Embankment Верхневолжская набережная. One of the most beautiful 19th-century houses in Nizhny Novgorod which once belonged to one of richest Nizhny Novgorod men. With exterior and interior kept to its original state, the museum organizes tours of the house, keeps some exhibition of the history of Nizhny Novgorod, and often holds different events. 
    • 24 Nizhny Novgorod Povolzhye Peoples' Architecture and Life Museum (Музей архитектуры и быта народов Нижегородского Поволжья), 41 Gorbatovskaya st. Горбатовская ул. (Near the end stop of bus 28, on the edge of Schelkovsky Khutor park), ☏ +7 831 422-10-88. Tu-Su 10:00-16:00. A collection of old (1600s-1800s) wooden buildings (houses, churches, etc.) moved here from different villages of Nizhny Novgorod oblast. Many buildings are open, and you can walk in and see interior, etc. From time to time hosts different events. 
    • 25 Nizhny Novgorod oblast handicraft museum (Музей истории художественных промыслов Нижегородской области), 43 Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Большая Покровская (Entrance through the side arch). Exposition of old Russian handicraft. 

Monuments

  • Monument to Valery Chkalov, the famous test pilot of the 1930s, known for his ultra long flight from Moscow to Washington State via the North Pole.
  • Maxim Gorky, at the square named after him
  • Alexander Pushkin (at the entrance to the Theatre of Opera and Ballet)
  • 26 Prince George and Saint Simon of Suzdal, The Kremlin, St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral. Monument to the founders of the city of Prince Yuri II of Vladimir (also George Vsevolodovich) and Simeon of Suzdal (updated Jun 2017)
  • 27 Monument to Minin and Pozharsky, National Unity Square. On the first celebration of the Unity Day (November 4, 2005) an almost exact copy of this monument by Zurab Tsereteli was erected in Nizhny Novgorod. The copy is only 5 cm shorter than the Moscow original. Monument to Minin and Pozharsky (Q18407331) on Wikidata Monument to Minin and Pozharsky, Nizhny Novgorod on Wikipedia (updated Jun 2017)

Religious

  • Pechersky Ascencion Monastery, near Sennaya Square a couple miles east of downtown, halfway down the slope to Volga. With a cathedral and several churches surrounded by a restored stone wall, the monastery is the seat of the archbishops of Nizhny Novgorod.
  • A big variety of other churches and convents.

Do

The cableway
  • 1 Nizhny Novgorod Cableway (Нижегородская канатная дорога), 8a Kazan embankment Казанская набережная (Nizhny Novgorod station); 12 Lunacharskogo st. ул. Луначарского, Bor (Bor station), ☏ +7 831 411-9268, +7 831 424-90-09 (autoinformer). Cable car goes above Volga, offering views of Nizhny Novgorod and opposite bank of the river. From any place on the Upper Volga embankment you can see in the distance to the East the supporting towers and the cabins. The Nizhny Novgorod station itself is not easy to find, but look for two high round-shaped apartment towers near Sennaya square, and go past them along Sechenov street ул. Сеченова, then past a mosque towards the Volga bank; also look for signs "Канатная дорога". Note that the service is often interrupted, both due to weather such as strong winds, or for maintenance. 
  • 2 Nizhny Novgorod planetarium (Нижегородский планетарий), 20 Revolutsionnaya st. (ул. Революционная), ☏ +7 831 272-50-94, +7 831 246-70-65, . Different programs, mainly for children, but some for adults too. Has also a simulator for space rendezvous of Soyuz spaceship and the International Space Station. 
  • 3 Nizhny Novgorod circus (Нижегородский цирк), 32 Kommunisticheskaya st. (ул. Коммунистическая), ☏ +7 831 246-40-00, +7 831 246-246-1. 
  • 4 Limpopo zoo (Зоопарк Лимпопо), 7B Yaroshenko st (у. Ярошенко, 7Б) (on the edge of Sormovo park), ☏ +7 831 271-67-37, +7 831 416-14-14, . 10:00-20:30, ticket office closes at 19:30. A zoo with different animals, features a "contact zone" where you can walk among different non-dangerous animals. The area consists of two separate parts within 60 m walking distance, one ticket is valid for entering both areas. You can access the entrances to the zoo both from Yaroshenko street and from Sormovo park via a pedestrian bridge. 
  • Watch football at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, opened in 2018 to host games of the FIFA World Cup. It's home to FC Olimpiyets Nizhny Novgorod, who play in the Russian Premier League (ie top tier of Russian football). The stadium, capacity just under 45,000, stands on the west bank of the River Oka just as it joins the Volga, and looks across to the Kremlin on the Oka east bank. It's a circular colonnade, 1 km north of the city's main "Moscow" railway station, walk or take metro to Strelka.

Winter sports

During winter, with permanent snow cover, Nizhny offers different possibilities for winter sports. Some of them are listed below.

  • Skating is possible on many open ice rinks, starting from a hockey-rink-sized ones, often located near schools, poorly-maintained, lacking any room where you can left your belongings, but free for entrance, up to soccer-sized (and more) stadiums with proper infrastructure, skates rent and paid entrance.
    • 5 [dead link] Trud stadium (Стадион Труд), 30 Yubileyny bulvar (бульвар Юбилейный) (The access to the stadium is via a bridge over a small river), ☏ +7 831 225-68-94, +7 831 222-27-57, fax: +7 (831) 225-12-73. F-Su evenings. A big open stadium with cooling machines allowing to maintain ice quality even when the air temperature is above freezing (up to 10 °C); therefore it is open roughly from end of October to start of April and has probably the best ice in the city. During this period, the stadium is a place for lots of competitions and sport events, but on Fri-Sun evenings (roughly from 16:00-18:00 till 20:00-21:00, better check before you go) it is open for public skating. It is also open for public skating every evening during public holidays, most notably in the first week of January. Have skate rent service and a cloakroom inside a small building; also rooms where you can change your boots to skates. You will also find stalls selling hot tea and snacks inside. Being the most popular of skating venues in Nizhny, it is often overcrowded. Come early if you want to experience good ice, as it is renewed every day before the stadium opens, and then gets worse (and really bad) during the evening with all the crowds rushing there. 150 руб entrance, 100 руб per one hour skates rent. 
    • 6 Dinamo stadium (Стадион Динамо), 53 Bolshaya Pokrovskaya (Большая Покровская) (entrance through the arch to the left of October (Октябрь) cinema), ☏ +7 831 433-78-73, fax: +7 (831) 278-01-74. Another big open stadium with public skating almost every evening during winter. There is no cooling machines, so there is no skating in October and November and usually December too; only when day temperatures settle below freezing they make ice on the stadium. Even after this, the ice quality may be not the best, especially during periods when air temperature rises back to freezing. However, for its location in the city center and because it is open almost every day and for longer hours than Trud, it is also popular. Has skate rent service and a cloakroom inside a small building, you can change boots to skates in a long hall there. 
    • Mega shopping mall has also a very small skating rink at the main hall, but it's of interest only during summer, when big skating rinks do not work.
  • Cross-country skiing is possible in many Nizhny Novgorod parks and in many forests surrounding the city; almost in every park you will find a circular ski track for classical skiing. Bigger forested areas, primary Schelkovsky Khutor (Щелковский Хутор) and adjacent Ankudinovsky forest (Анкудиновский лес) in the Upper city, and Dubravy forest (Дубравный) in the furthermost Sormovo have much more of classical and skating ski tracks. However, the infrastructure for ski rent is not widespread. Note also that most of the tracks have no lighting, so skiing after roughly 15:00, when it starts becoming darker, will not be pleasant.
    • 7 Ski rent at school 135 (Прокат лыж в школе 135), 22 Koreyskaya st. (ул. Корейская) (in the basement, entrance from the back side of the school building). A ski rent office near Schelkovsky Khutor forest. You can leave your belongings there and have a cup of hot tea on return. 
  • 8 Khabarskoye sport club (Спорткомплекс Хабарское), Khabarskoye village, 1 Nagornaya st. (деревня Хабарское, ул. Нагорная, 1) (roughtly 30 km from the city boundary, near Bogorodsk town, on the high bank of Oka), ☏ +7 831 438-66-05, +7 910-873-11-82, . Downhill skiing on a steep hills of high bank of Oka river outside of city. However, it is not that simple to reach them. 

Buy

Main building of the Trade Fair

Souvenirs

Apart from simple souvenirs like thick pencils with city name, which are present in every Russian city with just the name changed, and have nothing to do with Russian traditions, there are some souvenirs that are really Russian and really Nizhny-Novgorodian. The most important and famous are Khokhloma gold-red-black painted wooden items such as tableware and furniture; Khokhloma is actually a village in Nizhny Novgorod oblast, a traditional center for the craft.

Also there are other traditional Russia souvenirs such as Gorodets-style painted wooden items, and lots of different Matryoshkas.

You can find lots of souvenirs on street stalls along the pedestrian part of Bolshaya Pokrovskaya street (especially in its upper and further from Kremlin part), and in some stalls inside Kremlin. There are also several stands inside the train station building, both on the ground floor and in the basement.

  • 1 Handicraft (Художественные промыслы, Khudozhestvennye Promysly), B. Pokrovskaya, 43, ☏ +7 433-61-63, toll-free: 800-250-46-48, . 10:00-20:00. Lots of Khokhloma items, matreshkas, and other traditional craft items. Also some simpler souvenir stalls inside. 

Grocery

There are many small local grocery shops (продукты) in Nizhny Novgorod, but you are advised to shop in slightly more respectable chain self-service supermarket stores listed below. There are lots of stores for each chain, so only a couple of center-most are listed for each chain. The quality of food is generally good in every store, but you are advised to check the expiry dates on the items that do not last long (such as dairy products). Also note the common trick employed by store owners: on the shelves you will often find the same items, but with different production dates, and facing you on the shelf are the oldest items, while the freshest are somewhere in the back of the shelf.

  • Магнит (Magnit, lit. Magnet) are cheap but basic stores. Do not expect anything beyond simple food (some stores also have basic household chemical goods). But if you want just a slice of bread, a bottle of milk or yogurt, simple cheese or cookies, beer or water, etc., this will always be the cheapest place. Also, they often have unexpectedly good and cheap selection of vegetables and fruits as compared to other small stores. There are no Magnit stores in the very center, but some of them just out of center: 160 Gorky st. (ул. Горького), 118 Belinsky st. (ул. Белинского), 26 Sovnarkomovskaya st. (ул. Совнаркомовская), etc.
  • Spar (some shops are named Eurospar; the signs are in latin script). Store sizes vary from really small to big ones, but generally they offer somewhat wider selection than Magnit (and in big stores — a much wider selection, up to own bakery providing bread), accept credit cards, but are somewhat more expensive. Most have also some household chemicals, etc. There are really plenty of shops in city center: 8/1 Alekseevskaya st. (ул. Алексеевская, inside a small shopping mall), 16a Minin st. (ул. Минина), 144 Gorky st. (ул. Горького), a two-storey shop at 9 Dobrolyubov st. (ул. Добролюбова), a big shop at 124 Belinsky st. (ул. Белинского, in Chocolate shopping mall), and some more. 
  • Seven (the signs are also in latin script). Similar to Spar, they also have stores ranging from small ones to rather large, accept credit cards, have wider selection than Magnit, but are somewhat more expensive. In contrast to Spar, they do not have really much shops. Some stores in the center are: 41 Piskunov st. (ул. Пискунова, inside a shopping center known as Нижегородский универсам Nizhegorodsky universam) — this is probably the centermost of large stores; 4 Vaneev st. (ул. Ванеева), 63 Belinsky st. (ул. Белинского, inside the Etagi shopping mall). 
  • Also almost every shopping mall (see below) has a grocery store. In addition to the mentioned chains, you may meet Auchan (Ашан) stores there. If you are looking for a really wide selection and cheap price, head to one of these, but you will have to go out of the city center.

Shopping malls

  • Mega (Мега), Fedyakovo (Федяково) village south of Nizhny. 10:00 - 22:00. The biggest shopping mall in Nizhny Novgorod (located in Fedyakovo, a south-eastern suburb on the road to Kazan). Auchan, IKEA, OBI and 160 other shops. 
  • Chocolade (Шоколад), 124 Belinsky st. (ул. Белинского). 
  • 2 Etazhi (Этажи), 63 Belinskogo st. (ул. Белинского). 10:00-21:00. 
  • 3 Respublika (Республика), 9, Revolution Square (opposite the railway station), ☏ +7 831 277-92-22. 09:00-21:00. 
  • Fantastika (Фантастика), 178 Rodionov st. (ул. Родионова). 
  • LP Fashion Gallery, 10/16, Alexeevskaya st. (ул. Алексеевская). A premium shopping mall in the city center 

Eat

Budget

Street food

In the city stalls with shawarma are very popular. They can be found everywhere, even on the outskirts of the city.

  • 1 Ta samaya shaurma na Srednom, 13 Kostina Street, ☏ +7 831 433-05-64. The first and most popular shawarma in Nizhny Novgorod. The queue is round the clock. This is one of the most popular tourist destinations for gastronomic tourists. There is a joking city proverb: "If you ate shawarma on the Srednoy, then you did not see Nizhny Novgorod" 160 руб. 

Fast food chains

McDonald's and KFC have locations near almost every shopping mall and central streets and squares. It is common to pay extra for condiments.

  • Yolki-Palki. This chain restaurant offers Russian food. You can take an all-you-can-eat plate for 300 руб. 
  • 2 Ochag, 44B Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Str. (500 meters from the Gorkovskaya Metro station), ☏ +7 831 430-02-34. Cafe pies. Quiet and cozy place in the basement of the old house. It has 2 rooms: the first hall in the style of the 1950s, the second hall in the Gothic style. 150-300 руб. 

Mid-range

  • 3 Tinkoff, Belinsky Str., Etazhi Shopping Complex (Bus stop : Opera Theatre (Operny teatr) or Poltavskaya Street). variety of food including Japanese cuisine. Its cheaper to go on weekdays from 12:00—16:00 to order their "business lunch" which is like a bento meal. moderate to high. 
  • 4 Biblioteca (Библиотека, lit. Library), 46 Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Str. (3rd floor, entrance through the same door as Dirigible Дирижабль book store), ☏ +7 831 433-69-34, fax: +7 831 430-94-11, . 11:00-22:00. Excellent Italian restaurant situated at Pokrovskaya Street. Good atmosphere, great food and reasonable price, but very often packed. On weekdays during lunch time till 15:00 you can get 20% discount on all menu. The Dirigible book store is also worth a visit, having several specialized sections, and in particular a section with souvenirs and literature about Nizhny. Both the cafe and the book store has a branch at 2 Kanavinskaya street near the railroad station. 400 руб. 

Splurge

  • 5 Kladovaya bashnya (Кладовая башня), The Kremlin 10 lit. A, Pantry Tower (Bus stop : Minin adn Pozharky Square), ☏ +7 831 439-12-68. 09:00-17:00. Dishes of Russian and European cuisine 700 руб. 
  • 6 Bocconcino, 10/16, Alexeevskaya Str. (800 m from the Kremlin), ☏ +7 831 296 55 73. 12:00-00:00. At LP Fashion Gallery near with Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Str. Here you can get a typical Italian food. Reasonable priced (350 руб) set lunch served at noon. very expensive. 

Drink

Sleep

All hotels and hostels offer free Wi-Fi and many have computer terminals. Almost all accept credit cards. Hotels and hostels will usually provide a visa invitation and registration for an additional fee.

Budget

Hostels

Mid-range

Connect

Phone

For information on purchasing a SIM card in Russia, see Russia#Connect.

Note that Nizhny Novgorod is in the Volga region zone, and SIM cards purchased elsewhere, such as in Moscow or Saint Petersburg, may be subject to roaming charges.

There are payphones in the streets; however, you can only buy phone-cards in the post offices and in a few newspaper kiosks.

Internet

Free WiFi is available in most hotels, shopping malls, university buildings, restaurants and cafes, the airport as well as several metro stations. There is also free public WiFi on B. Pokrovskaya street.

Cope

Built by an Old Believer (ultra-Orthodox) Christian millionaire A.P. Bugrov as a homeless shelter, the former "Bugrov Flophouse" now houses the local office of the Federal Migration Service, the Russian passport and immigration authority

Consulates

Visa centers

  • Bulgaria Denmark Greece Iceland Malta Spain Bulgaria, Denmark, Greece, Iceland, Malta, and Spain (EU Visa Center), Osharskaya street, 16. M-F 09:00-16:00. 

Go next

  • Gorodets - a town founded in the 12th century, famous for its Museum of samovars.
  • Makaryev Monastery is 100 km southeast of Nizhny Novgorod. It was constructed between 1651 and 1667. Approximately 20 nuns live there. It is the last resting place of its legendary founder, Venerable Macarius, of the Miracle of the Moose fame.
  • 1 Zeleny Gorod (Зеленый Город, lit. Green City) (by bus from Shcherbinki bus station, or by car in the direction of Kstovo and Kazan; there are two roads leading from Nizhny to Kstovo, one along Larin street, the other along Rodionov street; you mist turn to Zeleny Gorod right before the two roads merge). A part of Nizhny Novgorod, this forested area is south from Upper part of the city, on the slope down to Kudma river and contains many resort facilities. It is a good place to go hiking in summer and to swim in the small Kudma river. There is also an artificial waterfall (concrete dam) in the upper part of Kudma, which is a good hiking destination if you are already in Zeleny Gorod (although definitely not worth a separate trip from Nizhny). You can also attempt bathing there, although be aware of lots of dangerous objects in the stream. 
  • 2 Bor (Бор) (you can reach the Cable Car, near Sennaya Square or from the Kanavino Bus Station near the Moskovsky Railway Station). A town on the opposite bank of Volga river. There is nothing particularly interesting in the town, but a trip across Volga to Bor and back is worth doing for its scenery. 
Routes through Nizhny Novgorod
Moscow ← Vladimir ←  W  E  → Kirov → Yekaterinburg


This city travel guide to Nizhny Novgorod is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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