Kazan: The Complete Travel Guide
Kazan is, for me, Russia’s great surprise: the capital of Tatarstan, one night by train from Moscow, where a mosque and an Orthodox cathedral share the same kremlin. Here’s how to get there, how many days to spend, where to stay, what to see, what to eat and all my guides to the city.
In 30 seconds
Kazan in numbers
- 2-3 daysto see it properly. With 3 you have time for a trip to Sviyazhsk.
- May to Septemberis the best time: 20 to 28 °C and every museum open.
- One night by trainfrom Moscow (11 to 14 hours), or 1 h 25 min-1 h 45 min by plane.
- No direct flightsfrom the EU: connect in Istanbul, Yerevan, Baku or Dubai.
- The Kremlin is freeand open 24 hours; you only pay for the museums (200 to 450 ₽).
- Tatar cuisineand almost always halal: echpochmak, chak-chak and no pork.
Getting there
How to get to Kazan
From Moscow, what I recommend is the overnight train: it leaves Kazansky station in the evening, you sleep in a berth and wake up at Kazan’s central station, a 10-minute walk from the Kremlin. It takes 11 to 14 hours depending on the train, and the 002Й “Tatarstan” and the double-decker 023/024 are the most comfortable. If you’re in a hurry, there are more than 15 flights a day of 1 h 25 min-1 h 45 min. There’s no high-speed train between Moscow and Kazan: it has been on the drawing board for years. From Saint Petersburg the most practical option is to fly, about 2 hours non-stop.
You can also enter Russia directly through Kazan, without going through Moscow: the international airport (KZN) has flights from Istanbul with Turkish Airlines and Pegasus, and from FlyOne Armenia, Azerbaijan Airlines, flydubai and Etihad, and the e-Visa is valid for entering through it. It’s 26 km from the centre; the Aeroexpress takes 30 minutes to the central station, but going by one reader’s experience the ticket machine only accepted MIR cards, so carry some cash for a taxi.
When and how long
Best time to go and how many days to spend
Kazan is a summer city. From late May to early September it’s 20 to 28 °C, with outdoor terraces, boats on the Volga and festivals such as Sabantuy (mid-June) or Kazan and Tatarstan Day (30 August). In winter the illuminated city and the ice rink on the embankment have their charm, but the average drops to -15 °C and, from October to April, almost all the Kremlin museums close on Mondays. The worst times, for me, are March-April, with the thaw, and November.
My advice: 2 days for the essentials (the Kremlin and Bauman Street on the first; the Old Tatar Sloboda and the viewpoint at the Family Centre on the second), 3 if you want a trip to Sviyazhsk and 4 or 5 if you add Bolgar. If you’re combining it with Moscow and Saint Petersburg, a good plan for 13 days is 4 nights in Moscow, the overnight train to Kazan, 3 nights there, a flight to Saint Petersburg and 5 final nights.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Kazan
The best area, hands down, is the Vakhitovsky district, the historic centre between the Kremlin and Tukay Square: everything important is a 10-minute walk away. Around Bauman Street there’s more going on at night; next to the Kremlin, it’s quieter, with views of the Kazanka river, at a slightly higher price; and in the Old Tatar Sloboda, charming guesthouses and a more local feel.
Western booking platforms no longer operate in Russia. I explain which website works with a foreign card in my guide to hotels and apartments in Russia.
What to see
What to see and do in Kazan
The Kremlin
If you only had a few hours in Kazan, you’d spend them here. It’s the only Tatar kremlin still standing, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, and inside its white walls are the Kul Sharif Mosque, the Annunciation Cathedral, the leaning Söyembikä Tower and nine museums. Entering the grounds is free; with half a day you have time for two or three museums.
The city beyond the Kremlin
From the Spasskaya Tower, Bauman Street runs downhill: Kazan’s pedestrian street, with the Epiphany bell tower as a cheap viewpoint. My favourite neighbourhood is the Old Tatar Sloboda, with its colourful wooden houses, the Marjani Mosque and Lake Kaban next door. Across the Kazanka river, the “Kazan” Family Centre, the famous cauldron, has the best panorama of the city, especially at sunset. And for the curious, the baroque Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, the Ushkova House and the Chak-chak Museum.
Food and shopping
Where to eat and what to buy in Kazan
In Kazan the food stops being Russian: here it’s Tatar, with filled pastry in every possible shape, beef, lamb and horse, lots of honey and practically no pork. Most restaurants in the centre are halal. If you only have one day, try echpochmak, kystyby and chak-chak. For a cheap meal, the Soviet-style canteen Dom Chaya, on Bauman Street; for the modern version, Tübätäy. And eating here is a good deal cheaper than in Moscow or Saint Petersburg.
To take home, the gift above all others is a box of chak-chak, which keeps for weeks without a fridge. Volga honey and Tatar herbal tea travel well too. The easiest place to buy it all is the Bakhetle supermarket chain.
Getting around
How to get around Kazan
The historic centre is walkable: from the Kremlin to Tukay Square it’s 1.9 km along Bauman Street, all flat and pedestrian. For everything else there’s the metro, a single line through the key tourist stops (Kremlevskaya, Ploschad Tukaya, Sukonnaya Sloboda and Kozya Sloboda), plus buses, trams and e-scooters. Yandex Go taxis are cheap. For finding your way and checking public transport, 2GIS works better than Google Maps.
Day trips
Day trips from Kazan and how to combine it
With an extra day, go to Sviyazhsk, the island monastery on the Volga from which Ivan the Terrible conquered Kazan; in summer you can get there by boat. It’s on the way to the Temple of All Religions and the Raifa Monastery, and there are day tours that do all three for about 2,800-3,000 ₽. With one more day, Bolgar, the old capital of the Volga Bulgars and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And Kazan fits very well with the two big cities:
Moscow
Saint Petersburg
Trans-SiberianBefore you land
What to sort out before you go
- Visae-Visa for up to 30 daysYou apply online and it’s valid for entry through Kazan airport.
- MoneyYour cards won’t workCash in pristine notes to change into roubles, or a MIR card.
- InternetAn eSIM before you goKazan airport doesn’t sell physical SIM cards to foreigners.
- MandatoryMedical insuranceIt’s required for the visa and must be valid in Russia.
First-hand
Traveller stories from Kazan
Travellers who have been to Kazan recently have told me about their trip: how they got in, what worked for paying and staying online, and what they made of the city.
- 2.5 Hours at Passport Control, then Kazan to Vladivostok: Michael’s Trans-Siberian Chronicle
- From St Petersburg to Lake Baikal in 24 Days: Nicolas and Lara’s Chronicle
- Nine Trips to Russia from the Czech Republic: Natálie’s Chronicle
- Altai and Baikal in 20 Days: Dan’s Chronicle from Prague to Kazan
- Moscow to Vladivostok: Rajendra and Jayshree’s Month in Russia
- From Brussels to Shanghai by Solar Bike: 3,600 km Across Russia, Claude’s Chronicle
- Flying into Russia from China: Shea’s Moscow and Kazan Chronicle
- Kazan, Moscow and St Petersburg: 13 Days in Russia (a Reader’s Chronicle)
- From Kaliningrad to the Volga: Alberto’s Chronicle Across Russia
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Kazan
How many days are enough for Kazan?
For the essentials, 2 full days: the Kremlin, Bauman Street and the embankment on the first, and the Old Tatar Sloboda, Lake Kaban and the viewpoint at the “Kazan” Family Centre on the second. With 3 days you can add the trip to Sviyazhsk and the Temple of All Religions, and with 4 or 5, Bolgar. With a single day you’ll stay in the Kremlin and on Bauman Street.
When is the best time to visit Kazan?
From late May to early September, with 20 to 28 °C, every museum open and the Volga boats running. Winter is very cold (an average of -15 °C) and, from October to April, almost all the Kremlin museums close on Mondays. The worst times are March-April, because of the thaw, and November.
How do you get from Moscow to Kazan?
By overnight train, 11 to 14 hours, from Kazansky station in Moscow to Kazan’s central station, next to the Kremlin; or by plane, with more than 15 flights a day of 1 h 25 min to 1 h 45 min. There’s no high-speed train between the two cities. You can also drive on the M-12 toll motorway or take a bus.
Can I fly to Kazan without going through Moscow?
Yes. There are no direct flights from the European Union, but Kazan airport has international flights from Istanbul (Turkish Airlines and Pegasus), Yerevan, Baku and Dubai. Flying straight to Kazan via Istanbul can be cheaper than flying to Moscow and then taking a domestic flight.
What visa do I need to visit Kazan?
For most Europeans, the e-Visa: you apply online and it allows stays of up to 30 days. It’s valid for entering Russia through Kazan airport and, once you’re in, for moving freely around the whole country. Medical insurance valid in Russia is mandatory.
Is Kazan safe?
Kazan is one of the safest cities in Russia, with very little crime and a strong police presence in the centre. The usual precautions for any city are enough. Two readers who were there in 2026 say they heard the odd drone warning siren, which came to nothing, and that the airport sometimes closes for that reason: leave a margin for connections.
What should I wear to visit the Kul Sharif Mosque?
You take your shoes off. Women must cover their heads (scarves are lent at the entrance) and wear a long skirt or trousers; men, long trousers. On Fridays at midday the mosque closes to visitors for prayers.
Still have questions?
Ask someone who’s just been
On the Russiable forum there are travellers who’ve been to Kazan recently. And if you’re still unsure about your route, compare all of Russia’s destinations here.