Where to go in Nizhny Novgorod - 15 main attractions

Russian cities deserve the attention of a tourist. Today, Nizhny Novgorod is next in line: attractions, cool cafes, entertainment for children.

Going on a trip in 2021, but don't know where to go in Nizhny Novgorod? I wrote a small guide for you.

I myself have been to the city twice, but more on business. In the future, I also plan to go for a walk, so I decided to explore and tell you about interesting places.

What to see in Nizhny Novgorod in one day?

Nizhny Novgorod or Gorky (until 1990) is an important economic and industrial city in Russia, a major transport hub and just a million-plus city.

The spit of the Oka and Volga - the confluence of two rivers and the former port - divides the city into two parts:

• Zarechnaya - where sleeping areas and industrial areas.
• Nagornaya - a historical area. On its streets there is the Kremlin, Chkalovskaya stairs, monasteries and estates. You need to have time to see this part in order to get an idea of ​​the city.

2-3 days are enough for all the sights in Nizhny Novgorod:

- in the first one you can walk along the main points,
- in the second one to watch something from the list or go on an organized excursion,
- in the third - calmly walk around the city and buy souvenirs.

Attractions in Nizhny Novgorod

I built a small route - what to see in Nizhny Novgorod in 1 day for tourists. Save :)

Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin and Arsenal

A complex of buildings of the 16th century in the very center of the city. Today it houses the administration, museums, the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, many monuments and obelisks and the Arsenal Center for Contemporary Art.

The Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin can be visited both independently and on a guided tour. A wonderful panorama of the city and the Volga opens from the walls and towers.

Admission is free, the fee is charged only for the ascent or passage inside the towers:

• Dmitrievskaya - temporarily closed
• Ivanovskaya: adults - 40 rubles, students / pensioners - 30 rubles
• Zachatskaya and Nikolskaya - temporarily not working
• Kremlin wall: adults - 150 rubles, students / pensioners - 100 rubles

Bolshaya Pokrovskaya street

Since the 18th century, Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street has been considered the main street in Nizhny Novgorod. Simply put, the local Arbat. It combines several central squares at once and contains a number of old buildings. Among which:

• State Bank of the Russian Federation
• Gorky Drama Theater
• Nizhny Novgorod State Academic Puppet Theater
• Palace of Labor
• Monuments and sculptures (for example, a monument to Evstigneev or a sculpture of a cheerful goat)

Bolshaya Pokrovskaya ends with the First city fountain. Walk down the street and be sure to see. There are many pleasant cafes and hostels on Pokrovskaya. I stayed in one of them for three days. Also, street musicians often perform here, artists and "fundraisers" from tourists in donkey costumes gather here.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

There are a lot of religious attractions in Nizhny Novgorod: churches, cathedrals, monasteries, temples. Tourists in groups walk from one to the other.

This cathedral is located in the part of the river on the Strelka. Built in a mixed architectural style. The temple is hipped, with a sand-colored facade. There is a huge bell at the southern entrance.

If time is short, it is not necessary to go inside the cathedral, it can be easily viewed from the historical part of the city.

Free admission.
How to get there from the center? On the Minin and Pozharsky square (Krasnoe Sormovo stop), take a minibus T-24 and get to the Nizhny Novgorod stadium. Then walk a little less than a kilometer towards Strelka Street.

Annunciation Monastery

The oldest monastery in Nizhny Novgorod, founded in 1221. The complex consists of the Cathedral, the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Andrew and Alekseevskaya churches, theological seminary, hospital building and cells. Throughout the history of its existence, the monastery burned and collapsed. But it was restored again and again.

Christmas church

It is located on the street of the same name, the church is also called Stroganovskaya (after the name of the merchant who allocated funds for the construction). It was erected in the first half of the 18th century in the Baroque style.

The walls of the church are bright brick in color, decorated with white stone carvings. Poppies are painted in different colors. The temple is active, services are held daily.

Nizhny Novgorod fair

Or, in other words, the Main Fair House. This is the exhibition center of Nizhny Novgorod, more like a palace. Previously, it hosted the largest fair, which was also of an international nature. Now there are several halls open for visitors, where conferences and exhibitions are held.

Since 2017, the multimedia park "Russia - my history" has been operating on the first floor of the building. The ticket costs 250 rubles. The calendar of events is updated on the official website: https://www.yarmarka.ru/catalog.

I advise you to walk around the fair in the late afternoon - the backlight turns on.

Fedorovsky Embankment or Lower Tier

In my opinion, the Fedorovsky embankment is the most beautiful in the city. Located between the Dyatlovy Hills and the Kremlin. Founded in the first half of the 19th century, it bears the name in honor of the Soviet geologist Fedorovsky.

From the embankment you can see the Strelka, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the part of Nizhny Novgorod beyond the river. Newlyweds often come here, tourists take pictures of the views and meet the sunsets.

The observation deck on Gremyachaya Gora and the monument to Jules Verne

It got its name from the stream, which once beat at its foot. The observation deck on Gremyachya Gora is located not far from the Azimut Hotel, the main landmark is a pretty monument to the writer Jules Verne.

It offers a view of the Strelka, the Kanavinsky Bridge, which connects the river and mountainous parts of the city, and the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Paths run down from the side of the mountain.

Chambers of Afanasy Olisov

Olisov's chambers - a 17th century monument, consists of a white-stone house and the Assumption Church. The architecture of the ensemble is made in the old Russian style. The facade of the house is decorated with elements reminiscent of a printed gingerbread. Wood and limestone are used as materials.

Next to the chambers there is a memorial plaque for Kulibin and a small pedestrian bridge with an end point in the form of an observation deck overlooking the city.

Minin and Pozharsky Square

The street in the center and the main square of the city, connecting Bolshaya Pokrovskaya, Varvarskaya, etc. There are many monuments on the square - Kuzma Minin, Chkalov, Pushkin Museum. It is here that all city events and holidays are held.

Chkalovskaya stairs

A rare tourist does not recognize the city from a photograph of this staircase. It originates from the observation deck and descends to the monument of the boat Hero.

One of the longest staircases in Russia, it consists of 680 steps. And it makes an impression.

I called here before the excursion to Gorodets. Our bus stopped here nearby, on the embankment. Have a walk :)

Verkhnevolzhskaya embankment

The embankment in the historic center runs from the Chkalov monument to Sennaya Square. The place is suitable for leisurely walks.

Along it there are many sights of the city: Sirotkin's tenement house, which is now one of the branches of the art museum, the building of the Nizhny Novgorod radio laboratory, the Rukavishnikovs' estate.

Alexander Garden

The park in the English style was named after the wife of Nicholas I Alexandra Feodorovna. Located near the Chkalovskaya Stairs, festivals and open-air concerts are often held here. And you can just walk in the park, breathe in the clean air and take a selfie against the backdrop of picturesque landscapes. Especially beautiful in autumn.

The Rukavishnikovs' estate

Several stylistic directions are intertwined in the architecture of the manor complex. The building itself consists of three floors and today is a museum.

On the ground floor there is an exhibition of the history of a merchant family and the holding of fairs. The second presents the interiors of the dining room, living room, nursery and bedrooms. And on the third - exhibitions of church objects, secular dishes and textiles.

Entrance ticket: adults - 250 rubles, pupils / students / pensioners - 170 rubles. There are options for guided tours.

Cable car

A kind of local crossing over the Volga, popular among the guests of the city. Tourists come here for beautiful photographs and views of the city.

A single ticket costs 100 rubles. On weekdays and Saturdays, the cable car runs from 06:45 am to 09:00 pm. Sundays and holidays from 06:00 to 22:00. There are technical breaks, information can be found on the official website http://nnkd.ru.

Naturally, these are not all the sights of Nizhny Novgorod, where you can go. But, in my opinion, this route will allow you to see more places in a limited time. Go ahead!

GAZ History Museum

On the second day, you can watch (that you didn't have time) and go to the GAZ History Museum. To do this, you need to take a T-40 minibus from Minin and Pozharsky squares. And get to the station Komsomolskaya. From there it is only 3 minutes walk to the place.

As the name implies, the museum has a unique collection of GAZ cars from the mid-20th century.
The entrance ticket costs 200 rubles, for pensioners and schoolchildren - 50 rubles, for students - 100 rubles.

Of the more notable museums in Nizhny:

• Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum - ticket for an adult 200-300 rubles.
• Arsenal of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin

Where to go in Nizhny? Cafes and bars

Before the trip, a logical question arises, where to eat in Nizhny? During my small travels, I was not original - I took a table at Mac and KFC, and for dinner I bought ready-made at Spar.

Therefore, I asked a friend (5 years old as a local) about unusual sights with a gastronomic bias :) She named the following cafes in Nizhny Novgorod from the cozy ones:

• Noodle Scoop - right on Bolshaya Pokrovskaya. Insanely delicious noodles are prepared by themselves, a really huge portion costs 150-200 rubles. You can dine there and order to take away. Also try local fruit drinks and waffles with raspberries, condensed milk or chocolate.
  Average check: 300 rubles
• Berezka Bar - in the same place in the center, with a price tag above average. In winter, they will warm up here with cool cocktails. The menu features a granola bowl, coconut milk quinoa and Viennese waffles.
  Average check: 1500 rubles
• SALUTE - well-known throughout the Lower Burger for music lovers. There is also a place for vegans :)
  Average check: 300-500 rubles
• Eric the Red - a gastropub for connoisseurs of craft beer and meat.
  Average check: 700-900 rubles
• Home Italy - a chain of home restaurants where you can have a simple and pleasant lunch / dinner. For breakfast, porridge with a baguette, scrambled eggs and cheese cakes with sour cream. Hot - Seville, Spanish omelet and marbled beef slices. And every Saturday pizza making master classes for kids.
  Average check: 700 rubles

Where to go with your child?

Relevant for parents - where to go with a child in Nizhny Novgorod? The location is more historical, but there is also entertainment for children:

1) Limpopo Zoo
You can see mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, arachnids and amphibians and go to the botanical garden of tropical plants. I think it's interesting.
Ticket price: for children 5-14 years old, pensioners and students - 300 rubles, adults - 600 rubles.

2) Puppet Theater
A place where performances are held for the smallest spectators. The poster can be viewed on the official website http://www.ngatk.ru/afisha.

3) Waterpark Atoll in Kstovo
The complex includes family and extreme slides, a climbing wall, a jacuzzi, a sauna (Russian, Finnish, hamam), wave and hydromassage pools + a zone for kids. A big and friendly family is a must visit.
Ticket price: children under 4 years old - free, from 5 to 13 - 300-700 rubles (depending on the day and time of visit), adults - 450-1200 rubles.

More entertainment in Nizhny Novgorod for family leisure:

• Sormovsky amusement park
• Nizhny Novgorod Exotarium
• Museum of Illusions and the House of the Giant
• Cable car (told about it)

You won't be able to do everything in one day, of course :) But there will be a reason to return.

The best excursions in Nizhny Novgorod

In case you do not want to plan the program yourself and each time to drive into Google "where to go to Nizhny Novgorod?" - run into the services in advance:

• Tripster - there are many individual excursions - for example, only for you and your family / company
• Sputnik8

Relevant in Russia and not only.
Nizhny Novgorod residents and professional guides organize excursions. To choose from: group and individual - as you like. The largest selection is on the Tripster, and there are many positive reviews about the following:

The best excursions in Nizhny Novgorod:

My colleagues and I took the last one by bus in the summer of 2019. We exchanged a picnic with barbecue for Gorodets painting :) And we did not regret it. I have never had so many master classes in a day.

Our Tips

Based on the experience of my trips and looking at the reviews of tourists about Nizhny Novgorod, I advise you not to waste time on shopping and shopping centers. All this is in your or a neighboring city.

If you want to bring home something to remember, run into the souvenir shops for:

• painted plates
• clay toys
• homemade decorations
• textiles
• the famous Gorodets gingerbread

Enjoy the architecture the rest of the time. Nizhny Novgorod (especially its center) is full of sights and deep history.

Price of a trip to Nizhny Novgorod

In my opinion, a cultural holiday in Nizhny Novgorod will be inexpensive for tourists. The travel budget can be democratic (in comparison with St. Petersburg or Moscow).
Let's calculate what is the cost per person for 3 days?

Where should you stay?

I look for apartments for my trips around Russia on Daily, and hotels - on Booking. Conveniently, quickly and more than once I and my friends have been tested.

Places in Nizhny Novgorod for a stopover for a few days are best viewed in the upland part of the city - most of the sights are here. The most convenient place is in the very center, somewhere on Bolshaya Pokrovskaya or Rozhdestvenskaya streets.

On my first trip, I spent two nights in Smile Hostel 200 meters from the Kremlin. The place is very cozy.Each room is decorated in the style of one of the cities of the world (New York, Paris, etc.). This is not an advertisement, but a personal review :) And it's hard not to fit into the budget, from 450 rubles per person per day.

Another option for two:

• Hostel Sota House - from 1100 rubles / night
• 3 * Gorky Hotel - from 1700 rubles
• 2 * Baguette Hotel - from 1800 rubles

Map with landmarks of Nizhny Novgorod

For your convenience, I have noted the main attractions that you should definitely see in Nizhny Novgorod: