Nizhny Novgorod: attractions, souvenirs, prices

Where to stay

It is best to choose hostels and hotels in the historic center - you can reach the main attractions on foot.

Among the most popular hostels is Smile, which is located on the main pedestrian street of the city - Bolshaya Pokrovskaya. A single bed in an 8-bed dormitory room costs about 500 rubles per night, a separate room for two - from 1,790 rubles. Another option not far from the historical part of Nizhny Novgorod is the Barry Hostel. A bed in a dormitory room costs from 400 rubles per night, a double room - from 1 600 rubles.

You can also rent an apartment on Rozhdestvenskaya - the locals love this street even more than Pokrovskaya, because it is less crowded and more comfortable. A room for two will cost 1,800 rubles per night, for one - 1,300 rubles. There are many bars and cafes nearby where you can have breakfast overlooking the merchants' houses.

For those who prefer apartments, Airbnb offers convenient options ranging from 1,400 to 1,600 rubles per night: for example, an apartment on Minin and Pozharsky Square, loft-style housing 5 minutes from the center, spacious apartments for two with a small library.

If you are choosing a hotel, pay attention to the Azimut Hotel. It stands on the Fedorovsky embankment - overlooking the Kanavinsky bridge and the confluence of the Oka and Volga. A standard double room costs from 2,900 rubles for two adults per night. In the "Pokrovsky Posad" - a hotel on the "Nizhegorodsky Arbat" - a double room of economy class costs from 2,380 rubles for two. For the comfort and location in a quiet place, guests praise the Joy Hotel - from 2,800 rubles for a double room.

Another less democratic option is the Mercure Hotel, the Oktyabrskaya Hotel and the Sheraton Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. A night in a double room will cost 3,100-4,200 rubles.

What sights of Nizhny Novgorod to see

Fedorovsky embankment

The embankment overlooking the historical part of the city, the Kanavinsky bridge and the “arrow”, where the Oka and the Volga merge, is a favorite place for newlyweds, graduates and photographers. The location is named after the Soviet scientist and mineralogist Nikolai Mikhailovich Fedorovsky.

As you walk, pay attention to the Jules Verne monument in a hot air balloon. The French author described Nizhny Novgorod in the novel "Mikhail Strogoff".

"Kashirin's House" - Maxim Gorky Childhood Museum

Sights of Nizhny Novgorod: "Kashirin's House" - Museum of Childhood of Maxim Gorky

The older generation still calls Nizhny Novgorod Gorky, because the city bore this name from 1932 to 1990.

The Museum of Childhood of Maxim Gorky, a Soviet writer and playwright, is located in the house of his grandfather, the Nizhny Novgorod bourgeoisie Vasily Kashirin. It reproduces the original furnishings of an old house, displays household items of the 19th century. And it is in this house that the action of Gorky's autobiographical story "Childhood" takes place.

Bolshaya Pokrovskaya street

The main pedestrian street in Nizhny Novgorod got its name in honor of the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. After the revolution, the street was called Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street - "Wikipedia" of Sverdlov, in 1935 the church was demolished, and in 1992 Pokrovka was returned to its original name.

In the 19th century, luxurious houses of merchants and nobles appeared on the street. The tenement house of the peasant Kudryashov and the tradesman Chesnokov is still one of the most noticeable on Bolshaya Pokrovskaya. Now the three-storey building with a white and pink facade houses boutiques and communal apartments. Also on Bolshaya Pokrovskaya there are the Maxim Gorky Drama Theater, a puppet theater and other ancient buildings. The State Bank in the neo-Russian style, built in 1913, visited the building of the Nizhny Novgorod branch of the State Bank of Russia - 100 years old Emperor Nicholas II.

It is not for nothing that Bolshaya Pokrovskaya is called the Arbat of Nizhny Novgorod. Nowadays, museums, cafes, bars and restaurants, souvenir shops and cosmetics and clothing stores are concentrated here. In the evenings, street performers perform here with songs, dances, poetry and fire shows. Skaters ride near the drama theater, where guests take pictures with owls and watch street artists draw.

Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin

In 1221, Yuri Vsevolodovich founded Nizhny Novgorod and built the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin to protect the city. Architecture, history, restoration of wooden and earth fortifications. The stone Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was built in 1500-1515. It consists of 13 towers, on each of which you can see a plaque with the name and its history.

Inside the Kremlin are the city administration buildings, an exhibition of military equipment, the Mikhailo-Archangel Cathedral and the Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum with a permanent exhibition on several floors.

The Rukavishnikovs' estate

Where to go in Nizhny Novgorod: Rukavishnikov estate

The main building of the Nizhny Novgorod State Historical and Architectural Museum is located on the Verkhnevolzhskaya embankment. The estate in the style of an Italian palazzo was built by order of the Nizhny Novgorod millionaire merchant Sergei Rukavishnikov in 1877. There are many decorative inserts inside and outside the mansion: the facade is decorated with angels, Atlanteans and caryatids by the sculptor Mikhail Mikeshin.

The exposition begins with household items of the Rukavishnikov family, the following rooms tell about the life of pre-revolutionary Nizhny Novgorod. On the second floor you can see the reconstructed interior of the merchant's estate. Pay attention to the ballroom, decorated with stucco decoration with gilding, still lifes by the artist Foma Toropov and a huge mirror. On the third floor there is a permanent exhibition "Special Storeroom", where you can see the works of Western European and Russian jewelers.

Chkalovskaya stairs

The longest staircase in Russia leads from the monument to Valery Chkalov to the “Hero” boat. Monument Boat Hero on the Nizhnevolzhskaya embankment. This ship was part of the Volga military flotilla during the Civil War, in 1942–1943 it took part in the battles of Stalingrad, and since 1967 went on voyages along the Volga as a museum of military glory. In 1985, the heroic boat was installed at the foot of the Chkalovskaya stairs.

The staircase in the shape of an eight was built according to the project of architects Alexander Yakovlev, Lev Rudnev and Vladimir Munts. Try to count how many steps there are!

Christmas street

Rozhdestvenskaya street itself is one large architectural monument. At its beginning there is the Bugrovs 'lodging house - the prototype of the Bugrovs' lodging house from the play "At the Bottom". Building at number 6 is a former Art Nouveau apartment building, built by the merchant Perepletchikov. At the expense of the merchant Stroganov, the church of the Cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos was built in the style of Russian baroque: the locals call the five-domed red temple with white stone carvings Rozhdestvensky. Towards the end of the street there is a yellow house with quotes from The Queen of Spades on the walls - according to the city legend, Pushkin will appear in Nizhny Novgorod as a guest of The House of the Queen of Spades. The house belonged to Sophia Stroganova, the daughter of Princess Golitsyna, who served as the prototype of the princess from this story.

Monument to Minin and Pozharsky

A copy of the Moscow monument is located on the People's Unity Square, where the Zemsky head Kuzma Minin in 1611 called on the people to take up arms against the Polish invaders. Prince Dmitry Pozharsky became the leader of the people's army.

The monument was erected in 2005. It differs from the Moscow version in size (5 cm lower) and in the text on the pedestal: there is no inscription “Summer 1818” on the Nizhny Novgorod monument.

Cable car

The crossing of the Volga from Nizhny Novgorod to the city of Bor became the first cable car in Russia that connects the two cities. It started working in 2012, and by 2020 it transported 13,721,139 people by the Nizhny Novgorod cable cars. The length of the cable car is 3,661 meters. One way ticket costs 100 rubles.

In addition to a full-fledged vehicle, the ferry serves as an excellent entertainment for tourists. The cabins offer a view of the Pechersky Monastery, the banks of the Volga and the city itself. On the other side, in the town of Bor, you can also visit several attractions: the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary of 1825, the Malinovsky Skete sponsored by the Nizhny Novgorod merchant-Old Believer Pyotr Bugrov, the Victory Memorial and the Bor Museum of Local Lore, located in the former mansion of the merchant Alexander Starov.

Where else to go in Nizhny Novgorod

Arsenal

Arsenal is the center of contemporary art on the territory of the Kremlin. It hosts exhibitions, lectures and guided tours by artists and curators. The exhibitions change, but they always attract the attention of visitors, especially since some of the works of art can be touched and listened to. Thus, at the Neighbors exhibition, visitors sat at the table opposite each other and themselves became art objects. And at the exhibition "The Art of Being" one could walk along the bark of trees.

Arsenal is now closed due to the pandemic, follow the news on the website.

FUTURO

The gallery of modern art on Rozhdestvenskaya Street is located in the building of the former apartment building of the merchant Perepletchikov. The unrestored walls of the historic building are effectively combined with installation exhibitions. The latest major projects are Your Mum`s Knight by Ksyusha Swallows and Maxim Trulov, in which the artists presented the world of gods, knights and fantastic creatures up to the ceiling.

Sorry, FUTURO is temporarily closed, but you can take online excursions on Instagram.

Synagogue

The Nizhny Novgorod Jewish community numbers about 5 thousand people. In the synagogue, built in 1881-1883, the rabbis and the Rabanite teach Torah lessons for children and adults. There is a kindergarten, a comprehensive Jewish school and a youth club here. You don't have to be a Jew to get acquainted with Jewish culture, especially since guests are welcome in the synagogue. You can go here on any day except Shabbat - Saturday.

Art Gallery "Kladovka"

On Bolshaya Pokrovskaya, you can find an unusual courtyard that resembles a storage room of the 70s. Bicycles hang on the walls near the impromptu stage, a red telephone booth and painted enamel teapots are nearby. Evenings of poetry, music and literary readings are held on the stage itself.

The entrance to the gallery building costs 30 rubles. Before the revolution, a merchant's apartment building was located here, in the Soviet years - communal apartments. Now the halls showcase Soviet household items, hand-made products and a collection of vinyl records that can be bought. In addition to the permanent exhibition, it also hosts exhibitions of contemporary artists.

Sightseeing tram and transport museum

On weekends, for 150 rubles, you can visit a sightseeing tour by tram in the historical center of Nizhny Novgorod. The tram runs along the oldest route in the city, route number 1: from Blagoveshchenskaya Square to Narodny Unity Square. Another option for large companies is the Treasures of the Christmas Side interactive art tour. This is a theatrical program with competitions, carried out by order for a group of 20 people for 250 rubles each.

At st. General Ivliev, 1. you can also visit the open-air museum of the history of Nizhegorodelektrotrans. Here are trolleybuses and tram cars from the late 19th - early 20th centuries.

Bars and cafes

There are many distinctive establishments in Nizhny Novgorod. The first on the list is Herring and Coffee, the center of the Nizhny Novgorod party life, where you can have breakfast and drink coffee in the morning, and have fun in the noisy company in the evening. In summer, tables are taken out on the street, because there are a lot of people who want to enjoy signature cocktails and liqueurs.

Beer lovers should also definitely try the drinks of the Gorky Brewery. The assortment is wide: from the German wheat Weizen with the aroma of banana and spices to the American pale ale with notes of wildflowers, fruits and pine needles. Before the pandemic, one could sit in a cozy gastro bar and take a guided tasting tour, but, unfortunately, this is not an option yet. Follow the updates on Instagram.

In the noodle house "Scoop" you should try hand-made green, egg and buckwheat noodles with sauces, vegetables and meat. Now in "Sovka" they prepare orders to take away, which is also cool: you can have a picnic with noodles and waffles right next to the Kremlin walls. You can also have a tasty lunch at the Salut burger, the Yula Pizza and Molodist pizzerias, as well as at FREAKADELY - here we recommend enjoying beef or chicken meatballs and wheat beer. Fans of falafel, hummus and forshmak should look into Noot, the first falafel in Nizhny Novgorod.

Before visiting, it is better, just in case, to clarify the opening hours - many establishments have switched to self-pickup and delivery.

What to bring from Nizhny Novgorod

Clothes from the local brand "Rodina"

Sweatshirts and sweatshirts with a basic print can be purchased for 1,990 rubles, T-shirts for 1,110 rubles, if you get on the sale. And you just saw such a hoodie somewhere! Hint: Yuri Dud spent several episodes in it. The brand offers useful and practical accessories: from belt bags to thermoses and iron mugs.

Souvenirs and accessories from Millet and Molodist

In "Millet" they sell bow ties from 400 rubles, sketchbooks and postcards from 50 rubles apiece. We also advise you to pay attention to wooden brooches covered with natural paint.

In Molodist you will find unusual handmade earrings, pendants with fresh flowers and food-grade aluminum rings with the inscriptions: "Kiss", "Bolder" and "Wine". Prices - from 100 to 3,000 rubles. Also look at phone cases, enamel mugs and passport covers - everything from 300 rubles.

Gorodets gingerbread

Traditional printed gingerbread is baked in Gorodets, a city that in the 19th century was the largest gingerbread center in the Nizhny Novgorod province. There are many options: with walnuts and condensed milk, with currants, cherries and blueberries. The pleasure will cost 110-400 rubles, depending on the size.

Such gingerbread cookies can be found in the Nizhegorodsky souvenir store on Bolshaya Pokrovskaya, 31. And as a snack, baked goods from the Sormovsky bakery, which are sold in any chain store, are perfect.

The newspaper "Herring"

A free monthly newspaper about the cultural life of the city will delight even a sophisticated audience with its design and content. On the first pages, readers are always greeted by the editor-in-chief of "Seledka" Maria Goncharova, and then everything depends on the theme of the issue: personal stories, reports from cultural and sporting events, useful checklists.

Of course, you can read articles about Nizhny Novgorod on the Herring website, but it's much cooler to hold the printed version in your hands. There are many distribution points, and one place is already familiar to you - "Herring and Coffee".

Vintage

Nizhny Novgorod residents love things with history. In the online shop Na kartonke you will find vintage accessories, tableware, decor items and unusual toys from all over the world. Prices rarely go beyond 1,000 rubles.

If you prefer to view rare finds in person, take a look at the Sverdlov Square - near house 18 on Bolshaya Pokrovskaya. Old badges, posters on metal and Soviet jewelry are often sold there. However, sellers do not come every day.