What to see in Derbent in 1 day – a ready-made version of the route

We have visited all, or almost all, the sights of Derbent, and we tell you about it in detail and honestly. You will find out what is definitely worth seeing in Derbent, opening hours and the price of visiting attractions, how to get to them yourself and where they are on the map. Be sure to read everything, because there is no other such detailed and honest guidebook anymore 😉. Well, if you still have any questions or just want to talk about holidays in Dagestan, join 💬 to our useful chat about holidays in Dagestan.

If you came to Derbent only for one day to walk around the city, get acquainted with the main sights and at the end of the day to see a wonderful light and music fountain, then you will probably have a question: "What is there to see first and how to make a one-day independent route?". To make it easier to decide, we have compiled for you a selection of mandatory places to visit, and at the end of the article a walking route option for one day:

What you must see

• The fortress of Derbent Naryn-Kala

  

  The Naryn-Kala Derbent fortress or the Naryn-Kala Citadel is the main historical landmark of Dagestan, a place of attraction for all travelers in the Republic. This is a unique structure that has no analogues in Russia. It belongs to the cultural heritage sites of the peoples of the Russian Federation and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and we confidently recommend it for a mandatory visit during a trip to Dagestan.

  Translated from Persian, Naryn-kala means "Solar fortress". This huge fortress complex was built by the Persians and served as protection against attacks by neighboring states. The history of Naryn-Kal is rich in events and cultural influences. It belonged to the Sassanid Persians, the Arab caliphate, was the residence of the emirs and the parking place of the Russian garrison. Its construction dates back to the VI century, but in subsequent centuries the fortress was rebuilt and supplemented with new facilities, up to the XIX century. Learn more about Derbent Fortress and how to visit it here.

  🕐 Working hours: daily from 09:00 to 18:00, seven days a week.

  💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: adults – 200 rubles, children from 7 to 16 years – 100 rubles, excursion without entrance tickets - 600 rubles.

  🚶 How to get there: Naryn-Kala fortress is located on the outskirts of Derbent near the old town (fortress on the map). To get to the fortress on your own, it is best to take a taxi. A trip from the center will cost from 100 rubles when ordering through the Yandex or Uber apps. It is also possible to get to city buses No. 11 for 27 rubles, go often. About how to get from Makhachkala and other places, read more at the link to the full description.

• Old town of Magala

  

  The old town or Magala district is a historical part of the ancient city of Derbent, and it was from here that the history of the oldest city in Russia began. A walk along the old narrow and winding streets past low old residential buildings and ancient architectural monuments will undoubtedly become one of the most memorable moments of rest in Derbent.

  Today it is one of the most visited places in the city with well-preserved architectural monuments and unique historical sites. Learn more about the Old Town of Derbent and how to visit it here.

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge, excursions from 1000 rubles/person.

  🚶 How to get there: the most interesting, rich sights and colorful part of the Old Town is a compact area adjacent to Derbent's Naryn-Kala fortress (Old town on the map). It is here that interesting walking tours are conducted, they can be bought on the spot or online on sites with reviews Sputnik8.com and Tripster.ru. You can get to this area from your hotel in Derbent by taxi from 100 rubles (Yandex.Money and Uber work), and by bus #11 and #6.

• Juma Mosque

  

  Derbent Juma Mosque is the oldest mosque not only in Russia, but also in the CIS countries. For Dagestan, the Juma Mosque has a special significance: built in 734, it became the center of the spread of Islam in Dagestan. Like the Naryn-Kala Fortress, it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is classified as a cultural heritage site of the peoples of the Russian Federation. Today it can be viewed during a walk through the Old District of Derbent, it is open to tourists. Its inspection is included in all sightseeing routes around the city, so there are always a lot of tourists here. Read more about the Juma Mosque in Derbent here.

  🕐 Working hours: from 08:00 to 17:00. During lunch prayers from 11:30 to 12:30, entry to the mosque is prohibited for tourists.

  💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge, optional excursion 1500 rubles per group.

  🚶 How to get there: The Juma Mosque is located in the old town at 10 7th Magal Street (Juma Mosque on the map). A taxi ride around the city will cost from 100 rubles, Yandex.Money and Uber work. On city minibuses #11 and No.6 you can get to the stops "Orta-kapy" or "Kyrkhlar-kapy" for 27 rubles, and then a few minutes on foot.

• Derbent Tourist Mile

  

  This is a walking tourist route through Derbent, passing through the entire city center along the fortress wall from the historical district of Magala to the Nizami Ganjavi Park with the famous light and music fountain. In other words, this is a new pedestrian zone in Derbent, very beautiful and beautifully equipped after the renovation of tourist places in the city. The length of the tourist mile is a little more than a kilometer, although if you also include an equipped footpath along the old district of Magala, it turns out as much as 2 kilometers. On the route there are places for recreation, shops, modern installations in the traditional Caucasian style, as well as genre sculptures reflecting the way of life, traditions and history of the peoples of Dagestan. There are information boards with a map and a description of the route and objects on it, so the walk will also be informative. You will see part of the masonry of the fortress wall, its foundation and the ancient city water supply system, which is considered one of the oldest in the world. Learn more about the tourist mile of Derbent here.

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: runs along the northern fortress wall and Kerim Mammadbekov Street, connects the historical district of Magala (starts from the Jarchi-kapa gate) and Nizami Ganjavi Park with a color-musical fountain (Tourist mile on the map).

• Railway Station and Museum of Russian Railways

  

  It is one of the most beautiful railway stations in Russia and the Caucasus. The building stands out from the surrounding buildings with its unusual architecture. It is simply impossible to pass by and not admire. This operating transport facility is located in the city center. The station was built in 1899, and about a year before that the first steam locomotive arrived here. Here, on the territory of the 1st floor in one of the former waiting rooms in July 2017, the Museum of Railway History or the Room of Labor and Military Glory of the Derbent railway junction was organized. Learn more about the railway station and the Russian Railways Museum here.

  🕐 Working hours: from 05:00 to 22:00, seven days a week.

  💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: the station is located in the southern part of the city at 1 Vokzalnaya Street (Railway station and Museum of Russian Railways on the map). You can get here on city routes No. 1, 2 and 3.

• Derbent Light and Music Fountain

  

  In the park. Nizami Ganjavi opened the largest light and music fountain in Russia in 2022. It occupies a central place in the park. The area of the building is 4.7 thousand square meters, it is equipped with 1368 floodlights, two video projectors and a speaker system. The height of the water jets reaches 30 meters, which is lower than that of the famous singing fountain in Adler Olympic Park, but the scale is still larger. It is built using the most modern technologies, which allows for very colorful and spectacular musical performances, including those with three-dimensional projected images. Learn more about the Derbent light and music fountain here.

  🕐 Working hours: The park is open daily from 16:00 to 24:00. Opening hours and schedule may change without notice, check the information on the spot or visit our live chat in Dagestan, we publish all changes about the fountain in the chat service there.

  💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: the fountain is located on the territory of the Park. Nizami Ganjavi, this is actually the geographical center of Derbent (fountain on the map).

• Park named after. Nizami Ganjavi

  

  The park was significantly transformed in 2022 and, of course, has become one of the most popular places in Derbent, attracting not only locals but also tourists. And thanks to the opening of the largest Light and Music Fountain in Russia in 2022, it is also a "business card" of the city along with the Naryn-Kala fortress. More and more visitors of the city come to see it. The park area is equipped with playgrounds for children and sports, there is a tower with an observation deck, plantings in the form of living labyrinths, recreation areas, walking paths, playgrounds. Learn more about the Park. Nizami Ganjavi is here.

  🕐 Working hours: The park is open daily from 18:00 to 24:00.

  💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: Park. Nizami Ganjavi is located in the geographical center of Derbent (park on the map). From other parts of the city, you can get here by taxi from 100 rubles, by minibuses No. 3, 4, 7 and 10.

• "Happy People" Street

  

  This is a new wonderful walking area in Derbent and one of the most crowded places for tourists and locals in the city center, especially in the evenings. This pedestrian street appeared in Derbent after a large-scale reconstruction of the tourist center of the city in recent years, after which it simply blossomed, and the street of "happy people" is located in its very epicenter. It is not very long, about 350 meters, but completely pedestrian. In the evenings it is very beautifully illuminated, several genre sculptures are installed here, restaurants and cafes are open, street fast food is sold, excursion distributors put up racks with booklets, and sometimes street artists appear and artists exhibit their works. There is also an "Indoor market" or "Passage" shopping center – this is such a small shopping center with local goods for tourists and souvenirs. Learn more about the street of Happy people here.

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock, it is most interesting to visit in the evening.

  💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free of charge.

  🚶 How to get there: The pedestrian street "Happy People" is located in the center of Derbent on Kazi-Bek Lane, it is next to Nizami Ganjavi Park and light and music fountain (Happy People street on the map). If you stay in the center, then it is quite possible to walk here on foot, an evening walk will be especially pleasant. You can get from other parts of the city by taxi (from 100 rubles, the Yandex.Go app and the local Anzhi work) or city buses №1, 2, 5, 6, 11 and some others.

• Museum "Culture and life of ancient Derbent"

  

  The museum "Culture and life of ancient Derbent" is located in the building of the former "Maiden bathhouse" of the XIII century or Wedding bathhouse. It can be visited while walking through the historical part of the Old City and visiting the Juma Mosque. These baths were intended exclusively for unmarried girls. Within these walls, a rite of purification of the girl was held before the wedding, the so-called bachelorette party, hence the second name of the baths - Wedding. The bathhouse consists of 3 halls where the bathers spent their time. Well-preserved stone pools, tanks for hot and cold water. Women's traditional costumes, household items that were used while taking baths are clearly presented. Read more about the museum "Culture and life of ancient Derbent" here.

  🕐 Working hours: daily, from 09:00 to 18:00, seven days a week.

  💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: adults – 150 rubles, children from 7 to 16 years – 100 rubles, children under 7 years – free of charge, excursions from 150 rubles /person. The Pushkin card is valid. For children under the age of 18 – free admission on the first and last Sunday of the month, for students – the first Thursday of the month. For all categories, free admission is on May 18 (International Museum Day), June 1 (International Children's Day), September 15 (Day of Unity of the Peoples of Dagestan).

  🚶 How to get there: the museum is located in the old town of Derbent on Magal-7 str., 7/ Orta-Kapy str., 16 (museum on the map). It is better to go here by taxi or public transport. For personal transport, you are unlikely to find a parking space here, since the streets here are very narrow and winding. To order a taxi, it is convenient to specify the Juma Mosque as the destination point, from it to the museum is only a couple of minutes on foot along the alley. On city minibuses #11 and No.6 you can get to the stops "Orta-kapy" or "Kyrkhlar-kapy" for 27 rubles, and then a few minutes on foot.

A ready-made version of the Derbent route for 1 day

For walking navigation in Derbent, we recommend downloading Organic Map apps to your smartphone or Maps.me , and upload there points of interest from our map. So you will never get lost and find all the most interesting things. And now let's go to the route:

• So, if you have only one day in Derbent, then we suggest starting the route from the city railway station, because for sure you will arrive there not by train from Makhachkala, Izberbash or Kaspiysk. The railway station itself is an architectural monument and is considered one of the most beautiful stations in Russia. But besides the station building itself, there is also a small free Railway Museum. Sometimes the door to it is closed, but it is enough to ask the guards at the entrance to the station, and they will open it especially for you.
• From the station we walk along Buinaksky and Aziz Gilyatdinov street to Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. Let's not say that this Christian temple is a must–visit place, it's just on the way.
• After examining the temple, we go for a walk further to Kazi-Bek Lane, which is also a new pedestrian zone "Happy People StreetHere you can drop into the "Indoor Market", also known as the Passage shopping center, where souvenirs and handicrafts are sold. However, you can leave his visit for last, so as not to carry your purchases with you.
• We pass through the entire Kazi-Bek Lane to Stalsky Park, and through the gates of the fortress wall we get to Park named after. Nizami Ganjavi and to the hiking route "Tourist mile".
• In the park. Nizami Ganjavi has nothing much to do during the day, because the fountain works only in the evening, and therefore we go for a walk up the Tourist Mile towards the fortress and the old town of Magala. The path runs along the fortress wall, there are photo zones, places to relax, and another new tourist destination – Crystal Bridge.
• We reach the Tourist mile to the gates of Kyrkhlyar-Kapy, and after passing through them we finally get to the most interesting area of the city – old town or Magaly. There are a lot of interesting things in Magaly: mosques, oriental baths, several museums, springs. There is a tourist route with signs and signs with QR codes for reading descriptions of attractions.
• If you inspect everything in the Magala area, it will take at least half a day. And we don't have much time and not so much strength anymore. Therefore, we visit the most important thing here – the oldest in Russia Juma Mosque. Further through the narrow streets of the district we climb further towards the fortress of Naryn-Kala.
• Naryn-Kala Fortress is without exaggeration the main historical landmark of the whole of Dagestan, so we are heading straight to it. You will have to overcome another long climb up the stairs, and you are at the entrance. Entrance to the fortress is paid, you can additionally pay for tour support. To see everything here even cursorily, you need at least a couple of hours.
• But we had completely forgotten about lunch, we were probably already hungry and tired. You can eat inside the fortress itself, there is a cafe here. And if you get hungry even before entering the fortress, there are several authentic cafes with national home cooking in the Magala area.
• After a walk around the fortress, the forces are already running out, and there is little time left, and therefore it's time to go towards the park. Nizami Ganjavi and Fontana. You can get there in the same way along the Tourist Mile, or you can walk along Lenin Street, where there are many architectural monuments of the XIX century, and through the renovated Freedom Square and Shamsulla Aliyev Military Glory Park. To go like this, however, a little more and longer, but if time still allows, then you can walk slowly and relax in the park along the way.
• And finally, the "highlight on the cake" is the famous light and music fountain of Derbent, from which they "go crazy" in tourist chats. The fountain show takes place in the evening after dark according to the schedule and not every day (we read about the fountain and the current schedule here). If you are unlucky and there will be no show on your day, then even without it, the fountain and the park in the evening impresses with its scale and beautiful lighting.
• This day in Derbent has passed, it remains to catch the return train or call a taxi back. If you want to take the train, keep track of the time at the fountain in order to have time to walk / get to the railway station and not be late for the last one. And in detail about that, how and by what to get to / from Derbent and the transport schedule we have here.