Kazan Kremlin

The Kazan Kremlin, or as it is officially called, the Kazan Kremlin Museum-Reserve, is the main attraction of the city, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. It was around him that the historical part of the city was formed, also called the Old Town, and it is also a tourist area. In addition to the fact that the Kremlin itself is a historical architectural object, on its territory of 15 hectares there are: the main mosque of Tatarstan Kul-Sharif, the Annunciation Cathedral, the Syuyumbike tower, nine museums and galleries, several viewing platforms, as well as many other monuments and attractions. In addition, there are administrative buildings and the residence of the president of the Republic.

It is believed that the first wooden fortifications on the site of the Kazan Kremlin appeared in the 10th century along with the formation of the city. Stone walls were erected in the period from the 12th to the 16th centuries, there is no reliable information. In 1552, the troops of Ivan the terrible took the fortress, almost completely destroying it. In order to preserve and increase the defenses of the city, it was decided to restore it, while expanding it. It was then that the image and boundaries of the Kremlin were formed, which have survived to this day. The walls were rebuilt partly from white stone, partly from wood, and at the beginning of the 17th century the Kremlin had already become completely stone. At a later time, fires occurred on the territory of the fortress, buildings were destroyed and rebuilt, but the basis of the Kremlin, its walls and towers, have survived to this day almost unchanged.

How to visit the Kremlin

Visiting the Kremlin is free, accessible to all. You can freely enter the territory of the Kremlin through one of the gates, and as much as you want to walk here, without restrictions to take pictures. Entrance is possible through the main entrance in the Spasskaya Tower around the clock (entrance on the map), as well as through the entrance in the Taynitskaya Tower (entrance on the map) from October 01 to April 30 - from 8:00 to 18:00, from May 01 to September 30 – from 8:00 to 22:00. To navigate the territory is quite simple, there are signs and maps indicating your position. It makes no sense to specially make a route through the territory during self-inspection, everything is compact here and you can see it in one hour of a leisurely walk. Visiting museums, mosques and temples will take a full day. We advise you to explore the Kremlin in the daytime, and also return here with the arrival of dusk, because at night everything is beautifully lit.

Visiting museums and exhibitions in the Kremlin is paid. Entrance to museums is either paid separately for each, or you can purchase a single ticket for All Museums for 700 rubles. You can also join a group tour for a fee or buy an individual sightseeing tour, during which you will be told many interesting stories about this place. Excursions are sold in the windows at the entrance to the Kremlin through the main gate of the Spasskaya Tower, as well as in travel agencies in the city. For more information about the list and description of attractions in the Kremlin, their opening hours and cost, see below.

Map of the Kremlin with sights

Photo Of The Kazan Kremlin

Attractions on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin

• Natural History Museum

  

  In our opinion (the authors of the site) this is one of the most interesting museums in Kazan, and one of the few where children will like it. The exhibition tells about the geological history of Tatarstan, its fossil, animal and plant world.

  On the first floor there is a section about astronomy and the formation of the planet Earth, about minerals and how to extract them. A special place is given to "Black Gold" – Oil. The second floor is dedicated to wildlife, and here you can see fossils and skeletons of animals. There are skeletons of dinosaurs and mammoths, which children especially like. But the exhibition is not limited to traditional exhibits, and many interactive ones are offered, such as a telescope, interactive whiteboards and screens, magnetic puzzles, archaeological excavations, etc. Read more about the Natural History Museum in Kazan and photos here.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: Tuesday-Thursday, Saturday, Sunday-from 10:00 to 18:00, Friday - from 11:00 to 20:00, Monday closed.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adults-200 rubles ( weekends – 250) / students, pensioners – 100 / schoolchildren-80 / preschoolers free of charge. Every last Friday of the month persons under 18 are free.

  🚶 How to get there: located in the building of the Hermitage-Kazan Center on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin, the entrance is from the Kul-Sharif mosque (Museum on the map)

• Museum of the history of statehood of Kazan

  

  The museum tells about the history of tribes and the formation of states on the territory of the modern republic of Tatarstan from the steppe empires to the modern period. It consists of two floors: on the first an interactive exhibition, on the second an exhibition of artifacts and thematic exhibitions. There are very few traditional exhibits in the form of artifacts, mostly information is presented in the form of maps, films and interactive audio guides in the form of headphones attached to the exhibits.

  In general, the museum is small and will not be very interesting to a wide range of tourists, unless you are a history lover. Children have nothing to do here, they start to get bored from the first minutes. The exhibition on the first floor of the museum, which is available for an additional fee when purchasing a basic ticket or separately, helps to diversify the visit to the museum. Read more about the Museum of the history of Kazan statehood and photos here.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: Tuesday-Thursday, Saturday, Sunday-from 10:00 to 18:00, Friday - from 11:00 to 20:00, Monday closed.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: the exposition of the second floor - 150 rubles / the exposition on the first floor-80 rubles / the first and second floor-200 rubles. Schoolchildren and pensioners discounts, preschoolers for free.

  🚶 How to get there: the museum is located on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin next to the Syuyumbike Tower (Museum on the map)

• Museum of the Great Patriotic War

  

  A very worthy museum dedicated to the feat of the Soviet people during the Second World War. The museum's collection, although not very large, is very competently and conveniently compiled, there are a lot of really worthy exhibits. There are weapons, uniforms, military items, orders, documents, photographs. We recommend that you bring children here and tell about the feat and the sacrifices of the people, and even better to take advantage of the excursion escort, which is offered for an additional fee at the entrance. In addition to a simple inspection of the exposition, you can also take pictures with real weapons of the Second World War. Read more about the Museum of the Second World War and photos here.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: daily from 09:00 to 19:00.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adult-80 rubles; children-40; excursion service-500; photography-50; video-100.

  🚶 How to get there: the museum is located on the territory of the Kremlin in the Hermitage-Kazan building, the entrance is from the mosque (Museum on the map).

• Cannon yard Museum

  

  The Museum of the Cannon yard is located in the building where the foundry pit used to be located, and later – housing for officers and soldiers ' dining room. Today there is an exposition dedicated to military affairs and craft.

  The museum consists of two floors. On the ground floor there are old Russian weapons, and under the glass floor in the Armory pit there is a reconstruction of the production of a foundry gun. On the second floor there is a small collection of 20th century weapons, as well as an interactive information exhibition (rather, a lecture hall) on the theme of the museum.

  Objectively, it should be said that the collection and the size of the museum are very modest, and do not justify the entrance fee. It is worth visiting it if you have already seen all the sights in Kazan and there is nothing more to see. Actually, the entire exhibition of the museum is presented in the photo. Sometimes temporary exhibitions are held in the museum, then it is much more interesting to visit it. Learn more about the Cannon yard Museum and photos here.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00; Friday from 11:00 to 20:00.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adult – 200 rubles; schoolchildren, pensioners, students-100; preschoolers free of charge.

  🚶 How to get there: the museum is located on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin in a separate building (Museum on the map).

• Museum of weapons "spirit of the warrior" in Kazan

  

  A new Museum of weapons opened on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin in 2016. He tells about the weapons and military craft of the original peoples who lived on the territory of Tatarstan, as well as other ancient peoples who conquered these lands: the Huns, the Golden Horde, the Scythians, the Sarmatians, etc. The period spans from the Bronze Age to the 15th century. Among the exhibits are artifacts found during archaeological excavations, models of warriors and events, jewelry and ornaments, interactive materials. The museum is small, consists of one room, but the exhibition is quite rich and unusual, so lovers of military affairs, history, and children will definitely like it here. For a wide range of tourists, the price for an entrance ticket may seem a little too high, because you can see the exhibition in 10-15 minutes. Read more about the Museum of weapons and photos here.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adults-250 rubles; schoolchildren – 150; preschoolers-free of charge.

  🚶 How to get there: the museum is located on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin, Kremlin Street, 2 (Museum on the map)

• Kul Sharif Mosque

  

  This is the main mosque of Kazan and Tatarstan, and one of the symbols of the city. Her image can be seen on postcards, souvenirs, and, of course, live on the territory of the Kremlin. However, it is visible from many places in the city, especially at night, when it is very beautifully illuminated. Built from 1996 to 2001.

  Inside the mosque you can go, inspect and photograph everything in detail. Of course, you should be dressed appropriately, and behave accordingly. At the entrance, capes are offered free of charge, which will hide your bare shoulders and legs, scarves, and shoe covers should also be worn. Inside, the ground floor is equipped with something like a museum with a couple of exhibits telling about the mosque, and in the basement there is a museum of Islam (for a fee). Then you can go up to the upper floors, from where you can see the prayer hall from the balconies. Tourists are not allowed to enter the hall itself. Read more about the Kul-Sharif mosque and photos here.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: from 09:00 to 18:00.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: entrance to the mosque is free; entrance to the Museum-200 rubles; tour of the museum-350.

  🚶 How to get there: the Kul-Sharif mosque is located on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin (mosque on the map).

• Museum of Islamic culture

  

  The Museum of Islamic culture is located in the basement of the Kul Sharif mosque and is usually visited along with the mosque itself. It is best to visit the museum first, and then go to the mosque itself.

  The museum's collection is not very large, mainly includes books and information exhibits. Most of the exhibits, unfortunately, are just copies. The museum is modern, and there is even an electronic interactive Koran, but without excursion accompaniment a wide range of tourists will be bored here.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: from 09:00 to 19:30.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: entrance to the Museum-200 rubles adult / 80-children; Tour of the museum-350.

  🚶 How to get there: the museum is located in the basement of the Kul-Sharif mosque on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin, the entrance is separate (Museum on the map).

• Annunciation Cathedral and Museum

  

  The Annunciation Cathedral of the Kazan Kremlin was built in 1552, immediately after the capture of Kazan by the troops of Ivan the terrible. Initially it was a wooden church, and nine years later the wooden structure was replaced by a stone one.

  See the architecture of the cathedral from the outside, and if you want to go inside. Of course, inside you should behave and be dressed appropriately, because this is not only a landmark, but also a functioning temple. There is also a museum of the Annunciation Cathedral (for a fee), which tells about the history of this place. The exposition is small, and will be interesting to a wide range of tourists only with excursion service, which is offered at the entrance to the museum for an additional fee. Learn more about the Annunciation Cathedral and Museum here.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: the cathedral is open from 09:00 to 18:00 daily. The museum is open Monday-Thursday, Saturday, Sunday-from 10:00 to 18:00; Friday-from 11:00 to 20:00.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: admission to the cathedral is free, donations are welcome. Admission to the museum adults-100 rubles; schoolchildren, students, pensioners-80; preschoolers free of charge. A tour of the museum (with a group of up to 20 people) – 300 rubles, a tour of the museum + a tour of the Cathedral – 500 rubles.

  🚶 How to get there: the cathedral is located on the territory of the Kremlin (Cathedral on the map).

• Syuyumbike Tower

  

  This is one of the iconic architectural sights of Kazan. Her image can be seen on souvenirs, postcards, booklets, and, of course, with your own eyes on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin. Its peculiarity is that it is "falling", i.e. slightly tilted like the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, and this is clearly visible to the naked eye. Its height is 58 meters. Tourists can explore the tower, take pictures on its background, but you can not get inside.

  Initially, it was a watchtower, built presumably during the Kazan Khanate, i.e. around the 16th century, but even the century of construction is not known for certain. But for tourists, the legends associated with the tower and the origin of its name, which guides tell during a sightseeing tour of the Kremlin, are much more interesting. Learn more about the suyumbike Tower here.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: the tower is located on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin (tower on the map).

• Observation deck

  

  Behind the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kazan Kremlin is an excellent observation deck, which offers a wonderful view of the city, the river, the palace of farmers and the Church of Paraskeva Friday. Access to the site is free, for a fee (10 USD) you can explore the city through binoculars. We recommend visiting this place twice, in the afternoon and in the evening after dark. The views are wonderful, for photography it is better to take a tripod with you.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: the observation deck is located on the territory of the Kremlin behind the Annunciation Cathedral (viewing platform on the map).

• Observation deck

  

  A new attraction and entertainment works in the Transfiguration Tower of the Kazan Kremlin. Now you can climb to the very top and look at the Kremlin and the surrounding area through the eyes of the watchers who watched the approach of the enemy to the fortress. At the base of the tower there is a gift shop and a ticket office for selling tickets to the top. The observation deck itself is closed (with a roof) and stylized in the old days, and the review is made through the observation windows. Its height does not allow you to inspect the entire territory of the Kremlin, because other buildings, such as a mosque, are higher than it.

  Practical Information

  🕐 Working hours: during daytime.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adults-50 rubles, preschoolers-free of charge.

  🚶 How to get there: located on the territory of the Kazan Kremlin (observation deck on the map).