Attractions and entertainment in the Nizhny Novgorod Region - what to see for yourself

In addition to attractions located in Nizhny Novgorod, places located throughout the region can be of considerable interest to tourists. Among them there are both individual attractions (museums, caves, temples, etc.), and whole cities with their own attractions. About what is worth seeing and how to do it, in our selection of attractions of the Nizhny Novgorod region:

Arzamas

Arzamas is a small town in the Nizhny Novgorod region, 110 kilometers from Nizhny Novgorod. It is known, first of all, as a transit point on the way to other popular tourist places of the Nizhny Novgorod region: Boldino, Diveevo, Sarov (closed city). But since in Arzamas itself there are many interesting sights, primarily temples, many tour operators began to include it in the number of cities included in the golden ring, although officially it is not. Arzamas has an unofficial title-the city of churches and temples.

The main decoration of Arzamas is the Resurrection Cathedral, crowning the city Cathedral Square. This temple was built in 1814 in honor of the great victory of Russia in the war with Napoleon. Local residents managed to save the cathedral from destruction during the establishment of Soviet power, when most of the churches in Arzamas were devastated and destroyed.

But to consider Arzamas as a place for a long stay is not worth it. A tourist after sightseeing here will have absolutely nothing to do. There is no tourist entertainment, no developed tourist infrastructure. You can see all the sights of the city in two days. Learn more about Arzamas here.

🚶 How to get there: 110 kilometers south of Nizhny Novgorod. For more information, see how to get to Arzamas.

Bor city

Bor is a satellite city of Nizhny Novgorod, located on the opposite (Left) Bank of the Volga River. It is well connected by transport with the center of Nizhny Novgorod: there is a cable car (it is a kind of tourist attraction), buses and minibuses run, automobile bridges over the Volga have been built. Bor can not be called an attractive place for tourists, so it is visited only in passing in the form of a separate attraction during a holiday in Nizhny Novgorod. Interesting for tourists, the historical part of the city with several attractions is very compact, and you can see it all in half a day. Learn more about the city of Bor here.

🚶 How to get there: located on the opposite (Left) Bank of the Volga river, can be reached by cable car or buses from the metro station "Moscow".

Gorodets town

Gorodets is an ancient city in the Nizhny Novgorod region on the Northern Bank of the Volga river, 60 kilometers from Nizhny Novgorod. The city is small, its population is just over 30 thousand people, but it is very popular with tourists and travelers due to the monuments of the past, the picturesque area and the cozy atmosphere of quiet streets. It is most often visited as an excursion destination from Nizhny Novgorod, but you can come here on your own for one or several days in order to get acquainted with the sights, beach holidays on the banks of the Volga, active winter recreation.

Thanks to the rich artistic heritage and architecture, the proud man deservedly received the unofficial nickname "Maly Kitezh". In addition to the fact that there are many monuments of architecture and history, there is a whole museum quarter in the city. Quiet streets abound with well-preserved stone houses of merchant construction and wooden mansions decorated with carvings. From the embankment, a favorite place for locals to walk, there is a breathtaking view of the Volga region and the Nizhny Novgorod hydroelectric power station, whose dams are the longest in Russia. All this attracts history buffs of all ages.

Gorodets left us a rich artistic heritage: "deaf" wood carving, gorodets painting, carved gingerbread boards, gold embroidery, handwritten books, gorodets toys. Every third Saturday of July there are regional festivals "Gorodets — Museum capital" and "Masters of folk Brotherhood". In summer, a festival of historical reconstruction is organized with the reproduction of medieval life and battles. Learn more about Gorodets here.

Village Diveevo

Diveevo (Deveevo) is a small but well-known village in all of Russia with a population of about 9 thousand, a popular tourist and pilgrimage place. In the center of the village there was a small church where pilgrims stopped on their way to the Sarov monastery. Soon the stone Kazan church was built in 1780, and then, having received a blessing, the inhabitants built the Church of the Nativity of Christ and the Nativity of the Virgin. Around the church was built a convent, one of four, which according to legend was under the patronage of the Most Holy Theotokos. One of the sacred events of Diveevo is that here are the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov. However, the disadvantages of this place tourists and pilgrims include such as undeveloped transport accessibility (far from Nizhny Novgorod, difficult to reach), in the summer a lot of mosquitoes, and most importantly – that the commercial spirit has penetrated into such a sacred place. For example, gasoline is more expensive there than in villages 10-20 km away, and souvenirs are like in world capitals. Learn more about the village of Diveevo here.

Balakhna City

Balakhna is located 40 kilometers from the center of Nizhny Novgorod on the banks of the Volga (Balahna on the map). In the 17th century, the city was the center of salt production.

The city is not suitable for a long tourist stay, since there is no tourist infrastructure here, but thanks to the presence of several interesting museums and attractions, the city is an attractive place for a short stop on the way to Nizhny Novgorod or a day trip from Nizhny Novgorod on an excursion.

In the city there is a museum historical and art complex, which includes: the Kuzma Minin Museum, the lace Museum, the museum "estate of the merchant A. A. Khudyakov", the Plotnikov House Museum, The Glass Museum (located in the village of Konevo). In addition to just visiting museums, the complex offers guided tours in museums, city tours, master classes, creative meetings. Also in the city there are several ancient churches: the Spasskaya church (Tupolev Street, 33A), Sretenskaya church (Zarechnaya Street, 8), Pokrovskaya Church, Trinity Church, etc. Children can be taken to the branch of the zoo "Limpopo". Learn more about Balahna here.

The City Of Semenov

The city of Semenov in the Nizhny Novgorod region is a popular excursion tourist destination, but for a long stay by tourists is not very suitable. The tourist infrastructure here is not developed, you should not stop even for one or two days for sightseeing. But here is a special attraction-the world-famous factory of khokhloma painting. After all, it was in Semenov that the unique style of "Golden khokhloma" was born, and one of the most popular Russian souvenirs appeared – the painted semenovskaya matryoshka. even in Semyonov, you can visit the Golden Khokhloma Museum, the historical and art museum, walk along Lenin pedestrian street, see several old temples and architectural buildings-monuments. Learn more about Semenov town here.

Museum of mining and caving in Peshelan village

This unique museum operates at the gypsum plant of the village of Peshelan, 120 kilometers from the center of Nizhny Novgorod. Nowhere else in Russia can you visit a real gypsum mine (the museum is located in its inactive branch - a cave at a depth of 70 meters underground), get acquainted with the basics of mining, see with your own eyes how gypsum and other minerals are mined underground.

It will be interesting for every tourist to visit this museum, because it is really unique and very interesting, just breathtaking. But, unfortunately, according to safety requirements, you can visit this museum only as part of a group tour, besides children under 14 years old are not allowed there (they can be left for a while in the contact zoo). You can not just choose the time and go to the museum, you must first agree on the date and time of the tour to form a group of 10 people. The tour takes about an hour. Learn more about the museum in Peshelan here.

Practical Information

🕐 Working hours: excursions are held daily from 8:00 to 17:00, the time of the excursion must be agreed in advance by calling 8(83147) 55-2-81, 8-910-795-65-38.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adult-1200 rubles / children (14-16 years) - 1000 / photography-100 / video-120. The tour is conducted when recruiting a group of 5 people. If 5 people are not recruited, then it is proposed to pay the cost of five full tickets - 6000 rubles.

🚶 How to get there: the museum is located in the village of Peshelan/Bebyaevo, 120 kilometers from Nizhny Novgorod and only 10 kilometers from the city of Arzamas (Museum on the map. Buses No. 125, 124, 119 depart from the Central Bus Station of Arzamas approximately every hour according to the schedule. Upon arrival in the village of Peshelan or Bebyaevo from the stop to the museum will have to go another 2-3 kilometers on foot.

Lake Svetloyar

Lake Svetloyar is one of the most mysterious lakes in the Nizhny Novgorod region and in Russia as a whole. The lake has an almost perfect oval shape of 470 by 350 meters, the water in it is always clean and transparent. It has a great depth-33.4 meters. It is considered a holy place. There are many legends associated with the lake. One of them, because of which the lake is called the little Russian Atlantis, is that the legendary city of Kitezh sank into the waters of the lake. But even if you do not believe in beautiful legends, there are plenty of mysteries at the lake. Until now, scientists have not come to a consensus about its origin, but today the predominant version of its origin is cosmic, i.e. it is believed that it was formed because of a meteorite that fell here about three thousand years ago. It is also unclear why the water in the lake is always clean and fresh, never overgrown with mud. Learn more about Lake Svetloyar here.

Practical Information

🕐 Working hours: around the clock, it is better to visit during the day in the summer.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free.

🚶 How to get there: the lake is located 130 kilometers north of Nizhny Novgorod near the village of Vladimirskoye (Lake on the map. It is most convenient to visit it by private transport or with a bus tour from Nizhny Novgorod. Excursions are offered in travel agencies on the street, cost from 1200 rubles per person.

Atoll Water Park

This water park is not in the city, but far beyond its borders in the city of Kstovo. But unlike the mini-water park "Caribbean" this water park can be called full-fledged. It is Indoor, Open all year round. There are 8 slides, swimming pools (but no swimming pool), climbing wall. The main part of the slides will be interesting and accessible only to middle-aged children (from 10 years and height from 140 cm), and adults can spend time in one of the three baths (Russian, Turkish, sauna), bar, cafe, spa, jacuzzi. There is a slide for the youngest children.

In the low season, profitable promotions are held, which can be tracked on the official website. Before the trip, it is better to call the water park by Phone 8 (83145) 3-50-20 or 8-953-415-31-13 and clarify whether the water park is closed for special maintenance.

Practical Information

🌐 Website: http://aqvaparkatoll.ru/, 3D water park tour http://aqvaparkatoll.ru/3dtour/

🕐 Working hours: Monday-Friday from 10:00 to 22:00; Saturday-Sunday, holidays from 9:00 to 23:00.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 2 hours for adults-330 rubles / children-200 rubles; 3 hours for adults-400 rubles / children-300 rubles; excluding time for adults-550 rubles / children-450 rubles. Children under 4 years free of charge. On weekends, prices are higher (see on the official website)

🚶 How to get there: located 30 kilometers from the center of Nizhny Novgorod in Kstovo, Lenin Square, 5 (water park on the map). There is free parking for private transport. By public transport you can get there in the following ways:

• From the bus station "Sennoy"every 20-30 minutes there is a bus 230E, 225 to the bus station in Kstovo, from there 10 minutes on foot. Buses run from 05:50 to 22:45
• From the bus station "Shcherbinki"every 20-30 minutes there are buses No. 215, 216, 217, 217 and 225 to the bus station in Kstovo, from there 10 minutes on foot. Buses run from 05:55 to 20:10
• Free bus on weekends when buying a ticket on the website of the water park (check the information on the website)

Museum-estate of Pushkin in Boldino

220 kilometers south of Nizhny Novgorod, almost on the very edge of the Nizhny Novgorod region, in the village of Bolshoe Boldino there is a museum-estate of the famous Russian poet and writer A. S. Pushkin. The village and surrounding lands for four centuries belonged to the Pushkin family. A. S. Pushkin himself did not live here permanently, but he came to work several times, most often in the fall. The autumn of 1830 is known as the boldinsky autumn and is considered the most productive creative time in his life.

Today, part of the village, where the estate and Museum are located, is a historical and cultural monument. The Estate (Reserve) occupies a vast territory, and you can freely move around it, take pictures and inspect historical objects. It is the opportunity to walk through the beautiful places where the great poet once strolled, and attracts most of the tourists here. Well, you should definitely visit the Pushkin House Museum, which tells about the period of Boldin autumn. It is believed that the most beautiful here is in autumn, in September and October.

In addition to the estate in the village you can see the church and a wooden chapel, erected without a single nail.

Practical Information

🌐 Website: http://www.boldinomuzey.ru/

🕐 Working hours: 9:00-17:00; Monday, the last Friday of each month is a day off. Excursions by appointment by Phone 8(83138)2-33-77, 8(83138)2-29-52.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: entrance to the Reserve is free; Pushkin House Museum and Museum of literary heroes "Belkin's Stories" adults-200 rubles / children-150.

🚶 How to get there: it is most convenient to get from Nizhny Novgorod to Boldino with the help of an organized bus tour costing from 1400 rubles. You can get to Boldino by car (220 kilometers from Nizhny Novgorod, Boldino on the map), or by bus from Shcherbinka station.

Museum of nature in the village of Chernukha

This museum was founded in 1955 by local hunters, and was created on the enthusiasm of villagers who wanted to leave a good memory of the wealth of their native land. And for good reason, because then because of deforestation, many animals and birds ceased to be found in these places. Currently, the museum has more than 1000 exhibits-these are stuffed animals and birds that live in these parts. With their help, Whole expositions were created. Here you can see Lynx, ferrets, hares, foxes, all kinds of rodents, and even bears and moose. Several stands are entirely dedicated to birds. The collection of this museum of nature will envy any eminent museum of local lore. There is also a small exhibition of old clothes of residents of the village of Chernukha.

Practical Information

🕐 Working hours: Monday-Friday from 9:00 to 17:00, Saturday from 09:00 to 14:00. Sunday is a day off. Before visiting, it is better to call 8 (83147) 5-24-86, 8-952-444-95-44.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adult-100 rubles / children-50 / excursion-500 rubles per group.

🚶 How to get there: the museum is located in the village of Chernukha, 100 kilometers from Nizhny Novgorod, Lenin Street, 26 (Nature Museum on the map. It is best to get here by your own transport. If you go by bus, you need to take a bus to Arzamas from the station Shcherbinka, get to the turn to the village (OST. "Volchikhinsky Maidan"), and then hitch a ride directly to the village. From the railway station "Moskovskaya" to the station "Seryozha" in the village every day there are at least 5 electric trains, 1 hour 40 minutes, 185 rubles.

Makaryevsky monastery and the village of Makaryevo

Trinity Makariev Zheltovodsky convent is located in the village of Makarievo, 100 kilometers from Nizhny Novgorod. It is located on the banks of the Volga, and at first glance it can rather be mistaken for a fortress or a Kremlin. And it really is a fortress, at least for some time the walls served precisely for protection. The view of it from the water is simply magnificent, so if possible, it is better to get to it through the city of Lyskovo by ferry, and then all its views will open to you. And going ashore, you can see the monastery in all its details. The scale of the monastery is amazing. For example, the perimeter of its walls is more than 800 meters, for comparison, the perimeter of the walls of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin is 1400 meters. In addition to the monastery in the village of Makarevo, you can visit two unusual museums and an ostrich farm. Learn more about the village of Makarievo and the monastery here.

Practical Information

🕐 Working hours: during daytime.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free, donations are welcome.

🚶 How to get there: monastery on the map

Vysovsky assumption monastery

Vysotovsky monastery is located 160 kilometers from Nizhny almost on the very border with the Kostroma region, on the high picturesque Bank of the Bolshoy Utrus River in rather remote places, far from large settlements. It has existed for a little more than 200 years (founded in 1784). The buildings that you can see today on the territory of the monastery were erected in the early 19th century. Like many similar places, in 1929, with the coming to power of the communists, it was closed, and again opened its doors only in 1999.

For tourists, it is interesting because it was built with an interesting architectural ensemble of the classical period, and the buildings are located on three levels on the slopes of the river banks. Today, the five-domed Assumption Cathedral (1834), The Three-Holy Church with a refectory (1835), St. Nicholas Church (1827), the abbot's and cell buildings, and the four-tiered bell tower have been preserved here.

Practical Information

🕐 Working hours: during daytime.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free, donations are welcome.

🚶 How to get there: the monastery is located in the village of Uspenskoye near the village of Vysotovo, 160 kilometers from Nizhny Novgorod and two kilometers from the village of Vysotovo (monastery on the map. It is best to go here by private transport, but if you really want, you can get there by public transport with transfers. To do this, from the bus station "Kanavinskaya" next to the railway station you need to take a suburban bus to the village of Kovernino (9 times a day, 3 hours on the way), and then transfer to the bus to Naumovo (does not go every day), or hitch a ride.

Chkalov Museum in Chkalovsk

This museum is dedicated to the famous Soviet test pilot, hero of the Soviet Union Valery Pavlovich Chkalov. First of all, he is known for the fact that in 1937 he made a flight from the USSR to the USA through the North Pole, but this is far from his only achievement. Chkalov can safely be called Yuri Gagarin of that time, how great was his contribution to the development of aviation. Unfortunately, he died at the age of 34 when testing the aircraft in 1938, and already in 1940 a house museum was opened in this place.

The museum consists of two buildings: the House-Museum in which the pilot was born and grew up, and the hangar in which the aircraft are exhibited. The House-Museum presents documents, photographs, personal belongings of Chkalov, household items belonging to his family. But the most interesting part is presented in the hangar: real aircraft are presented here, including the U-2 presented personally to Chkalov, flight and rescue equipment, maps, as well as a Packard car and a skimmer boat presented to the pilot.

In general, the museum is more than worthy and interesting, especially if you visit it with a guided tour (offered at the box office for an additional fee). The only disadvantage of the museum is that it is not so easy to get to it from Nizhny.

Next to the museum you can also visit the tourism center "Russian wings", where the exhibition hall of the people's artist a.m. Kamanin and the Museum of speeds are located.

Practical Information

🌐 Website: http://www.vchkalov.ru

🕐 Working hours: daily 10:00-17:00, Monday and the last Wednesday of each month is a day off.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adults-80 rubles / children-50 rubles / photo and video-50 rubles. Excursion support-400 rubles per group.

🚶 How to get there: the museum is located 95 kilometers from Nizhny Novgorod in Chkalovsk, chkalova STR., 5 (Museum on the map. You can get from Nizhny Novgorod from the station "Kanavinskaya" (located next to the railway station and the Metro"Moskovskaya"). From there, suburban and passing intercity buses depart to Chkalovsk in the daytime approximately every hour according to the Schedule, 2 hours on the way, the cost starts from 250 rubles. From the bus station in Chkalovsk to the museum 2 kilometers (25 minutes on foot).

Russian Wings tourism center and Speed Museum

The center of tourism "Russian Wings" is located in the city of Chkalovsk and includes several attractions at once: the Museum of speeds, the House of Culture named after V. P. Chkalov, the exhibition hall named after the people's artist of the RSFSR a.m. Kamanin. Also to the center is the Chkalov Museum, located within walking distance. All these places are united by one theme-speed and wings. Only it's not about the wings of aircraft, but about hydrofoils. Most of the museum is dedicated to and tells about the work of the Soviet designer-shipbuilder Rostislav Alekseev, the creator of hydrofoil vessels, ekranoplanes and ekranoplanes. When visiting, a tour is offered.

Also in the center there is a preview of the film, including in 3D for groups of tourists , Group and individual master classes, thematic excursions.

Practical Information

🌐 Website: Russian wings. RF

🕐 Working hours: daily 10:00-17:00, Monday-closed.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adults-80 rubles / schoolchildren – 50 / preschoolers-free of charge. Photography - 70 rubles. Excursion support-500 rubles per group.

🚶 How to get there: the center is located 95 kilometers from Nizhny Novgorod in Chkalovsk, chkalova STR., 4 (Museum and center on the map. You can get from Nizhny Novgorod from the station "Kanavinskaya" (located next to the railway station and the Metro "Moskovskaya"). From there, suburban and passing intercity buses depart to Chkalovsk in the daytime approximately every hour according to the Schedule, 2 hours on the way, the cost starts from 250 rubles. From the bus station in Chkalovsk to the museum 2 kilometers (25 minutes on foot).

Purehovsky Museum of local lore named after D. M. Pozharsky

This museum is located in the village of Purekh about 90 kilometers from Nizhny Novgorod. It is convenient to visit it on the way, if you are going to the Chkalov Museum (Chkalovsk) or Gorodets. The history of the village of Purekh is inextricably linked with the name of Prince Dmitry Mikhailovich Pozharsky. It was he who led the militia of 1612, which saved the independence of the Moscow State.

The exposition of the museum introduces visitors to the events related to the people's militia, as well as the personality of Pozharsky. The exposition is small, and the museum is located in an unsightly building of the rural house of culture, so you should not go here specifically, but if you are passing through, you should definitely visit it.

Near the museum there is also a monument to Pozharsky and the beautiful Transfiguration Cathedral. In the same village there are two houses decorated with outlandish carvings by the owners themselves: N. I. Kaloshin and K. V. Shesteperov. Fomino village where the Church of the Kazan mother of God was destroyed in the 40s, but there is a functioning holy spring in which you can plunge or collect water (source on map).

Practical Information

🕐 Working hours: 09:00-16:00, Monday-closed. Before visiting, it is better to call +7(83160)32-2-27, +79290525306.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adults-80 rubles / schoolchildren - 50 / preschoolers-free of charge. Excursion support-500 rubles.

🚶 How to get there: the museum is located in the village of Purekh about 90 kilometers from Nizhny Novgorod, Lenin Street, 66 (Museum on the map. It is best to get here by private transport, but you can also take buses from Kanavinskaya station (located next to the railway station and Moskovskaya metro station). From there, suburban and passing intercity buses depart to Chkalovsk in the daytime approximately every hour according to the Schedule, 2 hours on the way, the cost starts from 250 rubles. These buses make a stop in Pureha, then the museum is easily accessible on foot.

Novinskaya Toy Museum

This museum is also known as the Museum of peasant life. It was established in 2014 at the Novinsky center of crafts in the homeland of the earliest woodworking crafts of Nizhny Novgorod Region. Here you can get acquainted with the early unique wooden toys of the Nizhny Novgorod region, with the history of the revival and development of Novinsky wooden toys, as well as with the history of the urban district of Chkalovsk. There is also an exhibition "Cottage Artisan", which recreates the interior of the Russian hut in the likeness of the House Of a.m. Merzlyakov, one of the most famous and outstanding monuments of wooden architecture of the Nizhny Novgorod region.

Practical Information

🕐 Working hours: Monday-Friday from 10:00 to 16:00, Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00, but it is better to call in advance by Phone 8(83160)31-2-10.

💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: adult-50 rubles / children-20 / excursion service (including guide services, tea drinking, master class) - 150 rubles.

🚶 How to get there: the museum is located in the village of Noviny in Chkalovsky district (not to be confused with another village of the region), Shkolnaya Street, 5 (Museum on the map. From Nizhny Novgorod here 100 kilometers. It is best to get there by private car, but you can First Take a bus to the city of Chkalovs (from the station "Kanavinskaya"), and then transfer to a suburban bus in Pestyaki (goes to 7:10; 10:00; 16:30, check on the spot), which passes through the village.

Attractions of the Nizhny Novgorod region on the map

🕒 19 April, 2026