Yekaterinburg Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Yekaterinburg (Екатеринбург, also Ekaterinburg) is an important industrial and cultural center of Russia. Self-proclaimed capital of Urals region of Russia.
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Understand
Yekaterinburg is the 4th largest city in Russia after Moscow, St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk and the capital of the Urals region. It was founded in 1723 by Peter I as the metallurgical factory and by the XX century it had become one of the largest and the most important financial, industrial and cultural centres. Between 1924 and 1991, the town was known as Sverdlovsk (Свердловск). The city is often said to be situated on the border of Europe and Asia (on the Asian side) and two symbolic monuments of this can be found near the city.
Get in
Yekaterinburg has an international airport called Koltsovo and a number of direct international flights from Frankfurt, Munich, London, Dubai, Tashkent and several seasonal international charter flights, mostly to Turkey and Spain. There are daily flights to Moscow, to Domodedovo airport by Ural Airlines and TransAero and to Sheremetyevo airport by Aeroflot, flights to St. Petersburg, Vladivostok and other cities of Russia.
Yekaterinburg is also a stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway. There are daily trains to Moscow and many other cities and towns in Russia from the central Railway station. The ticket office can be found on the ground floor of the new railway station building. There is an extensive network of local trains serving Ekaterinburg region (called Sverdlovskaya Oblast).
Get around
The central part of Ekaterinburg has problems coping with traffic. Getting around the center of Ekaterinburg by car is a real pain. The public transport system is efficient. There is a wide tram network, trams are inexpensive and reliable way of getting around Ekaterinburg. Buses and trolleybuses (electric buses) experience the disadvantages of heavy traffic in the peak hours.
The trams can be quite crowded and the ticket is purchased onboard.
Ekaterinburg is a very compact city for its population (1.3 million). One can drive from one side of the city to the other in some 30 to 40 minutes, providing the traffic allows that. Ekaterinburg has a metro (underground train) line, just one yet, connecting the central part (stop is near the Circus) to Uralmash - large industrial and residential area, having stops near main railway station and further down to Uralmash. Metro proved to be popular with the locals because it is quick and inexpensive. The stations are impressive, decorated with native Ural stones, granite and marble.
See
The places of interest include: Cathedral on The Blood recently built at the assassination place of Nicholas II and his family. Circuis, Opera and Ballet theatre, Urals State University, 19th century buildings, Mafia cemetery and so on. If you happen to be visiting during New Year's, visit 'Ledovoi Gorodok' - an whole city block made out of ice with rides and attractions.
Do
Yekaterinburg offers plenty of cross-country skiing, with trails stretching for miles. There are some Skiing resorts as well. It will take you approximately 25 minutes to get to the nearest of them from the center of the city.
Yekaterinburg has the largest (on the date of opening) water park in Europe.
Buy
When in Yekaterinburg, make a visit to the "Chinese Market" or Bazaar. The market consists of many hundreds of small outdoor stalls, selling everything from toilet paper to fur coats, all at the best prices in the city. But this kind of market is not really the right place to buy souvenirs. Vaynera Street, in the center of the city, has a lot of shops with a wide range of small things to buy. Usually this street (it's pedestrian only) is called The Urals Arbat, after the Arbat in Moscow.
Eat
During recent years many new cafés and restaurants have opened in Yekaterinburg, providing all kinds of cuisine. The Yamal Restaurant is perhaps the best one to visit if you have a chance. This restaurant is ready to introduce the world of northern Russian cuisine to you. By the way, don't forget to drop in ravioli-house. The leather in Russia is considered one of the best in all of Europe, handbags and wallets are made with good quality. Gold jewelery while expensive is also very good. Markets, such as the Chinese market is good for cheap bargains.
Drink
There are a number of friendly bars in the city, but for the visitors from from the British Isles look out for the English, Scottish AND Irish pubs in the centre of the city (with genuine English ales and stouts).
Sleep
[1] Apartments for short term stay in Ekaterinburg
Some cosy hotels of Ekaterinburg
Get out
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