• Understand
• Get in
• Get around
• See
• Do
• Buy
• Eat
• Drink
• Sleep
• Get out

Yekaterinburg (Екатеринбург, also Ekaterinburg) is an important industrial and cultural center of Russia. It is official capital of Urals region of Russia.

[edit] Understand

Yekaterinburg is the 3d largest city in Russia after Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and is the capital of the Urals region. It was founded in 1723 by Peter the Great as the metallurgical factory and by the 20th century it had become one of Russia's largest and most important financial, industrial and cultural centers. 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.

[edit] Get in

Yekaterinburg has an international airport called Koltsovo and a number of direct international flights from Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf, London, Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Dubai, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Tashkent, Helsinki and several seasonal international charter flights, mostly to Turkey and Spain. There are daily flights to Moscow's Domodedovo Airport by Ural Airlines and TransAero as well as to Sheremetyevo airport, Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok and other cities of Russia by Aeroflot.

Yekaterinburg is also a major 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 the surrounding region.

[edit] Get around

The central part of Yekaterinburg has problems coping with traffic. Getting around the center of Yekaterinburg by car is a real pain. The public transport system, however, is efficient. There is a wide tram network that is inexpensive and reliable. Trams can be quite crowded and the ticket is purchased onboard. Buses and trolleybuses (electric buses) experience the disadvantage of heavy traffic during peak hours.

Yekaterinburg 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, provided there is no traffic. Yekaterinburg 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. The metro has proved to be popular with locals because it is quick and inexpensive. The stations are impressive, decorated with native Ural stones, granite and marble.

[edit] See

The places of interest include: Cathedral on The Blood recently built at the execution place of Nicholas II and his family. The Circus, Opera and Ballet theater, Urals State University, various 19th century buildings, the Mafia cemetery, and other sights all merit attention. If visiting during New Year's, don't miss Ledovyi Gorodok - a whole city block made out of ice with rides and attractions.

[edit] Do

Yekaterinburg offers plenty of cross-country skiing, with trails stretching for miles. There are some downhill skiing resorts as well. It will take you approximately 25 minutes to get to the nearest of them from the center of the city.

• Limpopo [1] - the largest water park in Europe
• Yekaterinburg city guide

[edit] 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 famous Arbat in Moscow.

Leather in Russia is considered some of the best in Europe; handbags and wallets are of especially high quality. Gold jewelery, while expensive, is also very good. Markets, such as the Chinese market is good for cheap bargains.

[edit] 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. And of course, don't forget to drop in a pelmeni-house.

[edit] Drink

There are a number of friendly bars in the city, but for homesick visitors look out for the English, Scottish, AND Irish pubs; especially 'Old Dublin' in the centre of the city (with genuine English & Irish ales and stouts). There is also a Tinkoff brewery in the city, 64 Krasnoarmeiskaya ul. which does a fantastic business lunch as well as an all you can drink offer for around $20.

[edit] Sleep

For budget accommodation, you can get hourly rates at the Komnaty Otdykha at the main train station. To get there, walk to the eastern end of the station to the last and small set of glass doors. First door on the right should lead you to a set of stairs which will take you there. Rates are approximtely 10RB/hour. For the seriously budget conscious, you can crash in the waiting area on the top floor of the large station building. Metal chairs are abundant, but the ones to look out for are rows of 2-3 chairs without armrests in between. The sign seems to say it costs 20RB to wait in these areas, but feigning ignorance seems to get you in (and out) for free.

[edit] Get out