Yekaterinburg districts: where is the best place to stay and what to see

So it’s time to go to Siberia on your own — exclusively for sightseeing and educational purposes! It’s a long way, so we advise you to slow down a little and take a break along the way in the glorious city of E, aka Ekb, aka the capital of the Urals — Yekaterinburg. Where to go, where it is better to stay and what to do in different parts of the city — we tell you in our fresh, like a warm bun with poppy seeds, guide from a local resident.

How Yekaterinburg works
Leninsky district
Verkh-Isetskiy district
Kirovsky district
Zheleznodorozhny district
Chkalovsky district
Ordzhonikidze district
Oktyabrsky district

How Yekaterinburg works

As in St. Petersburg Neva, so in Yekaterinburg Iset is the starting point and the cradle of the factory city. Its history began with the construction of a dam in 1721-1723, and today the pleasure Dam is the historical heart of the city of Ye.

Lenin Avenue, the main street of the Ural capital, stretches perpendicular to it and the City Pond with well-groomed embankments. It and the surrounding neighborhoods are the focus of tourist interests: museums, theaters, promenades and restaurants are comfortably located here, like precious stones in a malachite casket from Pavel Bazhov’s fairy tales.

Briefly about the main areas

Leninsky is the historical center, 1905 square and the main city promenades. An ideal location for those who are in the city for the first time.
Verkhny Isetsky is an old ironworks in a new way, Yeltsin Center, ponds and embankments.
Kirovsky is a quiet center with a church on the Blood, coffee shops, theaters, universities and Lake Shartash on the periphery.
Railway — two train stations and commuter train travel in the region.
Chkalovsky — Southern bus station, Botanical Garden, parks and ski resort on Uktus overlooking the city.
Ordzhonikidze — constructivism, the White Tower and the legendary Uralmash.
Oktyabrsky — silence and parks, including the zoo and the Central Park of Culture and Recreation, as well as Koltsovo airport.
Academic is a new city within a city, a newly built densely populated area that has not yet acquired interesting points of attraction for tourists.

Leninsky district

On the map

The heart of the city is on the Iset. Here, tourists will have the 1905 square with eternal Lenin, the sleepless pedestrian Weiner Street, the Historical Square with an exhibition of factory mechanisms, a noisy Dam and other points where it is worth going. Plus a lot of restaurants and coffee shops, a crowded Greenwich shopping center, museums, several parks, including the Arboretum (Arboretum) beloved by the townspeople, and the opportunity to meditate overlooking the river.

Officially, the area is large and covers remote territories. We advise guests to limit themselves to the central area within Lenin, Moskovskaya, Bolshakov, Rosa Luxemburg and Chapaev streets.

Here tourists will have 1905 square with eternal Lenin and a noisy Dam nearby. Photo: Elena Odareeva/Shutterstock.com

What needs to be done in this area:

idly stroll along the Dam and examine in detail the impressive high relief “Epic Urals” and equipment from Ural factories;
look into the rock transition in memory of Viktor Tsoi and listen to “A Star named the Sun” performed by local artists;
go backwards and forwards Weiner Street and appreciate the huge media screen;
see the works of European painters in the Hermitage-Ural center and view paintings by Russian artists in the Museum of Fine Arts;
jump on a giant keyboard on the embankment and make a wish;
arrange a photo shoot in the garden near the “Obliqueat home”;
feed the ducks on the embankment near the Arboretum Park and take a picture of the “Tutochki” sign — the work of the PSLCH team of artists;
visit the house-museum of the main storyteller of the Ural land, Pavel Bazhov;
get lost in the huge shopping center “Greenwich”.

Infrastructure. The most touristic and lively area of the city, so there will be no problems finding a hotel, restaurant or coffee shop. It is pleasant and safe to walk late here, and if desired, you can have breakfast with granola, brioche with salmon or pancakes even at four o’clock in the morning — some establishments are open around the clock.

Transport.If you settle in the Leninsky district, you can avoid problems with transport accessibility — the most important points of attraction will be within walking distance. But you need to prepare for traffic jams — during peak hours, the center of Yekaterinburg stood, stands and will stand, so it’s better to walk if possible.

The result.An ideal choice for those who come to the city for the first time, want to be in the center of events and see as much as possible.

Hotels in Leninsky district

Boutique hotel GOLD 1905 4* — from 7600 rubles;

“Reputation” 4* — from 7,268 rubles;

“Chekhov” 4*— from 8,900 rubles;

“Arbat” 3* — from 7,300 rubles;

TENT 3* — from 9650 rubles.

Boutique hotel GOLD 1905 4*.

We are preparing for a trip to the Ecb

In this article, we have compiled a top route for a couple of days in the Ural capital. And here is a gentle reminder of what not to do in Yekaterinburg.

Verkh-Isetsky district

On the map

This area captures the Upper Isetskiy and Gorodskiy ponds and the embankment near the Yeltsin Center, which is controversial in narrow circles. In the north-west it stretches almost to the North, but tourist interest is purely within the boundaries from the Olympic embankment to the Visovsky beach with the “Industrial Baby”.

What needs to be done in this area:

take a look at the Yeltsin Center and buy souvenirs with a Ural character;

dance on the embankment of the city pond;

try croissants at the Grand Buffet Europe;

meet the sunset under sail on the Visovsky pond or ride a bike along it;

visit the soulful museum of the history of fruit gardening and feel the atmosphere of the XIX century;

take a picture near the Yekaterinburg Arena stadium;

arrange shopping in the Mega shopping center.

You can look into the Yeltsin Center and buy souvenirs with a Ural character. Photo: Stock Photos 2000/Shutterstock.com

Infrastructure. The proximity to the center provides an acceptable choice of the necessary infrastructure for tourists, from public spaces and parks to hotels and catering facilities. There are also star chain hotels grouped in this area — there will be plenty to choose from.

Transport. The metro in VIZ (this is the name of the entire district on behalf of the historical Verkhny Iset plant) still remains a dream, but the tram regularly delivers tourists to the beach. There are no problems with buses and taxis either, so you can walk late.

The result. From pond to pond is an excellent location to explore the main tourist points, take a good walk along the embankments and admire the architecture of the century before last.

Hotels in the Upper Iset district:

“Residence” — from 16,333 rubles;

Hyatt Place Yekaterinburg 4* — from 11,500 rubles;

Hyatt Regency Yekaterinburg 5* — from 21,000 rubles;

Four Elements Yekaterinburg 4* — from 9709 rubles;

“Congress Hotel Yekaterinburg” 4* — from 7700 rubles;

“Vis—a-vis” – from 3500 rubles.;

“Komatec” 3* — from 4,500 rubles

Hyatt Regency Yekaterinburg 5*.

Kirovsky district

On the map

Continuation of the center and Lenin Avenue. An intelligent, quiet area with ancient mansions and many places of interest to tourists. Here you will find, as if frozen in the XIX century, a Literary quarter with museums of Ural writers and a temple on Blood. Although personally I prefer the baroque sky-blue Ascension Church on Voznesenskaya Hill.

There are also iconic museums in the Kirovsky district — I recommend at least stone-carving art and archeology and history of the Urals. I advise you to visit the stunning musical comedy theater, the ambiguous Kolyada Theater, the Philharmonic hall (there is an organ!), the university, the constructivist “Town of Chekists” and a couple of shady parks.

The point of attraction in the east of the district is the lake and the Shartash Park: there is a paleopark with figures of mammoths and other ancient animals, a ski rental, a rope park and forest trails.

Here you will find, as if frozen in the XIX century, a Literary quarter with museums of Ural writers and a temple on Blood. Photo: Dark_Side/Shutterstock.com

What needs to be done in this area:

go on a tour of Voznesenskaya Hill and learn the legends and stories about local merchants, Old Believers and gold miners;

walk along Karl Liebknecht Street and look into the past at the museum of the city’s history;

spend a wonderful evening at the musical comedy or philharmonic;

at the Museum of History and Archaeology, get acquainted with the Shigir idol — the world’s oldest wooden sculpture, whose age scientists estimate at about 12,000 years.

take a leisurely stroll through the Literary Quarter and the park and look at the museum you like (in the author’s top is the Reshetnikov House Museum);

explore the “Chekist Town” — a complex of residential buildings in the style of constructivism fashionable in the 1930s;

relax from the hustle and bustle of the city for coffee with a cake in a trendy coffee shop;

go to Shartash for a walk and feed the ducks again (yes, they are loved in the Ecb);

finish the evening at one of the many restaurants and bars in the area.

Infrastructure. The district rivals Leninsky in terms of the number of restaurants and coffee shops — you can safely arrange a food tour. And over time, the House of Printing hopes to catch up with the revelry of St. Petersburg’s Rubinstein Street with its trendy bars, restaurants and a nightclub. There are fewer housing options, but the choice is often more budget-friendly than in the neighborhood.

Transport. Tram, trolleybus, bus and one, but proud metro station on 1905 square nearby. And, of course, a taxi, if you are too lazy to walk a couple of blocks to the hotel at three in the morning.

The result. A worthy choice for guests who do not need the delights of the Hyatt and are aimed at educational tourism and interesting hiking.

Hotels in Kirovsky district:

“Voznesensky” 4* — from 8,400 rubles;

“Richmond” 4* — from 6669 rubles;

“Grand Hall” 4* — from 6000 rubles;

Oktyabrskaya 4* — from 7,500 rubles;

Impressions hostel — from 6,184 rubles

“Voznesensky” 4*.

Railway district

On the map

The area starts from the embankment of the City Pond and the Cosmos Concert Hall, captures the largest city market and stretches through the Old Sorting to the Chertovo Gorodishche rock massif. Tourists do not need to go that far — they can limit themselves to the part of the district adjacent to the center and a morning outing to Taganka (no, Shufutinsky did not sing about it).

What needs to be done in this area:

walk along the embankment and have dinner in a Georgian restaurant at a former flour mill;

go to a concert in “Cosmos”;

feed the Nile crocodiles at the farm “Crocodilville”.

get lost in the shops of Tagansky Row and the crossings of Beijing market, try samsa or Chinese cuisine in establishments for local merchants;

go explore the area by train from the railway station or by bus from the North.

Be sure to go to the concert at the Cosmos. Photo: Valeri Luzina/Shutterstock.com

Infrastructure. It is convenient that there are two train stations in this area at once: get out and immediately go explore the city. If you are too lazy to walk, the metro will help you, you can get to 1905 Square in 10 minutes (yes, there are only 9 metro stations in the Ekb, so the proximity of any of them is a significant plus). There are significantly fewer hotels in Zheleznodorozhny than in the neighboring Leninsky and Verkhny Isetsky, and the restaurants are easy to count on your fingers.

Transportation. Metro, tram, buses — to get to the right point, even if sometimes with adventures, it will work. I say hello to my favorite traffic jam on Cosmonauts Avenue!

The result. For tourists, only a part of the area between the metro stations “Dynamo” and “Uralskaya” is well suited. I do not recommend going deeper into the periphery, especially at night.

Hotels in the Zheleznodorozhny district:

Marins Park Hotel Yekaterinburg 3* — from 4,200 rubles;

“Sverdlova 27” 3* — from 4524 rub.;

“Amigo” — from 3500 RUB.

Marins Park Hotel Yekaterinburg 3*.

Chkalovsky district

On the map

The proud owner of the Southern Bus Station and two metro stations, this residential area is adjacent to Leninsky. Tourists will be interested and useful in the section of March 8 Street from the Chkalovskaya metro station to the botanical garden, plus the Uktussky Forest Park and part of Shcherbakov Street with an aquapark. Next is terra incognita, ending somewhere in the wilds near the Verkhne—Makarovsky reservoir, where the locals will get lost.

What needs to be done in this area:

go on a tour of the greenhouses and arrange a photo shoot in the botanical garden;

observe the hustle and bustle of the city, enjoying the most popular waffles in the Ecb;

master snowboarding or downhill skiing at the Uktus ski complex (in summer it’s nice to ride a bike, walk or climb here in the rope park);

have fun at the Limpopo family water park or go to the aquarium performance;

arrange a trip to Bazhovsky places and leave the Southern railway station for Sysert, the homeland of the writer.

You can have fun at the Limpopo family Water Park. Photo: “Limpopo”

Infrastructure. Famous chain hotelsyou won’t find it here, and in general, apartments are more common. Restaurateurs are also just beginning to explore the Chkalovsky district. Everything is simpler than in Leninsky or Kirovsky, but it is also more budget-friendly. The undoubted advantage of the area is the presence of a bus station and a metro line (yes, again about the sore point).

Transport. For every taste: metro, tram, trolleybuses, buses. There are always taxi drivers near the station, but it is better to use aggregator applications.

The result.A base for restless tourists with a carefully thought-out budget. From here it is convenient to rush even to the center, even to neighboring cities.

Hotels and apartments in Chkalovsky district:

Mini-hotel “Respect Hall” — from 5200 rubles;

Apartment near the southern bus station — from 4481 rubles;

DreamHouse apartments — from 4123 rubles;

Nice Days Hostel — from 1,693 rubles;

Apartment on March 8, 173 — from 4,481 rubles;

Rooms-Ekb — from 3580 rub.

The apartment is near the southern bus station.

Where to go from Yekaterinburg

If you have a few days left, we advise you to look at your neighbors in the Chelyabinsk region: catch our detailed guide on the interesting things of the Southern Urals.

Ordzhonikidze district

On the map

An option for those who, when choosing housing, habitually get attached to metro stations far from the center. In Yekaterinburg, this is not the best option due to the modest size of the only underground transport line, but why not? At the same time, guests will be able to walk around Uralmashevsky sotsgorodok, get into the spirit of constructivism — this architectural style is considered a feature of Yekaterinburg — and go back 70-90 years ago (only I do not advise walking late at night: the dashing 90s, of course, are behind, but you never know).

What needs to be done in this area:

go on an excursion to the constructivist White water tower of the UZTM plant and climb to the observation deck;

take a look at the Uralmashzavod History Museum;

immerse yourself in the Soviet atmosphere in the “Noble Nest”, a nostalgic courtyard with high arches, monumental houses and an inactive Soviet fountain;

check in near the Red Banner group on the square of the First Five-year Plan;

count the orders on stele UZTM;

take a picture at the art object “Heart of Uralmash”.

It is necessary to go on an excursion to the constructivist White water tower of the UZTM plant and climb to the observation deck. Photo: UralUra/Shutterstock.com

Infrastructure. Choose an apartment closer to the metro in order to get to the center quickly — you still have to go to dinner.

Transport.The main advantage of the area from a transport point of view is, of course, the metro. But I do not advise trying to squeeze into the cars during rush hours: leave this entertainment to the locals who are skilled in elbow wrestling. Ground transport is also present, but taking into account the eternal traffic jams on Cosmonauts Avenue, it must be used selectively.

The result.A place for lovers of constructivism and Soviet nostalgia.

Hotels and apartments in Ordzhonikidze district:

Mini-hotel “Visit” — from 4282 rubles;

Galant-hotel 3* — from 4900 rub.;

Apartments on Stachek 62 — from 3055 rub.

Apartments “Stepanenkov na Stachek” — from 3,229 rubles.

Apartments “Stepanenkov na Stachek”.

Oktyabrsky district

On the map

The tourist part of the district is located to the right of the Iseti River and is bounded by Lenin, Vostochnaya and Tkachey Streets. It is a quiet area with green areas, museums, theaters and a developed tourist infrastructure. To the south is Koltsovo Airport named after Ural industrialist Akinfiy Demidov. Most of the guests get to the city through Koltsovo: it takes 15 minutes to get to the center by taxi.

What needs to be done in this area:

listen to the opera or enjoy the dance of little swans at the Opera and Ballet Theater;

learn more about the Old Believers of the Urals in the unique museum of the Nevyansk Icon;

get to know the capybara and other animals in the Yekaterinburg Zoo;

watch the launch and flight of a rocket in the Cosmonautics Museum with 3D glasses;

walk around all the alleys in the Central Park of Culture and Recreation, feed squirrels and admire Yekaterinburg from the Ferris wheel;

have fun and conduct scientific experiments in the Galileo amusement park;

try Ural cuisine with panoramic views of the city in the restaurant on the 24th floor of the business center Clever Park.

You need to go listen to the opera or enjoy the dance of little swans at the Opera and Ballet Theater. Photo: Mikhail Markovsky/Shutterstock.com

Infrastructure. Good-quality hotels are concentrated closer to Kuibyshev Street, museums and theaters tend to Lenin Street. The walking part of the new embankment with restaurants and bakeries can be found near the Central Park.

Transport.There is no metro in this area, but land transport is represented in all its diversity.

The result.The area is for those who are ready to create new neural connections by visiting museums and theaters, appreciating green spaces and panoramic views.

Hotels in Oktyabrsky district:

“Atrium Palace” 5* — from 9500 rubles;

Onegin 4* — from 7190 rubles;

SLIDE Bleisure & MICE Hotel 4* — from 7650 rubles;

Mini-hotel “White Clover” — from 4780 rubles;

“AZIMUT City Hotel Yekaterinburg Airport” 4* — from 10 300 rubles

“AZIMUT City Hotel Yekaterinburg Airport” 4*.

The eighth district of Yekaterinburg

There is another area of the city — Academic, but ancient architecture and other tourist attractions are not to be found here. What is hidden in the newly built Academy? A complex of high—rise residential buildings and a couple of parks – Preobrazhensky and South-Western.

Some areas of Yekaterinburg resemble a city within a city — you find yourself in the leisurely and literary XIX century, then in the era of social competition, constructivism and five-year plans in three years. Come to the Urals to explore the epochs interesting to you, and the Island will help you settle in the right area.

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Cover photo: Dark_Side/Shutterstock.com