Krasnodar

Krasnodar is one the most important historical and cultural centers of Southern Russian and the Northern Caucasus region. Nowadays, it has a population of 775,000 people. It is more ethnically diverse than Northern Russia, with many Georgians, Armenians, Chechens and Ossetians settling in the area over the years of political turmoil. Adyghe and many Jews inhabit the city as well.
The renovated tsar-era buildings make this city very pretty, also most travelers only need a day or two to see all the major sights.

History

Originally knows as Yekaterinodar, meaning "Catherine's Gift", Krasnodar was founded in 1794 by the Black Sea Cossacks, under the guidance of Catherine the Great, to guard the southern border of the Russian Empire, to the east of the Black Sea.
Much of the city was destroyed during WWII, on late 1942, but it was later rebuilt.

By plane

• Krasnodar International AirportInternational flights are available to/from Dubai and Vienna. Domestic flights are available to most major cities in Russia.

From the airport, trolleybus 7 (1 hour) and minibuses 53 and 15 (40 minutes) operate service to main train station. Buses 1 and 1A operate service to the city centre. A taxi from the airport to the city centre should cost RUB500.

By train

Several trains per day operate between Krasnodar and the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk (RUB650, 3 hours), Rostov-on-Don (RUB600, 3-4 hours), and Volgograd (RUB900, 14-16 hours).

By bus

Buses operate approximately every 3 hours between Krasnodar and the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk (RUB350, 3.5 hours). Buses operate hourly to the Russian resort town of Anapa (RUB350, 3.5 hours). There are 6 buses per day to/from Rostov-on-Don (RUB400, 4-6 hours). There is also a daily bus to Sochi (6 hours).

By public transportation

Krasnodar has a dense network of trams, trolleybuses, city buses, taxis, the boat across the Kuban river and marshrutkas. Public transport fees are generally approximately RUB30.

Krasnaya (Red) Street is the main street of the city. Part of the street is closed to vehicles during evenings, when it becomes the center of nightlife.
Theater Square has largest splash fountain in Europe.

Museums

• The Krasnodar Regional Art Museum Of Kovalenko

  phone: +7 861 262-95-04
  address: 13 Krasnaya St

• Krasnodar Regional Showroom of Fine ArtsIncludes many famous works of Kuban and Russian and European artists from as early as 16th century.

• Museum of Military Technologies Oruzhie Pobedy

  address: v
  Popular with kids that like to climb on the tanks.

Monuments

• Monument to Catherine the Great
• Sculpture of Walking Dogs - Mira 35 - Built in 2007, it was inspired by a famous Russian poet that commented on the number of dogs in Krasnodar.
• Monument to Shurik and Lida
• Monument of Cossacks writing a letter to the Turkish Sultan
• Monument to Kuban Cossacks
• Monument Avrora
• Monument A.S. Pushkin
• Obelisk In Honor Of The 200th Anniversary Of The Kuban Cossack Army
• I.E. Repin Monument
• Monument A.V. Suvorov

Religious Buildings

• St. Catherine's Cathedral
• Alexander Nevskiy Cathedral
• St. George's Church
• St. Elijah Church
• Holy Trinity Cathedral
• Chapel of Alexander Nevskiy
• Church of St. Nicholas
• Church of the Holy Libor
• St. Kazan Church

• Climb the steel lattice hyperboloid tower built by Vladimir Grigorievich Shukhov in 1928. The tower likely wouldn't pass a safety inspection in most first world countries, but it is the best place to get a view of the city. The tower is near the circus.
• Watch football at Krasnodar Stadium. The home team is FC Krasnodar who play in the Russian Premier League, the top tier of Russian football. It was opened in 2016 with a capacity of 34,000. It's on the northeast edge of the city, 4 km from Krasnodar-1 main railway station (further out than the old "Kuban" Stadium). Take a bus to Vostochno-Kruglikovshaya Street.

Parks

• Rozhdestvenskiy Park of Culture and Leisure
• The Solnechny Ostrov (Sunny Island) Park
• Safari Park - Includes a zoo, but the animals are treated poorly
• Chistyakovskiy Grove Park
• Botanical Garden of Professor I. S. Kosenko
• City Botanical Garden
• Park of the 30th anniversary of the Victory
• City Park of Culture and Leisure
• Marshal Zhukov's Park
• Training Botanical Garden
• Park Druzhby
• Lynx Zoo

Theatres

Most are on Krasnaya Street

• Drama Theatre - Gorky

  address: Ploshchad' Oktjabr'skoj Revoljucii, 2
• Children’s Puppet Theatre
• Philharmonic Hall
• Operetta Theatre

Cinema

• Avrora Kino

  address: Krasnaya St 169
  Built in 1967. Two movie screens, including one with a capacity of 1,200. Also includes a cafe and pizzeria.

Entertainment complexes

Around 20 entertainment complexes are open 24 hours/day. These complexes usually include bowling alleys, shopping centers, video arcades, casinos, and restaurants.

Water amusement parks

• Equator
• Aqualand

Aquarium

• Ocean Park Aquarium

  address: 161 Stasova St, inside Galaktika Mall
  A 3,000 square meter aquarium. There are several tanks of fish to look at, including a tunnel-tank that patrons can walk under, allowing tiny sharks to swim over your head. It is best to visit during feeding time when the carnivorous fish make a gruesomely interesting scene. Be sire to feed the turtles in the koi pond -Use the RUB10 vending machine to purchase fish food.

Bazaars

• Vostochniy Rinok

  address: 161 Stasova St
  This outdoor assortment of booths offers the best in fresh produce and other domestic products. Be prepared to haggle/bargain, especially over non-produce items.

Shopping malls

• Galaktika

  address: 182 Stasova St
  A more Western-style shopping experience. Galaktika includes hundreds of clothing stores, sports stores, computer stores, and an "Okey" store (which is comparable to a Walmart). Galaktika also features an aquarium, a respectable food court, and other diversions.

Krasnodar has many restaurants, pubs, eateries, sushi bars, hookah bars, pizzerias, coffee/tea houses and fast food places. The predominant Krasnodar cuisine is a mix of south Russian, Georgian, Armenian and Greek flavors with emphasis on fresh local grown produce minimally spiced and mostly flavored by parsley, dill and cilantro.

Budget

• Lubo-DorogoA popular local cafe chain.

Fast Food

There are several American fast food restaurants including Subway (5/2 Zipovskaya St, 149 Krasnaya St, 39 Krainyaya St, 38 Mira St), McDonald's (100 Dzerzhinsky St), and KFC (104 Uralskaya St)

Mid-range

• Borshberry

  address: Krasnaya St 182
  A great place to have borsch and beer.

• Kinza

  address: Krasnykh Partizan 204
  Creative Russian cuisine.

• Stan

  phone: +7 918 330 1616
  address: Kubanskaya Naberezhnaya St 15
  Traditional food and atmosphere. Live traditional music. Food prepared on an open fire.

• Shanti

  phone: +7 861 201-92-88
  address: Ural'skaya St 79/1
  The best place to have delicious food, fun and entertainment. Karaoke and night club.

Splurge

• Skotina

  phone: +7 861 299 9594
  address: Suvorova St 64
  Meat restaurant ans steakhouse with a great selection of wines and craft beers.

Many popular bars are clustered off the southern end of Krasnaya (Red) Street.

• Amsterdambar

  phone: +7 861 251 1698
  address: Krasnoarmeyskaya ul. 64

• Grey Bear Pub

  address: Stavropolskaya St 133
  The slogan here is 'beer, beef, and sport'.

• Killfish

  phone: +7 800 333 0977
  address: Krasnoarmeyskaya ul. 52

• McKey Pub & Restaurant

  phone: +7 861 259 6635
  address: Krasnykh Partizan 218
  Irish pub with a great atmosphere and beer selection.

• Mr. Drunke Bar

  phone: +7 861 299 9594
  address: Krasnoarmeyskaya ul. 58

• Sgt. Pepper's Bar

  phone: +7 861 944 1399
  address: ul. Chapaeva 94

Budget

Hostels

• Bla Bla Hostel

  phone: +7 861 221 2993
  address: Rashpilevskaya ul. 106

• ID Hostel

  phone: +7 800 500 1402
  address: Severnaya ul. 324

• Like Hostel Krasnodar

  phone: +7 928 258 4777
  address: Dlinnaya ul. 128

• Shukov Hostel

  phone: +7 989 275 4288
  address: Kalinina 468

Hotels

• Greek House Hotel

  phone: +7 861 221 2993
  address: ul. Ryleeva 165
  Free WiFi and simply furnished accommodation. Each room is air conditioned and offers a flat-screen cable TV. Free private parking for guests. 24/7 reception. Refreshing drinks and snacks are served at the Greek House's bar.

Mid-range

• Grand Hotel Uyut

  phone: +7 861 226 7272
  address: ul. Vorovskogo 118
  Modern hotel.

• Mozart Hotel

  phone: +7 861 255 1001
  address: ul. Kubanskaya 188

• Savoy Petit

  phone: +7 861 226 7272
  address: ul. Kostyleva 193
  Wood floors, flat screen TVs, indoor pool, and a 24-hour restaurant with couches.

Splurge

• Hilton Garden Inn Krasnodar

  phone: +7 861 210 2030
  address: 25/2 Krasnaya St
  4-star hotel. Free Wi-Fi, fantastic breakfast buffet, large rooms, free laundry room, work-out centre, free mini-bar, air conditioning, comfortable beds and modern bathrooms.

• Intourist

  phone: +7 861 268 5200
  address: Krasnaya ul. 109

Consulates

• Italy

  phone: +7 861 267-6496
  address: Stavropolskaya street 134, 1 floor

• Novorossiysk - Black Sea port city
• Rostov-on-Don
• Volgograd
• Anapa
• Sochi