Top sights worth seeing in Yekaterinburg

Yekaterinburg

Photo by 2048492 website Pixabay 

What to do in Yekaterinburg?

  • Appreciate the Arts: Visit the +100 year-old home of Russia’s most beloved folk writer or see the ballet in an ornate theatre built in the 1800’s.
  • Wonder at Architecture: Being a key trading post between Asia and Europe, many rich merchants built themselves palatial homes in this city.
  • Connect with the other-worldly: To this day the memory of the murdered Romanov’s hangs heavy over the city. The city’s main cathedral now stands on the spot where they were gunned-down.

Although it doesn’t boast the sheer number of architectural gems of St Petersburg or the buzz of Moscow, Russia’s 4th biggest city has for the past hundred years persistently kept popping up in international headlines. From the banal - its residents consume the most mayo (11kg/annum!) in the world - to the ground-breaking - the protests held in 2019 were one of the few significant civil movements in Russia at the time - to the heart-breaking - this being the place where the Royal family were murdered - Yekaterinburg has something for everyone.  

Sacred places

Church on the Blood

Yekaterinburg Church on the Blood

Photo by Polinalovely website Pixabay

Perhaps the most defining moment of Yekaterinburg’s history was the gruesome murder of the Romanov family in a dingy cellar right in the centre of the city. Sadly, the unassuming mansion which they were kept hostage in was demolished towards the end of the Soviet Union to prevent pilgrimages which were becoming increasingly frequent in memory of the Tsar. After the fall of the USSR, the government and church began to come out increasingly in favour of the monarchy. To mark the canonization of the Romanovs, a church was erected on the site of the Ipatiev mansion. Though the building itself doesn’t boast much history, being built in 2000, the museum section of the church is full of evocative mementoes of the Tsar and his family, like private correspondence and jewelry. The church itself if not old is certainly grand, containing the most valuable Russian religious icon.

Address: 10, Tsarskaya Ulitsa, Yekaterinburg
Opening hours: 07:00 - 23:00

Church of Ascension

Yekaterinburg Church of Ascension

Photo from https://sobory.ru/

The prettiest building in the city is by no coincidence also one of the oldest. One could imagine that the pastel blue and white palette was taken straight from the heights of heaven and, as it harbored some of Russia’s most prominent saints (the Romanovs), it might be the closest thing to heaven on earth. 

Address: 11, Ulitsa Klary Tsetkin, Yekaterinburg
Opening hours: 08:00 - 20:00

Where the Wild Things Are

Victory Park

Yekaterinburg Victory Park

Photo from https://www.tourister.ru/

Yekaterinburg is surrounded by forest, but for a breath of fresh air that doesn’t cost an uber-ride, head to the city’s main park and summer hot-spot. Russians love to barbecue and at the height of summer you’ll find the rolling lawns covered in picnic blankets, gazeboes and ice-cream carts. From spring to early autumn, bikes are available for rent while in winter a pair of cross-country skis or a ‘vatrushka’ (blown-up sled) will keep you occupied for hours. For those who are mad about anything with four legs, there’s even horse riding at this massive park.

A year-round cafe serving up traditional Russian dishes is the perfect spot to retreat to once tired.

Address: 101, Kirovgradskyay Ulitsa, Yekaterinburg
Opening hours: 11:00 - 23:00

Architectural Wonders

Dom N.I. Sevast’yanova

Yekaterinburg Dom N.I. Sevast’yanova

Photo by Aleksey Leen website Pixabay 

The entirely original design of this palace is so stunning that it has been more or less taken over by Vladimir Putin as his residence when in the Urals. A passerby couldn’t help but stop and wonder at the vibrantly-coloured, ornate exterior that perfectly embodies Yekaterinburg’s East-meets-West culture. The beauty on the outside can’t but help raise expectations as to what might be inside, but unfortunately the palace is in effect closed to the public (though their website claims that one can call to arrange tours).

Address: 35, Prospect Lenina / 23, Ulitsa Gorkogo, Yekaterinburg

Kharitonov Palace

Yekaterinburg Kharitonov Palace

Photo from https://nashural.ru/

Though not exactly Peterhof, the palace and gardens are the most extensive in the Urals and are definitely worth a visit for both nature lovers and history buffs. Built at the close of the 18th century for an infamously cruel merchant, the grandiose Romanesque statues and network of paths encircling the duck ponds make for a lovely weekend strolling spot. 

Address: 44, Ulitsa Karla Libknekhta, Yekaterinburg

Yekaterinburg State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre

Yekaterinburg State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre

Photo by https://tagilcity.ru/

One of the oldest buildings in the city stands as a cornerstone: bringing the diverse denizens of Yekaterinburg together in their shared love of classical operas and ballet. Ever since its late 19th century debut, this theatre has been listed among Russia’s top theatres and many theatrical giants worked and performed here.

Address: 46a, Prospect Lenina, Yekaterinburg
Opening hours: 10:00 - 20:00

Memorial House-Museum of Pavel Bazhov

Yekaterinburg Memorial House-Museum of Pavel Bazhov

Photo by http://dombazhova.ru/

Though you may not even have heard of his name before, Pavel Petrovich Bazhov’s wooden cottage which he called home for almost three decades is a sight worth visiting. Bazhov penned some of Russia’s most beloved folktales in the early era of the USSR; sparking a newfound appreciation of folklore in suspicious Soviets. His most famous work— The Malachite Box— was written in this century-old cottage and, as his wife preserved all the rooms in perfect condition upon his death, a visit is just like stepping back in time.

Address: 16, Ulitsa Volodarskogo, Sysert, Sverdlovskaya oblast
Opening hours: 10:00 - 17:00 Mon-Sat

Fun & Funky

Keyboard Monument

Yekaterinburg Keyboard Monument

Photo by https://www.volh.in/

One of the more light-hearted sights is the simple, yet universally-popular 16 meter keyboard that acts both as monument and bench. With a lush lawn as its border and the frothing Iset River below, this is without a doubt the most Instagramable spot in the whole city. Strangely, the keyboard has a QWERTY setup not Cyrillic. 

Address: 14a, Ulitsa Gorkogo, Yekaterinburg

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