Suzdal is one of the main pillars of the Golden Ring of Russia. This is a huge open-air museum. Here there is a unique combination of natural beauty and ancient Russian architecture dating back to various periods.
Suzdal is a revived epic with white stone cathedrals, Kremlin walls and sparkling gold domes. Currently, the city has thirty-two churches, many of which are quite respectable in age, as well as more than one hundred and fifty architectural monuments made in various styles.
There are no large enterprises, highways or other consequences of civilizational progress - instead, the authenticity of old Russian settlements that managed to preserve the uniqueness of their appearance. It is not surprising that many local attractions are under the protection of international organizations.
The tourist popularity of Suzdal never weakens, but, unfortunately, not all guests of the city have enough time to fully explore all its beauties, and the question of what can be seen in Suzdal in 1 day remains relevant.
Vasilievskaya Street and Vasilievsky Monastery
Vasilyevsky Monastery seems cold and ascetic. This impression appears due to the fact that, despite its relatively large size, the monastery has extremely narrow embrasure windows, low portals and a rather restrained design. These features make it look like an ancient fortress.
This architectural monument is quite unusual in terms of its design - it has two pillars. Over its more than four hundred year history, it has been rebuilt more than once. The last to appear on the territory of the monastery was the bell tower, which is decorated with pilasters and carved cornices.
Compared to other buildings, it is quite brightly decorated. The foundation of the monastery is associated with the name of Vladimir the Great.
It is the Vasilyevsky Monastery that is a kind of starting point - this is where that component of Vasilievskaya Street begins, which has retained some authenticity. Local houses are built of wood with all the elements characteristic of ancient architecture.
Particularly notable are the carved platbands, by which one can determine the time of construction of a particular house.
We recommend reading:
- Sights of Suzdal
- Museums of Suzdal
- Churches and temples of Suzdal
- TOP 15 excursions in Suzdal
November video
Let's admire the beautiful and snowy November Suzdal from a bird's eye view in this short video.
Shopping: Suzdal souvenirs
The symbol of Suzdal is a cucumber. The vegetable is depicted on magnets and dishes, and elegant jars with crispy preserves open the TOP of popular souvenirs. An unusual delicacy that is sold only in this city is cucumber jam with the addition of apples, nuts, berries or mint. In grocery stores, cucumber delicacies are represented by the local brand “Gardens of Suzdal”.
They won't let you go without cucumbers!
Continuing the TOP of gastronomic souvenirs are drinks and “Suzdal Gorloder” - an appetizer made from horseradish, tomatoes, garlic and cucumber juice. The top drink is mead, which can be strong and non-alcoholic. The meadery's company store offers more than 10 different flavors. Price - 400 ₽ per 0.5 liter bottle. Horseradish with the addition of lemon juice and honey is considered a panacea for all diseases in Suzdal.
Try the local mead!
Konstantin from Moscow gives advice on buying souvenirs in his review:
“For industrial group souvenirs, go to the Trading Rows in the city center. You will not only make a purchase, but also arrange an exciting excursion to get acquainted with folk crafts. You will find the best pottery in the stores of the Dymov Ceramics workshop. Patchwork is sold in the exhibition gallery of the Spaso-Evthymius Monastery. Original souvenirs are offered by the Vladimir-Suzdal Patterns store (Lenina, 57) and the Souvenir Shop on Lebedev Street.”
Cozy ceramics - as a souvenir of the trip.
Museum of Wooden Architecture
This complex is a unique architectural nursery of the 17th-19th centuries. All the buildings that are located today on its territory - the huts of simple peasants, large houses of merchants and landowners, several churches, mills, barns, sheds, wells - all this was brought from various parts of the Suzdal region.
Historical buildings that needed reconstruction were dismantled and rebuilt, but as components of the museum. It is worth noting that not only the external attributes of the corresponding centuries have been preserved, but also elements of everyday life and the interior design of all premises have been carefully restored.
Today, folk festivals in the old Russian flavor are often held on the territory of the museum, for example, Maslenitsa is celebrated.
Shopping arcades and the Eternal Flame
Shopping arcades are an atmospheric place in a historical sense. They are located on a square paved with cobblestones. An old church rises above the square. The design of the square was developed and implemented at the beginning of the nineteenth century according to the sketches of the architect A. Vershinsky.
It was assumed that shops of merchants from all over the Russian Empire would be located here. However, the expectations were more than justified - the shopping arcades were never empty. Today, the original function of the Trading Rows has been preserved - a kind of sketch in stone on the theme of a provincial town of the nineteenth century.
They sell here mainly various handmade souvenirs, as well as such attributes of visiting Suzdal as mead and kvass. Directly opposite the Trade Rows there is a park where the Eternal Flame burns today.
Water tower
The Suzdal water tower is a landmark that, unfortunately, has retained its historical and architectural significance only from the outside. The interior spaces belong to a boutique and will not be of interest to fans of pre-revolutionary architecture.
The exact date of construction of the tower is not known. It is believed that this happened at the beginning of the twentieth century. The tower consists of four tiers, and the upper one is framed by a balcony, which rests on wooden consoles.
The roof is made in a hipped style, which is more typical for religious buildings. The structure is crowned with a lightning rod. In the plans, the tower was erected to provide water to the neighboring hospital building, which today also has not retained its original functions.
However, just five decades ago both the water tower and the hospital were operating successfully.
Architecture and monuments of Suzdal
On the streets of Suzdal you can see perfectly preserved townsman and merchant mansions, a shopping arcade, and original engineering and technical structures. That is why the city was chosen by filmmakers. “The Marriage of Balzaminov”, “Finist – Clear Falcon”, “Sorcerers” and many other wonderful films were filmed here.
Shopping arcades
- Address: st. Lenina, 63A. Transport stop "Torgovaya Ploshchad".
The main square of the city is decorated with the magnificent architectural ensemble of the Trading Rows. Suzdal Passage was built at the beginning of the 19th century. in the then fashionable Empire style. From the central portal with a gate, crowned with a high spire, wings of galleries diverge, the vaults of which are supported by arches and paired columns. In the 30s of the last century, the southern galleries were demolished by decision of the authorities. However, half a century later, the symmetry of the complex was restored during restoration work. Today, the Trade Rows are again among the main local attractions.
Memorial D.M. Pozharsky
- Address: Territory of the St. Euthymius Monastery. Transport stop "Skver im. Pozharsky."
The history of the family tomb of the Pozharsky princes clearly shows how short human memory is. Prince Dmitry, who together with Kuzma Minin led the militia that expelled the Polish invaders from Russia, was called the savior of the Fatherland. However, not even a century had passed before the tomb of the princely family on the territory of the Spaso-Evfimievsky Monastery was demolished on the orders of the then Archimandrite Ephraim. To restore historical justice, it took the intervention of royalty. Using donations from the grand dukes and funds collected through all-Russian subscriptions, the architects erected a marble mausoleum, decorated with fine carvings and mosaics. But the Bolsheviks, who came to power, dismantled the unique structure in 1933, and razed the burial place of the prince and his descendants to the ground. The memorial was restored in modern times. In the summer of 2009, the rite of consecration of the newly rebuilt chapel-tomb took place.
Monument to A. Lebedev
- Address: intersection of Lenin and Kremlevskaya streets. Transport stop "Torgovaya Ploshchad".
Alexey Lebedev is considered the most famous among Suzdal writers. A wonderful poet-marinist, he wrote many amazing poems glorifying the sea and the life of sailors. It is quite possible that he could join the ranks of classics of Soviet literature. However, the life of the naval officer-poet, member of the Union of Writers of the USSR, was claimed by the Second World War. In the summer of 2008, a monument to A. Lebedev was solemnly opened in Suzdal. The sculpture is cast from bronze.
Fire Tower
- Address: st. Lebedeva, 1. Transport stop "Torgovaya Ploshchad".
In 1890, in Suzdal, which suffered from frequent fires, a full-fledged unit of firefighters finally appeared, for whom a special building was built. True, there were not enough funds to build an observation tower. She appeared in the city only 11 years later. The tower, more reminiscent of a lighthouse in appearance, immediately became one of the attractions of the policy. A century later, the one-story fire station building fell into disrepair. The mansion was demolished, and in its place a new one was erected according to century-old drawings. Therefore, only the restored tower has preserved its original appearance in the entire complex.
Water tower
- Address: st. Lenina, 45. Transport stop “Ulitsa Pushkarskaya”.
Suzdal is truly a unique city! Here, even an ordinary engineering object often looks like a monument of deep antiquity. To see this, just look at the water tower building. The four-story brick structure, covered with a hipped dome, would look appropriate in any medieval fortification complex. Today, the building, erected more than a century ago, houses a shoe boutique.
Bishops' Chambers
The Bishop's Court is a significant component of the Suzdal Kremlin. The construction of this complex proceeded rather slowly - from the fifteenth to the eighteenth centuries. However, from the very beginning, the chambers became the place of direct residence of the local spiritual leader.
The appearance of the Bishop's Court has changed more than once. The most noticeable changes occurred during the greatest activity of Metropolitan Hilarion, a prominent historical figure, who actually created a new complex, complicating it in an architectural and structural sense.
The complex includes a number of residential premises and churches, built at different times.
Elements made of natural oak, arched ceilings, tiled tents, scarlet cloth - all this is intricately intertwined in the design of the Bishop's Chambers.
At the moment, this complex is one of the components of the museum. It is used as an exhibition hall where you can get acquainted with the art of icon painting. Here are collected exhibits whose age exceeds three hundred years. The museum’s special pride is the works of Simon Ushakov stored here.
Where to go with children in Suzdal
The colorful city-museum can charm both adult and young traveler. If you take a child on a trip, you definitely can't go wrong.
"Shchurovo Settlement"
- Opening hours: daily, from 11:00 to 18:00.
- Ticket price: 300 rubles, student 100 rubles, free admission for children under 5 years old.
- Telephone.
- Website: heliopark.ru/attractions/muzey-shchurovo-gorodishche
- Address: st. Korovniki, 14. Transport stop "hotel complex".
Do you want to plunge headlong into the atmosphere of an ancient Slavic settlement? Then you should definitely visit this unique Suzdal museum. Here tourists are surrounded by reconstruction buildings from the time of Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. In a historical setting, guests are offered to ride horses, practice archery, master the skills of wielding a heroic sword, and learn how to bake bread in a real Russian oven. There are interactive games for children and adults and a petting zoo. It should be separately noted that the buildings were erected with amazing historical accuracy.
The Wax Museum
- Opening hours: daily, from 10:00 to 19:00.
- Ticket price: adult 300 rub., reduced price 200 rub.
- Telephone.
- Website: https://www.wax-museum.ru
- Address: st. Kremlevskaya, 3. Transport stop "Torgovaya Ploshchad".
In this place you can have a wonderful time with the whole family in the colorful company of wax doubles of popular historical figures. The figures of Catherine the Great in a luxurious dress, Ivan the Terrible in anger, and Napoleon contemplating his next military campaign look very realistic. A little further away, Red Army soldiers greeted Lenin as he walked along the corridor of the Smolny Palace, and nearby Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill sat down on chairs for a protocol photo. A touch of romanticism is brought into the officialdom by the figures of Andrei Mironov in the Figaro costume and the most popular trinity - Dunce, Coward, Experienced. The guide will tell you many interesting facts from the lives of all the characters presented in the exhibition.
Teddy Bear Museum
- Opening hours: from Wednesday to Sunday inclusive, from 10:00 to 19:00.
- Ticket price: adult 150 rubles, children 50 rubles.
- Telephone.
- Address: st. Lenina, 63A. Transport stop "Torgovaya Ploshchad".
Since 2013, an amazing museum has been operating in Suzdal, a visit to which will delight a preschool child. A collection of 80 adorable bears collected by the Katansky couple is on display here. Some of the exhibits were brought from foreign trips. The rest of the toys were created by the hands of craftsmen from Suzdal and other Russian cities. The cozy exhibition hall is “lived in” by Teddies made from vintage mohair and nostalgic plush, sophisticated Chinese silk, natural fur, and modern plastic.
Read about the sights of Aleksandrov, Bogolyubovo, Vyaznikov, Kideksha, Kolchugino, Kirzhach, Yuryev-Polsky, Petushki, Sudogda, Vladimir and Murom.
Suzdal is considered one of the pearls of the Golden Ring of Russia. Therefore, every traveler interested in the history of the country should visit this amazing town, in which almost every building of the historical center is an object of cultural heritage.
Our Lady of the Nativity Cathedral
This cathedral is the oldest stone structure in Suzdal. It is part of the Suzdal Kremlin complex and is perhaps its main dominant feature.
An elegant snow-white building with blue domes crowning five chapters especially stands out among other buildings of this complex. The white stone cathedral was built over many centuries, undergoing major changes.
Its history is closely connected with such iconic people of its time as Vladimir Monomakh, Yuri Dolgoruky, Yuri Vsevolodovich and others. Today the remains of many Russian princes are kept here.
The decoration of the Nativity Cathedral contains various elements, for example, paintings on the southern doors, dedicated to the deeds of angels, clearly belong to the Byzantine school of icon painting, but in the appearance of sculptural elements, for example, lions, the influence of the Romanesque style can be traced.
The design contains elements of gilding and uses precious metals.
Temple of Boris and Gleb
Before visiting Suzdal itself, it is worth taking a look at the small village of Kideksha, which is located in its vicinity. It was here that the residence of Yuri Dolgoruky was once located. It, like other buildings in this village, dates back to the 12th-17th centuries.
This fact automatically makes local architectural monuments undeniably significant. The most valuable is the temple of Boris and Gleb, which is the oldest white-stone church of all currently standing on Suzdal land.
The temple has retained its rugged beauty. Its decoration today would be considered sparse, but the place has a different character, and the old faded frescoes of birds and flowers best convey it.
From Thursday to Sunday the temple is open from 10:00 to 17:00; on other days it closes at 16:00. Day off – Wednesday
Complex of churches of the Entrance to Jerusalem parish
The first mentions of this complex date back to the seventeenth century. At the moment, it includes two churches: the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and the Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. Both temples were built in the first decade of the eighteenth century and are similar in many ways.
The buildings are completely typical of the Suzdal architecture format, but, nevertheless, fit perfectly into the citywide panorama. Both churches are summer churches and were built on the site of old churches, the reconstruction of which would have required even more investment.
Icon painting workshop of Andrey Davydov
This workshop belongs to Andrei Davydov, the rector of churches located on the territory of the Suzdal Kremlin. He is one of the most prominent representatives of modern Russian religious painting.
In the workshop you can purchase icons made in a traditional manner using natural pigments. The sizes and subjects vary, but it is not they that cause delight, but how masterfully the master learned to handle the almost canonical technique of egg tempera.
In addition, he works with wax painting, within the framework of which the most ancient icons of the 1st-6th centuries were created. Visiting the workshop is free. You can purchase icons on the spot or place a pre-order.
Andrey Davydov's workshop is open from 09:00 to 22:00 daily.
Deposition of Robe Monastery
The construction of this temple dates back to the mid-sixteenth century. It can hardly be called a typical building of its time for a number of reasons. The three-domed cathedral itself with three apses is an unusual phenomenon if we talk about the Suzdal type of architecture. The cathedral is classified as a stopless type of structure.
There are no internal supports, which is why the domes crowning the cathedral had to be made lighter by thinning them. The interiors of the Cathedral of the Deposition of the Robe do not correspond to its external outlines, since the zakomaras and shoulder blades that decorate the side facades are false.
The interior design is based mainly on skillful work with tiled inserts, patterned coatings and stone carvings. Throughout its history, the cathedral did not experience any particularly serious reconstruction, but during the Soviet Union, the temple was badly damaged and was closed.
At the moment, restoration work has already been completed, the looted riches of the cathedral, although not in full, have been returned to its ownership.
Posad House
This architectural monument is, without understatement, unique. It was erected around the end of the seventeenth century, when there was a transition to using stone rather than wood as the main material for construction. It also became the first “hybrid” structure of the new formation.
In its form it follows the wooden houses of that time, however, it is a stone building. Initially, the house was covered with planks and rather modestly decorated - mainly with fine carvings.
Of particular interest are windows with antique frames. Today the house is used as an interactive museum - the supposed environment in which the trading townspeople of Suzdal lived has been restored here.
At the moment, it is not known exactly who the real owner of the house was. According to the most popular versions, he could have been a fairly wealthy clergyman, a tavern owner, or a kalachnik.
Simeonovskaya and Smolensk churches
Not far from the Posad House is the Simeon Church. It was erected in the second third of the eighteenth century in a manner typical of Suzdal craftsmen. A low building with light walls and a blue roof, this church was rebuilt several times.
The church also includes a bell tower, which was built almost a century after work on the church itself was completed. The dominant style in the appearance of the bell tower is classicism. The neighboring Smolensk Church dates back to an earlier time of construction.
It is in no way connected with the city of Smolensk, but was named after the icon of the Smolensk Mother of God. It is noteworthy that by the seventeenth century, in which the construction of the church fell, five domes as a phenomenon had already practically disappeared, nevertheless, in the appearance of the Smolensk Church we see exactly five domes.
The church is devoid of heavy monumentality - on the contrary, it is full of lightness and grace.
Monastery of Saint Euthymius
This monastery is located on the banks of the Kamenka River and was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a unique architectural monument. The monastery was founded in the middle of the fourteenth century.
The first buildings, unfortunately, have not survived. Only those buildings that date back mainly to the sixteenth century have reached us. The monastery complex includes a number of churches, residential premises, buildings and even the Prison Yard.
In Suzdal, GuruTurizma recommends the following hotels:
Weather forecast for November
The weather in Suzdal in November is cool and unstable. The average daily air temperature in the last month of autumn is −3°C (−5°C at night and 0°C during the day). At the end of November it gets noticeably colder, but winter has not yet come into its own. In the first ten days of the month, during the day the thermometer rises above zero; in the last autumn week the temperature at night drops to −10°C.
A fresh wind often blows from the river, take this into account when choosing things for your trip. The weather is most often cloudy, with light rain and the first snow not excluded. Properly selected clothes and shoes will make your vacation comfortable. Warm trekking boots, a windproof down jacket with a hood, a sweater and insulated trousers are the best equipment for excursions around Suzdal in November.
Weather in Suzdal in November 2021 - forecast of weather forecasters.
Tatyana from Yaroslavl writes in a review:
“Every year my children and I come to Suzdal for the holidays at the beginning of November; the weather at this time is completely unpredictable. If you know what to prepare for, everything will go smoothly. Sunny days at this time are extremely rare, and clouds, puddles, unpleasant drizzling rain and cold wind greet us almost every year. There were even rare snowflakes that melted on the ground. To prevent bad weather from spoiling your holiday, I advise you to take waterproof jackets and shoes, hats, scarves, woolen socks and umbrellas.”
Route around Suzdal for 1 day on the map
- Phuket hotels with water park and water slides
- Tours to the Dominican Republic for 9-11 nights, 4 and 5* hotels all inclusive + promotional code for 1000 rubles. - April May
- What to see in Bergamo in 1 day - 11 most interesting places
- Sights of Marseille
- Weather in Vietnam in April
- Donskoy Monastery in Moscow
- How to return a plane ticket
- 5 star Barcelona hotels in the center
- 5 star hotels in Mallorca with private beach
- The most dangerous airports in the world
- What to see in Vienna in 1 day - 16 most interesting places
- Tours to Mexico all inclusive, 11-13 nights, 5* hotels from RUB 227,091 for TWO – April
Travel budget - prices 2021
The tourist season in the cities of the Golden Ring does not depend on the time of year. Prices for housing and entertainment increase slightly on the May holidays, New Year, during the holidays and on weekends. If you book accommodation early, the trip will be cheaper. Book excursions in advance and get an additional discount.
The beginning of November is the school holidays, so take this into account when planning your trip.
The distance between Moscow and Suzdal is 224 km, so it is most convenient to travel by car. There is no railway station in the city; the nearest stations are located in Gavrilov Posad (Ivanovo region) and in Vladimir.
- The cost of train tickets from Moscow to Vladimir is on average 540 ₽ (seating). Travel time is about 2 hours. Buy train tickets on Poezd.ru →
- The price of tickets for the Vladimir - Suzdal bus is 117 ₽. The journey takes 45-50 minutes. Find tickets on Tutu.ru →
- Kiwitaxi.ru transfer from Vladimir railway station to Suzdal ≈ 2,400 ₽ (up to 4 passengers), 30−40 minutes.
- The cost of bus tickets from Moscow to Suzdal is ≈ 650 ₽. Travel time is 4 hours. Find tickets on Tutu.ru →
- Daily accommodation in 3-4* hotels (City Center) ≈ 3,600 ₽ for a double room - find out current hotel prices on Booking.com or Hotellook.ru →
- Daily accommodation in a rented apartment for two ≈ 2,200 ₽ when booking through the Sutochno.ru service →
- Travel on city buses is 21 ₽.
- A cup of coffee - on average 150 ₽, dumplings ≈ 180 ₽, pancakes with berries ≈ 250 ₽ per serving. The average bill in a restaurant is 1000 rubles per person.
Is it windy and chilly outside? Hurry to the cafe.
To see all the Must Visit places in Suzdal from “A” to “Z” you will need 3-5 days, depending on the rhythm in which you like to relax. Download an interactive map of the city and bring a thermos for hot tea on your trip - it will definitely come in handy during excursions in November. Take with you a camera or phone with a good camera and a large amount of memory - you will get a lot of pictures from Suzdal.
Have a nice trip!
Author: Irina Savitskaya
Article last updated: November 11, 2021
