The city of Saratov is located on the right bank of the Volga River, in the European part of Russia. Important objects of education, economics, trade and cultural heritage are concentrated here. The city is one of the 20 largest cities in the country.
Saratov is not a center of tourism, but it is rich in attractions of various types, making a visit to the city interesting for tourists of any age and status. The choice is varied and can satisfy the needs of guests with any hobbies, regardless of the time of year.
In March 2021, Saratov was awarded the title of “City of Labor Valor”.
Guests of the city will learn from this article where they can go in Saratov when they come to the capital of the Volga region for the weekend.
Where to go with a child in Saratov
Many parents are interested in the question, where can they go with their child in Saratov? In fact, there are many options. An excellent place for walks with the whole family and a pleasant holiday is the amusement town “Lukomorye”, located in the city park. Here children will be able to ride on the rides and train that runs around the territory, and feed the ducks and squirrels. Bowling is popular with local residents. Here you can have fun playing games, as well as visit a restaurant and cafe with an excellent menu.
For children, the city has a puppet theater called Teremok, which hosts exciting performances. The city is also easy to find other fun activities and events that will appeal to both young children and teenagers.
Natural attractions
The geographical location of Saratov allows residents and guests of the city to enjoy the beauty and natural monuments of the capital of the Volga region.
Cosmonauts Embankment
You can find out where you can go in Saratov to get unforgettable emotions from your trip from this article. The Cosmonauts Embankment is the visiting card of the capital of the Volga region. The embankment originates near Slavyanskaya Square, which can be reached by entering the city from the neighboring city of Engels along a road bridge.
The embankment received its name in honor of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, to whom a monument was erected on the square. The embankment is designed in the form of 3 tiers. On the lower level there are walks along the water, on the middle level - for relaxing in the shade of trees on benches, on the upper level there are residential buildings. There is a monument at the end of the embankment
For lovers, popular among newlyweds, decorated with multi-colored ribbons. There is a light and music fountain in the water - the largest in Russia.
Transport:
- trolleybuses: No. 1, No. 2, No. 5;
- minibus: No. 42, No. 42k, No. 54, No. 82, No. 105;
- buses: No. 11, from Saratov to Engels.
Lipki Park
In the very heart of the city is the Lipki Park. The vacation spot got its name because of the trees planted on the territory. The alleys are equipped with benches where you can relax while connecting to free Wi-Fi.
In bad weather, visitors can visit the summer library pavilion and the chess club. Next to Lipki is the Dynamo stadium. In winter, the football field becomes a skating rink, and equipment rentals are available.
Roller operating mode:
- weekdays: from 17:00 to 22:00;
- weekend: from 12:00 to 22:00.
Entrance with your own skates: 150 rub. Rental: 150 rub./hour.
Transport:
- trolleybus No. 2;
- minibus: No. 8a, No. 52, No. 54, No. 97.
"Saratov Arbat"
The walk ends in the Lipki park on the street named after. Radishchev, from which Kirov Avenue originates. Local residents call the pedestrian zone “Saratov Arbat”. The avenue occupies 3 blocks. Along the entire route there are shopping centers, shops, and cafes.
In summer, open areas with tables are equipped where you can relax and refresh yourself for a further walk.
At the beginning of the pedestrian zone there is the most beautiful city fountain, which shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow at night, and music accompanies the action. You can sit on the benches and admire.
Transport:
- trolleybuses: No. 2, No. 15;
- buses: No. 2, No. 6, No. 90;
- minibus No. 79.
Victory Park
The largest natural park in the city is located on Sokolova Mountain, at the foot of which the city was originally built. Its foundation was motivated by the victory of Russian soldiers in 1945. The park contains the “Mother’s Tears” fountain, installed as a tribute to the grief of mothers who lost their sons in the war.
Near the fountain, a long staircase begins leading to the “Cranes” monument, created in honor of Saratov residents who did not return from the front. The memorial consists of 3 40-meter pylons, at the height of which a wedge of cranes flies. Every year on May 9, the park is filled with visitors, for whom concerts are organized and a brass band plays.
In the depths of the park, national villages have been built, offering their guests to taste the cuisine of different nations. The walk ends at the observation deck, which offers an amazing view of the Volga and the city.
Transport:
- minibus: No. 72, No. 52, No. 95;
- bus number 2d.
City Park "Lukomorye"
In Saratov, you can go to the city park of culture and recreation - this is another place where locals go to get a charge of positive emotions. The park is located in a picturesque area, among ponds, oak trees and other plants.
The oak forest was chosen by squirrels. Animals can be hand-fed nuts and seeds. Ducks and swans swim in the ponds. To unify with nature, boats and catamarans are offered for rent. On the territory of the park there is a solarium area with a swimming pool, the water in which warms up to + 25 ⁰C.
Ticket price: adult - 400 rubles, children - 200 rubles.
Transport:
- trolleybuses: No. 4, No. 15;
- buses: No. 2d, No. 6, No. 53, No. 90;
- minibus: No. 21, No. 42, No. 79, No. 83, No. 99, No. 105, No. 110.
Natural Park "Kumysnaya Polyana"
Birch grove, ancient oak trees, ponds and wild animals - that's all about this natural oasis inside the city. The holiday destination is in demand among lovers of an active lifestyle. Bicycle rentals are available here, and skiing is available in winter. For relaxation, the clearing is equipped with gazebos, verandas, tables and barbecues.
You can get to the vacation spot by bus number 27.
- ski rental - ZaDoor Adventure Park, Kumysnaya Polyana, 3a. Opening hours: from 10:00 to 18:00. Price: 200 rub./1.5 h;
- bicycle rental - child care center “Beryozka”, children’s recreation center “Dubki”. Opening hours: from 9:00 to 19:00. Price: 200 rub./hour.
City Beach
It is better to determine in advance where you can go in Saratov to sunbathe and swim in the Volga, based on information about the cleanliness and infrastructure of the beaches. The city beach is a favorite summer vacation spot for Saratov residents. You can get to Golden Sands via a road bridge across the Volga, in the middle of which there will be a descent to the beach.
The distance from Slavyanskaya Square to the rest area is about 1.8 km. The walk will take about 20 minutes. You can get there by bus from Saratov to Engels. While driving across the bridge, the bus makes a stop at the beach. In this case, there is no need to use taxi services or a car - stopping on the bridge is prohibited for passenger vehicles.
There are many trees on the river bank, in the shade of which you can hide. There is a cafe. For the safety of vacationers, a rescue service operates.
Opening hours: from 8:00 to 20:00. The entrance is free.
Where to go in Saratov for the weekend
Within the city and its surroundings there are many good squares, parks and forest parks where you can stroll and have picnics in the warm season. In the Kumysnaya Polyana, one-day hikes through the picturesque surroundings are held in the summer, and ski camp sites operate in the winter.
Also on a weekend it will be interesting to visit the planetarium, local history museum, circus, theater, art gallery, and museum of folk crafts. The city regularly hosts various concerts, festivals, folk celebrations and other entertainment events.
Where to go with a girl in Saratov
There are many places in Saratov where you can go with a girl. In order to choose the right one, you need to know her preferences: if she likes active recreation, it is best to go skiing or go hiking. If she likes more relaxed entertainment, invite her to one of the many restaurants, cafes or sushi bars. The city has a large number of establishments offering both traditional cuisine and exotic dishes: “Beehive”, “Tired Horse”, “Petrovna”, “Tashir Pizza”, “Barracuda” and many others.
Saratov also has large shopping and entertainment centers where you can spend a pleasant time shopping.
Museums of Saratov
The largest museum in the city is the Saratov Regional Museum of Local History, located on Museum Square. It is one of the oldest in the Volga region. Every year the number of exhibits in its already rich collections is constantly growing. The Chernyshevsky Estate Museum, which is a whole complex and tells about the cultural life of the city in the 19th century, is popular among tourists.
The city also has an Art Museum, which contains more than 20 thousand paintings, sculptures and exhibits made by Russian and Western masters from the 15th to the 20th centuries.
Brief description of Saratov
Saratov is located on the right bank of the Volga River, 389 kilometers from Volgograd and 858 kilometers southeast of Moscow. It is a regional center. The population is approximately 850 thousand inhabitants. The area it occupies is 394 square meters.
Saratov is often called the “capital of the Volga region”
From references in historical records it is clear that the city was founded in 1590 on the territory between Samara and Tsaritsyn. It was designed as a guard fortified city and a pass point on an extensive trade route; it was located on the site of the former city of the Golden Horde. The name was taken from the mountain on which it was located - “yellow mountain” - in Tatar - “sary tau”. The founders are considered to be boyar Fyodor Turov and Prince Grigory Zasekin, who acted by order of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich. By the 17th century, Saratov turned into a large fortress with its own garrison of archers, with a port for ships and became the main city trading in fish and salt. In the 18th century it was awarded the title of provincial town. During the Great Patriotic War, due to its industrial development, the settlement was an important element in the military equipment production system: up to 12 fighters were produced per day. Today it is a beautiful developing city with modern industrial enterprises, cultural institutions and architectural monuments.
Monuments of Saratov
Numerous monuments to famous personalities have been erected in Saratov: Lenin, Dzerzhinsky, Alexander II, Cyril and Methodius, Pyotr Stolypin, Vasily Razumovsky, Chernyshevsky and many others. There are also many quite original and interesting objects: “Cranes” on Sokolova Gora, a Monument in honor of heroes of the front and home front, a monument to the defenders of the Saratov sky, a monument to a student, a monument to a teacher. You can find sculptures while walking both around the central part of the city and along remote streets: there really are a lot of them here.
Sights of Saratov
There are many architectural attractions in Saratov: these include the houses of Nikitin, Pavel Kuznetsov, the Borisov-Musatov estate and many others. Tourists will be interested in visiting the National Village of Peoples, which presents the national housing of people from different parts of not only Russia, but also the whole world. A natural attraction is Green Island, which previously had a rather rich history, and today is a place for tourists to relax. Another natural site is Kumysnaya Polyana. This is a huge forest park, home to many representatives of wild fauna.
You can get acquainted with the city and its attractions by watching the video:
Churches and cathedrals of the city of Saratov
The population of Saratov, like most cities in the Volga region, is multinational. Representatives of different nations have lived here in peace since ancient times, freely practicing their own religion. Thanks to this, today tourists can admire temples of various faiths.
Church of the Intercession
- Opening hours: daily, from 7:00 to 19:00.
- Phone: +7 845 227‑30-87.
- Website: https://www.pokrovsar.ru
- Address: st. Maxim Gorky, 85. Transport stop “Bolshaya Gornaya Street”.
Since the middle of the 19th century. At the intersection of Bolshaya Gornaya and what was then Aleksandrovskaya streets, there was a small wooden church. However, over time, it simply could not accommodate the parishioners. Then they decided to build a more spacious stone temple. Money for its construction was collected all over the world. In 1833, the new church was consecrated in honor of the Intercession of the Mother of God. During the time of persecution of religion, they tried to blow up the temple, but the building turned out to be surprisingly strong. After restoration carried out in 2007, it looks great. The main shrine of the church is considered to be the image of Matrona of Moscow, Xenia of St. Petersburg and Sergius of Radonezh with reliquaries.
Church "Quiet My Sorrows"
- Opening hours: daily, from 7:00 to 19:00.
- Address: st. Volzhskaya, 36. Transport stop "Park Lipki".
The delightful tented church in the pseudo-Russian style was consecrated in 1906. It immediately became one of the main city attractions. The exterior of the temple amazes with the elegance of its decor, elegant kokoshniks, and carved cornices. Its main dome is surrounded by many drums topped with painted onions with crosses. It is not surprising that even the Bolsheviks did not raise their hand to destroy the architectural miracle. Until 1965, the building housed the city planetarium, and then the temple was returned to believers.
Cathedral Mosque
- Opening hours: daily, from 6:00 to 12:00.
- Phone: +7 845 228‑14-41.
- Address: st. Valovaya, 28. Transport stop “Chernyshevsky Street”.
The Tatars have lived in the Saratov province for a long time. Therefore, since the first half of the 19th century. In the city there was first a wooden and then a stone mosque. Divine services in the temple continued until 1930, when it was closed by a decision of the authorities. The building was partially destroyed and used for economic needs. Only in 1989 was it returned to believers. However, the mosque was no longer subject to restoration. It was demolished, and by 2005 a new temple with a green dome was erected on this site from two-color brick. Next to it rises a four-tiered minaret, crowned with a gilded crescent. The height of the tower is 46 m.
