Where Is Krasnoyarsk?: Krasnoyarsk is located on the Yenisey River, pretty much in the center of Russia. A major stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway, it’s a charming side trip on your journey from Western Russia to Siberia (or vice versa). While it’s possible to fly from Moscow to Krasnoyarsk’s Yemolyanova Airport, the Trans-Siberian will take you through part of the larger (and very beautiful) Krasnoyarsk Region.
What Can I Do In Krasnoyarsk?: Krasnoyarsk features the Regional Museum, which has artifacts from the Krasnoyarsk region on carefully-arranged display. Sadly, though, the museum is not air-conditioned, so the heat and humidity take its toll on both visitors and the artifacts. The Surikov Museum has preserved the estate of Russia’s famous painter. For nature lovers, the Stolby Nature Preserve offers hiking among volcanic rock formations.
Where Can I Eat in Krasnoyarsk?: Krasnoyarsk has a variety of restaurants, cafes, and dessert shops. Prospekt Mira is the main street on which you’ll find enticing restaurants with patio seating, coffee shops offering quiet atmospheres, and a Baskin Robbins. On the other side of Krasnoyarsk across the bridge, it’s possible to find pizzerias and Asian cuisine.
Where Can I Stay in Krasnoyarsk?: In the City Center, on Prospekt Mira and Ulitsa Dubrovinskogo, there is a wide range of hotel accommodations that will fit almost any budget. You might also try south of the Yenisey River. Hotel Turist is a decent hotel near to restaurants and an internet café. For visitors who want more luxurious boarding, Snezhnaya Dolina has cottages equipped with kitchens as well as a tennis court.
How Can I Get Around Krasnoyarsk?: The Krasnoyarsk bus service is reliable and ubiquitous. However, as service areas are posted on the sides of the buses, you have to act quickly when the buses pull into the stops. If you find you’ve gotten turned around, the bus cashiers will usually do their best to help you. Tourists aren’t so uncommon in Krasnoyarsk that locals will look at you strangely attempt halting Russian, or even English . . . though how far you get with communication will depend entirely upon who you talk to.
Where Can I Shop in Krasnoyarsk?: The City Center along Prospekt Mira and the cross streets is the best place to shop in Krasnoyarsk. From markets, to street vendors, to book, clothing, and souvenir shops, this area offers the best variety of merchandise. The souvenir shop “Diana” is located at the east end of Mira. On the west end, you’ll find a little antique shop run by an informative elderly man. Most of his wares are small enough to fit in a bag and run from a few dollars to several hundred in price.
What Else Should I Know about Krasnoyarsk?: Krasnoyarsk is known as the “City of Fountains.” The many fountains in Krasnoyarsk are whimsical, unique, and offer some unusual photo opportunities. In addition, Krasnoyarsk is home to some lovely old buildings, a strange, incomplete skyscraper (left untouched after construction halted in the 80’s), and a statue of Andrei Dubenskoi, the founder of Krasnoyarsk. If you look closely at the city’s slopes from the statue’s outlook, you can see that they are, indeed, red in color.
