Saratov Sights and Landmarks Guide, Russia

Like Kazan, Penza, Samara, Volgograd other cities of the Volga Region, Saratov is one of the popular tourist destinations in southern Russia. The city’s tourist attractions range from natural sights to historical landmarks and cultural attractions. Apart from the many Saratov sights, the city also promises good shopping for a variety of products, right from electronics to jewelry, clothing, fancy items, souvenirs and a lot more. Remember, whether you go shopping or visiting different Saratov sights or are making a hotel-booking, carrying some cash will prove handy as credit cards are generally not accepted in Saratov.

Saratov Sights – Natural Attractions

Saratov spell-bounds you with its natural beauty but the Volga is certainly the biggest pull of Saratov tourism. People mostly visit the Cosmonauts Embankment area (or the Naberezhnaya Kosmonavtov). (And when you go visiting the Volga, make it a point to see the other attraction on the river, the 1965-built road-bridge. A man-made wonder, the bridge had the distinction of being the longest bridge in the whole of Europe till the 1980s.)

Saratov region is also famous for its national parks and zoological reserves. Khvalynsky, for instance, is a must-visit for its interesting flora and fauna; you will be treated to sightings of its various winged inhabitants, be it birds or insects, as well as its exotic pine-species, birchwoods and different mammals.

Saratov Sights – Cultural and Historical Landmarks

Saratov occupies a place of prominence in the history of Russia and the same is true about its culture. No wonder that the city boasts of so many landmarks that give a feel of the city’s historic past and rich cultural tradition.

The Radischev Art Museum is certainly the greatest of Saratov’s cultural sights. The museum is not only famous for its numerous exhibits (which include works by great masters like Aleksandra Ekster, Fyodor Rokotov, Pavel Kuznetsov as well as old art-works) but also for its simple-yet-arresting architecture. There are two other renowned museums in Saratov, namely, the Chernishevskiy Museum and Manor and the Fedin State Museum.

There are a number of theaters in Saratov – while theaters like the I.A.Slonov Saratov State Academic Theatre and the Academy of Theater Arts act as venues for theatrical performances, others like the Opera and Ballet Theater have earned fame as venues for musical events. Set up in 1802, the I.A.Slonov Saratov State Academic Theatre is an attraction in its own right; it should indeed be a ‘must-see’ in your things-to-do list, irrespective of whether you are able to catch a show or not. The Opera and Ballet Theater is pretty old as it had been holding shows till 1875.

These are to name only a few Saratov sights that you cannot afford to miss even if you do not have much time. If you plan an extended Saratov holiday, you can add the Troitsky (Trinity) Cathedral, the Gorodskii Park, Victory Park, etc. to your list.