Izhevsk

Russia · Europe

About Izhevsk

Izhevsk is the capital city of Udmurtia, Russia. It is situated along the Izh River, west of the Ural Mountains in Eastern Europe. It is the 21st-largest city in Russia, and the most populous in Udmurtia, with over 600,000 inhabitants.

From 1984 to 1987, the city was called Ustinov (Russian: Усти́нов), named after Soviet defence minister Dmitry Ustinov. The city is a major hub of industry, commerce, politics, culture and education in the Volga Region. It is known for its defense, engineering and metallurgy industries. Izhevsk holds the titles of Armory Capital of Russia and the City of Labor Glory.

The pioneer settlements on the territory where modern Izhevsk now stands were founded by Udmurts in the 5th century. There were two fortified settlements situated on the banks of the Karlutka River. Later this territory joined the Khanate of Kazan. In 1552, Russia conquered the Khanate and, in 1582, Ivan the Terrible conferred the lands by the Karlutka and Izh Rivers on Bagish Yaushev, a Tatar morza. The quit-rent had been imposed on the Udmurt population ever since. The Yaushevs owned the land until the reign of Peter the Great (1682–1721).

Izhevsk travel guide

Understand

Very few tourists make it to Izhevsk, but is an interesting destination for anyone interested in the Udmurt culture or the AK-47 Kalashnikov, which was manufactured in Izhevsk. It is an industrial city but it is worth a visit to watch Udmurt folk dances, eat exotic foods, and meet locals that don't often see foreigners. Izhevsk has 630,000 residents. Due to its arms manufacturing industry, Izhevsk was a closed city to all foreigners until after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is also one of the least religious cities in Russia, with over half of the population identifying as "spiritual but not religious" or atheist.

Getting there

By plane 1 Izhevsk Airport (IJK IATA) (15 km (9.3 mi) east of the city centre). The airport serves small airliners, which operate flights to/from Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, and Ufa.

By train Russian Railways operates trains to major cities in Russia; search for "Ijevsk" on its website. Trains are available to/from Moscow (daily, 17 hours; from 3600 руб), Yekaterinburg (11 hours, From 900 руб), Kazan (5 hours, from 900 руб), and Perm Station 2 (8 hours, from 1100 руб). The Trans-Siberian Railway stops at Glazov, from where you can take a regional train (4 hours, 900 руб) or bus to Izhevsk.

2 Izhevsk railway station. (updated Jan 2022)

Getting around

Izhevsk has trams, buses, minibuses, trolleybuses, and taxis.

See

1 Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Trinity Cemetery Church. 2 Kalashnikov Museum and Exhibition Complex of Small Arms (Музейно-выставочный комплекс стрелкового оружия имени М. Т. Калашникова). (updated Jan 2022) 3 Udmurtia State Circus. Esplanade and Izhevsk Lake Embankment. 4 The People's Friendship Monument. The Square of the 50th Anniversary of the October Revolution. Includes The Arsenal, a neoclassical building which houses the Museum of Local Lore. Izhmash Museum. Exhibits featuring all sorts of locally produced armaments to motorcycles. 5 Udmurt Zoo. Statues of Lenin, Pelmeni, Crocodile Gena 6 Kirov Park. A huge park between the Zoo and the lake. (updated Jul 2018)

Do

Go see the popular local ice hockey team, HC Izhstal.

Buy

At the central market (beside the bus station) you can purchase many things, fruits, vegetables, meat and fish, or outside you will find clothing, fur hats and gloves, household goods and a variety of other items.

Eat

Brauplatz, Borodina 25, ☏ +7 341 293-00-93. Restaurant & brewery. Gorkiy Sad, Maksima Gorkogo 72, ☏ +7 341 278-70-80. Nice presentation, with white tablecloths. Gorod, Karla Marksa 177, ☏ +7 341 251-05-25. English menus and a French countryside ambiance. Hot Pelmen (Горячий пельмень), Kommunarov 230, ☏ +7 341 224-46-65. Authentic pelmeni made from scratch. Popular with locals. Okhotnichiy Rai, Maiskaya 35A, ☏ +7 341 261-27-00. Unusual menu - wild boar, elk. Ambiance of a hunter's lodge. Teremok, ул. Кирова, 10, ☏ +7-3412-794559. 11:00-00:00. (updated Jul 2018) 1 KFC. (updated Jun 2022)

Drink & nightlife

Clubs Svet, Svobody 173, ☏ +7 341 297-01-73. Popular with young people. Face control.

Sleep

Deryabin, Krasnogeroyskaya 107, ☏ +7 341 233-00-03. Has a billiards room and sauna. From 1600 руб. Okolitsa, 23a Zhivsovhoz Izhevsk, ☏ +7 3412 710183. Hotel with a sauna. From 1800 руб. Park Inn by Radisson Izhevsk, 25 Borodina, ☏ +7 341 293-00-10, [email protected]. The nicest hotel in the city. From 4320 руб. (updated Nov 2020) Telekom, 36 Dzerzhinskogo, ☏ +7 341 244-52-08, fax: +7 3412 445204. Has a gym, swimming pool, and games room. From 1950 руб.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.