Samara is the old city of the Volga region. It was founded in 1586, two years after the capture of Kazan. The city changed its name many times. Before the revolution, it was called Samara, then Kuibyshev and Samara.

The name «Samara» was given to the city in honor of the river.

How to get to Samara

A flight from Moscow to Samara will cost about five thousand rubles. For a trip, it is better to choose a day when there are not so many tourists in the city.

Taxi trips are inexpensive, but keep in mind that at this time of the year there are many schoolchildren and students in the city who can use public transport.

Museum «Space Samara»

The Space Samara Museum Center is the first museum in Russia dedicated to astronautics. Its exhibits tell about the history of the Samara region from the inception of the space industry to the present day.

There are also models of space vehicles, a model of the Soyuz launch vehicle, fragments of rockets, a space helmet, a spacesuit, personal belongings of cosmonauts, including Yuri Gagarin.

Oceanarium in Samara

The Samara Oceanarium opened in 2008. Here you can see more than 200 species of fish and other representatives of the aquatic environment. In addition, the aquarium has a dolphinarium where you can watch shows with dolphins, fur seals and sea lions.

  • Also in the aquarium there is a children’s room and a cafe. You can also take original photographs in the Samara Oceanarium. The cost of visiting is from 400 rubles. Address: st. Novo-Sadovaya, 269.

Glory Square in Samara

The place where the monument to Georgy Zhukov stands is one of the most popular sights of the city. There are parades, rallies and processions. The monument to Zhukov was opened in 2004, in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Victory. Now Glory Square is considered one of the main gathering places for citizens.

Merchant houses of Samara

In Samara, many merchant houses have been preserved that you can see. Some of them are currently being restored. This is a building on Frunze street, house No. 183, and a house on Samarskaya street, house No. 94.

Samara Zoo

Samara Zoo is one of the largest and most well-equipped zoos in Russia. Its area is more than 50 hectares. More than 2 thousand animals from more than 100 different countries of the world live here.

  • In the zoo you can see: polar bears, tigers, cubs, lynxes, hares, wolves, cubs, monkeys, camels, lions, as well as rare bird species: flamingos, emus, ducks, geese and others.