If you have two or three spare days in Moscow, Kazan is the single best add-on to your trip. The thousand-year-old capital of Tatarstan sits where Europe meets Asia on the Volga River, and its UNESCO-listed Kremlin — where a grand mosque and an Orthodox cathedral stand side by side — is one of Russia's most striking sights. This guide covers how to get there from Moscow, what to see in one to two days, and what to eat. (Not to be confused with Kazan Cathedral — that's a church; this is the city of Kazan.)
How to get to Kazan from Moscow
Kazan is about 800 km east of Moscow. You have three realistic options, and for a weekend the plane is usually the smart choice.
| Option | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plane (fastest) | ~1 h 25 min | Frequent daily flights from SVO, DME and VKO to Kazan (KZN); from around 3,500 RUB. Best for a 2-day trip |
| Train (overnight) | ~11-14 h | Comfortable day and overnight services from Moscow's Kazansky station; choose the branded "Tatarstan" (002Й) or the double-decker (023/024) and save a hotel night |
| Car (M-12 "Vostok") | ~8 h | The new M-12 toll highway makes driving fast; good if you want to stop en route |
Book flights and trains early — for tips on paying with a non-Russian card (Visa and Mastercard don't work inside Russia), see our guide on buying flights with a foreign card. A pre-booked private transfer makes the airport-to-centre leg painless.
What to see in Kazan
The Kazan Kremlin (UNESCO)
Start at the Kazan Kremlin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the symbol of the city. Inside its white walls, the vast blue-and-white Qolşärif (Kul Sharif) Mosque — one of the largest in Europe — stands a short walk from the Orthodox Annunciation Cathedral, a rare, powerful image of Tatar Muslim and Russian Christian cultures coexisting. Don't miss the leaning Söyembikä Tower, Kazan's answer to Pisa.
Bauman Street and the old town
Bauman Street is the city's lively pedestrian spine — cafés, street performers, souvenir shops and historic facades. From there, walk the Kremlyovskaya Embankment along the water, and if you have time, visit the colourful Temple of All Religions just outside the centre and the atmospheric Old Tatar Quarter around Lake Kaban.
A 2-day plan
Day 1: fly in, drop bags, explore the Kazan Kremlin (Kul Sharif, Söyembikä Tower, cathedral), then Bauman Street and the embankment at sunset. Day 2: Old Tatar Quarter and Lake Kaban in the morning, Temple of All Religions or a river walk, then fly back to Moscow in the evening. To slot Kazan into a longer itinerary, see our Russia travel guide. Guided city tours are easy to book online.
What to eat
Tatar cuisine is a highlight. Try echpochmak (a triangular meat-and-potato pastry), kystyby (stuffed flatbread), gubadiya (a layered festive pie), and the famous honey-drenched chak-chak for dessert. Many places are halal. As everywhere in Russia, carry cash or a Mir card — see how to pay as a tourist.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Kazan from Moscow?
Kazan is about 800 km east of Moscow. The fastest way there is a flight of roughly 1 hour 25 minutes; trains take about 11-14 hours, and driving the new M-12 highway takes around 8 hours.
Is Kazan worth visiting as a weekend trip?
Yes. Two days is enough to see the UNESCO-listed Kazan Kremlin, Kul Sharif Mosque, Söyembikä Tower, Bauman Street and the embankment, making it an ideal weekend add-on to a Moscow trip.
Is there a high-speed train from Moscow to Kazan?
As of 2026 there is no Sapsan-type high-speed service to Kazan — the Moscow-Kazan high-speed rail project has not been completed. Kazan is reached by conventional day and overnight trains, by air, or by car on the M-12. Confirm the latest rail options when you book.
What is Kazan famous for?
Kazan is known for its UNESCO Kremlin where a mosque and an Orthodox cathedral stand together, its blend of Tatar and Russian culture, the leaning Söyembikä Tower, and Tatar cuisine such as echpochmak and chak-chak.
Do I need cash in Kazan?
Yes. As across Russia, foreign Visa and Mastercard don't work, so bring cash in rubles or use a Mir card for restaurants, markets and small shops.
Before you go
Flight and train schedules change seasonally, so confirm times and book ahead, and check any attraction hours close to your travel date.
