Is Krasnoyarsk worth a stop on your Trans-Siberian itinerary? A sprawling metropolis on the banks of the River Yenisey, Krasnoyarsk is the third largest city in Siberia. Despite its size, Krasnoyarsk is often overshadowed in Eastern Siberia by Irkutsk, the gateway to Lake Baikal and one of the most popular stops along the whole route.

But I would argue that Krasnoyark has enough going for it to earn a place on any Trans-Siberian trip. During my three-week trip across Russia from Vladivostok to Moscow, I spent exactly 48 hours in Krasnoyarsk. Here’s why I think it is worth adding to your Trans-Siberian itinerary.

Read my full Trans-Siberian itinerary here.

48 hours in Krasnoyarsk: 6 of the best things to see and do

1. Stolby Nature Reserve

The number one reason to come to Krasnoyarsk is the Stolby Nature Reserve, Russia’s most-visited national park. And with good reason: despite being located within easy reach of central Krasnoyarsk, the reserve feels a world away, as if you could be deep in the middle of the dense Siberian woodlands. The hiking trails are accessible, the rock formations are impressive and the views are fantastic. Definitely not one to miss.

This was the number one reason for my visit to Krasnoyarsk – I spent a full day hiking in the Stolby Nature Reserve and it was one of the highlights of my whole trip.

More on hiking in the Stolby Nature Reserve here.

2. Good cafes, bars and restaurants

I’ve already mentioned the cafes in Krasnoyarsk, but the city is also home to some good restaurants and bars, too. (Including a gay bar which apparently no-one else goes to on a Wednesday night…) If you’re wondering where to eat in Krasnoyarsk, the block on the corner of ul. Uristkogo and ul. Surikova seemed to be particularly good for restaurants and bars.

Bulgakov was the highest-rated restaurant on TripAdvisor when I was there, so I decided to treat myself (something I decided with alarming frequency on this trip) and check it out. It was pretty damn good. The interior was opulent to say the least: think chic cocktail bar with chandeliers (and a scruffy British backpacker in a hoodie and converse…) and the food was fantastic – I had a pumpkin soup starter and steak and it was fantastic. Overall the place was a bit too fancy for my liking, but luckily the prices were reasonable. (Bulgakov on TripAdvisor)

On the same block you’ll also find a steak restaurant, German beer bar and a jazz café, as well as Vinegret Buffet, a great lunch-time option. Slightly nicer than a humble buffet, Vinegret is a bit more like a food court. There is a central salad bar, sure, but surrounding that are a few different pop-up-style restaurants offering different meal deals. (Vinegret on TripAdvisor).

I also had a great cheesecake at Café Kultura and a really satisfying pizza at the very chic New York.

3. A young, vibrant student city

More than anywhere I visited on my trip, Krasnoyarsk felt like a thriving city of young people. Thanks to the good weather (28 degrees and sunny!), there were people out everywhere until the late evening, walking along the river promenade or along the main artery of the city, Prospekt Mira.

The city is home to a number of universities, which probably gives Krasnoyarsk its student vibe and probably adds to the huge number of independent coffee shops everywhere. It seems like a random thing to mention, but it really did stick in my mind just how many lovely-looking independent cafes I came across. (Café Kultura was one I liked). Not to mention the pop-up coffee vans which came out at night.

4. Tatyshev Island

Probably the number one place in the city centre to spend the early evenings has to be Tatyshev Island. Located in the middle of the River Yenisey, the island is a huge city park, which is full on summer evenings of people cycling, walking, running or rollerblading (Russians love to rollerblade – just FYI). I wish I had hired a bike to explore a bit more fully, as I feel like I only saw the tip of the iceberg on my early evening walk.

There’s also a field that is home to a lot of inquisitive gophers. I’d never seen one before and they were pretty damn cute.

5. Visit a famous landmark up-close

Another reason to add Krasnoyarsk to your Trans-Siberian itinerary is to see the Kommunalniy Most. You might not know it, but chances are you’ll recognise it – it’s the bridge plastered on the ten-rouble bank note.

To tell you the truth I’m not entirely sure why it’s so famous, but apparently upon completion it was the longest bridge in Asia (it is very long) and I was also told it was designed by the same guy who created the Eiffel Tower, which seems unlikely somehow. I wasn’t able to ratify either of these things online, so I guess we will just have to wonder… (if you have any idea, please comment!)

It is a fun thing to try and take a photo of the ten-rouble note with the bridge in the background. But it is not an easy thing.

6. It’s not a tourist destination

Krasnoyarsk sticks out in my mind as somewhere to visit on the Trans-Siberian that really isn’t a tourist-y place: it just feels like a pleasant and easy-going city to spend time and relax in. Krasnoyarsk is becoming a lot more international, for sure – in fact, it hosted the 2019 Winter Universiade, welcoming student athletes from all over the world – but it’s still primarily somewhere to see ordinary Russian life taking place.

The city is also looking pretty good these days – Krasnoyarsk is the capital of a huge region rich in resources and its clear the city is a fairly affluent one. Definitely somewhere I would recommend!

Have you been to Krasnoyarsk?

More on the Trans-Siberian:

Heading West:

Tomsk:

Is Tomsk worth visiting?

Yekaterinburg:

36 hours in Yekaterinburg

Heading East:

Lake Baikal:

Hiking the Great Baikal Trail

Lake Baikal in the off-season: visiting Listvyanka in May

Ulan-Ude:

23 hours in Ulan-Ude

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