Krasnodar was founded by Black Sea Cossacks to guard Russia’s southern border, and its historical significance is exemplified by Tsar-era buildings and impressive monuments. Cosy cafés, bars and restaurants dotted around the city create a Parisian terrace-style atmosphere.
Krasnodar’s fascinating history and culture can be explored through a variety of museums. The Krasnodar State Historical and Archaeological Memorial Museum Reserve is located inside a beautiful mansion house and devotes each of its rooms to a specific period of the Kuban region’s history. At the Museum of Military Technologies Oruzhie Pobedy, you can observe impressive vehicles such as tanks and submarines up close and see all sorts of other military memorabilia.
There are numerous green spaces in Krasnodar, such as the City Botanical Garden and Galitskogo Park. Head to the Solnechny Ostrov (Sunny Island) Park to enjoy a bike ride and take in views over the River Kuban. There are also tennis courts, a water park and an ice-skating rink.
There’s an abundance of monuments and impressive buildings to admire in Krasnodar, such as the five-domed St. Catherine’s Cathedral and the Monument to Catherine the Great. It’s also worth climbing the Shukhov Tower – a steel-lattice structure built in 1935 which offers great views over the city. The Monument of Cossacks writing a letter to the Turkish Sultan represents an important moment in Kuban history and is based on a painting by famous Russian artist, Ilya Repin.