What to see in Kolomna?

Kolomna is a guide city that will immerse you in the past: it's full of museums, temples, and historical monuments. Let's figure out what to visit in Kolomna and which attractions you should definitely include in your itinerary.

What to see in Kolomna in one day

Kolomna Kremlin

If you intend to see the sights of Kolomna in one day, we recommend starting here: the Stone Kremlin is not far from the key tourist spots.

The Stone Kremlin was built in the 1530s to protect against enemies — before that, almost all buildings in the city were wooden, so Kolomna suffered greatly from the Mongols. Initially, the fortress had 16 towers — now only seven remain, along with two walls and the Pyatnitsky Gate, the main entrance to the Kremlin. It might seem like not much survived, but in fact, the Kolomna Kremlin is only four hectares smaller than the Moscow one. There are also three museums on its territory: photography, porcelain, and trams.

The construction of both the wooden and stone fortresses began at the Pyatnitsky Gate. A bell used to be located in the tower – it was struck to warn of an approaching enemy. Zhitnaya Square, the main place of city trade, adjoined the gates, and the gates themselves resembled the shape of a horseshoe. Naturally, for good luck and well-being.

One of the western towers of the Kolomna Kremlin has accumulated legends over five centuries: it is called Marinka's Tower. Marinka is Marina Mniszech, the wife of False Dmitry I and one of the key figures of the Time of Troubles. According to one version, she died here in captivity from boredom; according to another, she turned into a magpie and flew out the window. There is also an alternative version: Marinka was a Kolomna nun who was imprisoned here because she was insane.

The heart of the complex is Cathedral Square, the oldest in the city. Three religious structures are gathered here: the Assumption Cathedral, the Novo-Golutvin Monastery, and the Tikhvin Church. The oldest building on the square, the Assumption Cathedral, was built in the Russian style, with a separate bell tower to its west. Nearby is the Tikhvin Church, also in the Russian style, while the bell tower of the Novo-Golutvin Monastery is designed in the Empire style.

In 2007, a monument to Dmitry Donskoy appeared near the Kremlin walls. It was in Kolomna that Dmitry Donskoy's troops gathered before the decisive Battle of Kulikovo Field against the Mongol Khan Mamai.

Kolomna Posad

Have you seen all the towers and heard all the Kremlin legends? Then move on to the next historical site — the Posad. This is the part of the city near the Kremlin walls where merchants and artisans settled, and where trade rows and shops were concentrated. The main holy sites of Kolomna Posad are the Church of Nikola-na-Posade and the Church of Epiphany-in-Gonchary.

The Church of Nikola-na-Posade was founded during the Golden Horde era, and the modern stone church was built with parishioners' funds in 1716–1719. However, the luxurious interior decoration of the church that we see today was only restored in the 1970s — icons and internal frescoes disappeared during the Soviet era. But the Church of Epiphany-in-Gonchary managed to preserve its original appearance. This is a special place in the city, as services were held here even during the Soviet period, and ancient frescoes and an iconostasis have been preserved inside.

Bogoroditse-Rozhdestvensky Bobrenev Monastery

The Bobrenev Monastery was founded in 1381 by the will of Dmitry Donskoy in honor of the victory in the Battle of Kulikovo. There are various theories about the origin of the monastery's name. According to one version, the construction was funded by the prince's closest assistant, Voivode Bobrok, after whom the temple was named. According to another, the repentant robber Bobrenya took monastic vows here.

The main relic of the monastery is a copy of the miraculous Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God. Since 1613, the icon has patronized the Romanov house, which is why all foreign brides of Russian monarchs took the patronymic Fyodorovna upon baptism. Among other shrines of the monastery are a cross with a particle of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, a particle of the relics of George the Victorious, an icon with the relics of Saint Spyridon of Trimythous, and a full-length icon of Saint Sergius of Radonezh.

Lazhechnikov Merchants' Estate

One of the few preserved 18th-century buildings. Ivan Ivanovich Lazhechnikov, a writer widely known as the author of Russian historical novels, spent his childhood and youth here. The museum's exhibition includes items, documents, and books from the 18th–19th centuries, telling about the environment and family in which I. I. Lazhechnikov's talent was formed, and about the writer himself. Even if you are not familiar with the author, come for the atmosphere.

Museums

Kalachnaya

If painted gingerbread cookies became the opinion leader in the list of "What to see in Tula", then in Kolomna the local specialty is kalachi. You can drink tea and snack on pastries here — kalachi are prepared all day in the museum according to a 14th-century recipe. The process at "Kalachnaya" has been turned into a show: a baker and an assistant in 19th-century costumes fully reproduce the technology of preparing the famous pastry. Here you will also be offered papushniki and presnushki, mixed bread and pioneer bread, pretzels, bagels, and a special Pyatnitsky kalach. What these are and how to eat them is a secret revealed during the tour.

Museum "Secrets of Kolomna Medovusha"

Let's continue talking about Kolomna's edible attractions. Medovusha in Rus' was found in almost every boyar and merchant house: this was the name for a cellar where honey supplies were stored and honey alcoholic beverages were left to mature. As you might have guessed, here you will be introduced to them. They will also tell you about the history of beekeeping in Kolomna, initiate you into ancient Russian rituals, and reveal the secret of how to properly brew honey according to "Domostroy".

You can not only watch and listen but also prepare honey sbiten yourself according to an old recipe and taste different varieties of honey. In the museum shop, you will find honey gingerbread, syrups, sbiten, balms, and even honey wines.

Pastila Museum

The museum was opened on the site of the former confectionery shop of the Suranov merchants. Here you'll find everything about the history of pastila and the nuances of its preparation, and after a show-tour, there's a tasting with tea. The sweet is produced using a centuries-old technology that was only recently restored, so we recommend taking some with you from the museum shop and treating your loved ones.

Kuznechnaya Sloboda

A museum of forged, cast, and wooden products, boasting over seven thousand exhibits, including weapons and armor of warriors from past centuries, fishing and hunting accessories, forged household utensils, locks, and pottery. Pay attention to the anchor collection — a three-ton anchor is presented in the open-air exhibition. Also of interest here is a 160-year-old bicycle found in Kolomna. The museum also has a blacksmith's workstation and a workshop where guests can make their own horseshoe.

Artkommunalka

For the atmosphere of the Khrushchev Thaw — come here. This unusual museum is dedicated to Soviet Kolomna of the 1960s and conveys the spirit of that era. "Artkommunalka" is located in the very center of old Kolomna, in a house where the "Ogonyok" grocery store was located in the 1960s — writer Venedikt Erofeev (author of the poem "Moscow-Petushki") worked there as a loader in his youth. Directly in the museum, there are workshops for artists and writers who live here and create new literature and new art. The art residency and literary residency operate as an open laboratory and workshop year-round.

Where to go with children

Action park

This huge active recreation park will definitely delight all family members: on its 2.5-hectare territory, there are zones for tactical and sports paintball, laser tag and airsoft, a 10-meter high trampoline center, a climbing wall, an archery range, bumperball, gazebos with barbecue areas, children's playgrounds, and a spa complex with baths.

Ecoderevushka

Come here to taste natural cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, and the French dish escargot, as well as to relax in the banya and see unusual animals. Guests are offered tours of the goat and snail farms, and master classes on making homemade cheese. The farm is home to goats, cows, sheep, geese, ducks, and squirrels, while the zoo features snakes, raccoons, turkeys, monitor lizards, iguanas, meerkats, and chameleons. On the territory of "Ecoderevushka" there is an equestrian club where anyone can ride horses. But the main highlight of the farm is the crocodile farm. This is such an unexpected option of what to see in Kolomna. At the farm, you will see caimans, alligators, and North American crocodiles.

Where to stay

Shelter can be found for everyone: Kolomna has about a hundred hotels and apartments for every taste and budget. Just a couple of steps from the Kolomna Kremlin is the "U Kremlya" camping site, which is especially convenient if you are traveling by car. If you want to admire the Oka River from your window, head to "40th Meridian Yacht Club". For exquisite service and comfort, choose "Historical Mansion 1825". And from the windows of the "Aerograd" hotel on the territory of the parachute club, you can see parachute jumps. Here you can jump yourself, and also ride ATVs and off-road vehicles.

Where to eat

Rulki Vverkh

Come here for melt-in-your-mouth pork knuckle. "Rulki Vverkh" is a German-Czech cuisine restaurant where you will be served authentic dishes like ribs, pea soup with smoked meats, and sauerkraut with pickled cucumbers.

U Pyatnitskikh Vorot

A decent restaurant away from tourist spots. We recommend trying the stewed wild boar meat and borscht here, and washing them down with their signature tinctures.

Sibas-Lovelas

In this restaurant, you will be served sea bass prepared according to ten different recipes. Besides the titular fish, they also offer other seafood delicacies: shrimp, red fish tartare, and mussel soup.

How to get there

The 100 km to Kolomna can be covered by bus or electric train — they run from morning till evening, and if you don't want to be tied to a schedule, by taxi or car.

By bus, you will arrive in an hour and a half, by electric train — in 1.5–2.5 hours, by car — in 2–3 hours. The trip will take longer if you travel during rush hour: there might be traffic jams when leaving the city.

By electric train

A suburban electric train will take you from Kazansky railway station to Golutvin station in 2.5 hours. Services run from 5 AM until midnight, including regular suburban trains, express trains, and branded express trains. Tickets for the latter are sold with seat assignments, while for regular electric trains, they are without. The most common suburban train will cost 360 rubles and take 2.5 hours.

High-comfort express trains will get you there faster — in a couple of hours. Passengers can expect free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and space for bicycles. The ticket price is 450 rubles.

On weekends, a branded express train departs from Kazansky railway station at 8:30 AM — it makes only one stop, so you can get there even faster: in 1.5 hours. It includes first and second-class carriages, with ticket prices of 655 and 510 rubles respectively.

By bus

You can take a bus to Kolomna from Kotelniki station from 7 AM until midnight, with intervals of 1.5 to 3 hours. The final stop is Kolomna bus station, but the bus makes several stops throughout the city, so getting off earlier is not a problem.

By taxi

The most comfortable, though not the most budget-friendly option, is to order a taxi. Through an app like "Yandex.Taxi", the trip will cost approximately 4,000 rubles. If you are arriving from another city and want to feel like an important guest, you can order a transfer airports. It will be provided at your arrival time, and the driver will wait for you with a sign, help with luggage, and take you to your destination.

By car

To get to Kolomna, drive along the M-5 highway towards Ryazan. Without traffic jams, you will arrive in a couple of hours, but if you hit rush hour, the journey could take three hours. Please note: you cannot leave a carsharing vehicle in Kolomna — operators (BelkaCar, Yandex.Drive, Delimobil) do not allow ending rentals in the city, but you can switch the car to paid waiting mode and then drive it back. If you don't want to overpay for downtime, consider long-term car rental.

We hope that Kolomna will remain in your heart as one of the brightest cities in Russia!