Holiday in Samara

What makes Samara special as a destination?

Samara is one of the major Volga cities in Russia and is located at one of the most dramatic river bends in the world — the Samara Bend, where the Volga makes a wide curve around the wooded Shiguli Mountains. The million-inhabitant city was the secret backup capital of the Soviet Union during World War II and remains a center of the Russian space industry. The Volga Promenade in Samara — at over 5 kilometers, the longest river promenade in Russia — is the heart of the city. In summer, the Volga beach transforms into a lively city beach, and the promenade fills with strollers, musicians, and street performers. Stalin's Bunker — a 37-meter deep secret atomic bunker in the city center — was built as a backup headquarters for the Kremlin and is now a fascinating museum. The Shiguli Mountains across from Samara offer some of the most beautiful hiking trails along the Volga with panoramic views and ancient forests. The Zhigulyovskoe Brewery, Russia's oldest still-active brewery (since 1881), can be visited. The old town with its Art Nouveau facades and the bustling Leningradskaja Boulevard showcases the magnificent pre-revolutionary architecture.