Samara

Good to know

1. 1Samara stands where the Samara River joins the Volga, and its embankment along the Volga is one of the longest in Russia, with beaches, cafes and paths running for several kilometres.
2. 2From 1935 to 1991 the city was called Kuybyshev. During the Second World War it was prepared as a backup capital, and a deep underground bunker built for Stalin can still be visited.
3. 3Shostakovich finished his Seventh Symphony while evacuated here, and it had its first performance in the city in 1942.
4. 4Samara has long been tied to aviation and spaceflight, and rockets have been built here. A Soyuz rocket stands outside the city's space museum.
5. 5Zhigulevskoye, one of the best-known Soviet-era beers, has its roots in a brewery founded in Samara in the 19th century. It is named after the Zhiguli Hills, which rise on the far side of the river bend.
6. 6Russian is the language of daily life and signs are in Cyrillic. Learning to read the letters helps a lot with street names and menus.

Tips for a first visit

• Start with a slow walk along the embankment, preferably towards evening, then go on into the older streets behind it with their wooden and brick merchant houses.
• Cross the Volga by boat in warm months to reach the Zhiguli Hills side, where there is forest, hiking and quiet river scenery.
• Try Volga river fish, pelmeni, and kvass, and have a Zhigulevskoye beer if you drink beer.
• The city has trams, buses, minibuses and a small metro. Distances between sights are large, so mix walking with public transport or taxis.
• If you want to see the Stalin bunker, check ahead how visits are organised, since they are usually done as a guided tour.
• If you are invited into a home, take your shoes off at the door and bring a small gift such as sweets or flowers.

When to go

Samara has a continental climate, with warm to hot summers and cold, snowy winters when the Volga freezes. Late May to September is the best time for the river, the beaches and the Zhiguli Hills. Autumn is mild and colourful at first, and winter suits those who do not mind the cold and want a quieter city.

From the airport

Samara's main airport, Kurumoch, lies well outside the city, roughly an hour away by road depending on traffic. You can reach the centre by taxi or by bus and shared minibus services that run to the city. Allow a little extra time if you have a flight to catch.