'''Izhevsk''' is a the capital and principal city of Udmurtia. Very few tourists make it to this city, but is is an interesting destination for anyone interested in the Udmurt people or, for that matter, the world's most popular assault rifle, the AK-47 Kalashnikov. Izhevsk is a big industrial city (700,000 residents) most famous for its armaments factories. For its military importance, Izhevsk was a closed city to all foreigners until after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is not a terribly attractive city, but there is exotic food to eat, Udmurt folk dances to watch, and friendly locals who probably have never met anyone from your country!
Get in
Flights arrive in Izhevsk from Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg. The flight from Moscow takes about 2 hours.
Trains run to Izhevsk from Moscow (daily, 18 hours), Saint Petersburg (~31 hours), Yekaterinburg (11 hours), Kazan (6 hours), and Perm (10 hours).
It is also possible to arrive in Udmurtia via the Trans-Siberian Railway and take a regional train or bus from the main stop at Glazov.
Get around
See
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Trinity Cemetery Church
Kalashnikov Museum
Circus
Esplanade and Izhevsk Lake Embankment
The People's Friendship Monument
The Square of the 50th Anniversary of the October Revolution, including '''The Arsenal''', a neoclassical building, which houses the Museum of Local Lore
Izhmash Museum — exhibits featuring all sorts of locally produced armaments to motorcycles
Do
Go see the popular local ice hockey team
Learn
Udmurt State University [http://v4.udsu.ru/english/index] has Russian language programs for interested students. It is also possible to get a teaching position in a Russian grammar school through Svezhy Veter. [http://www.sv-agency.udm.ru/sv/school.htm]
Buy
Eat
Club Kino — upscale pool hall with good Japanese food
Kama. Sovetskaya St. 7 3412 781651. 2:00–24:00. upscale Russian cuisine with a cigar bar
Rachale. 4a T Baramzinoy St. 7 3412 214761. Good Russian and Caucasian food with live music during dinner
Bistro ''Russian Bliny''. 81 Kommunarov St. 7 3412 782690. Great cozy spot for delicious bliny and stuffed blinchiki
Bistro ''U Nevskovo''. Sovetskaya St. 7 3412 782929. 1:00–23:00. Cheap, good food with karaoke
Central Cafe. 23 Pushkinskaya St. 7 3412 435490. In the Central Hotel
Coffee House ''Cafe Seven''. 33 Krasnaya St. 7 3412 780831. 0:00–23:00. Good cheap spot for breakfast, cake, and/or espresso
Drink
Babylon — upscale dance club with an internet cafe and food
Pyatnitza (Friday) — large sports-themed dance club
U-Dance — an older club in a bomb shelter; fairly laid back with pool rooms and gambling
Iskra — dance club/bar/bowling alley
Light Zone — popular dance club for the Izhevsk youth
Sleep
Central Hotel. 23 Pushkinskaya St. 7 3412 434090. Has a billiards room
Hotel ''Telekom''. 7 3412 445208. 7 3412 445204. Has a gym, swimming pool, games room, and internet cafe
Park Hotel. akshur-Bodinsky Highway (5km outside the city center). 7 3412 593759. 7 3412 599475. Located in a wooded park, has a restaurant, sauna, swimming pool, gym, and tennis courts
Hotel Okolitsa. 3a Zhivsovhoz Izhevsk. 7 3412 710183. Business traveler-friendly hotel
Get out