Yekaterinburg is the 4th largest city in Russia after Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk and is the capital of the Urals region. It was founded in 1723 by the order of Peter the Great as the metallurgical factory and by the 20th century it had become one of Russia's largest and most important financial, industrial and cultural centers. Between 1924 and 1991, the town was known as '''Sverdlovsk''' (_R_r_u___t_|___r___{). The city is often said to be situated on the border of Europe and Asia (on the Asian side) and (at least) three symbolic monuments of this can be found near the city.
Yekaterinburg has an international airport called Koltsovo and a number of direct international flights from Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf, London, Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Dubai, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Tashkent, Helsinki and several seasonal international charter flights, mostly to Turkey and Spain. There are daily flights to Moscow's Domodedovo Airport by Ural Airlines and TransAero as well as to Sheremetyevo airport, Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok and other cities of Russia by Aeroflot.
Yekaterinburg is also a major stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway. There are daily trains to Moscow and many other cities and towns in Russia from the central Railway station. The ticket office can be found on the ground floor of the new railway station building. There is an extensive network of local trains serving the surrounding region.
Yekaterinburg is a very compact city for its population (1.3 million). One can drive from one side of the city to the other in some 30 to 40 minutes, provided there is no traffic. Yekaterinburg has a single metro (underground train) line, connecting the central part (stop is near the Circus) to Uralmash - a large industrial and residential area, having stops near main railway station and further down to Uralmash. The metro (natives say it is the shortest metro in the world) has proved to be popular with locals because it is quick and inexpensive (2008: 11 RUB/ride). The stations are impressive, decorated with native Ural stones, granite and marble.
You can get free '''walking maps''' published by the "Ekaterinburg Tourist Information Service" at their office on 8 Marta St. 21, office 2 (620014 _s. _E_{_p___u___y_~_q_____s, ___|. 8 _M_p_____p, _____y__ 2). Those include sightseeing and culture.
To get there take a metro train to ploshchad' 1905 goda (___|_____p_t__ 1905-___s__ _s___t_p, square of 1905 year), walk away from the square, go straigth across ploshchad' Malysheva (___|_____p_t__ _M_p_|_____u_r_p) and it is the second house on the left hand side. They have merchandise in their windows (even GPS navigators) and you can enter from the court after you pass the house. There is an English speaker at hand and they can book tours as well.
If you can read cyrillic then you might get a '''good map''' from the railway stations and many street magazines called "_C_______t___{___z _____p_~__________ _E_{_p___u___y_~_q_____s_p - _{_p_____p __ _{_p_w_t___} _t___}___}" (city transport map of Yekaterinburg - map with all houses) which includes subway stations, all bus and elektrichka routes as well as three maps (inner city, big city, Koltsovo airport and surroundings) as well as a street register. By the same publisher, Urals Cartographic Company, Malysheva St. 122ze, 2nd floor, room. 207 (_T___p_|___{_p__ _K_p_______s___p___y___u___{_p__ _K___}___p_~_y__, ___|. _M_p_|_____u_r_p 122_x, 2 _____p_w, _{. 207), there is also a map called "_t_____________y_}_u___p___u_|___~_______y _E_{_p___u___y_~_q_____s_p" (Sights of Yekaterinburg) for about the same price of about 500 RUB.
If you get lost, there are information stands in the inner city aroud Square of 1905 that will show you your current location, a map of the inner city and possibly help you to find addresses, restaurants and sights. Though they are in Russian only, it should be enough to help you out.
Sights include:
<see name="Ural State Technical University" alt="" address="" directions="Take trams 4, 8, 13, 15, 18, 22, 23 or buses 5, 10, 50, 50a to UGTU (_T_C_S_T)" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.ustu.ru/" hours="" price="">Another wonderful building. Alma mater of Boris Yeltsin.</see>
Yekaterinburg offers plenty of cross-country skiing, with trails stretching for miles. There are some downhill skiing resorts as well. It will take you approximately 25 minutes to get to the nearest of them from the center of the city.
When in Yekaterinburg, make a visit to the "Chinese Market" or Bazaar. The market consists of many hundreds of small outdoor stalls, selling everything from toilet paper to fur coats, all at the best prices in the city. But this kind of market is not really the right place to buy souvenirs. Vaynera Street, in the center of the city, has a lot of shops with a wide range of small things to buy. Usually this street (it's pedestrian only) is called The Urals Arbat, after the famous Arbat in Moscow.
Leather in Russia is considered some of the best in Europe; handbags and wallets are of especially high quality. Gold jewelery, while expensive, is also very good. Markets, such as the Chinese market is good for cheap bargains.
During recent years many new cafes and restaurants have opened in Yekaterinburg, providing all kinds of cuisine. The Yamal Restaurant is perhaps the best one to visit if you have a chance. This restaurant is ready to introduce the world of northern Russian cuisine to you. The best international cuisine can be found in the newly opened Morrison lounge on the corner of Khokryakova and Malisheva Street in the city centre, very friendly staff too. And of course, don't forget to drop into a pelmeni-house.
There are a number of friendly bars in the city, but for homesick visitors look out for the English, Scottish, and Irish pubs; especially 'Old Dublin' in the centre of the city (with genuine English & Irish ales and stouts). There is also a Tinkoff brewery in the city, 64 Krasnoarmeiskaya ul. which does a fantastic business lunch as well as an all you can drink offer for around $20.
For budget accommodation, you can get hourly rates at the ''Komnaty Otdykha'' at the main train station. To get there, walk to the eastern end of the station to the last and small set of glass doors. First door on the right should lead you to a set of stairs which will take you there. Rates are approximtely 10 RUB/hour.
For the seriously budget conscious, you can crash in the waiting area on the top floor of the large station building. Metal chairs are abundant, but the ones to look out for are rows of 2-3 chairs without armrests in between. The sign seems to say it costs 20RUB to wait in these areas, but feigning ignorance seems to get you in (and out) for free.
The official waiting room on the ground floor of the station in the main railway building is a steep 70 RUB/hour, however it is heated, there's a TV and security is there. There is also internet access on the side of the building (the door reads "_I_~___u___~_u__") that has a flatrate for 100 RUB/hour or a selective price per minute and megabyte (combined, take the 100 RUB deal if you are unsure about your data volume). Price information in English available.