Domestic Tourism: Chelyabinsk and Region
You might laugh, thinking that Chelyabinsk is only for visiting relatives (almost 23 thousand of our users probably flew there to see them last year). But Chelyabinsk and its surroundings are a perfectly worthy destination for domestic tourism. And in this article, we will try to convince you of that.
In the City
Give Chelyabinsk streets a chance! It also has its own “Arbat” — Kirova Street. A pedestrian zone with many decorative benches, lanterns, and sculptures. There are cafes and shops all along its length, but it's especially pleasant to walk here in the evening when the lights come on.
The city has preserved its own atmosphere: angular Soviet architecture, tanks, monuments at every turn. And here is the Orlov State Academic Drama Theater reminds us of our grandmother's youth. Nowadays, such buildings look unusual and fresh against the backdrop of new glass structures. And the square by the theater is quite pleasant, and in spring, with its blooming flowerbeds, it's simply captivating.
Railway Museum is cool everywhere, and in Chelyabinsk, it's no exception! It's located outdoors, featuring trains from different eras for you to explore and touch. You can go inside almost all of them to see how people used to travel by train.
Monuments
One of the unusual monuments is the Sphere of Love. It was made in Italy and found its place near the cinema in 2000. The monument symbolizes the feminine and masculine principles, marriage, and family. You'll get great photos, so don't pass it by!
In general, dozens of historical monuments and interesting sculptures are scattered throughout the city. Here you'll find the Dancer, the Coachman, the Saxophonist, the Policeman, the Professional Beggar, the Boy with Camels… Can you “collect” them all?
Outside the City
But still, the best of this region is outside the city. The first place you should go is Arkaim. Legend has it that an Aryan people once lived here, and the structures are as old as the Egyptian pyramids. Many consider Arkaim a place of power, but it's up to you to verify!
If you want to go further and into the mountains, head to Lake Zyuratkul. It is located in the mountains within the national park of the same name. By the way, it is one of the most beautiful national parks in the Chelyabinsk region. The famous Ecotrail runs through the park, offering magnificent views of the ridge.
Another national park is Taganay. They say that those who haven't been there haven't seen the full beauty of the Chelyabinsk region. And it's true: a stone river, mountain ranges, Lake Zlatoust, and the White Key mountain spring, there's even a Valley of Fairy Tales! Late spring, summer, and autumn are the best times for walks and exploring the region, and all of this is just 140 km from the city!
Have you heard anything about Ural Bali? Well, it exists! It's a lake in a quarry just before the city of Kyshtym (about 100 km from Chelyabinsk). It appeared quite recently and is literally called Ural Bali. The lake got this name due to the unusual color of its water, which strongly resembles the waters around the real island in Indonesia. Swimming in the lake is not recommended, but you can admire it and take a couple of confusing photos.
As you can see, we've outlined enough entertainment for a good week's vacation. And that's not even counting the ski resorts and other national parks, of which there are many in the Urals. There are tourist bases and simple holiday homes everywhere — you definitely won't be left without a roof over your head. But to see all this with your own eyes, you need a car. And if you have friends with driver's licenses, urgently send them this article. We also have another domestic tourism destination for friends with a car — Altai. It's nice that in such a large country, there are places no worse than those abroad.
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