I'm choosing a city
Four large cities with short profiles and four kinds of weekend: cultural, walking, with children and "one concert, one day".
an independent guide to city weekends in Russia's large cities
Idemvgorod: a guide to city weekends
Two or three days in a big city means a walk around the centre, an evening at the theatre or a concert, and a little time simply to sit by the river. Here you'll find calm, practical tips: how to plan a weekend like that, where to find out what's on, how to buy tickets and return them if you need to, and how to get to the venue and back. Our examples are Perm, Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk and Novosibirsk. We don't sell tickets or publish event programmes, so we can speak plainly.
A good city weekend rests on one main event and a couple of walks around it. Everything else is up to your mood.
Where to start
I want a ready-made route
Day one in the centre on foot, an evening with a concert or show, and a walk along the embankment and through the parks, stop by stop.
I'm going to a concert
How to plan a weekend around a single event: tickets, getting there, a backup plan and a checklist before you set off.
I'm sorting out transport
Where there is a metro, how to get back from a venue late at night and what to bear in mind with taxis and car sharing.
Guide sections
- Destinations
Perm, Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk, Novosibirsk and four kinds of city weekend.
- Routes
Three routes: the centre on foot on day one, an evening with a concert or show, the embankment and parks.
- Attractions
The places people usually see in large cities and how to choose a venue for a concert or a show.
- Transport
The metro in the cities on our list, getting to the venue and back at night, taxis and car sharing.
- Trip planning
How to plan a city weekend around a concert: step by step, with common mistakes and a checklist.
- Local guide
City etiquette, safety and what to do if a concert is cancelled or postponed.
- Traveller questions
Answers to common questions about the trip, tickets and evenings in town. Plus the article catalogue.
A weekend in a new city: a two-day plan
Pick your main event
Start with one concert, show or exhibition that is worth the trip. Buy your ticket from the venue or from the seller it links to, and only then plan the rest.
Stay close to the centre
Accommodation within walking distance of the historic centre or near a convenient transport stop saves time and makes the evening trip back easier.
Day one: the centre on foot
Walk the main street, head out to the central square and down to the river. That way you get your bearings and work out how to reach the venue.
Evening: the event
Leave early and allow time for the cloakroom and the entrance. Think ahead about how you'll get back: public transport, on foot or by taxi.
Day two: a museum and a walk
The local history museum helps you understand the city's past, and the embankment or a park lets you unwind before the journey home. Save 112 in your phone, just in case.
Common questions in brief
Is this the same city events listing that used to be here?
No. A city events listing used to run on this domain. The current project is not connected with it; the old announcements have not been kept and are not being restored.
Can I buy a concert ticket from you?
No. We don't sell tickets or work with organisers. We only explain how to find listings, check a seller and get a refund under Russian law.
Do you publish event dates and programmes?
No. Dates, programmes and prices change too often. Up-to-date information is published by the venues and organisers themselves; we tell you where to look for it.
Which cities do you cover?
Our examples are Perm, Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk and Novosibirsk. Most of the tips work for any large Russian city, Moscow included.
About the project
Idemvgorod is an independent guide to city weekends in Russia's large cities. A city events listing with sections for different cities used to run on this domain; the current project is not connected with it, and its announcements have not been kept and are not being restored.
We write about what helps on a short trip: how to plan two or three days, where to find up-to-date listings, how to choose a venue, how to return a ticket under Article 52.1 of the Russian Fundamentals of the Legislation on Culture, and how to get home safely in the evening. These refund rules apply in Russia; rules elsewhere differ. We don't publish specific dates, prices or opening hours: check them with the organisers and venues.
Related sections
- Destinations
Perm, Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk, Novosibirsk and four kinds of city weekend.
- Trip planning
How to plan a city weekend around a concert: step by step, with common mistakes and a checklist.
- Traveller questions
Answers to common questions about the trip, tickets and evenings in town. Plus the article catalogue.
Sources
- Fundamentals of the Legislation of the Russian Federation on Culture (Art. 52.1)
- Gosuslugi (Russian public services portal): Pushkin Card
- Official websites of city transport operators and venues
- Encyclopaedic sources on the cities
Information is correct as of the date of preparation. Concert and performance dates, ticket prices, transport timetables and venue rules change, so check them with the organisers and on official websites before you travel.