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Traveling to Russia from India

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  • 1. Visa
    • 1.1. Visa to Russia from India
      • How to obtain a Russian Visa in India in an easy and cost-effective way
      • How to obtain the Russian electronic visa (e-visa): St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad and Far Eastern regions
      • Flight Stopover in Moscow: What to See and How to Obtain a Transit Visa
      • Where do I apply for a Russian visa if I live abroad?
      • Is it possible to travel to Russia Visa-Free? Who does not need a visa?
      • Russian Embassies, Consulates and Visa Centers – Updated list
      • Visiting St. Petersburg on a cruise without a visa (visa-free) and with a tourist visa
      • How to get a private visa to visit relatives or friends in Russia
      • Should I indicate nights on the train in the application for an invitation letter or Russian visa?
      • Is it possible to change my itinerary or renew my Russian visa?
      • The reasons for refusal of the Russian Visa (and how to avoid them)
      • Business Visa to Russia: Step by step guide
      • Can I modify my invitation to Russia if it contains some incorrect information?
      • How to get a 3-year tourist Russian visa (only for US citizens)
      • How to get travel medical insurance for Russian visa (in 5 minutes)
    • 1.2. Registration and immigration
      • Registration in Russia: What it is and how it is done
      • Russian airports: immigration card and customs formalities
    • 1.3. Visa to India, China and post-Soviet states
      • How to travel to Belarus without a visa (visa-free) and with visa
      • How to apply for the electronic visa to Uzbekistan (e-Visa)
      • How to get an e-Visa to India online: Step-by-step guide
  • 2. Transport
    • 2.1. Arriving by plane
      • Russian airports: immigration card and customs formalities
      • How to go from the airport to the center of Moscow or the Red Square
      • How to find the cheapest flights to Moscow and St. Petersburg from India
      • How to go from Pulkovo Airport to St. Petersburg
    • 2.2. Russian trains
      • Travelling between Moscow and St. Petersburg: Which is the best way?
      • Trains in Russia: How to buy tickets on-line without the middle-man
      • Train stations in Russia: luggage storage, Wi-Fi and other services
    • 2.3. Metro, bus and taxi
      • Moscow’s Troika Card: paying all public transport costs with a card
      • Traveling by bus through Russia (and how to buy tickets online)
      • How to use the Moscow Metro and what stations to visit
      • How to catch a taxi in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, or in other Russian cities
      • St. Petersburg’s Public transport: the Podorozhnik card
    • 2.4. Car rental
      • Is it worth to rent a car in Russia? Recommendations and requirements
  • 3. Sleep and eat
    • 3.1. Accommodation in Russia
      • Accommodations in Russia: How to choose and where to make a reservation cheaply
      • Ostrovok: the best alternative to Booking.com
    • 3.2. Restaurants in Russia
      • Where to eat in Moscow: from Teremok to Café Pushkin
      • How to book a restaurant in Moscow, St. Petersburg or other Russian cities
      • What do you eat in Russia? Typical dishes and Russian restaurants
  • 4. Destinations
    • 4.1. Moscow
      • What to see and do in Moscow in 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days
      • What is the Moscow Kremlin and how to buy tickets online
      • Where to eat in Moscow: from Teremok to Café Pushkin
      • Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow: tickets and guided tours
      • St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. Visits, tickets and schedules
      • Moscow’s Troika Card: paying all public transport costs with a card
      • Moscow Tourist Information Offices
      • Official tourist maps of Moscow (PDF)
      • Shopping in Moscow: from GUM to Izmailovo market
      • Flight Stopover in Moscow: What to See and How to Obtain a Transit Visa
      • How to use the Moscow Metro and what stations to visit
      • Guided tours in Moscow: by foot, by bicycle, by boat, or by tour bus?
      • The Free Visit to the Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow
      • Russia Travel itineraries: Big capitals, the Trans-Siberian Route and the Golden Ring
      • Places to enjoy the best views of Moscow
      • How to buy tickets for the Russian circus in Moscow and St. Petersburg
      • Russian Folklore Shows in Moscow and St. Petersburg
      • Moscow in Space: from the Museum of Cosmonautics to the Planetarium
      • What is a Russian banya and why you should visit it
      • The Seven Sisters of Moscow: The Stalinist Skyscrapers secrets
      • The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour of Moscow: you will not believe its story
      • What to see in Red Square in Moscow (and best things to do)
      • Novodevichy Convent (and cemetery), one of my favorite places in Moscow
      • Star City Moscow, where the cosmonauts live – What to see inside?
      • Moscow City: Skyscrapers & Observation Decks (You can go up to enjoy for its views)
      • Traveling to Moscow with children: What to see and do as a family
      • The Tretyakov Gallery: Russian art like you’ve never seen before
      • VDNH (VDNKh), my favorite park in Moscow: Back to the USSR!
    • 4.2. St Petersburg
      • Opera and ballet in St. Petersburg: Where to go and how to buy tickets
      • The Hermitage of St. Petersburg: What to see and how to avoid queues
      • What to see and do in St. Petersburg in 1, 2, 3 or 4 days
      • The Palaces and Gardens of Peterhof, a must-go site in St. Petersburg
      • Catherine’s Palace in St. Petersburg: how to buy tickets online
      • The main cathedrals of St. Petersburg: Tickets and schedules
      • Russia Travel itineraries: Big capitals, the Trans-Siberian Route and the Golden Ring
      • St. Petersburg’s Public transport: the Podorozhnik card
      • How to buy tickets for the Russian circus in Moscow and St. Petersburg
      • Russian Folklore Shows in Moscow and St. Petersburg
      • The Church of the Savior in St. Petersburg: How to buy tickets and schedules
      • Saint Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg: how to buy tickets and schedules
      • What is a Russian banya and why you should visit it
      • Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg: Guide to not get lost
      • White Nights of St. Petersburg: When the city doesn’t sleep
      • Essential tourist maps of St. Petersburg (PDF and JPG)
      • Visiting St. Petersburg on a cruise without a visa (visa-free) and with a tourist visa
      • Drawbridges (and Pedestrian Bridges) of St. Petersburg: Schedules and Recommendations
    • 4.3. Trans-Siberian
      • Organizing a Trans-Siberian Train Trip
      • Russia Travel itineraries: Big capitals, the Trans-Siberian Route and the Golden Ring
      • What is a Russian banya and why you should visit it
      • What to see (and do) at Lake Baikal between Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude
      • Yekaterinburg, where Europe and Asia come together
      • Next stop: Novosibirsk. Welcome to Siberia!
    • 4.4. The Golden Ring of Russia
      • The Golden Ring of Russia: from Sergiyev Posad to Suzdal
      • Russia Travel itineraries: Big capitals, the Trans-Siberian Route and the Golden Ring
    • 4.5. Veliky Novgorod
      • Trip to Veliky Novgorod: the birthplace of Russia
    • 4.6. Kazan
      • The Kazan Kremlin: it will captivate you
  • 5. Practicalities
    • 5.1. Ruble exchange and prices
      • Where is it better to change indian rupees for rubles?
      • How to request a VAT refund in Russia (Tax Free)
      • How to pay for purchases in Russia without losing money in ruble exchange?
    • 5.2. Weather, health and safety
      • When is the best time to travel to Russia (and which clothes to wear)
      • Is Russia a safe country for tourists? Travel tips
      • What is a Russian banya and why you should visit it
    • 5.3. Telephone and Internet
      • How to buy a Russian SIM card for your smartphone (online or in a store)
    • 5.4. Russian products
      • Which souvenirs to buy in Russia? From Matrioskas to Cheburashka
      • 15 maps that will give you a better insight of Russia
      • Traveling to Russia with a travel agency or on your own? What is better?
You are here: Home / 4. Destinations / 4.5. Veliky Novgorod / Trip to Veliky Novgorod: the birthplace of Russia

Trip to Veliky Novgorod: the birthplace of Russia

Posted on: 30.08.18 | by Irena Domingo

Around 180 kilometers south of St. Petersburg we can find Veliky Novgorod, the oldest city in Russia, whose historical center is declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and it’s quite worth a visit. I’ll explain you how to get there and what to see.

Veliky Novgorod city general viewd

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Introduction
  • 1. How to get there
  • 2. How to plan the visit
    • Visit the city in 1 day
    • Staying in Veliky Novgorod
    • Restaurants and Food
  • 3. What to see in Novgorod
    • Route 1: The Novgorod Kremlin
    • Route 2: The Court of Yaroslav and the Old Market
    • Route 3: At the birth of the Vjojov river

Introduction

Veliky Novgorod is a beautiful city of about 230,000 inhabitants, located about 180 kilometers south of St. Petersburg, known as “The Birthplace of Russia” or “The Oldest City of Russia”, as it was in this city, in 862, where Prince Rurik proclaimed the modern Russian state.

Until the year 1478, the city was called Gospodin Veliky Novgorod (‘Lord Novgorod the Great’), and till 1999 its official name was Novgorod, an abbreviated name by which this city is usually known (not to be confused with Nizhny Novgorod).

It was one of the most important cities of Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages and was the only principality that was saved from Mongolian dominion after the Mongolian invasion of Russia.

In this city, located on the banks of the Voljov River, we can find the Cathedral of Saint Sophia, built between 1045 and 1052, and it is considered the oldest city in Russia. It is part of the historical center of the city, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992, and it is located inside the Kremlin of the city. This city is also the birthplace of famous composer Sergei Rachmaninoff.

Novgorod is a very popular weekend destination for St. Petersburg residents and is also very popular with tourists visiting the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg, who also are taking advantage of the route between the two to make a stop in this ancient city.

1. How to get there

The city is located at around 180 kilometers southeast of St. Petersburg and about 524 kilometers northwest of Moscow. You can get there by train, bus or car. The easiest and quickest way is by train: from Saint Petersburg to Veliky Novgorod it takes around 3 hours and from Moscow the journey is about 5 hours. From the Novgorod railway station you can reach the city center by walking in about 10 minutes.

  • From St. Petersburg: two fast trains depart daily (Lastochka), the first train leaves at 7 in the morning and arrives at around 10 at Veliky Novgorod, while the second leaves at about 19:30 and arrives around at 23:00 hours. Trains depart from St. Petersburg-Glavny Station (commonly known as Moskovsky Station) and arrive at the Novgorod railway station, which is on the RZD website as NOVGOROD-NA-VOLHOVE. For the return journey there is also an early morning train and another in the afternoon. These tickets can be purchased on the RZD website.

Train from St. Petersburg to Veliky Novgorod

  • From Moscow: the most comfortable way is to take the night train that departs from Leningradsky station at 22:05 hours, and arrives at 6:25 hours in Novgorod (the ticket can be bought in advance on RZD website). The other option is to take the Sapsan high-speed train to Chudovo (it takes around 3 and a half hours) and from there, take a bus to Novgorod (which can take 1 hour and a half).

Train from Moscow to Veliky Novgorod

Important: these schedules may vary, so it is best to consult them directly on RZD’s website. You can find more information on how to buy tickets in this article: Trains in Russia: How to buy tickets on-line without the middle-man.

2. How to plan the visit

There are different possibilities to visit Veliky Novgorod, depending on your itinerary and the available time you have:

Visit the city in 1 day

  • You can go and return the same day from St. Petersburg. This option can be a bit extenuating, since the journey involves more than 6 hours in train if you do a round trip. There are also organized bus tours to visit Novgorod from St. Petersburg, but the journey is about 4 hours (one way).
  • Stop at Veliky Novgorod on the way from St. Petersburg to Moscow. If you are visiting St. Petersburg and Moscow, you can take the morning train from St. Petersburg, visit Veliky Novgorod all day, and then take the night train from Novgorod to Moscow. You can also do the reverse: take the night train from Moscow to Veliky Novgorod, visit the city by day and in the afternoon take the Lastochka train from Novgorod to St. Petersburg.

Staying in Veliky Novgorod

If you have more time and would like to visit the city with some more tranquility, then it is advisable to make a hotel night reservation. Among the wide range of hotels in the city you can choose from hostels or economic apartments, to more luxurious hotels, so the choice will depend on your budget. In any case, I recommend choosing a centric place. In the map below you can see the most centric area of ​​the city and the train station marked in a red box, which is close to the city center:

Hotels in Veliky Novgorod

To book accommodation I recommend two platforms: Booking (where it is highly recommended to read the reviews of other travelers to choose a good accommodation) or the Russian platform Ostrovok (where you can often find better prices than Booking).

Restaurants and Food

With regards to food, there are also many Russian food restaurants. At around 10 minutes from the Kremlin (towards the train station), on Germana street number 2, we can find the Zavodbar Russian food restaurant (see photo below). Other Russian food options are the Malinovka restaurant (right next to Zavodbar) or the Sudarushka restaurant (Bolshaya Moskovskaya, 32).

Zavodbar Restaurante Veliky Novgorod

3. What to see in Novgorod

The city has many tourist attractions: the Kremlin, ancient churches, monasteries, museums, etc. The tourist information center is near the Kremlin and you can get a map of the city, or an audio guide:

Tourist info center in Veliky Novgorod

Here is also a tourist map of the city in digital format:

There are several itineraries that can be done, recommended by the city’s tourism office. The most popular are:

Route 1: The Novgorod Kremlin

Route 1 Veliky Novgorod

The Novgorod Kremlin is the first must see place. Formerly known as Detinets, it is the oldest surviving Kremlin in Russia. It was founded by Prince Yaroslav, being the administrative, social and religious center of Novgorod.

The entrance to the Kremlin is free. It’s open from 6 in the morning until 12 at night, however, you have to pay an extra fee to visit some of the buildings inside the Kremlin.

Kremlin Novgorod

The highest tower in the Kremlin is the Kokui tower, built in the 18th century, as it offers wonderful views of the city and its surroundings. The entrance to the tower costs 200 rubles (it is closed on Mondays, Thursdays and the last Wednesday of each month, it is also closed from November to May).

Inside the Kremlin we can find the Cathedral of Saint Sophia, the oldest in Russia, founded by Prince Yaroslav. The entrance is free, but to visit the bell tower of the Cathedral you have to pay a small extra entrance fee.

Cathedral of Saint Sophia in Novgorod

In the interior of the Kremlin, it is also worth mentioning the Chamber of Archbishops, the only civilian German Gothic building in Russia, where major events such as the reception of ambassadors or the meetings of the Novgorod Parliament took place (the entrance fee costs 200 rubles).

You will also find the Russian Millennium Monument, which was built in 1862 to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of Russia (free) and the state museum of Novgorod, which houses a collection of icons and other memento that is related to the city’s history (200 rubles).

Russian Millennium Monument in Velikiy Novgorod

In the outer gardens of the kremlin walls you can also visit the monument dedicated to the famous composer, Sergei Rachmaninoff, who was born in this city.

Rachmaninoff Monumento Veliky Novgorod

Route 2: The Court of Yaroslav and the Old Market

Route 2 Veliky Novgorod

Leaving the Kremlin and crossing the bridge over the Vjojov river, you will arrive at the Court of Yaroslav, a garden in which the Old Market (in the arcades) was found and which is composed by several small churches, among which we can find the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, the Church of Paraskeva or the Church of St. George.

Court of Yaroslav Veliky Novgorod

Route 3: At the birth of the Vjojov river

Route 3 Veliky Novgorod

Routes 1 and 2 can be done in 1 day or even less. If you have more time, it is worth visiting the monasteries of Perynsky and St. George, at the birth of the Vjojov river (near Ilmen lake). Entrance to these monasteries is free.

Monastery of St. George Veliky Novgorod

Also worth visiting is the Vitoslavlitsy Wooden Architecture Museum, located in a beautiful enclave, bathed by the waters of Miachino Lake and the Voljov River, near the Monastery of St. George. The entrance fee costs 200 rubles. To get here you have to take the bus (numbers 7 and 7A) from Novgorod railway station.

Vitoslavlitsy Wooden Architecture Museum Timetable

Vitoslavlitsy Wooden Architecture Museum

 

Finally, if you want to take a guided tour of this beautiful city, there are several companies that offer them. You can check them through the GetYouGuide platform. Simply enter “Veliky Novgorod” in the search box to discover the different tours that are available.

 

 

 

Have you visited this ancient Russian city? What has been your experience? You can leave your comments below.

 

 

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Categories: 4.5. Veliky Novgorod




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About the Author

Irena Domingo's avatar

Hello, my name is Irena. I was born in Russia in 1974 during the Soviet era. I worked as a Russian teacher and as a translator and interpreter for the past 15 years. One of my main hobbies is traveling. Therefore, through this blog I want to help those people who want to travel to Russia from India.

Hey! I’m Irena Domingo

I was born in Russia in 1974 during the Soviet era. I started this blog with one goal: to create the most complete guide ever written to travel to Russia and beyond!

I want to know about …

  • 1. Visa
    • 1.1. Visa to Russia from India
    • 1.2. Registration and immigration
    • 1.3. Visa to India, China and post-Soviet states
  • 2. Transport
    • 2.1. Arriving by plane
    • 2.2. Russian trains
    • 2.3. Metro, bus and taxi
    • 2.4. Car rental
  • 3. Sleep and eat
    • 3.1. Accommodation in Russia
    • 3.2. Restaurants in Russia
  • 4. Destinations
    • 4.1. Moscow
    • 4.2. St Petersburg
    • 4.3. Trans-Siberian
    • 4.4. The Golden Ring of Russia
    • 4.5. Veliky Novgorod
    • 4.6. Kazan
  • 5. Practicalities
    • 5.1. Ruble exchange and prices
    • 5.2. Weather, health and safety
    • 5.3. Telephone and Internet
    • 5.4. Russian products
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