Volgograd
Eco-friendly travel guide to Volgograd advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to explore the attractions in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Volgograd, Russia.
- Air quality: 3.5 / 5
- Exploring by foot: 4 / 5
- Exploring by bicycle: 3 / 5
- Public transportation: 3.5 / 5
- Parks: 3.5 / 5
- Outdoor activities: 4 / 5
- Locals' English level: 3.5 / 5
- Safety: 3 / 5
- Accommodation: US$50 - $100
- Budget per day: US$200 - $400
Contents
Responsible Travel
Volgograd is a city in Southwest Russia and is worth exploring. While exploring different places and the general idea of tourism is great, it is also harmful for the environment because of the way tourists travel today. It is of utmost importance to be a responsible traveller especially when we are at the verge of a climate disaster.
- Choosing the right transport method: A major part of your travel experience includes discovering every nook and cranny of the city. While you will have transport options like private cars and taxis at your disposal you need to know that not only do they contribute to more congestion and traffic pollution but also emit harmful gases into the environment. So, choose options like walking, cycling, electronic and public transportation in general.
- Trying local food: A huge part of the local culture is the traditional food that is offered at the local traditional restaurants and by street food vendors. Instead of just sticking to international fast food franchises that contribute to so much waste being produced in the world, you should try the local options. Not only will it help the local economy but also will directly help the families whose sole source of earning are these small food businesses.
- Do not throw waste: As an eco-friendly traveler, you need to promote sustainable living as much as possible in the city to motivate not only fellow tourists but local people. When you visit any tourists attractions especially city parks, make sure you do not throw any food wrapper and do not just stop at that but if you see any trash, pick it up and throw it in the dustbin. It might look like a very small thing to do but has a huge impact on people watching especially the children present in the park since they learn and mimic the behaviour of other people around them.
- Choose a green hotel: Plenty of accommodations are available in the city that provide you with a top-notch experience but instead of choosing them, you can pick green hotels for your stay. They use eco-friendly measures to reduce the pollution and waste of the city. This is one of the great ways to contribute towards the city to keep it safe and clean.
- Shop local: In order to support local craftsmen and artisans always shop local. During your trip to the city, you will come across small shops and food stalls in almost every lane of the city. If you want to have an unforgettable experience in the city, then buy goods and handicrafts from these shops. This will not only help you to save a lot of money but you will be supporting a lot of local people who are dependent on their small businesses to earn a livelihood.
Air Quality and Pollution
Unlike other European cities, the pollution levels in Volgograd are astonishingly low. You will find that the government and even the locals are promoting and supporting environmentally friendly practices. As you can see, the air pollution levels are relatively low, so Volgograd's people are at lesser risk of respiratory diseases and lead a healthy life. While traveling to the city, you need to make sure that your activities don't harm the environment. The locals focus on changing their lifestyles into healthier ones, which has led them to start using bicycles instead of motor vehicles and organic food than preserved and frozen food. Because of such changes in the people's activities, the pollution levels remain low, and people can live a better life.
Respect the Culture
You can pay your respects by following the rules, not indulging in illegal activities, prefer local businesses, and avoiding any action that harms the local environment. By paying respect to the culture, you can make your trip more meaningful and memorable. Everyone loves to travel, but most people always forget the essential thing while traveling, respecting the culture. Most travelers only focus on getting the most out of their trip and often not getting the best experience. You must show respect towards the local communities, landmarks, culture, and local environment. By indulging in cultural or recreational activities, you can learn a great deal about the city's culture and history. While traveling, you can get the most out of your trip only if you respect the culture.
Top 10 Places to Visit
Volgograd is one of the oldest cities in the world and possesses a history of several years. The town is quite popular amongst those who look for an adventure. The beautiful pristine waters, white-sand beaches, green forests, and historically significant places make it one of European's most visited cities.
- To Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad: To Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad is German offensive to capture Stalingrad. It was established in the year 1942.
- The Motherland Calls: The Motherland Calls is a statue by Nikolai Nikitin and Yevgeny Vuchetich in the city of Volgograd. It is located in Volgograd, Russia.
- Volgograd Panorama Museum: Volgograd Panorama Museum is a long-standing museum complex with informational exhibits about military culture and history.
- Dom Pavlova: Dom Pavlova is one of the famous apartment in the city of Volgograd. It is located in Ulitsa Sovetskaya, Volgograd, Russia. It was established in the year 1942.
- Mel’nitsa Gerfardta: Mel’nitsa Gerfardta is an open-air museum in the city of Volgograd. It is one of the famous museums in Volgograd.
- Staraya Sarepta: Staraya Sarepta is a historical place in the city of Volgograd. It is located in Izobil’naya, Volgograd, Russia. The museum was established in the year 1989.
- Ostrov Sarpinskiy: Ostrov Sarpinskiy is an island in the city of Volgograd. It is one of the famous places in the city.
- Volga Hydroelectric Station: Volga Hydroelectric Station is also known as the 22nd congress of the Volgograd. It was established in the year 1950.
- Square of Fallen Fighters: Square of Fallen Fighters is head of quite a long parkway leads up from the Volga. It was established in the year 1987.
- Hall of Military Glory: Hall of Military Glory is a war museum in the city of Volgograd. It is a sculpture of a hand carries an eternal flame in this war memorial.
Explore
The city has many things to offer apart from the many historical and culturally renowned places packed with tourists. The various parks, beaches, museums, and landmarks will help you get deep insights into the local culture and its beauty. People say that all work and no play would make one dull. This city ensures that it has places that play roles in calming and relaxing the mind. Thus, it is not surprising that people always want to visit this city. There is so much to do in this city, so tourists should have a schedule plan ready so that activities will not be jumbled.
City Parks
The views are one thing you cannot take away from parks. The city is big, and it has a big collection of parks and other such places. It has big open spaces and greeneries where you can spend time with your children and other family members.
Here are some famous city parks in the city:
- Park V Poyme Reki Tsaritsa
- Park Druzhby Volgograd-Baku
- Park Gorsad
National Parks
The country has always been famous for its beautiful and graceful natural resources, and so that this city has a wonderful collection of national parks and a zoo. We are listing down a few of them that may not exactly be located in and around the city but are not very far away from the city.
- Volvograd Baku Friendship Park
- Volga Don Canal imeni Lenina
- Sashi Filippova Park
Beaches
The city of Volgograd is famous for its beaches worldwide. The white sand beaches of this city are the gorgeous thing one can see around. It is blessed by one of the most beautiful beaches in the whole world. Here are some of the best beaches in the city:
- Volzhskiy City Beach
- Beach, Krasnoslobodsk
- Volgograd City Beach
.jpg)
Landmarks
The city of Volgograd also has its share of memorable landmarks and monuments. While the list is quite long, we are mentioning a few of them for our readers' benefit. You must try and visit as many as you possibly can. Here are some famous landmarks in Volgograd:
- Volvogradskiy Most
- V. I. Lenin Monument
- Volgogradskiy Oblastnoy Kravevedcheskiy
Museums
Volgograd's city has a long history of the tribe, which can be easily understood in these museums of the city. If you like to explore the culture and learn about any city's history, museums are the perfect place to visit. Here are all the popular museums in the city:
- State Historical and Memorial Preserve The Battle of Stalingrad
- Volgograd Planetarium
- Museum Pamyat
Eat
You will feel shocked to hear that there is a vast diversity of food cuisines split into eight regional cuisines. As one of Russia's most populated cities, you can easily find all kinds of Russian dishes in local restaurants and cafes. You will find that the locals prefer to eat healthy and nutritious food with lots of vegetables and meats. You will find that vegetarian, and non-vegetarian dishes are popular, and you will not find much trouble conveying your food preferences. Apart from these traditional and modern cuisines, the local street food is a must-try one that will leave your mouth lingering with their flavors. .
Traditional Local Restaurants
If you want to waste no time eating international foods while in the city of Volgograd and take your focus to try traditional foods, then you need to try these famous traditional restaurants in the city.
- Bamberg
- Café Marusya
- Steak House Cafe
Vegetarian and Vegan
If you are a vegetarian, you do not need to worry when you are in this city as there are many restaurants to attend to your needs. With these places, you will get to enjoy traditional meals properly with your regular choices. Sometimes the habits of two people are different. Thus, everyone does not have the same eating habit or love the same pattern when it concerns food choices. Some of these vegan restaurants are:
- Schastye Est!
- Basilico
- Trattaria Rimini
- Boho
Street Food
The street food in the city is renowned worldwide, and some of the most popular dishes were mentioned in the sections above. Nonetheless, a couple of sellers have become an ace at their exchange, who have spent a lifetime sharpening ages-old skills and recipes flawlessly. The preparation time for them does not take long, and it is something you can eat on the go. One thing about street food is that you can try out varieties at the same time.
Drink
From coffee to cocktails, all different types of drinks are available in the city of Volgograd. Make sure to drink them from the local shops to get some traditional local drinks as well. You will be able to get various beverages, various wines, and many other local drinks that will help you know the locals well. If you find a bar or pub in the city, you will not have to look much as it is plenty. It is essentially a large bucket filled with various alcoholic drinks and mixers, decided upon by you and your friends, who shall all gulp it together. Both local people and foreigners visit bars, pubs, and cafes to get the best experience of having different drinks. Apart from beers and wines, you will also be able to get many options for non-alcoholic drinks.
Tap-water
The tap water of Volgograd is the highest quality tap water in all of Europe. The water is so clean that it is even better than the water in mineral water bottles. You can easily find many water taps and public drinking fountains in Volgograd safe to drink, and you will not need to buy mineral water bottles. Such purity in the city's tap water is because of the advanced technology that the water companies use to convert the surface water into pure and drinkable water. Volgograd's water is free from chlorine or fluoride and has a score of 8.4 for its quality. You can carry a reusable water bottle with you while exploring the city and refill it from these public sources. Volgograd's tap water is not only safe to drink but also tastes and smells good.
Organic Cafés
The city has stood up to the task of catering for all segments of the population, including those with a preference for organic foods. Since some people would prefer eating organic, it is not out of place to have organic cafes in different cities. While they are not as obvious as the mainstream restaurants, the city has several organic eateries:
- Marusya
- CoffeeLine
- So So Coffee
- Hungry
Breweries
Without having proper breweries, you will not be able to explore the city and its culture. As the city has a high alcohol tax, you will not find many shops on the road. However, there are some places that you can visit to get international craft beer options. The city offers a few breweries collections, and it is one of the last places that a beer lover wants to visit. It is tough to get the license to brew in the city, and there are only two and a half brewers available in the city. Visit these places to get the best experience of having breweries in the city of Volgograd.
- 7ft Craft Brewery
- Beer Store
- Volzhskiy Filial Ao San Inbev
- Wooden Barrel
Activities
Other than the many tourist spots, there are many thrilling activities in which you can indulge in full exposure to the local Russian culture. These activities will not only help you create a memorable time in the city of Volgograd but will also make your heart race. One can experience the best period of their life in this city. Whether you're into sports, arts, or entertainment, there's something for everyone. For most local people, weekends are all about relaxing after a long week of enduring traffic, work, and the city's hustle and bustle. The city of Volgograd is a place full of activities that one can enjoy on a trip. People think that the beaches and nightlife are the only important aspects of the city, but they are wrong as there are many other fun activities to do in the city of Volgograd. Endless activities like diving, swimming, zip-lining, kayaking, cycling, exercising, etc., are widespread in the city and the best things to do.
Yoga and Retreats
Many tourists like to take care of their health on their tour and join local yoga centers to care for it. Taking a break from the hectic journey and relaxing at their yoga retreats help very much to get your energy back. With the increasing popularity of well-being with yoga, many yoga centers have opened up in Volgograd.
These places offer their customers inner harmony and well-being. There are many yoga and recreational centers in the city, but only a few have an experienced and proper yoga teacher. The city offers you various options to get in good shape, from online to offline yogas.
Accommodation
Sometimes the cheapest hotels don’t offer an incredible service, and you’re left wondering what made you sign up after all. Before you book any accommodation in the city, it’s important to do a little due diligence to find out more about the space you are about to pay for. The city of Volgograd is a heaven on earth if you like beach life. One can experience everything in this small city. If you are planning to visit there soon, you might be wondering where to stay. Some of the best hotels and resorts are classed from luxury to budget in the city of Volgograd, where one can have an easy stay. The city has many options when it comes to accommodation, so foreigners are not stranded. These accommodation options range from hotels to apartments, and much more. You can either make accommodation plans when you are in the city or before you arrive. It would be best to do whatever works best for you.
Green Hotels
Green hotels provide you with the best service and embrace the ecology of the place. Green hotels practice environmentally conscious ways in any tourism industry. They work on solar and wind energy, have responsibility for waste management and cooperate with the local communities. You can book these kinds of hotels, so you will at least know that you are doing something good for the environment.
- Hilton Garden Inn Volgograd
- Park Inn by Radisson Volgograd
- Hampton by Hilton Volgograd
Hostels and Guest Houses
Ideal for solo travelers or those with a tight budget, these are quite common accommodations amongst tourists. Before stepping into the city, you need to know the best places in this city to stay in. You will get plenty of options for hotels in the city, from low to high, three-star to five stars with different offerings. Both online and offline bookings are available in most of these hotels. Here are some famous guest houses and hostels in the city:
- Hostel Friends
- Scotch Hostel
- Hostel on Lipetskaya
- Khostel Stalingrad
Apartments
You will have many such options available to you. However, not all apartment owners may feel comfortable renting out their properties to foreigners, but things are changing. Renting apartments will not be much of a problem in the city as you will get many opinions. You can take the help of different services to rent apartments at an affordable price. It will help you get a better service and save finding one in the city. They would like to earn some passive income from their apartments that otherwise would have remained vacant. Choosing a renting apartment helps to save a lot of money and stay comfortable in the city. It is best to find and book the apartment before stepping into the city.
Couchsurfing
Couch surfing is a community of travelers from different places worldwide who offers other travelers to stay in their home and roam the city. You will be able to enjoy the city and its culture like the local people. Many people are offering Couch surfing in the city of Volgograd that you can take the help of. To find the hosts in the city of Volgograd, you can take the help of different services. Travelers like to find Couch surfing in different cities, which helps them stay in the city for a long time and save a lot of money. It is easier to discover the hosts before going to the city, and it will help you save time. The perk of Couch surfing is that it is free. As a foreigner, you do not need to pay your host. However, it is your responsibility to be respectful and abide by the laws of the city. It is a new concept but has taken off quite well in the city. There is an online community known as couchsurfing.com, and if you are a part of it, you will be able to come across dozens of Couch Surfing mates and companions.
Camping
Camping is one of the fun activities in the city of Volgograd. There are places where you can camp so there won’t be any need to look for a hotel to stay in. Campers describe the experience as exciting, and it lures those who have never been camping before. It helps you meet new people, and you get to do things you have never done before. If you a lover of nature and the outdoors, we know that you would wish to experience camping in whatever form when you are in a new city. The thing with camping is that there are particular areas for it; else, the whole purpose is defeated. Thus, it is right to know about camping sites.
How to Get There
People worldwide can travel to the city through different modes. The city has perfect weather, white-sand beaches, and the bright sea around it. However, most people from other countries choose the airways as the best option for reaching Volgograd's city and saving a lot of time in the process. You can book the tickets using different transformation systems' online services to run the municipality without complications smoothly. Here are some transportation options and details about them given below to know which is best for you.
Air
Volgograd International Airport is the newer airport in the city and manages all the international flights and some of the domestic flights coming into the city. The airport is one of the busiest airports globally and has flights operating to and from all the major destinations. The airport is well connected to all the country cities, so you don’t have to worry about eco-friendly travel.
Bus
The Transports in the city of Volgograd is the public agency that manages transportation through buses in Volgograd. Many bus companies do provide buses to the city from nearby cities and vice versa. Buses to the city of Volgograd can be booked online. You can find first-class buses as well as second class buses for your travel. Buses are the cheapest mode of transport, and a lot of them offer excellent tours of the city and are pocket-friendly.
Train
You will be able to see all the beautiful sceneries from the windows and along with great comfort. As the train tickets tend to get booked very fast, you need to be very early to book a seat for yourself successfully. The city of Volgograd is very well connected with different countries by the city railway.
Hitchhiking
This is known to be one of the best hitchhiking places for travelers. But the place is not too easy to reach for people, so many people avoid it. If you want to get to the city by hitchhiking, you will get many different options like the big toll gate in the south of the city. It is one of the best hitchhiking among all the other ones to help you get to the city. They might have to take a lot of walking to reach their starting from crossing the rail tracks to covering the bridge, which is a very long walk.
Others
These options are not eco-friendly as they cause harm the local environment by using non-renewable resources and emitting greenhouse gases. It would be best to avoid such modes of transports to travel in an eco-friendly manner and save lots of money.
Moving Around
If you are traveling to Volgograd's city, you need to know the available options that you can use to move around the attractive places in the city. Some of them take less time, and some others are cheaper. The most common ways of moving around in the city are walking, riding cycles, and taking electronic vehicles. There are many different transportation options that you can choose to get the best experience in the city. So, here are some details about these transportation methods.
Walk
If you do not want to miss a little bit of this place, then you need to walk down the streets. Compared to other transportation processes, walking takes less time to reach important places. You do not have to be stuck in traffic or wait for the signal to go to your destination. Make sure to carry some essentials like food and water while planning to tour the city on foot. Walking might be the best option to witness the local culture and people of this city. You will be able to find many walking lanes that are separated from the car roads and well-connected around the city.
Bicycle
You can easily find bike renting stores in almost every district of Volgograd. If you cannot travel long distances by walking, you can use an electronic or mechanical bicycle to cover up distances faster. Bicycles are friendly to the environment and your travel budget.
Electronic Vehicles
They are expensive compared to the other transportation mode, but they also help you reach your destination faster. It is the best option if you are visiting someplace far within the city using high roads. You can get different electronic vehicles in the city, so this should not disturb your mind. The city is highly urbanized, and they are in touch with the latest features in the world. It is expected that everyone would have safety procedures at the back of their mind, and you would not want to use something like an electronic scooter on a busy road to obstruct cars.
Public Bus
The city's public buses are reviewed as one of the best and greatest bus systems for a tourist destination—the buses of the city-run twenty-four hours a day. The one-way fare of these buses is reasonable and will take you anywhere in the city. Public buses are the easiest way to travel around this city.
Tram, Train and Subway
Services for Trams are available in the city of Volgograd. People use these transports for a faster way of moving around the city. The Government of Russia has certain plans to build a railway route for trains in their states. They haven’t found any efficient way to do so. Hence the plans are still at a halt. You will find that trains and subways help you reach destinations inside and outside the city as they don’t have a more comprehensive range such as trams.
Sustainable Shopping
Most local vendors are known to struggle to ensure a thriving business; cut-throat competition and low margins make it a sell to survive market for them. Hence, it is suggested that you always indulge in sustainable shopping and purchase local goods that are made using eco-friendly practices. Whatever the case, you will almost always find everything you want in this city where people do not sleep, and everyone is a hustler of sorts.
Food Markets
Roaming the food markets is always good, as you will be able to get close to the locals and learn about different cooking and eating ingredients. Sometimes, foreigners want to try out recipes of their host city personally and seek out the special items and ingredients—the place where you would go to get food items in the food market. We would assume that you already know some of the city's local delicacies since we have talked about some of them.
Flea Markets
Some of these markets have specific days when traders come and display their merchandise, while others run throughout the week. Volgograd has many flea markets that mainly cater to low-income earners who cannot afford items sold in exhibition stalls.
Second Hand Stores
These stores are commonplaces of shopping for lower-income group people. You will find that these stores offer various products like books, furniture, containers, utensils, clothing items, etc. If you are looking for some cheap and second-hand items while traveling in this city, then these stores are the ones for you. These stores sell second-hand items that are relatively in good condition.
Eco-Fashion
You will find that eco-fashion is a viral trend among local people. Many models and brands serve such clothing items, which is why it is gaining a lot of popularity. While looking for eco-fashion stores, I prefer local businesses to sell products sourced from the local environment.
Recycling
Many parts of the city, especially the low and middle-income areas, don't even have waste collection systems in place. In high-income areas, private waste collection companies are booming. While many local people understand the long-term ramifications of improper solid waste management to the environment, recycling has not caught on, particularly in middle and high-income areas where recycled products generate income proportionately too minimal to consider pursuing seriously.
Waste
Hazardous waste is carefully collected and transported as well. However, the waste collection system in poor areas and slums is in shambles, and you may see some inefficient methods being followed. Waste disposal in Volgograd's city is quite efficient and systematic in major residential areas as the awareness is quite high, and everything is separately collected, including wet and dry waste.
Work and Study Abroad
These universities and colleges offer good courses to students, and they have different offers for international students that attract students from all over the world. Taking the help of online job finders also helps very much to find the best available jobs easily. Apart from that, these students also have a permit to work in the city while studying to earn pocket money and fess. The number of international students is very high in the city as some of the best universities and colleges here.
Exchange Student
The universities offer short term programs and long term scholarships as well. The city is home to some of the most prestigious universities in the country and Europe; hence, you can expect many exchange students in town.
Au Pair
You will get an excellent response from the local people when searching for au pair if you know where to search for them. Au Pair is available in the city, but you will need to find it a little bit hard to get a hold of them. This is one of the best options for students and foreigners to stay in the city. Not only it helps the person, but it also helps the host to do their daily work. It is a perfect chance to earn money and continue studying in a foreign country for students. People planning to stay in the city from different countries can take the help of the au pair in the initial stage to earn money and get shelter. Take the help of different services that help to find the perfect au pair for you as per your choice. This is a good accommodation option available for tourists also.
Volunteering
You will find that the volunteers and the locals give their full support in resolving the issue at hand. One of Volgograd's reasons as a safe and clean city is because of the many volunteering activities that take place. You can find many volunteering organizations in the city that focus on various societal and environmental problems like protecting the environment, humanitarian rights, animal protection, child protection, etc.