The city
The capital of the Republic of Tatarstan and a major river port on the left bank of the Volga, at its confluence with the Kazanka River, Kazan is located 820 km east of Moscow. Kazan has a history of more than a thousand years, and the population today is more than 1.2 million. There are two railway stations, river ports and bus stations in the city. An express train runs from the airport to the city centre.
Schedule of matches
Kazan will host six world championship matches: four group games – with the participation of teams from groups B, C, F and H, and an 1/8 and a 1/4 final. They will be held on June 16, 20, 24, 27, 30 June, and 6 July at the “Kazan Arena” stadium, which hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2017.
The stadium
Games will be held at the “Kazan Arena”, the home ground of the local football club “Rubin”.
It holds 45,000 fans, and there is plenty of parking for cars and buses nearby. Address: Yamasheva Avenue, 115a.
How to get to the stadium
To get to “Kazan Arena” on your own from the city centre, the easiest way is to go along Chis-topolskaya Street, crossing the Millennium Bridge or the Lenin Dam. The metro line to the stadium has not yet been laid. But there are also ground transportation routes (stop “Kazan Arena”). Taxis are also relatively inexpensive, at about $6 from the centre. In addition, for fans with tickets there will be free shuttle buses from the centre of Kazan, from the railway and river stations, from the airport and from some official hotels.
Fan zones
The fan zone for 30,000 fans will be near the central palace of marriages “Kazan” on the right bank of the river Kazanka. A pedestrian zone will be laid from the fan zone to the football arena.
Kites are especially popular with children.
Where to stay
Kazan has already hosted major competitions such as the FIFA Confederations Cup-2017, the World Student Games-2013, the World Aquatics Championship-2015, and the European Judo Championships-2016, so a large influx of visitors is not a problem for the city. There are hostels with prices from $10, and 4-5 star hotels from $80-100 per night, like the modern Korston and Kazan hotels in the city centre, and the “Riviera”, which is within walking distance of the football stadium. Also during the World Cup, student dormitories which are usually empty in the summer will be used.
Where to eat
Just walk along the Bauman and St. Petersburg pedestrian streets and through other central streets to find a wide choice of cafes, restaurants, canteens and fast food establishments in Kazan. We recommend “Chak-Chak” cafe, “Jazz Crossroad” restaurant (in the house in which the writer Vasily Aksyonov was born), “Art Coffee” and “The Good Dining-room”. For something cheaper, the food court in the shopping centre “Koltso” on Tukaya Square offers lunch or dinner at about $6 per person.
What to see
You can rent a rowing boat on the Bolshoi Kaban Lake ($5 per hour), take a walk in the parks, or book a sightseeing tour around the city with a visit to the Kazan Kremlin, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Foundation (from $10 per person). You can also stroll through the historic centre of Kazan, the Tatar Sloboda, to enjoy the colour of the ancient city and buy original souvenirs. A trip along the river Kazanka or along the Volga is unforgettable. Prices are from $10-15 per person.
