Why Yekaterinburg?

No one is going to sell the Ural capital. It will be about how much it costs to come to Yekaterinburg as a tourist. What can attract a foreigner or a foreign “alien” in Yekaterinburg, except for merchant mansions, stunning views in the vicinity of the city and other attractions? Maybe a little travel budget? Whether this is true – we will understand the review of prices for accommodation, food and other services necessary for the tourist.

Where to lie down?

The beginning of summer entails a jump in living prices. First of all, this applies, of course, to resort towns, but, as it turned out, Yekaterinburg is also no exception to this rule. In addition, our planned trip to the capital of the Urals is scheduled for the weekend (Saturday and Sunday), which is another factor that contributes to the price increase.

Consider two options for temporary residence in Yekaterinburg: economy and middle class. [1]

Budget option. Hostels are still a way out for budget tourists. Fortunately, in almost every major city not only in Russia, but also around the world, you can find at least a couple of such places for the night. Hostel, of course, should be chosen depending on your purpose of living in it. Somewhere you really come just to spend the night (or rather, tired after a long walking day you fall into bed, not really caring about comfort and interior), and somewhere you want to spend some time (breakfast, relax, catch Wi-Fi and sit on the Internet). Those who are ready to settle for small, can find a bed for an average of 300-500 rubles per night. In this case, you will sleep in a room with another 4-10 people. As a rule, the rooms are mixed - both men and women live in them, but if you try, you can find a place in separate rooms for the same price. Free Wi-Fi is available almost everywhere. Shower and toilet, the kitchen is also one for all. For the same price range, you can find a hostel where you can park a car or where you can live with animals.

I gave you the minimum price for living in a hostel. If you want to live in a separate room, have free breakfast and use other additional services, then, of course, the price will be higher.

Middle class. By “middle class” we will understand the desire not to share a room, shower and kitchen with ten tourists, but to live alone in a room. Yes, here we will consider the hotels of Yekaterinburg. In this case, the price range is as follows: from 1200-1500 rubles to infinity (just kidding, of course). It just depends.

Usually breakfast is included in the price of the room, unless, of course, 6 you do not choose the apartment - there you will have to cook yourself. The price also varies depending on the distance from the center.

Choose a hotel to your liking, you can on our website.

What to ride?

Walking is good. Moreover, Yekaterinburg is not New York or even Moscow, the most important and interesting parts of it can and should be passed on its “two”. But the circumstances are very different (lack of time, effort, and the most common laziness), so we resort to using public transport or taxis. If you are a fan of buses, trams, trolleybuses and subways (or you simply have to use them), there are two options. The first is to pay for travel “the old-fashioned way”, in cash or a bank card – 26 rubles one fare. The second option is to buy Ekarta for 3 days without limiting the number of trips for 350 rubles.

The case of a taxi is similar to hotels - travel on an economy class "machine" can cost from 50 rubles (as some taxi operators promise us), and business class will cost from 200-250 rubles at least. If you are going to get from Koltsov airport to the center of Yekaterinburg, then prices jump three times, if not four times.

For those who love independence and do not like to wait, I can only advise you to rent a car. This is especially convenient if you plan not just to move around the city, but to go to its surroundings or visit other cities. Different companies provide the car on different conditions (somewhere there are restrictions on age and driving experience, somewhere not allowed to go outside the Sverdlovsk region, etc.), so ask about them in advance. You can find a car for at least 800-900 rubles per day, if you contact a rental car (a company that provides rental cars). Prices for similar cars can often be lower.

What and where to eat?

To write a lot and in detail about what and where to eat, it seems to me, does not make sense – it is too individual. It all depends on your preferences in the kitchen, your attitude towards food (either for you to eat=survive, or for you food is a cult) and, naturally, the fullness of your wallet. Of course, if you went to Yekaterinburg in the middle of the working week, then I would advise you to look in a variety of cafes, restaurants and dining rooms business lunches - it is often profitable and hearty. To be honest, I don’t know of any catering establishment that doesn’t serve business lunches (except, of course, fast-food restaurants). But in our material we are talking about the weekend, so you will have to look for another food option. For example, the same dining rooms: most of these establishments have an average check of 100-150 rubles.

We also recommend: café. restaurants of Yekaterinburg, Ekaterinburg bars.

What to see?

There are two options: either explore the city and its surroundings yourself, or book a sightseeing tour. Let's start with the second option. For the traveler, adhering to the economy class, suitable prefabricated, that is, not custom tours. You come to the time and place designated by the travel agency and together with others interested in Yekaterinburg go by bus on a trip. The cost of three to four-hour excursions is from 700 rubles. Don't you want to ride with strangers? Then for you the option is more expensive - individual walks and trips. Hiking tours with a guide will cost you from 2500 rubles, and by car - from 3,500 to 5000 rubles.

If you come to Yekaterinburg as “savages” and want to remain so, then, of course, here you have few options: you will have to move your own methods (I wrote about them above), and read about each attraction yourself.

Undoubtedly, every tourist in Yekaterinburg will want to visit at least a couple of museums. By the way, sightseeing tours usually do not include a visit to museums, they may require additional payment. You will be asked to visit the museum yourself.

Ticket prices and excursions in different museums are not very different. For example, in the Museum of History of Yekaterinburg adult ticket will cost you 200 rubles. [2] Excursion - 300-500 rubles (depending on the size of the group). The same prices in the Yekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts, however, all excursions cost the same - 300 rubles. A visit to the State Center for Contemporary Art will cost you a little less – 150 rubles. In other museums, prices can vary the same: +/- 50 rubles. As you can see, cultural enrichment in Yekaterinburg is not so expensive.

The beauty of the city will be shown guides on city tours.

So what comes out of this?

Now we will calculate how much will be vacation in Yekaterinburg on the weekend. The minimum budget, which should have a saving tourist – about three thousand rubles. 600 rubles (minimum) - accommodation in the hostel for two days, 350 rubles - travel, 900 rubles for food, 700 rubles - sightseeing tour + visiting three museums - 450 rubles on average. This does not include entertainment such as cinema and clubs, which, in principle, are not necessary.

For a tourist of the “middle class” Yekaterinburg will cost from 4,500 rubles minimum (excluding food).

After thinking a little, I realized that I did this review not even for those who want to visit Yekaterinburg, but in order to understand how the capital of the Urals can be attractive for tourists, at least in budget terms. Is it worth going to Yekaterinburg at the current level of prices for hotel, cafe or public transport? Yeah, I think I should. Of course, the city is not as rich in attractions as Moscow, St. Petersburg and the cities of the Golden Ring, but prices in Yekaterinburg are not so high. A budget tourist can safely fit into the notorious $100.

Well, the residents of Yekaterinburg, I think, will finally learn that you can live, eat, move around the city and culture for reasonable prices. So, invite your nonresident and foreign friends to visit and do not be afraid that this trip will hit them in the wallet.

Text by Inna Malysheva

Photo: ekbpic.ru, gazeta.ru, gorod55.ru, twitterguru.ru, rustur.ru