Chelyabinsk

• Winter (December – February) long, snowy, and cold. The average temperature in January is around 15°C, but it often drops to -25°C or lower.
• Spring (March – May) starts late, and there may still be snow in April. The snow melts, and it can be muddy. The average temperature is 0°C to +15°C.
• Summer (June – August) can be very warm, even hot (up to +30°C and higher. This is the perfect time to visit the lakes. 
• Autumn (September – November) may be rainy, cool, and quickly turns into winter. The average temperature is 5°C to +15°C 

The main currency is the Russian ruble (RUB). Cards (Visa, Mastercard, MIR issues by the Russian banks) are accepted almost everywhere, but it is better to have some cash on you.

A student needs approximately 15-20 000 rubles per month (food, transport, and entertainment) to live comfortably (excluding rent).

Housing:

• Dormitory: 2,200 – 4,400 ₽
• Renting an apartment: 20,000 – 30,000 (depending on the area)

Food:

• Groceries: 10,000 – 15,000 ₽
• Cafes/restaurants: 500 – 1000 ₽ (fast food), 1500 – 3 000 ₽ (restaurant)

Transport:

• Bus/tram/trolleybus: 44 ₽ (card), 50 ₽ (cash)
• Taxi: 250 – 300 ₽ (short trip), 600-800 (airport-city center)

Other expenses:

• Mobile communication: 500 – 800 ₽/month
• Internet: 500 – 1 000 ₽/month
• Entertainment: 2 000 – 5 000 ₽ (cinema, cafe, events)

Chelyabinsk is a multinational city, and it is easy to find food for every taste, according to any restrictions and preferences.

Food delivery: Yandex.Еда and Delivery Club Apps. Using filters (such as halal, Asian cuisine, European cuisine, etc.), menu photos and reviews is the easiest way to find the right food.

Supermarkets: Auchan, Magnit, Perekrestok, Lenta, Pyaterochka have large sections with products for different cuisines (noodles, sauces, rice, spices, vegetables) for cooking at home.

Canteens: This is the most budget-friendly option. Stolovaya No. 1 and Vilka-Lozhka have several branches in the city center and offer a variety of dishes, including salads, soups, hot meals, and pastries.

Gastroparks: Designed in a loft style with high ceilings and brick walls, they have a lively, democratic atmosphere, ideal for meetings with friends. The main advantage is an incredible variety of cuisines.  

• Asian: wok, sushi, pho, noodles
• Russian/Ural: pelmeni, borsch, pancakes
• European: pasta, pizza, burgers
• Caucasian: shawarma, shashlik, khachapuri 
• Desserts: donuts, croissants, ice cream, sweet waffles

What is it: a pedestrian street in the city center, like Moscow's Arbat. A place where history meets modernity. Here you can see key sculptural symbols of the city.

What to do?

Take photos with the sculptures: "Zero Mile" (the beginning of the region's roads), "Levsha", "Gorodovoi", "Nishchii”.

Enjoy the atmosphere: listen to street musicians, buy souvenirs in the shops, and try the local food.

Explore the architecture: a combination of old merchant houses and modern buildings.

What is it: the central and historically the main administrative square of the city. The main city events, parades and festivities are held here.

What to do?

View the architectural ensemble: the building of the Government of the Chelyabinsk Region) which is an example of Soviet monumental architecture and the building of the Drama Theatre.

Visit the square: Here is a monument to V.I. Lenin.

Visit the winter town: in winter, ice sculptures and ice-runs are built on the square. There are stalls with street-food and souvenirs. You can take a ride on the horse or a camel. 

What is it: A modern walking space in the city center, stretching about 2 km.

What to do?

Walk and enjoy the views: the bridge offers a panoramic view of the city's business center.

What is it: the largest museum complex in the region, located in a building that is an architectural monument.

Why should you visit?

It houses unique exhibits, including a fragment of the Chelyabinsk meteorite, artifacts from the ancient city of Arkaim, and a hairy rhinoceros. You can explore the history of the region, from the Stone Age to the modern industrial power of the Southern Urals. The museum is equipped with modern multimedia technologies, and guided tours are available in multiple languages.

What is it: one the leading theatres of the Ural region with a rich history and a talented troupe.

Why should you visit?

See ballet and theatrical performances. The repertoire includes world classics and contemporary dramatics. There are often significant discounts for students, making the visit affordable for students. Appreciate the architecture of the majestic building in Soviet neoclassicism style.

What it is: a huge natural area (forest park) in the city. An ideal place for different activities (in summer - cycling, roller-skating, boating, in winter - ski slopes, tubing) in the fresh air. The forest obstacle course is one of the most popular ways to spend time with friends in the park. There is a petting zoo on the territory. The park is an ideal place for walking, and it is located in the largest urban forest in Europe.

What is it: a cozy, quiet park in the city center, a popular with students and citizens place.

The park is equipped with comfortable benches and sports grounds.

Alexander Nevsky Temple is one of the main architectural and cultural landmarks of Chelyabinsk. This striking red-brick building with elegant domes has become the architectural dominant of the park.

What is it: one of the oldest Orthodox churches in Chelyabinsk, an architectural monument of regional significance. It was built in 1913-1914 in the pseudo-Russian style using red brick. Its history reflects the fate of the country: it was closed after the revolution, and various institutions were located in the building. It was restored and returned to the Orthodox Church in the 1990s.

Why should you visit?

See the unique architecture: the church distinguishes with its elegant, "fairy-tale" style, resembling ancient Russian architecture. Bright green domes with golden crosses make it very photogenic. The area around the church is very quiet and peaceful.

What it is: Chelyabinsk Zoo is a zoological park located in the central district of Chelyabinsk. The 8-hectare area is home to 142 species of animals, of which more than 85 are listed in the Red Book. Snow leopards, sloths, wolverines, cheetahs, and other rare animals will surprise you. The zoo participates in international programs to preserve endangered animal species. The zoo regularly hosts guided tours, lectures, exhibitions, and festive events. The zoo has one of the first and largest contact zoos. What to do?

See exotic and local animals: amur tigers, brown bears, lions, camels, lynxes, a family of primates (macaques, marmots), and a variety of birds and reptiles live here. Visit the contact zoo: in this part of the zoo, you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and spend time with chickens, geese, goats, and many other animals.

"Thermae" is a large bath and spa complex, where various baths and saunas (Russian steam room, Finnish sauna, hammam, infrared cabin) are combined under one roof, large pools with different water temperatures (cold, warm, hot), recreation areas (sun loungers, cafes). This is a place where people come for the whole day to warm up, swim, chat with friends and relax. Within the city of Chelyabinsk, there are Thermae "Voda" and Thermae "Letor".