Volgograd travel guide

Volgograd, formerly Tsaritsyn (1589–1925) and Stalingrad (1925–1961), is the administrative centre and largest city of Volgograd Oblast, Russia. The city lies on the western bank of the Volga, covering an area of 859.4 square kilometres (331.8 square miles), with a population of slightly over one million residents.

Volgograd is near the Volga's estuary into the Caspian sea. The city is more than 60 km long, on the right bank. It used to be divided by gullies heading to the Volga. The majority of these have been filled, but some paths have substantial drops. The southern part of the city includes the start of the Caspian Depression, and so is a large plain, broken only by the Ergeni mountain range. The construction of railways between the Ergeni and the Volga led to the creation of swampland in the area. Consequently, chunks of southern regions are full of reeds.

Getting in

European route, the longest European route connecting Calais, France with Ridder, Kazakhstan, passes through Volgograd. A trip from Moscow by car is a bit under 1,000 km and takes around 13 hours with short stops. The roads are generally in good condition, although roadworks are plenty. The city stands at the east end of the Volga-Don Canal, opened in 1952 to link the two great rivers of Southern Russia. River cruises down the Volga operate during the summer months (early May to late September). Dozens of boats operated by different companies run from Moscow to Astrakhan passing by Volgograd.

Getting around

Volgograd's public transport system includes a light rail service known as the Volgograd Metrotram. Volgograd is divided into 8 regions.

Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.