From Wikitravel

For other places with the same name, see Samara (disambiguation).

Samara (Russian: Сама́ра suh-MAH-ruh) is one of the largest cities in Russia, the capital of Samara Region, with the population of over 1,164,000 people (2003). It is situated in the European part of Russia on the Volga River. Samara is one of the major economic, industrial and cultural cities of Russia.

[edit] Understand

Samara region is located in the southeastern part of the European territory of Russia in the basin of the Volga, the largest river in Europe. The region has the area of 53,600 km² (0.31% of the total territory of Russia). In the north it borders on the Republic of Tatarstan, in the south — on Saratov area, in the east — on Orenburg area, in northwest — on Ulyanovsk area. The area stretches from north to south for 335 km and from west to east for 315 km. Samara region is forest-steppe region. In the north it is covered with coniferous and broadleaved woods, and its south and east are mainly steppe areas. The largest mountain range of the area and one of the most beautiful places in Russia are Mountains Zhigulevskie. The main river of the region except Volga, the most significant rivers are Samara, Sok, Kinel', Big Irgiz, Kondurcha.

Climate	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Daily highs (°C)	-7.8	-6.8	-0.4	11.8	20.7	24.9	26.2	24.1	17.8	8.7	-0.6	-5.4
Nightly lows (°C)	-14.2	-13.6	-7.4	2.8	9.7	14.6	16.3	14.1	8.9	2.2	-5	-10.9
Precipitation (mm)	46	35	33	39	32	58	64	52	45	52	54	51
Average of Samara

Samara was officially founded in 1586 when on the bank of the Volga River the construction of the fortress that was to protect the Russian State from the incursion of martial nomadic tribes was started. But in fact, the settlement on the bent of the Volga River had been mentioned in the ancient chronicles since 14th century. During World War II Samara (the city situated not far from Moscow ), then named Kuibyshev, was the second capital of USSR. The city's growth was stimulated during World War II by its distance from the war zone and the evacuation there of numerous government functions when Moscow was threatened by German attack; also helped the postwar development of the Volga-Urals oilfield. The city reverted to its old name in 1991.

Many famous people worked and lived in Samara. Outstanding Russian writers Lev Tolstoy and Maxim Gorky, painters Ilya Repin, Vasily Surikov and Ivan Aivazovsky, revolutionists Michael Frunze and Vladimir Lenin are among them. Even a French writer Alexander Duma had paid a visit to Samara in 1858. Impressed by the travel he wrote the book "From Paris to Astrakhan " where he gave his description of Samara.

[edit] Get in

The city is served by Kurumoch International Airport (IATA: KUF) [1] which has international connections from Dubai, Frankfurt and Prague. Domestic, there are up to ten depatures daily from Moscow as well as direct flights to Samara from many other Russian cities including Saint Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Rostov-on-the-Don and Vladivostok.

Samara is a major railway junction and almost all trains connecting with Siberia and Russian Far East calls here. There are atleast five departures every day from Moscow, including the Zhiguli branded deluxe train. Journey times varies between 14-20 hours depending on which train. Another branded train is avalible from Saint Petersburg every second day taking just over 23 hours. Most other major cities in central Russia also have overnight trains to Samara. The once-weekly Sibirjak train originating in Berlin calls here, a neat journey of four nights. It's also possible to get on this train in Warsaw and Minsk.

A cheaper alternative is to travel by over-night buses which are avalible from nearby cities such Nizhny Novgorod, Perm and Moscow.

If traveling by own car, Samara is along the M5 Highway, also known as Ural Highway. Distance from Moscow is just over 1000 km.

[edit] Get around

The Samara Metro is a convinent way of zipping across the city, still underdeveloped however and stations are laid out in mostly a west-east direction.

[edit][add listing] See

The beach by Volga in the city center. Visit the space museum. Visit the shopping street Leningradskaya.

[edit][add listing] Do

Night life in Samara is quite joyful. The main dance clubs are: Beerja (Stock Exchange), KINUP, Zvezda (Star), Aura (The Aura), Postel (The Bed), Long Bar. There are many restaurants and bars in Samara. The pricing for clubbing are the same or even higher than in Europe and Americas, though not so high as in Moscow.

• Study Russian at SSU, 1, Ak.Pavlova 209 m/m, 443011 Samara, Russia, ☎ +7(846)2780908, [2]. Study Russian while experiencing real Russian culture and traditions!Programmes for individual students and groups meeting particular needs. Certification of Russian as a Foreign Language at different levels.  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Azimut Hotel Samara (Азимут Отель Самара), 91/37 ул. Фрунзе, (samara@azimuthotels.com), [3].  edit

• Renaissance Samara Hotel, Novo-Sadovaya St. 162, ☎ +7 (846) 277 8340, [4]. checkin: 15:00; checkout: 12:00. The Samara Renaissance welcomes guests with its uncompromising service standards. It is set like a gem in the midst of the Zhiguli Mountains on the left bank of the Volga River, Samara Russia is a place of old Russian legends as vibrant as the landscape surrounding it. The Renaissance Samara is resting in the heart of this storied city near its historical squares &cultural centers. There are no other luxury Samara hotels where guest accommodations offer an extraordinary blend of comfort, security & convenience for the business traveler, with features like work areas, broadband Internet and luxury bedding. To stay productive, there's a 24-hour business center and to relax and enliven, there's a fitness gym, indoor pool, massage, bowling alley and billiards. Dining options at this Samara, Russia hotel include In Alto, preparing homemade Italian specialties; and Sunlight, serving exquisite international fare. English web site "http://www.renaissancesamara.com"; Russian web site ="http://www.samararenaissance.com.ru "  edit

[edit] Contact

[edit] Consulates

• Italy (Honourary Consulate), Stepan Razin street, 71A, ☎ +7 (846) 310-6401, 310-6403, +7 (846) 271-1820 (mobile) (v-t@vgt.ru, fax: +7 (846) 310-6402). Mon-Fri 9AM - 4PM.  edit

[edit] Visa Centers

• Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Iceland, Malta, and Spain (EU Visa Center), Sadovaya street, 263. Mon-Fri 9AM - 4PM.  edit

[edit] Get out

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