My route
Sign in
WorldRussiaYaroslavlYaroslavl Kremlin (Transfiguration Monastery)My routeRoute

Yaroslavl Kremlin

White belfry with a clock and the bell tower above the Holy Gates in the Transfiguration Monastery, Yaroslavl, under a cloudy sky
Photo: Florstein (Telegram:WikiPhoto.Space), CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Ticket desks
Holy Gates and Uglich Tower; short breaks during the day
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Hours
Grounds daily 9:00–20:00, Fri–Sat until 21:00; exhibitions 10:00–18:00, each closed one day (Mon or Tue); bell tower Fri–Sun 11:00–17:00, shut in rain; cathedral closed 1 Oct–1 May
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
2 h
With kids
Fine with kids
Grounds
100 ₽, children 7–16 50 ₽, under 7 free
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Grounds hours
Mon–Thu & Sun 9:00–20:00, Fri–Sat 9:00–21:00
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Combined ticket
800 ₽, concession 550 ₽, child 400 ₽; valid one day, Wednesday to Sunday only
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
What the combined ticket covers
Grounds and exhibitions, not the bell tower or a guide (per the ticket seller’s description)
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Bell tower viewpoint
300 ₽, concession 200 ₽, child 150 ₽; Fri–Sun 11:00–17:00, closed on rainy days
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Walls and towers walk
150 ₽, concession 100 ₽; Fri–Sun 11:00–17:00, closed in rain
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
The Lay of Igor’s Campaign exhibition
200 ₽; Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00, closed Monday
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Treasures of Yaroslavl
300 ₽; Mon, Wed–Sun 10:00–18:00, closed Tuesday
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Transfiguration Cathedral
Closed 1 October – 1 May to protect the frescoes
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Audio guide
Not on the museum’s price list — ask at the desk
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Coordinates
57.62157, 39.88849YesGo MapGoogleAppleYandex

Key facts

1516the Transfiguration Cathedral was consecrated — the oldest surviving building in Yaroslavl
2 sourcesOfficial website of the Yaroslavl Museum-ReserveRussian Wikipedia, “Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery (Yaroslavl)”
The Lay of Igor’s Campaignthe only known manuscript of the medieval epic was found in the monastery library in the late 18th century
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaRusmania guide
1612the Minin and Pozharsky militia set out from here to free Moscow
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaTripster journal, “Yaroslavl Kremlin: monastery or fortress”
1563–1564the cathedral frescoes were painted — the oldest wall paintings in the city
3 sourcesOfficial museum-reserve websiteRussian WikipediaRusmania guide
≈ 32 mheight of the bell tower with its rooftop viewpoint
2 sourcesRusmania guideTripster journal
1216traditional founding date; UNESCO places the origins in the late 12th century
3 sourcesRussian WikipediaWikidata Q1078595UNESCO World Heritage List, No. 1170
No. 1170part of the Historical Centre of the City of Yaroslavl, a UNESCO site since 2005
2 sourcesUNESCO World Heritage ListRussian Wikipedia
≈ 820 mof stone walls by the late 17th century, about 10 m high
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaTripster journal

Yaroslavl Kremlin tickets and prices

The grounds cost 100 ₽ (children 7–16 pay 50 ₽, under-7s go free). That gets you inside the walls to see the cathedral from outside, the white belfry and the Holy Gates.

Everything else is ticketed separately. The bell tower viewpoint is 300 ₽, the walk along the walls 150 ₽, and the exhibitions 200–300 ₽ each — The Lay of Igor’s Campaign is 200 ₽, Treasures of Yaroslavl 300 ₽.

The combined ticket is 800 ₽ for one day, Wednesday to Sunday only, and, according to the seller, covers the grounds and exhibitions but not the bell tower. Unless you want several exhibitions, skip it: grounds plus bell tower comes to 400 ₽.

Desks are at the Holy Gates and in the Uglich Tower, with self-service terminals beside them. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards don’t work in Russia (since March 2022), so carry roubles in cash or use a Russian card. Concession tickets need a Russian document, so most foreign visitors pay the adult price.

Opening hours and closed days

The grounds are open every day, 9:00–20:00 Monday to Thursday and Sunday, and until 21:00 on Friday and Saturday. There is no weekly closing day for the monastery itself.

Exhibitions run 10:00–18:00, but each has its own day off: The Lay of Igor’s Campaign closes on Mondays, Treasures of Yaroslavl on Tuesdays. The bell tower and the walls open Friday to Sunday, 11:00–17:00, and close when it rains. For the full experience, come on a dry Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Is the Yaroslavl Kremlin worth visiting?

Yes — it is the first stop in Yaroslavl, and the reason is the bell tower. From the top you see the whole UNESCO-listed centre, the Kotorosl and the Volga. Without the climb the visit is a pleasant courtyard walk; with it, it becomes the best view in the old town.

It is less rewarding on a rainy weekday in winter: the cathedral is closed, the bell tower is shut and you are left with walls and one or two exhibitions. On those days, give it an hour and move on.

Why is a monastery called a kremlin?

Yaroslavl’s real kremlin was a wooden fortress on the headland where the Kotorosl meets the Volga — today’s Strelka. It didn’t survive. The Spassky Monastery, with its white stone walls and towers, looks like a fortress, so locals and visitors alike started calling it the kremlin.

Maps and tickets use all three names — Yaroslavl Kremlin, Spaso-Preobrazhensky (Transfiguration) Monastery and Yaroslavl Museum-Reserve — for the same place. There are no monks: since Soviet times the buildings have housed the museum.

What to see inside

  • The bell tower — a narrow, steep staircase up to the roof for the widest view of Yaroslavl.
  • The Transfiguration Cathedral (1516) with frescoes from the reign of Ivan the Terrible — May to September only.
  • The Holy Gates — the main entrance from Bogoyavlenskaya Square, with a bell tower above the archway.
  • The walls and towers — a weekend walk along the fortifications, including the corner Uglich Tower.
  • The Lay of Igor’s Campaign — an exhibition on the medieval epic whose manuscript was found right here.
  • Treasures of Yaroslavl — gold, silver and gems from the museum’s collection.

How to get to the Yaroslavl Kremlin

Tap a route to highlight it on the map.

Loading the map…

on footdestinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

On foot

More tips

  1. The address is 25 Bogoyavlenskaya Square (Bogoyavlenskaya Ploshchad). Enter through the Holy Gates; in map apps search for “Yaroslavl Museum-Reserve”.
  2. From Sovetskaya Square and the Church of Elijah the Prophet it is about a 10-minute walk.
  3. By trolleybus or bus around the centre, get off at Bogoyavlenskaya Ploshchad — the monastery is across the road. From the Krasnaya Ploshchad or Ploshchad Volkova stops it is 5–10 minutes on foot.
  4. From Yaroslavl-Glavny station: 15–20 minutes by trolleybus to the centre (travel blogs name route 1; check the number in a map app) or about 50 minutes on foot.
  5. From Yaroslavl-Moskovsky station: about 2 km north along Moskovsky Prospekt and over the Kotorosl bridge, which lands you at the monastery — half an hour on foot.

Before you go: checklist

Ready: 0 of 6

Tick what is ready — your ticks stay in this browser.

Yaroslavl Kremlin vs Church of Elijah vs Tolga Convent

Yaroslavl Kremlinyou are hereMuseum inside monastery walls: cathedral, bell tower, exhibitionsBogoyavlenskaya Square, centreGrounds 100 ₽, bell tower and exhibitions extraYear-round; cathedral May–September1–2 h
Church of Elijah the Prophet17th-century church with painted interiorSovetskaya Square, centreMuseum branch, ticketed1 May – 21 October30–40 min
Tolga ConventWorking conventLeft bank of the Volga, out of the centreConvent groundsYear-roundHalf a day with travel

Do the Kremlin first, for the bell tower. In summer add the Church of Elijah, 10 minutes away. Save the Tolga Convent for a second day.

Yaroslavl’s historic sights compared

Every historic place in Yaroslavl rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Volga Embankment511 hFree21 min walk
Assumption Cathedral5130 minFree14 min walk
Governor's House481 h300 ₽, everything 750 ₽15 min walk
Church of Elijah the Prophet4745 min≈ 200–250 ₽, May to October12 min walk
Strelka Park4740 minFree15 min walk
Metropolitan's Chambers451 h200 ₽, concessions 100 ₽14 min walk
Church of St John the Baptist at Tolchkovo4140 minFree39 min walk
Tolga Convent401 hFree9.2 km
Yaroslavl Kremlin (Transfiguration Monastery)you are here352 hGrounds 100 ₽, combined ticket 800 ₽—

The Kremlin and the old centre in a day

Start with the monastery and the bell tower, walk to Sovetskaya Square, then along the Volga embankment to the Strelka. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and walks.

  1. Yaroslavl Kremlin (Transfiguration Monastery)you are here2 h · Grounds 100 ₽, combined ticket 800 ₽
  2. 12 min walk from the previous stopChurch of Elijah the Prophet45 min · ≈ 200–250 ₽, May to October
  3. 10 min walk from the previous stopVolga Embankment1 h · Free, open 24/7
  4. 19 min walk from the previous stopMetropolitan's Chambers1 h · 200 ₽, concessions 100 ₽
  5. 3 min walk from the previous stopStrelka Park40 min · Free

5 places · about 6 h 9 min with walks · 44 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Church of Elijah the Prophet

Yaroslavl, Russia

45 min · ≈ 200–250 ₽, May to October · 12 min walk

Assumption Cathedral

Yaroslavl, Russia

30 min · Free · 14 min walk

Metropolitan's Chambers

Yaroslavl, Russia

1 h · 200 ₽, concessions 100 ₽ · 14 min walk

Governor's House

Yaroslavl, Russia

1 h · 300 ₽, everything 750 ₽ · 15 min walk

How to do it right

  • One hour for 100 ₽: Holy Gates → cathedral from outside → the belfry courtyard → Uglich Tower.
  • Two hours: add the bell tower (Fri–Sun) and one exhibition.
  • Do the bell tower first — it closes when it rains.
  • Without a guide the monastery is a pretty courtyard; a guided tour explains the 1612 militia and the Lay of Igor story.
  • Afterwards walk to the Church of Elijah the Prophet and down to the Volga embankment.
  • Second day: the Tolga Convent across the Volga.

Questions

How much does it cost to enter the Yaroslavl Kremlin?

The grounds are 100 ₽ (children 7–16 50 ₽, under 7 free). The bell tower is 300 ₽, exhibitions 200–300 ₽ each, and the one-day combined ticket 800 ₽.

What are the Yaroslavl Kremlin opening hours?

The grounds are open daily, 9:00–20:00, and until 21:00 on Friday and Saturday. Exhibitions run 10:00–18:00; the bell tower Friday to Sunday, 11:00–17:00.

Is the Yaroslavl Kremlin open on Monday?

The grounds are. The Lay of Igor’s Campaign exhibition is closed on Mondays and the combined ticket isn’t valid on Mondays or Tuesdays.

Can you climb the bell tower?

Yes, Friday to Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00, except on rainy days. The ticket is 300 ₽ and the stairs are narrow and steep.

Can you go inside the Transfiguration Cathedral?

Only from May to September. It closes from 1 October to 1 May to protect its 16th-century frescoes.

How long do you need at the Yaroslavl Kremlin?

About an hour for the grounds, two hours with the bell tower and an exhibition, half a day with the full combined ticket.

Is the Yaroslavl Kremlin a real kremlin?

No. It is the Spassky (Transfiguration) Monastery, nicknamed the kremlin for its fortress-like walls. The real wooden kremlin stood on the Strelka and has not survived.

How do I get there from Yaroslavl-Glavny station?

Take a trolleybus to the centre (15–20 minutes) and get off at Bogoyavlenskaya Ploshchad, or walk about 50 minutes. From Yaroslavl-Moskovsky it is a 30-minute walk over the Kotorosl bridge.

Can I pay by card?

Only with a Russian card or Mir — foreign Visa and Mastercard cards don’t work in Russia. Bring roubles in cash.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Official website of the Yaroslavl Museum-Reserve: opening hours, prices and concessions; museum grounds; Transfiguration Cathedral; getting there — 30.10.2026
  • Russian Wikipedia: Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery (Yaroslavl); Wikidata Q1078595
  • UNESCO World Heritage List: Historical Centre of the City of Yaroslavl, No. 1170, 2005
  • Rusmania guide: Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery (Yaroslavl Museum-Reserve)
  • Tripster journal: “Yaroslavl Kremlin: monastery or fortress”
  • Visa and Mastercard statements on suspending operations in Russia, March 2022
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 30.10.2026 ·
How we checkedPrices, hours, exhibition days off, the cathedral’s winter closure and ticket desks come from the official museum-reserve website on 30.10.2026. The site doesn’t list what the combined ticket includes, so we use the ticket seller’s description (grounds and exhibitions, no bell tower) and mark it “verifying”. No audio guide appears on the price list. Sources disagree on the founding date — 1216 (Russian Wikipedia, Wikidata) or the late 12th century (UNESCO) — so we show both. The year the Lay of Igor manuscript left the monastery is given as the 1780s or 1790s, so we say “late 18th century”. The ≈ 32 m bell tower height comes from two guides; there is no official figure. The trolleybus number from the station is cited only by travel blogs; walking times are our own estimate from the map. There is no English Wikipedia article on the monastery.

Top YesGo picks: Yaroslavl

Volga Embankment

Yaroslavl, Russia

1 h · Free, open 24/7

Strelka Park

Yaroslavl, Russia

40 min · Free

Tolga Convent

Yaroslavl, Russia

1 h · Free entry

Tereshkova Planetarium

Yaroslavl, Russia

1 h 30 min · show 300–400 ₽, museum 150 ₽

All places: Yaroslavl →