Discover Kemerovo: Urban Forest, Riverfront and Industrial History

• Krasnaya Gorka Museum was established in 1991 at the site where the Kuznetsk Coal Basin was discovered.
• A pine forest in the city center is one of Kemerovo’s most distinctive natural features.
• The Pritomskaya Embankment is in Kemerovo and is suitable for family walks.

The central pine forest offers a chance to enjoy walks in the fresh air. On a hill in this part of the forest stand a Poklonny Cross and large letters spelling “Kuzbass.” Together, the forest and these distinctive landmarks give your walk a clear point of reference. The pine forest is also home to five animal species and nine plant species listed in the Red Data Book of Kemerovo Oblast.

The riverbank is also part of the cityscape: from the Pritomskaya Embankment in the city center, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the central pine forest. The promenade offers an option for a family walk. A forest walk and a riverside path offer different experiences: one focuses on the pine forest itself, while the other takes in the city’s greenery from the riverbank.

Krasnaya Gorka Museum connects its location with the history of the Kuznetsk Coal Basin: it was established in 1991 at the site where the basin was discovered. The exhibition covers the region’s industrial history, including both this discovery and the founding of the Kemerovo mine. Visitors interested in the origins of regional mining can explore both topics in context here.

A guided city tour of Kemerovo includes a walk along Vesennyaya Street, one of the city’s oldest streets, and a view of the architectural ensemble on Sovetsky Prospekt. As tour itineraries may change, check whether these stops are still included before making plans. Soviets Square, Kemerovo’s main square, offers another point of reference for finding your way around the city.

The Park of Olympic Glory opened in September 2022 during the tenth international forum “Russia—A Sporting Power.” It occupies the site of the Winter Cherry shopping and entertainment complex, which burned down in 2018. This location gives the park a distinctive recent history, while its facilities offer their own focus for a city visit.

The 50-hectare site includes the Kuzbass Ice Palace, the Kuzbass Arena, a phygital center, Moscow Square and a new embankment along the Tom River. As the condition of individual facilities may change, check for current information before your visit. This helps you plan around the specific amenities available on site.

The wider destination of Kemerovo Oblast offers additional nature and cultural activities beyond the city. In Shorsky National Park, visitors can raft on mountain rivers, take motorboat trips and hike along ecological trails. One rafting route, “Srednyaya Mrassu,” runs from Ust-Kabyrza to Ust-Anzas. Depending on the weather, it takes at least three days, is rated Category I in difficulty and is open to all age groups. Check the current park rules and route conditions before setting out; seasonal operating rules may vary.

Another regional cultural destination is “Tomskaya Pisanitsa,” a cultural monument of federal significance and one of the best-known and most important rock art sites in Western Siberia. The museum-reserve covers 156 hectares of pine forest on the picturesque bank of the Tom River. People left 300 rock images at sites considered sacred; the oldest depictions are 4,000 years old. Since its early years, the reserve has also hosted historical, ethnographic and folklore events and festivals. These attractions are in Kemerovo Oblast and should be distinguished from the city stops described in Kemerovo.

If you’re looking for a hotel in Kemerovo, first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: would you like to explore Kemerovo itself, with its city history and green spaces, or include destinations elsewhere in the region as well?

Discover more destinations: Zhuravlevo, Denisovo, Novoriyka, Novokuznetsk, Mezhdurechensk, Andreyevka, Belovo and Sosnovka.

Where can you walk in Kemerovo?

The central pine forest is suitable for walks; the Pritomskaya Embankment offers a walking route for families and a view of the forest.

What does the guided city tour include?

The itinerary described includes a walk along Vesennyaya Street and a view of the architectural ensemble on Sovetsky Prospekt. Check the current tour itinerary in advance.

How long does the “Srednyaya Mrassu” route take?

Depending on the weather, the route from Ust-Kabyrza to Ust-Anzas takes at least three days. Check the current park rules and route conditions before setting out.

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Kemerovo Oblast.