Tula is a city in Tula Oblast, 185km away from Moscow. The population is over 400,000 people.
Understand
Older than Moscow, primarily the city was the major outpost of nomades until in 1503 it became a part of Dutchy of Muscovy and its southern fort. In 1552 the city overcame the 30,000 people strong seige of Khan Devlet Geray. The beginning of the XVI century it was an epicenter of Dark Times and later on it grew as a great iron guns producer which is Tula is well-known for even today. Its samovars are of all-Russia brand of quality and are as recognizable as its pryaniki (cookies).
Get in
Trains arrive from Moscow (3h 20min), Oryol, Kaluga and are served by two railway stations: Rizhsky Vokzal and Moskovsky Vokzal. There is an option to ride by retro train, but only for groups (email: bobrov1979@mail.ru).
Get around
Buses, trolleybuses, marshrutkas, taxi.
- Taxi Visit, phone: 360-360.
- Taxi Volga, phone: 370-370.
See
- Tula Kremlin (Тульский кремль). 5 centuries of its history never knew enemies flags flying over it. Inside the 9-tower rampart there are two Cathedrals and the Museum of Guns
- Museum of Guns (Тульский государственный музей оружия). cannons, rifles, sabres, pistols.
- Museum of Samovars (Музей «Тульские самовары»). building in the old town near the Kremlin walls
- Museum Tula's Cookie (Музей «Тульский пряник»). learn how to make gingerbread pie Tula-style.
- Tula Art Museum (Тульский государственный изобразительного искусства.). Russian icons, metal-plastic art, European classics
Do
- Central Park of Belousov
- Gladiator's Cup Tournament, 29 Belousova st (Club Vityas), ☏ +7(4872) 39-57-01, cvk@list.ru. Annual two-day battle at the walls of the wooden fort.
Learn
- Tula State University
- Tula State L.N.Tolstoy Pedagogical University
- Tula English language school LanArk, office#10, 9th floor, 7, Krasnoarmeisky Prospekt, ☏ +7(4872) 30-5757, info@lanark.ru. Practice your English with local students.
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Mid-range
- History Hotel (История), 24, Shuhov st, ☏ +7 (4872) 41-93-21, info@hotelhistory.ru. A Western hotel with 29 rooms of various classes includes sauna, a pool and a cafe-bar.
- Inshinka Spa (Иншинка-SPA), 23, Inshinsky, ☏ +7-920-770-05-05, inshinkaspa@mail.ru. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. Located outside of Tula, the hotel offers 17 rooms, spa, sauna, a pool and solarium.
- Grumant, 201th km Moskow-Krim, ☏ +7-4872-50-50-50. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. Located outside of Tula (20 km), the hotel offers 50 rooms, spa, bowling, a pool? a restaurant.
Cope
- If you need acceptance and guide, contact with a tour agency 'Veter Stranstvy', their email: vsbron@yandex.ru. If you want to get straight to the ancient battlefield Kulikovo Pole, contact the museum, their office is at 47, Lenina st., email: kulpole@tula.net, phone:+7(4872)36-28-34.
Connect
Free wi-fi
- Tula State University at 92 Lenina st., from 7:30 to 19:00.
- Cafe Blinnaya at 58a, Boldina st., and 6a, Khalturina st., from 10.00 to 23.00.
Go next
- Kulikovo Pole.
- Yasnaya Polyana, museum of the home of Tolstoy, author of War and Peace.
- Filimonovo, the village of old-style clay toys with a museum . You can order a tour via their contacts in Tula: filmuseum@yandex.ru, +7(4872)56-01-55.