A vibrant city on the banks of the Kama River, Perm is known for its avant-garde art and theatre scene. Visit the city’s quirky museums or wander along its 25 kilometres of waterfront, then stop in at one of its stylish bars for a craft cocktail.

Things to do

Perm has two self-guided tours, the Green Line and Red Line, which gives visitors a great overview of the city. The Green Line takes you past some of Perm’s most-beautiful architecture and public sculptures, while the Red Line tells the story of the famous people who lived in Perm, such as Grand Duke Mikhail Romanov and the writer Arkady Gaidar.

The Regional Museum is a wonderful way to get an overview of Perm’s history, while Perm-36 Museum is the only surviving gulag in Russia and has authentic camp interiors and exhibits on the prisoners’ daily lives. Head over to the Museum of Contemporary Art for lectures and workshops centred around the diverse collection of modern art.

Soak up the glorious scenery with a boat trip along the Kama River. The multi-deck motorboats offer amazing views or you can take a steamship for a slower, but more picturesque tour of the waterways.

Check out the Perm Opera and Ballet, one of the oldest theatres in Russia. There’s a particular emphasis on Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, who was born in the area. At-The-Bridge Theatre presents an array of mystic themes and has staged the works of Dostoevsky, Stoker and Shakespeare.

Getting around

You can arrive in Perm via Bolshoye Savino Airport, 25 kilometres from the city centre, or on a river cruise from Moscow or St Petersburg. Buses, trolleybuses and trams cross the city and stop at most major attractions.