The Golden Ring route unites eight cities. We will focus on the Yaroslavl region, but we will add a few stops in neighboring territories. Organized excursions to Yaroslavl do not come to these places, and with an independent trip you can make an individual route. Therefore, it is better to choose a car for traveling. On OneTwoTrip, the cost of rental per day in Moscow starts from 2900 rubles*.
Day One
Marfino
We leave Moscow along the Dmitrov highway and after 23 km we stop at the pseudo-Gothic manor of Marfino. The elegant red brick building is decorated with white ornaments, crenellated turrets, lancet windows. The ensemble is complemented by a delightful arched bridge and proud griffins on the pier. The estate is open to the public, the entrance to the territory is by passport. I advise everyone who is looking for views for spectacular photos to visit this romantic estate.
Walk: 30 minutes.
Dmitrov
After 40 km we arrive at the Dmitrov Kremlin Museum-Reserve. In the fortifications of the XII century, founded by Yuri Dolgoruky, the rampart, the moat, the ancient golden-domed cathedral and the gates have been preserved. Around the Kremlin there are sculptures of generals and citizens of different eras and estates.
Time: 30 minutes.
Verbilki
We take the A-108 highway from the eastern side of Dmitrov and drive north for half an hour to the village of Verbilki. Perhaps you once had cups and plates with a logo in the form of a moose head ― this is the trademark of the Porcelain Verbilok factory, widely known in Russia and abroad. It was founded by an English merchant in the XVIII century, and today a museum is open in the production. From Monday to Friday, from 8 to 12 o’clock, group and private excursions are held, for which it is necessary sign up.
Excursion: 1.5 hours.
Taldom
From Verbilok to Taldom on the same highway – 50 km. This is a city of one church, but one that you rarely see anywhere. The upper part of the church of the Archangel Michael is decorated with stone hypnotizing circles in the Russian-Byzantine style.
Walk: 15 minutes.
Kalyazin
An hour and a half later, the forest highway leads us to the Tver Atlantis – Kalyazin. In the middle of the XX century, the old part of the city was flooded for the construction of the Uglich hydroelectric power station. Only the top of the tall bell tower remained above the water. Today it is a business card not only of Kalyazin, but also of the Tver region. In summer, you can hire a boat on the paved pier and try to see houses and streets under water.
Walk: on foot – 15 minutes, by boat – another 30.
Uglich (overnight)
After 50 km we stop for the night. The hotels here are small, and the city is popular. Therefore, it is necessary to book accommodation, especially for holidays, several weeks in advance.
Volzhskaya Riviera Hotel – from 1900 rubles * per night for two.
Day Two
Uglich
The history of this tourist center is inextricably linked with the sad fate of the deceased Tsarevich Dmitry. At the scene of the incident in the XVII century built the temple of Dmitry on Blood. He became part of the ensemble “Uglich Kremlin”, located on the arrow with a pleasant embankment. The city has several ancient churches, monasteries, as well as entertainment museums, for example “Museum of Myths and superstitions of the Russian people”.
Walk: 3 hours.
Myshkin
An alternative place to spend the night is the town of Myshkin, 40 km from Uglich. A room in a cute themed hotel Myshk Inn – from 2300 rubles * per night for two. Myshkin is an amazing place: the city has turned into a tourist brand, thanks to the name, not historical events. And there is no end of travelers here. Center of gravity — «Mouse Museum».
Walk and visit the museum: 1.5 hours.
Crossing
A rare adventure: we will continue on the old car ferry. At the pier, we look at the schedule, get a ticket, buy fresh fish, drive a car to a floating platform and go to the other shore. It is impossible to sit in the car while driving, so drivers wander around the deck, contemplating the Volga expanses. The ferry works only in the warm season. When there is ice on the river, you have to lay a couple of hours for a detour to the next point.
Rybinsk
An hour later, after driving through the dams between the reservoir spills, we stop in atmospheric Rybinsk. Until recently, the city was not a tourist destination, despite the fact that the film “12 chairs” was shot here. Everything changed when the signs on the central streets were decorated in the same style with a reference to the beginning of the XX century. Now many people come here to take entourage photos. Tourist bonus — Bridge, the spans of which are impressive in height and long. You can spend the night, for example, in guest house “Burlak” – from 3300 rubles * per night for two.
Day Three
Tutaev
The town of Tutaev is 50 km from Rybinsk. The Volga divides it into two sides — Romanovskaya and Borisoglebskaya. There is no direct crossing between them, except for an old ferry that runs twice a day. Therefore, we will include only the Borisoglebsky side in the route. On the cliff we admire the view of dozens of church domes shining on both banks. In Resurrection Cathedral there is an unusual miraculous icon — a three-meter “The All-merciful Savior”. People believe that the image helps in the treatment of severe bone diseases. To be heard, you need to crawl through the hole in the lower left corner of the icon three times with prayers.
Walk: 30 minutes.
Yaroslavl
After 40 minutes along the 78K-0001 highway along the river we arrive in Yaroslavl – a city with a thousand-year history. We walk along the beautiful embankment and admire the panorama on the arrow, where the Volga and Kotorosl form a wide spill. Here stood the Yaroslavl Kremlin, which has not been preserved. Now the “Kremlin” is mistakenly called Yaroslavl Museum-Reserve – a complex of several temples, in one of which a list of the literary monument “The Word about Igor’s regiment” was found.
There are many ancient temples with relics or ancient frescoes in Yaroslavl. For example, in Churches of Elijah the Prophet the original interior has been preserved (in Soviet times there was an anti-religious museum here). Church of John the Baptist with an impressive bell tower depicted on a 1000 ruble bill, as well as monument to Yaroslav the Wise.
Not far from the zero kilometer we get “Golden Ring tourist passport”. By the way, in Yaroslavl there is even show layout of the famous route. We will spend the evening in the oldest drama theater of Russia named after Fyodor Volkov. A large and hospitable city pleases with atmospheric streets, cozy cafes and pleasant hotels in which you will want to stay longer. For example, a number in the universal Ibis – from 2500 rubles * per night for two.
Walk: 5-6 hours.
Day Four
Rostov the Great
In the morning we inspect Yaroslavl or immediately go to Rostov Veliky, where we will be in about an hour. The white stone porch of the temple in The Rostov Kremlin Museum, it is familiar to many — scenes from the film “Ivan Vasilyevich changes his profession” were filmed here, for example, the comical pursuit of the archers for the main characters. We easily recognize both the fortress walls and the belfry. I recommend visiting the exhibition of Rostov finifti in the Kremlin to get acquainted with the art that has become the hallmark of the city. At the market nearby we will buy jewelry made in this technique.
Walk: an hour and a half.
Return to Moscow
Along the Yaroslavl highway towards Moscow, we will stop in two small towns with important historical and natural attractions: Pereslavl-Zalessky and Sergiev Posad. We’ll be there for another four hours.
*Prices are valid at the time of publication
