New Year is always a fairy tale and magic. The maximum concentration of the Russian New Year's spirit is felt in Veliky Ustyug - the official residence of Grandfather Frost. Here adults and children will feel the atmosphere of miracles and magic.
This small town in the Vologda region has become the main bearer and keeper of the traditions of the national celebration of the New Year. Santa Claus lives here, so the epicenter of all New Year's emotions and magic is here.
Attraction of rest in Veliky Ustyug for tourists
Definitely, Great Ustyug is a developed tourist center. Every year hundreds of thousands of visitors from different parts of the world receive their piece of New Year's happiness. This led to the presence of a sufficiently developed infrastructure, a good choice of accommodation options and comfortable living conditions.
The city is filled with landmarks. There are many cathedrals, museums and other places enriching horizons and entertainment. Each of them can be visited by the whole family.
Housing prices in Veliky Ustyug delight a wide range, allowing you to find a suitable option for any budget. Cost depends on:
- type of housing;
- living comfort (conditions);
- size (footage);
- additional options and services;
- location.
Among the additional services are often assumed baths, saunas, swimming pools and more. It is also possible to stay right in the residence of Santa Claus. In total there are 9 hotels with different stars and a set of characteristics. On New Year's Eve, the cost of living here will cost about 3,500 rubles.
Local hotels for the most part look like cozy wooden houses surrounded by carved board fences. The atmosphere inside the buildings is warm and homely. Benefits include free parking on site. Dinner in this hotel can be about 1500 rubles per person.
The most popular are the Votchina complexes and the Dvina Hotel. The latter is located in the old part of town. The room rate includes breakfast. Accommodation in "Dvina" will be cheaper than in the residence - only 1500 rubles.
The Rozhdestvenskaya Hotel will be an excellent alternative. In the reviews about it, tourists note the cleanliness and grooming of all the premises and territory. Also pay attention to the excellent cuisine of the place. Living here costs from 3000 rubles a day. On the bank of the river “Sukhona” there is another attractive hotel “The Guest”. Standard rooms in this complex are equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable and pleasant stay. Within walking distance there is a cafe and restaurant. Hotel accommodation will cost about 1700 rubles per night.
If you wish, you can choose a more isolated accommodation and book a private house. This service costs from 2,000 to 17,000 rubles. In any of the options, it is recommended to book accommodation for the New Year in October, otherwise guests risk being left without overnight stay.
How does Great Ustyug entertain its guests?
The main place where every tourist in Veliky Ustyug strives to go is the residence of Santa Claus. It offers a large landscaped area with a winter garden and a zoo. Also here are the attractions and the house of Santa Claus. Animators conduct tours and all sorts of recreational activities with contests and humorous scenes. Usually the tour lasts about 3 hours, it costs about 1000 rubles. There are categories of guests for which discounts are provided.
The local toy museum was opened in 1998. It contains Christmas decorations of different times. Among them are gorgeous patterned balls, statues of New Year characters, animals. Many of the exhibits are handcrafted. For this, wood, glass, beads, various dyes and more are used. You can also visit a separate greeting card museum. In general, there are 5 separate thematic museums on the territory of the Veliky Ustyug Museum-Reserve.
An alternative to the New Year's theme will be a visit to historical and architectural monuments. Those who decide to combine a cultural program with an entertainment program are recommended to visit the estate of merchants, decorated in the tradition of antiquity. The program of excursions can be made independently or choose ready. One of the options is called “City of merchants and craftsmen”, which will be interesting for both adults and children. It is held in the house of the merchant Usov.
New Year's tours to Veliky Ustyug
For tourists, operators offer a great variety of all kinds of tours to Veliky Ustyug. Four-day organized trips from December 31 to January 3 remain the most popular. This tour includes railway travel, meals, hotel accommodation, banquet, master classes, sightseeing tours.
- “New Year in Fatherland’s Fatherland” (3d / 2n) - 24,500 rubles;
- "Meeting of the New Year on the Abyss of the Winter Wizard" (3d / 2n) - 24,500 rubles;
- "New Year in Veliky Ustyug" (4d / 3n) - 25,900 rubles.
The cheapest tour will cost about 17,000 rubles. The richer the program, the more expensive the trip.Guests will get a great impression of the flavors of food from the Russian stove, nature and the New Year spirit that reigns everywhere. Also, tourists will receive unique photos with fairy tale characters.
Reviews of tourists about the trip to Veliky Ustyug
In reviews of experienced tourists, there are comments about the poor quality of local roads. Therefore, a trip to Ustyug in your car is better to think three times. But on the housing respond positively. Guests like conditions and price variety. Even the most unsightly exterior of the house inside will be cozy and well-maintained.
The beauty of the ancestral land fades somewhat due to crowds of people who come there on excursions by whole buses. In addition, guests note that on the tour it is easy to quickly freeze. Therefore it is recommended to choose the warmest clothes and shoes with thick ribbed soles. You can warm yourself in the house of Baba Zary.
Another drawback of the city is that some interesting sights are open only in the warm season. Also, many tourists complain about prices. The hotels in the residence of Santa Claus are considered expensive. You will also have to pay for various trifles, such as entering the house of Santa Claus itself.
The rest of the place is utter delight. The holiday atmosphere is the most valuable thing that a tourist receives and that’s why he comes here.
