Chkalov Stairs is the grand staircase descending from the Upper Town to the Volga embankment — 560 steps arranged in a double zigzag pattern that makes the descent feel ceremonial rather than merely practical. Built in the Stalinist period, the stairs are flanked by balustrades and turn back on themselves at a midpoint landing, giving successive views of the river below. At the top stands the bronze statue of pilot Valery Chkalov for whom the stairs are named.
Climbing the stairs from the embankment is the classic way to arrive in the Upper Town and gives a progressively expanding view of the Volga. At the bottom is the Volga riverbank promenade, busy with families and strolling couples in good weather. The stairs themselves are a favourite rendezvous point for locals and the starting point for the city's New Year celebrations.