Volga river cruises run from the central embankment in summer, with trips to nearby islands and upstream/downstream towns available. Astrakhan, 400 km south, is the gateway to the Volga Delta and Caspian Sea — reachable by train (about 5 hours) and worth an overnight stay rather than a day trip. The steppe landscape surrounding Volgograd is largely agricultural; the city is the main destination in this part of Russia rather than a base for wider exploration.