Yaroslavl is one of the easiest Golden Ring cities to explore. The UNESCO-listed historic centre is compact and largely pedestrianised, and the combination of 17th-century churches, the Volga riverbank, and a surprisingly lively student-town atmosphere makes it more rewarding than many visitors expect.
The Church of Elijah the Prophet on Sovetskaya Square is the centrepiece of the historic centre and has the finest frescoes of any building in the city. The Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery northeast of the centre is where the Igor Tale, one of the masterpieces of medieval Russian literature, was discovered in 1795. The Volkov Theatre on Teatralnaya Square is the oldest drama theatre in Russia. Walk the Volga embankment in the evening for views of the river and the historic church towers reflected in the water.