Location: Magadan
Top Things to do in Magadan
- 1. Mask of Sorrow
- 2. Mammoth Sculpture, Vremya
- 3. Holy Trinity Cathedral
- 4. Nagayev Bay
- 5. Magadan Regional Museum of Local Lore
- 6. Memorial to Vladimir Vysotsky
- 7. Monument to Magadan Founders
- 8. Memorial Apartment Museum V. A. Kozina
- 9. Magadan State Drama Theater
- 10. Sculptural Composition of the Singer and Composer V. A. Kozina
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What to do and see in Magadan, Russia: The Best Places and Tips
Magadan (Russian: Магадан, IPA: [məɡɐˈdan]) is a port town and the administrative center of Magadan Oblast, Russia, located on the Sea of Okhotsk in Nagayev Bay (within Taui Bay) and serving as a gateway to the Kolyma region. Population: 95,982 (2010 Census); 99,399 (2002 Census); 151,652 (1989 Census).
Restaurants in Magadan
1. Mask of Sorrow
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 103 reviews
Reviewed By DrCraq - Bavaria
Probably the best known "attraction" of Magadan. Honestly, it is nothing special in the first sight - but with an open mind and corresponding expectation the "message" behind might justify it. If the mask is "pretty" itself depends on everyones taste, but that was not my focus.
* There is an excellent view to Magadan.
* The "surroundings" might be disappointing as it is not directly welcoming. But the mind can skip it - just be prepared.
2. Mammoth Sculpture, Vremya
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 81 reviews
Reviewed By Andrew M
This was the besdt mammoth sculpture that we viewed on our vacation. There are quite a few mammoth sculptures in Siberia, which hosted the majority of the mammoths that roamed the earth in the ice age. We had visited the permafrost museum in Yakutsk, which had a great sculpture at the entrance but we preferred the Magadan sculpture. The sculpture was created by Yuri Rudenko and is named "Time". It is made from 6 tons of scrap metal, and took three months to construct. It is supposed to make sounds as the winds gust through the sculpture, but we didn't hear any when we visited. The sculpture was dedicated in 2013 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Magadan City.
The mammoth is a rusty brown colour, and has many small circular "gears" on it's sides which are similar to those found in clocks. The "hair" of the mammoth is made from strands of wire. We realised that many of these small strips of wire had been removed by visitors for souvenirs, and this actually affected the beauty of the sculpture, as in some areas all the wires had been completely removed, leaving bare patches. Signs probably need to be posted educating viewers to desist from interfering with the sculpture, but due to it's remote location, this probably would not be helpful.
The sculpture is on a base surrounded by huge rocks, which makes it appear more authentic. There is a grey plaque at the front of the base which states the authors name and year of dedication, along with a few facts about the sculpture. The mammoth is located 2.5 km from the center of town, and is approx. a 1/2 hour walk. There is a bus that turns around at the end of Portovaya Street (I think bus # 7), which is a few minutes walk to the mammoth. The sculpture overlooks the beach area and is a great viewpoint of Nagaevo Bay, as there is a steep cliff just behind, and the city beach a few minutes walk in a westerly direction.This area is accessible 24 hours and is free. Photos may be taken here. A cafe is situated just beyond the park where the mammoth is displayed.
Other attractions in this area, include the Nagaevo Bay viewpoint, old and new Lighthouses, founders monument and statue to Vladimir Vysotsky. This area is a must see when visiting Magadan.
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Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 48 reviews
4. Nagayev Bay
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 32 reviews
Reviewed By Andrew M
This area is one of the most beautiful in Magadan. The main reason for our visit to Magadan, was to tour the Dneprovsky Gulag camp. The prisoners who arrived in Magadan came by ship via Nagayev Bay. The pier was built in 1932 Magadan served as the administrative center of the Dalstroy company that managed the gulag camps. It is estimated that over 200,000 prisoners arrived by ship at Nagayev Bay, before being sent to the various camps of the Kolyma region. Dalstroy had one ship in 1932, but during Stalin's Great Purge (Great Terror) an estimated 1.5 million prisoners were working in Gulag camps, so there wasn't a short supply of prisoners. Dalstroy purchased additional ships from the Netherlands in 1935, to transport the many prisoners via Nagayev Bay.
The viewpoint area at the southern end of Nagayevskaya Street offers good views of the Bay, but the best views are at the north west end of the Bay. Walk adjacent to the shore on Primorskaya Street, then turn left on Portovoye Street. In a small park near to the Mammoth monument, there is a clear view of the Bay and many seagulls. This area gives a great view of the entrance to the Bay which is 4 miles wide. From this location, you can see the pier clearly, and imagine the ships that arrived in the 1930's with the many prisoners for the Gulags.If you are interested in the history of the Gulag, this visit is a must. There are many ancient photos in the regional museum of ships arriving in the Bay, including a priceless picture of Eduard Berzin, on a ship, with his first group of Gulag prisoners in 1932. If you are interested in great views, and a lovely sunrise, this is the best location in Magadan to enjoy it.
5. Magadan Regional Museum of Local Lore
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 37 reviews
Reviewed By Andrew M
We were very interested in visiting this museum, as it is the oldest museum in Magadan, and had a reputation of covering the Gulag topic extensively. The Museum was opened in 1934, a few years after the first settlers arrived in 1929. The Dalstroy company which was headed by Eduard Berzin, donated many items and supported the growth of the museum in it's early years.This museum has the most impressive exhibition on the Gulag topic in Russia. The main reason that we had visited Magadan was a tour of the Dneprovsky mine, where we had camped the previous afternoon. The museum gave us a better understanding of what we had seen and experienced on our Gulag visit.
The museum is located on Karl Marx Street, a 10 minute walk from the popular memory knot monument which is also partly dedicated to the Gulag memory.The exhibits include items of local culture, minerals and books by local authors.We were short on time so went up the two flights of stairs directly to the Kolyma exhibit. The guide spoke a little English, and although we had some difficulty communicating, she was very passionate with her presentation which we thought was excellent.The exhibits start with photos of life in the camps, and the utensils used in daily life e.g. picks, shovels, wheelbarrows. The documentation of the history of Stalin's great purge (Great Terror) is extensive. We were amazed by the original documents on display, which included death certificates (where the reason of death was excluded), Dalstroy Company documents, official NKVD (predecessor of KGB) documents and orders by Stalin.
On many of the displays, are statistics related to the Gulags, which was not only relevant to the Kolyma Region, but included the entire Gulag population in the Soviet Union, of which 1.5 million people were imprisoned at it's height. The Gulags operated between 1932-1956. Many books by famous authors on the Gulag are on display. There was a section on the mass killings and repressions carried out by Stalin. We had visited all the main cities in Eastern Siberia, so were very familiar with this theme.The black and white photos displayed were well exhibited. We enjoyed learning about the visit of Henry Wallace, (the US Vice President) in 1944 who commented positively on the workings of the Kolyma mines. The US had provided much of the equipment to work the mines including generators, trucks and other heavy machinery through the "land lease" program with Russia, which was mainly to assist the Soviets in the war against Nazi Germany. A photo of Wallace's visit to the mines ad replica land lease trucks are on display.
Another great photo,is of Berzin and his first batch of convicts arriving by steamer in Nagaev in 1932. The three ships that he bought to shuttle convicts are displayed in a painting nearby. A replica of the mask of sorrow monument is on display, and is next to a scale exhibit of the area surrounding the mask. There were larger displays of items taken from the mines. The most impressive, was a watchtower and a star shaped light which was used at the camps to indicate the completion of work or other significant events.this star is a very rare exhibit, as there is not much remaining of the camps at the locations. We had climbed similar watchtowers and were able to hold pick handles, buckets and other rusted items at the Dneprovsky mine.
The museum is constantly updating it's exhibits by making annual visits to the mines. We became interested in visiting Dneprovsky when we had saw drone footage online of the camp. We discovered on our visit that the museum was responsible for doing regular photo and video shooting of the camp sites.The Gulag was a significant period in the history of Russia, and is well documented and preserved by this museum. We enjoyed our visit which took over an hour, and took many photos which were allowed. If you visit Magadan, this museum is a must see. Be careful when making comments to locals on the Gulag, as it is still a very personal subject. During Soviet times, a discussion of the Gulag with the wrong person could have led to imprisonment, so many persons kept quiet and pretended that it did not happen. I would suggest that you read books on the Gulag before visiting to get a better appreciation of the exhibits. There were no books available in English, but Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and Vernon Kress are probably the most popular authors on the subject.
6. Memorial to Vladimir Vysotsky
Overall Ratings
4 based on 40 reviews
Reviewed By Andrew M
Vladimir Vytsotsky is probably the most popular Russian folk singer. He died in 1980, aged 42. He was a poet, actor and musician. He composed over 600 songs, in a unforgettable "raspy" voice. He was not popular with the Soviet establishment, although he was a hero of the people. His songs were sometimes used to expose controversial subjects e.g. Gulag system. He actually visited Magadan in 1968, and wrote the song "My Friend went to Magadan". At this time he was very popular, although the Soviet authorities barred many of his songs and movies/plays from being aired on Television. This ban seemed to increase the "black market" appeal for his music.
Unfortunately, Vysotsky struggled throughout his adult life with drug addiction and alcohol abuse which probably contributed to his death at a relatively young age.Much of his work was not freely available in Russia until after his death, and he remains a popular artist today. The statue is in a great location, which overlooks Nagayev Bay. It is in a fairly remote area, which adds to it's attraction, as you will hear his songs playing on speakers whilst viewing the bay, which has many seagulls. There are guard rials but not many seats in this area, but a cafe is nearby which also offers a good view. The statue shows Vysotsky standing with guitar in his left hand and jacked held with right hand over his shoulder. Many locals and tourists visit this area to take photos with his statue. At the base of the statue is Russian inscription (in the form of handwriting) which commemorates his visit,song about Magadan, and also the year (1974) of his first award.This area is accessible 24 hours, and free. Photos may be taken. we did not see any public transportation, so walking may be the best option.
It is a 20 minute walk downhill from the Television tower, at the top of Lenin Street. Walk south approx. 1.2km on Nagayevskaya Street. At the end of the street turn left at the viewpoint area, and the statue will be seen at the far end on the left. There are quite a few other attractions/monuments in this area, including the founders monument, founders stone and lookout point. If you continue in a northerly direction on Primorskaya Street, walking with the bay on your left, you will pass the old lighthouse and the new lighthouse. Turn left at the next intersection on Portovoye Street, and the mammoth monument and rest area will come into view. This area offers the best views of the Bay and seagulls.
7. Monument to Magadan Founders
Overall Ratings
4 based on 27 reviews
Reviewed By Andrew M
This monument overlooks Nagaev Bay and is dedicated to the founders of the city. The history of Magadan started in the 1920's when a geological expedition found traces of gold in quite a few locations. The town was founded in 1929, but not officially given status until 1937. The first residents arrived to an area with little infrastructure, and which had harsh weather conditions.The founders arrived by sea with few belongings, and were not able to accomplish much in the first few years. In 1932, the first prisoners arrived to work the mines and establish the basic infrastructure of the town. The pier was built in 1932.
The monument is displayed in two parts. A brown tiled map of Magadan is on the slope in front of the main monument.The monument consists of a group of seven persons from different backgrounds and a dog. At the front of the monument is a miner, with a dog at his feet. To his right is a worker with a small pick axe, and a couple with child in arms seemingly sheltering from the cold. On the left side of the monument are three persons who seem to be sailors/workers.
The main monument is on a semi circular base. to the left of the main monument is a black granite plaque which has Russian inscriptions, which state "Here on the shores of the bay Nagaev construction of the city of Magadan began in 1929". To the left of the monument is a stone with a plaque with Russian inscriptions that refers to the year 1935. We assumed that this was a Baikal–Amur Mainline (BAM) monument which was dedicated to the lives lost on the 4,000 kilometer construction of this often forgotten Siberian railway. The Trans-Siberian railway is the better known railway in Siberia. The BAM was primarily built by prisoners, and we had previously visited monuments to the BAM workers on the road of bones and in Komsosmolsk on Amur.
Other monuments/attractions in this area include the observation deck and the Vladimir Vysotsky statue. This area is best reached by walking in a southerly direction from the Television tower, which is near to the city park. The monument is located at the end of Nagayevskaya Street a 15-20 minute walk from the TV Tower (Approx. 1.2 km). Turn left at the end of the street and the monument and stone will be seen on your left.This area is accessible 24 hours and is free of cost. Photos may be taken, and there is a cafe nearby.
8. Memorial Apartment Museum V. A. Kozina
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13 reviews
9. Magadan State Drama Theater
Overall Ratings
4 based on 22 reviews
Reviewed By Alexey G - Moscow, Russia
Как мне рассказали знающие люди, сцена этого уездного, находящегося на краю земли театра, не так провинциальна и проста. Сотни народных любимцев, звёзд первой величины, в 30-50 годах уже прошлого века приехали в солнечный Магадан отбывать заключение. И играли в этом театре. Теперь эта история передаётся из поколения в поколение, только фамилии, увы, уже позабыты. Намоленные подмостки.
10. Sculptural Composition of the Singer and Composer V. A. Kozina
Overall Ratings
4 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By Cees1969 - Nieuwendijk, The Netherlands
After i had found this statue of this man by accident and have started to dig in his history
The was a remarkable man
Send by Stalin to Magadan a real tragic because he was one of the best Tenor singers in the 20`s and 30`s
and even when you don't know anything of this man and history its still a beautiful statue of a old man with his cat on a bench in the park
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