Where to go in Tula:
routes by district for different moods

In Tula, choosing a weekend itinerary is easy based on a simple question: what do you want today? Park paths are perfect for a leisurely stroll, while for a family day out, there are places where you can alternate between strolling and playing. For city shots, head to the old streets and the embankment. And for those who enjoy long walks, a single neighborhood with several stops will suffice.

Each such excursion has its own pace. In the park, you can turn off the main path and linger by the pond. In the center, the eye is drawn to the facades, gates, and street turns. Therefore, it’s best to choose a starting point in advance and leave the end of the route clear. This way, the walk won’t turn into a rush to get to every marked spot.

For a short outing, one park is enough. For half a day, you can combine a street, a park, and a lunch spot. If you’re traveling with a child, it’s helpful to check the distance between stops in advance; if you’re going for photos, check the time when the street you’re visiting is lit from the right direction. These little details are more noticeable than a general list of attractions.

The neighborhood also influences where a visitor will find it convenient to stay. For example, if you plan to rent an apartment in Tula for a few days, you can mark two or three walking spots on a map in advance and plot the directions to them. This way, your morning walk will begin near your home, leaving a separate day for a walk in another part of the city.

A quiet walk in the Sovietsky District

P. P. Belousov Central Park is perfect for a day you don’t want to schedule down to the minute. Located in the Sovetsky District, it features walking paths and rest areas. You can enter from Pervomayskaya Street, walk along the pond, sit on a bench, and then choose your next route once you’re there. The park is large enough that it doesn’t have to be confined to a single circle.

It’s helpful to slow down here. Near the water, you can hear the sound of your footsteps change: the path is behind you, and a wider view opens up ahead. At this point, you’ll want to pause rather than immediately pull out your map. If your walk is an hour long, it’s enough to map out your return route from the pond. For a longer walk, you can take several paths, saving your energy for the journey home.

For those who prefer a less familiar spot, Rogozhinsky Park in the Central District is a good choice. Its landmark is the intersection of Mikheeva and Timiryazeva Streets. It’s best to come here for a stroll through the green space, without a long to-do list afterwards. Before leaving, it’s worth checking the entrances on the map: at a large park, the nearest stop doesn’t always lead to the path you’d like to start with.

A day with children in Zarechye

Komsomolsky Park on Oktyabrskaya Street is a good choice for a family outing. It’s located in the Zarechensky District and features a pond and playgrounds. The route can be structured around a simple sequence: walk a short distance, stop by the water, and let the child spend some time on the playground. There’s no need to keep the child focused on one topic for hours.

"Are we there yet?" is a question that often comes earlier than adults anticipate. Therefore, it’s best to tell children a nearby destination: that path, then the pond, then the rest area. After each stop, they can decide whether to continue. This plan is also convenient for strollers, although it’s worth checking the condition of the surface along the chosen route beforehand.

For a walk, bring water, a small snack, and clothing appropriate for the weather. This is especially helpful if your child wants to stay at the playground longer than planned. It’s also best to allow extra time for the return journey; after playing, the same journey feels longer. If you’re planning on lunch, find a place to have it before leaving to avoid having to search for it when you’re tired.

Another family route can be found through Platonovsky Park in the Privokzalny District. Its landmark is General Margelov Street. This option is suitable for those who prefer a stroll in a green area without having to travel to the historic center. A convenient meeting point is at the entrance, which is visible to all participants on the map: the park’s name alone doesn’t indicate the best starting point.

Streets for photographs

For urban photography, head to the Central District. Start on Metallistov Street, then move on to the Kremlin and Kazanskaya Embankment. These vantage points are located close together and offer a different backdrop: facades and building details alternate with open spaces by the water. This excursion doesn’t require a long walk; it’s much more beneficial to take breaks.

On Metallistov Street, try to focus on one object of interest. For example, doors. Look at how they’re positioned relative to the windows, what kind of handles they have, where shadows remain on the wall. A few buildings later, your eye will naturally find other details. Shooting will be more relaxed if you walk through one section slowly, rather than returning for every missed shot.

The Kremlin is a good place to switch to wider views. You can take a wide shot, then take a few closer shots, varying the distance and camera height. On the embankment, another pause is helpful: watch people walk through the space and wait for the moment when the frame becomes less crowded with random figures. When strolling for photographs, patience is more valuable than a long list of addresses.

If you’d like to swap the rocks for trees, you can dedicate a separate day to Zarechye. Komsomolsky Park and its pond offer a different perspective to the shot: the paths, the reflection in the water, the branches above them. Don’t try to cover both areas in one short trip. The light changes, and several great angles can often be found at a single spot if you linger there a little longer.

A long route in the Proletarsky District

Proletarsky Park on Kutuzova Street is a suitable base for a long walk. Instead of a single circuit, you can walk along different paths, consulting the map at the forks. This route doesn’t have to end at a specific monument or building. Its length is easier to adjust to your strength: after the first part of the walk, you can decide whether another walk through the park is necessary.

Start at a leisurely pace. After a few minutes, you’ll know what pace is comfortable for you today and whether you want to make frequent stops. For a longer walk, it’s best to mark the nearest exit to public transportation in advance. This way, the length of the walk will be your choice, not a consequence of the return trip being longer than expected.

Batashevsky Garden is also located in the Proletarsky District, near Venevskoye Highway. It can be used for another excursion, dedicated to a walk near Tulica. Before your trip, check the accessible entrances and the distance to the bus stop. Linking the garden and Proletarsky Park into a single walking route without checking this is not recommended: they are two separate points, and the route between them should be plotted on a map.

How to create your own route

You can quickly select a route based on time and destination. The duration below is a guideline for the walk itself, excluding the commute to and from the area.

Before leaving, mark three things on the map: the entrance, the location of your first stop, and a convenient departure point. For a park, it’s helpful to check the paths; for a city center, check the street crossings. Distances on the screen sometimes seem shorter than a walk with children or frequent stops for photos. Unscheduled time is also helpful here.

Season changes the usual route. After rain, some paths are more convenient than others; on a hot day, it’s more pleasant to walk where there’s shade and a place to sit. For a family outing, it’s worth checking if the places you plan to visit are open. If you’re planning a café or museum, check their opening hours separately; the walking route isn’t affected by them, but the time of the stop may change.

In the city center, the starting point could be Metallistov Street; in Zarechye, the entrance to Komsomolsky Park from Oktyabrskaya Street; in the Proletarsky District, the park entrance from Kutuzova Street. Write down your chosen starting point before your trip. Then, once you’re there, all that’s left to do is the most enjoyable part: put your phone away, walk the first section, and stop wherever you’d like to linger.