Perm’s architecture is charmingly unusual, lacking the high-rise glass towers that have been built elsewhere in Russia. Instead the city centre is mostly made up if colourful, classic mansions. There are plenty of things to see in Perm and a city tour is often the best option for taking in the city's bazaars, parks and museums.
Moscow and St Petersburg aside, Perm is the best Russian city to enjoy theatre, the opera or ballet. The art gallery is also especially comprehensive, as is the Gorki Library. Unique to the city is the artillery museum, giving a details history of Russian military production. If you are into sports, the city also hosts some exciting sports teams and offers the opportunity to watch high-profile football, and ice hockey. Here we have included a short list of some of the best things to do in Perm:
The Perm Tchaikovsky Opera and Ballet Theatre
A center of culture and arts for locals and tourists alike, the Perm Tchaikovsky Opera and Ballet Theatre offers some of the best high-brow entertainment outside of the principal cities of Moscow and St Petersburg. The theatre is one of the oldest in the country and offers an outstanding repertoire of performances including classical music concerts, opera and ballet.
Perm Museum of Contemporary Art
Opened in 2009, the Perm Museum of Contemporary Art Museum is a shining example of the cultural development that has taken place in Perm of the last decade. The museum is committed to presenting art as a form of Russian social identity and has become a popular education center for the region, creating over 70 projects, including the well known 'Russian Poor' exhibition.
Perm 36 Gulag Museum
A sinister reminder of political repression during the Soviet era, the Perm 36 museum is located slightly West of Perm and is Russia's last remaining Gulag camp. The camp has been reformed to demonstrate the conditions in which inmates were confined and enslaved in haunting detail. The museum offers a pictorial exhibit focused around the Soviet era of Russian history.
See our tour page to learn more or book you guided tour of the Perm 36 Museum.

Gulag Village Near Perm, Russia
Unsure of where to start? Browse our full list of Perm tours for more inspiration.