With the World Cup edging ever closer, more fans are looking to plan their trips. Something that will be key to every fans World Cup experiences are the FIFA Fan Fests.
These are locations picked in each of the host cities to celebrate the mix of the football tournament and the local culture. Fans attending will be able to eat, drink, mix with other fans and take part in a number of activities, football related or otherwise. It’s also a perfect chance for the host cities to show off what they have to offer. Access to the Fan Fests is free with a Fan ID.
All the locations have now been confirmed, so we want to tell you a little bit about them.
Vorobyovy Gory, Moscow
Sparrow Hills, as it translates, lies on the banks of the Moscow River, in the grounds of Moscow State University. It’s location in the grounds of Moscow State University places it directly opposite the Luzhniki Stadium, perfect for half of the Moscow based games. However, it is quite far from the Spartak Stadium, which is in the north west of the city, but thanks to the metro system, it’s still easily accessible.
A wide expanse of open space and parkland, it can accommodate 25,000 fans, and will perhaps be the busiest place in Moscow during the tournament, aside from Red Square.
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Moscow State University Photo: Dmitry A. Mottl
Konyushennaya Square, St Petersburg
Konyushennaya Square is in a perfect location in the centre of St Petersburg. Located almost next door to one of the city’s most famous landmarks, the Church of the Savior on Blood, the square is also just a stones throw away from Nevsky Prospect, the busiest place in the city. This long promenade is the place to be, with shops, bars, restaurants and more all the way along.
While not offering green expanses itself, there are the Mikhailovsky Gardens and Field of Mars less than 5 minutes walk away, which is nestled on the canals of the River Neva. It is a smaller location than Moscow with just 15,000 capacity, but the palace embankment is also adjacent to it.
The city’s Krestovsky Stadium is quite some distance however, thanks to it’s location on Krestovsky Island on the outskirts of the city. However if you walk down to Admiralteyskaya Station, on the Nevsky Prospect, the Krestovsky is just 4 stops away.
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Church of the Saviour on Blood. Photo: Florstein
Mayakovsky Central Park, Ekaterinburg
Mayakovsky Central Park is just to the south-east of the city centre, but is located in a popular amusement park, which has plenty of activities and open spaces. It’s location in comparison to the stadium is not ideal. Over an hour by foot, and with no metro, the easiest route is a 15 minute walk to the nearest tram, and using the tram system to get there, but even then the journey could take up to an hour.
Some of the best parts of the city can be found on the banks of the Iset River, which is on the way to the stadium.
With a 17,000 capacity, and a popular place for locals, it should be a good experience.
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Photo: Владислав Фальшивомонетчик
Family Center Kazan, Kazan
The Chasha, as it is known by locals, is situated on the north bank of the River Volga and itself is a fine spectacle, but look south and you have a perfect view of the Kazan skyline. Just a short walk back over the river and you will find yourself on the embankment of the Volga, the hottest place to be in the city perhaps. At the end of the embankment is the cities biggest tourist attraction – the Kazan Kremlin.
Stay north of the river, and the Kazan Arena is a mere 20 minute walk away. Closer to home, there are a couple of beaches on the north bank which will undoubtedly be busy in the summer sunshine.
The capacity for the area is 25,000, and it has hosted big events in the past, such as transfer unveilings and fan meet ups for local side Rubin Kazan.
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The Chasha in Kazan, location for the Kazan Fan Fest. Photo: Murdic
Tsentralnaya Square, Kaliningrad
Situated in the very centre of the city, this location is ideal for fans in terms of access. The stadium is not far away, and due to it’s centrality, anything else of interest is equidistant. Another of Kaliningrad’s main attractions, the Koningsberg Cathedral is just a 5 minute walk away, for example.
One of the smallest host cities, there is no metro system, but like with most of them, there are trams and buses to ferry you around. The 15,000 capacity location is easily found thanks to soviet era tower which looms over the city in the middle of it.
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Dom Sovetov, towering over Tsentralnaya Square in Kaliningrad. Photo: Dave Collier
Minina i Pozharskogo Square, Nizhny Novgorod
Minin and Pozharsky square is an idyllic location at the heart of Nizhny Novgorod. Located just 10 minutes from the embankment of the Volga River, all of the cities main tourist locations can be found within a mile or so of the square. The Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin for example, is quite literally a two minute walk down the road, while the cities best parks, including the Governer’s Garden, is nestled between the square and the embankment.
With a capacity of 15,000, the square is located around an hour walk from the stadium, which is on the north bank on the river. Thankfully, Nizhny Novgorod has a metro system with the third most stations in Russia. Combining this with the tram system, there is a short journey between Gorkovskaya Station on the south bank and Strelka Station, near the stadium.
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Photo: Rukaba
Teatralnaya Square, Rostov-on-Don
Teatralnaya Square, which can accommodate up to 25,000 fans, is dominated by an Obelisk, known affectionately by locals as “Stela”, which will tower over fans as they soak up the summer sun. It’s location is relatively central and around 30 mins from the riverside. There is an adventure park nearby for anyone looking to kill time, and you can also easily access Pushkin Street, a long road/park which runs through the heart of the city which is lined with shops, food stands and trees.
The Rostov Arena is around a 30 minute walk away, south across the River Don.
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“Stela” – Photo: Rost.galis
Kuybysheva Square, Samara
Kuybyshev Square is located right in the centre of Samara, between one of the city’s main streets (Leningradskaya) and the central embankment. To get from either landmark to the square would take less than 20 minutes by foot. A place which often hosts city events, sports competitions, and cultural expos, it seems like the perfect place for Fan Fest during the World Cup, and at 17.4 hectares, is the biggest square in Europe. It will be able to hold 15,000 fans during the tournament.
Unfortunately, the square is quite far from the Samara Arena, and a trip from one to the other could take between an hour to an hour and a half by bus.
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Bird’s-eye view of Kuybyshev Square. Source: Samara State Aerospace University
Sovetskaya Square, Saransk
Sovetskaya Square is the heart of Saransk. Surrounded on all sides by historical monuments, it surprises many, who had little to no idea of what Saransk had to offer. The square is bordered by a collection of picturesque buildings, and as the city spreads around it, you’ll find monuments such as Cathedral of St. Theodore Ushakov just 2 minutes away, and the city park, complete with lakes and ferris wheel, just to the south.
An added bonus for the city, by far the smallest of all hosts, is that the Mordovia Arena is just 15 minutes away by foot. It will be the surprise package of the tournament.
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Sovetskaya Square (back right), Cathedral of St. Theodore Ushakov (back centre) and the City Park (foreground). Photo: WildBoar
South Mall of the Seaport, Sochi
Having hosted the Olympics four years ago, Sochi is pretty well established in terms of hosting this tournament. The ultra modern coastal resorts, used as a holiday location for Russia’s elite, will be bustling during the tournament, and it’s the port which will be used as the Fan Fest for the World Cup. Amazing weather, long beaches – this will be party central during the tournament, especially with Spain, Peru, Panama and Germany playing here.
In terms of historical tourism, there isn’t much around, and it’s described as one of the most European places in Russia. Set up to host 10,000 fans, the Fan Fest is in Sochi itself, while the Fisht Stadium is a half an hour drive outside the city near the town of Adler.
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Photo: Reachrich
62 Armii Embankment, Volgograd
Volgograd has caught the eye in the build up to the tournament and with good reason. The Volgograd Arena, overlooked by the stunning Kurgan Mamayev statue is quite breathtaking. Just 20 minutes walk from the stadium is the Fan Fest, located on the embankment of the Volga River.
With the Volga on one side, and Victory Park on the other, the Fan Fest is likely to be a hit with fans. The city’s main street, Prospekt Lenin, along with it’s tram system, is just a short walk away in case any of the 15,000 fans fancy taking public transport to the stadium instead of the walk. However, the latter would be recommended, with stunning views of the river and city on either side.
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Photo: Eugene Slobodin
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