Stand on the wooden-paved streets of the Old City in the centre of Yakutsk and the cold is not an abstraction. This is the coldest major city in the world, built on continuous permafrost, and the city has arranged itself around that fact: museums dug into the frozen ground, a lake that becomes a skating rink, streets bordered by reconstructed 19th-century buildings.
Yakutsk suits travellers who are comfortable with Russian-only exhibits, genuinely severe winter temperatures, and a destination far off the usual international tourist route. It rewards curiosity about the Sakha people, the Ice Age, and life at extreme cold more than it rewards a checklist of grand monuments.
This guide covers the museums, monuments and central districts worth your time, followed by a one-day plan that links them together.
Top things to do in Yakutsk
1. Mammoth Museum
This museum holds one of the world's most diverse collections of Ice Age exhibits, and its centrepiece is the cryogenically and completely preserved head of a woolly mammoth. It sits inside the Campus of Physical and Natural Sciences on ul. Kulakovskovo.
The mammoth head often travels to museums outside Yakutsk, so check ahead to confirm it is on display. Combine it with the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography in the same building.
2. Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Yakutsk University
Also in the Campus of Physical and Natural Sciences, this museum presents the history of the peoples of Yakutsk through everyday objects and the mythology of the Sakha, Eveny, Evenki, Yukagiry and other Yakutian ethnic groups from ancient times.
It is the natural companion to the Mammoth Museum, in the same building, so plan them as one visit.
3. Yakutsk Historical and Cultural Museum of the Northern peoples, Em. Yaroslavskovo
The main museum in the city, on pr. Lenina, with artifacts spanning prehistory to the 1990s. Of particular interest are the rich collection of stuffed wildlife from the North and one of the world's few complete woolly mammoth skeletons.
Entry is free, which makes it an easy addition to a day already built around the university museums.
4. Underground Laboratory of the Institute of Cryogenics
The only museum in the world of natural cryonics, on ul. Merzlotnaya. The trip underground comes with detailed lectures on the phenomenon of permafrost and displays of preserved exhibits held in the natural freezer.
Call in advance to schedule a tour, and wear very warm clothes for the underground portion.
5. National Art Museum
A huge collection on ul. Kirova covering works by Yakuts, Russians and international artists from the 16th century to today, along with a rich collection of traditional Yakut folk arts and crafts.
Allow one to two hours even for a running tour of the expositions. A branch of the museum also stands at Friendship Square.
6. The Old City
Reconstructed in the architectural style of the 19th century and bordered by the streets Ammosov, Arzhakov and the Plaza of the Fallen Soldiers, this is the city's favourite place to relax. The streets are closed to traffic and paved with wooden billets, lined with cafeterias and markets.
Here you will find the restored Preobrazhenskaya Church, the founders monument, the memorial to fallen soldiers, a stone column dedicated to the 375th year anniversary of Yakutia joining the Russian Empire, and the M.K. Ammosov museum. Walk here from Lenin Square along Kirova St, heading towards the cupola of the Preobrazhensky Church.
7. Warm Lake
A favourite spot among young locals, with bridges joining the two sides: the University town on one side and an old neighbourhood of wooden architecture on the other. In summer dancing fountains run within the lake; in winter locals ice-skate on it.
Stroll the bank after your museum visits, weather permitting.
8. Friendship Square
At the intersection of Lenin and Kulakovskaya streets, this square brings together the Kulyakovsky Monument, the Opera House and the 18th-century Treasury building. One of the newer buildings here is a branch of the National Art Museum.
It sits on the route between the university museums and Lenin Square, so it works as a natural pause rather than a separate trip.
9. Abakayade Memorial
At the intersection of Kirova and Poyarkova streets, the statue represents the first interethnic marriage between a Russian settler and his Yakut wife, together with their child, as a symbol of the coming together of the two peoples.
It is a short stop on a walk along Kirova St towards the Old City.
10. Oyunsky Memorial
On Oyunskomu Square, also known by its Soviet name, Ordzhonikidze Square. The sculpture depicts P. A. Oyunsky, a writer and prominent communist, and includes a metal ark in the form of the Russian letter "П" engraved with Oyunsky quotes.
Pair it with the surrounding central squares rather than making a dedicated journey.
11. Victory Stele
A large stele at the north end of Victory Square, dedicated to the Soviet victory in World War II and topped with a statue of N'urguna Bootura, hero of the Yakut national epic "Olonkho."
It stands at the northern end of the square, so approach from that side.
12. Lena-Friendship Historical-Architectural Museum-preserve
On the right bank of the Lena River at the spot of the fort that led to the creation of Yakutsk, roughly two hours from the city centre by bus or marshrutka. The principal attractions are outdoors: reproductions of the Spassky Church of the Zashiversky Fort and the boat of Peter Beketov, alongside old examples of the architecture of the peoples of Yakutia.
Inside the exhibited buildings are expositions on clothing, worship, weapons, burial complexes and arts, and there is a restaurant specialising in Yakut cuisine. In spring there are folk festivals, and the observation point on the nearest hill gives a wide view of the Lena River.
13. International Museum of Khomus Music
On ul. Kirova, this small museum is devoted to the khomus, the traditional Yakut mouth harp.
It is one of several smaller museums in the centre that you might fold into a walk along Kirova St if your interests run to music.
14. Smaller museums of the centre
Yakutsk also holds a group of smaller museums without the broad appeal of the main ones: the Government Literature Museum, P.A. Oiyunskovo on ul. Oktyabrskaya; the Museum of Music and Folklore of the People of Yakutia on ul. Kirova; the Memorial House-Museum of Maksim Ammosov on ul. Ammosova; and two Art Galleries, one inside the Kulakovskovo Cultural Center and one on ul. Lermontova.
Note that the House-Museum of the Political History of Yakutia on ul. Yaroslavskaya was closed for renovations as of July 2017. Expect exhibits to be explained only in Russian across the city's museums.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at the main museums: the Mammoth Museum and the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography, both inside the Campus of Physical and Natural Sciences on ul. Kulakovskovo. Check ahead that the mammoth head is on display.
Afternoon. Weather permitting, stroll along the bank of Warm Lake, crossing the bridges between the University town and the old wooden neighbourhood. Then head north-west to the intersection of Lenin and Kulakovskaya streets for Friendship Square, the Kulyakovsky Monument, the Opera House and the 18th-century Treasury building. Continue north-west along Lenin Prospect to Lenin Square, then walk south-east along Kirova St towards the cupola of the Preobrazhensky Church until you reach the Old City. Eat Yakut cuisine at the hotel restaurant "Tygyn Darkhan," and pick up souvenirs at the store "Kudai Bakhsy" nearby.
Evening. Finish with the National Art Museum on Lenin Square, allowing one to two hours even for a quick pass through the expositions.
Frequently asked questions
Will I be able to understand the museum exhibits?
Expect all museum exhibits to be explained only in Russian. Some exhibits, such as the cryogenically preserved mammoth head, do not require much explanation.
Is the mammoth head always on display?
No. The mammoth head often travels to museums outside Yakutsk, so check ahead to make sure it is on display before you plan your visit around it.
How do I visit the Underground Laboratory of the Institute of Cryogenics?
Call in advance to schedule a tour. The lectures are in Russian, and you should wear very warm clothes for the trip underground.
What should I see if I want to get out of the city centre?
The Lena-Friendship Historical-Architectural Museum-preserve is about two hours from the city centre by bus or marshrutka, on the right bank of the Lena River. Its attractions are mainly outdoors, and there is a restaurant specialising in Yakut cuisine on site.
Decide your season, pack for the cold, and start building your days around the museums and the Old City.