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Innopolis

Russia's youngest city, built for IT

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

A city built for IT people: driverless taxis, robot couriers and a university that teaches in English

An IT town near Kazan, built from scratch in the 2010s: a university that teaches in English, tech parks, driverless taxis and delivery robots on the streets. The island town of Sviyazhsk and the Volga are close by.

For foreign citizens

Entering Russia

Buses from Uralsk cross the Russian border. If you don't hold a Russian passport, here's what to know in advance.

  • VisaKazakhstan citizens don't need a visa and can stay up to 90 days in every 180. Citizens of other countries: check whether you need a Russian visa before booking.
  • Gosuslugi RuID appIn 2026 Russia is introducing advance registration through the RuID app for visa-free foreign visitors — at least 72 hours before the border, with a QR code issued after the check. Sources differ on exactly who it applies to, so check in advance.
  • Migration card and registrationFor longer stays, a migration card is filled in at the border, and your hotel or landlord registers you with the migration authorities.
  • ChildrenA child needs their own passport. If a child travels with one parent or without parents, bring a notarised consent to travel from the parent(s).
  • Debts can block your exitIn both Russia and Kazakhstan, debts under enforcement proceedings (loans, alimony, fines, taxes) can lead to a ban on leaving the country — and you only find out at the border. Check a couple of days before your trip: it takes a minute.
Check debts — Kazakhstan citizens

Information as of November 2026, collected from open sources. Rules change — check them on the foreign ministry and border service websites before you travel.

Who will love it here

  • Students and applicantsInnopolis University — IT, robotics and artificial intelligence taught in English, with grants for strong applicants. For school students there's Innopolis Lyceum with olympiad-level physics and maths.
  • Families with childrenRiding a driverless taxi and meeting a delivery robot beats any fairground ride for kids. Sviyazhsk is nearby for a full day out.
  • Athletes and fansThe Sviyazhsky Hills ski resort next door, a sports complex, cycle paths and runs through the pine forest.
  • Nature loversA quiet town among forests by the Sviyaga and the Volga: clean air, wide pavements and few cars.
  • Time to unwindThe UNESCO-listed island town of Sviyazhsk — white cathedrals on an island in the Volga, half an hour away.

Sport and outdoors

  • Sviyazhsky HillsSkiing and snowboarding in winter, cycling in summer — right next to the city.
  • Innopolis sports complexA pool, gyms and courts for residents and visitors.
  • Forest and VolgaForest trail runs, paddleboarding and Volga beaches.

What to try

  • Tatar cuisineEchpochmak, gubadia and chak-chak in the cafés of Innopolis and Sviyazhsk.
  • Coffee shops for codersThe city lives like a campus: coffee, breakfasts and coworking spaces everywhere.
  • Sviyazhsk piesOn the island they bake pies and brew sbiten to old recipes.

Arenas, stadiums and sport

Water parks, parks and fun

Evenings and nightlife

Sights

Museums and parks

Universities

There's no scheduled route here yet, but we can take your group on a chartered bus.

Charter a bus