Why visit Valday
Townapedia lists 29 museums and landmarks, 4 parks and trails, 24 places to eat, 14 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Музей колоколов and Музей уездного города.
Weather in Valday
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Valday
Valday (Russian: Валда́й) is a town and the administrative center of Valdaysky District in Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the southwestern shore of Lake Valdayskoye, the biggest one in the set of lakes in the highest region of the Valdai Hills, on the M10 Highway connecting Moscow and St. Petersburg, 386 kilometers (240 mi) from Moscow and 140 kilometers (87 mi) from Veliky Novgorod, the administrative center of the oblast. Population: 16,098 (2010 census); 18,703 (2002 census); 19,173 (1989 Soviet census).
From the Wikipedia article Valday, Novgorod Oblast (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Valday on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do3
Museums and landmarks29
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Музей колоколов
Museum
Памятник архитектуры XVIII века: бывш. церковь св. Екатерины.
2А улица Труда, Валдай
Mo-Su 10:00-18:00; Tu off
Музей уездного города
Museum
7 улица Луначарского, Валдай
Tu-Su 10:00-18:00
Музейный колокольный центр
Museum
1 Комсомольский проспект, Валдай
Mo-Su 10:00-18:00; Tu off
Валдай 1941-1944 г.г. Столица северо-западного партизанского края Великой Отечественной войны
Monument and historic site
Воинам валдайцам павшим смертью героев в годы Великой Отечественной войны 1941-1945
Monument and historic site
17 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds4
Лыжный стадион Зимогорье
Sports field and stadium · 2.0 km
65 Гостинопольская улица, Валдай
Restaurants and cafes24
12 more on the map.
History
It was first mentioned in a chronicle in 1495. At the time, it was a part of Derevskaya Pyatina of the Novgorod Republic. The growth of Valday was facilitated by construction of a road connecting Novgorod to Central Russia and by the foundation of the Valday Iversky Monastery in 1653, which became a major cultural center. The famous monastery, built under the auspices of Patriarch Nikon in the 1650s, is located on one of the islands of Lake Valdayskoye.
In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great, the territory was included into Ingermanland Governorate (known since 1710 as St. Petersburg Governorate). In 1727, separate Novgorod Governorate was split off. In 1770, Valday was chartered and became the seat of Valdaysky Uyezd of Novgorod Viceroyalty. In 1796, the viceroyalty was transformed into Novgorod Governorate. Located along the road connecting Moscow and St. Petersburg, Valday developed as a major trade center. The town became the leading center of bell manufacturing in Russia. It also became a major pilgrim destination.
From the History section of Valday, Novgorod Oblast on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay14
Churches and places of worship4
Церковь Петра и Павла
Church · Russian Orthodox
46 улица Луначарского, Валдай
Часовня Иакова Боровичского
Church · Russian Orthodox
2 Комсомольский проспект, Валдай
Церковь Введения Пресвятой Богородицы в храм Господень
Church · Russian Orthodox
Shopping16
Gas and EV charging5
Schools, colleges and libraries6
Валдайский филиал Новгородского аграрного техникума
School · 1.6 km
9 Студгородок Ул, Валдай
Межпоселенческая библиотека им. Б. С. Романова
Library
20 Комсомольский проспект, Валдай
Healthcare6
Map of Valday
111 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
- Zimogor’ye 3 km southeast, about 3 min by car
- Yedrovo 23 km east, about 23 min by car
- Bologoye-4 25 km east, about 25 min by car
- Ozerniy 27 km southeast, about 27 min by car
- Vypolzovo 29 km southeast, about 29 min by car
- Lykoshino 31 km northeast, about 31 min by car
- Uglovka 33 km northeast, about 33 min by car
- Berezayka 38 km east, about 38 min by car
- Bologoye 48 km east, about 48 min by car
- Okulovka 48 km north, about 48 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Church of Saint Catherine (Valday) 02, Lodo27 from Moscow, Russia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Chapel of Iversky Monastery in Valday 2024, Chath, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built November 4, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.