Townapedia
Площадь Оболенского-Ноготкова
Площадь Оболенского-Ноготкова · Petr Vasiliev, CC BY-SA 4.0
Yoshkar-Ola, Mari El Republic, Russia - panoramio (434)
Yoshkar-Ola, Mari El Republic, Russia - panoramio (434) · Konstantin Pečaļka, CC BY 3.0
Yoshkar-Ola, Mari El Republic, Russia - panoramio (430)
Yoshkar-Ola, Mari El Republic, Russia - panoramio (430) · Konstantin Pečaļka, CC BY 3.0
Yoshkar-Ola, Mari El Republic, Russia - panoramio (425)
Yoshkar-Ola, Mari El Republic, Russia - panoramio (425) · Konstantin Pečaļka, CC BY 3.0
Yoshkar-Ola, Mari El Republic, Russia - panoramio (70)
Yoshkar-Ola, Mari El Republic, Russia - panoramio (70) · Andrey Zolotov, CC BY 3.0
Yoshkar-Ola, Mari El Republic, Russia - panoramio (329)
Yoshkar-Ola, Mari El Republic, Russia - panoramio (329) · Andrey Zolotov, CC BY 3.0

Yoshkar-Ola, Russia

Йошкар-Ола

Yoshkar-Ola is a regional capital of 268,272 people in Mariy-El Republic, Russia, founded in 1584.

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Population268,272 GeoNames
Local nameЙошкар-Ола
Elevation100 m 328 ft
Founded1584
Time zoneEurope/Moscow
Land area100.4 km²
Nearest airportYoshkar-Ola Airport (JOK) 7 km

Why visit Yoshkar-Ola

Townapedia lists 100 museums and landmarks, 18 parks and trails, 170 places to eat, 11 places to stay and 11 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Марийский национальный театр драмы им. М. Шкетана, Академический русский театр драмы им. Георгия Константинова, Башня and 12 апостолов.

About Yoshkar-Ola

Yoshkar-Ola (Mari and Russian: Йошкар-Ола) is the capital city of Mari El, Russia. It was formerly known as Tsarevokokshaysk (Царевококшайск) from 1584 to 1919, and as Krasnokokshaysk (Краснококшайск) from 1919 to 1927. Population: 281,248 (2021 census); 248,782 (2010 census); 256,719 (2002 census); 241,601 (1989 Soviet census).

From the Wikipedia article Yoshkar-Ola (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Travel tips from other travellers: Yoshkar-Ola on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Things to do11

Марийский национальный театр драмы им. М. Шкетана

Cinema and theater · 0.8 km

2 площадь Ленина, Йошкар-Ола

Tu-Su 10:00-19:00

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia · +7 (8362)63-00-18

Театр-центр для детей и молодёжи

Cinema and theater · 1.0 km

87 Вознесенская улица

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia · +7 836 2304670

Республиканский театр кукол

Cinema and theater · 1.1 km

35 Царьградский проспект, Йошкар-Ола

Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa-Su 09:00-15:00

Open in Google Maps · +7 836 2452522

Mari State University

Monument and historic site · 0.8 km

Russian university

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Volga State University of Technology

School · 0.9 km

Technical university in Russia

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Театр оперы и балета им. Э. Сапаева

Cinema and theater · 0.6 km

130 Комсомольская улица, Йошкар-Ола

Open in Google Maps · +7 836 2566070

Томас

Zoo and aquarium · 1.0 km

Mo-Su 10:00-20:00

Open in Google Maps

Октябрь

Cinema and theater

124 Комсомольская улица

Open in Google Maps

Филармония

Cinema and theater · 0.9 km

75 Вознесенская улица

Open in Google Maps

Шеф сезона

Farm and orchard · 1.0 km

Open in Google Maps

Museums and landmarks100

Башня

Museum · 0.9 km

1 площадь Пресвятой Девы Марии, Йошкар-Ола

Mo-Fr 11:00-20:00; Sa-Su 10:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +78362347530

12 апостолов

Monument and historic site · 1.0 km

Проход фигурок Иисуса на ослике и апостолов каждые 3 часа; в 9,12,15,18 часов.

09:00-18:00

Open in Google Maps

А. С. Пушкину

Monument and historic site · 0.6 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

В. И. Ленину

Monument and historic site · 0.8 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Гаубица М-30

Monument and historic site · 1.5 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

ЗИС-3 Дивизионная пушка

Monument and historic site · 1.5 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Монумент воинской славы

Monument and historic site

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Музей истории православия

Museum · 0.8 km

18

We-Su 10:00-18:00

Open in Google Maps

Музей народной сказки

Monument and historic site · 0.7 km

Под открытым небом

24/7

Open in Google Maps

Музей сыра

Museum · 1.3 km

Mo-Su 10:00-18:00

Open in Google Maps · +7 927 8814960

Национальная художественая галерея

Museum · 0.8 km

24 Ленинский проспект, Йошкар-Ола

We-Su 10:00-18:00; Tu 12:00-19:00

Open in Google Maps

С. М. Кирову

Monument and historic site · 1.5 km

Open in Google Maps

88 more on the map.

Parks, trails and playgrounds18

Дружба

Sports field and stadium · 1.0 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Центральный парк культуры и отдыха

Park

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Ледовый дворец Марий Эл

Sports field and stadium · 1.6 km

105А улица Карла Маркса

Open in Google Maps

Central Beach

Beach · 1.5 km

Open in Google Maps

cквер Воинов-пограничников

Park · 1.4 km

Open in Google Maps

Dinamo

Sports field and stadium · 1.0 km

Open in Google Maps

Воскресенский парк

Park · 1.4 km

Open in Google Maps

Канатный парк

Playground · 1.8 km

Open in Google Maps

Молодежный

Sports field and stadium · 1.8 km

Open in Google Maps

Парк Медичи

Park · 1.0 km

Open in Google Maps

парк Победы

Park · 1.5 km

Open in Google Maps

Ровесник

Playground · 0.7 km

Open in Google Maps

6 more on the map.

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Restaurants and cafes170

Милано

Cafe · Pizza

124А Комсомольская улица

Mo-Su 10:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +7 800 3503355

Barashek

Cafe · Chicken, Coffee Shop, International, Shish-Kebab, Oriental · 1.5 km

Плов, шашлык, салаты, супы, выпечка, десерты, бизнес-ланчи

Mo-Th 11:00-21:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00, Su 11:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +78362369999

theTOP Cafe

Cafe · Pizza, Burger · 1.4 km

10Д улица Эшкинина, Йошкар-Ола

closed

Open in Google Maps · +7 836 2387702

Простая еда

Cafe · Cake, Coffee Shop, International, Russian, Sushi · 1.2 km

22А улица Машиностроителей

Mo-Su 08:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +7 (909) 369-10-00

Сандал

Cafe · Regional · 1.0 km

46 Пролетарская улица, Йошкар-Ола

Mo-Su 09:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +7 8362 968435

Coffee Like

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.9 km

Mo-Fr 07:00-20:00;Sa-Su 09:00-20:00

Open in Google Maps · +7 341 2908292;+7 800 3334130

Coffee Like

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.2 km

Mo-Su 10:00-20:30

Open in Google Maps · +7 341 2908292;+7 800 3334130

Династия

Restaurant · French, Greek · 0.7 km

Mo-Su 12:00-23:00

Open in Google Maps · +78362307010

Другая Еда

Cafe · 1.2 km

Вегетарианское кафе

165 Советская улица

Mo-Sa 11:00-18:00

Open in Google Maps

Мари

Restaurant · 1.9 km

5 улица Подольских Курсантов

Mo-Su 11:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +7 836 2304504

Онар

Restaurant · 0.6 km

125 Советская улица

Fr-Sa 12:00-24:00; Mo-Th,Su 12:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +7 836 2444004

Филаделька

Cafe · Sushi · 1.5 km

Mo-Su 10:00-23:00

Open in Google Maps · +7 (8362) 70-15-01

158 more on the map.

History

Yoshkar-Ola was established as a military fortress in 1584, following the Russian conquest of the Mari region.

During the Soviet era, especially after World War II, the city was a regional industrial and transport center and grew to its current size.

The collapse of the Soviet Union removed support for state enterprises, and led to the shutdown of most manufacturing activity in the area. Much of the city's economic activity was supported by shuttle traders who would transport (often counterfeit) goods from the bustling markets of Moscow to Yoshkar-Ola's bazaars. The sharp decline in living standards led to the emigration of specialized professionals to larger cities in Russia.

From the History section of Yoshkar-Ola on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay11

Churches and places of worship11

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Shopping95

Gas and EV charging9

Schools, colleges and libraries42

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Healthcare79

Map of Yoshkar-Ola

250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Yoshkar-Ola Airport (JOK) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 7 km away.

  • Medvedevo 5 km west, about 5 min by car
  • Semenovka 6 km east, about 6 min by car
  • Russkiy Kukmor 16 km east, about 16 min by car
  • Azanovo 22 km northeast, about 22 min by car
  • Surok 26 km southeast, about 26 min by car
  • Orshanka 31 km north, about 31 min by car
  • Sovetskiy 38 km east, about 38 min by car
  • Suslonger 42 km southeast, about 42 min by car
  • Novocheboksarsk 64 km southwest, about 1 h by car
  • Cheboksary 69 km southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 4, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.