Kogalym: A Vacation in the Billionaire's City

Summer is the time for bright trips. For my next vacation, I decided to go not to the seacoast, but to a small town in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Russia — Kogalym. The place, associated with the name of the country’s richest man, Vagit Alekperov, pleasantly surprised me. What follows is a first-person account.

Kogalym’s history is closely tied to the discovery of large oil fields and the name of Lukoil’s founder, Vagit Alekperov, who spares no expense to ensure the city thrives and remains a true gem of Western Siberia.

We set off on the trip by car with my family. The drive from Surgut took about two hours. We initially considered renting an apartment but chose a small private guesthouse called “Kedr.” The nightly rate for two people was 4,000–4,500 rubles ($44–$50 at current rates). The mini-hotel grounds were large, clean, and cozy. In the courtyard, among cedars and rowan trees, we could sit at a table and drink coffee.

On the first day, we went to the main attractions of the city, located in the Galaktika shopping and entertainment center — the oceanarium, the greenhouse, and the water park.

The water park “On the Crest of a Wave” is not very large, but it is situated under a glass dome, which is definitely a plus. In sunny weather, it feels like being on a southern beach. There are many loungers and several water attractions, including some for the youngest visitors. At the beginning of each hour, an artificial wave is generated.

The greenhouse consists of several themed gardens that immerse visitors in the subtropics. Large green walls create this effect. Bright birds, iguanas, spiders, ants, and fish in the pond evoke purely pleasant sensations. You want to breathe deeply here.

The true gem of Kogalym is the oceanarium, which rivals its foreign counterparts. A tunnel allows visitors to take a realistic but safe walk along the seabed, inside the water column, observing the life of the ocean depths. Sharks, rays, moray eels — the vibrant inhabitants of the Red Sea leave no one indifferent.

Over the next two days, we explored the city itself. In the morning, after having lunch at the new establishment of renowned restaurateur Anton Pinsky, “Four Cheeses,” we set off for a walk.

The first thing we encountered on the way — the Alexandra Pakhmutova Children’s Music School. At the entrance stands a monument to the composer and her husband, lyricist Nikolai Dobronravov. This is not just a sculpture but an entire design ensemble. One of its striking features is the scrolls with immortal lines from their works.

Next, we reached the Lukoil building, next to which there is a small, cozy square named after Valery Graifer — an oilman, scientist, and one of the founders of the domestic oil industry. Here you can also see sculptural compositions dedicated to famous oil workers and the leadership of the region’s oil companies.

A few minutes’ walk from the square is Victory Park, with an impressive bronze obelisk of a kneeling soldier and an exhibition of military and civilian vehicles. There you can see tanks, cannons, a passenger Tu-154, military aircraft, as well as a steam locomotive with carriages and an improvised platform. The park territory is large; you can stroll and sit on a bench in the shade of pine trees. But you won’t be able to grab a bite to eat, as there are no food outlets in the park.

Then we headed to the local theater, which is a branch of the State Academic Maly Theatre of Russia. The building is impressive; on the outside, it does not yield to its Moscow counterparts. Next to the theater is a beautiful white rotunda, and a bit further away — the city’s central square with a promenade and Zurab Tsereteli’s sculptural composition “Chronicles of Russia.”

The Russian-Georgian artist created a monument for the northern city that is 8 meters high, in the form of large antique books stacked on top of each other. Each book symbolizes Russian chronicles — “The Tale of Bygone Years,” “The Tale of the Battle with Mamai,” “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign,” and many others. According to the author’s concept, the monument symbolizes a ladder by which a person climbs to the pinnacle of knowledge.

On the third day, we went to see one of the city’s iconic locations — Rowan Boulevard. In guidebooks, it is called the “pedestrian heart” and the calling card of Kogalym. The boulevard starts from the Lukoil building and is a promenade with a square, fountains, and several sculptural compositions installed over the years to mark anniversaries of the city-forming oil company. Unfortunately, we couldn’t fully enjoy a walk along Rowan Boulevard because renovation work was underway in some parts during the summer.

However, we did manage to both stroll and have a snack in Pioneers Park. This is a true oasis for recreation and sports in Kogalym, covering an area of more than 200,000 square meters. It features an artificial lake, a skate park, walking paths, bike lanes, and a large playground. Various themed zones with art objects and topiary figures give the park a special atmosphere. We were pleasantly surprised by a small area with cafes and a public restroom nearby. It was clean.

We concluded our introduction to Kogalym with a visit to the Orthodox Church of the Holy Martyr Tatiana, the patroness of students. The walls and vault of the church are painted in the Serbian-Byzantine style. The concept was developed by members of the Union of Artists of Russia. The main themes of the murals are scenes from the lives of Peter and Fevronia and the Baptism of Rus.

Overall, the trip to Kogalym left the most pleasant impressions. The city is very green, clean, and well-maintained. Literally at every step, you encounter sculptural compositions and interesting landscaping details. Each day, while walking around the city, we covered 12,000–13,000 steps. For leisurely walks in Kogalym, it is better to choose the summer or autumn months, while the oceanarium, water park, and Maly Theatre can be visited even in winter.

Earlier, we reported on Georgy Bikmeyev, a resident of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, who vacationed in Georgia in June with his wife. The trip cost the couple 300,000 rubles (around $3,300 at current rates), including flights and accommodation. The tourist saw dozens of iconic places in the country and was very impressed, although there were some downsides. In a conversation with 86.RU, Georgy said whether it is worth going to Georgia.