I've gotta say, if you're looking for a day trip from Moscow, Kolomna is the way to go! I've been there twice now - once in May 2023 by car, and again in December 2025 on my own. You can catch a train from Kazansky Station, which is a short walk from Komсомольская metro, to Kolomna in just 2 hours. Trains run throughout the day, roughly every hour, and a one-way ticket costs 448 rubles, while a return ticket is 896 rubles.

I left Moscow at 8:40 and arrived at Kolomna Station by 10:40. It was pretty quiet on the train, even on a weekday in December - and it was even emptier on the way back.

Moscow to Kolomna TrainFrom Kolomna Station to the city center, it's just a 20-25 minute walk.Here's what the streets look like in Kolomna - not exactly the main tourist area

THE CITY CENTER

Kolomna Kremlin is the main attraction in the city. You can enter the grounds through the Michael's Gate.

Michael's GateOn one side of the gate, you've got Marinkina Tower, and on the other, Granovitaya Tower.

Marinkina TowerGranovite TowerGranovite TowerKolomenskoye KremlinKolomenskoye KremlinLažechnikov Street - the main street of Kolomna, lined with cafes, restaurants, souvenir stalls, and museums. It's super clean and pretty, and you can walk the whole thing in 5-10 minutes. I mean, it's basically a mini shopping district, but without the crowds and chaos. I loved strolling down this street and popping into all the little shops and cafes.

Lažechnikov StreetLažechnikov StreetKuprin House - now it's a stylish hotel in the city center (Lazariev Street, 10). I actually stayed here for a night, and it was super comfy and cozy. The decor was really cool, and the staff were super friendly. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a place to stay in Kolomna.

Kuprin HouseKuprin HouseChurch Square. It's got the Church Bell Tower, Uspensky Cathedral, Tikhvin Church, Voskresenskaya Church, and a monument to Cyril and Methodius. I was really blown away by the beauty of this square - it's like a little slice of heaven in the middle of the city. I spent hours just wandering around and taking it all in.

Church Bell Tower and Uspensky Cathedral, Kolomna

Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God ChurchResurrection Church, Kolomna
Monument to Cyril and Methodius, KolomnaPyatnitskaya Gate.

Pyatnitskaya GatePyatnitskaya GateIn the center of Kolomna, there's also a pretty standard general education school. The building fits in perfectly with the city's architecture.

General education school, Kolomna
General education school, KolomnaBobrenkov Bridge and observation deck

Bobrenkov Bridge

Observation deck, Moscow River
Kolomna Museums.

I was really looking forward to exploring the city's museums, but what I found was a bunch of souvenir stalls masquerading as museums, catering to tourists.

Signs (center of Kolomna)Signs (center of Kolomna)

Signs (Center of Kolomna)So, for example, Museum of History of Old Russian Honey (Lazechnikov St, 5B) - I mean, I didn't actually go inside the museum itself, but the courtyard is seriously nicely decorated. I snapped a few pics, and I've got to say, it's definitely worth a look.Museum of History of Old Russian HoneyMuseum of History of Old Russian HoneyMuseum of History of Old Russian HoneyMuseum of History of Old Russian HoneyI only visited the Local History Museum of the city (Lazechnikov St, 15), which, honestly, was a bit of a letdown. I mean, the entrance costs 250 rubles for an adult, but even that's a bit steep for my taste - the museum is super small. It's literally the smallest local history museum I've ever been to, with only 4 tiny rooms. One room is on the ground floor (there's another room there too, but you have to pay extra to get in, because the second room on the ground floor hosts temporary exhibitions), and three rooms are on the second floor. The most interesting room on the second floor is where you can learn about the history of Kolomna.Local History Museum, KolomnaLocal History Museum, KolomnaLocal History Museum, KolomnaThe museum takes about 10-15 minutes to get through, but, you know, on the day I was walking around the city, it was -15 degrees outside, so it was a great place to warm up for a bit. I mean, it's not like I was exactly freezing to death or anything, but still, it was a nice little break from the cold. And hey, if you're looking for someplace to warm up in Kolomna, I'd definitely recommend checking out some of the local cafes and restaurants in the heart of the city - I stumbled upon a ton of awesome spots that were perfect for warming up with a cup of coffee or a hot meal.
WHERE TO WARM UP IN KOLOMNA?
I'm still trying to figure that out, but I'm sure I'll get there eventually.

I spent some time exploring the city's breakfast scene, and most cafes open up around 12:00. But I was on the hunt for something a bit earlier, so I headed to «Литературное cafe Лажечников» on Lajechnikov Street. This place is seriously unique and stylish.

Литературное cafe Лажечников

Литературное cafe ЛажечниковThe staff was super friendly, and the food was a solid 10 out of 10 - it was absolutely delicious. Before 12:00, they only serve breakfast, so I went all out and ordered oatmeal, a dessert, and a cappuccino, which cost me exactly 800 rubles.Литературное cafe Лажечников
Литературное cafe ЛажечниковOther popular spots in the city:«Рульки вверх» on Krasnogvardeyskaya Street;

«Барин и Бараш», on Lajechnikov Street;

«Рюмочная на Патриарших», on Oktyabrskoy Revolyutsii Street.

The main baked goods in Kolomna are kalach, which you can buy at Калачная on Zaytsev Street.

Калачная, КоломнаThere's also a little stall called «Закутное окно» on the side of the building, which sells baked goods.«Закутное окно», Коломна For a cheaper snack, you can try the souvenir shops in the center.

COLOMNA SOUVENIRS

In the central part of the city, there are plenty of souvenir stalls and shops. The main souvenirs you can bring back from Kolomna are: pastila and mead.

Сувенирный магазин, КоломнаThey also sell gingerbread, city-themed cookies, and non-edible souvenirs like magnets, toys, coins, and figurines.I just got a small pastila bar for 80 rubles and tried it at home - it was super tasty. Kolomenskaya PastilaI headed back to Kazansky Vokzal on the electric train at 3:40 PM, and I had just enough time to explore the center of Kolomna for five hours. If I'm being honest, I only had four hours of actual exploring time, since I had to factor in the time it took to get to and from the train station, plus a visit to a local café for breakfast and a quick stop at the city's history museum. On a warm summer day, you could easily spend more time wandering around Kolomna, but I think three or four hours is a good amount of time to see the sights when it's chilly outside.
All in all, my one-day trip to Kolomna cost me 2,130 rubles, including the round-trip train fare, a hearty breakfast at a local café, admission to the history museum, a pack of Kolomenskaya Pastila to snack on, and a bun for the road.

Krestovozdvizhensky Sobor, Kolomna