Magadan can be explored through a variety of themes: the 365-meter-long «Belykh nochey» waterfront promenade, museums dedicated to the region’s history and culture, and a coastal trail nearby. You can choose between city walks, exhibitions and time outdoors without having to combine these experiences into a fixed itinerary.
Museums, collections and city history
The Magadan Regional Museum of Local Lore presents the region’s history and the culture of the Indigenous peoples of the North. Its four permanent exhibitions include «Priroda Severa», «Mir kamnya», «Kolyma-Sevvostlag: 1932–1956» and «Lyudi Zemli i Morya». Its ethnographic, archaeological and decorative art collections also offer an insight into bone art, including carved and engraved works by masters from Uelen.
The permanent exhibition «Reznaya kost» at the «Rynda» Cultural and Exhibition Center focuses specifically on bone art from Magadan Oblast and features more than 200 exhibits. Those particularly interested in this craft can see the Regional Museum’s collections and the focused exhibition as two distinct ways to explore it.
Magadan’s «Gallery of Glory» brings together several themes from the history of war: interactive exhibits show the mechanism of the Mosin rifle, as well as wartime songs, poems and letters from front-line soldiers, and Kolyma’s contribution to victory. An exhibition on the «Alaska–Siberia» air route is displayed on the ceiling. For a different kind of museum visit, the Museum of the Bank of Russia in Magadan offers free guided tours. Advance registration for the tour and presentation of a passport are required; check the registration requirements before your visit.
The Vadim Kozin Apartment Museum also offers events: around 2,000 Magadan residents of different generations and visitors to the city attend its guided tours, themed talks and music evenings each year. Since current offerings should be checked before visiting, this is an option for those who want to plan around a specific program. The Magadan Music and Drama Theater also offers behind-the-scenes tours and visits to its creative workshops; ask the theater about current visiting arrangements.
Waterfront promenade, parks and public art
The «Belykh nochey» waterfront promenade connects «Mayak» Park with Morskoy Square. Its walking and cycling paths are lined with children’s and sports areas, as well as benches. The promenade offers panoramic views of the bay; in summer, you can watch sunsets and Magadan’s famous White Nights here. At 365 meters long, it is a clearly defined stretch for spending time by the water.
«Mayak» Park adds recreational facilities to these waterfront paths, including a roller-skating rink, a skate park, a small climbing area and a workout area. The park’s cultural and community center hosts concerts, exhibitions, festivals and master classes that bring together locals and visitors. As the program varies, it is a good idea to check the dates for your planned visit. Morskoy Square is also home to the large «Fregat» children’s play complex.
Among the city’s notable memorial sites is Magadan’s «Mask of Sorrow» memorial, which commemorates the victims of political repression. Its sculpted face is 15 meters tall. Access to the grounds is free; this does not include the interior. Check the current visiting arrangements for the interior in advance.
Coastal scenery nearby
Near Magadan, the «Chernyy klyuch» hiking trail starts at the «Dyukcha» Ethnopark and runs above the sea along the coast of Gertner Bay. It offers panoramic views of the bay and the Koni Peninsula; the «Tri brata» islands are also among the listed viewpoints. Along the shoreline, visitors can observe seal haul-out sites, bird colonies and white-tailed eagles. Orcas are also occasionally seen in the sea, so an encounter cannot be expected.
At the old quarry, trail features include an information board and swings. The trail is marked there with yellow diamonds on white rectangles; check the markings and trail features on site before setting out. The nearby «Dyukcha» Ethnopark has an open-air museum displaying dwellings and everyday objects of the Indigenous peoples of Kolyma. Walking paths and a dedicated cycling path along the river offer another way to explore the area outdoors. In Magadan itself, museums and waterfront experiences take center stage, while the nearby coastal trail and ethnopark offer different perspectives on the landscape and culture.
Discover more destinations: Yagodnoye.
Go to the regional travel overview: Magadan Oblast.
