pretty solid guide, one thing i'd add is the ural geological museum on lenina 37, it's like 200 rub and has a massive collection of local minerals that's way better than anything you'll find at the central market. it's lowkey a hidden gem, most tourists walk right past it.

day 2 if you're going to the stone tents, bring mosquito spray in summer, those little bastards are relentless near the lake. also the trail from the bus stop is marked poorly, just follow the path past the volleyball courts and you'll hit the rocks in 10 mins.

for dinner on day 3, red fox is fine but "na kuhne" on malysheva 18 does a better venison stroganoff for about the same price and it's less crowded. fwiw the yeltsin center is worth the full morning but the museum can be heavy, the temporary exhibits on the ground floor are usually lighter and free to browse.

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honestly this is a solid itinerary, i live here and would tweak a couple things. day 1 skip the museum fine arts if you're short on time, the church on the blood and the walk to plotinka is the real vibe. the vysotsky deck is worth it but go on a clear day or it's just fog, i've been stuck up there with zero view before.

for day 2, the uralmash area is legit but get off one stop early at mashinostroiteley instead, there's a killer soviet mosaic in the underpass that most tourists miss. the shartash stone tents are nice but if you want a proper forest walk go to the "uralmash forest" entrance near the end of kirovgradskaya, it's quieter and connects to the same trails.

day 3, ganina yama is a must but the bus 26 can be crowded, grab a taxi from the city center for like 500 rub and it saves an hour. the yeltsin center is huge, give it at least 2 hours not just morning. and for souvenirs skip the central market, the gems there are overpriced, hit up the little shop on weiner street 4 called "kamni urala" for better deals.

oh and for craft beer, jaws is great but try "british brewery" on lenina 38 instead, their ipa is way better and

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yeah this is a solid plan but you're missing the ural gem market at the univer百货, it's right off ploshchad 1905 goda in the basement and way less touristy than the central market. also day 3 if you're at the yeltsin center don't skip the rooftop cafe, it's got a killer view of the city and the coffee is decent for a museum spot.

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One thing worth knowing about the metro here: it only has one line, so it's honestly more of a curiosity than a practical way to get around. I usually just walk or grab a tram. If you're near Ploshchad 1905 Goda, the underpass there doubles as a pedestrian crossing under the busy intersection, which saves you a lot of waiting at lights.

On the food side, everyone mentions Rakovarnya but I'd point you to Shokoladnitsa on Lenina for a cheap breakfast, or the stolovaya inside the Dom Knigi building if you want a proper canteen lunch for under 300 RUB. Pelmeni are everywhere, but the ones at Ural Pelmeni on Gagarina are better than the chain spots.

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The guide covers the main stuff well. One thing I'd add about the Aeroexpress: it actually goes to Koltsovo Airport station, which is not the terminal itself. You then take a free shuttle bus or walk about 10 minutes to the departures hall, so factor in an extra 15 minutes if you're cutting it close for a flight. Also, the last train from the city leaves around 22:30, not 23:00, so check the schedule if you have a late arrival.

For the border marker day trip, most people just take a taxi or an organized tour. But if you want to do it cheaply, marshrutka 150 goes toward Pervouralsk and you can ask the driver to drop you near the marker. It's a bit of a walk from the road though, so wear decent shoes.

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solid writeup, covers more than most guides do. one thing i'd add on the sim card front: megaFon & beeline shops in the center often refuse tourist sims without a local registration, so if you get turned away just try the small kiosks inside the airport arrivals hall, they're pricier but they don't ask questions. also the 20GB for 500 RUB figure is optimistic these days, expect closer to 700-900.

on the border marker, skip the tour buses. rent a bike in the center & ride out along the Moscow highway, its like 25km but flat, takes 2 hours & the road shoulder is fine. way better than sitting in traffic on a marshrutka

for coffee, engels is good but i'd send you to Kofeynya na Pushkina near the literary quarter instead, less crowded & the syrniki there are unreal

one last thing, the metro token machines only take coins or a card, so break a bill before you go down or you'll be stuck

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