Ufa (Уфа́), Russia

Ufa (Russian: Уфа́) is the capital and largest city in the Republic of Bashkortostan, a federal subject of the Russian Federation. It covers 710 sq km (270 sq mi) and has a population exceeding one million people (2012 estimate). It is also the administrative center of Ufimsky District, and serves as the industrial, economic and cultural hub of the republic.

Orthodox church at the end of Kirov Street in Ufa, Russia
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orthodox_church_at_the_end_of_Kirov_street.jpg
Author: Boris Bartels


Ufa traces its history to the 16th century, when a fortress was built there by Ivan the Terrible. The settlement was originally known as Tura-Tau. It was granted town status in 1586.

Ufa developed into a regional hub for trading and manufacturing towards the 18th century. It also served as the administrative and cultural center for the region. In the 20th century, the city prospered from the discovery of oil in Bashkiria, and it became a center for the extracting and refining of Soviet oil. Today oil refining is still one of the main components of the economy of Ufa, along with chemical and mechanical engineering.

Visiting Ufa

You can fly to Ufa from Moscow and Saint Petersburg as well as from Dubai, Istanbul, Kiev, Prague, among others.

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