The development of the territory where modern Kogalym is located today began in 1976. It was then that workers arrived here to build part of the Surgut–Novy Urengoy railway. Two years later, the village of Kogalym was established.

Some researchers believe that the name comes from the words "koh" and "alyng" – long and the beginning. This can be interpreted as "the long source of the river." However, there is also an opinion that the name comes from the Khanty word kogolym, which means "swamp", "swamp".

Already in the late seventies, the development of the Povkhovskoye field began here. And in 1985, the village was granted the status of a city. Today, Kogalym has a population of almost 69,000 people, and 40 industrial enterprises operate in its vicinity. 

However, despite the rapid development of industry, Kogalym is a very cozy and beautiful city. And today we invite you to take a walk through it. 

Since the city is small, moving from place to place will not cause inconvenience. Therefore, we present you six interesting places that you definitely need to see. Even if you only come for one day, there is enough time to explore most of them. 

Take a walk

Ryabinovy Boulevard

First of all, of course, it is worth taking a look at Ryabinovy Boulevard. After all, this is a real business card of the city and one of the most beautiful places. This is a small boardwalk with a square and an art object depicting the name of the city. This is where you will take your first memorable picture. 

The main decoration of the boulevard is the stele "Flame". It was installed in 2020 and has already become a must-have place for evening walks for guests and residents of the city. 

Several fountains with sparkling splashes in the summer are striking in their beauty and bring coolness. And the trees provide shade. By the way, many citizens were happy to participate in the development of the boulevard and planted trees on their own. In addition, there are many flowers planted on Rowan Boulevard.

There are benches all along the boulevard where you can relax and enjoy the view. The best view is from the observation deck with arches. Locals jokingly call it Santa Barbara, drawing an analogy with the screensaver from the famous TV series.

In summer, the boulevard is especially beautiful, and during the golden autumn it is colorful. But even in winter, it is quite possible to appreciate the unique atmosphere. 

Walking along the boulevard, be sure to pay attention to the sculptural composition "Drop of Life" located here - one of the most recognizable symbols of Kogalym.

Sculpture composition "Drop of Life"

One of the most recognizable symbols of Kogalym is located at the beginning of Ryabinovy Boulevard. The sculpture "Drop of Life" appeared here in 2001 and became a gift from oil workers to the residents of the city in honor of the decade of the LUKOIL company.

The bronze monument is made in the shape of a huge oil drop. Its height is 8.5 meters, so in reality the composition looks even more impressive than in the photos. The author of the work was Andrei Kovalchuk, People's Artist of Russia.

The sculpture symbolizes the natural resources of Ugra, the energy and hard work of the people, thanks to whom Kogalym grew and developed. The sides of the drop feature entire stories from the life of a northern city: oil workers, indigenous people, newlyweds, children, and the surrounding nature.

It is interesting to look at the composition from all sides, each time noticing new details. And thanks to its location on Ryabinovy Boulevard, it is easy to combine acquaintance with the "Drop of Life" with a walk along one of the most beautiful streets of the city.

Victory Park

A real helicopter, passenger and military aircraft, tracked vehicles and a steam locomotive - such an unusual exhibit can be seen almost in the center of Kogalym. To do this, it is enough to go to Victory Park.

The main place here is occupied by the memorial complex, opened in 2015 in honor of the 70th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. In the center of the composition there is a bronze figure of a soldier kneeling and holding a Victory Banner in his hands. There is an Eternal Flame nearby, and the names of Kogalym residents who did not return from the war are immortalized on memorial plaques.

Of particular interest is the open-air exhibition of equipment. The park features nine tracked vehicles, a helicopter, passenger and military aircraft, as well as a steam locomotive with wagons. Thanks to this, the walk will be interesting not only for adults, but also for children.

The park has walking paths, recreation areas and a children's playground. Here you can honor the memory of the heroes, get acquainted with military and transport equipment, and then take a leisurely stroll through the landscaped grounds. Monumental, informative and beautiful - all this is about Kogalym Victory Park.

Sculpture "Chronicle of Russia"

Not every tourist knows that the author of this unusual composition was the famous sculptor Zurab Tsereteli. The eight-meter monument is made in the form of huge antique books stacked on top of each other.

Russian Russian chronicles are represented by each of the books – "The Tale of Bygone Years", "Russkaya Pravda", "The Tale of the Mamaev Massacre", "The Nikon Chronicle", "Chronograph", "The Tale of Igor's Regiment" and many others. All these folios reflect the most important periods of our country's history.

The composition is installed on the central square of Kogalym and fits well into a walking route around the city. It is worth looking at it up close to see the names of the chronicles and to appreciate the scale of the unusual monument. 

Visit cultural places

Branch of the State Academic Maly Theatre of Russia

The cultural institution operates on the basis of the Yantar cultural and leisure complex in Kogalym. This is the only branch in the whole country. Thanks to this, residents and guests of Kogalym can see the performances of one of the oldest theaters in Russia without leaving Ugra.

Unsurprisingly, immediately after the opening, this place became very popular among the townspeople. It's beautiful, cozy and professional – these are the reviews they leave online.

The construction of the new stage took 2 years, and during this time the leisure complex was thoroughly renovated. A 300–seat auditorium has been created for the audience, and a professional stage has been created for the actors, which is as technical as the capital's.

The similarities don't end there. The exterior and interiors of the branch largely repeat the design of the historic Maly Theater building in Moscow. All this allows the Kogalym branch to maintain a special theatrical atmosphere and include in its repertoire performances that are shown on the main stage. For example, the first production on the stage of a local theater was the play by A.N. Ostrovsky's "Simplicity is enough for any wise man" with the participation of Irina Muravyeva and other folk artists of Russia.

During the intermission, visitors can learn more about the history of the Maly Theater. It's enough to walk around the lobby. There is a special exhibition here, the exhibits of which are constantly being updated.

That's how, without leaving the district, you can watch productions at the federal level. 

Museum and Exhibition Center

Anyone who finds museums boring has probably never been to the Kogalym Museum and Exhibition Center. After all, it is one of the most modern and technologically advanced cultural institutions in the country.

Here you can feel like the heroes of a book by Jules Verne and try to make a journey to the center of the earth. Or feel like a pioneer and look into a real camping tent. Or maybe you've always dreamed of trying on the role of a Cossack and visiting the Cossack strug of Ermak's time? There is also such a reconstruction here, as well as an authentic railway carriage and a Khanty chum. Can you imagine how many trips in space and time can be made in just one trip to the museum?

All this was made possible by equipping the institution with modern multimedia technology. It allows you to implement interactive programs and fully immerse the viewer in the atmosphere of the exhibitions. This way, visitors better remember information about the many unique exhibits, the development of the city and the oil field. You'll like it too!

Have fun and informative time

Galaktika Cultural and Sports Complex

Is it possible to see zebra fish or shark in Yugra? You can! Don't be surprised, but just go to the Aquatica Aquarium, which is one of the largest in Russia. It is located in the Galaktika cultural and sports complex. 

Piranhas, stingrays, octopuses, giant moray eels are just a small part of what you will see here. The aquarium is divided into several themed areas where you can admire various species of fish from the seabed, rivers, rocky shores and many other places on our planet. In total, more than 3,300 species of various fish live in 32 aquariums of the aquarium. The length of the main aquarium is 61 meters. It has become the longest in Eastern Europe. The aquarium's expositions are designed to emphasize the importance of preserving oceans, seas and rivers.

There are separate programs, quests and master classes for children. There is also a children's educational center "Marine Club" at the aquarium. It hosts various events and excursions.

If you have long dreamed of diving underwater to swim with sharks and rays, feed fish or arrange a whole photo shoot underwater – your wish will come true here. 

In addition to the aquarium, a water park "On the crest of a wave" is provided on the territory of Galaktika. There are 3 slides for adults, a trip along the "slow river" and even a unique surf attraction.

You can continue the day at the climbing wall, visit the children's entertainment complex, skate with the breeze, play bowling, have a lot of fun at the trampoline center and see the strange plants in the subtropical greenhouse. Well, after an active day, refresh yourself at the food court or at a family restaurant.

Among other things, the complex has a large shopping gallery, a fitness center and a supermarket. All this splendor is located on an area of about 30 thousand square meters. In short, no one will be bored at the Galaktika sports and entertainment complex. 

All this is just a small part of the interesting places of Kogalym. In fact, there are many times more of them! Come and study. 

Restaurant "4 Cheeses"

After a busy walk around Kogalym, it's time to get acquainted with the gastronomic side of the city. To do this, you can visit the 4 Cheeses restaurant, a new project by the famous Moscow restaurateur Anton Pinsky and the Pinskiy & Co holding company. The restaurant opened in Kogalym in June 2026 and has become one of the new places of attraction for residents and visitors of the city.

The main feature of the restaurant is its own cheese factory. Mozzarella, burrata and strachatella are prepared here, which are then used in salads, appetizers, pizza and other dishes. Therefore, the name of the institution was not chosen by chance.: cheese here is not just an addition, but one of the main components of the menu.

Brand chef Alexander Karyukin is responsible for the kitchen. The menu is based on clear Italian cuisine with Georgian and European accents. Guests are offered homemade pizza, pasta, risotto, khinkali and khachapuri, meat and fish dishes, as well as homemade desserts. Thanks to this variety, there is a suitable dish for a family lunch, and for a relaxing dinner after a walk around the city.

The restaurant's space occupies more than 1.3 thousand square meters. There is a main hall, a separate banquet hall, a coffee shop and a summer terrace. The bright, modern interior creates a cozy atmosphere, so you can come here with your family, meet friends or celebrate an important event. The restaurant's team also offers event management for the holidays.

Special attention is also paid to the gastronomic program. The restaurant hosts signature dinners and meetings of invited chefs, during which guests can taste dishes specially created for a specific event. Educational cooking classes are provided for children, so visiting a restaurant can be not only delicious, but also an interesting end to a family trip around Kogalym.