The capital of Chechnya houses Europe's largest mosque, accommodating 40,000 worshippers. After extensive rebuilding, the modern city has become a center for casinos.
Grozny, the capital of Russia's Chechen Republic, is a rebuilt city in the Caucasus region. You'll find the gleaming white marble Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque with its 62-meter minarets, glass-fronted Grozny-City Towers, and traditional tea houses along the Sunzha River. The city follows Islamic customs, with specific dress codes and behavioral expectations for visitors.
Safety Considerations
Most foreign governments strongly advise against travel to Grozny and the surrounding region. If you visit, avoid discussing local politics or carrying alcohol in public. While security has improved since the early 2000s, you should remain cautious and follow local customs, such as modest dress and avoiding public displays of affection.
Getting to Grozny
You can fly to Grozny from Moscow on Rusline airlines or from Istanbul on Grozny Avia. A night train runs from Moscow every second day, with security checks along the route. You can drive to the city via the P-308, P-307, and M-29 highways, which connect to other Russian regions.
Religious Architecture
The Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque's white marble walls and 62-meter minarets dominate the city skyline. Inside, golden chandeliers illuminate prayer halls that can hold up to 10,000 worshippers. The rebuilt Church of St. Michael the Archangel, with its blue domes and white walls, serves the Russian Orthodox community.
Getting Around
You can take trolleybuses, which returned to service in 2012, to explore the city. Local taxis run throughout Grozny, but having a Russian-speaking guide will help with communication and navigation. Many streets have been renamed in recent years, so older maps might be outdated.
City Center
The Grozny-City Towers complex includes apartments, offices, and a shopping center. Its distinctive facade clocks light up at night. Around the towers, you'll find the renovated Putin Avenue with its fountains and the Vladimir Putin Square. The city center includes modern educational institutions like Chechen State University and Grozny State Oil Technical University.
Sports and Entertainment
You can watch FC Akhmat Grozny play Russian Premier League matches at the Sultan Bilimkhanov Stadium. The city has strict alcohol regulations - you can only buy alcohol between 8:00 and 10:00 AM in specific stores. Instead of bars, you'll find tea houses where locals gather to socialize and play chess. The Central Market sells traditional Chechen foods and crafts.
