A quiet little old town in the Golden Ring, Suzdal can be justly called a Russian museum town. Here you will see a number of museums in the open air, whereas some expositions are housed in architectural monuments of the 17^th – 19^th centuries. Here is a guide on the best 5 museums of Suzdal.
The Savior Euthymius Monastery
The oldest Orthodox monastery in Suzdal boasts several museum collections at once. The main one tells about the history of the foundation of Christian monasteries in Suzdal. The Savior Euthymius Monastery keeps icons of the 18th-20th centuries, the vestments of clergymen and ancient vessels that were used to conduct church services. In the monastery you can also see amazingly beautiful frescoes, created by the famous Russian icon painter Gury Nikitin in the 17^th century.
In the halls of the Archimandrite Pavilion, there is a permanent exhibition of ancient books and manuscripts. The Nikolsky Church harbours the collection of more than 500 objects of decorative and applied art.
Open hours: from 10 am to 6 pm every day except Monday
Where: Lenin Street
 

Suzdal Kremlin Museums  
In the 12^th century, the town construction was launched from the place where the Suzdal Kremlin is located today. Therefore, the main museum collections tell about the history of the Suzdal lands. Here you will see interesting archaeological artifacts found by experts in the course of excavations in the town. The museum halls keep the armor of Russian warriors and Golden Horde, as well as ancient dishes, icons and crosses.
In the recently restored Nativity Cathedral, there is the unique Golden Gate, which depicts various biblical scenes. Definitely, you cannot possibly go past the permanent exhibition of ancient Russian paintings.
Open hours: from 10 am to 6 pm every day except Tuesday.
Where: 3, Kremlevskaya Street.
 

Wooden Architecture Museum  
This unusual museum was founded in the 1960s in the place, where the Dmitrov Monastery was situated once. Remarkable old wooden buildings were brought here from the old villages of Russia. The oldest building in the museum, the St. George Church was constructed in the middle of the 18^th century. Almost simultaneously with it, the wooden Transfiguration Church was built. The exposition in a wooden merchant's house tells about the traditions of Suzdal merchants. In addition to that, in the museum territory you can see wooden wells, an old mill, and other traditional construction of the peasant farmstead. In the summer time, a number of colorful festivities take place on the museum grounds.
Open hours: from September 1 to April 25: from 9 am to 4 pm every day except Wednesday;
from April 26 to August 31: from 9 am to 7 pm without days off.
Where: Pushkarskaya Street on the bank of River Kamenka.
 

Shchurovo Hillfort
1 km north-west of the Savior Euthymius Monastery, on the bank of the Kamenka River there is an interactive museum complex called Shchurovo Hillfort. In this open-air museum, you can visit old huts, reconstructed in the traditions of the pre-Peter I wooden architecture, as well as see the cattle and birds that were traditionally bred by peasants. In the spacious museum territory, visitors can ride horses, do archery and learn to wield the Russian warrior sword. This unusual museum is also a venue for shooting feature films and documentaries, as well as conducting historical reconstructions of old battles.
Open hours: from 11 am to 4 pm on Saturdays; from 11 am to 2 pm on Sundays.
Where: 14, Korovniki Street
 

Old Folk Russian Festivities in Suzdal
Icon Painting Studio "Sofia"
This unusual museum in the Church of the Nativity of Christ, located on one of the central Suzdal streets, introduces visitors to the technique of creating icons and wall paintings. A tour of two old Suzdal churches is conducted for visitors here.
In addition, under the guidance of the master, visitors can try and paint a small fragment of a fresco in the ancient iconographic technique of encaustic.
Open hours: when appointed upon agreement with Priest Andrew, the head of the studio.
Where: Lebedev Street.