The article deals with natural and socio-economic prerequisites of Kazan region recreation area development. In recent years this territory has become a place of significant sport and cultural events, such as the 1000th anniversary of Kazan, The 2013 Summer Universiade, the forthcoming World Water Sports Championship, The 2018 FIFA World Cup. Nature-recreational potential of the territory as a result of interaction of the human and natural factors have been estimated. Infrastructure, cultural and historical objects were the leading ones among the human factors. Tourist- recreational zoning has been done. Six specialized recreational sub-areas and their distribution area have been identified. Tourism types, recreation and recreational areas development perspectives have been defined. The importance of further development of the area analyzed is highlighted, because of the increased status of Kazan on Russian and the World stage
