The Volgograd Region boasts a rich cultural and historical heritage which is celebrated in the city's cultural foundations. There are enough theatres and museums to keep any visitor to Volgograd busy for quite some time. The circus and the planetarium are also popular with visitors. The Volga River plays an important role in the everyday lives of the citizens of Volgograd. Volgograd is known as the home to thousands of sports fans.

Volgograd is most well-known worldwide for its museums which commemorate the city's participation in World War II. During this war, known to Russians as the Great Patriotic War, the city was known as Stalingrad and acted as the stage for the battle which catalysed the Allied victory in Russia. The "Memorial to the Heroes of Stalingrad Battle", located on Mamaev Hill, is known throughout the world. The Memorial is crowned with the Monument of the Motherland (Mat' Rodina), the tallest freestanding statue in the world. This statue is three times as large as the Statue of Liberty, and has become the symbol of Volgograd.