Karelia

Region info

With its peaceful lakes, endless forests, pine trees, and rocks, Karelia is a stunning destination for all nature lovers. The land is not populated much, and the number of lakes is almost equal to the number of Karelian families.

Active holidays fans should try snowmobile adventures, winter fishing, dog sledding, cross country skiing. Summertime offers terrific opportunities for canoeing or rafting.

Karelia is a perfect getaway for the whole family. Your kids will be happy to see Karelian waterfalls, play with cute husky dogs, learn how to make local pastries, and appreciate the beauty of the untouched northern nature. In winter, you might even be lucky to witness the Northern Lights.

In addition to natural sights, Karelia is famous for its authentic villages, fairytale-like wooden churches, ancient monasteries, stone age petroglyphs. The top historical sight to visit is the Kizhi island, which is included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites. Most visitors come to Museum-Reserve to admire The Church of the Transfiguration. The stunning wooden temple with 22 domes appeared on the island 300 years ago.

How to get

Most tours of Karelia start from Petrozavodsk. The capital of Karelia is not far from Moscow or Saint Petersburg. It is just 400 km from St Petersburg and 700 km to the north from Moscow. However, you might also start your tour from Sortavala, which is only 250 km from Saint Petersburg. Sortavala is the nearest town to Valaam island or Ruskeala park.

You can get to Petrozavodsk by air. The only airport in Karelia is in Petrozavodsk. A flight from Moscow lasts 1,5 hours. It doesn’t make sense to fly from Saint Petersburg as there’re no direct flights, and a connecting flight might last over 4 hours.

You can get to Petrozavodsk by train. If you travel from Moscow, it’ll be most convenient to take an overnight train. It leaves Moscow at 9 pm and arrives in Petrozavodsk at 7.50 am. A return train departs Petrozavodsk at 10 pm and comes to Moscow at 8.50 am.

If you travel from Saint Petersburg to Petrozavodsk, you may choose between an overnight train or a high-speed Lastochka train.

 A convenient sleeper train leaves Saint Petersburg at around 11 pm and reaches Petrozavodsk at 7 am. A return train leaves Petrozavodsk at 10.40 pm and arrives in Saint Petersburg at 6.24 am. If you are short of time, you may think of a day tour to Kizhi Island using overnight trains from Saint Petersburg.

You may also take a Lastochka train departing Saint Petersburg at 6 pm and arriving in Petrozavodsk at 11 pm. A return Lastochka train leaves Petrozavodsk at 6.30 am and reaches Saint Petersburg at noon.
If you choose Sortavala as a starting point of your tour, it’ll be best to take a Lastochka train from Saint Petersburg, which runs only 4 hours. You may find both morning or evening options.

When to come

Karela can keep you busy all year round. The snow usually settles in December and stays till the end of March, turning the region into a winter wonderland. However, you can reach Kizhi island by snowmobile or hovercraft only when Lake Onega is completely frozen. The safest time to plan your winter Karelia tour is from late January till early March.

Summer is the best time to visit the famous Karelian islands Valaam and Kizhi. The navigation season lasts from mid-May till mid-September. While planning your Karelian tour, you may also include a visit to the Solovki Islands. While The Solovki archipelago geographically belongs to the Archangelsk region, the boat to the islands leaves from a Kem town in Karelia. The tour is available from June to August.

Spring and Autumn season is a treat for tranquil family vacations. September and October is a fantastic time for photographers when the trees change color into flaming red, orange, and yellow. Chilly winds blow the mosquitoes and the tourists away. Isn’t it time to appreciate the peacefulness of the unique Karelian nature?