Petrozavodsk

Petrozavodsk is the capital of the Republic of Karelia, with a population just above 263,000. The city was founded on September 11, 1703 by Prince Menshikov at the behest of Tsar Peter the Great, who needed an iron foundry for the Baltic Fleet during the Great Northern War. Originally called Petrovskaya Sloboda, it grew into the largest settlement in Karelia by 1717. The city was renamed Petrozavodsk during Catherine the Great's municipal reform of 1777, when a Neoclassical city centre was built around the planned Round Square.

During the 1930s, a significant influx of Finns — including many from North America — more than doubled the town's population. Petrozavodsk was occupied by Finland during World War II (1941–1944) and saw significant reconstruction afterward. Finnish connections persisted through economic contributions to education and the press, with many Finnish tourists visiting until 2022. The city sits on the western shore of Lake Onega, with the railway station at the southern end of Leninsky Prospekt cutting through the centre to the lake embankment.

By Plane

Petrozavodsk Airport Besovets (PES) is located 12 km from the city centre. Flights operate from Moscow five times a week, with tickets around 4,800 руб. Taxis from the airport to the centre are available, or buses run along the Petrozavodsk–Suoyarvi highway approximately every 45 minutes (a 1.5 km walk from the airport to the bus stop).

By Train

The city is easily reached by RZD train from Saint Petersburg. Both day and night trains depart from Ladozhsky station — second class sleeper tickets cost about 1,100 руб. The Lastochka Premium train takes under five hours; most other trains take 7–8 hours. Moscow is 16 hours away on overnight service from Leningradsky station, with second class tickets from 2,200 руб. All Murmansk-bound trains stop here, providing long-distance connections to Kaliningrad (44 hr), Kyiv (41 hr), Minsk (24 hr), and seasonal trains from Black Sea resorts like Sochi (55 hr). Regional trains connect to smaller Karelian towns such as Kostomuksha (13 hr) and Suoyarvi (4 hr). Petrozavodsk railway station (Petrozavodsk-Pass) is on ul. Gagarina, just west of the city centre.

By Car / Road

Petrozavodsk is along the R21 highway (Kola Highway) linking Saint Petersburg and Murmansk. The road is mostly in good condition but distances are long and gas stations sparse. From Finland, the Blue Highway tourist route enters Russia via Sortavala at the north end of Lake Ladoga. Bus services from Saint Petersburg operate daily via Avokzal and Ecolines. International connections from Helsinki are available via Petrozavodsk Transport and Inkeriline; Savonlinna operates services from Joensuu.

The town centre is easily walkable. Taxis anywhere in town cost around 100 руб or less. Buses run frequently along major routes. The railway station is at the southern end of Leninsky Prospekt, about a 30-minute walk to the lake embankment.

• National Museum of Karelia (1 Lenin Square) — The main museum of local lore, founded in 1871 by Governor Grigoriev, housed in the former governor's house (a late 18th-century federal architectural monument). Features geological specimens, Karelian cultural and historical expositions, and Kizhi Pogost exhibits. 300 руб. Tu–Su 10:00–18:00, ticket office till 17:30.

• Neoclassical architecture — The Round Square area and surrounding buildings reflect Catherine the Great's 18th-century urban plan.

• Karelian National Theatre (Pr. Karla Marksa 19) — Authentic performances exploring the connections between Finnish and Karelian culture. +7 814 278-2674.

• Onega Embankment — The waterfront promenade along Lake Onega with sculptures and views across the lake.

• Mushroom and berry picking — Join locals in autumn as they head into the woods for bilberries, lingonberries, cloudberries, and wild mushrooms.

• Fishing — Arrange a local guide to take you fishing at one of thousands of nearby lakes.

• Kivach Waterfall — A 10.7-metre-high waterfall cascade, a popular day trip from Petrozavodsk.

• Martial Waters — An area with natural health springs and nearby resorts.

Dining out in Petrozavodsk offers several local restaurants, many trending foreign but some serving local cuisine. Karelian dining often features fish cooked whole in its own soup. The embankment area along Lake Onega has several restaurants with lake views. Local specialties include Karelian pasties, smoked lake fish, and mushroom dishes.

Petrozavodsk has a range of cafés and bars, particularly along the embankment and in the city centre. Traditional Karelian beverages include berry juices (especially lingonberry and cloudberry), herbal teas, and kvass. Local craft beer has gained popularity in recent years. Tap water in Petrozavodsk is generally safe to drink but many visitors prefer bottled water.

• Budget: Hotel ONEGO — a small hotel on a boat, about 300 m from the ferry dock. R 900 per night for a single (4 rooms share 2 baths). Pleasant and clean, 24 hours.
• Mid-range: Hotel Severnaya (Prospekt Lenina 21) — An older but decently-maintained hotel in downtown, halfway between the railway station and the lake. Part of the Intourist Hotels group. From 700 руб per night. +7 8142 762-080.
• Mid-range: Hotel Fregat (Prospekt Karla Marxa 1a) — A small but clean hotel close to the ferry dock, good for early risers catching the first Kizhi boat. The door faces the lake, not the street — ring the bell. +7 8142 774-853.
• Upscale: Hotel Karelia (Gulling Embankment 2) — A well-run hotel with gym, spa, restaurant, and a tourism department running tours to Kizhi. Part of the Best Eastern Hotels group. +7 8142 733-333.

• Karelian wooden artworks — Karelian birch is prized for its beauty; skilled artisans create unique pieces. Avoid buying antiques (especially military items like medals) that might be flagged by Customs as cultural value items.
• Photo books — They make great presents and can substitute for photos of places like Kizhi if you didn't visit the island.

• Kizhi (68 km by hydrofoil, 1.5 hours) — A UNESCO World Heritage Site on Lake Onega with the famous wooden Church of the Transfiguration.
• Valaam — An archipelago in Lake Ladoga with a 14th-century monastery, reachable by boat from Sortavala.
• Saint Petersburg (5–8 hours by train) — Russia's cultural capital with world-class museums and palaces.
• Kondopoga (90 km by road, 1.5 hours) — Near the Kivach waterfall and Lake Onega.
• Sortavala (280 km by road, ~4 hours) — Gateway to Ruskeala marble canyon and the Blue Highway from Finland.