catamaran aventura 43

• Puerto Morelos

Puerto Aventuras

• Isla Mujeres

VIEW OUR MENUS

Public tours available here, our brands:.

• From USA: 858 333 8545
• Email: [email protected]
• Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico 77710

WHAT WE OFFER

• Catamaran Charters
• Motor Yacht Charters
• Sunset Cruises
• Deep Sea Fishing

Airport transfers

• Airport to Hotel
• Hotel to Airport
• Hotel to Hotel

how to book

• 1. Select boat
• 2. Complete booking form
• 3. Receive confirmation

Privacy & Terms

© All rights reserved

Place Reservation

Best customer service guaranteed, all form fields are required. our team will contact you in minutes., welcome letter from our team.

Dear VIP Traveler,

Welcome to VIP Cancun Yachts! With us, you’ve not only found the best yacht and catamaran rental company in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, Mexico but you’ve found yourself an unforgettable day on Mexico’s Caribbean! You’ve also hit the jackpot once you experience our customer service. You’ll soon see, it’s like no other in town! When you do a yacht charter, catamaran, or fishing charter with us, you will get the experience of a lifetime.

We completely customize the trip to the way you want it! It’s not just a boat rental, it’s a complete experience from start to finish. We’ll organize the day’s itinerary your way, so if you want to snorkel and swim with sea turtles, or fish, or just cruise the Caribbean soaking up the sun, or wade in waist-high water sipping on cocktails…you got it! On top of this, we pick you up at your hotel and take you back. You don’t have to lift a finger all day — except the ones around your margarita!

When possible, we’ll send a member of our team on board with you to make sure your experience is a memorable one, if not the most memorable of your entire vacation! At VIP Cancun Yachts we don’t throw around the word “VIP” lightly. You are treated like a VIP from the moment you meet us to the moment we part ways. We are at your service.

VIP Cancun Yachts operates out of Cancun, Puerto Aventuras, Maroma, and Playa del Carmen and is a sister company of VIP Riviera Maya and VIP Cancun Transportation . VIP Riviera Maya is a travel company that takes vacation tours and excursions to an entirely new level.   We’re safe and reliable, but what we do best is customer service! Plus, we customize your tour to just what your group wants. We know that vacation time is valuable and there’s no time to waste. And our VIP Cancun Transportation offers safe, reliable, and comfortable airport transfers and other excursions with top-notch customer service, fully insured vehicles and the friendliest bi-lingual drivers with added service options when the need to customize your transportation is necessary.

We’re ready and waiting to get you out on the water…or to wherever you want to go!

Owner/Operator, VIP Cancun Yachts

Email: [email protected]

U.S. +1 (858) 333 8545

REQUEST INSTANT ESTIMATE

No spam guarantee.

3750 Yacht Club Dr #TH1 + BOAT SLIP,  Aventura, FL 33180

Last updated:

August 23, 2024, 04:49 AM

About This Home

WOW! A BOATER'S DREAM! NEW EXTRAORDINARY MODERN WATERFRONT TOWNHOME IN VIDA AT THE POINT. ENTER AND IMMEDIATELY SEE PANORAMIC WATER VIEWS & WATERWAYS MARINA & YOUR DOCK/YACHT. NO EXPENSE SPARED & FINEST FEATURES INCLUDE: 4 Bd/4.5Ba W/PRIVATE ELEVATOR, WHITE PORCELAIN FLOORS THROUGHOUT, FLOOR TO CEILING IMPACT WINDOWS ALL ELECTRIC SHADES, STEVEN G CUSTOM FINISHES, STUNNING DECOR BY ARTEFACTO AVAILABLE, KITCHEN & BATHROOM CABINETS BY MIA CUCINA, TOP OF THE LINE WOLF & SUBZERO APPLIANCES IN OPEN WHITE KITCHEN, LARGE TERRACES OVERLOOKING THE WATER, PRIVATE GARAGE & CARPORT. MUST SEE! Enjoy The Resort Lifestyle That Only The Point Can Offer, Including Renovated 25,000sf Resident's Club, Juice N Java Cafe, Gym, Spa, 4 Tennis Courts, 3 Pools, BBQ Area, & Kids Playground.

Built in 2022

Price Summary

$1,296 per Sq. Ft.

Last Updated:

Rooms & Interior

Total Bedrooms:

Total Bathrooms:

Full Bathrooms:

Living Area:

3,849 Sq. Ft.

Architectural Style:

Building Area:

Year Built:

Finances & Disclosures

Price per Sq. Ft:

Denise Rubin

(305) 409-0019

Contact an Agent

Yes, I would like more information from Coldwell Banker. Please use and/or share my information with a Coldwell Banker agent to contact me about my real estate needs.

By clicking Contact I agree a Coldwell Banker Agent may contact me by phone or text message including by automated means and prerecorded messages about real estate services, and that I can access real estate services without providing my phone number. I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

• Classified ads
• Last magazine
• Technical Specifications
• Legal notices
• Website map
• Classified ad

AVENTURA 43

• + 39 335 66 28 866
• www.multiyachts.it

Practical Information

• Technical specification
• Finance your Aventura 43
• Insure your Aventura 43

Description

2015, Carbon mast, main, solent, code 0, Spi, 2x40 hp, 4 cabins 4 toilette, 4x120 W solar panels, 100 l/H water maker, alu Highfield 3,40 m. 20 Hp Suzuki, Sat phone, Epirb etc Free harbour at Bastia up till June 2018.

Information

Contact the seller.

Share this advert

You may also be interested in.

Solid and fast catamaran

Lagoon 410 S2

Lagoon 440 3 cabins version for sale

SOLD - Nautitech 40 OPEN 2014

rare phisa 42 first hand

FREYDIS 46 CROISEUR (Sold)

Nautitech 47 - 12 berths!

UNIQUE FOUNTAINE PAJOT LUCIA 40

LAGOON 400 OWNER VERSION

Add to favorites.

You added " " to your favorites.

You have deleted " " de vos favoris.

ALLEN ORGAN INSTALLATIONS

The petrozavodsk state academy of music petrozavodsk, republic of karelia, russia.

The Petrozavodsk State Academy of Music is an independent music institute with approximately 100 faculty members and 500 students. The Academy has become a center of excellence for training music professionals, concert activity and musicological research in North Russia. Its more than 4000 graduates work in Russia and in many countries around the world.

This Allen organ was installed in the newly dedicated and acoustically superior Great Hall of the Petrozavodsk State Academy of Music in Karelia, Russia. The three-manual console was finished to match the stage's floor and shell. In addition to authentic pipe sounds, the instrument provides modern musical sounds through Vista Navigator™.

Click here to see this organ as an Organ of the Week

Destination guides

Download free Russia travel guides

St Petersburg

Golden Ring

Lake Baikal

• Murmansk (Kola Peninsula)

Moscow & St Petersburg

• Russia River Cruises

Expedition Cruises

• Trans-Siberian Tours

Northern Lights Tours

Siberia Tours

• Winter Tours
• Students Trips
• Luxury Tours
• Plan My Tour

Start planning my tour

Your Russia, your dates, your mates

• Destination Guides
• Russia Travel Tips
• Russian Visa
• Travel Insurance
• Why 56th Parallel
• Traveller Reviews

FIND ARTICLES BY CATEGORY

• EXPERIENCES
• TRAVEL TIPS
• CULTURE & ETHNOGRAPHY
• FESTIVALS & EVENTS
• WEIRD & WONDERFUL

Karelia Travel Guide - Russia's Most Inspiring Region

Home / Russia Travel Experiences / Karelia Travel Guide – Russia’s Most Inspiring Region

For those planning a trip to Russia and wanting an experience that goes beyond the walls of Moscow ‘s metropolitan kingdom and St. Petersburg ‘s splendid palaces, consider extending your holiday to Karelia !

With the help of this Karelia Travel Guide, you won’t have to travel as far as Siberia to be surrounded by the authentic taiga. One night by train and you will find yourself in a land of white nights, boundless forests and crystal-clear lakes.

Bordered by Finland to the west and the White Sea to the east, Karelia is rapidly becoming one of Russia’s top destinations for travellers all around the world to visit. With a fantastic mix of untouched nature, outdoor adventure and cultural discovery, every traveller can (and will) find a reason to fall in love with this near-magical frontier country.

Our Karelia Travel Guide will take you through everything you need to know about this spectacular Northwestern region of Russia. Whether you’re searching for the best time of the year to visit, the top attractions or how to travel to Karelia, we have you covered.

Table of Contents

Who Should Travel to Karelia?

Karelia for nature lovers and active adventurers.

Densely forested and gloriously remote, Karelia is a paradise on Earth for any nature lover. Be enthralled by the region’s untouched wilderness and diverse wildlife, from picturesque hills and winding rivers to lush green forests and idyllic lakes, such as Europe’s two largest lakes – Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega.

For those seeking an exciting and action-packed holiday, Karelia has a wide range of summer and winter activities to get the blood pumping. Water tourism is highly sought after during the summer months. Navigate your way around the region’s vast waterways on a canoe, kayak across crystal-clear lakes, go on a whitewater rafting adventure or try your hand at fly fishing.

The landscape is also threaded by hiking routes, and its forest roads are ideal for bicycle or quad bike tours during this time of the year. In winter, you will have the opportunity to engage in all types of skiing, embark on a dog or reindeer sledding adventure or speed across the lands on a snowmobile. Other outdoor pursuits include snowshoeing, ice fishing and sledding.

Karelia For History and Culture Buffs

While a large portion of Karelia’s appeal is its untouched wilderness, it is by no means a simple no-mans land. Instead, Karelia can be considered a living museum of human history. Inhabited by the Scandinavians for 6,000 years, Karelia has been intermittently contested by the  Finnish, Swedish, and Russian forces over the centuries. Today, despite having much of its territory ceded to the Soviet Union in 1939, the region still retains a strong cultural connection with eastern Finland.

Those interested in history and archaeology can discover some of the most complex and expressive prehistoric stone carvings on the shores of the White Sea and Lake Onega, which also keep the secrets of the ancient Sami’s labyrinths on the islands.

Karelia For Architecture Enthusiasts

Karelia houses some of the best-preserved traditional wooden architecture in the country. The intricate beauty and unique architectural framework specific to Northern Russia would make even the most experienced traveller stand in awe.

From ancient villages and banyas to collections of 17th and 18th-century churches skillfully crafted entirely out of wood, anyone with even the slightest bit of appreciation for architecture must visit Karelia at least once in their lifetime. Noteworthy architectural jewels include the Church of Transfiguration and the Assumption Cathedral on Kizhi Island.

Karelia Travel Attractions

Karelia travel destination #1: petrozavodsk.

Petrozavodsk is the capital and the largest city of the Karelia, stretching along the western shore of Lake Odega for around 27km. While travellers mainly use Petrozavodsk as a launching point for Karelia’s main attractions (Kizhi, Solovki and Valaam Islands), it has so much more to offer.

Multifaceted and diverse, this modern city draws in tourists with its neoclassical architecture and evolving cultural sphere. Noteworthy museums include the “House of the Doll” Tatyana Kalinina, the house-museum “Karelian Hut”, the Karelian State Museum of Local Lore, and the Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Karelia . Those interested in theatre should also visit the Musical Theatre of the Republic of Karelia , admire its gorgeous architecture and take a stroll through its surrounding square and park. Petrozavodsk is unique in nature due to its location, as it has a blend of Russian, Karelian and Finnish culture. This is expressed through the local cuisine, language and everyday lifestyle. Furthermore, being the capital of Karelia means that it is a local hub for nightlife and shopping, with several new shopping centres popping up around the city over recent years. Petrozavodsk also hosts several festivals, such as the International Contest of Snow and Ice Sculptures “Hyperborea”, Vozdukh live music festival, “White Nights of Karelia” music festival, and the landscape festival “Harmony of White Nights”.

Karelia Travel Destination #2: Kizhi Island

Located on the northern end of Lake Onega, the tiny island of Kizhi is home to one of the largest open-air museums in the world. The museum is a spectacular cultural site comprised of over 80 monuments of wooden architecture collected from the 17th to the 19th centuries and skillfully crafted and restored to form a glimpse of the past. Old chapels, peasant houses, windmills, threshing barns and granaries can be found scattered all around the island. 

The crown jewel of Kizhi is the Church of Transfiguration, otherwise known as Preobrazhenskaya. This architectural masterpiece features 5 tiers of 22 wooden domes, gables and ingenious decorations designed to prevent rain from ruining the walls. Built-in 1714 without the use of a single nail, it has withstood the elements for over 150 years. The Kizhi Pogost , which is a fenced area including the Church of Transfiguration, Church of the Intercession of Holy Mary (9 domed church) and the Bell-Tower, has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as the most prominent monument of ancient northern wooden architecture. Other must-see attractions include the 14th century Church of Ressurection of Lazarus and the Chapels of Archangel Mikhail.

With local villagers and artisans still living on the island to this day, they demonstrate rural life in Karelia, its traditional crafts from the 18th and 19th century, such as weaving, woodcarving, and painting, and tasks of peasant life. Rent a bicycle and explore the stunning landscapes and impressive architecture that Kizhi Island has to offer, or join a tour for an insight into the gradual development of a unique Karelian culture that differs greatly from the rest of Russia.

Karelia Travel Destination #3: Valaam Island

Valaam, dubbed the ‘Russian Vatican’, is an archipelago located in the northern region of Lake Ladoga. As one of the most popular Orthodox tourist destinations, the main attraction that draws visitors to its shores is the 14th century Transfiguration Monastery on Valaam Island .

The central monastery is a monumental structure that sits on top of the high hill, making it visible from many locations on the island. In the past, the monastery had been subjected to numerous accounts of destruction and devastation from fires and invasions. However, despite that, it was revived to live again. Now, nestled in its central part are gardens, a bakery, vegetable patches and a farm, surrounded by pine trees, rolling prairies and granite cliffs with around 200 Orthodox monks living within its walls permanently.

If you are looking to avoid crowds of travellers, you can also explore dozens of other smaller churches and chapels that are scattered around pretty headlands, quiet inland bays or bridged islets.

Karelia Travel Destination #4: Solovetsky Islands

The Solovetsky Islands, otherwise known as Solovki, is a place that many travellers fantasise about visiting when in Russia but few actually ever end up doing so. This is part of the attraction, however, as it means that you won’t encounter hoards of tourists in this largely unspoiled part of Russia, yet you can have an ‘off the beaten track’ experience without having to rough it up too much. Located in the Onega Bay of the White Sea, the archipelago is made up of 6 main islands and many smaller ones. The largest island is the Bolshoy Solovetsky and it is home to the main monastery, which dominates the rural idyll of Solovetsky Village, the islands’ main settlement.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Solovetsky Monastery is a real stronghold for orthodox Christianity and for a while, Solovki was seen to symbolise nothing but asceticism, faith and spirituality. This took a drastic change in the 20th century as Stalin transformed it into one of the USSR’s most notorious prison camps.

Even if you’re not a history buff, the island’s main museum is worth a visit as it is dedicated to those who were incarcerated here during the Stalinist era. There’s no English translation but the photos, pictures and artifacts more than speak for themselves. The monastery was rehabilitated after the fall of the Soviet Union, and today the islands’ natural beauty, spiritual significance and solemn history draw travellers from all corners of the Earth to its shores.

Karelia Travel Destination #5: Kinerma – Village

The historical village of Kinerma , situated 100 km from Petrozavodsk, is a unique complex of wooden architecture specific to the Karelian-Livviki and a living example of the traditional settlements in Karelia. Said to be the most beautiful village in Russia, no new houses are allowed to be built on the lands. Everything seen today has been erected and restored according to the ancient plan of the village.

Currently, in the village of Kinerma there are 16 yards and only 5 permanent residents, but they are actively farming, preserving and maintaining the traditional rural way and visitors can visit the village personally to touch the past. With 17 houses, 7 baths, and an old cemetery, the main attraction and spiritual centre of Kinerma is its chapel, built in the second half of the 18th century in honour of the icon of Virgin Mary from Smolensk. According to legend, the icon was brought to the village by a passing soldier and has since protected the village from any harm and misfortune.

Another noteworthy attraction is the black banyas, typical of Karelian villages. Such banyas are built without a chimney and use the smoke from its primitive stoves made of stones to warm the sauna. We would highly recommend experiencing a session in a black banya, as the temperature inside is not too high, but the humidity is high enough to free yourself from all toxins and stress.

Karelia Travel Destination #6: Ruskeala Mountain Park, Sortavala

For lovers of active leisure, Ruskeala Mountain Park is the place to be. Formerly a marble quarry, this 109-metre wide canyon is a unique and multidimensional monument to both nature and the history of mining. Mined by the Karelians, Swedes, Finns and Russians for nearly three centuries, the marble has been used in the construction of some of the most significant structures in Russia, such as the floors of the Kazan Cathedral, St. Issac’s Cathedral and the window sills of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg .

Now, tall pines line the top of the steep canyon walls while its sides are riddled with caves and grottoes just waiting to be explored.

Over the years, the canyon has also filled up with the purest emerald-green water from underground springs. Karelia travellers can navigate through its system of open and underwater galleries, drifts and shafts, all of which stretch a total of several hundred metres.

Apart from hiking along some of the most breathtaking tracks, you will also have the opportunity to ride trolleys (mechanized bungees) over its waters, rent a boat and explore the beauty of Marble Lake, go down into abandoned mine shafts and ice-skate over the icy bottom of its caves. It is also only in Ruskeala that you will be able to find preserved exotic mosses, lichens, orchid plants and shrubs, as well as rare species of reptiles, amphibians and even bats.

Karelia Travel Destination #7: Ruskeala Express Retro Steam Train

The Ruskeala Express provides an incredibly scenic journey through the forested landscapes of Karelia to one of the most beautiful natural preserves in Russia, Ruskeala Mountain Park.

The retro-style steam train runs daily between Sortavala (250km west of the Karelian capital, Petrozavodsk) and takes around an hour to reach the park entrance. The Ruskeala Express is the only daily steam-powered passenger train left in Russia. Running on a locomotive engine built in 1949, its interiors are inspired by the late 19 th century look. Between July and September, non-stop train services run between Moscow and Sortavala, with a total travel time of 17.5 hours.

Karelia Travel Destination #8: State National Park Paanajärvi

In contrast to the action-packed Ruskeala,  Paanajärvi National Park is all about reconnecting with nature and finding your own zen away from civilization. Located in the north-west region of Karelia, the main purpose of establishing the Park was to preserve the unique nature of the Olanga River and Lake Paanajärvi.

The landscapes are exceptionally breathtaking; mountain ridges are split by deep ravines, fast-flowing streams with frothing rapids cut through the terrain, and crystal-clear lakes sparkle under the sun’s gentle rays. Its valleys and hills alike are covered with virgin forests, where giant pines and spruce dominate the lands.

You can also find numerous fauna roaming around freely, such as bears, elk, wolverines, foxes, and reindeer. On a rare occasion, you may even be able to spot muskrats or beavers. The pearl of the park is Lake Paanajärvi – the biggest lake in the region. It is situated in a large bedrock rift and extends for about 15 kilometres from the East to West.

In winter it’s one of the most popular places for Northern Lights hunt.

Karelia Travel Destination #9: Petroglyphs of the White Sea and Lake Onega

Created during the Neolithic era, the petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White sea are considered as some of the most complex and expressive samples of Late Stone Age art in northern Europe. The drawings depict elaborate scenes of warfare, seafaring, hunting, religious rituals, skiing and enigmatic figures. With more than 70 different ancient settlements identified in relation to the carvings, they constitute the largest Neolithic site in the region.

The Onega petroglyphs are located along the eastern shore of Lake Onega for a distance of about 18.5km, while petroglyphs of the White Sea are found about 6 to 8km from Belomorsk. Carved into stunning locations such as on huge flat boulders on islets in the middle of untouched forests, these petroglyphs are easily accessible to study and photograph.

Karelia Travel Destination #10: Vottovaara Mountain

A 417m glacial mountain peak and archaeological site in the West Karelian Hills, Mount Vottovaara is known for its bizarre, boulder-strewn landscape. Surrounding the peak is a patchwork of strange “legged” stones, oddly deformed trees and miniature lakes.

A superb hiking destination in Karelia, Mount Vottovaara is considered sacred among the Sami people, who historically inhabited all of Northern Scandinavia as well as Eastern Karelia.

Fantastic rock paintings discovered here and in nearby Lake Onega (known as the Onega petroglyphs) suggest that this was an ancient pagan ritual site as far back as an estimated 6,000 years ago.

Karelia Travel Destination #11: Karjala Park

In a picturesque rural location on the banks of the Shuya River, Karjala Park is a Scandinavian-style eco-hotel and year-round outdoor recreation complex with a wide array of activities on offer for day visitors and hotel guests.

During winter, the beautiful forested setting of Karjala Park provides an adventure sports playground with activities like husky dog sledding, snowmobiling and ice fishing. Summer activities include trekking, rafting and kayaking on the Shuya River. ATV and 4WD tours, fishing and authentic Russian and Karelian cooking classes can be enjoyed all year round.

Karelian Culture, Festivals & Cuisine

Sharing a 700km long border with Finland to the west, the Republic of Karelia is traditionally the home of the Karelians, a Baltic-Finnic ethnic group who today make up just over 34% of the population of Russian Karelia. Karelian, Finnish and Veps (another minority Finnic group residing on the Russian-Finnish border) are officially recognised languages in the Republic.

Today, Karelia retains a strong cultural connection with Finland. Distinctly Karelian culture lives on in the peasant traditions of poetry, music and folk ceremonies that reinforce the people’s bond with the land and sea.

Karelian traditions and folklore

Scandinavian sagas and chronicles tell us that the Karelians were known to the Vikings as early as the 7 th century AD. Karelian traditions and celebratory rites are closely related to a work of epic poetry compiled from Karelian and Finnish oral folklore and mythology. The Kaleva deciphers the local runes and explains the origins of the region and its inhabitants. It tells the story of the hero and demigod Vainamoinen, who according to legend built the first boat and created Karelia’s national musical instrument, the Kantele, a plucked string instrument somewhat similar to the dulcimer.

This legend and other pagan folktales inform many of the customs and festivals still practiced by the Karelian people today, although these days the majority of Russian Karelians are Eastern Orthodox Christians.

Festivals in Karelia

Midsummer Day or the Summer Solstice is the most important holiday in the traditional calendar for all northern peoples. The longest day in summer falls on June 22. Across Karelia, celebrations begin in the evening and last all through the night, during the time of the Karelian “white nights”, when sun lights up the land 24 hours a day. Young people would traditionally go to the forest to gather ferns, dance around bonfires and swim in the lakes.

The White Nights of Karelia Music Festival is an annual event organised by the State Glazunov Conservatory in Petrozavodsk city. Held over several days and nights each summer, the festival program includes exclusive performances by local, Russian and international musicians, performing well-known masterpieces, chamber music and the latest orchestral works.

The Elonpu (Tree of Life) Festival is a pagan holiday for the Veps culture, celebrated in mid-July on the shores of Lake Onega near the village of Sheltozero. There are only an estimated 7,000 Vepsians left, and most of them live in Karelian villages.

Hyperborea , or the International Winter Festival is held annually in February in Petrozavodsk. The highlight of the week-long winter festival is the international competition of snow and ice sculptures. Professional and amateur teams from Russia, as well as guests from foreign nations compete to create the most impressive and elaborate sculptures, carved out of ice and illuminated by multi-coloured lights. The festival mixes high art and everyday entertainment common to the region, encompassing everything from art exhibitions and concerts through to ice swimming races and dog sledding competitions.  

Karelian Cuisine

For the Russian food lovers out there, Karelian cuisine is nutritious and diverse. Karelia is famous for its baked dishes. A must-try appetizer dish of Karelia is Kalitki with potatoes. Served hot, it is an open pie made from rye flour dough with a filling usually made from millet kasha, potatoes, rice, tvorog or meat. Salted and marinated Karelian mushrooms are also very popular as a snack.

For the mains, local freshwater fish such as the delicious Northern salmon are often added into hearty fish soups or are marinated, salted and served as a separate dish. Remember to save room for dessert, as they make sweet northern pies, pastries and pancakes with delectable local wild berries. Finally, wash down the food with freshly squeezed berry juices or robust liquors made from cranberries, red bilberries and cloudberries.

Karelia Travel Tips – Weather in Karelia and When to Visit

Karelia’s climate is transitive from maritime to continental, and typically carries much milder winters in comparison to other northern regions near the Arctic. This is due to the warm, humid air masses from the west, though incursions of Arctic air can cause bitter cold spells. Karelia’s climate has therefore gained a reputation for being unpredictable, so no matter the season, Karelia travel guide readers should be prepared for practically any weather.

Summer in Karelia

June – August

Average temperatures: 11ºC to 21ºC

Summer in Karelia is the highest travel season. The reason is quite simple: the best way to see most of the attractions located in this beautiful region – by water. These include, in particular, famous Valaam and Kizhi – islands of the Ladoga and Onega lakes. The navigation season opens in mid-May and closes in mid-September. Therefore, if you want to go on a tour of the main attractions of Karelia, it is better to plan a trip for the summertime. For the most part, Karelian summers are short but the days are long and cool with a fair amount of rainfall scattered in between. Plenty of outdoor activities are available during this time, such as fishing, quad biking, kayaking, cycling and whitewater rafting.

June (its end) is a month when you can experience the amazing spectacle of White Nights in Karelia, otherwise known as midsummer night or polar day. This is a time where the sun sets but remains above the horizon, bathing the landscape with a pearlescent all-night glow until the early mornings. Take advantage of this occasion and enjoy a night-time boat tour or a midnight stroll. This month is also the best for visiting the picturesque Marble Canyon at the mountain park “Ruskeala”, as well as visiting the “Kivach” Nature Reserve, which waterfalls are the fullest during this time.

The height of summer is during July , where you’ll be able to go for a swim in the many crystal-clear lakes scattered across the region. This summer month is very good for fishing: salmon, pike, roach, ide, steam perch, large bream are well caught in the local waters.

The summer heat often rolls over to August, but the nights start getting longer and cooler, it becoming rainy and foggy. August in Karelia is the time of picking berries. With the beginning of September, the high tourist season in this region of the Northern Russia ends and the off-season begins, which lasts until the beginning of December.

Autumn in Karelia

September – October

Average temperatures: -5ºC to +12ºC

The month of September is a lovely period as temperatures are still relatively warm, but you no longer have to worry about pesky mosquitoes. Lingonberries, cranberries and mushrooms are in full bloom, carpeting the forest and tundra. Trees start to turn yellow and gold, and the ground vegetation a deep red. This is what we like to call ‘Flaming Autumn’.

This is also one of the best time for photography. As temperatures start to cool in October, dip your toes in a steam bath and enjoy a hot beverage by the fireplace. This is when lakes begin freezing over and the snow starts to fall in preparation for a winter fairytale.

Winter in Karelia

November – April

Average temperatures: -15ºC to -5ºC

November is off-season with very unstable weather. Rivers and lakes are getting to freeze. It is still possible to get to such popular places as Kizhi or Valaam by hivuses and snowmobiles, but these sights are not as impressive as in summer.

In December , snow covers the land and forests, turning the region into a winter wonderland. Explore the frosty ethereal taiga forests on a snowmobile or try your hand at dog-sledding with the famous Siberian huskies. Later on, settle down around a fire in a local dacha and soothe your muscles in a Russian-style sauna. Its proximity to the Arctic Circle means that the Karelian skies are sometimes graced by the stunning Northern Lights, which even can be observed in Petrozavodsk, although, the best place is somewhere far away from the city lights, such as the remote village of Nilmoguba or Paanajärvi National Park, located on the border with Finland. If you won’t get lucky with the Northen Lights hunt (it happens quite often), then at least you may admire the untouched nature of Northern Russia.

March is the sunniest month, while the very end of Winter – April , is the time when lakes and rivers start to get free from the ice.

Spring in Karelia

Average temperatures: 0 ºC to +15ºC

Spring is arguably one of the best times to venture outdoors into the beautiful Karelian forests. Tree leaves turn green, flowers start to bloom, rivers flow faster. Try your hand at fishing in one of the many lakes and rivers, as early May is a time when Northern Pike and Perch spawn by the thousands.

Karelia Travel Options

Karelia travel by plane.

At the moment, the only flights coming in and out of the Karelian capital of Petrozavodsk are from Moscow. S7 Airlines has flights that leave between 5 to 7 times a week from Domodedovo Airport, taking approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. Be sure to keep an eye out on S7’s flight schedule as the timetable changes fairly frequently.

Once you arrive at the Petrozavodsk airport, it is about a 12km drive to the city centre. Pre-arranged private transfers are typically the preferred methods of transportation to get to town.

Karelia Travel By Train

This is the most reliable and convenient way of travelling to Karelia. There are several daytime and overnight trains running from the St. Petersburg Ladozhsky railway station to Petrozavodsk (approximately 7 hours). Usually, travellers prefer the overnight train, as it saves time and money.

Alternatively, trains from Moscow to Petrozavodsk run daily. The journey from Moscow to Petrozavodsk takes around 16 hours.

Karelia Travel By Bus

>Catching a bus is one of the cheapest ways to travel to Karelia. There are bus services running 4 to 5 times a day that travel between St. Petersburg and Petrozavodsk, with the journey taking between 5 to 6 hours.

Karelia Travel By Car

There are two main routes to Karelia: the M-8 and R-5 from Moscow via Vologda, and the M-18 from St. Petersburg (from Moscow you can get on the M-18 bypassing St. Petersburg through A114 Zuevo-Volkhov-Novaya Ladoga). If you were to choose any route other than the M-18, it should be noted that Karelian roads are in mostly bad conditions, quite bumpy and often include stretches of unpaved roads.

The approximate travel time from St. Petersburg to Petrozavodsk is 5 hours (430km), and 12 hours (996km) from Moscow to Petrozavodsk.

Related posts

16 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Russia You Must Visit

Did you know that there are currently 26 UNESCO world heritage sites in Russia? That makes Russia 9th in the world for its total number of World Heritage Sites – 16 of which are cultural and 10 of which are natural.

Kazan Travel Guide - Perfect Your Travel Itinerary

Craving a one-of-a-kind, awe-inspiring trip to a place of ancient histories, visually spectacular, and spiritual marvels? The Kazan Travel Guide has everything you need to get just that.

A Traveller's Guide to Russia’s Golden Ring Region

The perfect retreat from million-miles-an-hour Moscow, the medieval cities of Russia’s Golden Ring are nestled amid green hills and floral meadows, with rambling country roads surrounded by forests, lakes, orchards and wooden farmhouses. The idyllic ‘Mother Russia’ of old still exists, and it’s right here.

Related Tours

Gems of karelia – kizhi island, solovki and valaam.

Enjoy all major sights of Karelia just in a 7-day tour. You will visit Kizhi and Valaam Islands, Kivach Waterfall and Ruskeala Park, Solovetsky and Valaam monasteries. See the ...

Karelia & Kizhi Island in 3 Days

On this short detour from Moscow or St Petersburg, you will explore cultural and natural sites of Karelia. Your tour starts in Petrozavodsk - the largest city in Karelia mostly ...

Articles by Category

About 56 th parallel.

56th Parallel is a travel company specialising in providing packaged tours and travel services in Russia.

Our goal is to redefine travel to Russia, focusing on creating the most rewarding experiences, which help travellers unfolds the soul of this exciting destination.

RUSSIA TOURS FINDER

Russia tour finder.

< Return

Destination

Russian capitals and surrounds, siberia and russian far east, russian arctic, travel style, city breaks.

River Cruises

Trans Siberian Tours

Adventure and Discovery

Russia Winter Tours

Other travel styles

Luxury Holidays

Have a question or need specific information?

Send us a note below or call us

Country * Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegowina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Cote d'Ivoire Croatia (Hrvatska) Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France France Metropolitan French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard and Mc Donald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran (Islamic Republic of) Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao, People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco Mongolia Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain Sri Lanka St. Helena St. Pierre and Miquelon Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States United States Minor Outlying Islands Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands (British) Virgin Islands (U.S.) Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Yugoslavia Zambia Zimbabwe

If you have any urgent questions or enquiries, please give us a call +61 412 587 785

hep-i-book'a

A lazy perfectionist in the kitchen and on the road, petroskoi or petrozavodsk, capital of karelian republic.

My second trip to Petrozavodsk , the capital of Karelian Republic in the North of Russia, has proved once again my first impression of a very provincial and yet welcoming city. In fact this visit has been one of the most rewarding as far as my job goes. But of course there was a travel part to this journey which was almost completely left out during my first time in Petrozavodsk 2 years ago .

Petrozavodsk is of exactly the same age as St Petersburg and was founded by the same super-active person, tsar and then emperor Peter the Great. Actually,  Petrozavodsk is a shortened version of Petrovsky Zavod , the Factory of Peter, as there was this factory founded to make metal things for the Russian fleet.

People had populated the area long before the new settlement appeared on the shores of the Onega lake, well, in fact, thousands of years earlier, so the region has enough to show and tell about its indigenous people and their culture, the Karelians. The language is very close to the Finnish language and – if not widely spoken – it is still preserved in the region. Petrozavodsk is Petroskoi in Karelian and that’s what you read written on top of the Stalinist railway station building when you arrive from St Petersburg.

Karelia for me is all about forests and stones. It’s a pity in this time of the year you don’t see much when travelling with an overnight train. When we arrived in Petrozavodsk it was so early in the morning we had to wait at the station (which had free wifi and actually there’s wifi all over the city for free!) till it got less dark and we could go have breakfast on the 4th floor of an ex- mica factory (dating back to 1930 but now shut down) with a view over the old roofs of the city. We were the first customers but I must say that Na Kryshe (On the Roof) cafe proved to be ready with tasty buttermilk oladyi (pancakes) served with oblepikhovoye varenye ( sea buckthorn jam) and a pot of milk Oolong tea. And that was a very economical breakfast!

Out of all the cities I visited so far this autumn I think I liked the haunted Kaliningrad with its ever present past the most. Whereas Chelyabinsk left very negative feeling and it was not for nothing that I kept coughing each time I went outside there, Petrozavodsk left a rather positive impression on me. It’s a small very low rising (unless you visit one of the suburbs) provincial town with some preserved old houses and an embankment where you can catch a hydrofoil to get you to the famous Kizhi island which has become an open-air museum for wooden structures. We arrived too late in the year to get there but I hope I will see Kizhi soon. At least I don’t mind seeing Petrozavodsk in a better weather!

Petrozavodsk itself is an open-air museum for old houses, be it wooden barracks or Stalinist imposing buildings along the main arteries of the city. It used to be a very St Pete-like city, I mean the houses were really old, both built in stone and those in wood. Like this hospital building which can be seen from the Onega Lake embankment:

Well, the war swept away most of the old city and there came the 1950s when the new rationalizing plans which brought new buildings for the better future of the Soviet Petrozavodsk. And oh boy what houses!

This is the house where the central office of Post of Russia is (no postcards!). Actually sometimes the buildings housing Post of Russia are one of the best in the cities I’ve visited (like in Vologda). But then it rarely affect the quality and the swiftness of the service…

Another grand Stalinist house forming the ensemble of the central square:

With these Stalinist buildings you just have to remember to look up from time to time – to discover all those details and (decaying) balconies which I actually try to avoid these days 🙂

And then – in stark contrast – there is this type of houses – we saw several of them:

or these barracks – people still live there, mind you…

the same house from the other side – and with the wood for the long winter…

and this is the entrance to one of the wooden houses opposite those barracks

and how about this one?

the wall is just oh so decadent!

However the city has a number of 19th and early 20th century wooden houses all gathered together near Onega embankment that form a separate district of historical and architectural value. Take a walk along the Onega Lake embankment starting from the square in front of the Theatre and then turning left. But do not walk fast however windy the day might be!

The embankment is yet another open-air museum (and how does one fit in all this in such a small town?!) – this time of various successful and not that very successful sculptures and statues. The one from the beginning of the post called the Statue of Fishermen (a gift from Minnesota) looks really nice against the colourful sunset sky and the lake while the tall figure of Peter the Great (19th century) has actually been removed from its original place twice throughout the Soviet period. And guess who stands in Peter’s place now in the middle of the central square? You’ll find it out later in the post.

And with this small stone house begins the district full of old wooden houses, in one of which we entered to warm ourselves up a bit and from which we went out with some embroidered souvenirs. They also have some natural products like shampoo and soap, made without any preservatives and all that stuff.

This is the hospital church:

And this is one of the most expensive hotels in the city spoiling the view on the old town. ‘Spoiling’ because as I said the city has very small amount of high-rises in its historical center, so this weird construction can be seen from far away.

On the last day of our stay we left our hotel and went for a walk in the sun, heading towards the local history museum where we wanted to spend some quality time. It was sunny but rather frosty and we had quite a lot of time before the train back to St Pete – that was not an overnight but a rather fast Siemens train with comfortable seats which takes 5 hours.

When we came to the end of this wall we realized that was the Industrial Museum (which we skipped) occupying the old factory buildings. We thoroughly enjoyed this urban art on the walls!

So in the end we spent an unusual for an average visitor lot of time at the local history museum . Recommended by the way! There’s even a chance to listen to some Karelian folk songs and incantations or get a copy of Karelian recipes (will try some of them for sure!). Karelian cuisine is based on what the wild nature gives you and so some of the exhibits at the museum were dedicated to it.

And yep, here’s your Lenin right in the middle of Lenin Square (apparently), where Peter the Great used to stand until the 1930s came. And the Square itself has a very curious story to tell – it changed its name so many times I got lost when counting them. Well, they definitely embellished the look of the square whatever name you call it in the recent years. But as soon as you go into the back yard of the museum, you find yourself staring at this wrack of the “state-preserved” building:

The museum will also tell you about the brief period of the Finnish occupation of the city (1941-44) when the same Square which used to be Round Square (:) was renamed into Administrative Square. And oh, remember those Karelian forests that go on and on and on? Well, with the forests you have a strong culture of gathering or foraging and that means you have all the tools for berry picking or hunting for mushrooms 🙂 Here’s what you can see at display at the museum:

This thingy with spikes is to pick berries in a fast and efficient way. Everything made from wood and bark of the trees… Perfect! Just as this proto-rucksack for carrying all the treasure the forests can give:

After that we just could not have missed the local food! So we headed to the same restaurant opposite one of the best known symbols of Petrozavodsk (hotel Severnaya where I stayed last time – definitely NOT recommended, if only to see the inside of that super-red Stalinist buildings with white columns) where I ate 2 years ago . The restaurant is called Karelskaya Gornitsa and is although quite pricey and tourist-oriented is a nice place to imagine yourself travelling back in time.

But you see, last time we went to the Finnish part of the restaurant and this time we entered the Karelian part, which I found out when we were already leaving the place. All the time we were there I was wondering why I cannot recognize the place at all =) And then they explained to me there are two entrances leading to two parts of the restaurant. So we’ve made a better choice this time entering the Karelian cuisine part!

There I sampled thew most fluffy and almost yogurt-like thing called tolokno (oat flour which contains all the bran usually removed when making the regular flour) mixed with blueberries (hence the colour) and also a rye blin (pancake) filled with millet. This type of rye or barley pancake is called skantsy or sulchiny and is traditionally filled with porridge (they are either baked or fried, sweet or sour) . We drank cowberry mors (juice) which is almost always the best choice when it comes to traditional non-alcoholic drinks in Russia.  

For some Karelian recipes , see my post on kalitka , traditional Karelian rye boat-like pie which is also enjoyed in Finland and in the North of Russia.

So, to wrap up Petrozavodsk, here are my checklist points:

• decent postcards – failed
• post office – found
• market – failed
• local history museum – done
• dairy products and baked stuff – sampled
• local specialit é s – as far as the vegetarian stuff is concerned – tasty! And my Mom said that her fried fish and rich mushroom soup were really good!
• old town – seen and admired

Here you can hear the official hymn of the Republic of Karelia (actually a song from 1963). It was played on the train when we were leaving Petrozavodsk without unfortunately seeing all the beauty of the Karelian woods and lakes…

By the way, I am going to the dark-dark Arkhangelsk in two weeks! Hope this time I will get hold of the authentic sochni of Arkhangelsk…

Share this:

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Vkontakte (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Bloglovin' (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)

4 thoughts on “ Petroskoi or Petrozavodsk, Capital of Karelian Republic ”

Great atmospheric pics!

I love this kind of posts and pictures. Amazing!

Thank you, Abel! Now I will have to get back to some cooking posts as well 🙂

Say something... Cancel reply

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Copy shortlink
• Report this content
• View post in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar