Where in Kalinin. Beaches of the Kaliningrad region

After many years of traveling abroad and repeated trips to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, I finally reached a remote corner of our Motherland, surrounded on all sides by foreign neighbors and washed by the cold waters of the Baltic Sea.

In July 2015, I spent a week in the Kaliningrad region, where I had only been in transit for a few hours on the way from Poland to Lithuania back in 2003. And thanks to the fact that this week I was kindly invited to visit my wonderful old friends Vika and Sasha, with whom I traveled for several days in Syria in 2006, my week in the Kaliningrad region was not only eventful and interesting, but also very soulful ! And I would never have had time to see so much if not for the inexhaustible energy of Vika and Sasha and their ardent desire to show me their native land from the best side. Thank you very much, my dears, it was you who made my trip to Kaliningrad unforgettable!

Kaliningrad is certainly a completely unique city in Russia, and not only because it is located at a distance from the mainland, but also because there is nothing old Russian in it at all, but, fortunately, a lot of old things survived the devastating Second World War German. Perhaps in no other large Russian city have I seen people living close to the center in their two-story houses, surrounded by small garden plots with trimmed lawns and blooming hydrangeas.

In the blocks north and north-west of the geographical center of Kaliningrad that survived the British bombings of 1944, a number of interesting German apartment buildings from two to five floors in height, each unique in its own way and different from its neighbors, have been preserved, as well as many mansions, all still covered with old German tiles.

The Lutheran churches rising to the sky have also been preserved - some of them were transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church, others housed the Puppet Theater and the Kaliningrad Regional Philharmonic. There are several interesting buildings built in the 20-30s in the constructivist style. Paving stones have been preserved on the roads. And in general, the neighborhoods around Telman Street and Prospekt Mira have retained their unique flavor of a European town.

In addition to civil architecture, Königsberg defensive structures have also been preserved in Kaliningrad: travel gates made of red brick, built in the mid-19th century to protect the city center, some of which are still travel gates, and some are given over to museum sites. Powerful forts built in the 70s of the 19th century at a distance of 6-7 km have also been preserved. from the center to protect the approaches to Koenigsberg. Both are incredibly interesting to explore, and the abandoned Fort No. 3 on the northern exit from Kaliningrad is one of my most vivid impressions of the city!

In order to see old Königsberg and compare it with today's Kaliningrad, you should definitely visit the stunning museum located in the Friedland Gate! Its modern and lovingly made exhibition is entirely dedicated to the life of German Königsberg: a 20-minute film shows photographs of Königsberg at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, footage of old documentary newsreels, the exhibition halls contain household items of the inhabitants of Königsberg, there are showcases dedicated to different spheres of life, described the history of the city and the construction of defensive structures, and there is even a wonderful exhibition dedicated to the history of city sewerage (not only in Königsberg, but throughout the world!).

Vika and Sasha had at home a wonderful book-photo album “Two Views into History” with an interesting selection of photographs of the streets and squares of pre-war Koenigsberg in comparison with how these places look now. It seems to me that this should be a reference book for every Kaliningrader, so that he can leaf through it from time to time, cherish the architectural and historical things that survived the bombings and during Soviet times, restore and protect them. Judging by the photographs, the city was thriving and very beautiful!

There are also photographs of Koenigsberg in 1944-45 immediately after two British bombings, which destroyed 90 percent of the beautiful city.

When Königsberg and the surrounding area were handed over to the USSR after the Potsdam Conference, the city was in ruins. Unfortunately, in the post-war years, many of the ruined buildings, for example, the Royal Castle, were demolished - in those years there was no time to preserve the architectural heritage; it was necessary to build housing for the Soviet people, the new residents of Kaliningrad. Therefore, today the center of Kaliningrad, which suffered the most during the bombing, is built up with ugly gray five-story buildings and is of little use for walking.

In general, Kaliningrad did not seem particularly suitable for pedestrians; I was surprised by the lack of sidewalks in some places and the lack of pedestrian crossings where they were needed. I’m probably too spoiled by the wide Sobyanin sidewalks in the center of Moscow, the ubiquitous traffic lights and underground passages.

Everything interesting in Kaliningrad is located at a fairly large distance from each other, so you need to see the city in areas. And I was incredibly lucky that they drove me around a lot, showing me the most interesting things! A day and a half of independent walking around Kaliningrad was interesting, but the long walks through dusty industrial zones from one interesting place to another were somewhat tiring. Although, near places of interest there are boards with maps and descriptions of the place of interest, which makes it very easy to explore on your own!

Another of the vivid impressions of Kaliningrad is the absence of an army of thousands of workers from Central Asia on the streets. Flying to Kaliningrad is expensive, it’s not easy to get there by land, and apparently there is no work for them. There are no chains in Kaliningrad that are familiar to the mainland: Pyaterochka, Perekrestok, Auchan, Magnit, Azbuka Vkusa, Ikea. But a few tens of kilometers from the city there are Poland and Lithuania with their high-quality food products and often more affordable prices, so you don’t have to go to Kaliningrad stores. And, of course, having the opportunity to travel by car to civilized Europe at least every weekend is a special pleasure.

A huge advantage of living in Kaliningrad is its proximity to the sea. Just half an hour by car and you are on a beach with scatterings of amber. The beaches, by the way, are beautiful, and I was delighted with the beautiful high shores in Pionersk and Svetlogorsk and, of course, with the natural beauties of the Baltic and Curonian Spit. And what sunsets over the sea in the evenings! The water in the middle of an unusually cool July, however, was only +17, but this was just a matter of habit, and the temperature turned out to be quite swimmable.

Even in summer in Kaliningrad, all-weather clothing will not hurt - when the sun is shining, it can be hot in a T-shirt, but as soon as the clouds and the wind blow, you immediately want to put on a jacket and wrap a scarf around your neck. I am glad that thanks to the strong wind the air does not stagnate, and the city is fresh even during peak traffic jams on the narrow crooked streets of the center.

Transaero took me to Kaliningrad for the anti-crisis price of 5,500 rubles and a 1.5-hour flight. When the landing plane took off from the veil of clouds, the first thing I saw through the window were the brown waters of the Curonian Lagoon, the Curonian Spit somewhere on the horizon and green fields with sheep grazing on them right under the wing of the plane.

Kaliningrad airport is very small, and the plane taxis directly to the airport building. Traveling residents of the region fly on vacation with discount airlines from neighboring Poland and Lithuania, so there would be no one to use the large airport here. Sasha meets me, and we rush along an excellent highway to Kaliningrad to leave our things at home, have lunch and set out for our first acquaintance with the city.

During the 7 days of my stay in Kaliningrad, I managed to do a lot, and the daily schedule looked something like this:

Day 1: Royal Gate – Lithuanian Val – Crown Prince Tower – Fishing Village – Cathedral and Kant’s Tomb – walk around Lake Superior.

Day 2: Yunost Park – Wrangel Tower – Rosenborg Gate – Don Tower – Amber Museum – Lithuanian Val – Royal Gate – st. 1812 – Fishing Village – organ concert in the Cathedral at 14.00 – Museum of the World Ocean (submarine, Vityaz, aquarium) – trip to Zelenogradsk, walk around the city and embankment at sunset.

Day 3: Abandoned fort No. 3 – WWII Museum in fort No. 5 – Baltiysk and the Baltic Spit: abandoned hangars in the hydroharbour, airport runway, beach and amber collection, fort, the village of Kosa, lighthouse and monument to Peter I, monument to Elizabeth Petrovna on Severny molu

Day 4: Svetlogorsk and Pionersk

Day 5: Pionersk

Day 6: Curonian Spit: Lithuanian village of Nida – Efa height – Dancing forest – Müller height – Ornithological station

Day 7: Kaliningrad Zoo – Astronomical Bastion and Ausfal Gate – walk along the Lower and Upper lakes

Day 8: St. George's Hospital (Nautical School) – Church of the Holy Family (Kaliningrad Regional Philharmonic) – Friedland Gate Museum – Brandenburg Gate – Friedrichsburg Gate (Museum of the World Ocean).

Among the interesting things in the center of Kaliningrad there is a pretty river embankment. Pregolya with a recently built quarter of German-style houses called Fishing Village. They house hotels and restaurants, some with verandas overlooking the river, where you can have an inexpensive business lunch with a view (Hoffburg, 395 rubles).

There is Kant Island and the Cathedral. Before World War II, the island was very densely built, but as a result of the bombing, only ruins remained, in which the Cathedral stood. Now the island is empty, there is a park on it, and the Cathedral rises in the center. Of course, he lacks stained glass windows - instead, the windows are covered with cardboard. But he is still very handsome. Embossed into the walls are relief boards with carved images and epitaphs of those who were buried in the cathedral.

A small mausoleum is attached to the side of the cathedral - it contains the grave of the philosopher Kant, who lived his entire life in Konigsberg.

At 14.00 every day, organ concerts are held in the cathedral (ticket price 350 rubles, duration 40 minutes, good repertoire).

From Kant Island and the Cathedral, you can cross the river to the Museum of the World Ocean, where you can buy a comprehensive ticket for 400 rubles and visit a choice of four sites. The most interesting one is the submarine. True, visiting it can be very inconvenient for overweight or two-meter people, since you have to squeeze through narrow hatches between the compartments of the submarine. Inside each compartment, an audio recording tells you what is located here and how it works. Very clear and interesting.

Another interesting thing is the research vessel “Vityaz”, which is very honored and has been on many expeditions. In the 70s, the ship fell into disrepair, and not so long ago it was brought back to life by the museum. Inside there are a lot of recreated replicas and exhibitions on various branches of the study of the world's oceans, but overall it is interesting.

There is an aquarium in the administrative building - the room is small, there are not many fish, and overall it is fun for five minutes.

Branches of the World Ocean Museum are located in the Royal and Friedrichsburg Gates. The Royal Gate itself is very beautiful, inside on the second floor there is an exhibition of bricks, through which they give an interesting tour, and not far from the Royal Gate there are the Sackheim Gate, the Lithuanian Wall, the Kronprinz Tower and the Rossgarten Gate, as well as the Don Tower with the Amber Museum and the Wrangel Tower , so all these towers and museums can be combined into one half-day trip.

The Friedrichsburg Gate and the small exhibition of the Museum of the World Ocean housed there, located in two rooms and dedicated to shipbuilding in pre-Petrine times and shipbuilding in the era of Peter the Great (plus they show 10-minute films about each of the two eras), are located some distance from everything else in the center of the industrial zone , albeit just across the river from the main exhibition of the Museum of the World Ocean. The gate is beautiful, but it was badly damaged during the Second World War, and the color of the brick shows that it was partially reconstructed.

A visit to the Friedrichsburg Gate can be combined with a crossing of the unique two-story railway-road bridge across the river. Pregol.

And then walk along Zheleznodorozhnaya Street to the beautiful Brandenburg Gate, which still functions as a travel gate.

From there, a mad dog can walk through the old German railway station building to the Friedland Gate with a must-see exhibition dedicated to Königsberg.

On the way you can see the beautiful German Church of the Holy Family, which now houses the Kaliningrad Regional Philharmonic. We arrived at her place at 9 am and for a 50 ruble entrance fee for visiting the hall we got into the rehearsal of the evening concert Bach Service performed by a chamber string orchestra. It is very beautiful inside, excellent acoustics, clear sound, and the concert program was so wonderfully chosen that I sat for 40 minutes listening to Bach with pleasure. And I would have stayed until the end of the rehearsal if it had not been my last day in Kaliningrad, 7 hours before the plane and 2 museums + 1 gate in the program for the remaining time.

Another German church that really impressed me was the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross, which was beautiful from the outside. Now it belongs to the Russian Orthodox Church and looks quite familiar inside. They say that in the upper church there is a unique amber iconostasis. The only pity is that the upper church is open only during services (at 6 pm on Saturday and 10 pm on Sunday), so I was not able to look at the amber iconostasis.

In the Central Park of Culture and Culture, the beautiful snow-white Church of Queen Louise has survived, which now houses the Puppet Theater. It’s a little strange to see such use of religious buildings - I’m somehow used to the fact that in Moscow there is an Anglican church in the Anglican Church, a Catholic church in the Roman Catholic Church, and French parishioners in the Church of St. Louis. But it would be better to have a philharmonic society and a puppet theater than for the church to be destroyed in the post-war years.

In general, I really liked almost all the gates I saw (Sackheim Gate, Rosenborg Gate next to the Amber Museum). There are also old German towers in Kaliningrad, although they are often in disrepair: the Wrangel Tower, the Kronprinz Tower in the bastion.

In the Don Tower there is a wonderful Amber Museum, where the history of amber is well told, amber specimens of impressive size, color and content (some of them with insects visible) are shown, as well as skillful amber products.

As for walking, I really liked the new embankment around the Upper Lake, as well as the old embankment around the Lower Lake, the pleasant parks Yunost and Central Park of Culture and Culture.

And also the Kaliningrad Zoo (200 rubles), where I happily spent 4 morning hours. There is not a huge variety of animals in the zoo, and at the beginning of the inspection I was puzzled by the sight of a plucked fox and a polar wolf. But overall, I really liked the assortment, because... here I saw animals and birds inhabiting the territory of the former USSR, which cannot be seen in zoos around the world, for example, the Dagestan tur, the Tajik goat, the Amur tiger, many cranes, owls and birds of prey. There were also the standard giraffes, elephant, hippos, lions, tigers, beggar bears, monkeys, zebras, bison, llamas, ostriches, peacocks, flamingos, pelicans. There is a great Tropical House pavilion with snakes, iguanas, fish, interesting species of primates, including an incredible gibbon that you could watch for hours. There is an old Soviet aquarium for an additional 10 rubles with a good assortment of Amazon fish, but some dark and too small. There are many information boards around the area with old photographs and stories about what the Königsberg Zoo was like. I haven’t been to zoos anywhere else in Russia, so I have nothing to compare with. Compared to the last zoos I visited in La Paz, Santa Cruz (Bolivia), Washington (USA) and Sibiu (Romania), it is noticeable that the Kaliningrad Zoo lacks funding, although next to some enclosures it is written which companies or people care animals, and some of the enclosures are dirty and smell. But it is still a pleasant place to visit, and the selection of animals and especially birds is good.

One day Sasha and I went to inspect the forts. On the way we visited an old German cemetery. There are almost no headstones left in the cemetery, but the Germans are taking care of the cemetery, putting up symbolic crosses, and installing memorial plaques with the names of those who were buried in the cemetery. It’s admirable to see such a reverent attitude towards one’s past, even if it’s on the territory of another country.

By the way, during the week in Kaliningrad I saw quite a lot of German tourists - maybe some of the old people still remember their childhood on the streets of beautiful Koenigsberg...

Fort No. 3 turned out to be an incredible place - three-story, huge, with two courtyards, long corridors, stairs, and many interior spaces. Many of the floors on the first floor have been uncovered by treasure hunters. Here and there there are failures, but overall the state of preservation is amazing and the place is a must-visit, especially until it has been cultivated and developed (there are signs of impending cultivation, since a path has already been laid out to the fort, and a parking lot has been made nearby). Hurry up to see!

After Fort No. 3 we went to Fort No. 5, which now houses the WWII Museum. Everything is completely different here, from the smaller scale of the fort itself to the fenced-off “don’t go there, go here” areas, areas covered with ribbons and bars where you could potentially fall through, and nets under the arches that could potentially crumble. There is no such pioneer effect as in Fort No. 3, although the exposition is quite good, the history of the creation of the forts, as well as the operation of capturing Koenigsberg, is well described.

One evening after dinner we picked up and went to Zelenogradsk watch the sunset over the sea. True, such a strong cold wind was blowing from the sea that day that on the promenade of Zelenogradsk I wanted to put on a scarf and a down jacket. But the view of the Curonian Spit stretching to the east in the rays of the setting sun was beautiful! Plus, a number of beautiful German houses have been preserved in Zelenogradsk, so the evening walk was a success.

One day after lunch we headed to Baltiysk, where we crossed on a motor boat to Baltic Spit, which also became one of my favorite places in the Kaliningrad region. The western region of Russia, just one village called Kosa, several dirt roads leading to the impressive abandoned hangars of a German hydroharbour, to an abandoned runway of a land airport, through thickets of sea buckthorn and to a deserted multi-kilometer beach with placers of amber in the surf. Wonderful quiet and secluded place! And the weather was so good that Vika and I couldn’t stand it and had a spontaneous skinny dip, sending Sasha ahead in search of amber. By the way, we collected a lot of amber while walking along the beach.

Near the village of Kosa there are the impressive ruins of a fort, washed away by a powerful surf, there are tanks in a row, which you can get very close to and take photographs, a towering observation tower, cows grazing in the background of the Navy ship "Nastoichivy", and across the strait in Baltiysk there is a port where between Dozens of snow-white swans float on ships.

In Baltiysk itself there is a beautiful lighthouse, a pier extending into the sea with a monument to Empress Elizabeth on horseback, the ancient Swedish fortress of Pillau and a block of beautiful German buildings that now house the Navy. A very pleasant and atmospheric town, I will definitely return to it someday.

For two more days I was sent to the “dacha” in the wonderful Pionersk, a non-tourist resort town just 8 kilometers from tourist Svetlogorsk. High coastline, long beach, beautiful promenade, residence of the President of the Russian Federation and stunning sunsets!

On my first day in Pionersk, I took the train to the neighboring Svetlogorsk, beautifully located among the hills in a pine forest. In Svetlogorsk in those days there was a loud KiViN, crowds of KiViN guests were added to the usual crowds of tourists, but the town still pleased with the beautiful Water Tower, a fabulous model of Kaliningrad, cozy German mansions, a beautiful church given to the Russian Orthodox Church, a pleasant larch park with interesting wooden houses with half-timbered

From the path on the high bank there is a beautiful view of the sea and the embankment. The embankment itself is well landscaped, with funny benches with awnings. On the eastern edge there is an interesting mosaic sundial with zodiac signs. But the embankment is too short after the long embankment of Pionersk - just about 200 metro stations and that’s it, it’s over. There are many tables with amber souvenirs on it, and in a couple of places under it there are tiny beaches - again, nothing like the natural beaches of Pionersk. From the western end of the embankment you can take a yellow cable car up to the city directly to the railway station for 40 rubles.

On my full day in Pionersk, I was incredibly lucky with the weather - there was a rare calm on the sea and almost no wind, and the sun was shining in the sky. So in the morning I had a wonderful swim in the cool water. The feeling of freezing skin was very unusual - as if my entire back and arms were covered with burning mustard plasters)) And on both evenings I walked along the embankment, the pier, looked at the stunning sunsets and even the sailing ship "Kruzenshtern"!

Another full day was dedicated Curonian Spit. First of all, we crossed the border and went to Lithuanian resort village Nida, where we walked along the pleasant embankment of the bay, ate delicious smoked fish and drank cold beer, looked at cute fairy-tale houses (Thomas Mann lived in one of them), went to a small amber museum and had lunch at one of the home restaurants in someone’s yard.

Returning to Russian territory, while Vika and Sasha were swimming in the stormy sea, I looked at the sand dunes from the observation decks on Height of Efa and saw a multi-meter procession of pine silkworms.

Then we visited a unique dancing forest, where the trunks of pine trees bend in a bizarre way. It’s such a pity that many compatriots do not appreciate this beauty: people sit and climb on trunks to take pictures, not realizing that they are causing irreparable damage to the tree and it is gradually dying...

went to Muller height, where, unfortunately, recently there is no longer a high iron observation tower, only a low wooden one remains, so from above you can only see the crowns of trees and a so-so panorama of the spit, although before, they say, everything was visible at a glance.

At 17 o'clock we had time for the last tour of ornithological station, created here in German times. This is a fascinating place for a big bird lover like me, where we were told how banding came about thanks to a Dane who was wondering if the same or different birds were coming to the feeders in his yard. They told how, during the migratory period in spring and autumn, they use nets to catch small birds, how birds are banded, and they clearly demonstrated the ringing of a siskin, recording all its age, height and weight parameters in the accounting book along with its unique number on the ring.

We buy small rings for small birds in Poland - we ourselves are only able to make massive rings for large birds like cranes and storks. A unique number and Moscow are written on the ring, since the center for bird ringing is located in Moscow, and if someone somewhere catches a bird ringed in Russia, they will report this to Moscow, and from there the information will be transferred to the localities. It is thanks to this exchange of information with foreign ornithologists that we can find out where our birds fly to for the winter.

All bird indicators are written in Latin. They weigh the bird in a bizarre way, lowering it beak down into a cone-shaped plastic glass, after which they release the ringed bird, chirping displeasedly, into freedom.

After the ornithological station, we went to a wild section of dunes, the most beautiful place I have seen on the spit, probably due to the absence of crowds of tourists and because the yellow sands and sparse greenery contrasted sharply with the looming gray clouds.

As soon as we got into the car, it started pouring from the sky and continued pouring until the night - my only rain in a week in Kaliningrad, I happily sat out in the car on the way home. We were incredibly lucky with the weather, as it was sunny all week, but in Moscow these days it was cold and rainy!

The week in the Kaliningrad region flew by unnoticed, although I saw so much that at times it seemed as if I had been in Kaliningrad for a month already. Someday I will definitely return to the Kaliningrad region to once again wander around the old German forts, collect amber on the beach and look at the amber collection in the Amber Museum, and go to both spits, so different and so beautiful. This time I didn’t have time to visit Yantarny with its wide beach. And I didn’t manage to go to the Cosmonaut Viktor Patsayev ship at the Museum of the World Ocean. So there is still a reason to return, and I am not saying goodbye to Kaliningrad, the most German of all Russian and the most Russian of all German cities!

Hi all! We continue the story about the Kaliningrad region!

A little chronology

In the previous part I talked about my trip in 2010-2011. In the second part we will talk about my stay in the region in 2012-2013. In the last part, we stopped at the fact that in the summer of 2011 I flew from Kaliningrad to Kyiv, and then to Crimea. This was my last single trip. In September 2011, a girl came to me in St. Petersburg, and we got married. So in the summer of 2012 we already went as a family.

This was in May 2012. We lived for three weeks in Kaliningrad, then a couple of weeks in Chernyakhovsk. At the height of summer we went to Ukraine, and from there to Gelendzhik and Belarus. In the fall we returned to Kaliningrad, and after living in Kaliningrad for a couple of months, we went back to St. Petersburg to live and work there permanently. This is where our honey year and travel are over, everyday work and family routine lie ahead. In January 2013, we went to Chernyakhovsk for a week to spend the holidays with our family. Since then we have not been to the Kaliningrad region and it is unlikely that we will not visit there in the next 5-7 years. It's a pity.

Job

There is little work in the area. In cities such as Chernyakhovsk and Gvardeysk it is not available at all. There is work in Gusev and Sovetsk, but there are few of them and they are poorly paid. There is seasonal work in Svetlogorsk and Zelenogradsk. And in Kaliningrad there is a lot of work, but it is usually low-paid. Employers offer everyone from 8,000 to 20,000 thousand rubles per month. Don’t expect a salary above 20,000 thousand unless you are a unique genius who can offer something special to the employer. Why should he pay more if there is a lot of labor here? The entire region goes to work in Kaliningrad, Kazakhstan goes for permanent residence in Kaliningrad, other regions of Russia go to live and work in Kaliningrad. Workers are a dime a dozen here, and employers have a huge choice.

I repeat, if you are a competent specialist, a boss, a competitive unique person and a genius, you will be offered both 50 thousand and 80 thousand. But if you are an ordinary cog in the system and a simple performer, you will not get more than 20 thousand, no way. Even lawyers here are offered 15,000 a month. The salary situation is unlikely to ever change. Local Kaliningrad residents, of course, earn more than 20,000 a month, as a rule, but they hold on tightly to their places and are not going to free up their warm places for visitors.

Kaliningrad is a city of contrasts, here people earn mainly from 8,000 to 20,000, but there is a middle class layer, they receive from 20 to 50 thousand. According to my observations, there are 10-15 percent of them, but there are tops who receive more than 50 thousand, there are only a few of them. Logisticians with connections and talents live well.

I repeat, and this is very important: People in Kaliningrad receive from 8,000 to 20,000 rubles. What do you mean they receive? This is their salary. Moreover, the salary is gray, white is even less. But incomes significantly exceed salaries. People are spinning around as best they can: shuttling, messing around, grinding. Therefore, whoever knows how to live has a good income.

The competition in Kaliningrad is crazy, hence there are a lot of scams, scammers and personal growth trainings. Builders are in great demand in the city. There is no salary as such, what you earn is what you get. My godfather is a workaholic, he works as a logistician, I won’t say how much, but more than 80,000 rubles, by the word “receives” I mean income, not an accounting receipt. The godfather’s son is also a workaholic; at a construction site he earns from 50 to 130 thousand a month. So if you are a builder, driver, logistician, military man, sailor, etc., then welcome, you will ride like cheese in butter.

Port professions are also in demand. You can earn a lot. Drivers get paid differently; in rich companies you can earn around 50-70 thousand.

Business is very developed in Kaliningrad. They sell everything, a sea of ​​goods and services. My godfather's son-in-law works in the plumbing installation industry and earns a lot. A lot of people are involved in intermediary trade with Poland and Lithuania; many Kaliningraders feed on this. Customs clearance, shuttle business, speculation, resale, purchase, mediation and so on, there is room to expand here. Some young people go to work in Poland and Lithuania.

Relatives and their friends work part-time in the “husband for an hour” service sector; this is in great demand here, obviously because there are more women in the city, and there are many men in the military and they have no time for home life. My sister-in-law works as a Polish language teacher, she speaks in great demand and such work is well paid.

When you walk around Kaliningrad, you can see that the city is diverse, a city of contrasts. There are poor areas, there are rich areas, there are average areas and many other gradations. There are a lot of expensive foreign cars, and you can see from the shopping centers that people are not in poverty. On the other hand, there are many poorly dressed people, and they are precisely poor, and not just modestly dressed. People from the region come for any penny, people from the region are often ready to work for pennies, people take advantage of this.

Housing and communal services

In Kaliningrad there is a management company for every taste, there are no problems with that. For three rubles in Kaliningrad ours pay 5000-5500 rubles, in Chernyakhovsk it turns out to be approximately 4500. According to relatives, there are no problems with snow.

Kindergartens and schools

My relatives have problems with kindergartens; it is very difficult to get into kindergarten, the queues are huge. There are extortions in schools, just like in St. Petersburg. Although it’s cooler in St. Petersburg. There is a problem with education in Chernyakhovsk, according to familiar teachers. The teacher is a nobody in the class, but the student is the king. Therefore, what is allowed to a student is not allowed to a teacher, hence complete immorality and impunity. Some teachers receive 20,000 a month, others 10,000. This is connected with different directors, and, accordingly, each school has its own accounting department. SHOCK! Here in Cherepovets I have never heard of such a thing. Well, St. Petersburg is St. Petersburg.

Medicine

Medicine in Kaliningrad is controversial. On the one hand, everyone goes to Koenig for treatment, hence the huge queues and shortage of doctors, on the other hand, there are different doctors. Kaliningrad relatives scold medicine, but Chernyakhov’s relatives praise it; everything can be learned by comparison.

My wife had personal experience with medicine; in Chernyakhovsk, many doctors simply don’t know what to do and automatically send me to Kaliningrad.

The main problem of Kaliningrad is the acute shortage of specialists. For example, in Kaliningrad there was no immunologist in 2012, there were allergists, but there was no immunologist in the region at all. In Cherepovets, for example, we have one immunologist for the entire city. Not all operations are performed in Koenig; some are sent to Moscow.

Another problem is the workload of doctors, for example, my mother-in-law and I sat in line for 5 hours to see the endocrinologist! And the reception lasted 2 minutes. People come from all over the region. A typical picture - a 70-year-old grandmother from Chernyakhovsk goes to see a doctor in the morning.

Pharmacies are striking. It is not so easy to buy antibiotics without a prescription; the German pedantic influence is evident.

Shops and products

There is an abundance of food and drink in the Kaliningrad region. There are a lot of products on the shelves from Poland and Lithuania, often sold as local products. There are few farm stores of their own; in Chernyakhovsk they sell local products at markets, and in Kaliningrad there are more European products. Local fruits are represented mainly by apples and pears, and only in markets, the rest is from Europe. In Kaliningrad it is difficult to buy something local; in Chernyakhovsk there were no problems. And the prices are different, in supermarkets the prices are the same as in St. Petersburg, and in the markets Polish vegetables and fruits are cheaper than local ones.

Our relatives buy local vegetables and fruits not in the city itself, but in the suburbs, where they have their own local sales points. In the summer everything turns out very cheap if you know the places. In Chernyakhovsk, Zelenogradsk, Gusev, grandmothers sell milk, vegetables and fruits.

In general, Kaliningraders are divided into those who buy from local farmers, and these are in the minority, and those who go to Europe for groceries; there are not many people in the shopping centers and stores themselves. Buying local products is not so easy; you need to come to a certain place at a certain time, since the supply is limited. In the region, few people sell local vegetables, fruits, meat and dairy. These are all small farms. We went to Chernyakhovsk at 6 am, but it was cheap and tasty.

In Kaliningrad, farmers cannot withstand the competition compared to sharks from Europe. For me personally, the belly festival was in Chernyakhovsk, and in Kaliningrad it was impossible to look at glossy Polish pears without tears, although not all of them are glossy, of course.

We went to the cafe often, but not constantly, it was still not cheap.

Weather and climate

Compared to St. Petersburg, there is much more rain in Kaliningrad. They are longer lasting. In general, the humidity is higher than in St. Petersburg, it feels like. It’s very stuffy at +18, you’re drenched in sweat, and then there’s a breeze and hello! t 37.2. Hello lemon and a pile of antibiotics with raspberries. In Chernyakhovsk and Gusev the climate is better, there is no such wet abomination.

My mother-in-law can’t stay in Kaliningrad at all, she’s all swollen. In Kaliningrad in the summer I also have severe swelling. In autumn, of course, it’s beautiful, the golden autumn is picturesque, but a bit damp. Again, there is no such thing in Chernyakhovsk.

If we compare it with St. Petersburg and Cherepovets, then in Kaliningrad autumn is not rotten, it is much better. But in the summer there is a chimney, it will be stuffy at +16, +17 and +30. No matter how many times I’ve been in Kaliningrad, it’s always stuffy. It can be stuffy, stuffy, stuffy, very stuffy, stuffy and stuffy. In short, 50 shades of stuffiness. Even in clear weather. Therefore, due to the strong humidity, we had to completely abandon bags, umbrellas and windbreakers. Only shorts and a light T-shirt, so as not to sweat under any circumstances. At +16 degrees, if it’s calm, then a windbreaker or T-shirt will lead to a cold, as the city is steaming.

In general, when it was calm, I tried not to go out into the street or walk close to home. But from 5 m/s you can safely go outside in a T-shirt or shirt. It’s very good in the city when the temperature is below +15, it’s impossible to sweat in such weather, which means you can calmly freeze to your health and not get sick. It was comfortable in winter, much better than in St. Petersburg. May in Kaliningrad is magnificent, it’s not stuffy yet, but everything is blooming and very beautiful.

Zelenogradsk and Svetlogorsk have a special microclimate, more like the climate of Palanga; anyone who has been there will understand.

Changes in pressure and temperature are very frequent. For example, today it may be 765 mmHg, and tomorrow it may be 751 mmHg. Or today it’s +14 and clear, and tomorrow it’s +1 and sleet. Such changes occur very often in April and November.

Traffic jams

There are a lot of traffic jams in the city, and a lot of vehicles, hence the disgusting air, fumes and stench from the iron stench. The city is being built, which means all the dump trucks and concrete mixers in the city will poison the air. Riding on buses is especially fun. We always walked away from highways and midges, so we breathed fresh air.

Koenig ce Europe. Long live lace lingerie and the EU

I would like to say a few words about the special mentality of Kaliningrad residents for Russia. The mentality is very similar to the mentality of Grodno or Lviv. The general vector of thought among young people is this: We are Europeans, Russia, our city is Koenigsberg, not Kaliningrad, but in Poland it is better, etc., etc. It’s difficult to describe all this in words, you need to communicate with people. Everyone looks Europe in the eye and is filled with devotion; young people constantly go to Europe and repeat how good it is there, and how backward Russia is. All general needs come down to “I’m a girl, I don’t want to join the CU, but I want panties and the EU,” in a word, philistine concepts, the same as in Ukraine and Belarus. This is where there is one people. If Kaliningraders are settled in Ukraine, and Ukrainians in Kaliningrad, then no one will notice.

This lace mentality manifests itself in everything, when you start communicating with people, it’s already at the level of the cultural code, you need to accept it, you need to come to terms with it. But there is also another side to the coin. Kaliningraders know etiquette and ethics, drivers let pedestrians pass, and in the courtyards you can hardly find cars parked anywhere. There are many cyclists in the city; some even prefer to ride a bike to work. I have never seen anything like this in Russia.

It is noteworthy that many residents of the Kaliningrad region have never been to “Greater Russia”. There were many in Europe, but not in Russia. Although, when you sit at the station, you see trains packed with the Kaliningrad-Adler message.

Districts of Kaliningrad

Kaliningrad is a city of contrasts. I don’t recommend settling in the south; the area is teeming with drunks and boys. But in the north there is beauty and the further north, the calmer it is. The west of the city is also nice, there are beautiful houses and a calm atmosphere. In the east there are Brezhnevkas, and there are no playgrounds as a classroom.

My favorite areas of Kaliningrad: houses along Telman Street. Nearby is Gorky Street, typical Vologda, the contrast is very impressive - from Europe to the Russian hinterland. That's why I don't recommend Gorky. The Gaidar Street area is good, the best area to live, in my opinion. Area of ​​Kutuzov and Mira streets. Great selection, European atmosphere and very relaxed.

I liked the city of Gusev much more than Chernyakhovsk. It is more comfortable, its budget is larger, and there are jobs in the city, enterprises are functioning, so if anyone wants a small city, consider Gusev. Here the city is aimed at tourists, unlike Chernyakhovsk. There are good cafes and restaurants, very beautiful and well maintained. I have never seen Gopniks and neither have I seen drunks. The city does not give the impression of a depressive city, unlike Chernyakhovsk, Yantarny, Sovetsk. Patients from other cities (Cheryakhovsk, Gvardeysk, Polessk, etc.) are referred to clinics and hospitals in this city. The city is better funded, hence the better equipment in medical institutions. Chernyakhov doctors praise Gusev schools.

What a beauty!

Sea

The sea does not warm up above +22, but if you splash around in shallow water on a sunny hot day, you can swim in water of +25 degrees. Verified. The sea has amazing air and nature. The Curonian Spit alone is worth it! My godfather took my wife and I to the Curonian Spit; unfortunately, we were there only twice. This is a great place with clean air and views, views, views! In the heat there was no stuffiness, but a light gentle breeze. In cloudy weather there was no dampness, but only warm coolness, gentle, Baltic, healing.

There are the cities of Zelenogradsk, Svetlogorsk and Pionersky. They are included in the resort belt. I was only in Baltiysk and Yantarny for 1 day, so I won’t write anything, but in Svetlogorsk and Zelenogradsk I had to take a thorough walk. I haven’t researched the cities from the point of view of permanent residence, but according to reviews from relatives, living there is not bad, the cities are not depressive, and are not similar to other cities in the region. Apparently, the cities are not poor, since there are many cars and wealthy houses, obviously people have good businesses or work in Kaliningrad.

There is a lot of work in the construction and tourism sectors. The medicine here is not bad, and if anything, it’s 1.5 hours from the Regional Hospital.

In general, it’s good to live in Zelenogradsk; it’s like a residential area of ​​Kaliningrad, by St. Petersburg standards, of course. Our Sestroretsk and Zelenogorsk are further from St. Petersburg than Zelenogradsk from Kaliningrad, so it’s great to live in this city and work in Koenig.

Real estate is expensive, but you can find a good three-ruble note for 2 million rubles. How? There are such concepts as Urgent, Bargaining and an ordinary five-story building. A relative of mine sold his five-story building, for example, for that kind of money and such offers often happen, because people need money, and they don’t always have time to wait, because in Zelenogradsk and Svetlogorsk, German-style houses are in demand, not Soviet five-story sleeping bags.

You can take a destroyed three-ruble ruble into the trash for 1 million, and make repairs there for 700 thousand. What caught my eye was that there was no garbage, a lot of mothers with children (local). They can always be distinguished from holidaymakers.

Conclusion

The Kaliningrad region left many good memories, I definitely want to return there. And I will definitely return there. It is possible that we will move to Kaliningrad or Zelenogradsk for temporary residence permit.

Russia has its own island, comparable in area, however, to another full-fledged state on the continent. We are talking, of course, about, in particular, the capital of a given subject of the Russian Federation. Kaliningrad is a city very popular among tourists from other regions of Russia and countries. Many travelers prefer to plan their trip around the city after first studying the features of its administrative structure, what districts it consists of, and what features they are characterized by.

Kaliningrad can also be studied for the principles of local self-government, the characteristics of city districts in terms of the presence of attractions or, for example, the development of transport infrastructure. What administrative units is Kaliningrad represented by? How can citizens of other regions of the Russian Federation get to the Russian Baltic?

General information about the city

Kaliningrad is a unique city. It is Russian, but historically it is closely connected with Europe. Until 1945, Kaliningrad was called Königsberg and belonged to Germany. After this, together with the surrounding lands, the city was transferred to the Soviet Union, and subsequently renamed. The European past and the Russian present predetermine the fact that the regions of Kaliningrad and its architecture are characterized by the presence of a variety of objects - Soviet, built in the Russian Federation and, of course, classical ones, which have retained or adopted their appearance from the German past.

Kaliningrad is not a very big city if you compare it with the largest Russian and European metropolises, but it has a lot of attractions. These are architectural monuments, cultural sites, and a zoo. Among the most notable attractions is the Botanical Garden. The city displays not only German culture, but also that which was formed under the influence of other nations - Lithuanians, Latvians, Poles. Actually, those states that are formed by these ethnic groups. This does not include Latvia, but it is also close and borders. In this case, active in the region is a completely natural process.

Kaliningrad top attractions

What attractions do tourists coming to the Russian Baltic visit most often? It is quite difficult to answer this question unequivocally. The fact is that travelers may like completely different areas of Kaliningrad. Some tourists prefer to visit historical sites, others prefer modern buildings.

So, many travelers like to just walk, for example, along the banks of the Pregolya. If you walk across the bridge that connects them, you can get to the wonderful Fishing Village. Its traditional appearance has been reconstructed by modern craftsmen.

Of course, the Amber Museum is one of the most popular places in the city. Moreover, it is actually part of another famous object - the Don Tower. Among the most famous enterprises of the city is the Kaliningrad Amber Factory. By visiting a variety of areas, the traveler will be able to come across places where this mineral is sold, as well as various jewelry made from it.

Another famous fortification - It was built in the 19th century. The botanical garden, which we mentioned above, has been open to tourists since 1904. The Kaliningrad City Zoo has been operating since 1896. A wooden hunting castle was also built in the city at the end of the 19th century. When visiting various areas of Kaliningrad, you can see quite a lot of historical sites.

If we talk about the remarkable modern buildings of the city, it is worth paying attention to the largest shopping centers, such as “Europe”, “Plaza”, and also, for example, “Epicenter”. All of them are located in the city center.

Geography

Let us now study, in fact, what districts there are in Kaliningrad today, how the administrative division of this settlement is carried out.

The city has 3 districts: Leningradsky, Moskovsky, and Central. At the same time, it is not customary to divide them into less and more prestigious ones. Note that not all tourists know Kaliningrad well. “Leninsky District” is one of the names they carelessly invented for Leningradsky, you should keep this in mind. One way or another, all administrative territories form a unique cultural and architectural space and make the city unique.

The Leningradsky district of the city of Kaliningrad, the Moscow and Central districts are equally developed. At the same time, the most active construction is taking place on the outskirts of the city. Although, in principle, this trend characterizes most modern Russian cities, since in their central parts everything is mostly built up.

There are a large number of buses and minibuses running between different areas of Kaliningrad. However, when planning to move with their help, you should take into account possible delays along the way due to traffic jams. Their appearance in the city is inevitable, since Kaliningrad is among the leaders among Russian cities in terms of motorization, and the width of the streets is not always enough to ensure dynamic traffic.

Let us now consider what the Central, Moscow, and Leningrad districts represent separately. Kaliningrad, as we noted above, is a very developed city, regardless of the specific area, but each of them is characterized by a number of features.

Leningradsky district of Kaliningrad: what are its features?

This area is located in the northeast of the city. The main transport arteries that exist here are Moskovsky and Sovetsky Avenues. In the Leningradsky district there are also Gorky, Nevsky, Chernyakhovsky, and Gagarin streets. The Selma district is also located here. Kaliningrad, as we already know, consists of 3 official districts, but microdistricts are also distinguished within them. Among them is Selma.

Another remarkable feature of the geography of the Leningradsky district of the city is that it contains villages. Among these is Oktyabrsky. The area (Kaliningrad, as we know, previously belonged to Germany) is characterized by the fact that traditional German mansions have been preserved here. They are located on Telman Street, not far from Lake Verkhny, as well as Yunost Park. But you can also buy modern real estate in this area. These can be apartment buildings or townhouses. New real estate, which is located in the Leningradsky district, is characterized by a wide variety of apartment designs and layouts.

Among the most actively developing microdistricts within the Leningradsky district are those located along Artilleriyskaya and Gagarin streets. To a certain extent, the popularity of these areas is due to the fact that they are among the most accessible in terms of transport in the city. Many types of transport pass through the Leningradsky district. Kaliningrad is a city of attractions, and many of them are located precisely in the location in question.

Thus, a traveler arriving in the Leningrad region can visit the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the Amber Museum. Modern shopping centers are also located here - “Clover”, “Passage”.

Moskovsky district

The city of Kaliningrad is also developing very actively. The main streets here are: Internationalnaya, Gromova, Koshevogo. Modern schools and shops have been built in the area. The main problem here is the same traffic jams. They are especially noticeable due to the fact that the exit from the area to the center is carried out through the railway bridge, which is very narrow in itself and, moreover, cannot provide high throughput during heavy traffic due to the location of tram tracks on it. The central part of the city can be reached from the Moskovsky district by tram or trolleybus. The network of minibuses is quite developed. Although the whole of Kaliningrad is characterized by an advanced transport infrastructure.

The Moscow district of the city also has many attractions. The most recognizable is the Cathedral, which is located on the Temple and is one of the symbols of Kaliningrad. There are a large number of architectural monuments in the area. It is in the Moscow region that the Fishing Village is developing, which in architecture corresponds to the style of the former Koenigsberg.

central District

The largest in area of ​​the three administrative territories into which Kaliningrad is divided is the Central District. Its peculiarity is the presence of a large number of industrial enterprises. Among the largest are “Kvarts” and “Balterm”. The Fish Canning Plant and the Yantarny Skaz printing house are also located here.

In the Central district of the city you can see a large number of buildings built in Germany. For example, there is a building here that houses the classrooms of the history department of the Kant University (formerly the Kraus and Hippel school). The building that previously housed the police department now houses FSB structures. The city business center is located in the building that was previously the Northern Station. In the Central district of the city you can visit the Drama Theater and the zoo.

It is worth noting that the districts of Kaliningrad in their modern form have existed relatively recently - since 2009. The fact is that previously the city was divided not into 3, but into 5 administrative units. Among the previously existing ones was the Baltic region. Kaliningrad is a city that became part of the USSR in 1945, and this region was formed already in 1947.

In 2009, a separate decision of the Council of Deputies of Kaliningrad decided to merge it with Moscow. Another district of the city, which previously existed under the name Oktyabrsky, was also formed in 1947. Almost simultaneously with the Baltic, it was merged with the Central. At the same time, another municipal entity bordered Baltiysky before Kaliningrad underwent the noted changes in its administrative division - Guryevsky District. True, it does not refer to the city, but to the region, of which it is the capital.

It can also be noted that the Oktyabrsky district was called Stalinsky until 1961. Central, which is noteworthy, was formed later than other districts of the city - in 1952, and it included part of Stalinsky. The remaining part of Oktyabrsky (formerly Stalinsky) also became part of Central in 2009.

City infrastructure

So, we studied how Kaliningrad city districts were administratively divided. Let us now consider other noteworthy information about it, for example those that reflect the specifics of its infrastructure.

It can be noted that the network of urban roads is developing at an impressive pace in relation to the dynamics of development of new areas. Significant sections of highways, those that were laid in Germany, have a pebble surface, which requires a special approach from city authorities to maintain their functionality.

As we noted above, public transport is very developed in Kaliningrad. In terms of traffic intensity, the city is at the level of the largest Russian megacities. The efficient operation of Kaliningrad's transport network can be complicated by traffic jams. They become especially large, as in most other modern cities, in the morning and evening. Regarding the types of public transport that serves various areas of Kaliningrad, it is represented in almost all modern ground varieties, namely: buses, trolleybuses, trams, minibuses. Gradually, the city's transport network is also being supplemented with rail buses.

Educational establishments

It will also be useful to study what educational institutions are located in the wonderful city of Kaliningrad. The main university of the metropolis is Immanuel Kant University. The Technical University trains specialists of various profiles, for example, those competent in the field of fisheries. Other well-known educational institutions in Kaliningrad include the Ushakov Institute, the University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, and the Baltic State Academy. Graduates of city universities are in demand both in their region and beyond. Many Kaliningrad residents try their hand at Europe due to its geographical proximity to many developed countries.

Economy of the city

Kaliningrad is a significant industrial and port center. Among the largest enterprises in the city is the Yantar plant, as well as the Carriage Building Plant. The first company specializes in both military and civilian orders. The second produces a wide range of mechanical engineering products that are in demand in the field of railway transportation. Both enterprises have enormous infrastructural and technological capabilities that allow them to implement the most complex projects in the areas in which the plants operate.

Another large industrial enterprise of the city is Lukoil-Kaliningradneft. It produces oil and also produces various types of industrial products, such as drilling rigs, containers, and metal structures.

Perhaps one of the most famous enterprises in the city is the Amber Plant. True, it is not located on the territory of Kaliningrad itself, but in the regional village of Yantarny. It can be noted that this settlement is connected to the capital of the region by a good road, so the distance between it and Kaliningrad, which is about 41 km, is covered quite quickly. The plant carries out industrial extraction of amber, its processing, and produces various jewelry.

We noted above that almost any administrative unit into which Kaliningrad is divided (Moskovsky district, Leningradsky, Central) houses large shopping centers, as well as stores operating in a chain format. All of them also play an important role in the economy of Kaliningrad. The city's largest retail chains are Vester, Victoria, and Europe. Trade is also active in the markets of Kaliningrad - Central, Baltic, Moscow, Southern, as well as Zakharovsky.

How to get to Kaliningrad?

So, we have studied the main areas of Kaliningrad. How can you get to this wonderful city?

The main feature of this locality, as well as the region of which it is the capital, is that the corresponding region is an exclave of the Russian Federation. That is, it is located surrounded by other countries, namely, it borders on Lithuania and Poland.

The easiest way for a resident of another region of Russia to get to Kaliningrad is to fly by plane. Firstly, the flight duration from Moscow takes only about 2 hours, from St. Petersburg - even less. Secondly, to visit Kaliningrad by plane, a citizen of the Russian Federation does not need to obtain a foreign passport.

In turn, to come to the Russian Baltic by bus, train or car, you will need a foreign passport. Moreover, it will have to contain a visa from Lithuania, Poland or another Schengen state. In turn, if a citizen of Lithuania or Poland is traveling to Kaliningrad, he will need a Russian visa. It is noteworthy that residents of the Kaliningrad region can obtain foreign passports for free, that is, without transferring state fees to the budget. Also, residents of the Russian Baltic have the opportunity to visit border settlements in Poland without a visa.

It is also worth noting that citizens of the Russian Federation have the right to obtain a transit visa through Lithuania in a simplified manner. You can get it by contacting the structures at Russian Railways. A Lithuanian transit visa is issued within 24 hours from the date of submission of documents and is handed to the passenger directly on the train that enters the territory of Lithuania. Next we will look at the features of its use.

The corresponding visa is a type of transit document issued by the Lithuanian authorities, which can be obtained by citizens of the Russian Federation who have a residence permit in the Kaliningrad region. What is its specificity?

This permit document comes in 2 varieties - regular simplified and railway. The first allows a citizen of the Russian Federation to enter Lithuania by any type of transport, use any roads, and get out of his car if he is driving one. But a person must have time to cross the territory of Lithuania and enter Russia or Belarus within 24 hours. In order to obtain the document in question, you need to contact the Lithuanian consulate. Its validity period is up to 3 years. When issuing a transit document, a consular fee is paid.

The second document is the transit visa that we mentioned above. It allows a citizen of the Russian Federation to cross the territory of Lithuania only by train. At the same time, the document does not allow a person to leave the carriage while staying within the borders of a given state. Its validity period is up to 3 months (with the expectation of a return trip of a citizen of the Russian Federation within this period). The corresponding document is ordered at the railway ticket office. It is issued free of charge.

How can you get to one or another administrative unit into which the city of Kaliningrad is divided (Leningradsky, Moskovsky or Central districts), if you arrive in the city through certain types of transport? If a traveler arrives in Kaliningrad by plane, then he will need to get to the city from Khrabrovo Airport. It is located 24 km from the regional capital. Buses and minibuses run between it and Kaliningrad. As a rule, their movement begins from the bus station, which is located in the Moscow region. The city's Southern railway station is located nearby. The bulk of trains from Russia arrive there. In turn, the North Station receives commuter trains. In order to move between different infrastructure facilities in Kaliningrad, you can also use public transport or a taxi.

Many people go to Kaliningrad for the weekend, buy tours and boring standard excursions. However, it is better to go to this city on your own to leisurely see everything. And if we take excursions, then only unusual ones and from local residents. Because only those who live here and love their city and its history can tell about interesting places and secrets of the city. “We went, we know” asked local resident Tatyana to tell what to see in Kaliningrad on your own in a day, 2 or 3 days.
Only the most interesting sights and places that cannot be missed in Kaliningrad!

How to find Königsberg in Kaliningrad and leave with a lot of impressions

Tourists travel to Kaliningrad to see Königsberg. This is an axiom: from afar, the city is surrounded by a sort of European flair, giving it a magnetic attraction and mystery for the inhabitants of Eurasia. But, having set foot on “European territory” and seeing banal Soviet five-story and high-rise buildings around, many tourists experience a feeling of disappointment: “It seems that I was deceived somewhere ...”

No wonder: first, the city was practically wiped off the face of the earth by Allied aircraft, then the Soviet leadership tried to destroy everything that reminded of the “Prussian spirit,” right down to the bas-reliefs of the heroes of 1812, who fought together with Russia in the war against Napoleon.

One of the urban legends says that after the Victory, when all the monuments of the defeated enemy that came into sight in the city were destroyed, one officer hung a sign on the statue of Kant: “Do not touch! This is yours!

Unfortunately, no one hung such a sign, figuratively speaking, on the Royal Castle. It was blown up already in the 1960s, destroying one of the city's main attractions.

That is why now Koenigsberg is like a parallel space, sometimes breaking through as islands either in the center of Kaliningrad or on the outskirts. The main thing is to find these islands!

When is the best time to go to Kaliningrad?

Most tourists come to Kaliningrad during the warm season, and they do the right thing. Green Kaliningrad is beautiful: gardens and parks of Kaliningrad are complemented by shady alleys. What is the coral-red Cathedral worth, rising above the greenery of Kant Island!

But Kaliningrad is even more beautiful in September and October - the sights look especially good against the backdrop of autumn foliage.

It’s not cold in Kaliningrad in winter, but walking around the city will most likely be a grey-slush experience. In summer, of course, no one can guarantee that there will be no rain - the weather is unpredictable, this is the Baltic! On the other hand, we incorporate the philosophy: if it’s cool, it means it’s convenient to make excursions. If it’s hot, the beaches of Zelenogradsk, Svetlogorsk and Yantarny await you. For those who are planning to visit Kaliningrad in August and July, I recommend combining a city holiday with a beach holiday. The sea is warming up and these are the most comfortable months for a beach holiday.

How to get to Kaliningrad

If you prepare for your trip in advance, the cheapest way to get to Kaliningrad is by plane. The train will be more expensive.

To find where to buy cheap plane tickets to Kaliningrad, compare prices on different airlines.

In addition, you can get to Kaliningrad by train. For example, the train St. Petersburg - Kaliningrad. In this case, you need a foreign passport, because... this route crosses the Schengen area.

Where to stay: hotels in Kaliningrad

Tourists can choose from inexpensive hostels, hotels from three stars, and small private villa hotels. It is most convenient, of course, to live in the city center, although many decent hotels in Kaliningrad are located further away. But taxis in the city are inexpensive: 100 - 150 rubles, to the very outskirts - a couple of hundred.

You can rent an apartment very cheaply in Kalingrad– Apartments “Malina Krasnaya” – a little far from the center, but an excellent modern apartment (with a kitchen, washing machine) at the price of a cheap hotel!

More expensive, but in the very center, there will be an apartment “On Saltykova-Shchedrina” - very close to Kant Island and the Fish Village. The owners even provide free parking for your car.

For some reason, tourists really like the Kaliningrad Hotel, perhaps because of the name. This hotel has a good location, see prices. But the best hotels in Kaliningrad in terms of price and quality are Radisson Blu and the five-star Crystal House Suite Hotel & Spa. Among the inexpensive ones, in the very center, is the Europe Hotel (better and cheaper than the Kaliningrad Hotel).

Room at the Radisson Blu Kaliningrad Hotel - with a great view

Nesselbeck Castle

If you want to feel the spirit of the Middle Ages, head to the Teutonic castle - Hotel Nesselbeck. A trip to Kaliningrad will be unforgettable! This hotel is a hidden attraction of Kaliningrad. Kaliningraders themselves like to come here on vacation, but are reluctant to tell tourists about this place. Weddings and celebrations are celebrated here, even knightly tournaments are held. And here they rent not a car, but a carriage :)

Working castle – Hotel Nesselbeck in Kaliningrad

Nesselbeck Castle is located in the suburbs of Kaliningrad, in the village of Orlovka (the hotel provides a free transfer from the airport). This the only functioning castle in Kaliningrad. And even with its own brewery! And a restaurant that serves not only homemade beer, but also dishes according to old recipes. If you are lucky enough to stay here, do not miss the SPA center with beer baths (reserve in advance, for example, in the morning - for the evening).

Each room is named after one of the Grand Masters of the order. The walls of the hotel are decorated with fragments of real ancient frescoes and authentic museum exhibits, and with the help of mirrors you can read the mysterious knightly motto...

The atmosphere of the era of the Teutonic Order will not leave you either during meals or at night, when you lie under the canopy on a huge bed.

At first glance, it seems that staying in such a castle is very expensive, but not in Kaliningrad! Prices are lower than for hotels in the city center and greatly depend on the season. See all photos and prices.

I almost forgot, men also have something to have fun here - there is a Medieval Shooting Range in the castle, where you can shoot a bow or learn how to throw an axe. From Thursday to Sunday there are unique shows like the Knight Tournament, etc.
Try on knightly armor, recreated by Kaliningrad blacksmiths based on real historical drawings, and take a photo as a souvenir:

Hostels do not promise such impressions, but prices start from 400 rubles per bed. In the very center of the city it is quite possible to stay very cheaply - check out the KD Hostel, where there is not only a bed in a dormitory room, but also separate rooms for two.

Here are the prices for hotels in Kaliningrad:

To find even cheaper apartments, as well as apartments in the private sector, click “See all offers.”

The most interesting sights of Kaliningrad

A trip to Kaliningrad will become more interesting if you prepare in advance.
The standard “Königsberg” set includes many attractions (details and map), but I’ll tell you about the most interesting ones. So, what to see in Kaliningrad:

1. Cathedral on Kant Island

The most important landmark of the city, its pride and reminder of its centuries-old history. The Gothic cathedral is completely surrounded by a park that extends to the Pregolya embankment. Before the war, the island was densely built up and there was even a tram service. Now there is only a green sea with a pink-red cathedral.

Brutal building of the House of Soviets in Kaliningrad

Another iconic place that contrasts with the Cathedral. Oh, how many unflattering epithets this terrible unfinished project has received! It was built on the site of the bombed Royal Castle (it was finally destroyed in 1968), but it was never completed. It’s good that now it’s at least painted, but fifteen years ago the gray monster looked simply monstrous. But tourists like it. Well, monuments to human stupidity also have a right to popularity.

3. Victory Square - city center

On one side is the city hall, on the other is the Prussian-style massive building of the Kaliningrad State Technical University, on the third is the new Orthodox Cathedral.

In the photo Victory Square: Cathedral of Christ the Savior, City Hall, Triumphal Column.

Kaliningrad residents have an ambiguous attitude towards the square: the architects were accused of having “scribbled” everything they could think of here, which is why the sense of space was lost.

Fountains, stone benches, trees, and in the center - a triumphal column. At the time of the hoisting, she was criticized for, how to put it this way, some phallicity. Now we're used to it. In any case, Victory Square is one of the centers of evening life in summer Kaliningrad.

Evening Kaliningrad is very beautiful

This is perhaps the most famous museum in the city. You will be especially lucky if at the time of your visit there will be not only a permanent exhibition, but also some kind of exhibition. This museum regularly displays amber products created not only by local craftsmen, but also brought by jewelers from Europe, the USA and even Japan.

By the way, the museum is located in the ancient Don Tower, which offers excursions.
See the museum website for schedules and prices.

Next to the Amber Museum is the Rossgarten Gate. Now they house the fish restaurant “Solnechny Kamen”. Even Putin himself ate here.

5. Fishing village

This is a remake, but very colorful. Among Kaliningrad residents, it is considered good manners to scold this quarter: the Old Fishing Village was not like that, and in general kitsch... Don’t listen to us:) I assure you, 99% of tourists are wildly delighted with the medieval surroundings of the Fishing Village.

By the way, there are many places where you can have a good meal. But, of course, there are no more Königsberg traders with baskets of freshly caught fish. Only black and white photographs remain.

The Fishing Village is a must-see place in Kaliningrad

If you're short on time, arm yourself with this list of attractions.

What to see in Kaliningrad in a day, route

If you are passing through Kaliningrad, then it is best to start from Kant Island and the Cathedral. Next, you should admire the beautiful view of the Fishing Village. Afterwards visit the Museum of the World Ocean. Have a snack and then take a walk along the Lower Pond and go to the Amber Museum. It is convenient that all these objects are located in the center of Kaliningrad at a distance of several bus stops from each other. You can get around everything on foot.

What to see in Kaliningrad in 2 or 3 days + where to take beautiful photos

If you come to Kaliningrad by train, your acquaintance with Königsberg will begin immediately. If you choose a ferry or plane, try to check out the indoor train station: it’s worth it.

What other places to visit in Kaliningrad? If you came for more than a day, or have already visited the main attractions during previous visits, here are some more interesting places in Kaliningrad and some tips on “what to see”:

6. Königsberg Gate

They were restored for the city's anniversary. The most colorful are the Royal, Rossgarten and Brandenburg Gates.

7. Bridges of Kaliningrad

Bridges are often mentioned as tourist attractions, but rather in connection with the ancient mystery of the seven bridges of Königsberg. The only thing worth specifically including in your tourist route is the trestle bridge in order to take beautiful panoramic photos from it.

The Seven Bridges of Königsberg Problem: How can you walk across all seven bridges without crossing any of them twice? It turns out that it is possible!

8. Temples of Kaliningrad - both ancient and new

Until 1985, the Kaliningrad region, the only region of the USSR, was officially considered absolutely atheistic. They went to neighboring republics to baptize children. The churches, at best, were given over to warehouses, at worst, they were destroyed due to lack of ownership. Now the route through the Gothic churches and modern temples of the city is one of the most interesting.

9. Castles of Kaliningrad

The Kaliningrad region is famous for its castles: Konigsberg Castle (Royal Castle) now replaces the House of Soviets, Nesselbeck Castle, Schaaken Castle in the village of Nekrasovo - for those who are interested in history, details.

10. Forts of Kaliningrad

For lovers of military history, forays into the forts, inspection of the ramparts and a visit to the Lyash dugout are recommended. The gates and towers of Könisberg should not be ignored either. The fortification history of the city is impressive. See the ring of Kaliningrad forts on the map.

11. Museum of the World Ocean

Museum of the World Ocean. Exhibition building "Planet Ocean"

For those who are concerned about the elements of the sea, the city will offer interesting exhibitions of the Museum of the World Ocean and a visit to the Kaliningrad port. It’s better to go to the port on Fisherman’s Day: there will be interesting events, they’ll let you climb on some ship and feed you free fish soup. See schedule and prices.

12. Zoo

Children can be taken to the Kaliningrad Zoo. By the way, it has existed since pre-war times.

13. Gardens and parks of Kaliningrad

Central Park culture and recreation, of course, will not impress those who are spoiled by European amusement parks with its attractions. But it is shady and cozy. And most importantly, it houses the Church of Queen Louise, surrounded by an aura of legends. Now there is a puppet theater there. But the appearance of the church has been restored, and now it is one of the most impressive islands of Königsberg in Kaliningrad.

In search of beautiful scenery, go for a walk on Upper Lake And Lower Pond.

While strolling along the embankment of the Lower Pond, stop by the Historical and Art Museum. Yes, such regional museums, which exist in every region, are usually not very interesting and rather dull, but the Kaliningrad one has its own highlight: exhibitions with fragments of the Koenigsberg past. See the exhibition schedule on the museum's website.

And we have many fountains. There is even a singing fountain in Kaliningrad, how could we live without it?

14. Streets of Königsberg villas

Well, for a snack: do not deny yourself the pleasure of walking along the streets of old Königsberg villas in the Amalienau area, Kutuzov Street near Mira Avenue and the Telman Street area near Lake Superior. These streets were practically unaffected by the war, and the houses on them were given to the Soviet generals and the new city leadership. Now these are beautiful green streets with mansions, many of which (despite the alterations) still retain the spirit of antiquity.

These streets look especially magical in autumn.

What to see in Kaliningrad? The street of Königsberg villas - in autumn!

Excursions in Kaliningrad

What else is interesting to see in Kaliningrad? You can take a standard tour and learn more about the history of the city. But in my opinion, it's a bit boring. It is better to take non-standard excursions. Here are the most interesting ones:

Cafe Kaliningrad

There are many places in Kaliningrad where you can eat deliciously and inexpensively. It's difficult to recommend something universal. The easiest way to find a cafe or restaurant you like is on Google maps - it’s convenient that you can immediately see reviews, photos and location.
Kaliningraders love Papa Beppe pizzerias - very tasty pizza and they cook pasta with seafood well.

Holidays in Kaliningrad: where to go to the sea

The Curonian Spit is a natural reserve that is on the UNESCO list. The Curonian Spit begins from Zelenogradsk and stretches for 98 km to Klaipeda. One of the highest dunes in Europe is located here, near the village of Morskoye - this is the Orekhovaya (Petsch) dune, the height of Efa is 55 meters. Being on top of the dune, you can listen to the famous “singing sands” and admire the sea.

Have you examined everything? Then off to the sea! Or vice versa: many tourists stop in Svetlogorsk and Zelenogradsk, and come to Kaliningrad on excursions. There is logic in this: the choice of sanatoriums, boarding houses and hotels on the resort coast is much wider than in Kaliningrad. You can inexpensively rent an apartment, a room in the private sector, or an entire cottage.

The warmest water is in August. Remember the beach places: Svetlogorsk, Curonian Spit, Zelenogradsk, Yantarny village. The main resorts are Svetlogorsk and Zelenogradsk. Festivals and other entertainment events are regularly held on summer evenings. The largest festival is “Baltic Seasons”. Thus, a holiday in Kaliningrad can be combined with a beach holiday.

Which is better to choose: Zelenogradsk, Svetlogorsk or Yantarny? I'll tell you about the main differences:

15. Zelenogradsk – a great beach holiday

The city is famous for its beautiful nature and fantastic sunsets over the Baltic Sea. Zelenogradsk is small and less popular among tourists than Svetlogorsk. But Kaliningrad residents prefer to relax here. Very close to Zelenogradsk there is the Curonian Spit nature reserve. The city has picturesque parks, a long embankment and many cafes.
The beaches of Zelenogradsk are considered one of the best in the Kaliningrad region. They are wide and sandy.
It's only 40 km from Kaliningrad.

Beach in Zelenogradsk

There is plenty of accommodation around to suit any budget. Near the beach there is one of the best hotels in Zelenogradsk - “Princess Eliza”. Inexpensive and stylish. Rooms with a kitchen, refrigerator and everything you need are ideal for a family holiday.

You can stay in a hostel very cheaply – from 400 rubles per bed. See.

There are also excellent boutique hotels with sea views. The modern hotel "Apriori" is located on the first line and all hotel guests can use bicycles for free - you can quickly and without extra costs get to the Curonian Spit. The hotel itself is very cozy:

The city has a large selection of apartments for vacationers. Good apartments in the private sector of Zelenogradsk - from 1,500 rubles (for an entire apartment for 2-4 people). See all options.

16. Svetlogorsk – a resort for those who love walking

Svetlogorsk is a resort near Kaliningrad

The beach in Svetlogorsk is small and cramped. But the city itself is more well-groomed than Zelenogradsk. Perhaps this is why tourists like Svetlogorsk more and there are a lot of them here.

The wonderful city of Svetlogorsk near Kaliningrad

Accommodation prices are slightly lower than in Zelenogradsk. A very large selection of apartments in the private sector, from 800 rubles per day. See all options with reviews and prices.

17. Yantarny - the best beach in Russia

The best beach in Russia with the Blue Flag is in Yantarny!

This is the best beach in Russia recognized by international experts! He is the only one in Russia who has earned the Blue Flag. This means that the sea and coast are clean and there is all the necessary infrastructure for vacationers. In addition, this place is not yet the most popular among tourists.
Holiday prices in Yantarny are higher than in Zelenogradsk. But you can find apartments in the private sector and inexpensive accommodation.

In addition to the best beach in Russia, near the village of Yantarny there is the world’s largest amber deposit, as well as the only amber plant where “sunstone” is mined and processed. Sometimes pieces of amber can be found directly in the sand.

Where to go from Kaliningrad

Well, if you have a Schengen visa, you can go straight from Kaliningrad to Poland for a few days: Malbork, Elblag, Gdansk, Sopot, Gdynia, . Malbork is famous for its grandiose Teutonic castle. Elblag is a cozy town with beautiful architecture and wonderful embankments. Sopot has a good water park. Gdynia has great shopping. Well, Gdansk is filled with attractions like a treasure box. A couple of hours from the border - and your Königsberg impressions will be complemented by new acquaintances with the culture, history and architecture of medieval Europe.

The climate in Kaliningrad is transitional from maritime to temperate continental, with an abundance of cloudy days and precipitation. Thanks to the influence of the Gulf Stream - the world's largest warm current - winter in Kaliningrad is somewhat milder than in other cities at the same latitude, with frequent thaws and precipitation. Summer will appeal to those who cannot tolerate heat above 35 °C - such marks are rare here, and the average temperature in July-August is 22 °C.

Story

The history of the city on Pregolya can be divided into two main periods - Prussian-German and Russian - they are qualitatively different from each other, but are closely interconnected. Such a combination of such different historically significant cultures determines the unique and unique image of modern Kaliningrad.

Where did it all start? Mentions of the populated eastern shore of the Baltic Sea are found among many ancient Greek historians and date back to the 4th-3rd centuries BC. e. More developed southern civilizations called the inhabitants of the Pregolya valley “Estians,” which means “living in the east.” The Romans and Greeks were attracted by trade relations with local communities: for many centuries they sailed to these lands for the sun stone - amber.

In the 9th century AD. e. The peoples living in the east gradually acquired the nickname “Prussians,” which is directly related to our ancestors. The fact is that after Kievan Rus joined European civilization, the inhabitants of the Baltic states ceased to be the most eastern people. They became those who live “before the Russians,” in other words, Prussians.

By the 10th century, at the confluence of the Pregolya River and the Baltic Sea, the permanent settlement of Tvangste took shape. Its inhabitants farmed on the fertile lands of the river valley, and also collected amber and sold it to foreign traders, whose ships visited the local port.

The first turning point, which dramatically changed the vector of historical development, was in 1255, when the crusaders turned their attention to the wealthy trading town. The powerful Teutonic Order easily conquered peaceful lands and, as a sign of their power, founded Konigsberg Castle on the rocky shore. The name of the medieval fortress, which was later assigned to the city, is translated from German as “Royal Mountain”.

In subsequent decades, in order to avoid Prussian uprisings against the new government, the lands near the castle were actively populated by Germans, who successfully assimilated with the local people. The favorable location of Koenigsberg contributed to the growth of the city around the fortress and even the emergence of new settlements in the immediate vicinity. Thus, in 1300 Lebenicht appeared, which, although closely adjacent to the original buildings, had the status of an autonomous settlement. At the same time, Königsberg began to be called Altstadt (“old city”). In 1327, the duo of towns near Pregolya turned into a trio: they were joined by Kneiphof, a settlement on the island of the same name (now Kant Island), formed by the river and its tributary. This ensemble successfully existed until 1724, when it was united into a single city of Königsberg.

The year 1724 was notable for today’s Kaliningrad not only because of the long-awaited unification. On April 22, a boy was born into a completely ordinary family of artisans, who became the most famous and revered resident of the city. We are talking, of course, about the founder of classical German philosophy, Immanuel Kant, who lived his entire life in his native Königsberg, where he died at the age of 79.

During the Seven Years' War in 1758, the city was captured by the Russians and belonged to them until 1762, when Catherine II, who came to power, liberated the occupied lands as a sign of reconciliation.

The 19th and early 20th centuries for Königsberg became a period of active cultural and economic growth. At this time, the city acquired a number of public and residential buildings in the Art Nouveau and Neo-Gothic styles, pleasing the eye with their natural lines and intricate patterns. Many gardens and parks with recreation areas appeared, and a railway station and one of the first airports in Europe called Devau (1919) were built.

On the night of November 9–10, 1938, which went down in world history as “Crystal Night,” the Jewish areas of Königsberg suffered at the hands of the Nazis who came to power. During mass pogroms and fires, the New Liberal Synagogue was completely destroyed - one of the most beautiful buildings not only in the city, but in all of Germany.

They started talking about restoring (or rather, building a new one on the site of the destroyed) Jewish shrine only in 2011.

In August 1944, the city suffered from British air raids as part of Operation Retribution: many architectural monuments, including Königsberg Castle, suffered significant damage.

On April 6, 1945, Soviet troops under the command of Marshal A. M. Vasilevsky came close to Koenigsberg. Fierce fighting continued for more than 3 days, but on the evening of April 9, the red banner was already flying over the city. The victory cost our army 3,700 lives, while the Germans paid for the loss with 42 thousand killed soldiers.

April 9, 1945 is the second, and, to date, the last, turning point in the history of Kaliningrad, marking the end of the Prussian-German period. Later that year, the heads of state of the anti-Hitler coalition decided to transfer East Prussia to the Soviet Union.

On July 4, 1946, the already domestic Koenigsberg was renamed Kaliningrad in memory of the great revolutionary and party leader M.I. Kalinin, whose monument to this day stands majestically on the square in the center of the city.

In 1946-1949. active deportation of the German population and settlement of the Kaliningrad region by Soviet residents took place here.

The period of Soviet power for the culture and history of Kaliningrad can hardly be called favorable. At this time, monuments of German architecture and the heritage of ancient Prussia were actively destroyed. Among other things, in 1968, Königsberg Castle, whose walls had witnessed more than 700 years of the city's history, was completely destroyed. The main direction of development of Kaliningrad in the 20th century was the strengthening of industrial power and consolidation of the region as Russian territory.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kaliningrad became the westernmost region of the country, its “representative” in Europe. Since 1991, the former Königsberg has been open to international economic and sociocultural relations. Honoring the history of bygone days, city residents are proactively restoring its historical appearance, which exudes a certain intelligence and high taste.

Attractions

Every year hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Kaliningrad, and it is not surprising, because there are more than 500 cultural heritage sites, collected according to the principle of “a little of everything”. A variety of interesting places allows you to get acquainted with the history and unique cultural content of Kaliningrad in a relatively short time, enjoy the beauty of nature and relax on the friendly Baltic coast (provided that the traveler is not too lazy to spend an hour and a half on the road to the Curonian Spit, because in the very there is no sea in the city).

Amber Museum

The most famous attraction of the city is the Amber Museum, located on the shore of Lake Verkhnee on Marshal Vasilevsky Square, 1. The building itself - the Don Tower - is of considerable interest to tourists. This is a fine example of fortification architecture from the mid-19th century with elements of medieval decor, which visually makes the tower a couple of hundred years old.

The museum includes two groups of exhibitions: natural science and cultural-historical. Here, inquisitive tourists can not only receive comprehensive information about the origin and industrial use of this beautiful and mysterious mineral, but also enjoy ancient and modern collections of jewelry made from the “tears of the sea goddess Jurata.” Especially for the youngest visitors, employees regularly organize educational competitions, quizzes and master classes.

The Amber Museum in Kaliningrad is open to the public from May to September seven days a week, and from October to April on all days except Mondays. The cost of visiting is 200 rubles for adults, 100 rubles. – for students, 80 rub. - for schoolchildren. There are also a large number of preferential days, the schedule of which can be found on the website www.ambermuseum.ru.

You should start getting acquainted with the history of the city from the Kaliningrad Regional History and Art Museum, located on the shore of the Lower Pond (Klinicheskaya St., 21). The exhibition is divided into 5 thematic parts, each of which occupies a separate room:

• nature - description of the flora and fauna of the Kaliningrad region, ecosystems of rivers and numerous lakes. Here you can also enjoy an accurately recreated panorama of the Baltic Sea;
• archeology - the oldest chronicle of the surrounding area, from the times of the Vikings and ancient Prussians to the period of the conquest of territories by the Crusaders;
• the history of the region - the life of the region during the reign of the Teutonic Order and further, until the outbreak of World War II, here visitors can learn about the life, traditions and rituals of this era;
• war is perhaps the most emotional part of the exhibition, illustrating the difficult and tragic events of 1938-1945;
• “Horizons of Memory” is a story about the history of Kaliningrad as a Russian city, the peculiarities of the settlement of the region in the post-war period, the development of industry and culture in Soviet times.

This museum is open daily, except Mondays, from 10.00 to 18.00. The cost of visiting for adults is 60 rubles; there are discounts for schoolchildren and students.

The Kaliningrad Regional Museum of History and Art has a developed network of branches, a visit to which can reward tourists with many memorable impressions. It is recommended to visit at least the following:

• Museum "Dugout" (Universitetskaya St., 1) - located in the bomb shelter of the headquarters of the German troops. The exhibition reveals many unique and dramatic details of the storming of the city and post-war events: about the help of anti-fascist Germans, about the fate of civilians and the fate of prisoners of war, about the identification of unmarked graves from the Second World War.
• The Sculpture Park Museum (Kant Island or Central Island) is a favorite place for relaxation and evening walks. Here is a collection of 30 statues by different authors from all over the post-Soviet space. All sculptures are, in one way or another, connected with the life of the city. Each of them has its own story, which you can get acquainted with by booking a thematic excursion. If facts and legends are not of much interest to visitors, you can simply stroll along the shady alleys, enjoying the silence and species diversity of the arboretum, which is open to the public 24 hours a day.

You cannot pass by the unique Museum of the World Ocean - the only marine complex of this scale in all of Russia. The main pavilion is located on the Peter the Great embankment, but the expositions of the historical and cultural centers “Great Embassy” (Royal Gate, Frunze St., 112) and “Ship Resurrection” (Friedrichsburg Gate, Portovaya St., 39) are also branches. The unique museum comprehensively introduces guests to the nuances of the relationship between man and the ocean: it presents collections of marine flora and fauna, including a beautiful aquarium, highlights the history of the study of world waters, displays the best examples of the Russian navy and much more. Details of the visit, cost and ordering of excursions can be found at world-ocean.ru.

National Center for Contemporary Art

City Gate

Those who are attracted by architecture - the monumental trace of civilizations - will find it useful to know that, despite all the destruction and reconstruction, there is something to see in Kaliningrad. First of all, these are the 7 city gates - traces of fortifications designed to protect the settlement from enemies. To look at them, you will have to travel around the city quite a bit, but it is, of course, worth it.

1. Rossgarten Gate (1852-1855) - a typical example of fortification architecture, with turrets, an observation deck and embrasures on the outside.

2. The Brandenburg Gate was created in 1657, and in 1843 underwent a major restoration, despite which signs of the Gothic style with its pointed peaks are clearly visible.

3. Sackheim Gate - is a cultural and historical monument of national importance, made in the neo-Gothic style. Since 2013, the art platform “Gate” has been operating here, on the basis of which photo exhibitions, meetings of contemporary art figures, master classes and lectures are regularly organized.

4. Ausfal (exit) gates are the most modest gates of Kaliningrad in terms of architectural design, which is due to their “economic” purpose at the time of construction in the first half of the 17th century.

5. Railway gates (1866-1869) – previously one of the branches of the Königsberg railway passed under them, which lost its significance after the Second World War. Today, these gates symbolically separate the “1200 Guardsmen” memorial and a park recreation area.

6. Friedland Gate is the latest neo-Gothic gate-type structure in Kaliningrad, decorated with pointed peaks and sculptures of famous figures from the city’s German past. Today there is a municipal museum “Friedland Gate”, where tourists can get acquainted with the history of pre-war Koenigsberg.

7. Royal Gate - outwardly reminiscent of a small castle and is the most striking representative of the neo-Gothic style in Kaliningrad. In addition to the patterned turrets, guests are attracted to this gate by the cultural and historical center “Great Embassy”, the exhibition of which tells about the foreign policy relations of the old city.

Ruins of the Royal Castle and ancient streets

To feel the atmosphere of the first settlement built on the site of Kaliningrad back in the 13th century, you must definitely visit the ruins of the Royal (Konigsberg) Castle, now located on Shevchenko Street, 2. Unfortunately, almost nothing remains of the majestic fortress, but since the beginning of the 21st century there Active archaeological excavations are underway, thanks to which you can get acquainted with fragments of the ancient foundation and elements of the life of privileged persons of the Middle Ages. The open-air exhibition belongs to the Kaliningrad Regional History and Art Museum.

To create a complete impression of the pearl of the Baltic, it is worth strolling through the quiet streets of the old German districts, the best preserved of which are Amalienau and Maraunenhof. Here tourists will not find ancient fortresses or majestic monuments, but the small villas of the early 20th century, found everywhere here, very accurately reflect the aristocratic character of the city.

Ancient mansions in the areas of Amalienau and Maraunenhof

Central Park of Kaliningrad

For active recreation and entertainment, you need to go to the Central Park, located at 1, Pobedy Ave. Here you can ride a Ferris wheel and enjoy bird's eye views of the city, visit the Puppet Theater, relax after a day full of new impressions in a cozy coffee shop or just eat sweets on a bench in the shade of trees. Also, Central Park has prepared many attractions and entertainment events for young and adult visitors.

What tourists need to know

Kaliningrad is an extraordinary piece of our beautiful homeland, definitely deserving the attention of even experienced travelers. Here you don’t have to carry a dictionary with you everywhere, get into trouble due to ignorance of local traditions and customs, endure the pangs of acclimatization, and so on. But, as elsewhere, there are nuances, knowledge of which can make your holiday in this city as comfortable and relaxing as possible.

Accommodation

It’s worth taking care of where to stay in advance; our website can help you with choosing an establishment and booking rooms. Kaliningrad has an excellent selection of 3- and 4-star hotels, and the prices of apartments will pleasantly surprise tourists. Here you can also find cozy budget hostels. And to fully experience the atmosphere of an aristocratic city, it is worth renting one of the villas in the old German districts, the prices of which can hardly be called exorbitant.

Kitchen

There are absolutely no problems with food in Kaliningrad; here you can find everything - from street fast food to gourmet restaurants. The cuisine of the region consists of Russian national dishes, seasoned with German traditions. For example, Königsberg klops - in appearance they resemble ordinary meatballs, but once you try them, you can feel something overseas in the shades of taste. There is also an exotic dish in Kaliningrad - smoked Baltic eel - which tourists would be unforgivable not to try. You should also enjoy the delicate almond aroma of Königsberg marzipans.

What to bring as a souvenir

To remember the Baltic pearl of Russia, you should definitely buy amber jewelry. There are also a lot of fancy antiques here, smoked and dried fish are popular among visitors, and, of course, traditional souvenirs with the symbols of the city.

How to get there

The first question that requires the most attention is: how to get to Kaliningrad? The most convenient option is by plane; there are regular flights from many air terminals in the country. In this case, no additional documents are required to cross the foreign border. Khrabrovo Airport is located 25 km from the city and is connected to it by public transport.

You can also get to Kaliningrad by train through the territory of Belarus or Lithuania. If the train is traveling through Belarus, passengers only need to have a ticket and a passport of a Russian citizen. To cross the Lithuanian border, you will additionally need a special permit, a request for which is automatically sent when purchasing a ticket. After 26 hours after issuing the travel document, it is necessary to find out whether the passenger was denied movement within the territory of the Baltic state. This can be done at the ticket office or information desk of Russian Railways. Unfortunately, there are no direct bus flights from the main part of Russia to Kaliningrad, so fans of this type of travel will have to travel with transfers in Minsk, Gdansk or Riga. Don’t forget about the documents that allow you to stay on the territory of Lithuania or Poland - Schengen or transit visas.

You can also get to Kaliningrad by ferry, which departs from the port of Ust-Luga (150 km from St. Petersburg) and arrives in Baltiysk (about 45 km from Kaliningrad), the journey this way will take an average of 38 hours.