Planning a vacation? Are you going on a trip to the Kaliningrad region? Where and how you can get there, what is interesting and picturesque to see, what excursions and interesting places to choose, what to buy as a keepsake, what to take with you, what documents to issue - find out here all the nuances and interesting information for the trip.
Some general information
Kaliningrad region - the smallest and westernmost region of the Russian Federation, located on the B altic Sea. The land border passes with Lithuania and Poland, with Russia - only by sea.
The region appeared in 1945 after the end of the Great Patriotic War.
Here is a moderately warm climate, picturesque nature, interesting and diverse flora and fauna. There are excellent sanatoriums in the Kaliningrad region, good places for excursions, and many attractions. If you are not a fan of the southern heat and lazy rest on the beach, a vacation in the Kaliningrad region will be the most informative and memorable.
In the Kaliningrad region you will likeand gourmet travelers. They offer a huge variety of fish dishes according to Russian and Western European recipes - you will definitely find something new and your favorite.
What to see when traveling to Kaliningrad
There are a lot of sights in Kaliningrad that may interest you:
The Kaliningrad region is famous for the largest amber reserves in the world (more than 90% of the world reserves), the only enterprise in the world for the industrial extraction of this semi-precious stone and the only Amber Museum in Russia are located here. The exposition is located on a huge area. Excursions, events for children, museum classes, lectures and much more are organized for visitors. In addition, there is a souvenir zone where everyone can buy a piece of jewelry or a souvenir from the amber collection or information brochures
One of the most unique places in Europe - the Curonian Spit (protected by UNESCO) - a natural reserve with a very diverse landscape: from deciduous forests to deserts. The Curonian Spit is nothing more than a long (98 km) narrow strip of land (from 400 meters at its narrowest point to 3.8 kilometers at its widest). Mandatory places to visit include the Museum Complex Visitor Center, Fringilla Bird Garden, Muller Height, Dancing Forest Park, Efa Height
Koenigsberg Cathedral - an ancient building, is a symbol of Kaliningrad, built over 700 years ago! It containsthe tomb of the philosopher Kant, the Kant Museum, the organ hall and the picturesque park around the cathedral
Fish Village - Formerly a shopping street, it is now home to a splendid tourist district with hotels, cafes and a lighthouse among its buildings. Here you can visit the tasting of various wines, exhibitions of paintings. Be sure to visit the observation deck of the lighthouse
Museum of the World Ocean - opened in Kaliningrad relatively recently, in 1990. The museum is a scientific center with the world's only space communications ship. The museum hosts exhibitions dedicated to major events in the development of the ocean, and you can also board research ships, submarines, and study rare fish species in the aquarium
The Brandenburg Gate in Kaliningrad is an ancient monument protected by the state, which still fulfills its direct function
Monument to Peter I as the founder of the regular Russian Navy. The monument was erected at the headquarters of the B altic Fleet on July 26, 2003
Take a trip to Kaliningrad and discover Russian expanses in a new way of ancient narrow streets and ancient monuments. Don't take a vacation outside of Russia to see Europe!
How can you get to the Kaliningrad region from Russia?
Eatseveral possible options:
- A trip to Kaliningrad will not cause much trouble if you go to the city by plane. This is the easiest and fastest way. Air transportation from the main part of Russia to Kaliningrad is carried out by almost all airlines. You can choose and purchase a cheap ticket yourself, for this you can use the help of airline ticket search engines on the Internet. Ticket prices during the tourist season and the rest of the time vary greatly, this must be taken into account when choosing departure dates. You can get from the airport to the center of Kaliningrad by bus or taxi.
- A trip to Kaliningrad by ferry can be arranged from the port village of Ust-Luga, in the Kingisepp district of the Leningrad region, which is located near the border with Estonia. With this method of transportation, you can carry additional cargo or a personal car.
- Trip to Kaliningrad by train and by bus already passes through the state border. In this case, getting there will be somewhat more difficult than in the first two options. After all, you will need additional documents for a trip to Kaliningrad. Especially if you decide to travel with children or pets. The arrival of the train in Kaliningrad is carried out at the Kaliningrad-Yuzhny railway station - this is the symbolic gate of Kaliningrad, through which both Russian and foreign guests can arrive by rail to the Amber Territory of Russia. From here you can easily get to any part of the city using a taxi or public transport.
- A trip to Kaliningrad by car - for lovers on their ownorganize travel, even if you have to pave the way through foreign countries. With this method, you can ride with a breeze along one of the highways through Belarus and Lithuania, or through Latvia and Lithuania, or, if time permits and additional excursions are planned, you can get to Kaliningrad through Poland. You can also choose a route through the B altic republics if the starting point of the route is the Leningrad or Pskov regions.
Time difference
When purchasing tickets for a trip to Kaliningrad, be sure to consider the time difference. In the westernmost region of Russia, the difference with the capital is +1 hour. Don't miss your boarding!
Documents required for travel
What documents do you need to travel to Kaliningrad when crossing the border? If you go to the Kaliningrad region by train, then you need a passport, in addition, you need a Schengen visa, as the train goes through the territory of Lithuania. It is also possible to obtain a transit Lithuanian visa when buying a ticket, which can be purchased at the box office of railway stations or online. Buying online is very convenient for busy travelers - no need to waste time driving to the station and waiting in lines. In addition, an electronic ticket can be downloaded to your phone.
Further with a ticket and a passport, you can board the train. In the absence of a Schengen visa, on the way to the Lithuanian border, you must fill out a questionnaire, the form of which can be obtained free of charge from the conductors in the car. The questionnaire will be required when crossing the Belarusian-Lithuanian border, where itwill pick up and issue a simplified transit visa form.
With ethics documents, you can safely take the train to Kaliningrad.
And if by bus?
The situation is the same with the bus - you need a passport and a Lithuanian transit visa, which will be issued to you by cashiers when purchasing a ticket. As you can see, the package of documents is the same and does not depend on the type of vehicle.
And if by car?
The question of what documents are needed to travel to Kaliningrad by car is important if you want to easily get to the right place. If you choose to travel by car, then when crossing the borders you will need additional documents: a passport, a Schengen visa (or a transit visa if you do not plan to stop in Lithuania), an international he alth insurance policy, a green card for a car. Your car must be in good condition, as you will have to pass through the territory of European countries. In the European Union, a reflective vest is mandatory in a car. We also recommend stocking up on gasoline so as not to overpay for fuel in Lithuania.
Is there anything else you need to know for a comfortable trip?
Visa when traveling to Kaliningrad is required if you want to stay in Lithuania for a few days for planned excursions or visiting friends. To do this, in addition to all the above documents, you will have to obtain a category “C” visa in advance, which is issued when applying to the Lithuanian Embassy. The requirements for the necessary documents are standard, as in the case of applying for a Schengen visa.
Traveling is easy
As you can see, getting to the most remote western corner of Russia is not difficult. The main thing is to go on a trip with a great mood and in great company! Come to the Kaliningrad region to see the wonderful world with your own eyes, see all the castles of the region, visit all the beaches, go to the ancient cities, plunge into the fascinating interesting world, try the culinary delights of Russian and European cuisines! Do not forget to buy jewelry or figurines made of beautiful amber as a memento of an amazing journey.
