The stories and secrets of Vyborg and Ruskeala

You can visit medieval fortresses and magnificent castles, enjoy the beauty of nature and majestic views on our three-day tour.

Experience the spirit of the Middle Ages on Castle Island, the streets of Vyborg's Old Town, a tasting of glegg and pretzel, a guided tour of the rocky landscape park and a master class on making a real Vyborg pretzel. 

Location

Russia, Saint Petersburg
from
$422
+ tickets to the starting point of the tour
No need to pay now
Duration
3 days
2 nights
Departures
27 - 29 Jun
4 - 6 Jul
11 - 13 Jul
18 - 20 Jul
1 - 3 Aug
15 - 17 Aug
22 - 24 Aug
Accommodation
  • Hotel
    2 nights
Comfort
  • Upscale
Difficulty
Easy
Suitable for everyone
Group
From 2 to 50 tourists
Minimum age
6 years old
Group meet at
Russia, Saint Petersburg
Contact the tour coordinator
Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)
Or text us in messengers

Tour highlights

Vyborg pretzel
Attend a master class on baking a real medieval Vyborg pretzel using an authentic recipe
The estate of the Burgher
You will be transformed into the heroes of medieval Vyborg, immersed in the history of ancient monastic orders, tasting glegg and pretzel
Ruskeala Mountain Park
You will see the main attraction of Karelia – Ruskeala Mountain Park, in the center of which is his calling card – Marble Canyon

Itinerary

  • Day 1 - Walking tour of the center of Vyborg. Guided tour to the Alvar Aalto Library. Participation in the interactive program "Visiting a Burgher"

    Arrival in Saint Petersburg.

    09:30 Meeting with the guide at the monument to Peter the Great at the Moscow railway Station, St. Petersburg. The plaque "The history and secrets of Medieval Vyborg".

    Departure to Vyborg. A guided tour that tells about the historical events and nature of the Karelian Isthmus.

    11:30 Walking tour of the center of Vyborg. Each epoch and culture has left its own vivid impressions in the appearance of the city. On the narrow, cobblestone streets side by side: the oldest stone house in Russia, which has been inhabited by ordinary citizens for 400 years; the witch's house.

    Various towers: Clock tower, Round Tower, Town halls; Burgher's houses, knight's, merchant's; schools: Russian, Finnish, Swedish.

    There are three cascaded squares, each with its own church: Cathedral Square with an Orthodox one, Theater Square with a Lutheran one, and Market Square with "temples" of commerce and banks; and in the middle is the Vyborg tramway.

    Krasnaya and Sigovaya squares, although not neighbors, but two Russian rulers "live" there. Bears, squirrels, goat's heads, sheep's heads and rich floral ornaments — all these and other inhabitants of the northern territory on the portals and facades of the creations of the Art Nouveau era we will see on the streets of Vyborg.

    12:30 Medieval lunch for an additional fee (1300 rubles): Homemade Pork with pickles and mustard. Fish soup with trout in creamy broth with a wicket Monrepos cutlet of chicken fillet stuffed with cheese and herbs. Boiled rice. A French bun. Morse.

    14:00 Visit to Castle Island, where the medieval knightly Vyborg Castle is located.

    Vyborg Castle is a symbol of the city, its heart and core. It was from him that the difficult history of the city and people began, and all roads in Vyborg lead to the Castle.

    Vyborg Castle will be 732 years old in 2025. We are greeted by the following witnesses of the tradition of deep antiquity: castle towers: the tallest in South Karelia is the tower of St. Olaf, the most unusual with a Heavenly name; artifacts of maritime archeology are the Swedish anchor and cannon of 1790.

    As well as real medieval walls in a cozy courtyard. And each of us can witness a different, museum and cultural-historical life of the ancient castle.

    15:00 Guided tour to the Alvar Aalto Library. The library is a unique "box" in the treasury of Finnish modernism in Vyborg, the "white flower", which grew up 90 years ago in the city's Lenin Park (Esplanade). And the genius of architect Alvaro Aalto "planted" it.

    Let's look into this "box" and feel the comfort and warmth of all its comfortable values: in the lecture hall we will hear impeccable acoustics; in the most unusual reading room we will see diffused light without shadows and glare.

    We will orient ourselves to the four cardinal directions; we will sit on the famous stool-60; we will see the original railing and a tray for wrapping paper; and at the very bottom of the box we will breathe along with the old books of the vault.

    16:00 Participation in the interactive program "Visiting the Burgher". A burgher, a rich Swedish citizen, will meet you and treat you to the famous Vyborg pretzel.

    You will be transformed into the heroes of medieval Vyborg and glegg tasting. After the program, you can visit the manor itself, where you can buy souvenirs, take pictures with dolls of the owners of the Carriage House, the Louhi witch.

    17:00 Accommodation. Free time.

    17:30 For an additional fee. Beer tasting tour "Underground City". Let's go through the stone maze to the Vyborg Brewery. The Head Brewer will be your guide in the world of brewing.

    He will tell you about the specifics of the beer production process and share the taste subtleties of different varieties of the drink. You will find out what secrets are hidden behind each step of production. Try different beers (1,900 rubles, 500 rubles for children aged 7-14 years without tasting).

    20:00 For an additional fee, a boat trip along Vyborg Bay (1200 rubles. adult, 1100 rubles. school, art., pence.).

    The boat goes out into Vyborg Bay, goes along the coast of Monrepos Park and the islands of Vyborg Bay: Tent Island, Island of the Dead, Islands of Love and Bylinny.

    Monrepos Park looks different from aboard the ship. We will see: Chinese bridges, a tea gazebo, the temple of Neptune, the Ludwigstein Chapel.

    On the way back, the ship will pass through the Fortress Strait along Castle Island, admire the towers and walls of Vyborg Castle from the water.

    1 more photo
  • Day 2 - Monrepos Park. Master class on baking a real Vyborg pretzel
  • Day 3 - Karelia. Ruskeala
Difficulty
Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Accommodation
  • Hotel
    2 nights
Comfort
  • Upscale

The tour includes hotel accommodation.

The cost of the tour for 1 person, depending on the accommodation and date of arrival, RUB.:

Vyborg 3* Breakfast buffet. Address: Leningradsky Prospekt, 19. The hotel is located in the center of Vyborg, a 15-minute walk from Vyborg Castle:

Room categoryPrice validity period (by date of arrival)An adult in the main seatSingle occupancyAn adult in an extra seat
Standard06.06-24.08.2026 33450 38350  28550 
Standard Improved06.06-24.08.2026 35100 41700  28550 

Friendship 3*. Breakfast buffet. Address: Zheleznodorozhnaya St., 5. The hotel is located in the central part of the city on the picturesque shore of the bay. It offers a conference room, a sauna with a swimming pool, and 2 restaurants.:

Room categoryPrice validity period (by date of arrival)An adult in the main seatSingle occupancyAn adult in an extra seat
Standard06.06-24.08.2026 34250  39500  31350 
Improved06.06-24.08.2026 35350  41650  31350 
Superior with Bay view06.06-24.08.2026 36900  44750  31350 

Discount for children under 16: 300 rubles.

Discount for seniors and students: 200 rubles.

The Vyborg Hotel or Druzhba Hotel 2 nights
The Vyborg Hotel

The Vyborg Hotel is named after the city in which it is located. There is a gift shop, a night club, free parking, and luggage storage on site.

Comfortable and cozy rooms with classic interiors are provided for guests. Each room has a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom.

You can have a delicious and satisfying meal in the restaurant, which serves European cuisine. There is also a lobby bar and a summer cafe. If desired, you can order food delivery.

The train station is a 7-minute walk away, and the old Vyborg Castle is a 15-minute walk away.

2 more photos
Another option
Druzhba Hotel

The comfortable Druzhba hotel complex is located in the central part of Vyborg, on the picturesque coast of the bay. 

Vacationers are offered modern categories of rooms with city views, equipped primarily with beds and furniture, new appliances and a private bathroom with hygiene supplies.

There is a restaurant on site where you can have a delicious and satisfying lunch, tasting a variety of dishes and drinks.

A conference room is available for business people, equipped with the necessary equipment for events and presentations.

The recreation area has a convenient location, as it is located near a transport interchange and a railway station. Pulkovo-1 Airport is 179 km away.

3 more photos

Tour conditions

Group
From 2 to 50 tourists
Minimum age
6 years old
Duration
3 days 2 nights
Group meets at
Russia, Saint Petersburg

Included in price

  • habitation;
  • meals included in the program: breakfast, 2 lunches in Vyborg for those who ordered half board;
  • guided tours and daily transportation services according to the program;
  • guide support;
  • Headphones are provided free of charge for more comfortable listening to the guide.;
  • railway tickets on the "Swallow" Vyborg — Sortavala and Sortavala-SPB, and the "Retro train" Sortavala-Ruskeala.

Paid extra

  • air and railway tickets to St. Petersburg and back;
  • additional excursions;
  • meals not specified in the program: 2 lunches in Vyborg – 1900 rubles, dinners;
  • private transfer;
  • personal expenses.

It's important to know

Are plane/train tickets included in the tour price?

Air and railway tickets are not included in the price of the tour. You can purchase them yourself or contact us for help.

Is insurance included in the price of the tour?
Can the tour program change?
What discounts are available on the tour?

Dates and Prices

  • $422
    27 – 29 Jun 3 days 2 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • $422
    4 – 6 Jul 3 days 2 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • $422
    11 – 13 Jul 3 days 2 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • $422
    18 – 20 Jul 3 days 2 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • $422
    1 – 3 Aug 3 days 2 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now

Reviews Leave a review

  • S
    Svetlana
    about provider
    5 Jun, 2026
    I really enjoyed the tour, even despite the snowfall. The itinerary was packed with activities and experiences - so much so that by the second day we were feeling pleasantly tired. The lunches were excellent, and we were glad we chose to include them. The organization was outstanding, and our guide, Nelli, was wonderful. She shared a wealth of interesting information and presented it in a way that kept everyone engaged throughout the trip. The Druzhba Hotel was quite good overall. The breakfasts offered a wide variety of dishes, and the location was convenient, not far from the city center. There was also a supermarket nearby, which was very handy. A few practical notes for future travelers: standard rooms are equipped with 2 separate beds rather than 1 large bed. Slippers and bathrobes are not provided. A hairdryer was available, but the complimentary shower gel and shampoo packets were quite small .
  • SC
    Sebastian Constantin Egerer
    about provider
    28 Apr, 2026
    6 more photos
    I greatly appreciate that it was possible to visit the Russian Federation in these turbulent times.
  • T
    Tatiana
    about provider
    10 Apr, 2026
    I enjoyed the trip!