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.

You will enjoy a walk around Kronstadt, the spirit of the Middle Ages on the Castle Island, the streets of the Old Town of Vyborg, a tasting of glegs and pretzels, a tour of the rocky landscape park and a master class on making a real Vyborg pretzel. 

You will also travel to Karelia on a real retro train, visit the Ruskeala Mountain Park and get acquainted with the Viking age and taste a honey drink.

Location

Russia, Saint Petersburg
from
$215
+ tickets to the starting point of the tour
No need to pay now
Duration
3 Days
2 Nights
Departures
  • Group departures
    • Dates for next season
    • 31 May – 2 June, 2025
    • 7 – 9 June, 2025
    • 10 – 12 June, 2025
    • 14 – 16 June, 2025
or
Accommodation
  • Hotel
    2 nights
Comfort
  • Upscale
Difficulty
Easy
Suitable for everyone
Group
Up to 50 people
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
We will attend a master class on baking a real medieval Vyborg pretzel according to 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
We will see the main attraction of Karelia – Ruskeala Mountain Park, in the center of which is its business card - Marble Canyon

Itinerary

  • Day 1 - Kronstadt. Vyborg.  Excursion to the Alvar Aalto Library

    Arrival at Saint-Petersburg. 

    09:30 Meeting with the guide at the monument to Peter the Great at the Moscow railway station, St. Petersburg

    Transfer to Kronstadt. 

    Sightseeing tour of Kronstadt.

     Visit the monument to all ranks of the Russian Navy – the largest Naval Cathedral in Russia, reminiscent of the famous Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

    Transfer to Vyborg. A guided tour telling about the historical events and nature of the Karelian Isthmus.

    Arrival in Vyborg.

    15:00 Lunch at the restaurant (for those who paid half board, the tour menu is 900 rubles).

    15:30 Accommodation.

    16:00 Excursion to the Alvar Aalto Library.

    You will be able to discover the amazing architecture of functionalism by visiting the only library in Russia, built according to the project of the outstanding Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. This building was built specifically to house a library, taking into account all the processes taking place in the book house. 

    Walking tour of the center of Vyborg — our guide will tell you about the history of the city, its legends and secrets. You will see the Market Square, the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the Transfiguration Cathedral, the Panzerlaks bastion, the Town Hall Tower.

    A visit to the Castle Island, where the medieval knightly Vyborg Castle is located — the symbol of the city.

    20:00 Free time. 

    Recommended cafes for dinner: "Champion", "Medieval tavern", "Espilya", "At Borchard's", panoramic restaurant "Taste".

    20:00 For an additional fee, a boat trip along the Vyborg Bay (during the navigation period May-September). 

    The boat goes out into the Vyborg Bay, goes along the coast of the Monrepos Park and the islands of the Vyborg Bay: Tent Island, Island of the Dead, Islands of Love and Epic. 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 the Castle Island, admire the towers and walls of Vyborg Castle from the water.

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  • Day 2 - Monrepos Park. A master class on baking a real Vyborg pretzel. Visit to the Burgher's estate
  • Day 3 - Karelia. Ruskeala
Difficulty
Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Accommodation
  • Hotel
    2 nights
Comfort
  • Upscale

The tour includes accommodation in a hotel.

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

Druzhba 3* (Vyborg), Buffet breakfast. The cost of the tour is indicated per person in rubles.

Check-in dates

 

Double room with separate bedsTriple (2 main+additional beds)Single roomDouble room with separate bedsTriple (2 main+additional beds)Single room
StandardImproved
01.06.24-08/24/24 (breakfast)220002120026400229002180028300
01.06.24-08/24/24 (breakfast+lunch)238002300028200247002360030100
 Superior with Bay view   
01.06.24-08/24/24 (breakfast)242002270030900   
01.06.24-08/24/24 (breakfast+lunch)260002450032700   

*The number of extras. beds in the Druzhba hotel are limited, placed by prior request. 

Check-out time at hotels upon arrival: 14.00, at check-out: 12:00.

Discount for students: 1000 rubles.

Discount for pensioners and students: 800 rubles .

In the Druzhba hotel, the price includes a morning sauna, in the Victoria hotel, the price includes a visit to the fitness center, and four people can be accommodated in the junior suite category.

Vyborg 3* or Friendship 3* or 2 nights
Vyborg 3*

The Vyborg Hotel, which offers pet-friendly accommodation, is located in the center of Vyborg, a 15-minute walk from the 13th-century Vyborg Castle. It offers free Wi-Fi in public areas and a 24-hour front desk.

The bright, classic rooms are decorated in warm colours and feature a TV and a private bathroom.

The restaurant serves European cuisine. Guests can enjoy a variety of drinks at the lobby bar. Delicious Uzbek dishes are prepared in the summer cafe.

Vyborgsky Train Station is just a 5-minute walk away. Pulkovo International Airport is 175 km away.

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Another option
Friendship 3*

Druzhba Hotel is located in Vyborg, on the coast of the Vyborg Bay. Free Wi-Fi is available.

Each room here will provide you with a TV and a private bathroom with free toiletries.

Guests can relax in the sauna and dine in the restaurant or on the hotel's terrace. There is also a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage.

Vyborg Bus Station is 250 metres from the hotel, and Vyborg Train Station is 500 metres away.

3 more photos
Another option
Victoria 4*

This hotel is located on the Market Square in Vyborg, a 10-minute walk from Vyborg Castle. It offers a fitness center, 2 restaurants and a Finnish sauna.

Each room at the Victoria Hotel is decorated in a modern style and is equipped with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, and a bathroom with a hairdryer.

Breakfast is served at the Monrepa Restaurant, and Russian and European dishes are also served. The elegant Vkus restaurant serves Italian cuisine, which can be enjoyed on the summer terrace.

Guests of the Victoria Hotel can visit the Russian sauna, hammam and hot tub. A fitness centre is also available on site.

The Round Tower and the market are a 2—minute walk from Victoria Hotel, and Vyborg Train Station is a 10-minute walk away. The Monrepos Landscape Park is a 20-minute walk away.

3 more photos

Tour conditions

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

Included in price

  • habitation;
  • breakfast, 2 lunches, if the lunch plan is selected;
  • guided tours and daily transportation services according to the program;
  • guide support;
  • 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 (lunches and dinners), tour menu 900 rubles - 1 day, for those who chose the tariff without lunch;
  • 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?
What important information do you need to know about the tour?
Are there any discounts for children?

Dates and Prices

The tour dates are not confirmed yet. Please, for clarification
  • from
    $215
    31 May – 2 Jun, 2025 3 days 2 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • from
    $215
    7 – 9 Jun, 2025 3 days 2 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • from
    $215
    10 – 12 Jun, 2025 3 days 2 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • from
    $215
    14 – 16 Jun, 2025 3 days 2 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • from
    $215
    21 – 23 Jun, 2025 3 days 2 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now

Reviews

  • L
    Lyudmila
    18 Dec, 2024
    about provider
    Thank you for a perfectly organized vacation—everything was seamless, straightforward, and convenient!
    18 Dec, 2024
  • AA
    Andrey and Inna
    16 Dec, 2024
    about provider
    Everything was great.
    16 Dec, 2024
  • LM
    Larisa Makarkina
    16 Dec, 2024
    about provider
    An unforgettable and magnificent trip! Our guide, Galina, was truly a professional—knowledgeable and engaging. We stayed at the Moscow Hotel, which offered a delicious breakfast and rooms with stunning views of the Neva River. The location was excellent, just a 20-minute walk along Nevsky Prospekt to the city center and train station, and conveniently close to the metro. The "Highlights of St. Petersburg" program was absolutely fantastic. A big thank you to the tour team! I highly recommend Big Country to everyone.
    16 Dec, 2024