Petrozavodsk

Don’t want to miss out on any of the tourist attractions that Petrozavodsk offers travelers? We have compiled for you a list of things to do in the capital of Karelia to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the former Petrovskaya Sloboda and the original Karelian culture.

Collect a collection of photographs of the most unusual monuments. The largest concentration of sculptures made of metal, wood and other materials is on Onega Embankment. Here you will see the famous “Fishermen”, as well as the Karelian “Sleeping Beauty” and the “Tübinnge Panel” in the form of several dozen metal masts.

Tree of wishes on Onega embankment
© Maksim Starostin
Go on a boat trip on Lake Onega . The capricious Onega does not always allow you to comfortably go for a walk along its waters. But if the weather conditions are favorable, don't miss the opportunity to take a ride on Europe's second largest freshwater body. If you have time, take the Meteor to the Kizhi Museum-Reserve.
Whisper your dream into the ear of the Wishing Tree . One of the most unusual sculptures on Onega Embankment depicts a metal tree with an auricle on the trunk. It is believed that you need to whisper your cherished wish into your ear.
Attend a performance by a folk ensemble at the Kantele House . The ensemble combines folk songs and dances with playing traditional instruments. The repertoire of the Kantele ensemble includes theatrical performances that reveal the culture and traditions of the Karelian peoples. When choosing from the repertoire, pay attention to the ethnoballet “Rock of Two Swans” and the performance “Vepsian Fantasies”.
Try the wickets. The most famous Karelian pies are kalitki: open pastries made from rye unleavened dough with various fillings. The traditional filling is barley soaked in curdled milk with melted butter.
Karelian gates
© Irina Dementieva
Try on the role of a navigator in Polar Odyssey . In a small museum, guests are immersed in the atmosphere of sea travel on sailboats.
Bring a souvenir made of Karelian birch . Wooden crafts made from this wood are incredibly beautiful due to their unique patterns. You can bring a wooden box, dishes or toys as a gift.
Go for a walk during the White Nights along Onega Embankment . When visiting the city in the summer, you should not miss the opportunity to stroll in daylight at night. The feeling is surreal.
Touch rocks that are 2 billion years old . In the botanical garden of PetrSU there is the “Black Chair tract” with ancient rocks.
See the largest mosquito in Russia . The 5-meter-high mosquito monument, made from a tractor, is located on the territory of the former Aleksandrovsky plant.
Collect gifts from Karelian forests . Karelian nature only seems stingy and strict. Local forests are rich in mushrooms and berries. In the summer months and early autumn, it is worth going with a basket to pick cloudberries or lingonberries.

Guide

The tourist center of Petrozavodsk is not very large in area. You can visit all the main attractions in a few hours. There is no single tourist route around Petrozavodsk - focus on personal interest and availability of free time.

Route 1: Main Attractions

The route begins at the Petrozavodsk railway station, which is an architectural monument. The building with a 17-meter spire in the Stalinist Empire style is one of the architectural symbols of the city. Next the route will go to Lake Onega:

National Museum of Karelia
© vladkonst
Lenin Square . The central and oldest square of the city was previously called the Round Square. In the center of the square there is a monument to the leader of communism - one of the largest in the country.
National Museum of Karelia . One of the most beautiful facades facing Lenin Square belongs to the building of the National Museum of the 18th century. This is one of the oldest museums in Petrozavodsk with a rich archaeological collection.
Governor's Garden . The cozy park has recently been reconstructed. Here is a monument to Derzhavin and the first cannons cast at the Aleksandrovsky plant were installed.
State National Theater of the Republic of Karelia . This is the only theater in the world where performances are performed in 4 languages: Russian, Finnish, Karelian and Vepsian.
Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Karelia . The museum’s collection includes not only works by Russian painters from different centuries, but also original art of the Karelians.
Victory Park and Petrovsky Square . Coming to the shore of Onega, you will see the main monument of the city - Peter I.
Onezhskaya embankment . Along the embankment there are sculptural compositions from sister cities and Russian sculptors.

You can complete your acquaintance with Petrozavodsk by going on a boat trip on Lake Onega. And, if the weather doesn’t allow it, it’s worth spending the rest of your time tasting Karelian cuisine.

Route 2: Golikovka and Zareka

Beyond the Lososinka River, near the Center microdistrict, there are two microdistricts with equally interesting sights. Start your tour from the park across the Lososinka River. Lososinsky Park is a cozy and green place, not very landscaped, but here you can feel the nature of Karelia without leaving the city.

Holy Cross Cathedral

Moving along the Lososinka riverbed, you will come to the territory of the Aleksandrovsky plant. Now there is an art cluster with works by contemporary artists. The main attraction of the territory of the former Aleksandrovsky plant is a giant mosquito monument made from a tractor.

After visiting the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, built in the first half of the 19th century, move to Zaretsky Park with the picturesque French Pond and the “Salmon” sculpture. Next, explore the mid-19th century Holy Cross Cathedral, built in Russian style with sky-blue domes. Next to the Holy Cross Cathedral there is one of the oldest cemeteries in Petrozavodsk with important memorials. The route ends at the Polar Odyssey Museum, the exhibition of which is dedicated to maritime affairs and historical sailing ships.

In detail: What to see in Petrozavodsk in one day

Event tourism

Throughout the year, Petrozavodsk hosts many colorful festivals dedicated to Karelian culture, as well as sports and gastronomic festivals. Before traveling to Petrozavodsk, be sure to look at the calendar of events in the capital of Karelia

The winter sports festival “KareliaSkiFest” is one of the most spectacular events in Petrozavodsk. The festival takes place in mid-late February. Within the framework of “KareliaSkiFest” the following events are held: professional and amateur ski marathons, cross-country skiing with a dog, racing on traditional Finnish sleighs.

International Winter Festival "Hyperborea"

The international winter festival "Hyperborea" takes place in February. The festival is held to show the attractive sides of northern life. The festival opens with the winter carnival. The main event of "Hyperborea" is an international competition of ice and snow sculptures - for five days the embankment of Lake Onega turns into a fairy-tale park. There are also ice fishing competitions, dog sled races, and northern fish soup tastings.

The folk marathon takes place in Petrozavodsk in mid-spring. As part of the festival, ethno and folk groups from all over the country perform at city venues. Guests will hear such unusual musical instruments as the harp, dombra, and soor.

City Day is celebrated on the last Saturday of June. As part of the holiday, concerts, exhibitions, folk festivals and fairs of Karelian craftsmen are held. The day ends with festive fireworks.

The annual festival “Illusions of the Old Town” is held in the historical district. For one day, the quarter is transformed into a provincial town of the early 20th century. Guests can visit the zemstvo doctor or the ancient library, and also take part in a competition for the best historical costume.

Festival of the Middle Ages “Onego. Legends of the North" takes place in Petrozavodsk in the floodplain of the Lososinka River in early August. The festival is attended by reenactors from the early Middle Ages, as well as professional fencers from all over the country. In the historical camp, guests will be able to try on armor and touch ancient household items.

The international festival of chamber plays “Lambushka” takes place in Petrozavodsk in early autumn. Theaters from different cities of Russia and from abroad stage productions on the stages of city theaters.

The berry holiday “Maryane” is celebrated together with National Unity Day. This is a Karelian holiday dedicated to berries and delicacies made from them. The beautiful Maryane rules the holiday and treats guests to berry jelly and pies. Participants lead Karelian round dances, learn to bake wickets and cheesecakes with berry filling.

In summer, Karelia becomes the center of sports festivals. Trail races are held in Karelian forests, including near Petrozavodsk. Also in the second half of summer, colorful gastronomic festivals dedicated to the harvest are held in villages and other small towns. When traveling around Karelia in the summer, pay attention to the ethnomusical festival “Sommelo” in the Kalevala region and the festival of historical reconstruction “KemFest” . Throughout the summer, ethnographic holidays dedicated to Russian and Karelian cultures are held in Kizhi. In the city of Sortavala, the annual Karelian wicket festival takes place in mid-June.

Seasonal holidays

The weather conditions of Petrozavodsk are not conducive to comfortable year-round recreation. However, every season reveals the city on Onega from new sides. In addition, the northern city has a special flavor - white nights in the summer and an almost polar night in the winter.

Winter

Petrozavodsk in the cold season is a classic northern city with its rugged beauty. During the New Year holidays, the city looks like something out of a winter fairy tale. The Christmas fair opens on Kirov Square with art objects, a New Year's skating rink and the main Christmas tree. Here you can buy gastronomic souvenirs from local producers and handmade souvenirs with Karelian flavor.

Winter Petrozavodsk

When vacationing with children during the New Year period, it is worth going to visit the Karelian Father Frost - Talviukko. The estate of Talviukko is located near Petrozavodsk, in the town of Chalna. On the territory there are: an open-air museum dedicated to the culture of the forest Sami; Palace of Lumikki - the sorceress and assistant of Talviukko; Talviukko residence; deer farm and husky nursery.

In February, the famous international festival “Hyperborea” takes place in Petrozavodsk. Tourists visiting the city at this time will see a park with snow and ice sculptures - when illuminated in the evening, it looks magical. For an active holiday, go to the entertainment center with a small ski slope, as well as cheesecake and sleigh rides. The slopes of a more serious level are located in the ski resort - there is a chair lift, and there are several catering establishments.

Spring

It’s late spring in Petrozavodsk—the snow melts only in the second half of April. Navigation on Lake Onega begins in May - sometimes only towards the end of the month. Snowfalls are rare, but occur even in May. For relaxation it is better to choose the end of spring. This time is suitable for walking around the city. But for hiking and getting to know Karelian nature, it is better to choose the second half of summer - in late spring and June there are too many mosquitoes and midges.

Summer

Petrozavodsk in summer

Summer time in Petrozavodsk, despite the capricious weather with frequent prolonged rains and cool winds, is the high season. The most interesting period in the city is the white nights. In June and July, daylight hours last 21–22 hours. At this time it is especially pleasant to go for long walks along Lake Onega. The parks of Petrozavodsk deserve a special visit, especially the Botanical Garden with exotic plants from around the world and rocks 2 billion years old.

The nature of Karelia includes numerous lakes, pine forests and mountains. For hiking, you should choose the second half of summer, when there are fewer mosquitoes and midges. The most convenient option for exploring natural attractions is in a personal or rented car. You can also go hiking or rafting. The list of top places in Karelia includes: Kivach waterfall, Mount Sampo, Ruskeala marble quarry, Shuya rocks.

In Petrozavodsk you can go on an hour-long walk along Lake Onega or go to Kizhi on a Meteor. You can relax by the water within the city limits or in the surrounding area. The most popular beaches of Petrozavodsk: Sands (along Solomenskoe highway), Varkaus embankment, beach in the city center opposite the Ferris wheel. A little further, 25 km from the city, is Urozero - one of the cleanest in Russia. Water transparency reaches 15 meters.

What to see in Petrozavodsk in summer

Autumn

The best time to visit Petrozavodsk in autumn is in the first half of September. This time is equally suitable for walks around the city and for trips out of town. The forests at this time are rich in berries and mushrooms. If you come to Petrozavodsk for the November holidays, then you should definitely visit the Maryane berry festival, which is held on National Unity Day. Also, rainy and chilly weather is suitable for visits to theaters in Karelia with unusual productions of the Karelian epic.

Fishing

Karelia is one of the ideal regions for fishing. Fishing enthusiasts call Karelia “Fishing Country”. You can set up a “wild” camp on a pond or go to one of the recreation centers in the vicinity of Petrozavodsk. There are about 50 species of fish in Lake Onega, including: perch, pike perch, burbot, pike, grayling, trout, sabrefish, eel. In Petrozavodsk Bay and the Shuya River flowing into it, sterlet is occasionally found, released into the reservoir 20 years ago. Salmon is also caught in Petrozavodsk Bay. Shuya salmon reaches a weight of 10–11 kg. A license is required to fish for salmon in Lake Onega.

Karelian vendace

The main commercial fish of Lake Onega is vendace and its large form - kilets.

It is worth keeping in mind that fishing from the shore in Lake Onega is not common. Most often, fishermen rent a boat with local residents who know the “fishing spots”. You can also go to paid reservoirs, where the catch is almost always guaranteed. The main problem with fishing in Karelia is the abundance of midges and mosquitoes. Even when staying in a sanitized place, you need to stock up on repellent. This is another argument for fishing from a boat.

Party places

The most popular clubs are Petro and Eli-Peli. The first holds parties in the style of the 90s, the musical accompaniment is mainly Russian pop music. In “Eli-Peli” the music is also mainly Russian pop. There is an opportunity to sing karaoke and dance energetically. You can also sing your favorite songs at the Solo karaoke club. A more fashionable place is the Culture Club. The musical accompaniment here is electronics and foreign hits, and sometimes there are themed DJ sets. Locals come here both to dance and have dinner. The most creative night spot is considered to be “Vault No. 1”, located in a real shelter of the 50s. The club opens only for parties and concerts of informal performers; there is no permanent work schedule.

Fans of contemporary art and informal get-togethers should head to the Dvor art space. In addition to volunteer projects, the organizers hold creative meetings, exhibitions, master classes and charity concerts. Urban creative projects are based in the loft project “Blue Corydoor”, located on the territory of the Onega Tractor Plant. Here you can visit an exhibition of young artists or photographers, a master class on making ceramics or jewelry, as well as concerts of alternative groups.

Vacation with children

Zoo complex "Three Bears"

It is very easy to organize family leisure in the capital of Karelia. The city with a northern flavor is remembered by children for its majestic Onega and exotic Karelian nature. After visiting the main attractions, go get acquainted with the fauna of Karelia. There is no large zoo in Petrozavodsk, but there are several mini-zoo complexes. In the Zoolesye eco-park, spacious enclosures house animals sent for foster care after injuries or death of their parents. Among the inhabitants of “Zoolesye”: a raccoon, a badger, a lynx and a raccoon dog. A mini-zoo with farm animals has been opened in the Petrozavodsk Culture and Recreation Park. There is a mini-zoo “Ecopark” on the embankment. A larger zoo complex, “Three Bears”, is located 70 km from Petrozavodsk, on the shore of Syamozero.

Boys will be interested in the military-historical museum "Flight" and the museum "Polar Odyssey". The first exhibits models of military equipment and weapons. The second contains models of sailing ships from different eras. In addition to the top museums, visit the small but very colorful private museum “Doll House”. The museum exhibits are original dolls depicting mystical characters of Russian and Karelian folklore. The author's also has puppet exhibitions, for example, a room with trolls and gnomes. There is a puppet theater at the Little Country.

Musical Theatre

You can go to children's performances in Petrozavodsk at the puppet theater. The puppet theater's repertoire includes not only performances based on Russian folk tales, but also performances based on fairy tales and epics of northern peoples. The Musical Theater of Karelia also stages children's productions: “The Town Musicians of Bremen”, “The Cat's House”, “At the Command of the Pike”. In the pre-New Year period, it is worth going to the Musical Theater to see “The Nutcracker” to immerse yourself in the holiday atmosphere. Performances on the Karelian epic and the history of the region can be seen at the National Theater.

Petrozavodsk has many parks for family walks. You can go to the Culture and Recreation Park and ride the Ferris wheel or rides. In the park area on Drevlyanka there is the “Path of Ivan Tsarevich” with a funny sculpture of a frog. In the Squirrel Island park on Karelsky Prospekt, children can hand-feed squirrels. As a creative family leisure activity, you should choose to attend master classes. Children will learn how to cook Karelian gingerbread or wickets, knit colorful mittens and scarves.

Detailed material: Where to go with a child in Petrozavodsk

Key information

The city is included in the list of settlements located in the Far North zone. Petrozavodsk is dominated by a temperate continental climate. The winter period is long and characterized by an abundance of snow. The average air temperature in the Prionezhsky region is +3 °C. The number of warm days exceeds 130. Cyclones are frequent guests in these parts. Air masses come from the west and bring with them heavy precipitation.

The hottest month is July. At the height of summer, the thermometer readings can reach +30 °C. The coldest time is January. The air temperature drops to -33 °C. The weather conditions in the region are directly influenced by the largest body of water in the Northwestern District. The city blocks are located on the shores of Lake Onega. The landscape of Petrozavodsk is cut by the beds of the rivers Tomitsa, Lososinka, Studenets, Neglinka. Some of them are navigable.

Income

Wages in the city are thirty and sometimes fifty percent lower than in St. Petersburg. An ordinary resident of Petrozavodsk receives on average fifteen thousand rubles. However, official information states that this amount is 20,000. Over ten years, the income of the population has almost doubled. About twenty thousand companies and enterprises are registered on the territory of the municipal district.

Three plants are involved in mining. There are more than two hundred factories processing raw materials. There are more than seventy complexes involved in the production of electricity and maintenance of public utility lines.

Demographic statistics

The population of Petrozavodsk was first established in 1723. The number of residents at that time barely reached two thousand people. At the beginning of the 19th century, the city began to actively grow and develop. In 1801, almost five thousand lived there. In 1856 there were already more than 10,000 people. Until 1992, the population of Petrozavodsk was constantly increasing. In 1993, it amounted to 279,000. This year became a turning point for the demographic situation in the region.

The years in which growth was noted alternated with periods of natural decline. Thus, in 2001, the number of residents exceeded 282,900, and in 2002 it decreased to 266,160. The population of Petrozavodsk in 2009 reached 271,112. In 2010, demographers noted a systematic increase in the number of citizens. Every year the number of residents increases by about two thousand. In 2011, 263,500 people were registered in the city. In 2012 there were already 265,263, in 2013 this figure reached 268,946.

The population of Petrozavodsk in 2022 exceeded 278,000 inhabitants. Peak birth rates occurred in the sixties of the 20th century. Today the municipality occupies the seventieth place in the all-Russian ranking. The positive dynamics that the city shows are associated not only with a reduction in deaths and an increase in the birth rate, but also with a change in the statistical accounting system.

In 2011, city residents began to include not only migrants who had obtained citizenship, but also visitors who received temporary registration for more than nine months. The population density of Petrozavodsk is 2,063 people. per square kilometer.

Social infrastructure

The population of Petrozavodsk has at its disposal kindergartens, secondary schools, colleges, branches of higher educational institutions, outpatient and hospital complexes. There are about twenty square meters of comfortable housing per resident of the municipal center. The number of operating preschool institutions exceeds 66. They educate more than 12,000 children.

Enrollment of children in educational institutions is 82%. The number of secondary schools is constantly increasing. According to official data, there are more than 46 municipal facilities. About 30,000 people study there. Medical institutions are represented by clinics, sanatoriums, outpatient clinics, dispensaries and hospitals. They employ about 2,500 doctors. The number of nursing staff exceeds 4,000.

Fifteen hospital complexes provide 3,500 beds. Each outpatient facility is designed to provide medical care to 7,000 Petrozavodsk residents. Law enforcement agencies record 7,000 crimes annually. For each attacker, there are approximately three episodes of violation of the law.

Way of life

The Petrozavodsk Employment Center claims that vacancies for artisans and craftsmen in the locality are always open. Embroidery on clothing and home textiles, sewing with gold threads, birch bark weaving, and wood painting are considered traditional for these places. As well as blacksmith craft, artistic carving, creating decorative elements and jewelry from dry straw.

Local craftswomen decorate clothes with pearl embroidery and weave mats and carpets. Products from local manufacturers can be purchased in museums, galleries and exhibition centers. The workshops employ a large number of ethnic minorities, as well as people with disabilities. Employees of the Petrozavodsk Employment Center note a reduction in the number of unemployed and an increase in the number of able-bodied citizens.