Karelia: 14 places to see - Ruskeala and Lake Ladoga

The route covers the main attractions of Karelia: the Ruskeala Mountain Park with the Marble Canyon, the Ladoga Estate, the cities of Sortavala and Petrozavodsk, the lakes Ladoga and Onega, the islands of Kizhi and Valaam, as well as the historical metro stations of St. Petersburg, lined with Karelian marble.

Mode
Places
Start
Lake Ladoga
End
Neva River
Stops
14
Video author
travmap
Updated

Stops on this route

  1. Lake Ladoga — Largest freshwater lake in Europe, second largest in Russia after Baikal. Central to Karelian geography and history.
  2. Karelia — Historic region with contested borders, territory three times larger than Latvia. Attracts approximately one million tourists annually.
  3. Ruskeala Mountain Park — Unique natural and historical monument featuring mining heritage, with marble extraction site.
  4. Primorskaya Metro Station — St. Petersburg Metro station featuring marble from Ruskeala.
  5. Ladozhskaya Metro Station — St. Petersburg Metro station featuring marble from Ruskeala.
  6. Sortavala — Railway town where retro-tourist train service was launched from the station to Ruskeala.
  7. Ladoga Manor (Ladoga Manor) — One of the most exotic leisure destinations in Karelia.
  8. Petrozavodsk — Capital of Karelia. Industrial center where evacuated factory equipment was restored after WWII.
  9. Lake Onega — Major freshwater lake in Karelia, part of regional water systems.
  10. Kizhi Island — UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and restored Onezhskaya Village with historic pogost architecture.
  11. Valaam Island — Island monastery attracting over 100,000 pilgrims annually. Historical strategic location with contested sovereignty (Finnish/Soviet). Visited by Emperor Alexander I and II.
  12. Vyborg — Fourth largest city in Leningrad Oblast, historically the second largest city in Finland before incorporation into USSR in 1940. Strategically important border town.
  13. Saint Petersburg — City connected to Lake Ladoga via Neva River. Features white nights similar to northern Karelian latitudes. Critical to regional history including WWII 'Road of Life' across…
  14. Neva River — Only outflow river from Lake Ladoga, flowing through Saint Petersburg. Part of Volga-Baltic and White Sea-Baltic canal systems.

Useful for your trip

Tip
Visit the Marble Canyon in the Ruskeala Mountain Park, an old stone quarry that was developed for almost 3 centuries, with tourist infrastructure
Transport
Since 2019, a steam-powered retro tourist train has been running from the Sortavala railway station to the Ruskeala Mountain Park
Tip
At the Primorskaya and Ladozhskaya metro stations in St. Petersburg, marble mined in the Ruskeala Canyon is used
Where to stay
The Ladoga estate is an exotic place of recreation with entertainment: buggy rides, fishing, night costume shows
Tip
Kizhi Island is a UNESCO site with a museum-reserve, the main attraction: the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord (more than 300 years old), built legendarily with one axe without nails
Tip
There are more than 600 islands and many trout farms on Lake Ladoga. The lake is navigable, included in the water routes of the Volga-Baltic Route
Timing
In autumn, serious storms are not uncommon on Lake Ladoga, so passenger ships may be closed - plan to visit at other times of the year
Tip
The Valaam Monastery on the island of Valaam is a place of pilgrimage, more than 100 thousand tourists visit annually
Tip
Petrozavodsk is the capital of Karelia, founded in 1715 as a cannon factory. The city can be visited to explore the industrial heritage of Russia
Tip
About 1 million tourists come to Karelia every year. This place is a must-visit along with Iceland and Norway for nature lovers
Tip
The territory of Karelia is 3 times larger than Latvia, with a population of only 533 thousand people - ideal for those who appreciate wildlife
Timing
In the northern regions of Karelia, you can observe the phenomenon of white nights

Video on this route

OVER KARELIA. IS IT SO GOOD HERE?

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