Excursions around Kaliningrad and the region are an opportunity to get acquainted with an amazing corner of Russia. A rich history, architectural monuments, military installations, real open-air museums - all this is for those who are interested in the past. Amazing natural landscapes, poetic dunes, the inimitable Curonian Spit will captivate adults and children. And during excursions, you can hear old legends, taste delicious smoked fish with beer, buy amber jewelry. Go?
City tour
It is with this program that it is best to start your acquaintance with the city. If you are in Kaliningrad for a short time, you will still get a basic idea about it and see the most interesting things. If you are planning to spend a vacation here, a sightseeing walk will help you navigate and understand which of the sights you later want to see in more detail. Tourists will see one of the forts, and will clearly imagine what kind of global work was behind the construction of such fortifications.
They will also visit the fortress of Frederick the Great, take pictures of the bastions, and visit the Royal Gate. Of great interest is a visit to the Fish Village, where time seems to be turning back. And of course, you will hear organ music in the Cathedral, appreciate the Brandenburg Gate, and stand on the Three Marshals Square.
Walk in search of Königsberg
It is possible to see the old Konigsberg through the features of modern Kaliningrad. And the journey will be exciting. Tourists will see how the nobility and ordinary townspeople lived in the past centuries. Where science was learned, treated, worked and walked. For example, the Three Kings Gate had richly decorated tenement houses. It will be possible to see the layout of the apartments of those residents of the city who did not have to worry about money.
There was also an area in Konigsberg where there were shelters and hospitals for the poor. To some extent, the tradition has been preserved. You can still get free lunches from the Catholic community here. Also, tourists will look at the city gates, remembering the Emperor Peter the Great, and will see the Fire Department, built at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The elegant "Dollhouse" will forever remain in the memory, like a guest from the past. “Korolevskaya Street”, defensive structures, old photographs - in a word, this tour is notable for its rare informational richness.
To the Curonian Spit through forts and castles
During this trip, tourists have a lot to see. Kaliningrad is 25 km away from the Curonian Spit. On the way, tourists will look at "Fort No. 3", walk along its underground passage, hear numerous legends associated with this place. You will also have to stop by the Nesselbeck Castle, which will make you remember the Middle Ages. Here you can drink beer and have a snack, and if you're lucky, you can also see "knightly fights". The next stop will be at the Museum of Soviet Military Equipment - mainly tanks.
And, finally, the Kursk Spit. Here tourists will visit the museum of the reserve of the same name, an ornithological station, where they will see the process of ringing birds. They will stop by for a bite to eat in a cafe in the village of Rybachye - fish dishes are prepared surprisingly here. Further on the program is a visit to the "Dancing Forest", where trees with a bizarre shape grow. And finally, you will see the Efa dune, which is over 62 m high, which once swallowed up the whole castle. An enchanting view opens up from the dune.
National Park "Curonian Spit"
This trip will take a full day, but the trip is worth it. First, you will hear a story about the defensive lines of the old Königsberg. Then the guide will tell you about the history of Zelenogradsk. Well, then a story about the Curonian Spit itself - its flora and fauna is waiting for you. The narrowest point is at the village of Lesnoye. Here you can admire the beautiful scenery. The staff of the ornithological station will conduct an excursion for tourists, tell and show how birds are ringed.
Since the trip lasts several hours, tourists will definitely want to have a bite to eat. You can do this in one of the cafes in the village of Rybachy, which serves amazingly tasty smoked fish. Another stop will be near the "Dancing Forest", which resembles a fairy tale come to life, you will see such amazing trees here. And from the height of the dune you can enjoy the enchanting panorama of the sea and the bay.
The further program depends on the weather. In summer, during a warm season, you can swim. If the weather is cold, it is raining, the guide will suggest visiting the Kursk Spit Museum with a large number of exhibits. It will not be boring on the road either. You will hear many fairy tales born in these places, and on the way back you will stop by the beautiful Nesselbek castle.
Coastal Cities Mosaic
The most famous cities of the Kaliningrad seaside are Baltiysk, Svetlogorsk and Yantarny. Each of them has its own distinctive beauty. Severe Baltiysk is a city of the navy. This tradition dates back to the era of the king of Sweden. And now warships are based here. And here you can also see the monument to Peter the Great, feed the swans.
What the best masters of Yantarny do is clear from the name of the city. You can see how amber is mined, processed, and purchased souvenirs and jewelry with a "sun stone". Or even try to find amber on the seashore yourself.
Svetlogorsk is a famous resort, very beautiful, with many attractions. Among them - Goering's hunting lodge, a water tower of remarkable beauty, a magnificent embankment. You can spend an evening in Svetlogorsk, dine in one of the local restaurants. Or go to see the Fort No. 5 museum and then return to the city.
Curonian Spit for children and adults
Designed for both adults and young tourists. You will see the most interesting objects of the Curonian Spit, hear tales and legends associated with these places. Anyone who is fond of photography can take pictures of rare beauty here. You will walk along the roads along which knights and kings used to walk, find out who the "raven bites" are and, perhaps, believe that trees have a soul.
Hoffmann's tales are associated with the Curonian Spit; in Zelenogradsk there is a tortoise pond, Tortilla. If you wish, you can visit a real cat museum, which bears the funny name "Murarium". Singing sands and poetic dunes will be remembered for a long time. If you are lucky, you will come across animals living on the scythe - for example, deer or foxes. Smoked flounder awaits you for lunch.
1912 apartment museum - a living history of the city
A very interesting and unusual museum opened relatively recently, in 2014. But a century has passed since the construction of the house where it is located. The family of the merchant Gustav Grossman once lived in the apartment where the museum is located. And sightseers are given the opportunity to get acquainted with the life of the people who lived at that time. All exhibits collected here are genuine.
You can sit down on a chair, play the piano, light a lamp ... And tourists may find it interesting to inspect the bedroom of a merchant's wife - to see the hostess's dresses, underwear, toilet accessories. The guide will tell you how people lived at that time, what rules they followed in everyday life.
Koenigsberg-Kaliningrad history over the centuries
It will start at the Kaliningrad Hotel. The guide will tell you about the history of the Paradnaya Square, you will drive along Leninsky Prospekt, hear rare legends associated with the extraction of amber. Then it will be the turn of acquaintance with the theatrical art of the city, and the most famous sculptural compositions of Kaliningrad. You will learn that the spirit of Queen Louise still lives in the Puppet Theater.
Further, the guide will offer to inspect the military fortifications that have been preserved in Kaliningrad since the 19th century, and will take you to the Fish Village for a snack. Then you will go to the grave of Kant, and also see the pride of Kaliningrad - the Cathedral in the Gothic style. And finally, you will learn how to prepare "amber vodka", which has healing properties.
Romantic walks in the mysterious city
One of the most romantic excursions that Kaliningrad has to offer. It will begin with the guide's story about the legendary wolf Gerra. You will walk along the Bridge of Lovers, see a narrow street from the Middle Ages, see how the Masonic signs look. Near the zoo you have to meet a bear. Then you will admire the sculptures installed in the city before the war.
Kaliningrad has its own Sherwood Forest, reminiscent of Robin Hood. And the architecture of other parts of the city is best described by the expression “music frozen in stone”. This will be followed by a walk in the vicinity of Lake Poplavok. Tourists will have to see the defensive structures of the city, and at the end of the program climb the Astronomical Hill. The journey will end with stories about the ghosts that live in the Royal Castle.
Royal Resorts of Zemlandia
This is what the peninsula was previously called, surrounded on all sides by water. Here were the resorts of Krantz (Zelenogradsk) and Raushen (Svetlogorsk), which the nobility liked to visit. The guide will tell you the legends associated with these lovely towns. In Zelenogradsk you will walk around the city, get acquainted with its architecture, taste the local mineral water.
Svetlogorsk resembles a botanical garden. Rare plants have been planted here since the days of the Prussian king. And the elegant houses here seem fabulous. The walk will end at a cafe on the seashore. By agreement with the guide, treatment procedures and special master classes for children can be included in the program.
Traveling in the "Safari" style in the Kaliningrad region
"Where the Infantry Cannot Pass" is sung in a popular song. But the jeep will go everywhere. You will be able to visit places that are difficult to reach with a regular car. These are the ruins of ancient castles and fortresses, abandoned noble estates. Here you can fully experience the indescribable atmosphere of the Baltics. You can choose different directions for your trip. For example, go to the Baltic Spit. During the trip, you will see the ruins of the Fischhausen and Lochstedt castles, the "Tree of War", the observation tower, the Stile fort and much more.
Or you would prefer to go along the "Green Path" and explore Zelenogradsk, windmills, mineral water springs, visit Cape Taran, see an old quarry where amber was mined. It will be interesting to get acquainted with the fortifications, inspect the ruins of the castle that belonged to the Teutonic Order, a trip to the Curonian Spit or the Masurian Canals, where it was planned to test Wehrmacht submarines.
Yantarny and Svetlogorsk
A pleasant excursion that will not tire you, but will give you a lot of impressions. From Kaliningrad you will head to the small town of Yantarny. There is also something to see along the way. Picturesque nests of storks, ruins of ancient churches ... Then you will see an amber quarry and an amber pyramid. Visit the beautiful Becker Park and the observation deck overlooking the Baltic Sea.
The next stop will be in Svetlogorsk. A very green and beautiful town with quiet streets, a magnificent water tower, an elegant embankment. There are a lot of souvenir shops where you can buy crafts made of amber, and a cafe where it is so nice to sit with a cup of coffee in conclusion.
Amalienau - the atmosphere of old Königsberg
The Amalienau area is a living history of the city. You have to walk through the cobbled streets and see the houses that belong to the old postcards. You will be amazed at the trees and bushes unusual for the shores of the Baltic Sea. In Amalienau you can see beech and walnut, jasmine and ginkgo. You can admire the work of the architect Heimann. Also, once it was here that the last witch in the district was executed.
Tourists will also have to walk along the roads where Queen Louise loved to walk, who is especially revered in this region. She did a lot for her people during the war with Napoleon. The queen's church has been preserved.
It will be interesting for sightseers to learn about the peculiarities of Prussian cuisine. For example, who can tell what the legendary bedbugs are? And how delicious the local marzipan is, the recipes of which have been carefully preserved since the 13th century! The most interesting dishes can be tasted and appreciated.
Eras of Kaliningrad - a look into the past
What was Koenigsberg once and how it changed during the Soviet development - you will learn about all this during the excursion. It will start on the island of Kant. You will see the grave of the famous scientist and philosopher, see the Cathedral. The defensive structures of the city and its bastions will appear before you. The Bunker Museum, where the capitulation of Königsberg was signed, is also of great interest.
At the end you will see a very interesting area of Amalienau, where the old meets the modern. The guide can be asked the most pressing questions for tourists regarding Kaliningrad. He will tell you about the best museums and exhibitions, cafes and shops. He will advise where else to go to get the most complete picture of the Kaliningrad region.
In the footsteps of the Amber Room
You will learn many mystical and mysterious stories. The starting point is the Kalinin Park, before the war it was called Luisenval. The guide will begin his story with the story of the mystical necklace of the queen. The road to the Baltic Sea coast will take about 40 minutes. During this time, you will see an old church and stop for a coffee.
Then you have to visit the "Amber Castle", where there is even a torture chamber. You will walk along the wooden embankment, look into the church, walk along the alleys of the old park and along the seashore, where you can easily find amber. You will see the Anna mine, it is possible that the Amber Room is hidden somewhere here. You can dine in the "Galera" restaurant, and visit the nearby shops to purchase items made of amber, including handmade ones.
A walk through time - old and new Kaliningrad
The multifaceted image of Kaliningrad will unfold before you. The times of the knights and the legacy of the Soviet era - here you can see cultural monuments from different eras. The first thing you will see is the foundation of the Royal Castle under a glass sarcophagus. Once upon a time pagans lived on this place, then the castle was erected directly. He remembered knights and kings, the Emperor Peter the Great was here, the best wine was kept here in the cellars.
It was planned that, destroyed in the middle of the 20th century, the castle would eclipse the new House of Soviets, but it was never completed. Then you will stroll along the embankment along the lake, visit the island of Kant, where you can hear organ music in the Cathedral every day, bow to the grave of the great philosopher. It will end in the Rybnaya village, with its picturesque houses. Here you can go shopping where amber souvenirs are sold and sit in a cafe.
Knight's castles of East Prussia
On the lands where the Kaliningrad region is now, pagans once lived, then knights came here, these places remember the Napoleonic campaign, the First and Second World Wars. First of all, this excursion is for those who love history. You will see the ancient regions of East Prussia, visit the place where the ancients made sacrifices, look at 7 knightly castles. Find out where the battles took place, look at the former German towns - now Gvardeysk and Chernyakhovsk.
It is no secret that much was irretrievably lost, and most of the castles remained in ruins.But photographs have survived, and touching the ruins of the Middle Ages, you can feel the harsh spirit of that time.
History of Koenigsberg and Kaliningrad
The 3-hour walk will be led by a German-speaking guide who is an employee of the Amber Museum. Therefore, the "immersion in the topic" will be complete, and the story will be very interesting. First, tourists will visit the island of Kant. Together with a guide, they will visit the grave of the philosopher, visit the Cathedral, where the largest organ in Europe is located. Then you can see the defensive fortifications, feel their power.
In the Amalienau area, there are houses that are characteristic of German architecture of the early 20th century. Many famous people lived here, and you will hear a detailed story about them. The tower, which previously belonged to Count Don, today houses the Amber Museum, and even earlier this tower was part of the defensive system.
But one cannot fail to get acquainted with modern Kaliningrad. You will visit the city center, look at its port and ships, and walk slowly along the embankment. The guide will tell you about the ships that have gone down in history. Of course, you will learn about how amber is mined and processed in the Kaliningrad region. Hear the legends associated with the "sun stone" We will also talk about the parks of Kaliningrad, about the well-thought-out system of city greening, thanks to which Kaliningrad looks so impressive.
And, of course, you can ask the guide any questions about the city. After all, it is quite possible that this program will become just the main point for you, and you will want to get acquainted in more detail with the sights of Kaliningrad and the region.
Individual sightseeing tour
European cities, founded like Königsberg in the Middle Ages, usually have a vast and beautiful historic center. Unfortunately, most of the old German buildings were destroyed by bombing during World War II. But what remains will allow you to get an idea of what Kaliningrad once looked like. The rest will be complemented by a detailed story of the guide.
Tourists will be able to see the city gates, bastions, the fortress, see the old churches, appreciate the picturesque view of the Fish Village. Visit the grave of Kant on the Kneiphof island. The Cathedral will enchant them with its Gothic architecture. It will end in a restaurant located in one of the defensive structures.
The most western cities of Russia
It will start with a visit to the westernmost point of Russia - the city of Baltiysk, where you will see warships - both in the port and in the roadstead. You will walk along a long breakwater, take pictures of an ancient fort of an unusual shape, and visit the city beach. Next, you will go to the city of Yantarny. Nowhere in the world is there so much "sun stone" as here. In addition, in the city you can see the church and the castle, a very beautiful park, walk along the wooden promenade. And the beaches in Yantarny are as wide as nowhere else in the Kaliningrad region.
Of course, tourists will take a walk through the amber plant and visit the amber pyramid. And, of course, if you have been planning to buy souvenirs or amber jewelry for a long time, it is best to do it here. You can stop for lunch in a place of your choice. For example, in the restaurant "Galera" or in one of the cozy cafes, where they serve delicious home-style meals.
A shorter version assumes that it will end on the shores of the Baltic Sea, at the highest point of the region, from where a marvelous view of the sea surface opens. But you can also extend the trip, visit Svetlogorsk, see the sights of this poetic town, and dine at the local cafe.
It is very convenient to book individual (designed for 1-10 people) excursions. At a very reasonable cost, all the details can be agreed with the guide. The time and place of departure will be exactly what you deem convenient. The program is easy to adjust - to make the trip longer or shorter, deviate from the planned route and visit additional objects that are of interest to you.
The guide takes into account the age of the tourists (he will definitely come up with something interesting for the children), your wishes regarding rest, lunch, the moment of the end of the trip. Please note that it is advisable to book excursions in advance during the high season.
