Kaliningrad Travel Guide

Kaliningrad is an interesting city historically known for being a Russian exclave and the capital of Kaliningrad Oblast. It has belonged in the past to Germany; it borders Lithuania and Poland (no common border with Russia), and as such has a distinctly European feel with its German heritage evident in buildings and culture.

Things to Do in Kaliningrad

This is an easy city to get around as a visitor, and it's chock full of historical sites, top-notch museums, soviet monuments and lush parks. Start off in Victory Square and get your bearings then head to Unesco World Heritage Site Kaliningrad Cathedral, where you’ll find a memorial to Immanuel Kant, the German philosopher (1724-1804).

Take your pick from notable sites such as the Friedland Gate, Museum of the World Ocean, the Amber Museum (6000 Amber exhibits are housed here), the Kaliningrad Zoo, House of Soviets and the Brandenburg Gate (one of seven surviving city gates from the former German city). There are also various parks, large ponds, an old German fort built by Frederik William III, and the charming Kant Island. Along the riverside you can also visit a neotraditional cluster of restaurants, shops and houses known as Fish Village.

Best Places to Stay in Kaliningrad

Most tourists stick to the city center around the Cathedral and Victory Square.

Best Time to Visit Kaliningrad

Travel in August and experience not only the best weather but also the Kaliningrad City Jazz Festival.