Places to Visit in Kaliningrad

Places to visit in Kaliningrad offer fascinating opportunities for those who want to explore a city full of historical and cultural riches. With unique structures from medieval castles to the present day, streets decorated with German architecture and modern museums, Kaliningrad brings together traces of the past with the present. Europe With its buildings reflecting the spirit, lush green parks and fairytale atmosphere, this city promises an unforgettable experience for travelers. Are you ready to discover the most popular spots in Kaliningrad?

Fishing Village

The Fishing Village is a complex of buildings built in the old German style on the banks of the Pregolya River in 2005. This place, known as “Little Europe”, offers the most beautiful views of Kaliningrad. There are restaurants overlooking the river, three hotels, souvenir shops and a lighthouse with an observation deck where you can take panoramic photos. Mulled wine and pastries are sold in the tents, and you can also find amber souvenirs. River boats depart regularly from the Pregolya Pier, a great choice for romantic excursions. Opposite the Fishing Village is Kant Island, where the Kaliningrad Cathedral is located.

Königsberg Cathedral

The Cathedral is a 14th-century Gothic church and a symbol of Kaliningrad. Before the war, it was the capital cathedral of East Prussia. Despite serious damage during the World War II bombings, it was restored. Today, it is no longer used for worship; it serves as a museum and concert center. It houses the Kant Museum, a concert hall, and Catholic and Orthodox chapels. The tomb of the famous German philosopher and professor at the University of Königsberg, Immanuel Kant, is located in the wall of the Königsberg Cathedral.

The cathedral's concert hall hosts about 700 classical music concerts each year. The organ used in these concerts is the largest organ complex in Russia. It consists of the Great and Small organs and has a total of over 8.500 pipes. This complex is managed by two organists at the same time. It is recommended to buy your tickets in advance as organ concerts are very popular. You can attend a concert or buy a tour ticket to see the interior details of the church and explore the organ complex.

Lenin Street

Lenin Street is the city’s flashy main street, with many shops, souvenir shops, popular cafes and bars. The street stretches for 3 km, starting from Victory Square. From here, you can join city tours and excursions to the Lead Tongue. There are very few historical buildings on the street, as the buildings in the center were damaged in World War II. Former Soviet apartment buildings, restored for the World Cup, have been transformed into colorful “Khansatic” style European-inspired houses. If you take a photo in front of these houses, you may even make your friends believe that you have traveled abroad. The Avrupa Merkez shopping mall, located at the beginning of the street, is popular with city residents; right in front of it is a small park with the statue of “Mother Russia”, known as a meeting point.

Victory Square

Victory Square is the main square of Kaliningrad. When Königsberg was part of the Hanseatic League, it was called “Hanza-Platz”; during Hitler’s reign it bore his name. In the post-war USSR, it was renamed “Victory Square”. The square houses the city’s administrative building and in front of it is the Victory Column, erected in memory of the Great Victory. Next to the square stands the white Christ Spas Cathedral, built in 2009 in the Vladimir-Suzdal architectural style. The foundation of the church was added with soil from the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow and can accommodate 3 people. The square is surrounded by the shopping malls “Klover City” and “Kaliningrad Passage”. Behind the “Passage” is the second largest station in Kaliningrad, the Northern Railway Station, which has lines to Svetlogorsk and Zelenogradsk.

Museum of the World Ocean

The Museum of the World Ocean is a museum complex dedicated to the boundless riches of the ocean. The main building and ship museums are located on the banks of the Pregolya River, as well as branches in various parts of the city. You should take a day to see many vehicles, including submarines, fishing boats, seaplanes and space communication ships. Be sure to visit the legendary research ship “Vityaz”, on which scientists studied the ocean for many years. The first depth measurement of the Mariana Trench was also made here. Today, the ship serves as a museum and also offers a botel where you can spend the night in the cabins where scientists live.

The main building of the museum houses aquariums with marine life, the Mir-1 deep-sea vessel and one of the largest skeletons of a sperm whale in Russia. Next to it, a new building called the Ocean Planet, built in the form of a large glass sphere, is under construction. One of the museum's branches, the Marine Exhibition Center, is located in Svetlogorsk. It houses ethnographic collections dedicated to sea people and a gallery of marine-themed art.

Address: Peter the Great Seaside, 1, Kaliningrad.

Working hours: The main building is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, closed on Mondays.

Amber Museum

The only amber museum in Russia is located in the Don Tower of the Königsberg Castle. The exposition consists of several sections and is spread over three floors. The natural sciences section exhibits various amber samples containing fossils of insects and plants, 45-50 million years old. Among them is the largest amber in Russia and the second largest in the world, weighing 4 kg 280 g. This rare piece was discovered in the village of Yantarny, where the Kaliningrad Amber Mine is located.

Another exhibition displays sculptures, interior decoration items, icons, portraits, boxes, cups and jewellery made of Baltic amber. Of particular note is the Fabergé amber cigarette case from 1913. Some of the works are masterful copies of original masterpieces from the lost Amber Room, including the world's largest amber mosaic panel called "Russia". The tower also houses an exhibition of amber works by modern artists.

For more information about amber extraction and processing, you can visit the amber combine in Yantarny village. Here you can see the mine where sunstone is extracted and find your own piece of amber in the sand.

Address: Marshal Vasilevsky Square, 1, Kaliningrad

Working hours: Open daily from May to September 10:00-19:00; October to April 10:00-18:00, closed on Mondays.

Museum of History and Art

The Museum of History and Art is located in the former Stadtthalle building, a 20th century architectural monument. This museum exhibits everything from the history of Kaliningrad to its nature. Its collection includes nearly 140 thousand natural science, art and other artifacts. The exhibits tell the history of the city from the period when it was part of Prussia to the conquest of the city by the Soviet army. The Bunker Museum and “Fort No. 5”, which are attached to the museum, can also be visited.

Address: Klinicheskaya St., 21, Kaliningrad.

Working hours: Open daily from 10:00 to 18:00; closed on Mondays.

Bunker Museum

The Bunker Museum is a former bunker that housed the command center of German General Otto Lasch during the capture of Königsberg. The 21 rooms, located at a depth of seven meters, are equipped with ventilation, electricity, water and sewage systems. The museum has recreated the German general's study. The exhibition, prepared with documents, audio and visual materials, provides detailed information about the construction of the bunker, General Lasch and his surrender.

Address: Universitetskaya St., 2 A, Kaliningrad.

Working hours: Open every day from 10:00 to 18:00.

Amalienau

Amalienau is a district designed by the famous architect Friedrich Heitmann and built in the early 20th century. Based on the "garden city" concept of English sociologist Ebenezer Howard, it aimed to offer its residents a peaceful and comfortable life surrounded by nature. The houses in the Jugendstil style were built with no more than 2 floors, far apart and with green gardens. These villas, decorated with original reliefs and sculptures, appealed to the wealthy Germans of the period.

Amalienau, which was not damaged much during the war, still preserves the atmosphere of Kaliningrad during the German period. There are also other architectural examples in the area. For example, the Schmidt Sr. Villa (24 Victory Street), a red Gothic building, currently serves as a kindergarten. Also, the Libek Villa on Puskin Street 8, with its geometric brick pattern, is currently used as a residence. One of the symbols of Amalienau, the yellow Leo Villa (16 Chestnut Lane), was owned by the city councilor and honorary citizen Ludwig Leo; today it functions as a kindergarten.

Altes Haus Museum

The Altes Haus Museum is located in the Amalienau district, in a former house belonging to the merchant and grocer Gustav Grossmann. Although Grossmann’s belongings have not survived to the present day, the museum’s owners present a collection of German household items from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Visitors can see the bedroom and living room, furnished with antique furniture. The kitchenware that made the work of German housewives easier is particularly striking. You can have a coffee and view the historical objects in the antique shop that was opened on the site of Grossmann’s old shop.

Address: Red Street, 11, flat 1.

Working hours: Tours operate from Monday to Saturday at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00.

Kaliningrad Zoo

Kaliningrad Zoo, Moskova ve St. Petersburg It is one of the three oldest zoos in Russia, along with the zoos. Opened in 1896, the zoo was the scene of fierce fighting during World War II, with only four animals surviving. After the war, the garden was renovated, filled with a children's playground and new animals. Today, it is one of the city's most popular recreational areas.

The Kaliningrad Zoo is home to about 2.000 animals, from Baltic seals to giraffes. One of the oldest residents is the elephant Pregolya, born in 1970, named after the city's river Pregolya. The garden is also famous for its arboretum, where azaleas, magnolias and sakura bloom. You can join tours held every Sunday to learn more about the zoo's residents and history.

Address: Mira Street, 26, Kaliningrad.

Working hours: Open daily 9am-00pm. Tickets available online. Tours run on Sundays at 19am.

Friedland Gate Museum

The Friedland Gate Museum tells the story of the life of the people of Königsberg from the Middle Ages to the mid-20th century. Visitors are presented with 7 permanent exhibitions of household items, clothing, toys and signs. These items reveal life in the city at different periods. Each visitor is shown a holographic film with old city photographs. The museum is located at the Friedland Gate, one of the seven surviving city gates.

Address: Dzerzhinskiy St., 30, Kaliningrad.

Working hours: Open daily from May to August 10:00-19:00, from September to April 10:00-18:00.

Kaliningrad Museum of Fine Arts

The Kaliningrad Museum of Fine Arts has a large collection of paintings, photographs, sculptures and decorative works by Russian and foreign artists. It also includes works by East Prussian and contemporary Kaliningrad artists; in total, there are about 14.000 works. In addition to exhibitions, the museum also hosts fashion shows and lectures on art. The exhibitions are housed in the former Königsberg Stock Exchange, an architectural monument built in the 19th century.

Address: Lenin Avenue, 83, Kaliningrad.

Working hours: Every day 10:00-19:00, Thursdays 10:00-21:00. Closed on Mondays.

Kuri Coast National Park

The Kuri Coast National Park is a 98 km long sandy landmass located between the Baltic Sea and the Kuri Lagoon, 48 km of which belong to Russia and the rest to Lithuania. The park is distinguished by its unusual landscape (dunes, forests and marshes) and its diversity; more than 290 species of animals and 889 species of plants, including rare species, are found here.

There are ecological walking paths in the reserve; with the “Kuri Coast” application you can see all the routes on the map and audio guides for each route. From the highest point in the south, “Efa Hill”, you can watch the magnificent dune views. You can relax on the soft white sand beach and enjoy the sea. Another popular route is the “Dancing Forest”, where the trunks of the trees are mysteriously twisted, the reason for which is still unknown. At the “Fringilla” birdwatching station you can watch the birds ringing and learn how they follow their migration routes. In the Royal Forest, while walking among the coniferous trees that are centuries old, you can come across cute animal sculptures.

Homlins

On the streets of Kaliningrad you can come across cute little creatures called “homlins”. Homlins are little house spirits who make mischief at night or make amber ornaments; during the day they hide in the homes of the people of Kaliningrad. Designed by artist Natalya Shevchenko and sculptor Andrey Sledkov, this family has become very popular with the city’s people. Each new homlin character is named by public vote. There are currently 5 members in the homlin family, but more members may be added soon.

Here are tips on where to meet homlins in Kaliningrad!

Grandfather Karl: The patriarch of the family is the homlin who first appeared in the city. You can see him at the Honeybee Bridge near the Fishing Village and Kant Island.

• Address: Kant Street, Kaliningrad.

Grandmother Marta: Karl's wife Marta hides in the loophole of the Don Tower at the entrance to the Amber Museum. A coin is left next to her for good luck. In winter, Marta is dressed in a knitted shawl.

• Address: Marshal Vasilevsky Square, 1, Kaliningrad.

Father Leo: He is known as the most creative member of the family; he was even named Leo in honor of the great Leonardo da Vinci. The father, a musical dreamer, lives next to the Museum of Fine Arts.

• Address: Lenin Avenue, 83, Kaliningrad.

Little Ulya: Cute little Ulya sits on a snail and sticks her tongue out at visitors to the Kaliningrad Zoo.

Address: Mira Street, 26, Kaliningrad.

Little Vitya: This little homlin sitting on a paper boat is located next to the ship “Vityaz” in the Museum of the World Ocean and is named in his honor.

Address: Peter the Great Seaside, 1, Kaliningrad.

Places to visit in Kaliningrad offer a unique experience blended with history and culture. Medieval castles, streets full of old German architecture and modern museums offer many beauties to be discovered in every corner of the city. For nature lovers, the Kuri Coast National Park and the city’s green areas offer peaceful escapes. Anyone visiting Kaliningrad can witness the past and present living together in harmony in this special city.

You may also want to see these articles:

• Places to Visit in Russia