For many years it was impossible even to dream about such a tour. Kronstadt was a closed town and not only foreign visitors but even locals had no chance to come and see the place. This city, located in the Gulf of Finland, is home to one of Russia’s largest naval ports. It was opened for visitors only in 1996.

Kronstadt is a town and a fortress at the same time but not just an ordinary fortress – to be exact, it’s a unique fortification system consisting of one big fortress and 21 small forts majority of which are built on small artificial islands. The most famous of them are the dilapidated fort Konstantin and the mysterious fort Alexander I, where various drugs for the treatment of plague were tested in the 19th century. Some parts of Kronstadt as well as some of the forts are still military objects and therefore closed for visitors.

Today you can walk around Kronstadt and enjoy the charm of a naval city: ships peacefully resting in the harbor (if lucky you will see submarines as well), sailors in beautiful naval uniform, monuments to famous Russian navigators and polar explorers and golden anchors on the silver dome of the famous cathedral.

⚓️ Be sure to visit the Naval Cathedral – one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Russia – and climb up to its bell tower to enjoy a bird’s eye view of Kronstadt, the Gulf and the mainland far away.
⚓️ It will be very interesting for you and your children to visit the the diving museum (another name Kronstadt Naval museum).
⚓️ Take a boat trip around the forts on the old but charming ferry Riperban.

Read more about visiting and attractions of Kronstadt!