Kronstadt, the main military outpost of Russian Empire in the Baltic sea founded by Peter the Great himself, and the cradle of Russian Navy, has a clearly distinguishable character of a naval town-fortress proud of its history and traditions. Its system of two dozen forts scattered throughout Kotlin island and several smaller islands in the Gulf of Finland makes of it the largest naval fortress in the world.

Yet, Kronstadt is much more than that: over more than 300 years of history, it has also been an important spiritual center, a prosperous, multinational merchant city and a hotspot of technical innovation. Today, the town also profits from its easy connection to the mainland and island’s lush nature (almost 80% of Kotlin’s surface remains covered with vegetation, including 102 hectares of West Kotlin natural park). All these attractions are best explored during an unhurried walking or biking tour. We propose to explore the calm historical center with several major landmarks (such as the Naval Cathedral of Kronstadt and the ensemble of Yakornaya square, an old system of dock basins and local historical museum), some of the forts and the natural part of the island (an optional extension for a day-long tour). If booked in advance, a private boat tour for smaller groups (up to 8 participants) and a seaside picnic can be organized.

Duration: 6 to 10 hours including commuting (depending on the program)
Starting at: Kronstadt city centre
Ending at: Chernaya Rechka subway station