Vyborg has always been a frontier city, an ancient Swedish boundary fortress – an identity that determined its destiny across the ages. The city has changed hands many times – from Kingdom of Sweden to Russian Empire, then to Republic of Finland, to Soviet Union, to Finland again, and finally to USSR and, finally, to Russia; it has always been an outpost of these countries. This volatility took its toll on the daily life of its citizens and on the image of the city. Architecture of Vyborg is remarkable and diverse, spanning from a medieval Romanesque fortress to residential buildings marked by Finnish Romanticism of the early XX century, as well as functionalist buildings of the famous Alvar Aalto and SOK industrial bakery.

Starting at: Vyborg railway station plaza
Finishing at: Old Town Hall square
Duration: 3.5 hours (+ commute from/to St Petersburg)