Lenin & Esplanade Parks


Explore these two central and adjacent leafy parks, separated by Leningradsky pr, to find intriguing statutes and carved trees. At the southern end of Lenin Park is the Alvar Aalto Library, designed by the famous Finnish architect in 1935 and, in the Esplanade Park, the Lutheran SS Peter & Paul Cathedral (Собор святых апостолов Петра и Павла).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Alvar Aalto Library

0.19 MILES

A must-see for architecture fans is the beautifully designed public library, one of Finnish architect Alvar Aalto's iconic designs. After years of…

2. Round Tower

0.25 MILES

One unmissable relic of Vyborg’s Swedish times is the squat Round Tower, which now houses a restaurant.

4. Hermitage Vyborg

0.27 MILES

Housed in a wing of a striking building designed by Finnish architect Uno Ulberg in 1930, this small museum hosts themed exhibitions that are curated from…

5. Town Hall

0.33 MILES

This is the remains of the 15th-century Town Hall, with its distinctive white tower crowned with what resembles a giant metallic wizard’s hat.

6. Clock Tower

0.43 MILES

The Clock Tower was first built in 1490 and is worth climbing for the views of town. At time of research, it was closed for long-term restoration.

7. Museum

0.59 MILES

This is a small museum of local history inside the Vyborg castle complex.

8. Vyborg Castle

0.6 MILES

Rising stoutly from an islet in Vyborg Bay, this castle was built by the Swedes in 1293 when they first captured Karelia from Novgorod. Most of it now…