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Kaliningrad Region

The Kaliningrad region's eponymous capital was the medieval seat of Prussia and an important port that was fought over for centuries. Today, fewer than 500,000 people visit each year. Until WWII, the province was almost entirely German; bratwurst made way for borsch after the war as Stalin repopulated the region with Russians. Though Kaliningrad is separated from Russia by Lithuania and Poland, the exclave is intimately attached to the motherland.

Yet for all of its chaotic history and cultural foibles – or perhaps because of them – 'Little Russia' is a fascinating place to visit. The city of Kaliningrad teems with interesting sights and surprisingly sophisticated accommodation and dining options; seaside towns Svetlogorsk and Zelenogradsk dish up old-world charm by the spadeful; sparkling Yantarny is the world's amber capital; and the dunes, pine forests and tranquil villages of Kurshskaya Kosa National Park make for a serene sojourn.

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Kaliningrad Region.

  • See

    Museum of the World Ocean

    Strung along the banks of the Pregolya River are several ships, a submarine, maritime machinery and exhibition halls that together make up this excellent museum. The highlight is the handsome former scientific expedition vessel Vityaz, moored alongside the Viktor Patsaev, with its exhibits relating to space research; visits to this are by guided tour (included in the admission price; every 45 minutes). The pre-atomic B-413 submarine gives a taste of what life was like for its 300 former inhabitants. A restored storehouse has interesting displays on the seafaring history of Kaliningrad, as well as the remains of a 19th-century wooden fishing boat. There’s also a pavilion with a sperm whale skeleton, and halls with small aquariums and general information about the ocean.

  • See

    Amber Museum

    Housed in the 19th-century Dohna Tower on the southern shore of the Upper Pond (Верхний пруд), this is a terrific introduction to the 'sunstone' – detailing how amber is formed, how it defined prehistoric trade routes, as well as how to differentiate imitations from the real deal. There are more than 6000 amber exhibits, including marvellous works of art by contemporary Kaliningrad craftspeople, plus reconstructed centuries-old goblets and caskets, a whopping 4.28kg amber nugget and ancient specimens of prehistoric insects and plants fossilised in resin. The museum has a terrific selection of amber jewellery to choose from, including delicate earrings and chunky pendants, as well as true works of art.

  • See

    Kaliningrad Cathedral

    Photos displayed inside this Unesco World Heritage site attest to how dilapidated the cathedral was until the early 1990s – the original dates back to 1333. The lofty interior is dominated by an ornate organ used for regular concerts, which are well worth attending. Upstairs, the carved-wood Wallenrodt Library has interesting displays of old Königsberg. The top floor is devoted to noted philosopher and Kaliningrad native Immanuel Kant (1724–1804); the exhibition includes his death mask. Kant's Tomb is on the building's outer north side.

  • See

    History & Arts Museum

    Housed in a reconstructed 1912 concert hall built on the banks of the pretty Lower Pond (Нижний пруд), this museum features an impressive diorama upstairs, depicting the final Soviet assault on Königsberg in April 1945 that left the city in ruins. There are also exhibits showcasing the history of the city pre- and post-WWII, including fin-de-siècle Königsberg fashions, venerable 19th-century pianos and details of the Romanov legacy in East Prussia. Downstairs is devoted to natural history of the region and temporary art exhibitions.

  • See

    Kant Island & Riverside

    This once densely populated island – now a parkland dotted with sculptures – is dominated by the Kaliningrad Cathedral. A few nearby buildings – the former Stock Exchange from the 1870s and the neotraditional row of shops, restaurants and hotels known as Fish Village – hint at what this area looked like before WWII. Get a bird's-eye view from the 31m-high lighthouse viewing tower.

  • See

    Altes Haus

    This unique museum is housed in a 1912-era apartment house, which has been restored to its former state of early-20th-century Königsberg glory and stuffed with genteel period pieces and gorgeous antique furniture. Entry is by guided tour (in Russian, although the tourist office can locate an English-speaking guide for you). Visitors are given more or less free rein to sit on the furniture and generally carry on – politely – as if they owned the joint.

  • See

    Friedland Gate

    This history museum is housed in the 19th-century Friedland Gate, which was for years one of the main entry points into the fortified city. Admission includes permanent exhibitions on the Teutonic Knights and the history of the city through eight centuries; some of the exhibition is in English. The highlight is a 15-minute multimedia show made up of projections of photos taken in the city between 1908 and 1913, and grainy footage shot around the castle in 1937.

  • See

    Kaliningrad Art Gallery

    Housed inside a neoclassical former stock exchange building from the 1870s, this art gallery has a permanent photo exhibition of the wartime ruins of Kaliningrad and its rebuilding after the war. It also showcases etchings, sketches and oil paintings of Königsberg and nearby Nida life in the late 19th century and first half of the 20th, by the likes of Heinrich Wolf, Lovis Corinth and Hans Preuss. Post-1950s Soviet art is also on exhibition.

  • See

    Kaliningrad Zoo

    This is one of the city's most popular attractions for families, so expect lines on the weekends. The zoo dates from 1896, when it was founded as the Königsberger Tiergarten. The destruction of WWII and funding shortfalls in the 1990s made things difficult for the animals, though the authorities are now working hard to improve the facilities. There are lots of big cats, though kids will love the bear and hippos the most.