Kaliningrad formerly known as Königsberg, when it was part of Germany is an exclave of the Russian federation. It is a relatively young city (in comparison to Moscow and St Petersburg) considering how it was rebuilt from the ashes of WW-II when it became part of the present day Russia. The origin of Konigsberg dates back to the 13th century when it was a settlement of the Teutonic knights. It is the biggest city in the Kaliningrad Oblast. Its geographical location on the one hand and being part of the Russian Federation on the other is very interesting and piques the mind in a way that it automatically drives one to dive into its history. It's strategic location has earned it the position of being the Headquarters of the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Navy.
WHY SHOULD IT DEFINITELY BE ON YOUR TRAVEL LIST?
• This quaint city that hasn’t lost the European touch will not overwhelm you with high costs and great distances.
• Compared not to just the European biggies , Moscow and St. Petersburg but also to Delhi and Mumbai this city is so much cheaper.
• I cannot over emphasise the fact that Kaliningrad is a hidden gem and a chance to live your best life.I HIGHLY, HIGHLY! RECOMMEND THIS PLACE BEING on your travel radar specially if you would love a European experience but at a much much lower cost.
• Treat yourself to some amazing food, vodka, wines and beer(Home brewed tap beers), some classic desserts and beautiful ambience at a cost that will blow your mind; We were pleasantly surprised to find that eating out is so much cheaper than eating out even in Mumbai or Delhi for the same quality. A beautifully plated meal including drinks and dessert in a river side/ beach side restaurant with the most ornate setting can be had for 600-800 Roubles for 2 adults.
• Even though it is currently part of Russia it has maintained the old German charm. You can catch glimpses of the same beauty in the historic paving and side walks, walking around the city you will find a host of old German houses, pivately owned with their typical red roofs.
• Now I come to enlisting the things to do once you get here –
How to get here? Refer to my previous blog on Setting up home in Russia.
Head to the Museum of the World Oceans co- located is the submarine museum and research vessel Vityaz. We had opted for a city tour bus, it is better to take guided tour around the city with an English speaking guide. You will be able to appreciate better the various forts, canals and waterways. Most of these forts got destroyed during the WW-II and what is remaining has been refurbished to accommodate museums (marzipan museum) and cafes. In the end drop off at the Fishing village (Kant island), visit the Konigsberg cathedral, Imanuel Kant’s grave. The most beautiful part of this area for me was the walk on the river embankment. You can also go a little further and enjoy a 40min boat ride. A good restaurant with vegetarian options is да (meaning Yes in Russian) , they also have a food truck outside. Don’t forget to have mulled wine and cinnamon churros while you are here, buy them at the cute shops right at the entry way of the jubilee bridge.
National Park Curonions spit/ Kurshskaya kosa - The Curonian Spit is a long and narrow sand peninsula stretching from from Zelenogradsk of the Kaliningrad Region to the Lithuanian city of Klaipeda. The Curonian peninsula is the world's longest spit that separates the freshwater Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea. The Russian half of the Curonian Spit has been a national park, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. The dancing forest is special attraction and hiking through the trail is an experience one should not miss.
A special attraction of the Curonian Spit is local "Fringilla" ornithological station. Migratory birds stop here on their way from north to south. If you are lucky, you can witness and sometimes take part in their banding.
In the evening after your return to Kaliningrad you can enjoy a walk around the city centre.
Start the day with the Kaliningrad zoo. The zoo has a large number of animals. It also has a corner with farm animals like sheep out in the open The kids really enjoy caressing and feeding the lambs..Zoo’s in genral don’t give me a good feeling..it is doesn’t give me immence pleasure to see trapped animals..nevertheless for those interested, the zoo will definitely keep your kids entertained..After this head to the Altes Haus house. It is better to book your tickets online for this one. It is a preserved german house of the World war era. There is also a café set up in what was earlier the shop of Gustav Grossman (the last man to inhabit it before Kaliningrad was taken over by Russia). This house is worth a visit and will take you back in time to the XX century. End your day by relaxing at the Central Park of Culture and recreation. The park has enough rides and fun activities to interest kids and adults alike..If you are visiting in winter there is also an ice skating rink with trainers available for those of you want to learn... All of these are within walking distance of each other.
The other towns in the Kalinigrad oblast worth visiting are Zelenogradsk, yantarny, svetlogorsk and Baltysk. Yantarny and Baltysk are half an hour apart and can be clubbed together when you decide to visit. Similarly, Svetlogorsk and Zelenogradsk can be clubbed together since they are only 30 minutes apart..You may schedule to visit the cities I have paired together on over a period of 2 days. All these four cities are distinct. Small quaint beauties with gorgeous beaches to offer. Walk around absorb the beauty ..look at the Russian houses..enjoy a drink as you walk on the embankments and walking trails..At Yantarni you may even rent out an Airbnb for an overnight stay. If you don’t have time to visit all 4 of these cities and my top choices would be Zelenogradsk and Yantarny.
Last but not the least don’t forget to visit the Amber museum. This region is very proud of their Amber mining. Visit the beautiful world of Amber in the museum. Buy some amber trinklets and gifts for yourself and friends back home. Visit the Bunker museum to know about WW-II history and the importance of Konigsberg in the war. End you day at the Ynost Amusement park and have fun at the upside down house.
There are many more Miscellaneous experiences and things to do, there are many events that take place here depending on the time of the year you decide to travel.:
• Hop on and off a tram and experience a tram ride. Enjoy Boating in inland waterways.
• Walk around and spot the various forts and gates(07 to be precise) like the Brandenburg gate, kings gate, Nestleback.
• There are lots of sculptures and monuments across the city that add to the look of the city manifold, Spot them while your hiking around.
• If you plan to visit during the winter season/Christmas enjoy ice skating, Christmas and New years are big celebrations for Russians. The whole city is dolled up. A very lively winter fest is organised at the Ynost park during the Christmas/ new year celebrations and it completely transforms the park.
• Enroll in a ceramics/pottery, baking workshops. Sign up for ice skating classes.
• In the month of August/Sep Kaliningrad hosts a Jazz music festival at Kant island.
• Attend the organ concert at Konigsberg cathedral. It happens everyday and is one of the best in Russia. Book tickets online from their official site. http://sobor39.ru/
• Visit the Centralni Reenuk or Central market, which is the biggest farmer’s market in Kaliningrad.
• Walking around don’t be afraid to try the Russian breads(sweet and flavoured with fruit preserves or spiced with cinnamon) from the various Bread stands situated at every nook and corner of the city.
• For non-vegetarians specially sea food lovers this place is heaven. For the vegetarians the options on the menu might not be that many but you won’t suffer. For a hearty vegetarian meal there are many eateries, but to mention a few – Kryaccah café(croissant café), Tabasco and any other pizzeria , Fusion, Tasty lab, Sushi and More, Georgian restaurants. Cafes might have fewer options so prefer to enter a restaurant.
END NOTE
I had never heard of this place until I actually had to come here. Why is this place so untouched and not so talked about? Infact, not just Kaliningrad but the entire Russia. Maybe because of the language barrier. The English speaking population is very less. It is not so much of an issue in Moscow or St Petersburg but in Kaliningrad if you are at a mall, a shop (Produkti or Magazines in Russian), restaurants, public transport you will be lucky to find a English speaking person to understand you. But should that hold you back?? A big NO! in this age technology when you can easily use Google translate to get across your point to the nice people here, why deprive yourself the joy of travelling to Kaliningrad. And I am not saying that you wont find an English speaking person; I have many Local friends who speak perfectly good English. Is Russia safe? YES A BIG YES!! as safe any other nation in the world...did I feel safer here than I did in Delhi NCR or UP ? HELL YES !! So don't let any thing hold you back, there is a very good network of public transport for getting you around anything you need is available. People here are very hospitable. There is no dearth of hotels and Airbnb's to host you(If you chose this option and wheat flour is very important to you may think of carrying it with you, here the more commonly used flour is refined flour/Maida). The support of an English speaking translator can also be arranged by your hotel. So as soon as it becomes possible to travel, visit Kaliningrad undoubtedly. Best time to visit - All seasons have their own advantages, but the more pleasant warmer months are - End March - Sep/early Oct, in case you want to avoid the Russian winter!!
Happy travelling!!