©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd

Best Churches ¨ St Sofia’s Cathedral (p309)

¨ Kirillov-Belozersky Monastery (p312)

¨ Church of the Entry into Jerusalem (p315)

¨ Solovetsky Transfiguration Monastery (p289)

¨ Transfiguration Monastery (p287)

Best Northern Fun ¨ Teriberka (p308)

¨ Bolshoy Zayatsky Island (p290)

¨ Snow Village (p298)

¨ Husky Park Lesnaya Elan (p301)

¨ Arctic Circle PADI Dive Center (p299)

When to Go

Early Mar–Apr Days are long and there’s plenty of snow for husky sledding and skiing.

Early Jun–late Jul The fleeting summer is ideal for island access and fun in the midnight sun.

Late Nov–mid-Jan Scan the perpetually sunless skies for the gasp-inducing aurora borealis.

F DNOSAJJMAMJ

Murmansk°C/°F Temp Rainfall inches/mm

0

2/50

4/100

6/150

-50/-58

-30/-22

-10/14

10/50

30/86

-40/-40

-20/-4

0/32

20/68

Northern European Russia

Why Go?Cold hands, warm heart? The idiom has never rung more true than in this land of polar winters and cliché-busting Russian hospitality, where those braving daunting long hauls and off-radar destinations are rewarded with a hearty reception by curious locals.

The realm that spawned the epic poetry of the Kalevala is home to a profound historical and scenic landscape that includes the iconic wooden architecture of Kizhi Island, the far-flung Solovetsky Islands’ imposing monastery/erstwhile Gulag camp, and the vast wilderness of the Kola Peninsula and the Barents Sea’s frigid shore. The far north is also one of the best places to witness the eerily beautiful Northern Lights.

Whether you’re here for the region’s short summer – per-fect for fishing for prize salmon and frolicking beneath the midnight sun – or taking to the snow on husky sleds or skis, you will find Northern European Russia beguiling.

Includes ¨Petrozavodsk . . . . . . 280Northern Lake Ladoga . . . . . . . 286Kem & Rabocheostrovsk . . .287Solovetsky Islands . . . 288Arkhangelsk . . . . . . . 292Central Kola . . . . . . . .297Murmansk . . . . . . . . 302Vologda . . . . . . . . . . . 309Totma . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314Kargopol . . . . . . . . . . . 315

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LakeLovozero

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White Sea

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Kirillov

Kirkenes

Kirovsk

Kola

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#2

Solovetsky Islands& Valaam

0 200 km0 100 miles#e

1 Hunt for the aurora borealis, hike into the wilderness or go skiing on the Kola Peninsula (p297).

2 go monastery hopping at the ever-evocative Solovetsky Islands (p288) and the sylvan retreat of Valaam (p286).

3 Swim with the human walruses then board a nuclear

icebreaker in Murmansk (p302), the world’s biggest Arctic city.

4 Marvel at the glorious ancient wooden architecture of Kizhi (p284), including the iconic multidomed Transfiguration Church.

5 Explore the stunning coast of the frigid Barents Sea near

the post-apocalyptic village of Teriberka (p316).

6 Delve into the culture of the Sami, buy traditional handicrafts and go husky sledding at Lovozero (p301).

7 go church gazing and try your hand at traditional folk art in the tranquil town of Kargopol (p315).

Northern European Russia Highlights