How to get to Valaam From St. Petersburg, Moscow, Sortavals yourself? Distance, travel time, schedule, prices 2025 for a train – the same “Swallow”? And also – when it is better to leave by car to get to Valaam without traffic jams, says Eurotraveler.
Any resident of St. Petersburg conceived about a trip to Valaam, who was modestly hiding in the northern part of Lake Ladoga, sooner or later. And not only him – tourists from other cities of the country in recent years have been visiting this island with more desire. After all, he is well known and differs in special – they say that simply an autumn – aura.
To get to Valaam from St. Petersburg, it definitely encourages a small distance-only 300 km along the highway or railway. As well as a large number of various excursion programs, whose organizers for (not much more) money will easily solve all issues to deliver you there, and then back.
But from Moscow, getting to Valaam: on a train or a car is not so simple. If only because the distance exceeds 1,000 km and direct railway routes simply do not exist!
However, apparently, these are trifles – and Muscovites, as well as tourists from other regions of the country, willingly go to the archipelago. They get to Valaam and his Orthodox shrines and foreigners. Those who believe that with the help of such an almost pilgrimage trip, they will be able to “understand Russia.”
Why go
The popularity of Valaam is among the pilgrims that among ordinary tourists is primarily connected with the local Transfiguration Valaam Monastery. Considering not just a monument to Russian architecture, but literally a holy place.
Also attracted by travelers, solitary monastery of Valaam and incredibly lyrical natural beauties! Almost touched by the hands of a person even today. In the 19th century, the landscapes of Valaam attracted such artists as Shishkin and Vasiliev, Kuindzhi – these geniuses wrote on the island one of their best paintings.
Returning to the “land”, we inform that the Valaam archipelago is not in the Leningrad region. And in the neighboring region, the Republic of Karelia! Moreover, it usually appears at the head of the list of places that you need to visit there.
Cruises on the ship
A significant part of tourists get to Valaam in a similar way. What is simpler: you buy a ticket for a cruise from St. Petersburg, you sit on a ship-a night on the way-you arrive in the morning.
There you will excess depending on the declared program, you are loading back in the evening. And in the morning, fresh and rested, you go ashore at the River Station of the Northern Capital.
Comfortable? Still! But as for “inexpensive” you can already argue. Indeed, in the 2025 season, the cost of cruises starts from 21-22 thousand rubles per person. For a trip, we note, lasting 3 days (2 nights)
There is a lot of more long (and expensive!) Routes. Also providing for a visit to the Kizhi reserve on Lake Onega. And, for example, the islands of Konevets.
The first is the famous museum-reserve of wooden architecture-who has not heard about the church built without a single nail? And the second is good for a secluded location and “desert beauties.”
Independent trip
An individual tourist can also get to Valaam from St. Petersburg without any concern. After all, Priozersk in the Leningrad Region and the Karelian Sortavala are connected with Peter with a regular transport message.
Priozersk is territorially closer to St. Petersburg-the distance along the highway is ~ 150 km. Minibus No. 859 from the Devyatkino metro station goes approximately 2.5 hours. By car, you will overcome this distance sometimes even faster.
Getting to Sortavala (~ 260 km) will turn out the most quickly on the Swallow’s Swallow Smuster, leaving the Finland Station. Which, if you did not know, is connected to the station of the same name of the St. Petersburg metro (“red” branch).
The compositions to the Karelian city leave in the morning and evening, at 6.15, 8.30 and 19.25. On the way, they spend about 4 hours, on the way after calling and to Vyborg (only those that go at 6 and 19 hours). A wonderful beautiful city of the Leningrad region, which has a number of unique attractions (which can be visited in Vyborg for a day).
One way tickets cost from 1,400 rubles.
He goes to Sortavala and the “Swallow” from Ladoga Station. By the way, also installed on the St. Petersburg metro system. This train leaves at 16.30, spends 5 hours on the way!
“Meteors”, that is, rather ancient vessels on the underwater wings – the legacy of the Soviet Union – as well as the boat and boats are sent to Valaam from Sortavala and Priozersk. Usually – within the framework of excursion tours with a guide and a lunch at a monastery refectory.
A trip on the Meteor there and back in 2025 will cost 7,500 rubles, on a boat – 3,500.
From Moscow
In order not to be approved there on some sites, it is impossible to directly get by train from Moscow to Sortavala (and then to Valaam). First of all, because direct compositions from the Russian capital go only to the capital of Karelia, Petrozavodsk. Which is located 250 km from the varieties and is not connected to it by a railway message.
Therefore, from Moscow, you first need to get to St. Petersburg (the most inexpensive ways to do this). And already there, transfer to the train to Sortavala.
It is worth remembering
Only cruise tourists can not think about an overnight stay after visiting Valaam. Which if you have to return somewhere, it is in the cabin of the ship.
Other travelers, getting to the archipelago on their own, often stay overnight in Sortaval – in this city there are enough inexpensive hotels and apartments.
And that’s right – why go back in the dark?! And the next day you can continue to have fun. Having examined, for example, the Sortaval, where interesting Finnish buildings have been preserved or, for example, going by train to the Ruskeala Mountain Park!
On the car
The first thing to take into account is to drive a car from St. Petersburg in the direction of Valaam (Priozersk, Sortavali) is best early in the morning. Although it is not necessarily at the same time as at the dawn – traffic jams on the Priozersky highway arise only after dinner.
Well, of course, in the morning of the weekend and festive dates, as well as throughout literally all summer.
The distance to the sortall from the outskirts of Peter (ring road, room) – about 250 km. In the usual, low -proofing mode, it will be possible to overcome it in 4 hours.
As for a trip from the Russian capital, then at one time we talked about the nuances of traveling to a car from Moscow to Karelia. The event is not particularly difficult, and leaves a very pleasant “aftertaste.” In general, the impressions are guaranteed to decorate any weekend.
If you plan to get to Valaam by car from Moscow, you will have to do an overnight stay along the way. And even two: in St. Petersburg and Sortaval (here-what can be seen by Peter in the day).
The distance along the highway is a little less than 1,000 km. In the case of almost non -stop movement (which is unlikely) you will spend 11 hours on the road.
It is worth considering that it is better to book a hotel in Sortaval in peak moments of the year in advance. Since, for example, it is difficult to do this right on the spot in the summer – “there are no places”!
- Prices in guest houses Sortavals
When is it better to go
Since in May in St. Petersburg and north, on Ladoga, it is frankly cold, especially at first. The weather is unstable, generous with both snow and frosts.
At the end of May, warm and even hot (+25 ° C) weather with an abundance of the sun is usually installed. But such a period lasts a week or two, smoothly flowing into often rather dank June.
In summer
The average air temperature increases, and the duration of the day increases to the maximum – who has not heard about the famous “white nights”?! But the rains do not disappear anywhere and even intensify.
What does a windbreaker and a thick sweater with extremely appropriate things in the wardrobe of a tourist who goes to Valaam even in the summer. And what kind of mosquitoes are there – fumigators and sprays will definitely not hurt you!
In July, in St. Petersburg it is warm and light, this is the season itself when cruise ships arrive and set sail with the regularity of trains. The weather during this period is almost perfect for water walks: the distance is visible for kilometers, and the rains are dying for agility.
August inherits July. The only difference is that temperature differences become more significant, and the days in short.
Closer to the end of summer, winds become piercing again. And the air at night can cool up to +5-7 degrees Celsius.
September on Valaam, on the contrary, usually bears a “golden” and extremely lyrical character. It would seem – travel for your pleasure! Gray in the rays of the sun, think about the eternal, do not rush anywhere …
Moreover, St. Petersburg in early September is already being exempted from tourists. In museums and palaces, it becomes, if not deserted, then at least free.
But, alas, at this time the majority simply does not have the opportunity to go on a brief tourist trip (for the weekend from St. Petersburg to Karelia it is better to leave only after the end or before the summer season). Since the children only went to school, students bite into scientific granite, and the next working year stood on a fairly disgusting rails.
© EUROTRAVELER
