Karelia in May 2025 – Is it worth going on vacation? Weather and reviews, air temperature in Sortaval and Petrozavodsk, how to dress and is it possible to swim in Lake Ladoga, prices for tours, hotels and excursions. What to see in Karelia in early May and the end of spring and what to do, I found out Eurotraveler.
In Russia, in fact, there are not many places where in early May you clearly feel that spring is not just a word. That she actually came, and nature blooms violently, as if reaching for the summer.
In the north-western region, you will have to wait with similar sensations. That is, they simply do not want to form due to unstressed snow baldnesses in the forests, clear, but often frosty nights, extremely timidly blooming kidneys on trees.
And Karelia in May is no exception! Again, all of the above applies to the first half of it-a little later, a real breakthrough in weather moods is usually followed and the region covers a wave of heat.
However, at the end of May, a new cooling occurs often. Just shocking the relaxed tourists. Moreover, if they managed to tune in to some rafting on Shua. And they are vitally interested, at least in sunny weather.
Consider these points when planning even a brief excursion trip to the region – on the weekend – at the sunset of spring! And, especially, with independent planning of nature in nature-in some places the impression can be lubricatedyou just have to make a mistake with clothes.
In this regard, you need to be extremely examined with participation in water walks along the Lake Lake or Onega. After all, the water is always cooler a few degrees. And the one on which the ice floes was more recently, even more so!
Well, now – in more detail. And we will start by studying what usually happens
Weather in Karelia in May
In general, it is quite different from the same in St. Petersburg. It seems to be not very far located – only 160 kilometers to the south.
However, the beginning of May in St. Petersburg seems to be, for example, to Sortavalskoye. The same daily air temperatures in the area of +4-10 ° C-at best. General chin, literally poured in the atmosphere, and night lowering to 0 ° C and below.
In general, the low probability of rainfall, but often a frowned sky. Not particularly strong, but piercing winds. And the appearance of the sun is like a frank smile of nature.
Is Karelia in early May different? Sometimes, infrequently-seriously counting on temperatures in the area +10-12 ° C is still not worth it. As well as the fact that you will want to not just unfasten, but even remove your lining jacket.
Moreover, mind you, we only reason about southern regions of the republic. To the north – for example, in Medvezhyegorsk, not to mention the National Park Paanyarvi or even Kemi, looking right at Solovki, at this time is much colder. And night frosts are a familiar business.
Therefore, they usually go to those lands only in early June – during the white nights, the Solovetsky Islands are especially in the soul!
Closer to the middle of the month, the weather in the region is getting better-street thermometers sometimes show up to +20-22 ° C of heat. And walking, examining the interesting attractions of Sortavals, as well as Petrozavodsk, it becomes more joyful and warmer.
Of course, this is not a rule – usually the temperature does not even look at levels above +17. But in the only copy, such a day spent among the northern forests is a real holiday.
Under what sign takes the end of May in Karelia? It’s good that not under negative!
In another year, thermometers seem to be shy to show above +10-14 ° C. After the sunset-in fairness, the late-white nights are in full swing-they generally fall to +3-7 ° C.
Studying statistics of past years, alas, suggests that such a weather in the Sortaval in May (we are not talking about Petrozavodsk) is the norm! And an increase in temperatures to +16-18 ° C even on the threshold of summer is more a climatic anomaly than a good tradition.
- Is it worth resting in Karelia in June
- How to get to kizhey yourself
How to dress
A careful study of the weather forecast before the trip will help you keep nerves and health not spent. And to dress, of course, in clothes corresponding to the May weather in Karelia.
Moreover, we have no doubt that it should be multi -layer, and take into account the possible vagaries of the weather. Warmed windbreaker with a hood, a vest or a sleeveless jacket, a sweatshirt or sweater – about this kit should prepare every tourist who is about to visit the region in late spring.
Hats and scarves, gloves, (insulated) rubber boots? In theory, all this can be useful – especially if you are going to go on a trip with children. And you do not want them to return from it with sick …
However, far from always there is an opportunity to come to the republic with full of bauls of clothing for all occasions. So if you can visit Karelia by car, do not refuse it!
Prices 2025
3-4-day tours in the region (transportation costs of the delivery of tourists to the region are not taken into account) providing for basing in Petrozavodsk, trips to Valaam and Kizhi, as well as to a former marble quarry Ruskeal and Kivach waterfall, cost about 35-40 thousand rubles per person.
But, alas, their program does not allow to see all the interesting places of Karelia. So, if you briefly get acquainted with the capital of the region on a sightseeing tour, then the “Finnish city of Russia”, Sortaval, will only see briefly.
An independent trip to a car, obviously, will allow more efficient disposal of time. Do not return every evening to the place of residence in Petrozavodsk, and, apparently, even save – because you can not pay for the services of the guide.
As for the prices in hotels, they are quite high in May. But if you deliberately avoid the Piter Inn in Petrozavodsk in Petrozavodsk or in your beloved wealthy Muscovites Hotel Frigate right on the shore of Lake Onegathen for accommodation you will pay reasonable money
Look, for example, towards the located far from the center and the coastal strip, but for a reason that he has deserved a high rating of Ladog’s modest hotel. And apartments for daily rental in recent years in Petrozavodsk are multiplying day by day. In others, you can spend the night four of the 3-4 thousand.
Equally, apparently, do not look for and evaluate the qualities of a hotel in Sortaval. It is much easier, more profitable and more convenient and rent an apartment there. And even a whole house with a view of the Lake Ladoga-for 10-15 thousand per company up to 6-9 people!
What to see
Travelers from Moscow, the central regions of Russia, Siberia and the Urals for a visit to Karelia are usually chosen by Petrozavodsk. Not always, of course, independently – it is here that the lion’s share of excursion tours begins and ends.
One way or another, but you will have to see the Karelian capital. Starting with the impressive building of the city station in the style of the Stalin Empire (if, for example, you come to it) and far from ending with a long local embankment, laid down by various sculptures.
In the city itself, however, there is nothing to look at. And therefore, many, only throwing a suitcase into the hotel, rush to Kizhi Island. And the next day they go to the most famous Karelian Kivach waterfall – it is 85 km along the highway.
The resort of Marcial waters and the Girvas waterfall, once former a volcano, are two other attractions deployed in relative proximity to Petrozavodsk (50 and 100 km, respectively). But in order to visit the sad memory of Medvezhyegorsk and the memorial tract of Sandarmokh terrifying its history will have to drive from 170 to 190 km.
Somewhere there is also the entrance to Belomorkanal. A large -scale Soviet project, “drunk” a lot of human blood.
If you come to Karelia from the south, after you visit St. Petersburg, further routes will have to be built from Sortavala. The cities are very pretty and even atmospheric, which partially retained authentic Finnish development.
Along the way, the variety is a starting point for the mass of water walks in Ladoga and Sherem. In May, during the kingdom of white nights, they become just immensely popular.
In the same month, navigation on the largest lake of Europe starts. And from the harbor on Valaam, old winged “meteors” set off.
At 300, about the north of the sortaval, the sacred and, as they say, the mystical mountain of Vyutovar is. To which, however, it is not so easy to get even by car – all the more so, to the May sling.
© EUROTRAVELER
