The New Year is coming. And why not meet him in Kaliningrad, the birthplace of Kant. What to do during the long weekend in the westernmost city of Russia will be discussed further. Special attention is paid to the weather in the region and the ways to get to the enclave.
What to do in Kaliningrad for the New Year holidays?
Each city has its own peculiarities and traditions of celebrating the New Year. There are lavish celebrations with a Santa Claus parade somewhere. Somewhere everything is limited to home gatherings and fireworks in the yards. In Kaliningrad, it is worth paying attention to the following options.
Visit to Victory Square
Kaliningrad’s main Christmas tree traditionally stands here. And you can admire it already in the middle of December. The decor is quite traditional: balloons, rain, bright garlands. Decorative Christmas trees decorated with light garlands are also being installed on the square.
It should be noted right away that disparate companies come to the Christmas tree. Centralized celebrations are not held. But if you wish, you can organize your own round dance, a song contest or taking pictures with Santa Claus. You can also become the main winter wizard for your loved ones or just passersby.
Fairs and festivals
On the morning of January 1, you can go to Kanta Island to the Cathedral. There is a trade here, you can try different types of street food, buy a glass of mulled wine. The addition to it will be sausages with sauces, potatoes, salads.
If desired, you can also visit the Svetlogorsk festival of soft drinks. There are dozens of varieties of tea and coffee, including very unusual ones, in outdoor tents. Punch and mulled wine are poured for those who wish.
Do not forget about New Year’s Zelenogradsk. Here, the owners of shops, cafes, and restaurants compete to see who can decorate the windows and the room itself better. And recently, in Zelenogradsk, you can admire not only numerous cats (live and their images), but also often unique creations by local designers. If you walk along Kurortny Prospekt in the late afternoon, you can admire the laser projections on the wall of the house.
Ice skating
There are outdoor and indoor skating rinks in the city. You can also rent skates here.
It should be borne in mind that the winters in Kaliningrad are quite warm. Statistics for the last 16 years show that on New Year’s Eve, the daytime will be within +1 — +4 0S. In the dark, the temperature will not drop below 0 °C.
You probably won’t be able to show an axel or a sheepskin coat on the ice of the river. We’ll have to limit ourselves to man-made skating rinks.
If you want to see the beauty of the Baltic Sea, you can ride a bike between Zelenograd and Svetlogorsk. There is a special path along the shore for this purpose. Bicycles can be rented.
Another way to have fun is skiing on the Pregolya River. You can take a boat in the Fishing Village or at the Museum of the World Ocean.
A journey through the forts of Konigsberg
In the middle of the 19th century, construction of a network of defensive structures began in Konigsberg: forts, ravelins, moats and walls. Currently, 12 large and 5 small forts have been preserved in the city. They are located both along the water and just on the streets of Kaliningrad.
Photo: Fort No. 3 fort3.ru
During the winter (and summer) holidays, you can visit the following sites with an organized tour or individually:
- Fort No. 1 “Stein”. To see it, it is worth going to Bolshoe Isakovo. The fort is named after Heinrich Friedrich Karl vom und zum Stein, who abolished serfdom in Prussia.
In recent years, the fort has been returning to its original appearance. Anyone can explore the numerous barracks surrounded by a moat; - Fort No. 3 “King Frederick William III”. The defensive structure is located directly in the city. Ammunition was once stored here, but now you can find numerous treasure hunters in the dungeons. Many still hope to find treasures from the Royal Palace and even the Amber Chamber here;
- Fort No. 5 “King Frederick William III”. You can visit this landmark on Bulatov Street. The fort itself is built in the form of a hexagon. There are moats with water and ramparts of earth all around.
There is a museum in the fort now. Everyone can get acquainted with the history of the defensive structure itself and visit the exhibition of military equipment; - Fort No. 11 “Denhoff”. It is located directly in Kaliningrad on Energetikov Street. The fort was named after Friedrich Reichsgraf von Denhoff, who once headed Klaipeda.
For many years, the building and basements were used to store ammunition. Archers are currently competing on the territory of the fort, and quests for children and adults are taking place. It is interesting and simple to wander through the halls with loopholes.
In addition to the forts, in Kaliningrad, during your vacation, you can and should see:
- Friedrichsburg Gate on Portovaya Street. Once there was a full-fledged fortress built in the middle of the 17th century. Even Peter the Great spent the night here when he traveled as part of the Great Embassy.
At the beginning of the 20th century, most of the fortress buildings were demolished. Only the gate remained, surrounded by several towers. In 2007, the reconstruction of the main part of the facility began. And now the Gates have been restored to their pre-war state. The Museum of the World Ocean is located in the towers; - The Don Tower on Marshal Vasilevsky Square. It was built in the middle of the 19th century. The roof is dominated by the traditional battlements of that time. The tower was named after Field Marshal Carl Don Schlobitten, who fought against Napoleon. There is also an exact replica of the Don, the Wrangel Tower, in the city. The “Twins” are separated by a small lake.
There is now an Amber Museum in the Don Tower, and an observation deck is located on the roof. Many areas of the city are visible from it; - The Kronprinz barracks on Ligovsky Val. For almost the entire 20th century, infantry regiments (in pre-war times) and tank units (in Soviet times) were based here. Now commercial structures are located here;
- The Zakheim Gate on Ligovsky Val. Once there was a checkpoint through which it was possible to enter the city. Now, all vacant areas have been allocated to the Vorota art space. Here you can buy a painting by a local artist, attend a concert or an exhibition.
The search for bronze goblins
Between 2018 and 2021, Natalia Shevchenko created figurines of homlins, semi—mythical creatures that live among people and mine amber at night.
There are currently seven homelins in the city. The height of the figures does not exceed 20 cm. They were placed near the Cathedral, the zoo, and other historical sites in Kaliningrad. You can celebrate the New Year 2025 in Kaliningrad by searching for heroes of myths and legends.
If desired, you can purchase a homlin figurine for yourself. To do this, visit the workshop on the territory of the Astronomical Bastion.
Testing your luck
There are only a few casino gaming zones in Russia. And one of them is open in Kaliningrad. Anyone can play roulette. And then it remains to control your emotions on your own in order to stop in time.
The search for traces of Konigsberg
Do not forget that this city was once German. And now not even individual houses have been preserved here, but entire historical quarters, for example, Amalienau or Maraunenhof. The houses here are built according to German plans, decorated with tiles.
It should be borne in mind that a significant part of the buildings in the city center were destroyed during the bombing in 1944. And interesting objects have been preserved mainly on the outskirts, where there was no active fighting.
If you really want to “plunge” into the atmosphere of the XIX-XX centuries, you can drive to the cities of Gvardeysk, Gusev, Sovetsk, Pravdinsk. Here you can wander for hours along the ancient streets and admire the unusual architecture.
Organ music concerts
There are functioning organs not only in the Cathedral, but also in the house where the Holy Family Church was previously located. Now the building has been transferred to the regional Philharmonic. If you drive to Svetlogorsk, you should not forget about the Catholic chapel “Virgin Mary — Star of the Sea”. An organ was also installed in the building, which was built centuries ago. Concerts mostly take place on weekends.
Kaliningrad Museums
When planning your itinerary for New Year’s Eve in Kaliningrad, don’t forget about museums.:
- Amber. Here are, for example, vases made entirely of this material, pieces of ancient resin with various inclusions, including lizards.
- of the World Ocean. In its halls you can see a research vessel and a submarine, underwater inhabitants typical of different regions, and much more. It is worth visiting the Museum with children.
- by Kant. His exhibition is located in the Cathedral. The German philosopher himself found his last refuge here.
- Regionalhistorical and artistic. Here the name “speaks” for itself. In the halls there is an exposition telling about the life of the region’s population in different centuries.
- Fine Arts. The building of the former stock exchange was given over to its placement. The collection is considered one of the richest in the country. There are also periodic exhibitions. For example, during the upcoming New Year holidays, you can visit the exhibition “The Nutcracker and other New Year’s Stories.” The exhibitions “Hoffmann’s City — a Mystery of two Worlds” and “Kaliningrad — Konigsberg: A Bridge over Time” are open on an ongoing basis.
Kaliningrad Zoo
Not only polar and brown bears live here, but also giraffes, crocodile caimans, aardvarks, elephants and many other animals.
No less interesting are the walks through the arboretum park itself. Due to the relatively mild climate in the winter months, you can admire boxwoods, rhododendrons, scalloped oaks, dogwood, sumac, and other rare plants.
Performances, concerts, performances
New Year’s holidays are a great time to visit a theater or concert hall. In late 2024 — early 2025, guests and residents of the city are invited:
- For the ballet “The Nutcracker”. Performances will take place at the Yantar Hall in Svetlogorsk and the Musical Regional Theater;
- For the exhibition “At the Dawn of the Baltic”. It opens on December 21st. According to the idea of the authors, the showcases will feature original amber jewelry and more;
- To the museum of owls and owls. Here you can find out how birds listed in the Red Book live;
- For the New Year’s performance “Escape from the Zoo” at the Youth Culture Center;
- For the New Year in the Viking village. Here you can learn how to shoot arrows, make fire, print on cloth, etc. And on New Year’s Eve, a Yule log is burned here in accordance with ancient traditions.
The performances “Husband on a New Year’s mortgage” and “New Year’s Romance” are also waiting for everyone. The Museum of Resort Fashion hosts “New Year’s Shows”, and a unique concert of symphonic music will be held in the Cathedral 2 hours before midnight.
Cafes and restaurants
There are several dozen cafes and restaurants in the city, including hotels. And the problem of where to celebrate the New Year in Kaliningrad can be solved quite traditionally. You can just book a table for the whole night. An entertainment program is attached. Everyone chooses the kitchen according to their taste.
What can you see in the cities of the Kaliningrad region?
If you want to visit not only the capital of the region proper, it is worth visiting the following localities:
- The village of Morskoye. It begins a path leading to the height of Efa on the Walnut Dune of the Curonian Spit;
- Baltiysk. The Baltic Fleet base is located here. And swans and ducks swim between them. There is also a Naval Cathedral in the city, where you can worship the relics of Fyodor Ushakov. Another noteworthy object is the Pillau Citadel, built by the Swedes at the beginning of the 17th century;
- Gvardeysk. The main attraction of this town is Tapiau Castle, dating back to the 16th century. Prisoners were once kept here, but now you can just walk around;
- Pravdinsk. Here you should take a walk to the Friedland Church and climb the 60 m high bell tower. Even in winter, you can admire the surroundings for many kilometers from it;
- Sovetsk. It was once called Tilsit. It was here that Alexander I and Napoleon met in 1807 to sign the Peace of Tilsit. Nowadays, almost the main attraction of the city is the Queen Louise Bridge, which leads across the Neman River in Panamuna (Lithuania). Admission is temporarily restricted.;
- The village of Nekrasovo. The most attractive tourist attraction here is Shaaken Castle, built in the 13th century. Even Peter I spent the night under its arches. There is also a cheese factory, marzipan and chocolate factories in the village. Other entertainment options include archery and participation in an impromptu jousting tournament with armor and chainmail;
- The village of Chistye Prudy. Kristionas Donelaitis, who wrote the poem “The Four Seasons”, once lived here. Tourists in the village must visit the church, built in the XVIII century, and the pastor’s house.
In the Neman, you can admire the Ragnit Castle, which belonged to the Teutonic Knights. If you want to see more historical buildings and structures, you can visit Zheleznodorozhny. Houses built under the Prussian emperors are being actively restored and restored here.
How to travel to Kaliningrad for the new year: ways to get to the region
The peculiarity of the Kaliningrad region is that Lithuania separates it from the main part of Russia. This creates some difficulties for those who want to enter a semi-enclave (semi-enclave in relation to the Russian Federation).
To visit the former Prussia, you can choose one of the following travel options:
- Travel by car through the territory of Lithuania. You must have a passport and a simplified transit document with you.
- Ferry crossing. The vessels run between Ust-Luga and Baltiysk. It is better to book cabins for passengers in advance, as their number is very limited. You will have to spend up to 40 hours in a stormy sea. If you are lucky with the weather, you can admire the endless water surface and coastal fjords.
- Flight by plane. Flights from Moscow and Saint Petersburg are available. A foreign passport is not required unless a stopover is planned in one of the Baltic countries. In the Kaliningrad region, the airport is located in Khrabrovo. Then you can travel by bus, taxi or rented car.
- Travel by train. Trains depart from Moscow. The passenger must have a valid international passport. You will also need either a Schengen visa, a Lithuanian residence permit, or a special transit document — UPD-railway. It is issued directly upon purchase of a ticket at the ticket office or through the official website of Russian Railways. UPD-RAILWAY is required for each individual trip. The request for a document is forwarded to the Lithuanian regulatory authorities for review. That is why you should apply for a ticket no later than 28 hours before the train departs.
- The passenger will also be required to send a request to the UPD-railway on the website https://std.urm.lt/std-external /. All columns are filled in with capital Latin letters in accordance with the data from the passport. The application form must be printed out, signed and carried with you when boarding the train. First, it is presented to the conductor, then to the customs officer at the border crossing.
An important point! Travel under the simplified transit document assumes that a Russian passenger does not have the right to get out of the carriage at stations in Lithuania during a train stop. When returning from Kaliningrad by train, you will have to register a new UPD-railway.
Another important point! If you have a Schengen visa, you can buy a train ticket to Kaliningrad 15 minutes before the train departs.
Where to stay in Kaliningrad?
There are no problems with this either in the city or in the region. You can rent a room in Kaliningrad, Baltika, Marton Palace, Mayak Hotel, Holiday Inn Kaliningrad, Mercure Kaliningrad, etc. Most of them have cafes and restaurants. SPA facilities, swimming pools and fitness rooms are available.
If you want to save money, you can stay in a hostel. There are more than a hundred of them working in the city.
What do you need to know about the weather in Kaliningrad?
Nothing is certain about this point. Within an hour, you may encounter the fact that it is raining or the sun is shining over the city.
Long-term observations show that on New Year’s Eve in Kaliningrad, the temperature rarely goes beyond -2 to +50C. But do not forget about the possible strong wind, rain, including snow. They should be taken into account when choosing clothes for the tour. The best option is a ski jacket or a down jacket with a membrane that protects against moisture. Another desirable option is a hood so that you don’t have to carry an umbrella all the time. It is better to give up selfies in a new fur coat, so as not to wet the fur and not think about how to dry it.
What can I try in Kaliningrad?
Everything is almost traditional here. All cuisines of the world are represented in the city. You can stop your attention on sushi, try the local “Italy” or limit yourself to visiting fast food establishments.
But Koenigsberg klops and German sausages are the special pride of many catering establishments. The proximity to the Baltic countries also has an effect. For example, some cafes serve Polish bigos or Lithuanian zeppelins.
What souvenirs should I bring from Kaliningrad?
Most souvenir shops in the region sell amber products. You can limit yourself to buying a small key ring or a refrigerator magnet. But full-fledged sculptures and vases made of frozen resin, including those with insect inclusions, are also on sale.
The industrial development of amber is controlled by the state. But small pieces are often washed up on beaches along the coast during a storm. They can be collected and exported outside the region. It is easiest to find the mineral in Baltiysk, Yantarny or Pionerskiy.
Culinary souvenirs are also being brought from Kaliningrad. And it’s not just eel and sprats. Gourmets appreciate marzipan and cheeses from local producers.
