Vyborg is one of the most interesting cities in Russia, largely due to its shared cultural, historical and architectural links with Finland which is explained by the fact that the Finnish border is just 27km away and the city was actually Finland’s second city by population until it was incorporated into Russia in 1940.  There is also a Swedish feel to the city as it was previously part of the Kingdom of Sweden and the Swedes were responsible for constructing the city’s main sight - its mediaeval castle.

Overview

Getting There and Back

Vyborg is located 140km from St Petersburg and is directly connected via a railway line.  Elektrichka trains (suburban trains) leave from St Petersburg’s Finlyandsky Railway and they take about 2 hours to get to Vyborg.  There are also 3 express trains a day which take around 1½ hours to get to Vyborg.  The quickest method of getting to Vyborg though is to get the Allergo Express which heads to Helsinki and stops at Vyborg on route.  There are usually about 4 such trains a day and it takes just 1 hour.  Vyborg Railway Station is located in the north of the city around 1.5km from the Vyborg Castle.

It is also possible to get to Vyborg by buses heading to Finland from various points in St Petersburg.  There are also buses to Vyborg from St Petersburg’s Parnas or Devyatkino metro stations.  There are about 2 of these buses an hour which take about  1½-2 hours to get to Vyborg.  Vyborg Bus station is located next to its railway station.

Orientation and Main Sights

The main sights of Vyborg are located in its beautiful historical centre which is around 1km from Vyborg Railway Station.  To get there you should walk down Leningradsky Prospekt and through the park just after Ulitsa Lenina where there is a statue of a naked boy walking a dog. After this turn right and walk along Ulitsa Krepostnaya.  If you continue walking down Ulitsa Krepostnaya you will eventually get to the main symbol of Vyborg - the Vyborg Castle which was built in the 1290s by the Swedes, when Vyborg was then part of the Kingdom of Sweden.  Now it serves as a museum.

Another popular sight is the Monrepo Park which is located 2km from the Vyborg Castle.  To get there you can get Bus No. 1 or No. 6 (in fact these buses have the same route and you will even see buses numbered 1/6, which you can also take)  from the railway station.  You should pay the driver as you enter the bus.  You cannot miss the entrance to the part which is marked by large gates; there is a small fee to enter. Monrepo Park is famed for its rocky landscapes and is lovely to walk around.

As the main sights of Vyborg are not all located together  you could easily spend over 6 hours in the city so it is probably best getting an early train to Vyborg to make the most of the day.

Restaurants and Accommodation

There are several restaurants and cafes in the city.  You can find Russian cuisine at the Slavyanskaya Trapeza but if you want to dine in a mediaeval interior then the restaurant Kamelot is for you.  Both of these are located in the historical centre.  Vyborg also has a rather large choice of hotels for such a small city and many of the staff here speak some English.

Souvenirs

There are souvenir shops all over the city and Vyborg is famous for its pretzel-type pastry called a krendel and for its ale.  You can also buy recreations of Finno-Karelian jewellery discovered in archaeological digs, including traditional style fibula brooches, earrings and bronze and copper necklaces.