Office in the city center
Our office is in the center of Saint Petersburg, and bus pickup points are nearby. You do not need to search for the departure point or walk several blocks.
Tours of the Silver Necklace of Russia
Tour to Vologda from St. Petersburg (3 days / 2 nights)
72 h.
Authentic Sizma with bread and salt and bell ringing, shrines of the Northern Thebaid - Ferapontovo and Kirillov with Dionysius's frescoes and the fortress of Ivan the Terrible, and unhurried Vologda - carved, lacy, buttery. All inclusive: accommodation, breakfasts, lunches, excursions
From 30800 ₽ per person
Tour to Vologda from Saint Petersburg (2 days / 1 night)
48 h.
The heart of the Russian North in two days. Immerse yourself in the silent power of the 'Northern Thebaid' - the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery and see a masterpiece of world art, the frescoes of Dionysius, in Ferapontovo (UNESCO).
From 21700 ₽ per person
Why choose Leningrad-Tour
Tours for groups
You can book a trip for a large group, family, school class, corporate event or celebration. We will match the format and the number of seats you need.
Discounted tickets
Seniors, students, schoolchildren and preschoolers get discounted rates on a number of tours.
Tours across Russia
Besides Saint Petersburg and its suburbs, we offer multi-day tours to cities and regions across Russia.
A wide choice of routes
Sightseeing, bus, boat, evening, walking and school tours, plus suburban trips — we will find a program for any kind of visit.
Comfortable transport
We operate clean, comfortable tourist coaches. A spacious cabin matters most on longer routes.
Routes of the North-West of Russia
The Silver Necklace of Russia
The Silver Necklace of Russia is a grand route across the North-West, where in a single trip you can feel several different countries within one country. The Baltic wind in Kaliningrad, the stone walls of Pskov, ancient Novgorod, Karelian lakes, Pomor villages, Petersburg avenues, the polar Teriberka — all of this comes together into one journey, very different in mood.
The project includes 11 regions. They are rarely covered in one long dash, and that is precisely where its charm lies: you can choose a separate theme, put together a weekend route, or stretch the trip over several days. Somewhere you want to walk along fortress ramparts and imagine a medieval city beneath your feet, somewhere — to get into a boat in Ruskeala and watch the marble walls reflected in the dark water, or simply drink tea after a stroll along the northern embankment and realize that this is it, the true Russian North.
11 regions in one route
What the Silver Necklace is
This is an interregional tourism project that brings together historic towns, natural areas, museum complexes, monasteries, fortresses, estates and northern cultural traditions. The route stretches across a huge part of the North-West of Russia, so it is rarely covered in full in a single trip. It is far more enjoyable to choose one theme: ancient towns, nature, gastronomy, monasteries, literature, northern crafts or a journey to the sea.
11
regions are part of the tourism project — from Saint Petersburg to the Nenets Autonomous Okrug.
3000+
kilometers can a big trip between the extreme points of the route take.
170+
routes and themed programs let you put together a journey for different interests.
Regions of the Silver Necklace
Novgorod Region
Ancient fortresses and the land of the first Russian towns
Novgorod Oblast is that case when history feels like real ground beneath your feet. Veliky Novgorod, Staraya Russa and Valday come together into a route with a kremlin, monasteries, Dostoevsky's house, bells and ancient hillforts. In Staraya Russa, a walk along the ramparts is especially striking: you climb higher, look at the town from a new angle and for a moment seem to find yourself in that very medieval landscape. And then you can head to the embankment, sit with a view of the cathedrals and catch a very quiet, almost homely feeling of an old Russian town.
Republic of Karelia
Taiga, lakes, islands and eco-trails
Karelia is water, rocks, pine needles and air after which the city-weary head finally breathes out. People come here for Kizhi and Valaam, stroll around Petrozavodsk, listen to the roar of Kivach and, of course, choose Ruskeala. The strongest impression is a boat ride in the marble canyon: you glide between the sheer walls of an old quarry, the water dark and clear, pines above, the coolness of stone all around. In spring and summer it is good to walk the eco-trails, look at lichens, beaver tracks, the first green shades of the taiga.
Leningrad Region
Fortresses, parks and routes around St. Petersburg
The Leningrad Region is convenient because a big journey begins almost next to St. Petersburg. Today you can stroll through Gatchina Park, where water, bridges and the palace create an almost cinematic picture; tomorrow — head to Vyborg to the castle and old streets, then — to Staraya Ladoga, Shlisselburg or Koporye. In spring the Karelian Isthmus is especially lovely: birds, damp forest, first leaves, trails by the water. This destination is for those who want to swap city speed for a strolling pace, without complicated logistics or a long flight.
Murmansk Region
The Arctic, Teriberka and the northern shores
The Murmansk Region is almost the edge of the map: the Barents Sea, tundra, hills, northern wind, Sami culture and roads after which ordinary landscapes seem too soft. In Teriberka you want to walk out to the water and just stand there — the sea roars, a waterfall crashes, the ship graveyard is nearby, and further on are bird colonies and rocks. In season you can take a sea trip and watch animals along the coast. The weather here is a participant in the route itself, so it's best to plan the trip with extra time and warm clothes.
Kaliningrad Region
The Baltic, amber and a European silhouette
The Kaliningrad Region sounds different: the former Königsberg, brick gates, churches, forts, amber, the Baltic and a feeling of a little European pause inside Russia. During the day you can stroll around Kaliningrad and visit museums, then head to the sea in Zelenogradsk or Svetlogorsk, walk along the promenade, look for pieces of amber after a storm and try Baltic fish. Gastronomic festivals like the fish soup one feel very natural here — the sea is literally right next door.
Arkhangelsk Region
Pomor cuisine, wooden architecture and Solovki
The Arkhangelsk Region — here it's nice to stroll along the embankment, visit maritime museums, try pastries made from old recipes and watch how the city lives next to the big water. And Malye Karely is almost a journey through a northern village: izbas, mills, churches, wood that holds whole generations within it. Here you especially clearly understand that the Russian North is a way of life.
Pskov Region
The Kremlin, Izborsk, mead and Pushkin places
The Pskov Region is sturdy, stony, very real. The Pskov Kremlin, Izborsk Fortress, Pechory, Mikhailovskoye and Velikiye Luki offer a route with towers, monasteries, military memory and Pushkin places. In Izborsk it's pleasant to walk along the old walls, look at the open expanse and understand why such places were a defense for centuries. And mead tastings and local programs add a lively flavor: history stops being just stone, it becomes honey, bread, conversation and the road between cities.
Saint Petersburg
The Imperial Capital and Contemporary Art
Petersburg in the Silver Necklace is a separate, vast world of its own. The Hermitage, the General Staff Building, the Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, palaces and embankments form that very ceremonial route for which people return to the city again and again. You can suddenly find yourself at a contemporary exhibition in a historic building, step outside, see the evening light on the facades, and catch the feeling that the city speaks in several eras at once.
Vologda Oblast
Lace, Monasteries and Northern Urban Gentleness
Vologda Oblast is gentler than it looks on the map. Here you'll find the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, the Russian North National Park, the Vologda Kremlin, St. Sophia's Cathedral, wooden houses, and that very Lace Museum where the pattern is almost the language of the city. In Vologda you want to walk slowly: along the embankment, past old facades, toward art objects and the small details of the local dialect. And projects like "Lace of Sound" show well how an ancient craft can sound modern, light, and unexpected.
Komi Republic
UNESCO Forests and Stone Giants
The Komi Republic is a vast northern expanse where the main characters are not cities but forests, rivers, nature reserves, and stone giants. The Virgin Komi Forests, the Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve, the Manpupuner Plateau, Ukhta, Syktyvkar, and the national cuisine come together into a route for those who love rare spots and the feeling of true remoteness. Here you can't just "drop by to take a look." You need to travel mindfully, listen to locals, try shangi, learn about sur, and accept the northern pace — slow, deep, very powerful.
Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Naryan-Mar, the Tundra and Reindeer Herders' Culture
The Nenets Autonomous Okrug is the farthest bead of the Silver Necklace, and all the more alluring for it. Naryan-Mar, Pustozersk, Nelmin-Nos, the tundra, reindeer herders' camps, and ethnocultural centers show the north without a glossy postcard. Here you can learn how life works beyond the Arctic Circle, see expanses where the sky seems larger than usual, and feel a completely different rhythm. This destination requires preparation, the right season, and respect for the local way of life — but the impressions you get are rare and unlike the usual tourist package.
Route ideas by mood
Immersion in history
Novgorod, Pskov and Leningrad regions best reveal the ancient side of the route: kremlins, fortresses, monasteries, ramparts of ancient settlements, old roads and cities where the past is visible right in the silhouette of the streets.
Spring awakening of nature
Karelia, Leningrad region and Murmansk region sound especially lively in spring: eco-trails, birds of the Karelian Isthmus, taiga after the snow, wet stone, sea wind and the first long walks. Take a thermos, comfortable shoes and enjoy.
Gastronomic discoveries
Kaliningrad, Arkhangelsk and Pskov regions come together well into a gastronomic line: Baltic fish soup, local fish, Pomor pastries, northern recipes and mead inspired by old traditions.
Art in a historical context
Saint Petersburg and Vologda show how contemporary art can live within a historical environment. In the General Staff Building of the Hermitage, old halls become a backdrop for new meanings, while in Vologda lace, sound and light come together into an almost meditative impression. The result is a dialogue of epochs — without heaviness, through form, material and atmosphere.
Literary trails
Staraya Russa, Vyborg, the Pskov region and Petersburg — here literature easily goes beyond the book. Dostoevsky's House, Pushkin's estates, the old streets of Vyborg, immersive performances and quests turn the route into a walk through a text.
The Great North
Murmansk region, Komi Republic, Arkhangelsk region and Nenets Autonomous Okrug — the Barents Sea, tundra, taiga, Solovki, Manpupuner, northern settlements and roads where distance begins to be felt with the body. This is a true northern expedition.
Comparison of the regions of the Silver Necklace
| Region | Main character | What to see | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Petersburg | Imperial architecture, museums, art, city walks. | The Hermitage, the General Staff Building, the Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Church of the Savior on Blood. | For those who want a rich cultural route without long journeys. |
| Leningrad Region | Fortresses, estates, parks, history around Petersburg. | Vyborg, Staraya Ladoga, Shlisselburg, Gatchina, Koporye, Ivangorod. | For those who want a 1–2 day trip from Saint Petersburg. |
| Novgorod Region | Ancient Rus, kremlins, monasteries, literary places. | Veliky Novgorod, Novgorod Kremlin, Staraya Russa, Valdai, Dostoevsky House Museum. | For those who love history, ancient cities and a calm pace. |
| Pskov Region | Medieval fortresses, monasteries, Pushkin places. | Pskov Kremlin, Izborsk, Pechory, Mikhaylovskoye, Velikiye Luki. | For those interested in defensive history and old Russian towns. |
| Republic of Karelia | Lakes, islands, forests, wooden architecture and eco-trails. | Kizhi, Valaam, Petrozavodsk, Ruskeala, Kivach Waterfall. | For those who want nature, water, northern forest and beautiful panoramas. |
| Murmansk Region | The Polar region, the Barents Sea, tundra, northern culture. | Murmansk, Teriberka, Lovozero, Rybachy and Sredny Peninsulas. | For those ready for a long northern route and weather surprises. |
| Arkhangelsk Region | Pomor culture, wooden architecture, Solovki. | Arkhangelsk, Malye Karely, Northern Dvina, Solovetsky Monastery. | For those who want to see the Russian North through daily life, the sea and old crafts. |
| Kaliningrad Region | The Baltic, amber, European architecture, seaside resorts. | Kaliningrad, Zelenogradsk, Svetlogorsk, Curonian Spit, Amber Museum. | For those who want the sea, a city stroll and unusual architecture. |
| Vologda Oblast | Lace, monasteries, wooden houses, northern gentleness. | Vologda, Lace Museum, Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, Russky Sever Park. | For those who love crafts, architecture and routes without the rush. |
| Komi Republic | Virgin forests, geology, remote nature routes. | Manpupuner Plateau, Pechoro-Ilych Reserve, Syktyvkar, Ukhta. | For those who choose rare natural spots and a true northern scale. |
| Nenets Autonomous Okrug | Tundra, polar culture, reindeer herding traditions. | Naryan-Mar, Pustozersk, Nelmin-Nos, ethno-cultural programs. | For those who want an unusual route beyond the Arctic Circle and a deep ethno-cultural experience. |
How to plan a trip
Choose a theme
History, nature, gastronomy, monasteries, literature, northern crafts or seaside towns — a theme immediately helps you narrow down the places.
Put together a regional block
For a short trip, St. Petersburg, Leningrad, Novgorod and Pskov regions are convenient. For a longer route, add Karelia, Vologda, Arkhangelsk or Murmansk.
Allow time for travel
The Northwest is vast. Some points are hundreds of kilometers apart, so it's more comfortable to plan a route with overnight stays and some time buffer.
For a first trip, it's convenient to start with the "near necklace": St. Petersburg, Leningrad region, Veliky Novgorod, Pskov, Vyborg, Staraya Ladoga or Gatchina. Such a route doesn't require complex logistics and already gives a sense of a big Northwestern journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in the Silver Necklace of Russia?
The route includes 11 regions of Northwest Russia: St. Petersburg, Leningrad, Novgorod, Pskov, Vologda, Kaliningrad, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk regions, the Republic of Karelia, the Komi Republic and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug.
Why is the route called the Silver Necklace?
The name is linked to the image of northern cities and regions strung together like beads on a single tourist route. "Silver" refers to the northern light, water, stone, churches, wooden architecture and the more restrained aesthetics of the Russian North.
How many days do you need for the trip?
For one region, people usually allow 2–4 days. For several nearby destinations — about a week. The full route across all regions requires much more time, because the distances between points are long.
Which region is best to start with?
For a first introduction, it's convenient to start with St. Petersburg, the Leningrad region, Veliky Novgorod or Pskov. These destinations are easier to combine with each other and easier to fit into a weekend trip or a short vacation.
When is the best time to travel the Silver Necklace?
The most versatile season is from late spring to early autumn. In summer it's easier to plan nature, islands, water routes and long journeys. In winter, some destinations are also beautiful, especially Karelia, the Murmansk region and St. Petersburg, but the route requires more careful preparation.
Can you travel without a car?
Yes, major cities are connected by trains, buses and flights. For natural sites, remote monasteries, islands and northern villages, it's often more convenient to book an organized tour, a transfer, or plan connections in advance.
Which destinations are suitable for a trip from St. Petersburg?
For a short trip from St. Petersburg, Vyborg, Gatchina, Staraya Ladoga, Shlisselburg, Veliky Novgorod, Pskov, Karelia and routes along the Karelian Isthmus are all good options.
What to choose: nature or cities?
For an urban route, St. Petersburg, Veliky Novgorod, Pskov, Vologda and Kaliningrad are suitable. For nature — Karelia, the Murmansk region, the Komi Republic, the Arkhangelsk region and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug.