Kronstadt with the Naval Cathedral

For three centuries Kronstadt was a closed military town, and civilians could not visit until 1996. Peter I founded it on Kotlin Island to guard the sea approach to his new capital. Russia’s round-the-world expeditions set out from here, and the Baltic Fleet was based here. Today it feels like a small St Petersburg with its own Gostiny Dvor, Admiralty and Summer Garden, but with docks, harbours and warships instead of palaces.

You are collected from your hotel or apartment, and the drive takes about an hour along the flood barrier that protects St Petersburg, past the old forts standing in the gulf.

The route

The town. A drive and walk through Kronstadt: Peter’s Dry Dock, where up to ten ships could be repaired at once, and the Dock Bridge, which swung aside instead of lifting. You also see the Merchant Harbour, the Bypass Canal with its provision stores, and the Dutch Kitchen, where sailors’ food was cooked so no fires were lit on board. Warships lie in the Middle Harbour.

Small landmarks with big stories. The tide gauge by the Blue Bridge, in use since 1840, from whose zero mark every height and depth in the country is measured. Yuri Gagarin called its pavilion “the navel of the Earth”. Nearby on the canal wall is a tiny monument to the stickleback, the fish that kept people alive during the Siege.

Anchor Square, around 14:00. Paved with cast-iron blocks, with the monument to Admiral Makarov and an Eternal Flame in a split granite pyramid.

St Nicholas Naval Cathedral, around 14:30. The main church of the Russian Navy, built between 1903 and 1913 on the model of Hagia Sophia, with a dome 26.7 metres wide. Black and white marble tablets carry the names of sailors lost in service. It served as a cinema in Soviet times and was restored for its centenary in 2013. Look for the anchors, ropes and fish in the decoration, and ask your guide about the herons, hares and peacocks.

On request: a stop at the Island of Forts park for its view over the gulf.

Good to know

• The trip lasts about five hours. The default start is 11:00 from your hotel lobby, with a return around 16:00; other start times are available.
• The car, guide and visit to the Naval Cathedral are included; meals are not.
• Kronstadt involves short walks between stops.
• The tour can be booked privately or as part of a group.

Who it suits

Anyone interested in naval history, travellers who have seen the palaces and want a different side of St Petersburg, and families looking for an easy half-day trip out of the city.