It became known how much Russians are willing to pay for romance
The universal formula for a short trip at the end of May and beginning of June — supposedly to St. Petersburg, for white nights and the raising of bridges — has been experiencing a real renaissance in the last few years: the demand for such trips is steadily growing. However, there is a nuance: during this top season, hotel prices in St. Petersburg skyrocket. Fortunately, there are alternatives — other northern cities. True, there are no bridges there, but it’s quite possible to romantically walk the nights (white) all day long.
Representatives of one of the travel portals note an increase in demand for trips to St. Petersburg for white nights, which have become one of the calling cards of this city. Even though it is a metropolis, it cannot always cope with the influx of tourists, much less offer them low prices for hotel accommodation and a variety of leisure options. Moreover, jostling on the crowded Palace Embankment, waiting for the bridges to open, is a dubious pleasure (and then taxi drivers will gladly charge exorbitant prices for returning to the hotel). Therefore, it’s time to get your bearings and offer your tourism services to other cities in the northern part of Russia — those where you can also admire the white nights, albeit without the accompaniment of masterpieces of the Russian architect.
The first candidate is Arkhangelsk. There, the period of white nights lasts almost three months — from early May to mid-July. During these months, the sun does not set beyond the horizon for 20 hours, and in the remaining time a light twilight falls over the city. They say that the nights in Pomorie are even “whiter” than in St. Petersburg, because the Arkhangelsk region is located closer to the pole. You can enjoy the sunset overflows and wonderful northern nights while walking along the embankment. If you want to make the night completely romantic, you can go on a river walk along the Northern Dvina.
Prices for air tickets from Moscow to Arkhangelsk at the end of May start from 6,000 rubles round trip. You can also get to the Russian North by train from the Yaroslavl station — the journey will take about 20 hours, and it will cost at least 2,500 rubles when buying a ticket for a reserved seat carriage (that is, it is not at all cheaper than flying).
Vologda will be a little closer, and therefore more accessible. It’s worth going there between mid-June and early July — the height of the “white nights” season, albeit less bright than in the Arkhangelsk region. But the historical and educational value of such a trip will be no less than in the case of a voyage to St. Petersburg — it will simply touch on a different era. In the Vologda region, tourists can visit the Kirillo-Belozersky and Ferapontov monasteries with frescoes from the 16th century, and in Vologda itself you can visit the Kremlin and climb the bell tower. Night walks around the city promise to be pleasant.
The train from Moscow to Vologda takes one night — and for some reason it is not customary to get there by plane. Prices for a reserved seat car start from 2,000 rubles one way, in a compartment – from 2,500. By the way, a trip to Vologda goes well with Arkhangelsk: you can start here and then go further north. Of course, if time allows.
A more extravagant option is Syktyvkar. White nights in the capital of the Komi Republic are so bright that the city administration decided to turn off street lighting in the summer. This phenomenon can be observed here from the end of May until almost the end of July. The average price of an air ticket to Syktyvkar (and back) at the end of May or beginning of June is 10-11 thousand rubles.
When it comes to northern cities, people immediately think of Murmansk – and for good reason. White nights here last for a very long time, and not even nights, but a real polar day. It begins in June — the sun does not fall below the horizon for more than a day. And from mid-July to mid-August the second period of white nights begins. A plane ticket to Murmansk and back will cost at least 11-12 thousand rubles.
A predictable, but no less beautiful option is Petrozavodsk and the surrounding area. White nights in Karelia are absolutely not inferior to those in St. Petersburg, the beauty of the iridescence here is breathtaking, and the sensitive eye of a tourist will catch dozens of shades — from soft pink to rich blue. The beauty lasts from late May to mid-July, and it is best to admire it from Kizhi Island. You can fly to Petrozavodsk at the end of May for 17 thousand rubles, but there is a more interesting option — start your trip in St. Petersburg and from there go to Karelia by train. This way it will be possible to compare the beauty of white nights in different settings — over the water surface of the Neva and the imperial architecture of St. Petersburg and in the natural silence of Karelia.