Karelian Isthmus

The Karelian Isthmus (ru: Карельский перешеек) is the northwestern part of Leningrad Oblast. Much of it was part of Finland until World War II.

Cities

• 1 Vyborg (Выборг, Finnish: Viipuri, Swedish: Viborg)
• 2 Priozersk (Приозерск, Finnish: Käkisalmi, Swedish: Kexholm)
• 3 Kamennogorsk (Каменногорск, Finnish: Antrea, Swedish: S:t Andree)
• 4 Primorsk (Приморск, Finnish: Koivisto, Swedish: Björkö)
• 5 Vysotsk (Высо́цк, Finnish: Uuras, Swedish: Trångsund)
• 6 Roschino (Рощино, Finnish: Raivola)
• 7 Svetogorsk (Светогорск, Finnish: Enso)

Other destinations

A lake beach in Roschino

Understand

The Karelian Isthmus is considered a part of Karelia, traditionally. It has some beautiful cliffside, near the border with the Republic of Karelia, and Vyborg is a must, with its medieval Swedish architecture, fantastic seaside views, and Vyborg pretzels . Also there are good beaches at Primorsk, in the summer. The north part near Finland is densely forested, and is perfect for hiking.

Get in

By train

All passenger trains between Finland and Russia pass through the Karelian Isthmus and stop in Vyborg. Local trains (elektrishkas) from St. Petersburg serve the region, St. Petersburg itself being one of Russia's most important transit hubs.

By road

It's likewise easy to get in by road; all buses and marshrutkas between St.Petersburg and southern Finland pass through the area and you're driving you will too.

There are three border crossings from Finland to the region:

• European route E18 comes in from Stockholm and Helsinki via the Vaalimaa/Торфяновка (Torfyanovka) border station near Hamina and continues on route M10 to Vyborg and St. Petersburg.
• Finnish national road 13 comes via Lappeenranta to the Nuijamaa/Брусничное (Brusnichnoye) border station; the road continues along the Saimaa Canal, likewise to Vyborg.
• Finnish national road 62 comes from Imatra over the border to Svetogorsk.

By boat

See also: Boating on the Baltic Sea, Boating in Finland#Gulf of Finland

In the summer there are cruises along the Saimaa Canal from Lappeenranta on the Finnish side to Vyborg. If you come and leave by boat and stay in Russia less than 72 hours you do so visa-free (check: you probably need to be part of a certified cruise). By own vessel you need visa and other documents.

Ladoga can be reached via the Russian waterways, from the Baltic Sea, the White Sea and the Black Sea.

By plane

The closest major airport is in St. Petersburg.

See

A medieval castle in Vyborg

• The city of Vyborg with medieval origins.
• Priozersk fortress.
• Lake Ladoga
• World War II battle sites and memorials.