wiggles adult tour

The Wiggles announce 18+ arena tour with original line-up

It’ll mark the group’s first full-scale tour for adults only, and their first reunion gigs in arenas

The Wiggles ‘ original line-up have announced a seven-date run of arena shows for 2022, marking their first full-scale tour for 18+ audiences.

The tour is set to kick off in Darwin on Saturday February 12, before the quartet – alongside a full cast of classic characters such as Captain Feathersword, Dorothy the Dinosaur and Wags the Dog – hit stages in Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide. Tickets will be available from The Wiggles’ website from 4pm local time this Friday (October 22).

It’ll be the third time the group have performed together since their initial disbanding in 2012, with Murray Cook (the original Red Wiggle), Jeff Fatt (Purple) and Greg Page (Yellow) having previously joined Anthony Field – who has maintained his role as the Blue Wiggle since 1991 – for standalone charity shows in 2016 and 2020.

“All of those children who loved The Wiggles in the ‘90s are now adults who love the nostalgia and fun from that time in their lives,” Fatt said in a press release. “This night is for the grown-ups and is a chance to bring back some of that genuine, high-spirited liveliness again. We can’t wait to relive those childhood memories and dance the night away to some of the favourite old-school tunes.”

Cook added: “It will be The Wiggles as you remember and love them, but we’ll all have a bit more grey hair… And there’s a bar. We’ll be playing all your favourite songs, and put on a show you won’t forget.”

Each show will feature a different support act, with more details for those due to be announced in the coming months. Polish Club and DZ Deathrays are amongst the acts set to join the festivities.

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Cook and Fatt retired from the group in 2012, while Page stepped away in 2006, though he returned briefly from 2012 to 2013. Their first reunion with Field – a pub show in Sydney – took place in 2016, with the band raising money for Soldier On Australia.

They reunited again for a pair of shows last January , this time endeavouring to raise funds for the Australian Red Cross and WIRES, following the bushfires that devastated Australia throughout the summer of 2019 and 2020. They pulled in over $150,000 between the two shows , however Page was not present at the second one as he’d suffered a cardiac arrest onstage during the first .

Joking about the incident in today’s (October 19) announcement, Page said he “may have to pull back a bit on the dancing this time around”.

Also announced today was the departure of Emma Watkins, who’d performed as the Yellow Wiggle since 2010. Her role will be filled by the 15-year-old Tsehay Hawkins, who’d previously joined the group back in August for the webseries Fruit Salad TV .

In a video statement posted to The Wiggles’ Instagram, Watkins said: “Like many people around the world, the pandemic has given me time to reflect on what is important in life. For me, that means spending more time at home, something that I didn’t realise I was missing out on being away eight months of the year on tour.

“I’m really looking forward to devoting more time and energy to focus on completing my PhD which incorporates my ongoing passion for sign language, dance and film editing, and to having more time to work with the deaf community.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Wiggles (@thewiggles)

Back in March, The Wiggles took to the triple j studios for their first-ever Like A Version performance , delivering a mashup of Tame Impala ’s ‘Elephant’ and their own ‘Fruit Salad’.

The Wiggles’ 2022 reunion tour dates are:

FEBRUARY Saturday 12 – Darwin, Entertainment Centre Saturday 19 – Hobart, MyStateBank Arena

MARCH Saturday 12 – Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena

APRIL Saturday 9 – Perth, RAC Arena Saturday 23 – Sydney, Qudos Bank Arena Saturday 30 – Brisbane, Entertainment Centre

MAY Saturday 7 – Adelaide, Entertainment Centre

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• 2022 Concerts
• Original Wiggles Concerts
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• New Zealand Tours

The OG Wiggles Reunion Tour!

The OG Wiggles Reunion Tour! was a concert tour launched by The Wiggles in 2022 that began on February 12th in Darwin, Australia and ended on August 26th in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The tour served as a reunion of the original lineup of the band ( Murray Cook , Greg Page , Jeff Fatt , and Anthony Field ), and is the first time the original members went on tour since 2012. It is the third reunion of the original members following the 25th anniversary benefit concerts in 2016 and the bushfire benefit reunion concerts in 2020 , and the first reunion to be a full-fledged tour instead of a one-off performance for charity.

Various Australian musical artists appeared as the supporting act of every show, performing their own songs as well as the Wiggles song that they covered on the ReWiggled tribute album.

• 1 Press Release [1]
• 2.1 Australia [1]
• 2.2 New Zealand [2]
• 3.1 Australia
• 3.2 New Zealand
• 4.1.1 The OG Wiggles
• 4.1.3 Musicians
• 4.1.4 Guests
• 4.1.5 Support Acts

Press Release [1] [ ]

Following the huge success of their recent sold-out adults-only concert, the OG Wiggles are back! With their last reunion performance receiving an overwhelming response and selling out in just five minutes, Anthony Field , Murray Cook , Jeff Fatt and Greg Page will tour the country with very special Saturday and Sunday night 15+ shows, featuring some of The Wiggles ' best-loved songs and cameos from characters such as Captain Feathersword , Dorothy the Dinosaur , Wags the Dog , and Henry the Octopus . And with The OG Wiggles' extraordinary music creds, it’s no surprise that they're being supported by some of the country's very best bands. Each show will have a wild support act, featuring some of Australia’s most loved and esteemed music artists, including Polish Club , DZ Deathrays and more. Jeff Fatt, OG Purple Wiggle, said, "All of those children who loved The Wiggles in the 90s are now adults who love the nostalgia and fun from that time in their lives. This night is for the grown-ups and is a chance to bring back some of that genuine, high-spirited liveliness again. We can't wait to relive those childhood memories and dance the night away to some of the favourite old-school tunes." "It will be The Wiggles as you remember and love them, but we’ll all have a bit greyer hair... and there’s a bar. We'll be playing all your favourite songs, and put on a show you won't forget," added Murray Cook, OG Red Wiggle. "Looking forward to getting back on stage with the OG Wiggles -we always have a great time together and can’t wait to see the "kids" reliving their childhood. I may have to pull back a bit on the dancing this time around though!" said Greg Page, OG Yellow Wiggle.

Tour Dates & Venues [ ]

Australia [1] [ ].

• February 12th - Darwin Entertainment Centre , Darwin, Northern Territory
• February 19th - Derwent Entertainment Centre , Hobart, Tasmania
• March 12th - Rod Laver Arena , Melbourne, Victoria ( recorded )
• April 9th - RAC Arena , Perth, Western Australia
• April 23rd - Qudos Bank Arena , Sydney, New South Wales ( recorded )
• April 30th - Brisbane Entertainment Centre , Brisbane, Queensland
• May 7th - Adelaide Entertainment Centre , Adelaide, South Australia

New Zealand [2] [ ]

• August 20th - Spark Arena , Auckland ( recorded )
• August 26th - Christchurch Arena, Christchurch

Setlist [ ]

Australia [ ].

• Fruit Salad
• The Monkey Dance
• Can You (Point Your Fingers And Do The Twist?)
• Do the Wiggle Groove
• Here Comes a Bear
• Rock-A-Bye Your Bear
• Wake Up Jeff!
• Quack Quack
• Joannie Works With One Hammer
• Hello Henry! (all shows except Adelaide)
• Henry's Dance
• Everybody Is Clever (Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne and Perth shows)
• Taba Naba (Sydney and Brisbane shows)
• Look Both Ways (all shows except Adelaide)
• Dancing In The Sand (all shows except Hobart)
• Five Little Ducks
• Old Town Road (Brisbane show only)
• Music Box Dancer
• Shake Your Sillies Out ( Raffi cover)
• Di Dicki Do Dum
• Pub Feed (Sydney show onward)
• Dressing Up (Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne and Perth shows)
• The Crocodile Hunter (Sydney show onward)
• D.O.R.O.T.H.Y. (My Favourite Dinosaur)
• Dorothy the Dinosaur (Darwin show only)
• Dorothy (Would You Like To Dance?) (Darwin show only)
• I Love It When It Rains
• Eagle Rock (Adelaide show only)
• Go Santa Go (Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne and Perth shows)
• We're Dancing With Wags The Dog
• Play Your Guitar With Murray
• Murray's Guitar Solo - Highway to Hell, Enter Sandman, Smoke on the Water, Smells Like Teen Spirit, Stairway to Heaven
• Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car
• Que Sera ( Justice Crew cover) (all shows except Sydney)
• Shaky Shaky (all shows except Sydney)
• Apple Crumble ( Lime Cordiale cover) (Sydney show only)
• Get Ready To Wiggle (all shows except Adelaide)
• Happy Birthday (Perth & Adelaide shows only)
• Romp Bomp A Stomp (Melbourne show onward)
• Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car (Instrumental)

Note: Average setlist across multiple shows.

New Zealand [ ]

• Hello Henry!
• Goodbye Henry (Christchurch show only)
• Dancing In The Sand
• Shake Your Sillies Out
• The Crocodile Hunter
• Murray's Guitar Solo
• Shaky Shaky
• Romp Bomp A Stomp
• Get Ready To Wiggle

Tour Personnel [ ]

Performers [ ], the og wiggles [ ].

• Greg Page - Lead Vocals, Additional Guitar and Keyboards
• Murray Cook - Lead Guitar, Vocals, Lead Vocals on " Five Little Ducks "
• Jeff Fatt - Keyboards, Vocals, Lead Vocals on " I'm a Cow "
• Anthony Field - Rhythm Guitar, Banjo, Vocals, Bagpipes, Bass on " Elephant ", Lead Vocals on " Pub Feed "
• Paul Paddick - Captain Feathersword , Backing Vocals
• Caterina Mete - Dancer, Officer Beaples , Dorothy the Dinosaur (during New Zealand shows)
• Tsehay Hawkins - Dancer, Lead Vocals on " Apple Crumble "
• John Pearce - Dancer, Lead Vocals on " Que Sera " and "Apple Crumble", Henry the Octopus (during New Zealand shows)
• Lucia Field - Dancer, Ballerina
• Callum Hendry-Hodsdon - Dancer, Wags the Dog , Teddy Bear, Ballerino
• Dominic Field - Dancer, Santa Claus (Australian shows only)
• Stephanie Di Coio - Dancer and Dorothy the Dinosaur (Australian shows only)
• Evie Ferris - Dancer (Australian shows only)
• Julia Lanzetti - Dancer and Henry the Octopus (Australian shows only)
• Ella Ferris - Dancer (Australian shows only)
• Jane Mesapani - Dancer (Australian shows only)

Musicians [ ]

• Jack Gatto - Guitar & Backing Vocals (all shows except Sydney)
• Alex Keller - Bass (for all songs except "Elephant"), Percussion on "Elephant" (Australian shows)
• Dominic Lindsay - Trumpet, Additional Keyboards, Percussion on "Elephant" (Australian shows)
• Jae Nelson - Drums (Darwin, Hobart, Brisbane & New Zealand shows)
• Simon Pryce - Backing Vocals & Percussion (Darwin and Sydney shows)
• Lachlan Gillespie - Keyboards & Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals and Keytar on "Elephant"
• Lozz Benson - Drums & Backing Vocals (Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, and Adelaide shows)
• Aaron Schembri - Guitar (Perth, Sydney, and Adelaide shows)
• Nick Webb - Bass (New Zealand shows)
• Jake Cropley - Guitar (New Zealand shows)
• Robert Irwin (Brisbane show)
• Robert Rakete (Auckland show)

Support Acts [ ]

• Polish Club (Darwin and Adelaide shows)
• DZ Deathrays (Brisbane show)
• DJ set from John and Lenny Pearce (Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide & New Zealand shows)
• Luca Brasi (Hobart show)
• Planet (Sydney show)
• Nooky (Sydney show)
• Little Quirks (Sydney show)
• Parsnip (Melbourne show)
• Sly Withers (Perth show)
• Michael King (Australian shows)
• Nick Webb (Australian shows)
• Jake Cropley (New Zealand shows)
• Toby Baldwin (Australian shows)
• Originally, it was announced as an 18+ tour, but was later changed to 15+ due to popular demand.
• The stage backdrop for this tour was also used for the then-concurrent Fruit Salad TV Big Show tour and is based off of the inflatable set from the Sailing Around the World Live! tour.
• This was the first time since the 1997 "Big Show" tour that the original lineup did an Australian tour without a performance at the Sydney Entertainment Centre , as it was demolished in 2016.
• " Everybody Is Clever ", and the first time in a decade the song was performed live in general.
• " Here Comes a Bear " since The Celebration Tour! .
• " Dorothy the Dinosaur " since the 1997 "Big Show" tour.
• " Taba Naba " since the 2003 fall tour of North America .
• " Eagle Rock " since the 2005 spring tour of North America .
• " Music Box Dancer " since the Wiggledancing! Live On Stage tour.
• " Dancing In The Sand " since the LIVE Hot Potatoes! tour .
• " Do the Wiggle Groove " since the Toot Toot Show! .
• The latter song was supposed to appear in the second reunion concert in 2020 but was cut.
• However, the current motorized Big Red Car sat onstage unused for some of the Australian shows.
• The Anthony Balloon was featured during " Fruit Salad "
• The Murray Balloon was featured during " Play Your Guitar With Murray "
• The Jeff Balloon was featured during " Wake Up Jeff! "
• The Greg Balloon was featured during " Dressing Up " (Hobart & Melbourne)/" Get Ready To Wiggle "(Perth to Brisbane)
• Clips of the Melbourne show have been posted on The Wiggles ' various social media accounts, and clips of the Sydney show were later seen in the documentary Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles .
• At the Melbourne show, the option of doing either " Romp Bomp A Stomp " or " Wiggly Party " for an encore was offered to the audience. The former song was chosen, and eventually became the closing song of the setlist to end each show in Australia going forward.
• The performance of " Go Santa Go " at the Perth show began with a false start due to everyone being in the wrong key. It is not known whether this contributed to the song being omitted for the remaining shows.
• Starting from the Sydney show up until Adelaide, Anthony wore a sequined version of his current skivvy, and for the Adelaide show, also wore sequined pants. For the New Zealand shows, he went back to wearing a non-sequined skivvy and pants.
• During the Sydney performance of " Henry's Dance ", the dancers wore the Austin Powers-influenced suits previously seen in the video clip for " Rainbow of Colours " from Racing to the Rainbow .
• Christine Anu was meant to make an appearance at the Sydney show to sing " Taba Naba " but was unavailable due to the passing of her father. [3]
• During the Sydney performance of " Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car ", crew member Nick Webb and an unidentified man (presumably a friend of Webb's) made a guest appearance on stage. Webb's shirt had the colors of the South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby team, while the man wore a orange and black skivvy, the colors of the Wests Tigers rugby team.
• " Shaky Shaky " was not performed at the Sydney show due to a wardrobe malfunction.
• The red and green jumpsuits seen during the performance of " Monkey Man " from the Big, Big Show! concert DVD made a return appearance starting from the Sydney show onward.
• Zookeeper and television personality Robert Irwin appeared at the Brisbane show to sing " The Crocodile Hunter " in tribute to his dad Steve Irwin .
• " Happy Birthday " was sung near the end of the Adelaide show, in honor of Anthony Field 's 59th birthday the next day.
• New Zealand radio host Robert Rakete appeared during the performance of " Romp Bomp A Stomp " at the Auckland show.
• The sign of the Wiggles' logo that appeared during the Australian shows looked very similar to the sign from the band's 2011 concert special for Australia Day , but with added dots for lighting purposes.

See Also [ ]

• The tour program

Sources [ ]

• ↑ 1.0 1.1 The archived promotional page
• ↑ The archived tour schedule
• ↑ A fan upload of the Sydney concert
• 1 Wiggle and Learn (2024 YouTube Series)
• 2 The Wiggles
• 3 Learn About the World!

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Wiggles announce adults-only tour

The og wiggles announce adults-only tour to come to perth’s rac arena.

Ever wanted to sing Hot Potato without your kids around? Us neither! But now big kids can shamelessly get their wiggle on the original The Wiggles reunite for an adults only tour.

Off the back of their recent sold-out adult gigs, Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt and Greg Page will take the Big Red Car around the country early next year with special Saturday and Sunday night 18+ shows.

The group will perform at Perth’s RAC Arena on April 9 and have promised to feature their most popular songs and cameos from characters such as Captain Feathersword, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog and Henry the Octopus.

The Wiggles will be supported by a host of Aussie bands along the way including Polish Club, DZ Deathrays.

OG Purple Wiggle Fatt said 90s kids who grew up with the TV show will get the change to relive their childhood memories.

“All of those children who loved The Wiggles in the 90s are now adults who love the nostalgia and fun from that time in their lives,” he said.

“This night is for the grown-ups and is a chance to bring back some of that genuine, high-spirited liveliness again. We can’t wait to relive those childhood memories and dance the night away to some of the favourite old-school tunes.”

And the best bit — there’s a bar!

“It will be The Wiggles as you remember and love them, but we’ll all have a bit more grey hair... and there’s a bar. We’ll be playing all your favourite songs, and put on a show you won’t forget,” Cook said.

“Looking forward to getting back on stage with the OG Wiggles — we always have a great time together, and can’t wait to see the “kids” reliving their childhood. I may have to pull back a bit on the dancing this time around though!” said Page.

The news comes as kids, big and small, woke up to the news that current Yellow Wiggle, Emma Watkins, was leaving the children’s supergroup.

Watkins will pass the yellow skivvy to newcomer Tsehay Hawkins next year.

Tickets go on sale Friday at 4pm

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The Wiggles original cast reunite for adults-only arena tour around Australia

The OG Wiggles line-up is reuniting for an adults-only arena tour across Australia next year.

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We travel near and we travel far.

The original cast of The Wiggles are officially reuniting for an adults-only Australian tour next year.

Anthony Field – who is still a member of The Wiggles – is teaming up with his OG gang including Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt and Greg Page for a national arena tour from February to May.

“All of those children who loved The Wiggles in the ‘90s are now adults who love the nostalgia and fun from that time in their lives,” Fatt told Sunrise.

“This night is for the grown-ups and is a chance to bring back some of that genuine, high-spirited liveliness again.

“We can’t wait to relive those childhood memories and dance the night away to some of the favourite old-school tunes.”

The founding members of The Wiggles discovered they were still a hot commodity in showbiz after hosting a reunion show in January last year to raise funds for bushfire relief, with tickets selling out within five minutes.

Their performance was marred after Page, the original Yellow Wiggle, collapsed during the group’s sold-out show in Sydney . However, he said he was feeling good and ready to hit the stage again.

“I may have to pull back a bit on the dancing this time around though,” Page joked on the Channel 7 breakfast show.

The concert marked the first time the iconic band had played together since 2012.

The Wiggles Tour dates

February 12, 2022 – Darwin Entertainment Centre

February 19, 2022 – Derwent Entertainment Centre, Tasmania

March 12, 2022 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

April 9, 2022 – RAC Arena, Perth

April 23, 2022 – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney

More Coverage

April 30, 2022 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre

May 7, 2022 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre

Tickets are on-sale from October 22 at www.thewiggles.com.au

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Blue Wiggle Anthony reveals the group's adult-only concert got 'pretty X-rated'

Childrens' entertainers The Wiggles, in 2012. File photo / Supplied

Blue Wiggle Anthony Field has made a surprise revelation about the iconic children's group's new adult-only shows.

The 58-year-old Australian singer is embarking on a national arena tour with the original Wiggles, with concertgoers required to be 18 years and over.

Speaking on Hit VIC Breakfast with Tim & Jess after their first two concerts in Darwin and Tasmania last week, Field said their shows got "pretty X-rated", with one stunt from an audience member leaving them all stunned.

"Here's the thing, at the nighttime shows for adults, we've got these Wiggles basketball singlets … Jeff falls asleep and we ask the audience whoever has the best idea on how to wake Jeff up, wins a singlet," he began.

"It got pretty bad, it got pretty X-rated. Not from our side but from the audience, that's the sort of thing you don't get at the kid's shows. It was very funny, and Jeff with his brilliant acting … (But) I did see him laughing while he was supposed to be asleep."

Field didn't specify exactly what the X-rated act was.

The OG Wiggles gang – comprising of Field, Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt and Greg Page – announced last year they were reuniting for a national arena tour from February to May.

"All of those children who loved The Wiggles in the 90s are now adults who love the nostalgia and fun from that time in their lives," Fatt told Sunrise in October.

"This night is for the grown-ups and is a chance to bring back some of that genuine, high-spirited liveliness again.

"We can't wait to relive those childhood memories and dance the night away to some of the favourite old-school tunes."

The founding members of The Wiggles discovered they were still a hot commodity in showbiz after hosting a reunion show in January 2020 to raise funds for bushfire relief, with tickets selling out within five minutes.

Their performance was marred after Page, the original Yellow Wiggle, collapsed during the group's sold-out show in Sydney. However, he said he was feeling good and ready to hit the stage again.

"I may have to pull back a bit on the dancing this time around though," Page joked.

The concert marked the first time the iconic band had played together since 2012.

Remaining Wiggles tour dates:

March 12, 2022 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

April 9, 2022 – RAC Arena, Perth

April 23, 2022 – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney

April 30, 2022 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre

May 7, 2022 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre

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Looks Like The Wiggles’ Original Lineup Is Planning An Adults-Only Pub Tour

By Tom Williams

UPDATE 09/07/16: The Wiggles’ original lineup have announced an 18+ pub show in Melbourne for this September.

ORIGINAL STORY: After spreading joy to a bunch of grown-ups at their first adults-only pub show earlier this year, The Wiggles ‘ original lineup appears to be planning an 18+ Aussie tour.

Blue Wiggle Anthony Field tells Music Feeds the original Wiggles crew currently has two new charity shows in the works, while posts on social media prove the group are working out the details for new shows in Sydney and Melbourne.

Posting to Facebook today, The Wiggles asked Melburnians if they’d been keen for an 18+ pub show from the group’s original lineup.

“MELBOURNE. A show of hands… Who would be keen for an original Wiggles reunion show with all proceeds going to Soldier On – Helping our Wounded Warriors!?,” the group posted.

“We are open to venue suggestions as well! Lets do this!! 🙂 #Nostaliga #ReliveYourChildhood #AllForCharity”

As Wiggles fans screamed “HELL YES” in reply, The Wiggles took to the comments section to let punters in on their plans, explaining that they’ll be making their “Big Show Tour” announcement “very soon”.

The group revealed they are planning to head to Melbourne first (and “very soon”), for a show which they hope to capture on film so that all fans can enjoy the Wiggly vibes. The group say they’re also trying to book a new show in Sydney.

The Wiggles’ original lineup performed its first adults-only pub show at Sydney’s Dee Why RSL in February, helping hundreds of grown-ups to get Wiggly with pub-friendly interpretations of classic songs like Hot Potato , Wake Up Jeff and Rock-A-Bye Your Bear .

Speaking exclusively with Music Feeds following the concert, Field revealed he is keen to play more adults-only shows.

“The vibe was so great, the original Wiggles fan were so passionate, you can’t help wanting to do it again,” he said. “I just want to do it again, and do the same thing, make it a charity thing… It would be great fun.”

Catch The Wiggles’ social media posts about upcoming 18+ shows below, and stand by for some Wiggly good news.

EXCLUSIVE: Blue Wiggle Anthony Field On The Wiggles’ “Incredible” Debut Adults-Only Show

Gallery: The Wiggles’ 18+ Tour Facebook Comments

The Wiggles' 18+ Tour Facebook Comments

The wiggles' 18+ tour facebook comments #1, the wiggles' 18+ tour facebook comments #2, the wiggles' 18+ tour facebook comments #3, the wiggles' 18+ tour facebook comments #4, the wiggles' 18+ tour facebook comments #5.

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Rusmania • Deep into Russia

Republic of Karelia

  The Republic of Karelia shares a border with Finland and Russia’s Leningrad, Astrakhan, Vologda and Murmansk Regions.  The republic has a unique culture developed by the native Finno-Ugric people of Karelians, Finns and Vepsians who have all been living here alongside Russians for centuries. Karelia was briefly a full republic of the USSR until it was demoted to an autonomous republic of Soviet Russia.  The capital of the republic is Petrozavodsk which was founded by Peter the Great.  The city has good railroad links to both Moscow and St Petersburg.

  Karelia is a popular tourist destination all year round for foreigners and Russians alike who are mainly drawn by its nature and opportunities for outdoor adventures.  In summer it attracts tourists who come for camping, hiking, whitewater rafting, hunting and fishing; whereas in winter people come for dog-sledding and snowmobile trips.  Over 80% of the territory is covered with forests and there are over 60,000 lakes here taking up around a quarter of the territory.  Just outside the capital is the island of Kizhi where the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Kizhi Pogost is located which includes the spectacular wooden Transfiguration of the Lord Church.

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Petrozavodsk

Founded in 1703, Petrozavodsk is an important centre of culture and industry in the North-West of Russia.

Petrozavodsk streets, squares and sights

Let us list some notable places in the historical center of the city.

Lenin Avenue

The main street of the city is Lenin Avenue, until 1918 – Borodinskaya street. The avenue stretches from the railway station to Onega Lake embankment. It contains residential and administrative buildings, restaurants, cafes and shops. • Train Station. Build in 1955 in the style of late neoclassicism, Petrozavodsk vokzal is decorated with columns of the Corinthian order and a 17-meter spire. • Former children's clinic, also known as the “Kareldrev” trust building. The two-story wooden building was constructed in 1935 in the Northern Art Nouveau style. • Pobeda cinema, a Soviet classicism building of 1950. • Trust "Karelles". A wooden building from the late 20s in the Art Nouveau style. • Hotel "Severnaya". Built in 1939 in the spirit of constructivism, it was heavily damaged during the Second World War. Restored in 1948 in the traditions of neoclassicism. • Catholic church (1904).

Lenin (Round) Square

Constructed in 1775 in the tradition of Russian classicism, buildings on the Round Square are the oldest ones in the city: • “Governor's House”, now the National Museum. At various times, governors and vice-governors of the Olonets province lived and worked there. • Government building, now the Ministry of Culture. Public offices, the district court, and the apartment of the governor general were located here. The bronze lions at the entrance were cast at the Alexander Factory in 1858 in honour of the arrival of Emperor Alexander II. • Lenin monument. Erected in 1933 on the site of the monument to Peter I, the granite statue of the Soviet leader is dressed in a winter coat and holds a winter hat in his hand. • Memorial complex “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with the Eternal Flame”. Made of Shoksha red quartzite and gabbro-diabase, opened in 1969.

Karl Marx Avenue and Kirov (Cathedral) Square

Onega Lake embankment

Going down from Kirov Square to Lake Onega, one will found the monument to Peter the Great. Dedicated to the bicentenary of the Emperor’s birth, it was erected in 1873 on Round Square, where Lenin now stands. On the granite embankment of Lake Onega one can find gifts from the sister cities of Petrozavodsk, including unusual sculptural compositions made by modern architects from Duluth (USA), Varkaus (Finland), Umeå (Sweden), Mo and Rana (Norway), Neubrandenburg and Tübingen ( Germany), La Rochelle (France). Between the building of the Cosmos Petrozavodsk Hotel and the mouth of the Neglinka River a so-called Historical Quarter is located, where one can see several interesting wooden buildings of the 19th-20th centuries. Ducks and other waterfowl can be spotted at the mouth of the Neglinka River.

Petrozavodsk museums

The city has a number of museums, including:

• National Museum of the Republic of Karelia; • Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Karelia; • Exhibition hall of the Kizhi Museum-Reserve; • Repository of the Kizhi Museum-Reserve; • Children's Museum Center of the Kizhi Museum-Reserve; • Art gallery "Doll's House"; • Geology of the Precambrian Museum; • Gallery of industrial history of Petrozavodsk; • Maritime Museum "Polar Odyssey"; • Shop/museum "Shungite Center".

National Museum of the Republic of Karelia

The museum is situated in the historical building in the centre of the city. Its exhibitions are devoted to nature, archaeology, history, folklore and ethnography of Karelia. Address: Lenin Square, 1. Working hours (subject to change): from Tuesday till Sunday 10:00-18:00. Closed – Monday.

Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Karelia

The museum's exhibition includes works of Russian art of the 18th - early 20th centuries, decorative and applied arts, domestic art of the 20th century, ancient Russian art and art of Karelia of the 20th century. Among the exhibits, there are paintings by famous Russian artists, including I. Shishkin, I. Levitan, I. Aivazovsky and V. Polenov. The latter graduated from the Olonets Boys’ Gymnasium in 1863, located in this very building. There is a special exhibit displaying the art of Kalevala, the famous Karelian-Finnish epos. The museum hosts an important collection of Russian icons of the XV-XIX centuries. Among its highlights is the icon of Our Lady of Smolensk (early XVI century), taken from the village of Kinerma. Address: Karl Marx Avenue, 8. Working hours (subject to change): Tuesday-Wednesday, Friday-Sunday 10:00-18:00, Thursday 12:00-20:00. Closed – Monday.

Art gallery “Doll House”

Artist Tatyana Kalinina created this small private museum in 1999. The basis of the exhibition is a collection of designer dolls – mermaids, kikimoras, house spirits and other fairy tales’ characters. Address: La Rochelle Embankment, 13. Working hours (subject to change): from Monday till Saturday 12:00-17:00. Closed – Sunday.

A summertime discovery tour, rich in historical insights, cultural and natural experiences.

• Three UNESCO World Heritage sites
• Famous Christian monasteries & traditional villages
• Steam train, marble canyon, Gulag heritage
• The White Sea, great European lakes of Ladoga & Onega

From: 120000 Rubles/person

Adventures, activities and a bit of culture on the scenic roads of the Russian north (September — April).

• Explore picturesque nature spots
• Hunt for the Northern Lights
• Ride on a steam train
• Visit a husky kennel
• Taste local food

From: 770 USD/person

This boat trip to Kizhi is available from mid May to mid October

• Travel to Kizhi Island by hydrofoil
• Explore historical wooden churches
• Enjoy nature and landscapes

Price: 9000 Rubles/person

Questions & Answers

How long does it take to get to petrozavodsk by car from finland and st. petersburg.

Getting by car from Helsinki in Finland to Petrozavodsk in Russia takes about 12-14 hours (distance ~730 km). . Getting by car from Joensuu in Finland to Petrozavodsk takes about 6-7 hours (distance ~360 km). Getting by car from St. Petersburg to Petrozavodsk takes about 6 hours (distance ~450 km). Should you need a private transfer from Finland or St. Petersburg to Petrozavodsk or vice versa, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Vodlozersky National Park aims to preserve the natural enviroment and cultural heritage of Vodlozero Lake region.

Marcial Waters – old church of Apostle Peter and healing water springs in Karelia.

The historical Karelian villages of Kinerma, Rubchoila and Manga. Description of the sights and excursions.

Being home to an incredible collection of monuments of wooden architecture, Kizhi Island is a must visit attraction in Russia.

Located in Taiga forest just 80 km from Petrozavodsk, Kivach Nature Reserve is one of the most visited nature reserves in Russia. The main highlight of the place is Kivach Falls.

Paanajarvi National Park is situated in the northern part of Karelia, Russia. The park is famous for the beauty of its landscapes, and it is rich in flora and fauna.

The White Sea is a great destination for nature lovers and excursionists.

Petroglyphs of the White Sea are important monuments of the prehistoric rock-carving art.

Ruskeala Mountain Park is a popular destination for many outdoor activities, including walking, boating, zip lining and snowmobiling.

Petroglyphs of Lake Onega are valuable examples of the prehistoric rock carving art on the territory of northern Russia.

The White Sea-Baltic Canal connects Lake Onega and the White Sea. Description, photos and construction history.

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Karelia Travel Guide - Russia's Most Inspiring Region

Home / Russia Travel Experiences / Karelia Travel Guide – Russia’s Most Inspiring Region

For those planning a trip to Russia and wanting an experience that goes beyond the walls of Moscow ‘s metropolitan kingdom and St. Petersburg ‘s splendid palaces, consider extending your holiday to Karelia !

With the help of this Karelia Travel Guide, you won’t have to travel as far as Siberia to be surrounded by the authentic taiga. One night by train and you will find yourself in a land of white nights, boundless forests and crystal-clear lakes.

Bordered by Finland to the west and the White Sea to the east, Karelia is rapidly becoming one of Russia’s top destinations for travellers all around the world to visit. With a fantastic mix of untouched nature, outdoor adventure and cultural discovery, every traveller can (and will) find a reason to fall in love with this near-magical frontier country.

Our Karelia Travel Guide will take you through everything you need to know about this spectacular Northwestern region of Russia. Whether you’re searching for the best time of the year to visit, the top attractions or how to travel to Karelia, we have you covered.

Table of Contents

Who Should Travel to Karelia?

Karelia for nature lovers and active adventurers.

Densely forested and gloriously remote, Karelia is a paradise on Earth for any nature lover. Be enthralled by the region’s untouched wilderness and diverse wildlife, from picturesque hills and winding rivers to lush green forests and idyllic lakes, such as Europe’s two largest lakes – Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega.

For those seeking an exciting and action-packed holiday, Karelia has a wide range of summer and winter activities to get the blood pumping. Water tourism is highly sought after during the summer months. Navigate your way around the region’s vast waterways on a canoe, kayak across crystal-clear lakes, go on a whitewater rafting adventure or try your hand at fly fishing.

The landscape is also threaded by hiking routes, and its forest roads are ideal for bicycle or quad bike tours during this time of the year. In winter, you will have the opportunity to engage in all types of skiing, embark on a dog or reindeer sledding adventure or speed across the lands on a snowmobile. Other outdoor pursuits include snowshoeing, ice fishing and sledding.

Karelia For History and Culture Buffs

While a large portion of Karelia’s appeal is its untouched wilderness, it is by no means a simple no-mans land. Instead, Karelia can be considered a living museum of human history. Inhabited by the Scandinavians for 6,000 years, Karelia has been intermittently contested by the  Finnish, Swedish, and Russian forces over the centuries. Today, despite having much of its territory ceded to the Soviet Union in 1939, the region still retains a strong cultural connection with eastern Finland.

Those interested in history and archaeology can discover some of the most complex and expressive prehistoric stone carvings on the shores of the White Sea and Lake Onega, which also keep the secrets of the ancient Sami’s labyrinths on the islands.

Karelia For Architecture Enthusiasts

Karelia houses some of the best-preserved traditional wooden architecture in the country. The intricate beauty and unique architectural framework specific to Northern Russia would make even the most experienced traveller stand in awe.

From ancient villages and banyas to collections of 17th and 18th-century churches skillfully crafted entirely out of wood, anyone with even the slightest bit of appreciation for architecture must visit Karelia at least once in their lifetime. Noteworthy architectural jewels include the Church of Transfiguration and the Assumption Cathedral on Kizhi Island.

Karelia Travel Attractions

Karelia travel destination #1: petrozavodsk.

Petrozavodsk is the capital and the largest city of the Karelia, stretching along the western shore of Lake Odega for around 27km. While travellers mainly use Petrozavodsk as a launching point for Karelia’s main attractions (Kizhi, Solovki and Valaam Islands), it has so much more to offer.

Multifaceted and diverse, this modern city draws in tourists with its neoclassical architecture and evolving cultural sphere. Noteworthy museums include the “House of the Doll” Tatyana Kalinina, the house-museum “Karelian Hut”, the Karelian State Museum of Local Lore, and the Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Karelia . Those interested in theatre should also visit the Musical Theatre of the Republic of Karelia , admire its gorgeous architecture and take a stroll through its surrounding square and park. Petrozavodsk is unique in nature due to its location, as it has a blend of Russian, Karelian and Finnish culture. This is expressed through the local cuisine, language and everyday lifestyle. Furthermore, being the capital of Karelia means that it is a local hub for nightlife and shopping, with several new shopping centres popping up around the city over recent years. Petrozavodsk also hosts several festivals, such as the International Contest of Snow and Ice Sculptures “Hyperborea”, Vozdukh live music festival, “White Nights of Karelia” music festival, and the landscape festival “Harmony of White Nights”.

Karelia Travel Destination #2: Kizhi Island

Located on the northern end of Lake Onega, the tiny island of Kizhi is home to one of the largest open-air museums in the world. The museum is a spectacular cultural site comprised of over 80 monuments of wooden architecture collected from the 17th to the 19th centuries and skillfully crafted and restored to form a glimpse of the past. Old chapels, peasant houses, windmills, threshing barns and granaries can be found scattered all around the island. 

The crown jewel of Kizhi is the Church of Transfiguration, otherwise known as Preobrazhenskaya. This architectural masterpiece features 5 tiers of 22 wooden domes, gables and ingenious decorations designed to prevent rain from ruining the walls. Built-in 1714 without the use of a single nail, it has withstood the elements for over 150 years. The Kizhi Pogost , which is a fenced area including the Church of Transfiguration, Church of the Intercession of Holy Mary (9 domed church) and the Bell-Tower, has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as the most prominent monument of ancient northern wooden architecture. Other must-see attractions include the 14th century Church of Ressurection of Lazarus and the Chapels of Archangel Mikhail.

With local villagers and artisans still living on the island to this day, they demonstrate rural life in Karelia, its traditional crafts from the 18th and 19th century, such as weaving, woodcarving, and painting, and tasks of peasant life. Rent a bicycle and explore the stunning landscapes and impressive architecture that Kizhi Island has to offer, or join a tour for an insight into the gradual development of a unique Karelian culture that differs greatly from the rest of Russia.

Karelia Travel Destination #3: Valaam Island

Valaam, dubbed the ‘Russian Vatican’, is an archipelago located in the northern region of Lake Ladoga. As one of the most popular Orthodox tourist destinations, the main attraction that draws visitors to its shores is the 14th century Transfiguration Monastery on Valaam Island .

The central monastery is a monumental structure that sits on top of the high hill, making it visible from many locations on the island. In the past, the monastery had been subjected to numerous accounts of destruction and devastation from fires and invasions. However, despite that, it was revived to live again. Now, nestled in its central part are gardens, a bakery, vegetable patches and a farm, surrounded by pine trees, rolling prairies and granite cliffs with around 200 Orthodox monks living within its walls permanently.

If you are looking to avoid crowds of travellers, you can also explore dozens of other smaller churches and chapels that are scattered around pretty headlands, quiet inland bays or bridged islets.

Karelia Travel Destination #4: Solovetsky Islands

The Solovetsky Islands, otherwise known as Solovki, is a place that many travellers fantasise about visiting when in Russia but few actually ever end up doing so. This is part of the attraction, however, as it means that you won’t encounter hoards of tourists in this largely unspoiled part of Russia, yet you can have an ‘off the beaten track’ experience without having to rough it up too much. Located in the Onega Bay of the White Sea, the archipelago is made up of 6 main islands and many smaller ones. The largest island is the Bolshoy Solovetsky and it is home to the main monastery, which dominates the rural idyll of Solovetsky Village, the islands’ main settlement.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Solovetsky Monastery is a real stronghold for orthodox Christianity and for a while, Solovki was seen to symbolise nothing but asceticism, faith and spirituality. This took a drastic change in the 20th century as Stalin transformed it into one of the USSR’s most notorious prison camps.

Even if you’re not a history buff, the island’s main museum is worth a visit as it is dedicated to those who were incarcerated here during the Stalinist era. There’s no English translation but the photos, pictures and artifacts more than speak for themselves. The monastery was rehabilitated after the fall of the Soviet Union, and today the islands’ natural beauty, spiritual significance and solemn history draw travellers from all corners of the Earth to its shores.

Karelia Travel Destination #5: Kinerma – Village

The historical village of Kinerma , situated 100 km from Petrozavodsk, is a unique complex of wooden architecture specific to the Karelian-Livviki and a living example of the traditional settlements in Karelia. Said to be the most beautiful village in Russia, no new houses are allowed to be built on the lands. Everything seen today has been erected and restored according to the ancient plan of the village.

Currently, in the village of Kinerma there are 16 yards and only 5 permanent residents, but they are actively farming, preserving and maintaining the traditional rural way and visitors can visit the village personally to touch the past. With 17 houses, 7 baths, and an old cemetery, the main attraction and spiritual centre of Kinerma is its chapel, built in the second half of the 18th century in honour of the icon of Virgin Mary from Smolensk. According to legend, the icon was brought to the village by a passing soldier and has since protected the village from any harm and misfortune.

Another noteworthy attraction is the black banyas, typical of Karelian villages. Such banyas are built without a chimney and use the smoke from its primitive stoves made of stones to warm the sauna. We would highly recommend experiencing a session in a black banya, as the temperature inside is not too high, but the humidity is high enough to free yourself from all toxins and stress.

Karelia Travel Destination #6: Ruskeala Mountain Park, Sortavala

For lovers of active leisure, Ruskeala Mountain Park is the place to be. Formerly a marble quarry, this 109-metre wide canyon is a unique and multidimensional monument to both nature and the history of mining. Mined by the Karelians, Swedes, Finns and Russians for nearly three centuries, the marble has been used in the construction of some of the most significant structures in Russia, such as the floors of the Kazan Cathedral, St. Issac’s Cathedral and the window sills of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg .

Now, tall pines line the top of the steep canyon walls while its sides are riddled with caves and grottoes just waiting to be explored.

Over the years, the canyon has also filled up with the purest emerald-green water from underground springs. Karelia travellers can navigate through its system of open and underwater galleries, drifts and shafts, all of which stretch a total of several hundred metres.

Apart from hiking along some of the most breathtaking tracks, you will also have the opportunity to ride trolleys (mechanized bungees) over its waters, rent a boat and explore the beauty of Marble Lake, go down into abandoned mine shafts and ice-skate over the icy bottom of its caves. It is also only in Ruskeala that you will be able to find preserved exotic mosses, lichens, orchid plants and shrubs, as well as rare species of reptiles, amphibians and even bats.

Karelia Travel Destination #7: Ruskeala Express Retro Steam Train

The Ruskeala Express provides an incredibly scenic journey through the forested landscapes of Karelia to one of the most beautiful natural preserves in Russia, Ruskeala Mountain Park.

The retro-style steam train runs daily between Sortavala (250km west of the Karelian capital, Petrozavodsk) and takes around an hour to reach the park entrance. The Ruskeala Express is the only daily steam-powered passenger train left in Russia. Running on a locomotive engine built in 1949, its interiors are inspired by the late 19 th century look. Between July and September, non-stop train services run between Moscow and Sortavala, with a total travel time of 17.5 hours.

Karelia Travel Destination #8: State National Park Paanajärvi

In contrast to the action-packed Ruskeala,  Paanajärvi National Park is all about reconnecting with nature and finding your own zen away from civilization. Located in the north-west region of Karelia, the main purpose of establishing the Park was to preserve the unique nature of the Olanga River and Lake Paanajärvi.

The landscapes are exceptionally breathtaking; mountain ridges are split by deep ravines, fast-flowing streams with frothing rapids cut through the terrain, and crystal-clear lakes sparkle under the sun’s gentle rays. Its valleys and hills alike are covered with virgin forests, where giant pines and spruce dominate the lands.

You can also find numerous fauna roaming around freely, such as bears, elk, wolverines, foxes, and reindeer. On a rare occasion, you may even be able to spot muskrats or beavers. The pearl of the park is Lake Paanajärvi – the biggest lake in the region. It is situated in a large bedrock rift and extends for about 15 kilometres from the East to West.

In winter it’s one of the most popular places for Northern Lights hunt.

Karelia Travel Destination #9: Petroglyphs of the White Sea and Lake Onega

Created during the Neolithic era, the petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White sea are considered as some of the most complex and expressive samples of Late Stone Age art in northern Europe. The drawings depict elaborate scenes of warfare, seafaring, hunting, religious rituals, skiing and enigmatic figures. With more than 70 different ancient settlements identified in relation to the carvings, they constitute the largest Neolithic site in the region.

The Onega petroglyphs are located along the eastern shore of Lake Onega for a distance of about 18.5km, while petroglyphs of the White Sea are found about 6 to 8km from Belomorsk. Carved into stunning locations such as on huge flat boulders on islets in the middle of untouched forests, these petroglyphs are easily accessible to study and photograph.

Karelia Travel Destination #10: Vottovaara Mountain

A 417m glacial mountain peak and archaeological site in the West Karelian Hills, Mount Vottovaara is known for its bizarre, boulder-strewn landscape. Surrounding the peak is a patchwork of strange “legged” stones, oddly deformed trees and miniature lakes.

A superb hiking destination in Karelia, Mount Vottovaara is considered sacred among the Sami people, who historically inhabited all of Northern Scandinavia as well as Eastern Karelia.

Fantastic rock paintings discovered here and in nearby Lake Onega (known as the Onega petroglyphs) suggest that this was an ancient pagan ritual site as far back as an estimated 6,000 years ago.

Karelia Travel Destination #11: Karjala Park

In a picturesque rural location on the banks of the Shuya River, Karjala Park is a Scandinavian-style eco-hotel and year-round outdoor recreation complex with a wide array of activities on offer for day visitors and hotel guests.

During winter, the beautiful forested setting of Karjala Park provides an adventure sports playground with activities like husky dog sledding, snowmobiling and ice fishing. Summer activities include trekking, rafting and kayaking on the Shuya River. ATV and 4WD tours, fishing and authentic Russian and Karelian cooking classes can be enjoyed all year round.

Karelian Culture, Festivals & Cuisine

Sharing a 700km long border with Finland to the west, the Republic of Karelia is traditionally the home of the Karelians, a Baltic-Finnic ethnic group who today make up just over 34% of the population of Russian Karelia. Karelian, Finnish and Veps (another minority Finnic group residing on the Russian-Finnish border) are officially recognised languages in the Republic.

Today, Karelia retains a strong cultural connection with Finland. Distinctly Karelian culture lives on in the peasant traditions of poetry, music and folk ceremonies that reinforce the people’s bond with the land and sea.

Karelian traditions and folklore

Scandinavian sagas and chronicles tell us that the Karelians were known to the Vikings as early as the 7 th century AD. Karelian traditions and celebratory rites are closely related to a work of epic poetry compiled from Karelian and Finnish oral folklore and mythology. The Kaleva deciphers the local runes and explains the origins of the region and its inhabitants. It tells the story of the hero and demigod Vainamoinen, who according to legend built the first boat and created Karelia’s national musical instrument, the Kantele, a plucked string instrument somewhat similar to the dulcimer.

This legend and other pagan folktales inform many of the customs and festivals still practiced by the Karelian people today, although these days the majority of Russian Karelians are Eastern Orthodox Christians.

Festivals in Karelia

Midsummer Day or the Summer Solstice is the most important holiday in the traditional calendar for all northern peoples. The longest day in summer falls on June 22. Across Karelia, celebrations begin in the evening and last all through the night, during the time of the Karelian “white nights”, when sun lights up the land 24 hours a day. Young people would traditionally go to the forest to gather ferns, dance around bonfires and swim in the lakes.

The White Nights of Karelia Music Festival is an annual event organised by the State Glazunov Conservatory in Petrozavodsk city. Held over several days and nights each summer, the festival program includes exclusive performances by local, Russian and international musicians, performing well-known masterpieces, chamber music and the latest orchestral works.

The Elonpu (Tree of Life) Festival is a pagan holiday for the Veps culture, celebrated in mid-July on the shores of Lake Onega near the village of Sheltozero. There are only an estimated 7,000 Vepsians left, and most of them live in Karelian villages.

Hyperborea , or the International Winter Festival is held annually in February in Petrozavodsk. The highlight of the week-long winter festival is the international competition of snow and ice sculptures. Professional and amateur teams from Russia, as well as guests from foreign nations compete to create the most impressive and elaborate sculptures, carved out of ice and illuminated by multi-coloured lights. The festival mixes high art and everyday entertainment common to the region, encompassing everything from art exhibitions and concerts through to ice swimming races and dog sledding competitions.  

Karelian Cuisine

For the Russian food lovers out there, Karelian cuisine is nutritious and diverse. Karelia is famous for its baked dishes. A must-try appetizer dish of Karelia is Kalitki with potatoes. Served hot, it is an open pie made from rye flour dough with a filling usually made from millet kasha, potatoes, rice, tvorog or meat. Salted and marinated Karelian mushrooms are also very popular as a snack.

For the mains, local freshwater fish such as the delicious Northern salmon are often added into hearty fish soups or are marinated, salted and served as a separate dish. Remember to save room for dessert, as they make sweet northern pies, pastries and pancakes with delectable local wild berries. Finally, wash down the food with freshly squeezed berry juices or robust liquors made from cranberries, red bilberries and cloudberries.

Karelia Travel Tips – Weather in Karelia and When to Visit

Karelia’s climate is transitive from maritime to continental, and typically carries much milder winters in comparison to other northern regions near the Arctic. This is due to the warm, humid air masses from the west, though incursions of Arctic air can cause bitter cold spells. Karelia’s climate has therefore gained a reputation for being unpredictable, so no matter the season, Karelia travel guide readers should be prepared for practically any weather.

Summer in Karelia

June – August

Average temperatures: 11ºC to 21ºC

Summer in Karelia is the highest travel season. The reason is quite simple: the best way to see most of the attractions located in this beautiful region – by water. These include, in particular, famous Valaam and Kizhi – islands of the Ladoga and Onega lakes. The navigation season opens in mid-May and closes in mid-September. Therefore, if you want to go on a tour of the main attractions of Karelia, it is better to plan a trip for the summertime. For the most part, Karelian summers are short but the days are long and cool with a fair amount of rainfall scattered in between. Plenty of outdoor activities are available during this time, such as fishing, quad biking, kayaking, cycling and whitewater rafting.

June (its end) is a month when you can experience the amazing spectacle of White Nights in Karelia, otherwise known as midsummer night or polar day. This is a time where the sun sets but remains above the horizon, bathing the landscape with a pearlescent all-night glow until the early mornings. Take advantage of this occasion and enjoy a night-time boat tour or a midnight stroll. This month is also the best for visiting the picturesque Marble Canyon at the mountain park “Ruskeala”, as well as visiting the “Kivach” Nature Reserve, which waterfalls are the fullest during this time.

The height of summer is during July , where you’ll be able to go for a swim in the many crystal-clear lakes scattered across the region. This summer month is very good for fishing: salmon, pike, roach, ide, steam perch, large bream are well caught in the local waters.

The summer heat often rolls over to August, but the nights start getting longer and cooler, it becoming rainy and foggy. August in Karelia is the time of picking berries. With the beginning of September, the high tourist season in this region of the Northern Russia ends and the off-season begins, which lasts until the beginning of December.

Autumn in Karelia

September – October

Average temperatures: -5ºC to +12ºC

The month of September is a lovely period as temperatures are still relatively warm, but you no longer have to worry about pesky mosquitoes. Lingonberries, cranberries and mushrooms are in full bloom, carpeting the forest and tundra. Trees start to turn yellow and gold, and the ground vegetation a deep red. This is what we like to call ‘Flaming Autumn’.

This is also one of the best time for photography. As temperatures start to cool in October, dip your toes in a steam bath and enjoy a hot beverage by the fireplace. This is when lakes begin freezing over and the snow starts to fall in preparation for a winter fairytale.

Winter in Karelia

November – April

Average temperatures: -15ºC to -5ºC

November is off-season with very unstable weather. Rivers and lakes are getting to freeze. It is still possible to get to such popular places as Kizhi or Valaam by hivuses and snowmobiles, but these sights are not as impressive as in summer.

In December , snow covers the land and forests, turning the region into a winter wonderland. Explore the frosty ethereal taiga forests on a snowmobile or try your hand at dog-sledding with the famous Siberian huskies. Later on, settle down around a fire in a local dacha and soothe your muscles in a Russian-style sauna. Its proximity to the Arctic Circle means that the Karelian skies are sometimes graced by the stunning Northern Lights, which even can be observed in Petrozavodsk, although, the best place is somewhere far away from the city lights, such as the remote village of Nilmoguba or Paanajärvi National Park, located on the border with Finland. If you won’t get lucky with the Northen Lights hunt (it happens quite often), then at least you may admire the untouched nature of Northern Russia.

March is the sunniest month, while the very end of Winter – April , is the time when lakes and rivers start to get free from the ice.

Spring in Karelia

Average temperatures: 0 ºC to +15ºC

Spring is arguably one of the best times to venture outdoors into the beautiful Karelian forests. Tree leaves turn green, flowers start to bloom, rivers flow faster. Try your hand at fishing in one of the many lakes and rivers, as early May is a time when Northern Pike and Perch spawn by the thousands.

Karelia Travel Options

Karelia travel by plane.

At the moment, the only flights coming in and out of the Karelian capital of Petrozavodsk are from Moscow. S7 Airlines has flights that leave between 5 to 7 times a week from Domodedovo Airport, taking approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. Be sure to keep an eye out on S7’s flight schedule as the timetable changes fairly frequently.

Once you arrive at the Petrozavodsk airport, it is about a 12km drive to the city centre. Pre-arranged private transfers are typically the preferred methods of transportation to get to town.

Karelia Travel By Train

This is the most reliable and convenient way of travelling to Karelia. There are several daytime and overnight trains running from the St. Petersburg Ladozhsky railway station to Petrozavodsk (approximately 7 hours). Usually, travellers prefer the overnight train, as it saves time and money.

Alternatively, trains from Moscow to Petrozavodsk run daily. The journey from Moscow to Petrozavodsk takes around 16 hours.

Karelia Travel By Bus

>Catching a bus is one of the cheapest ways to travel to Karelia. There are bus services running 4 to 5 times a day that travel between St. Petersburg and Petrozavodsk, with the journey taking between 5 to 6 hours.

Karelia Travel By Car

There are two main routes to Karelia: the M-8 and R-5 from Moscow via Vologda, and the M-18 from St. Petersburg (from Moscow you can get on the M-18 bypassing St. Petersburg through A114 Zuevo-Volkhov-Novaya Ladoga). If you were to choose any route other than the M-18, it should be noted that Karelian roads are in mostly bad conditions, quite bumpy and often include stretches of unpaved roads.

The approximate travel time from St. Petersburg to Petrozavodsk is 5 hours (430km), and 12 hours (996km) from Moscow to Petrozavodsk.

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The perfect retreat from million-miles-an-hour Moscow, the medieval cities of Russia’s Golden Ring are nestled amid green hills and floral meadows, with rambling country roads surrounded by forests, lakes, orchards and wooden farmhouses. The idyllic ‘Mother Russia’ of old still exists, and it’s right here.

Related Tours

Gems of karelia – kizhi island, solovki and valaam.

Enjoy all major sights of Karelia just in a 7-day tour. You will visit Kizhi and Valaam Islands, Kivach Waterfall and Ruskeala Park, Solovetsky and Valaam monasteries. See the ...

Karelia & Kizhi Island in 3 Days

On this short detour from Moscow or St Petersburg, you will explore cultural and natural sites of Karelia. Your tour starts in Petrozavodsk - the largest city in Karelia mostly ...

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About 56 th parallel.

56th Parallel is a travel company specialising in providing packaged tours and travel services in Russia.

Our goal is to redefine travel to Russia, focusing on creating the most rewarding experiences, which help travellers unfolds the soul of this exciting destination.

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