“The white night has fallen like a cloud” — the most romantic period of this summer has already arrived. Where to admire the white nights? Brilliant St. Petersburg comes to mind, but this unusual natural phenomenon can be enjoyed not only in the cultural capital.
Contents
- St. Petersburg
- Murmansk
- Kirovsk
- Arkhangelsk
- Vologda
- Yakutsk
- Norilsk
- Magadan
How white nights differ from the polar day
White nights are when the sun briefly sets below the horizon and a short twilight comes, and during the polar day the sun does not hide for more than a day. This happens only beyond the Arctic circle, for example, in Murmansk, Vorkuta, Salekhard and Norilsk — and the polar day is preceded by several weeks of white nights.
Saint Petersburg
- When to go: June – early July.
- How to get: by plane or train from Moscow (Sapsan — from 3,300 rubles one way). The ticket price is given as an example and shows the minimum possible prices for a trip in June, available at the time of publication of the article.
During the white nights in St. Petersburg, the peak of the tourist season comes — tourists from all over the world come here and often there is nowhere to fall in the city center. On the other hand, this is the most beautiful time in the northern capital, which is definitely worth seeing. Walk around the city around the clock, ride boats on rivers and canals, listen to street musicians and do not forget to do all this from the right side of the Neva River — no one has canceled the bridges yet. To choose the right accommodation, see our guide to the city districts and a selection of hotels for the white nights period.
During the white nights in St. Petersburg, the peak of the tourist season begins — tourists from all over the world come here. Photo: Anton Malkov/Shutterstock.com
Murmansk
- When to go: May–July.
- How to get: by plane (from 7000 rubles. from Moscow in both directions) or by train.
We suggest moving north for the polar day: it can be seen in Murmansk from the end of May to the end of July. A couple of days will be enough to explore Murmansk, and after that you can move to the Barents Sea, to Teriberka. Stay at one of the futuristic glamping sites on the coast and explore the surroundings on foot or on a quad bike. And in summer you can also watch whales here!
Kirovsk
- When to go: May–July.
- How to get: by car or train to the Apatity station. Planes fly from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Khibiny airport in Apatity (from 18,600 rubles. from Moscow in both directions).
White nights come to Khibiny in May, and in June they are replaced by a polar day. This is an ideal time for lovers of hiking and the harsh northern nature. The highest point of Khibiny is Mount Yudychvumchorr, which is only 1200 meters high, so you can safely go hiking here with children. Well, the low-growing vegetation of the tundra will allow you to easily admire the views for kilometers around.
White nights come to Khibiny in May, and in June they are replaced by a polar day. Photo: Kekyalyaynen/Shutterstock.com
Where else to go in the summer
When the usual destinations for summer holidays are already tired, it is worth paying attention to a selection of non-obvious vacation destinations in Russia and abroad.
Arkhangelsk
- When to go: end of May – July.
- How to get:Flights to Talagi Airport in Arkhangelsk fly from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi and other cities (from 7,400 rubles from Moscow in both directions).
Arkhangelsk is located closer to the Arctic Circle than St. Petersburg, so white nights can also be seen here in July. Photo: Dzerkach Viktar/Shutterstock.com
Vologda
- When to go: June – early July.
- How to get: by car or train, as well as by plane from Moscow (from 11,400 rubles in both directions) or St. Petersburg.
It would seem that Vologda is not at all associated with the polar region, but even here you can see white nights. Of course, they will not be as long and light as in more northern cities, but the charm is not lost from this. It is best to come to Vologda in the second half of June — closer to the summer solstice. In the evenings, it will be especially pleasant to walk around the city and admire its wooden houses with carved palisades, walk through the territory of the Vologda Kremlin, and then relax on the banks of the Volga.
More ideas on what else to do in the city and region are in the guidebook. For example, we recommend visiting the residence of Santa Claus in Veliky Ustyug, which is open even in summer. Do not forget about the main attractions of the city itself, to which we have devoted a separate article.
It would seem that Vologda is not at all associated with the polar region, but even here you can see white nights. Photo: Kichigin/Shutterstock.com
Yakutsk
- When to go: end of May – beginning of July.
- How to get:by plane from Moscow (from 25,000 rubles in both directions), St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Vladivostok and other cities.
The Sakha Republic is so big that if you can see white nights in its south, then the polar day is already coming in the north. In the capital Yakutsk, something in between is observed: there is practically no twilight here, the sun only briefly disappears below the horizon. In summer, closer to the solstice day (June 29-30, 2024), Ysyakh is celebrated in local villages and towns — the main event in the Sakha culture. Anyone can attend the holiday. In addition, the warm season is ideal for visiting the main attractions of the republic — Lena and Sinsky pillars, Tukulaans sand dunes and sites of ancient people.
Festivals and celebrations this summer
If you like the idea of going to a regional holiday and getting to know the local culture, take a look at the selection of Russian summer festivals.
Norilsk
- When to go: May–July.
- How to get: by plane from Moscow (from 32,500 rubles in both directions) or Novosibirsk.
The polar day in Norilsk lasts from the end of May to July, but white nights can be seen until mid-August. Lama Lake is located 50 km from the city, from where the Putorana Plateau begins. It is famous for its table mountains and numerous hiking trails. You can stop by the lake, go hiking or boating and go fishing. Well, the plateau with its peaks, rivers and waterfalls is an option to see on a helicopter tour.
The polar day in Norilsk lasts from the end of May to July, but white nights can be seen until mid-August. Photo: Alex KT/Shutterstock.com
Magadan
- When to go: end of May – July.
- How to get: by plane from Moscow (from 24,800 rubles in both directions), Novosibirsk, Khabarovsk.
Magadan does not seem to be a place where you can voluntarily go on vacation. However, there is something to do in Kolyma in the summer. Firstly, you can drive along the famous “road on bones”, or the Kolyma highway — in winter it is extremely dangerous to do this because of the desolation of places and severe frosts. Also, in the warmer months, you can get to Jack London Lake, which is as beautiful as the Norwegian fjords and the northern Scottish lakes. Do not forget to include in the plan small hikes in the surrounding area, as well as boat trips in the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk.
Hurry up to find a place to live on the Island and go for a walk all night through the tundra fields, table mountains or wonderful cities from this collection.
Cover photo: Ilia Bronskiy/Shutterstock.com
