Tourism potential of the Republic of Karelia

The Republic of Karelia has a great cultural and tourist potential for the development of both classical types of tourism and new directions: ecotourism, rural tourism, active recreation.

Ladoga and Onega 2 largest European lakes
23 thousand rivers, 63 thousand lakes total number of water bodies
840 thousand people the flow of organized tourists and tourists
327.0 million rubles the amount of extra-budgetary investments in the tourism infrastructure of the Republic of Karelia
3,506.1 million rubles the amount of tourist and recreational and hotel services
Up to 3.5 million overnight stays per year it is able to provide a tourist complex of the republic with accommodation facilities

Participation in the federal target program

Federal Target Program «Development of domestic and inbound tourism in Russia» (2019—2025)
  • 11 new tourist complexes
  • 19 objects of tourist display
  • 23 objects of supporting infrastructure
  • 550 new jobs
  • 1,007 placements
Tourist and recreational cluster «Legends of Karelia»
  • 11 tourist centers in 5 districts of the republic (Kondopozhsky, Pitkyarantsky, Prionezhsky, Pryazhinsky, Sortavalsky) connected by a single network of routes
  • The number of investments — 390.8 million rubles

Key tourist dominants of the Republic of Karelia

Kizhi Museum-Reserve

One of the largest open-air museums in Russia. A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Russia. Finalist of the Seven Wonders of Russia contest. One of the 10 visual symbols of Russia.

Sanatorium "Marcial waters"

The sanatorium with ferruginous mineral waters and therapeutic mud has established itself as a responsible and professional provider of spa services in Russia, ready to increase the number of accepted vacationers from all regions of Russia and from abroad.

Valaam Archipelago

Valaam is visited annually by more than 100 thousand tourists. Founded in the 11th century, the Valaam Transfiguration Monastery on the islands of the Valaam Archipelago in Karelia is famous for its preserved exclusive examples of Russian church architecture.

Petroglyphs

Karelian petroglyphs are one of the most ancient rock carvings on Earth. Their age is more than 5 thousand years. They cover a section of the lake shore of Onega with a length of 20.5 km and number 24 groups, including about 1,100 figures and signs. The White Sea petroglyphs are located in the town of Zalavruga, on the islands of the Vyg River. In total, 39 groups were found here, including more than 2,000 individual figures.

"Ruskeala" Mountain Park
Historical settlement of Kalevalsky district
Historical settlement of Kondopozhsky district
Historical settlement of Kalevalsky district
Historical settlements of the Lahdenpokh district
Historical settlement of Muezersky district
Historical settlement of Pitkyarantsky district
Historical settlement of Olonetsky district
Historical settlement of Suoyarva district
Historical settlement of Prionezhsky district
Historical settlement of the Pryazhinsky district
Historical settlement of Pudozhsky district
"Kivach" Nature Reserve

Reserve is one of the oldest in Russia and the first protected natural area in Karelia. It was formed in 1931 on the initiative of Karelian scientists for scientific, experimental, economic, cultural, and educational purposes around the waterfall of the same name on the territory of the Kondopozhsky district, almost in the center of the southern part of the republic. Here, among the hilly plains, rocks, and water, 2,000 hectares were allocated for the reserve.

There are three national parks in the Republic — "Vodlozersky", "Paanayarvi" and "Kalevalsky"
There are over 61,00 lakes in Karelia

Lake Onega is the second largest in Europe! In terms of the number of lakes — per 1,000 sq. km of area, Karelia ranks 1st not only among the regions of Russia, but also in the world.

Peter the Great

Osudareva Road, iron works and the first Russian resort — at the beginning of the XVIII century, Peter the Great thoroughly shook our northern region. The capital of Karelia, the city founded by Peter, still bears his name today.

Wooden architecture — old peasant houses, majestic in their simplicity churches, simple cozy chapels

And everything is made of wood. It was assembled by the hands of unknown masters many hundreds of years ago and still delights experts around the world.

Fortress - 700 km of the state border pass through the territory of Karelia

Our region has always been on the borderlands, and not only Russian, but also Swedish and Finnish, which means that fortresses were vital for its protection. About the shield that our land used to shield itself from enemies, and sometimes the whole country.

National Theatre of Karelia

Always had his own appearence. This was due to its specifics, its focus on its audience, the manner of existence on stage. The National Theatre of Karelia, the only professional theatre in the world where performances are in Finnish, Karelian, Veps and Russian.

Sailing regatta Onega Lake
The musical theater of Karelia is similar to the Parthenon

Architecture (frozen music) also influences the repertoire (revived music).

Nature of Karelia
PETRSU - the main University of Karelia
Smolensk Cathedral

Built on the site of the miraculous appearance of the icon of the Virgin, this temple in Olonets witnessed the heyday and decline of the fortress city, saw its famous fairs, served Lutherans during the occupation, and in the Soviet era worked as a cinema and museum. In the project "100 symbols of Karelia" we tell about the ancient Smolensk Cathedral, which not only remembers the history of the ancient Olonets region, but also knows its entire spiritual path.

Three centuries ago Petrozavodsk was born as a place where the glory of the Russian Empire was forged. Since then, dozens of rulers and several states have changed, and the plant that gave the city its name has not lost its significance.

Investment portal of the Republic of Karelia