If You're NearbySpiritualMonasteriesIslands

Valaam

Karelia

An island monastery on Lake Ladoga, reached by summer boat from Sortavala or St. Petersburg, with chapels in the forest.

US travel advisory: Level 4, Do Not Travel · checked 2026-11-03
Photo: Alexxx1979 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Best Time to Go
Jun–Sep
Our full guide to Valaam is being written. It's on the St. Petersburg and the Northwest list as If You're Nearby.

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1–3 of 18
Must-See
Cities · UNESCO

St. Petersburg

Saint Petersburg
About 102 miles away

A canal-laced imperial capital, with the Hermitage.

Full Guide
Worth a Detour
Heritage · UNESCO

Kizhi

Karelia
About 147 miles away

A 22-domed wooden church, on a lake island.

Guide Coming Soon
Must-See
Cities · UNESCO

Moscow

About 456 miles away

Red Square, St. Basil's and the Kremlin.

Full Guide

The Full Short List

St. Petersburg and the Northwest

Imperial palaces, Kizhi and the Solovetsky Islands.

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