Main page > Tourism and Sport TOURISM AND SPORT
 The Leningrad Region has a developed network of culture institutions that include clubs, recreational centers, amateur art circles, general libraries, children's libraries, 27 museums, a large number of historical and cultural monuments, some of which are of global importance (the Staraya Ladoga reservation, the Ivangorod fortress ensemble on the Virgin mountain, ancient wooden buildings, palaces and parks in Gatchina, etc.), over 100 art schools, a culture college, six state theatres, and three municipal theatres.
The most precious natural resource of the Leningrad Region is an extensive system of rivers and lakes, which covers practically the entire region and links it both to other regions of Russia as well as to neighboring countries. There are about 80 species of fish in the river and lakes of the Leningrad Region, which provide unrivalled opportunities for fishing and water sports.
The region has unique landscapes, which are a combination of coniferous and deciduous forests, granite rocks and caves, underground water springs, dunes, and sand beaches.
The flora and fauna are rich and diverse. There are 60 species of mammals and 33 species of birds.
Our tourist industry is most active between June 7 and August 31, between February 1 and March 15, and between December 23 and January 9.
The Leningrad Region is rich in historical and cultural monuments. There are more than 3,900 of them in the region. Half of those are architectural monuments.
These include:
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700 archaeological monuments;
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100 art monuments;
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29 museums, five of which are federal;
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The ethnographic potential of the region is determined by the different nations living in it, which include Russians, Korels, Vepses, Izhors, and a number of others.
 Some of these groups have maintained their unique way for life over the centuries. People of the eastern parts of the region have kept alive folk crafts like woodcarving, knitting, lace-making, jewelry, glassware making, and many others.
Currently, there are about 200 tourism companies in the Leningrad Region and over 40,000 people are employed in serving the needs of our visitors.
Accommodations are avaialble for any budget. Some hotels, like the Vyborg hotel in Vyborg city, comply with the international standards. 60 percent of recreation institutions have their own catering facilities, and 49 percent have sports facilities. 73 percent of the accommodation places have hot water, showers, and telephones. In the height of the season, vacancy rates vary from 50 to 95 percent. The yearly average is 30 percent.
Currently, there are 22 restaurants and 615 cafes, pizzerias, bars, and wine bars in the Leningrad Region.
We welcome you to the Leningrad Region Tourism and Sport website and encourage you to come see for yourself the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the Region. On the following pages you will find information on travel, accommodations and our greatest attractions.
Further information can easily be obtained through any of the numerous tourist agencies listed on this site. The courteous, hospitable workers of our tourist industry are waiting to make your trip to the Leningrad Region an unforgettable experience. |
