To get to Petropavlovsk from central Russia, you will need to actually go around the hemisphere and travel in time (the difference with Moscow is nine hours).
It’s interesting that tourists often leave Kamchatka without really having time to get to know its main city, because you don’t expect architectural treasures, historical monuments and trendy cafes from Petropavlovsk. But the more it surprises with its culture, born at the intersection of harsh conditions and the hospitality of the local residents. Let’s figure out together what the capital of the peninsula can do and captivate.
How to get there
The fastest way to get to the Kamchatka Peninsula is by air. A direct flight from Moscow will take about eight hours.
Photo: Alexander Piragis/Shutterstock.com
You can get from the airport to the city by buses, minibuses, and also by taxi. Buses No. 102 and No. 104 run from the bus station, located within walking distance from the terminal.
Where to stay
Choose an inexpensive hostel with a modern interior or a cozy guest house overlooking Avacha Bay.
Here are some budget options:
Friends – from 900 rubles* per night per person;
“Three Skis” – from 1350 rubles* per night per person;
Granin House – from 4000 rubles* per night per person.
Day 1: walks around the city
You won’t have to chaotically navigate unfamiliar streets – a few attractions are conveniently located in the very heart of Petropavlovsk around Avachinskaya Bay.
The city theater, the government of the Kamchatka Territory, the Kamchatka Regional United Museum and an art gallery are concentrated in the center. This part of Petropavlovsk is especially loved for the pedestrian zone of the Ozernovskaya Spit and the observation deck of the Mishennaya Hill, located at an altitude of 382 m.
The Ozernovskaya Spit Square is a place where city life is in full swing. There are coffee shops, a bar, a cafe and even an ethno-village here. In addition, from here there is a magnificent view of Avacha Bay, Lake Kultuchnoye and three “home” volcanoes: Avachinsky, Koryaksky and Kozelsky.
Mishennaya Hill is a point from which you can see views of Khalaktyrskoe Lake, Avachinskaya Bay and the Pacific Ocean. They say that almost all postcard panoramas of the city were taken from this vantage point. The journey here will take about an hour and a half. So before going upstairs, be sure to charge your gadgets, and also stock up on a bottle of water and snacks.
The observation deck itself is located on the south-eastern side, not far from the TV towers. “Mishenka,” as the locals call the site, is landscaped with a staircase with a sign, a large gazebo and a crown-shaped ledge, from where you can observe the “home” volcanoes and the ocean.
There are small lookout points on the northwestern slope of the mountain. They offer a view of the industrial landscape of Petropavlovsk: new areas against the backdrop of the grandiose Avachinsky volcano. On the western side you will see Seroglazka and Mokhovaya bays, as well as the mouth of the Avachi River.
Walking around the city, you won’t see the usual catering places such as McDonald’s and KFC. In local establishments you should try pies with fern and Korean dishes made from fresh seafood.
Here are a few places where locals like to eat:
Eco Life— Here you will be offered dishes made from natural products. The menu includes chickpea cutlets, eggplant sandwiches, and fresh rolls. Be sure to try the unusual pies with lentils or ferns, as well as the sweet ones with cherries. Healthy street food spots are scattered throughout the city;
Tasty – here you can enjoy Korean cuisine. Local chefs assure that this place has the best “hemul-tan” (fresh seafood soup) in the city. Ingredients: halibut, shrimp, crab meat. They also offer various types of noodles, fish snacks, grilled meat. The cafe is located at the Galant Plaza food court on Pogranichnaya Street, building 2/2.
Day 2: going to the home volcano
The ascent to Avachinsky volcano with the return will take 10-11 hours, so it’s better not to plan anything other than the ascent on this day.
You can get to the Avachinsky volcano from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky by rented SUV. Between the Koryaksky and Avachinsky volcanoes, at an altitude of 900 meters, there is a base camp where there is parking for cars.
Budget option: take the bus to Yelizovo and get off at the “25th kilometer” stop. Then turn onto the dirt road along the Sukhaya River and practice hitchhiking. In the summer, a large flow of cars runs to the foot of the Koryaksky and Avachinsky volcanoes, so if you are traveling alone or together, it will not be difficult for you to catch a ride.
The altitude is 2741 meters above sea level. The path to the top begins from the base camp.
Most of the route runs along gentle paths; on the way you will encounter only one truly difficult section – climbing the volcano cone, as the path literally crumbles under your feet due to loose rock. The steepness of the slope in the last section reaches 40 degrees; usually there are ropes hung there, which are convenient to hold on to while climbing. In this case, no special equipment is required, except for trekking poles.
At the top you will see picturesque views of the ocean coast, the Nalychevo natural park, and the Koryaksky and Kozelsky volcanoes. You will see a giant plug of lava and pumice covering the Avachinsky crater with a rim, take space shots among fumarole activity and sulfur fields.
Day 3: cultural program
Now that you have visited Avachinsky, we suggest visiting the only volcano museum in Russia – “Vulcanarium” (34 Klyuchevskaya St.).
It’s completely interactive – launch fumaroles or touch lava, learn the history of the stone giants with the help of a convenient audio guide. The museum has three halls and 15 sections, each of which is dedicated to a separate topic of volcanology. Opening hours: daily, 10:00-20:00. Ticket price – from 600 rubles*.
Kamchatka Regional Art Museum (Leninskaya St., 62) – a collection of three thousand works of painting, graphics and sculpture is collected here. Both domestic and foreign works are exhibited. Familiarize yourself with the program in advance – the museum often hosts various events and there is a chance to attend a master class or creative evening. This is a great way to get to know the cultural side of the city. Opening hours: daily, from 10:00 to 18:00. Ticket price – from 100 rubles*.
A pleasant end to the evening will be a trip to a restaurant serving traditional cuisine:
Restaurant “Kamchatka” (Akademika Korolev St., 65) — a place where you can try a “real Kamchatka dish”. The restaurant serves shawarma with crab and herring, solyanka with sable fish and dumplings with bear meat. It’s better to come really hungry.
Cafe “Kambala” (Ozernovskaya Kosa st., 9) — here the chef will prepare halibut and salmon steaks for you, the usual Olivier salad will be with crab, and the most delicious pasta will, of course, be with seafood.
Day 4: picnic at Cape Mayachny
For photographs against the backdrop of ocean waves and emerald rock cliffs – welcome to Cape Mayachny.
In the first half of the 19th century, signal fires were lit at this place, which showed sailors the entrance to a safe bay, and in 1850 a lighthouse was built, which today has turned into top location for photo shoots. The black and white striped tower rises among vibrant hills of greenery and colorful wildflowers. And birds nest on the black steep cliffs, soaring above the valley. The view from Mayachny is not inferior in picturesqueness to Icelandic landscapes.
The cape is located not far from Petropavlovsk, the journey will take only a few hours. You can get there by rented car. Take with you sandwiches made from black bread with butter and sockeye salmon, as well as hot tea in a thermos. You will remember this picnic for a long time.
Day 5: shopping
What to bring from Kamchatka? At “Central” market and “Market on the sixth” you can stock up on caviar. Sellers will carefully pack the goods in vacuum bags and tell you where to buy the necessary products. hats, mugs, stickers with a Kamchatka theme.
V Alliance boardshop (56 Klyuchevskaya St.) and Quiksilver ( Pobeda Ave., 67/2, shopping center “Shamsa”) you can buy T-shirts, sweatshirts and hats “Take care of Kamchatka”. The creators encourage people to take care of nature and depict cute faces of Kamchatka animals on their clothes: sea lions, ringed seals, and eurasians. Items from local brands will be the best gifts that will remind you of an exciting trip to the peninsula for a long time.
*Prices valid at time of publication
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