It is comfortable to swim in the Gulf of Finland one month a year: the water becomes warm in early July and cools down by mid-August. However, people come here not only to swim and sunbathe: local resorts will appeal to those who want to breathe in the healing sea air and admire the harsh northern nature.
Almost all beaches can be reached from St. Petersburg by train or bus. The journey will take from 1 to 3 hours, and the further from the city, the cleaner the water. But in order for your vacation to be enjoyable, it is important to choose a place that suits your interests. We talk about the most popular beaches in the Gulf of Finland.
Sestroretsk
This is one of the largest cities on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, known as a balneological resort. Due to the developed infrastructure and proximity to St. Petersburg (34 km by rail), the coasts in the Sestroretsk area are very popular among vacationers, even though swimming is not officially allowed here. There are many entertainment options on the well-maintained and crowded Dubkovsky beach. There are volleyball courts, children’s slides, sun umbrellas and a stage on the sand. In the nearby shady park you can go on rides, and in a specially designated area you can barbecue. There are also changing cabins and toilets on site. Visitors note the cleanliness of the coastal area and convenient parking.
Is it possible to swim: no.
What to see nearby: The Shalash Museum on Lake Sestroretsky Razliv, where V.I. Lenin hid in 1917.
How to get there: by train from Finland Station to Sestroretsk station. From there, walk along the Dubkovskoye Highway, through the Station Square, along Sovetsky Lane and Polevaya Street to the beach for about 20 minutes.
Where to stay:
- Mini-hotel “Timeout” (rating 7.9) – from 5,000 rubles per night.*
- Five-star hotel “Scandinavia” (score 10) – from 15,000 rubles per night.*
Sunny
Not far from Sestroretsk there is a small village called Solnechnoye, where the Laskovy beach is located. Its distinctive feature is avant-garde Soviet sculptures from the 1960s, placed directly on the sand. The most popular is the concrete photogenic group of seagulls.
The coastal area is equipped with everything you need, including places where you can wash the sand off your feet. Picnics are prohibited on site, but visitors can eat in restaurants and cafes nearby. There are also no problems with parking here.
In the summer, volleyball competitions are often held on the beach, and at other times, vacationers can play sports on numerous grounds. In the evening you can go to the bathhouse if you book a room at one of the country clubs in Solnechny.
Is it possible to swim: no.
What to see nearby: typical government dachas in the village of Solnechnoye.
How to get there: from St. Petersburg by bus No. 211E to the stop “Solnechnoye – Vokzalnaya Street”, then about 10 minutes walk along Primorskoe Highway and Dachnaya Street to the beach. You can also get by train from the Finlyandsky station to the Solnechnoye station, from there about half an hour on foot along Vokzalnaya and then along Dachnaya streets.
Where to stay:
- Five-star hotel “Harmony” (no rating) – from 12,000 rubles per night.*
- Five-star hotel “BOR 812” (rating 9.6) – from 20,000 rubles per night.*
Repino
Previously, this village bore the Finnish name Kuokkala, but in 1948 it was renamed Repino – in honor of the famous artist who lived and was buried here. At the end of the 19th century, a railway was built through this area, and wealthy St. Petersburg residents began to actively build up neighboring territories with dachas. Ilya Repin also purchased a plot of land on which he built the Penaty estate. The popularity of the village was so great that over time there were more summer residents here than the local population. Many unique buildings have not survived, and today Repino is better known for its sanatoriums and guest houses. This is one of the prestigious vacation spots, which is still chosen by representatives of the creative intelligentsia.
Chudny Beach, one of the most popular in the village, is suitable for those who prefer to wander along the shore in silence and solitude. There are no noisy entertainments here, but you can walk in the coniferous forest or rent sun loungers and breathe the cleanest coastal air.
Is it possible to swim: no.
What to see nearby: Museum-estate of I. E. Repin “Penates”.
How to get there: by train from the Finlyandsky station to the Repino station, from there on foot along Pryamoy Street through Repinsky Square, and then through Chudny Square to the beach. The journey will take about 20 minutes.
Where to stay:
- Four-star hotel ForRestMix (rating 8.9) – from 11,000 rubles per night.*
- Four-star Repino Cronwell Park Hotel (rating 9.9) – from 13,000 rubles per night.*
Komarovo
Even those who have never been to the coast of the Gulf of Finland know Komarovo beach. It was to these places that the hero of the famous song dreamed of going a week before the second one. In the Soviet Union, it was one of the most prestigious resorts, where academics and creative intelligentsia vacationed and received dachas. Houses made according to individual projects are preserved in the village today.
For many citizens, getting a ticket to a local sanatorium in the old days was not at all easy. And today everyone can relax on the sandy beach in Komarovo. The Primorskoye Highway runs close to the coast, so it’s crowded and noisy near the water. And although you won’t see the harsh, lichen-covered “Karelian” rocks here, the views of the sea are still particularly beautiful, which you can admire while sitting on benches.
Is it possible to swim: no.
What to see nearby: Komarovsky necropolis, where Anna Akhmatova and other famous people are buried.
How to get there: by train from Finland Station to Komarovo station. Then walk along Morskaya Street to the coast.
Where to stay: in the village of Komarovo itself there are not many comfortable accommodation options. Therefore, it is more convenient to book rooms in hotels in neighboring locations.
- Three-star hotel “Repinskaya” in Repino (rating 9.3) – from 8,000 rubles per night.*
- Four-star country club “Terijoki” in Zelenogorsk (rating 9.0) – from 10,000 rubles per night.*
Zelenogorsk
One of the cleanest beaches in the Resort district of St. Petersburg, “Golden” beach boasts clear water, which is why divers often choose it. The coastline in Zelenogorsk is very wide, and the beach area is equipped with showers. The main entertainment is still moved beyond the coastal area to the neighboring recreation park. For example, a tall Ferris wheel, from the cabins of which a charming view of the sea opens.
Is it possible to swim: yes.
What to see nearby: “Horsepower” museum of vintage cars.
How to get there: by train from the Finlyandsky station to the Zelenogorsk station, and from there along Lenin Avenue on foot (about 30 minutes) to the beach.
Where to stay:
- Three-star G9 Hotel (rating 9.9) – from 5,500 rubles per night.*
- Five-star hotel “First Line” (rating 9.8) – from 17,000 rubles per night.*
Smolyachkovo
This location is no longer in a busy place and is quite far from St. Petersburg. That’s why people come here to swim in clean water. Traditionally, the area around the village of Smolyachkovo is chosen for family holidays, largely because in Soviet times there were many children’s camps around. In addition, there is one of the most gentle entrances to the water on the entire coast and there is no mud. The beach area can be called “wild”: despite its cleanliness, there is no resort infrastructure here. Therefore, everything that may be useful, including water, food and beach umbrellas, must be taken with you.
Is it possible to swim: yes.
How to get there: by bus No. 211E along Primorskoe Highway to the stop “Lenina Avenue, 26” in Zelenogorsk. Next, transfer to bus No. 213 and get off at the stop “DOL “Lastochka””, from where another five minutes walk to the beach.
You can also take the train from the Finlyandsky station to the Zelenogorsk station and at the station change to bus No. 809P to the Lastochka DOL stop.
Where to stay: the village of “Smolyachkovo” is not a tourist one, so there are not many places to stay overnight. It will be more convenient to stay in the nearest city – Zelenogorsk or the village of Roshchino.
- Guest house “Houses by the Bay” in Zelenogorsk (rating 9.2) – from 7,000 rubles per night.*
- Four-star recreation center “Kingdom-Kingdom” (rating 9.3) – from 9,000 rubles per night.*
Pine Forest
The southern part of the Gulf of Finland, opposite the busy resort area, is less comfortable and not so popular among vacationers. The tourist infrastructure here has just begun to develop, but the coastal areas are sparsely populated, and prices for accommodation and entertainment are significantly lower.
Lipovo, one of the most popular places for relaxation and swimming in the area, is located near the town of Sosnovy Bor. The sand here is soft and golden, and the water is clear. There are places to change clothes on the beach, but that’s where the amenities end. The location will appeal to those who want to be alone with the sea or prefer to relax in tents that can be hidden from the wind behind the dunes.
Is it possible to swim: yes.
What to see nearby: themed children’s town “Andersengrad” in Sosnovy Bor.
How to get there: from St. Petersburg from the Avtovo metro station by bus No. 401 for about two hours on the way to the Lipovo stop near Sosnovy Bor, and from there it’s about another five minutes walk to the beach. You can also get there by car.
Where to stay:
- Recreation center “Commander” – from 5,500 rubles per night.*
- Three-star hotel “Recreation Territory Hevaa” (rating 8.2) – from 5,800 rubles per night.*
*Prices are current at the time of publication.
