Last year there was a mass pilgrimage to Pskov. For many, this ancient Russian city became a real discovery amid closed borders. Unfortunately, not everyone went further than the center of Pskov. And in vain: the charm of these places is concentrated in the region. We’ll tell you what to do on Pskov land.
How to get to Pskov
From Moscow. Flight prices to Pskov start from 2900 rubles* round trip. You’ll arrive in about an hour. There is also a convenient night train for 1300 rubles* one way, the journey takes 11.5 hours.
From St. Petersburg. The most convenient way to get there is by Lastochka. The one-way journey will take 3.5 hours, the ticket costs from 700 rubles*. It is better to plan your trip in advance: St. Petersburg residents like to spend weekends in the Pskov region, so places are not always available.
Day 1. Pskov
If you want to look around Pskov first before traveling to the region, read our city guide. Its main attractions are listed there. But repetition is the mother of learning, so let us remind you that in Pskov you should definitely admire the Mirozhsky Monastery, take a photo with the inscription “Russia begins here” and walk along the Pskov Krom (that’s what the local Kremlin is called). We also recommend visiting the new Builders Park on the embankment. Entertainment in the warm season – aquataxi along the Velikaya River. An hour-long walk at sunset will cost 1,300 rubles* per person. An option for a company is to rent the entire boat for 9,000 rubles*.
Photo: Yasni/shutterstock.com
If you can’t wait to go into nature, go to the Orekhovno estate, which is 20 kilometers from the city. The landscape park of designer Alexander Grivko is a portal to Europe. It combines elements of landscape gardening art from France, Italy and England. The garden is open from May 1st until the end of October, when everything is in bloom. Ticket costs 550 rubles*.
Where to eat in Pskov
Breakfasts and specialty coffee at “Coffee with Kikoin”, coffee and wine bar “Kaverin”, for sweets and coffee go to the “DKP” coffee shop.
Where to stay in Pskov
Here are some options for overnight stay:
Hostel “Rus” – from 500 rubles* per night per person;
Hotel Apart Hotel Family – 3500 rubles* per night per person;
Hotel Old Estate Hotel & SPA – 3700 rubles* per night per person.
Day 2. Pushkin Mountains
100 kilometers from Pskov there is Pushkin’s family nest, now a museum-reserve, open all year round. Allow at least one day (but more is better) to visit three estates: Mikhailovskoye, Trigorskoye and Petrovskoye.
The estates were burned down during the war, but then they were restored from photographs. The main building is the house of the poet’s nanny Arina Rodionovna. A tour of the estate is dedicated to the work of the classic and his daily life: how he had fun, what he ate. And in Mikhailovskoye there is an oak tree, familiar to us from Pushkin’s fairy tales. A kilometer from Mikhailovsky, on the banks of Soroti, rises the settlement of Savkino, or Savkina Gorka, a monument of Russian antiquity that served for defensive purposes.
Trigorskoye is the estate of Pushkin’s friends, the Osipov-Wulfs. People come here for beautiful views and walks in the park in the romantic style.
Petrovskoye Estate is the family estate of the poet’s ancestors, the Hannibals. In the same places you can visit the grave of the classic, which is located in the Svyatogorsk Holy Dormition Monastery.
In the Pushkin Mountains there is an opportunity to get acquainted with the work of another writer – Sergei Dovlatov. He worked here as a tour guide and described this time in his autobiographical story “The Reserve.” In the village of Berezino there is a house-museum of Dovlatov.
The estates are located quite far from each other, so it is better to come here by car or take a taxi. You need to pay for entrance to each estate separately. A full ticket with a tour to one estate will cost 300 rubles*. The Pushkinsky Reserve is a participant in the Pushkin Card program, under which young people from 14 to 22 years old can visit the place for free. You can take a tour of the estates from Pskov – a day with a guide will cost at least 5850 rubles*.
Where to eat
A few kilometers from the estates there is the Pushkin Park restaurant. They serve traditional Russian cuisine and fresh bread. There are also dishes like pizza or rolls.
Check out the “Korzinka” cafe at the “Arina R.” hotel. In the interior a la russe, breakfasts are served in a buffet format, local products are served.
Where to stay
On the outskirts of the village of Bugrovo there is the Arina R. Hotel. (from 2400 rubles* per night per person). Another budget option for those who don’t want to go anywhere is guest houses on the territory of the reserve.
A more luxurious option is the eco-hotel “Pskov Switzerland”. These are five chalets on the mountainside and a restaurant with panoramic views. It is located far from the reserve – in the village of Vashina Gora.
Day 3. Izborsk, Pechory and farm
30 kilometers from Pskov is Izborsk – a fortress city, visiting which you will be imbued with history and plunge into the Middle Ages. You can get to Izborsk, for example, by bus or taxi. Take a walk through the Truvorov settlement, Zheravya Mountain with a 14th-century fortress, visit the ancient St. Nicholas Church and collect holy water in the Slovenian Springs. Entrance to the territory of the reserve and to the fortress costs 100 rubles*.
Afterwards, stop by Pechory – a small town located 20 kilometers from Izborsk, on the border with Estonia. See temples, underground caves and admire nature.
To make your visit to these places truly memorable, it is better to take a full-day excursion: it covers visits to both cities. A similar tour costs from 4500 rubles*.
If you want to stay longer and be in nature, stay in a cozy cabin at Sky Ranch. Leisure ideas include lying in a hammock, renting a bike or a boat to explore the lake. There is also a sauna and a vat with hot water on site, which are so nice to warm up in during the cold season. One night costs from 5000 rubles*.
Entertainment for families with children – an ostrich farm 25 kilometers from Pskov. To look at black African ostriches, you need to pay 100 rubles*. You can also buy their eggs here.
On the same side there is the Malskaya Dolina natural landscape park. There you can rent a house in restored historical interiors with views of the hills. The place will be appreciated by lovers of active recreation. In the summer they go trekking, fishing, boating and SUP boarding, and in the winter – on snowboards and cheesecakes. You can also relax in the sauna. Children will love the ropes course.
*Prices valid at time of publication
