Svetlogorsk

Svetlogorsk (Russian: Светлого́рск svyeet-lah-GOHRSK, German: Rauschen) is a city in Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast. It was a seaside resort during the Soviet era. It has a beachfront promenade which is usually very busy in the summertime.

Get in

By train

Less than 10 trains per day run in each direction between Svetlogorsk and Kaliningrad. They depart from Kaliningrad Passajirsk and call at Kaliningrad Severnyi next to Victory Square. There's an especially large gap in the morning to reach Svetlogorsk, as there is a train at 07:42 and then only at 13:00. See the website of the Russian Railways for the most up-to-date info.

There are two stations: 1 Svetlogorsk 1 and 2 Svetlogorsk 2. The latter is the closest to the city centre and is the final stop.

By bus

Bus 118 goes between Kaliningrad bus station and Svetlogorsk every 20 minutes. Search this timetable for either "118" or "СВЕТЛОГОРСК" for the exact times. The bus arrives/departs from Svetlogorsk at a 3 bus stop near Svetlogorsk 2 rail station. There's also an electronic board showing next departure times.

This bus rides along Sovetskiy Prospekt next to the Kaliningrad Severnyi station and Victory Square in case you don't want to get on/off at the main bus station.

A ticket from Svetlogorsk 2 to Kaliningrad bus station is 110 руб and can also be paid by card.

Get around

Svetlogorsk is quite small, so everything is easily reachable by walk.

Do

1 Beach promenade (Променад) (Walk around 200m east from Svetlogorsk 2 station, then take the street on the left that goes downhill). (updated Jan 2020)

2 Kinoland Mario (Киноленд). A cinema to practise your Russian, as most movies will be either Russian-spoken or dubbed (updated Jan 2020)

Buy

Svetlogorsk is well worth a visit during the summer for the opportunity to buy amber. The streets and promenade are lined with tables covered with amber jewellery and knickknacks, with prices starting at approximately €1 for an amber necklace.

Eat

There are many food and drink stalls along the promenade, but most will be closed during winter except for the Grand Palace hotel. There are still plenty of options in the centre though.

• 1 Дом рыбака (Dom Ribaka; Fisherman's House), Береговой пер., 1, ☏ +7 909 790 9222. One of the best places in the Kaliningrad district to try specialities and traditional fish dishes of the Baltic region. Special recommendation is to occupy a table with a gorgeous sea view. (updated Mar 2022)

Sleep

By Russian standards there are many hotels and pensions in town.