Day Trips From St Petersburg: Vyborg

A port situated on the Gulf of Finland, Vyborg has seen many years of turbulent history passing from the hands of one country to another. The city is the ideal place to experience a city like no other in Russia – an eclectic mix of cultures that has also preserved its unique identity.

About Vyborg

The first mentions of a settlement in Vyborg date back to the 13th century. After a war between the Russian republic of Novgorod and Sweden, it was decided that this land would belong to the latter. Due to its strategic location on the Gulf of Finland, Vyborg was a trading centre and remains a port to this day. The city was captured by the Russians in the 18th century during the rule of Peter the Great. Vyborg changed hands yet again once it became incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Finland, then also ruled by Russia. During the Russian Revolution, Finland declared independence and attempted to take Vyborg with it, yet unsuccessfully. In 1941, Vyborg was once again caught in the crossfire and captured by Finland, remaining in its hands until the end of the war. Since 1945, Vyborg has remained a part of Russia.

Your visit

Getting there

Vyborg is not particularly close to St Petersburg. Although there are bus and minivans that complete the route to Vyborg, it’s more convenient to travel by train. Trains to Vyborg are fairly frequent and leave every day from the Finlyandskiy railway station. Some trains do make a lot of stops along the way, so the best bet is to take the express train called Lastochka that takes one hour and a half. The ticket should cost 330 roubles (£4) each way. Alternatively, driving to Vyborg can be an option. The roads leading towards Finland have been recently renovated and should make for a smooth drive. Be aware that there will be commuter traffic coming into the city in the morning and going back in the evening. Weekends also tend to be quite busy going towards the Gulf, as it is a popular weekend destination – so plan accordingly.

Vyborg, Russia

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.