A northern lake with islands
Cold water, rocky shores, islands and historic wooden architecture. One example is Lake Onega and Kizhi Island, which you reach by boat during the navigation season.
Lake Onega (in Russian)
Destinations
Destinations
Russia has plenty of large lakes, and trips to them can look very different. Lake Ladoga is the largest lake in Europe, Lake Onega is second only to it, and Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world; travelers also know Lake Teletskoye, Lake Seliger and Lake Pleshcheyevo. Still, it's easier to choose by the kind of trip you want than by name: islands and wooden architecture, mountains above the water, a town on the shore, long walks along the water's edge or a winter landscape. Below you'll find six kinds of lake trips and four questions that make the choice easier. We don't name prices, hotels or carriers.
You don't pick a lake off a map; you pick it by the mood of the trip. Once you know what you want, the right shoreline is easy to find.
How we chose these destinations: we included trips you can plan on your own, without buying a tour. Specific facts are given only for Lake Baikal and Lake Onega.
Kinds of lake trips
Six kinds of trips, from northern islands to a winter shoreline.
A deep mountain lake
Water ringed by mountain ridges, steep shores and crystal-clear depths. The prime example is Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world; Lake Teletskoye offers a similar kind of trip.
Lake Baikal (in Russian)
A lake by a historic town
When a town sits right on the shore, it's easy to combine your trip with museums, a waterfront promenade and walks through the streets. Petrozavodsk, for example, lies on the shore of Lake Onega.
A lake for hiking
Shoreline trails, capes and quiet bays where you can walk for half a day and barely see a soul. Choose a trail that matches your fitness and the wind forecast.
A winter lake
A field of ice stretching to the horizon, pressure ridges and a low winter sun. It's best admired from the shore; go out on the ice only where it's officially allowed.
A weekend lake close to home
A short getaway without a long journey: a couple of days by the water, a walk along the shore and a slow evening. It's good practice before a trip to the big water.
How to choose
Four questions worth asking yourself before the trip.
What do you want from the trip?
Quiet by the water, long walks, a look at wooden churches or a winter landscape? Your answer shapes the lake, the season and what goes in your backpack.
How many days do you have?
For a weekend, choose a lake closer to home and a single goal. A distant lake with islands needs at least several days, including a spare one.
How do you handle cold and wind?
It's chilly on the big water even in summer, and the wind makes it feel colder. If you get cold easily, plan more time on shore and less on the water.
What's open in your season?
Island museums and passenger boats run on seasonal schedules. Check them in advance so you don't arrive at a closed pier.
Read next
- Routes
Three routes built from types of places: a day on the shore, a weekend with an island, and a week by a big lake.
- Sights
Islands, cliffs with ancient rock art, capes, trails and waterfronts: what to see and what to watch for by the water.
- Lake Onega (in Russian)
Lake Onega: where it is, what it's known for, how to plan a trip and what to see on a first visit.
Sources
- Encyclopedic sources on Lake Baikal and Lake Onega
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: "Lake Baikal" property description
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: "Kizhi Pogost" property description
This guide covers lake trips in general terms. Boat schedules, visitor rules at museum-reserves and protected shorelines, ice conditions and weather on the water all change, so check them against official sources shortly before you go.