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Food

People in Svetlogorsk love street food. It’s not scary to buy shawarma or a hot dog at some stall here - cases of poisoning are very rare. In summer, potatoes on a stick and boiled corn are especially popular.

The price tag does not skyrocket at the height of the season:

• potato “twist” - 100 rubles;
• boiled corn - 90-100 rubles;
• shawarma - 100-150 rubles;
• hot dog - 100 rubles;
• tea/coffee - 25-50 rub.

But ice cream on the beach can be two to three times higher than the cost of a similar one in the store.

There are many small cafes and pizzerias in Svetlogorsk. Those closer to the beach offer, for example, pork kebab for 300 rubles. for 200 grams and salad in the range of 150-300 rubles. Pizza is on average more expensive than in Kaliningrad. A 35 cm circle of thin dough will cost about 400-650 rubles.

You can also buy food in supermarkets such as Victoria and SPAR (and they are on every corner), and cook it yourself. At Victoria, don’t hesitate to ask the queue for discount cards - on average, you can “get rid” of 15-20% of the amount on the check.

Approximate cost of products:

• apples - 45-150 rubles/kg;
• cucumbers - 30-100 rubles/kg;
• tomatoes - 40-180 rub./kg;
• potatoes - 11-30 rubles/kg;
• bread - 50 rubles;
• milk - 45 rub.

The price tag varies depending on the season. August-September is the time when vegetables and fruits are very cheap. But farm products are always more expensive, but not always more environmentally friendly. For example, a dozen chicken eggs from a private farmstead can cost 100-150, or even 200 rubles. Eggs from poultry farms - 40-70 rubles. At the same time, the taste qualities do not differ.

Beer lovers will discover a lot of new things: in the shops there are cans of drinks of Polish, Lithuanian, Czech, and German production.

Beach

There is no beach in Svetlogorsk. Even before the end of 2021, there was a narrow strip of sand along the promenade, but now it is gone. Over the course of several years, the sand has been washed away, so instead of a large beach there are now small areas of sand, periodically flooded by the tides, and large boulders.

Currently, a lot of work is being done in Svetlogorsk to restore the beach, but not everyone will be able to relax under the sun yet.

It is best to drive a little further from Svetlogorsk - to Otradny or Donskoy. The coastline there is perfectly preserved, as it is not subject to strong storms. There is sand everywhere and practically no stones in the water. There are also no breakwaters, swimming next to which is unpleasant and simply dangerous.

However, the surrounding beaches are not suitable for families with small children. They are not equipped, there are no lifeguards, toilets, showers - nothing. In Donskoy, the beach is located at a distance from the village: to get to it, you need to go through the forest and then go down a fairly high staircase to the sea. Therefore, you should take care in advance of purchasing provisions, water and various beach accessories. However, if you want miles of wide, sandy, deserted beach, it's worth it.

If minimal comfort is important, you will have to get to Yantarny. This is practically the only beach in the coastal part of the region, which is equipped according to international standards, with clean water and sand. This coast has Blue Flag status, which is very prestigious. Another one in Russia is located in Crimea.

On hot summer days, when the water temperature reaches +25, the sea is covered with green algae, which causes allergies. This doesn't happen every year, but it's worth keeping in mind. Also, once every two or three years, hordes of dead cockchafers are washed ashore by the sea. It’s not very pleasant, especially when the insects begin to rot—it’s impossible to get within a few meters of the sea because of the pungent smell. Most often, this happens to the beaches of Zelenogradsk and the Curonian Spit, but it can also happen to Svetlogorsk.

Martovsky Svetlogorsk: the wind knocks you down, the sun blinds

I suspected that Svetlogorsk would not be pleased with the weather, but so much so... What bothered me the most were the icy, piercing winds. They literally chilled me to the bone, got under my skin, and swept me off my feet. Especially while walking along the embankment. Arctic air blew from the sea, my hands went numb in just five seconds. A couple of weeks before my arrival, a storm destroyed the embankment, the waves reached 11 meters.

Without coffee, mulled wine, or cocoa, only desperate daredevils walked. Take warm clothes with you:

• winter jacket;
• hat, gloves;
• warm scarves.

Leave fur coats, sheepskin coats, and suede shoes at home. At the beginning of spring there will be rains that will soak everything through. You can buy a raincoat, there are showers here. Snow and hail are frequent visitors. The nights are icy and sub-zero temperatures are normal. During the day the sun warms up at least a little, sometimes plus 5–10 degrees. Moving away from the sea, it’s warm and pleasant to walk around the city.

There are no special holidays, only March 8 is celebrated and Maslenitsa. On International Women's Day there are no special celebrations, the maximum is a concert at the Yantar Hall and corporate parties at work. The townspeople love Maslenitsa and celebrate it for a whole week. Lots of pancakes (necessarily stuffed with caviar), folk festivals, contests, competitions, dances, songs, ditties. In the evening, they traditionally burn a huge effigy.

Sometimes at the end of March Fr. There is no exact date, it depends more on when the small tasty fish will appear in the Baltic Sea. This year the celebration took place in early April; in the past, the festival took place from March 24 to 25 (entered the top 3 best gastronomic festivals in Russia).

Accommodation

Svetlogorsk is a popular tourist city. There are a large number of hotels and guest houses in and around it. In addition, you can always rent an apartment or room from the owner. During the high season, prices can be unreasonably high, especially among private owners.

Below are accommodation options selected based on tourist reviews.

Art Hotel "Lumiere"

This hotel has the highest rating, according to booking.com, among all accommodation options in Svetlogorsk. Interestingly, the rooms here are divided into signature and standard double rooms:

• “Wild Orchid” – 40 sq. m, from 5700 rub.;
• “Vanilla Sky” - 27 sq. m, from 4000 rub.;
• “Raindrops” – 22 sq. m, from 4000 rub.;
• “Little Red Riding Hood” - 22 sq. m, from 4000 rub.;
• “Gone with the Wind” - 27 sq. m, from 3200 rub.;
• Double standard – 17-25 sq. m, from 2800 rub.;
• Twin standard – 24 sq. m, from 3000 rub.

The designer rooms have a non-hotel layout and decoration; some of them are located on the attic floor.

All rooms have a minibar and necessary bath amenities.

The hotel offers transfer services (1100-1200 rubles), scooter rental, luggage storage, as well as excursions:

• in Svetlogorsk - from 200 rubles;
• in surrounding cities and the Curonian Spit - 1000-1500 rubles;
• in the nearest cities of Poland - 15,000 rubles (1 day, 5 people, with a Schengen visa).

According to visitor reviews:

Royal Folk Resort

This hotel is also highly rated. It positions itself as a place for those who love comfort. The rooms are not the cheapest, the cost also depends on the included breakfast:

• Classic Room – 6280-7200 rub.;
• Studio – 7200/8200 rub.;
• Family room - 9000 rubles;
• luxury rooms - from 11,800 to 35,000 rubles.

The price of all rooms includes access to the swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, winter garden without restrictions. Additional services include:

• cot for a child under 3 years old - free of charge;
• bed for a child 3-12 years old - 1200 rubles;
• additional place - 1700 rub.;
• lunch and dinner in the hotel restaurant - 870 rubles each;
• billiards - 400 rub./hour.

The pool and spa can be used not only by hotel guests, although such people are few. During the winter months, the hotel may have promotions on accommodations. For example, from January 9 to March 1, 2021 there is a 30% discount on all rooms.

According to visitor reviews:

Hostel "Etazh"

The hostel is one of the few hotels of this type in the Kaliningrad region. The inside is reminiscent of a good dormitory at some European university. The rooms are divided into women's, men's and common rooms. The beds are arranged in tiers, but there are rooms of increased comfort with familiar sleeping places.

The hostel is positioned as a place for a group of travelers. The website warns that it is not suitable for children under 12 years of age. There is no point in trying to prove otherwise - mostly young couples and groups of friends stay at the hostel. There is no entertainment for children.

You are not allowed to consume food in the rooms or on the beds - there is an equipped kitchen for this purpose where you can cook and dine. There is a common living room with books, board games and a games console. You can use all this freely, but you will have to negotiate with other guests.

Rooms include:

• VIP room - 18 sq.m. m, separate entrance, kitchenette with everything you need, separate bathroom - 1500-1600 rubles/night;
• “Red Room” – 15 sq.m. m, separate sink - 1200/1300 rub./night;
• rooms for several people – 550-650 rubles/bed.

Separately from the hostel, on the shore of the city Lake Tikhoe, there is a two-room apartment of 60 sq. m. m. Located at Kaliningradsky Prospekt, 71A. A fully equipped apartment with everything you need in a convenient location: 5 minutes to the station, 10 minutes walk to the pop theater. Cost - 1500/1600 rubles.

According to visitor reviews:

Hotels

There are more hotels with direct sea views in Zelenogradsk. The resort part of Svetlogorsk is located on a hill in the forest. There are almost no hotels directly on the first line of the sea.

Here are the best hotels in Zelenogradsk and Svetlogorsk:

Zelenogradsk Spa Hotel

A wide range of spa services: various types of massages, steaming in the sauna complex, exclusive cosmetology programs, manicure and pedicure treatments. The combination of sea air, unique nature and relaxing treatments will give true pleasure to even the most sophisticated guests.

Hotel page and reviews on Booking.com

Madame L&SPA

Boutique hotel in the center of Svetlogorsk. Exquisite designer interior, exclusive level of service. Own restaurant of local Baltic cuisine with a unique menu from the famous chef Rustam Tangirov. Quiet area where you can walk and enjoy the fresh sea air.

Hotel page and reviews on Booking.com

Boutique Hotel 12

Modern designer hotel in Zelenogradsk. A warm welcome, excellent service, comfortable rooms and a wide range of opportunities for work and leisure.

Author's European cuisine from the chef.

Located on a quiet beautiful street 5 minutes from the sea.

Hotel page and reviews on Booking.com

Poisonings and rotaviruses

Even during the peak summer season, epidemics of intestinal diseases do not occur. Most likely, this is due to the fact that in Svetlogorsk they are attentive to receiving guests and try to please. You don’t even have to worry about street food.

Therefore, if such a nuisance occurred, this is a special case.

General Tips

When planning a trip to Svetlogorsk, of course, you want to be savvy in many matters. As a result of this article I can say:

• be polite with the locals - they are kind as the munchkins from the fairy tale about the wizard of the Emerald City, but sometimes they violate personal boundaries with their advice;
• do not drive on roads - in Svetlogorsk, as in other cities in the region, this is not accepted;
• follow the dress code - do not wear beach clothes around the city: even though this is a resort, people live here permanently, so you should not violate moral standards;
• You shouldn’t expect the services of the Black Sea resorts from Svetlogorsk - event tourism is mainly developing here;
• if you are staying in Kaliningrad, then it is better to travel to Svetlogorsk by train - it is faster and cheaper;
• take the time to take a leisurely walk around the city and look at the houses and streets - there’s no shame in making cute postcards from beautiful photographs;
• be sure to try the local fish (smoked Baltic eel) and find amber right on the shore;
• amber products are more expensive on a busy main street;
• to distinguish fake amber from real amber, it is enough to look through the stone at the sun: the genuine one will softly transmit light, and the artificial one will sparkle absurdly;
• Bring light jackets and raincoats with you - the weather can change every hour.

Advantages and disadvantages

Despite the fact that Svetlogorsk looks like a gingerbread town, it has not only advantages, but also disadvantages. Let's list the main ones.

Pros:

1. Very beautiful architecture, many preserved houses that are one hundred years old or older.
2. Close to other cities in the region.
3. You can book an excursion to Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Latvia.
4. You can try products that are not typical for “big Russia”.
5. Clean pine and sea air.
6. Wide sandy beaches in the surrounding area.
7. There are many shops with interesting souvenirs.

Minuses:

1. There are modern abandoned construction sites in the city.
2. The non-historical part of the city is not very attractive.
3. Destroyed beach.

If you have not yet chosen where you will live and want to save money when booking, we recommend using the RoomGuru service. Firstly, it contains hotels, apartments and guest houses from many different booking systems, so you won’t miss out on a worthwhile option. Secondly, you can immediately compare prices for one place in different services and book where it is cheaper (this is not always Booking!).

Road

I’ve been nurturing the idea of ​​going to Svetlogorsk for New Year for a couple of years now. I have been there since my childhood; I spent all my time relaxing at the Stroitel boarding house in the village of Otradnoye. The last time I was there was in the summer of 2000. Tickets were bought at the end of November - they were sold out like hot cakes to all destinations. The prices on those days when we were going were the most unfavorable - New Year's. So the question of flying on an airplane disappeared by itself. In connection with the issuance of a Lithuanian transit visa, a foreign passport was required and I had to come for tickets the next day - they were issued within 24 hours. There was no longer a compartment there either; we had to take a reserved seat. And back the cashier offered to go to the “conductor’s compartment”, as if the conditions there were worse than in the usual one. In fact, it turned out that we got the SV for the price of a coupe. Conductor compartment No. 1, seats 37.38 (followed by the second with seats 1.2... ;)). The places there are arranged vertically, and opposite there is plenty of space and hooks to hang clothes (this is important in winter). Since the return trip fell on Christmas, this was very opportune. We met him while driving through Lithuania in a cozy atmosphere, at a table set with candles

But this is on the way back. And we went there in a reserved seat carriage. The neighbors were good, the people in the carriage were decent, the carriage itself was modern and clean (we were traveling on a). Just got to the customs office. I managed to sleep very little. First they brought the questionnaires. Then ready-made visas on beautiful forms. Then the borders one after another. Who needs this and why? There doesn’t seem to be any money from this, but the forms alone are worth it. And the main thing is not only to get off, but to go out onto the platform in Vilnius.

Kaliningrad greeted us with spring sunny weather. The train to Svetlogorsk-II departed from a nearby track in 15 minutes. An attempt to buy tickets for it did not lead to anything - I was not immediately able to find ticket offices for commuter trains. They said that they were somewhere in another building, where the bus station was, but no one knew where exactly. The policemen on duty on the platform said that tickets could be bought on the way, so we went in such a way that we did not regret it - the trip turned out to be free ;).

Outside the window it was spring - trees covered with greenish ripples, green fields with fresh grass and bright sun. The feeling of the unreality of what was happening did not leave the entire trip. And in Svetlogorsk you got the feeling that you were in a fairy tale and living in a dream. A dream from childhood about Santa Claus, a small fairy-tale town mixed with a lack of understanding of what time of year it is: New Year's days or the rainy summer from the same childhood...

Excursions

There are no numerous stalls and tourist tents in Svetlogorsk even in high season. Everything there is organized down to one tourist information center.

On the center's website you can find any information that will help you organize a vacation in Svetlogorsk. It also lists reliable tour operators offering excursions around the region.

"Angels Tour"

The tour operator organizes excursions throughout the region. They are relatively inexpensive:

• Curonian Spit National Park - 1300 rubles;
• excursion to the amber factory - 900 rubles;
• in Svetlogorsk - 200 rubles;
• Baltiysk - 1000 rubles;
• east of the region (Sovetsk and Slavsk) - 1500 rubles.

"Planet"

Here they organize not only tours around the region, but also around Europe - usually to Lithuania and Poland. You can suddenly book such a tour if you have an open Schengen visa.

• Klaipeda - Liepaja - from 6,000 rubles;
• Malbork - Gdansk - from 4500 rubles;
• Riga - Jurmala - from 10,800 rubles;
• Berlin - Potsdam - from 16,750 rubles.

How to get to Svetlogorsk

Tours to Svetlogorsk HERE.

Svetlogorsk is connected to Kaliningrad by railway. Travel time is about an hour. There are two railway stations in Svetlogorsk - Svetlogorsk 1 and Svetlogorsk-2. Both regular electric trains and high-speed Lastochka trains run. The swallows at Svetlogorsk 1 station do not stop.

See the train schedule HERE. Svetlogorsk is also connected by bus to Kaliningrad, Zelenogradsk, Baltiysk and Yantarny. Bus schedule HERE.

How to get to Kaliningrad, read the article Kaliningrad - how to get there, where to stay, what to see, where to eat and other tips.

Leisure for adults

The main activity for adults is walking and more walking. Around the city, along the promenade, along Lake Tikhoe, along the surrounding villages and beaches. Svetlogorsk itself encourages you to simply wander along the cobbled streets, looking at old German houses, as if in a museum.

Before arriving in Svetlogorsk, you can study the pop theater’s poster and choose a concert for yourself on a suitable date. You can also visit the following places:

House-Museum of Hermann Brachert

Address: pos. Otradnoye, st. Tokareva, 7Phone: 8 (40153) 2-11-66 Opening hours: September-May: 10.00-17.00; June-August: 10.00-19.00 Cost: adult - 80 rubles, schoolchildren, students - 50 rubles.

When the village of Otradnoye was still Georgenswald, in 1931 the architect Hans Hopp built a house here for the Brachert couple. They lived within its walls until 1944. Hermann Brachert was a world-famous sculptor.

Two of his original works still stand in Svetlogorsk: “Nymph” (on the promenade) and “Carrying Water” (in the larch park).

His wife, Maria, was born in St. Petersburg. She was also a creative person - a photographer. Thanks to her work, evidence of life in East Prussia at the beginning of the twentieth century has been preserved.

Water tower

Address: st. Oktyabrskaya, 11

If you type “Svetlogorsk pictures” into a search engine, then most of the images will be of this tower. This is the most recognizable symbol of the city.

At the beginning of the 20th century, it was a marine hydropathic clinic and the main architectural element of Rauschen (as Svetlogorsk was previously called). This tower was used to pump water directly from the sea to fill health baths.

Just a few years ago, the upper part of the building was an observation deck. Now it is closed to the public. But the tower is still the main attraction of Svetlogorsk.

Organ Hall

The Svetlogorsk organ hall is not the only one in the region, but it is very attractive. It is located in the former Catholic chapel "Mary, Star of the Sea", built in 1931.

It is interesting that, despite the current state of the church, the residents of Rauschen could come to services only when a priest from Konigsberg arrived.

In 1995, the building was restored and the Hugo Mayer organ was brought here. Good acoustics allow the instrument to sound full and beautiful.

Concerts take place 2-3 times a week at the same time - 16.00. Most often they play Bach, as well as Vivaldi, Chopin, Brahms, Saint-Saëns and other classics.

In addition, festivals and fairs are held annually in Svetlogorsk:

• winter drinks festival - January 1-10;
• film festival “Baltic Debuts” - July 21-26;
• youth "Baltic Artek" - July-August;
• Smelt Day - March 20th;
• gastronomic exhibition “Big Fish” - end of April;
• literary festival “Russian Hoffmann” - mid-May;
• summer fair - June-August.

Where to eat in Svetlogorsk

The Fisherman's House is considered the best restaurant in Svetlogorsk. It is located on the embankment near the lower cable car station. Here you can taste freshly caught fish dishes. The prices are quite high. In the Yantar Hall building there is a cafe “White Whale”, it serves Italian cuisine. Positions itself as a children's cafe. Also pay attention to the coffee shop of the “Royal Baker” chain. Located in the city center at st. Lenina, 20.

I wrote about this chain in more detail in the article Kaliningrad - how to get there, where to stay, what to see, where to eat and other tips.

Author's advice

Anna

If you want to have an inexpensive and tasty lunch in Svetlogorsk, I recommend the dining room of the Rauschen Hotel. Address: Lenina, 48a, located near the railway station. The cost of lunch is only 350 rubles, includes first, main, lard and a drink. Delicious, large portions, friendly service.

More about the Rauschen dining room

In the evening, the atmosphere in Svetlogorsk is reminiscent of the resorts of the Krasnodar region - numerous cafes with summer terraces, from where live music can be heard.

Children

Svetlogorsk is rather an “adult” resort. But you can come here with your children for treatment at a sanatorium. There are few cars and no production in the city, so there is clean pine and sea air. Even walking around Svetlogorsk will have a positive effect on your health.

Svetlogorsk is not suitable for entertaining children, but for health improvement or permanent residence it is quite suitable.

The coastal part of the Kaliningrad region has always been more recreational than entertainment. But every year interesting places appear here.

Amber Period Park

Address: pos. Otradnoye, Kaliningradsky Prospekt, 74 Opening hours: 10:00-18:00 Admission: free (entertainment programs are paid separately)

The park is not even a year old, but it is rarely empty. Here you can climb rope courses, go tubing, and celebrate a birthday. For all major holidays, the park comes up with themed programs. Among these:

• Defender of the Fatherland Day;
• International Women's Day;
• Maslenitsa;
• New Year, etc.

The cost of group entertainment is from 350 to 2500 rubles.

There is also a shooting school in the park - children are taught how to use a bow and arrow. One lesson lasts 45 minutes and costs 450 rubles. Subscription for 6 classes - 1200 rubles. Upon completion of the course, everyone is given a “Robin Hood Certificate”.

Variety Theater "Yantar Hall"

The main venue in the Kaliningrad region for major cultural events. For very young children, only New Year's celebrations are suitable. Usually these are interactive performances with life-size puppets in the form of popular cartoon characters.

Teenagers will be interested in performances by contemporary performers. Every year, the pop theater gives more than ten concerts by famous youth singers. The cost of events starts from 250 rubles. The price depends on the level of the concert. For example, a performance can cost 250-400 rubles, a ballet by Igor Moiseev - from 800 rubles, a concert by Natalia Oreiro - from 2500 rubles.

In the summer, the Variety Theater traditionally hosts “Voting Kivin.” Ticket sales open a couple of months in advance.

Mouse Museum "Mousetrap"

Address: Old Square (Central Square)

The most elusive museum, if not in the whole country, then certainly in the Kaliningrad region. You really have to look for him: he constantly changes his address, and in 2021 he was on tour in Europe. If you are lucky enough to catch the “museum mice”, then this will be a great place to entertain children.

There are about 2 thousand exhibits depicting mice, as well as some rats and cats. Depending on the location of the museum, children are shown the Tom and Jerry cartoon. Here you can also buy mouse-shaped chocolates and drink tea.

Creative master classes and interesting lectures are organized for older children. Those who managed to visit this unusual museum note a special spiritual atmosphere.

Cable car

Where is it located: next to the Svetlogorsk-2 station Cost: 45-50 rubles one way The length of the cable car is very short - 150 meters. This is one of the easiest and most comfortable ways to go down to the beach and then up from it. Since the main descents - a rather steep asphalt slide and a wide, long staircase - are not equipped with ramps and require good physical training.

The funiculars go down and up slowly, giving visitors the opportunity to look around and take photos. Children especially enjoy this adventure. It is better to hold very young children in your arms for their own safety.

Weather

The climate in Svetlogorsk is determined by the Baltic Sea. There are no frosty winters here, but hot summers are also rare. The average temperature in summer can barely exceed 22-25 degrees. Information about average monthly temperature indicators on the Internet varies. This material presents the one that, in the author’s opinion, is closest to reality.

However, May is usually sunnier and drier than June. The first month of summer is traditionally the rainy season. January is a time of storms. It is in the first days of the year that there are constant strong storms in the Baltic Sea, destroying promenades and shore protection structures. It was the elements and human inaction that caused the fact that there is no beach line left in Svetlogorsk itself - the water comes straight to the concrete fortifications of the embankment.

You can swim in July-August. The water warms up well to 20 degrees. Sometimes there is an abnormally warm autumn - when the water and air temperature is about 19 degrees even in October - at this time there are also a lot of people at sea.

It is impossible to predict the weather during the day. It may be gray and drizzly in the morning, but after a couple of hours there is not a cloud in the sky. As Kaliningraders say, if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes. Therefore, residents of the area, especially those who live closest to the sea, have a habit of turning to hourly weather forecast applications.