What to see in Kaliningrad? Museums, fortifications, parks, popular tourist spots

Kaliningrad is the westernmost point of the Russian Federation. Until July 4, 1946 the city was called Königsberg (German: Königsberg), earlier known as Królewiec (Polish), Karaliaučius (Lithuanian), Královec (Czech); until 1255 – Twangste (Prussian: Twangste, Tuwangste, Twānksta; Lithuanian: Tvanksta). Until the end of the Great Patriotic War the city was the capital of the German province of East Prussia, then it was transferred to the USSR by the decision of the 1945 Potsdam Conference along with the northern part of the province. The Baltic Fleet headquarters of the Russian Navy is located in Kaliningrad. Museums, theaters, old fortresses and kirches that preserve the spirit of East Prussia make the city a must-visit. We have compiled a list of attractions of the most European city of Russia.

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES

Branch of the Tretyakov Gallery in Kaliningrad

Branch of the Tretyakov Gallery in Kaliningrad. Photo: kaliningrad.tretyakovgallery.ru

The building of the Tretyakov Gallery branch is part of a cultural and educational complex on Oktyabrsky Island in Kaliningrad. The museum exhibits the best examples of Russian art, and the main goal of the gallery is to acquaint residents of the westernmost region and tourists with Russia's cultural and ethnographic heritage.

Museum of the World Ocean (Main Building of the Museum of the World Ocean)

Museum of the World Ocean (Main Building of the Museum of the World Ocean). Photo: culture.ru

One of the largest and most interactive maritime museums in Russia. It includes several unique objects: the historic fleet embankment with legendary vessels (the research vessel 'Vityaz', submarine B-413, the space communications ship 'Kosmonavt Viktor Patsayev'), the main building with huge aquariums, a sperm whale skeleton and interactive exhibitions, as well as numerous thematic displays.

Exhibition and educational center 'Planet Ocean' (Museum of the World Ocean)

Museum of the World Ocean (Main Building of the Museum of the World Ocean). Photo: official VKontakte group of the museum

'Planet Ocean' is the exhibition and educational center of the Museum of the World Ocean in Kaliningrad, which opened to visitors on August 18, 2025. The building is shaped like a giant sphere wrapped by a huge ocean wave. The museum's exhibition includes aquariums with a total volume of almost 1.5 million liters, a planetarium, an observatory, a library, installations, social spaces, classrooms and laboratories. Newly acquired collections of hydrobionts (living aquatic organisms) have been specially purchased.

Naval Center (Museum of the World Ocean)

Naval Center (Museum of the World Ocean). Photo: cdn.worldota.net

The complex includes: submarine B-413, the Beriev BE-12 seaplane, the AS-22 rescue craft, and an outdoor exhibition of naval equipment.

Exhibition Center Packhaus (Museum of the World Ocean)

Exhibition Center Packhaus (Museum of the World Ocean). Photo: visit-kaliningrad.ru

The exhibition center displays an archaeological find '19th-century ship' – the hull of a wooden single-masted sailing vessel discovered in the 'Primorsky' quarry. After restoration, fragments of the ship were assembled and presented in the museum hall; they illustrate the history of regional shipbuilding and navigation. Other items in the exhibition – maps, historical photographs, documents, and pieces of ship rigging – tell the story of maritime Königsberg–Kaliningrad, the construction of the first ports, modernization of port complexes and shipyards, shipping and fishing on rivers, canals, bays and the Baltic Sea.

Whaler's House

Visitors to the museum take a journey through time and feel the spirit of the young Soviet city. The museum recreates the interior of a typical communal apartment from the 1960s–80s where a seaman's family lived. The tour is presented in an unusual audio-play format. It is based on artistically reworked memories of Kaliningrad residents collected during the project 'People's Archive of Kaliningrad. Everyday Life of the 60s–80s.' The true heart of the museum is not so much the exhibits donated by locals, but a kind of chronicle of 'collective memory' built on living testimonies of the region's residents about the recent past. The museum has twice won grants from the Vladimir Potanin Charitable Foundation ('Museum Landing', 2016 and 'Technologies and Tools', 2018).

Amber Museum

Amber Museum. Photo: Kemal Kozbaev.

Located in the historic 'Dona' fortress tower, this museum is a true calling card of Kaliningrad, since the region is a world leader in amber reserves. It presents the history of the 'sun stone' from its formation to processing, displays unique amber specimens, inclusions (amber with trapped insects), and artistic amber items.

Kaliningrad Regional Historical and Art Museum

Kaliningrad Regional Historical and Art Museum. Photo: koihm.ru

This is the main historical museum of the region, covering a broad period from prehistoric times in East Prussia to the modern Kaliningrad Region. The museum is housed in a former Königsberg villa and offers exhibitions devoted to archaeology, the region's natural environment, the history of Königsberg, World Wars I and II, and the postwar period.

Kaliningrad Regional Museum of Fine Arts (formerly Kaliningrad Art Gallery)

Kaliningrad Regional Museum of Fine Arts (formerly Kaliningrad Art Gallery). Photo: kaliningradartmuseum.ru

This is the region's largest and oldest art institution, often simply called the 'Art Gallery.' It holds an extensive collection of artworks – from Russian art of the 18th–20th centuries and art of East Prussia to contemporary Kaliningrad art. The museum regularly hosts major exhibitions from federal museum collections and shows by local artists.

'Bunker' Museum

A branch of the Kaliningrad Regional Historical and Art Museum. It is located in an actual German bomb shelter that served as the headquarters of the German command during the storming of Königsberg in April 1945. The exhibition is dedicated to the assault on the fortress-city of Königsberg and the history of the signing of the act of capitulation. This atmospheric place lets visitors feel the drama of those events.

Cathedral and the Immanuel Kant Museum (the museum is located in the tower part of the Cathedral)

The Cathedral is an architectural and cultural symbol of the city; Immanuel Kant's tomb is located on its grounds, and a small but substantive Kant Museum operates inside the cathedral. Here you can learn about the life and work of the philosopher as well as the rich history of the cathedral itself, which was restored after World War II.

'Friedland Gates' Museum

'Friedland Gates' Museum. Photo: A. Savin.

The History Museum 'Friedland Gates' is housed in the eponymous fortification structure — an architectural monument of the 19th century. Throughout its history the Friedland Gates were part of Königsberg's 19th-century defensive system. Historically they led to the town of Friedland (now Pravdinsk in the Kaliningrad Region). Before World War I people could pass through the gates to enter or leave the town, and since 1920 they became the entrance to the 'South' park. In the 1950s–60s their premises were used as vegetable storage. In 2002 the museum began operating in the Friedland Gates as a park branch; in 2008 it gained the status of an independent cultural institution. Thanks to the city's interesting multicultural history spanning about eight centuries, the museum presents exhibitions revealing events from the era of the Teutonic Order (1255) to the arrival of the first settlers in the Kaliningrad Region after World War II.

'Fort No. 11' Dönhoff Museum

'Fort No. 11' Dönhoff Museum. Photo: Vdi92.

Fort Denhoff was built in 1877–1881 as part of the construction of Königsberg's second defensive ring. Originally named 'Seligenfeld' after a nearby settlement, it was renamed in 1894 in honor of Count Friedrich von Dönhoff. The fort hosts tours, quests and military-historical reenactments. An annual WWII historical reenactment is also held at the fort, where participants recreate scenes with soldiers, equipment and weapons of the era.

Altes Haus Museum

The Altes Haus apartment-museum opened to visitors in April 2014. A miraculously preserved authentic interior, original furniture and household items allow visitors to look back in time and imagine themselves as residents of East Prussia.

Museum of inclusions, jewelry and amber items '50 Million Years'

The '50 Million Years' Museum of Inclusions, Jewelry and Amber Items is a private museum opened in 2021. It is located in a historic German house in Kaliningrad's historic district. The collection includes samples that represent the color palette of amber, rare forms, replicas of Neolithic-period items and contemporary author works. Visitors can watch the production process live, hold exhibits in their hands and feel the energy of the sun stone. The museum also runs master classes in working with amber.

Museum-apartment of the First Settlers

The 'Museum-apartment of the First Settlers' is a local history project in Kaliningrad created by the staff of the Kaliningrad Regional Youth Library named after V. Mayakovsky. It opened on August 24, 2020, timed to the notable date of August 23, 1946, when the first train with settlers arrived in the Kaliningrad Region.

'Königsberg' Museum (Zelenogradsk)

Model in the 'Königsberg' museum. Photo: kenigmuseum.ru

'Königsberg' is a private museum of architecture and history in Zelenogradsk (Kaliningrad Region) dedicated to the history of Königsberg, reconstructed in miniature. The exhibition features moving models — scaled replicas of buildings and districts of Königsberg. Each model is interactive: visitors can press buttons to start trams or raise bridges. In addition to models, the museum displays prewar photographs of Königsberg and household items used by inhabitants of that era.

'Vorota' Gallery

Photo: vorotagallery.ru

Located in the historic Rossgarten Gate, the 'Vorota' Gallery is a modern and dynamic exhibition space specializing in contemporary art, experimental projects and cultural events. The gallery actively collaborates with young artists and offers a fresh perspective on art, often addressing current social and cultural topics. It's a place for those looking for something unusual and contemporary.

PARKS

Central Park of Culture and Recreation

One of the city's oldest parks. It is located on the grounds of the former Königsberg Luizenwald Park. Here you can see the Church in Memory of Queen Louise (now the Puppet Theater), rides, stroll along shady alleys and enjoy the ponds. The park has retained its historic appearance and atmosphere.

Sculpture Park on Kant Island

View of the sculpture park from the Fish Village. Photo: Ildar Gumerov.

This park is an integral part of Kaliningrad's main symbol – the Cathedral. Kant Island, which houses the cathedral and Immanuel Kant's tomb, is a well-maintained green area with numerous sculptures, ruins of historic buildings and wonderful views. It’s an ideal place for leisurely walks and getting acquainted with the historic center.

Botanical Garden of the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University

Created in 1904 as the city research garden of Königsberg University, today it is one of the oldest botanical gardens in Russia. It is a green oasis with unique plant collections (more than 2,500 species), greenhouses and picturesque alleys. A perfect place for nature lovers and a peaceful rest.

Victory Park

Victory Park. Photo: Anton Yefimov.

A modern, spacious and well-kept park created in honor of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. Located in the city center, it often hosts city events. The park features wide alleys, fountains, monuments and memorials. Great for leisurely walks, cycling and family outings.

Youth Park

Youth Park. Photo: Anton Yefimov.

This park is entirely focused on family and children's recreation. It has a Ferris wheel, the 'Mowgli' rope park, karting, various rides, playgrounds and a small pond with pedal boats. A great place for active entertainment.

Upper Lake (Verkhnee Lake) and its embankment

Upper Lake (Verkhnee Lake) and its embankment. Photo: royallake.ru.

A beautiful, well-maintained embankment ideal for leisurely walks. In summer you can ride pedal boats or rowboats; in winter enjoy the winter scenery. There are several cozy cafes around the lake where you can grab a bite.

HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS

Fish Village

Fish Village. Photo: Pixabay.

A genuine European quarter with canals, bridges, a lighthouse and architecture styled to look old. There are many cozy cafés and restaurants here overlooking the Pregolya River where you can have dinner, drink coffee or just walk. In the evening this area is especially beautifully illuminated.

Ruins of the Königsberg Castle (Königsberg Castle)

Ruins of the Königsberg Castle. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

The Königsberg Castle was almost completely destroyed during the war and finally demolished in the 1960s, but the site where it stood still has enormous historical significance. Archaeological excavations have been conducted here, and you can see fragments of the foundations to understand the scale and layout of this once-grand structure that was the heart of Königsberg.

Floating lighthouse 'Irben' (Museum of the World Ocean)

Floating lighthouse 'Irben', Museum of the World Ocean in Kaliningrad. Photo: Ilya Pokrovsky.

The floating lighthouse 'Irben' is the world's last inhabited floating lighthouse; it served as a prominent marker among the many reefs, shoals and shallows that sailors had to navigate. Its construction embodied the accumulated experience of building and operating lightships. The exhibition introduces visitors to this unique historic vessel — the only ship of its type preserved in Russia. From the 'Irben's' deck there is a wonderful view of the museum embankment.

King's Gate in Kaliningrad

King's Gate in Kaliningrad. Photo: A. Savin.

The King's Gate (German: Königstor) is one of eight preserved city gates of Kaliningrad. It is located at the intersection of Frunze Street and the Lithuanian Rampart. In 2005 the King's Gate became a symbol of Kaliningrad's 750th anniversary celebrations. Since that year the gate has housed the Historical and Cultural Center 'Great Embassy', a branch of the Museum of the World Ocean. Exhibitions in the gate are dedicated to the founding and development of the fortress-city of Königsberg, visits to Königsberg by prominent people and the diplomatic history of Königsberg–Kaliningrad (in particular, Peter the Great's 'Great Embassy' visit to Königsberg).

Historical and Cultural Center Friedrichsburg Gates (Museum of the World Ocean)

Friedrichsburg Fortress in Kaliningrad. Photo: A. Savin.

The Friedrichsburg Gates are the only surviving gates of the Friedrichsburg fortress (later a fort) in Königsberg (now Kaliningrad). They are a federal cultural heritage site of Russia and a branch of the Museum of the World Ocean.

Historical and Cultural Center Bastion 'Lithuania' (Museum of the World Ocean)

The bastion hosts the exhibition 'If there is a fleet, harbors will be found', dedicated to the development of shipbuilding and the design of urban fortifications in the time of Peter I. The exhibition features replicas of early ships; examples of marine archaeology including fragments of a 19th-century ship found in the quarry of the Kaliningrad Amber Combine. During the navigation season the bastion is included in the museum water route 'Above the New Pregolya, where Peter walked!'. Groups gather at the organizer's office in the Main Building. The site is available to visitors only as part of an organized tour group.

Kaliningrad Zoo

Kaliningrad Zoo is one of the oldest in Russia, located on a large and beautiful green area. The zoo in Königsberg was founded in 1896 on the initiative of Professor Maximilian Braun of Königsberg University 'Albertina', dentist-entrepreneur Herman Klaass, other businesspeople, figures of science and art, and municipal officials. Kaliningrad inherited it in 1945 after the surrender of German troops. Kaliningrad Zoo is also an arboretum; attractions include not only animals but also rare plants such as the relict ginkgo tree, a contemporary of the dinosaurs.

Curonian Spit National Park

The 'Curonian Spit' is a national park in the Zelenogradsk district of the Kaliningrad Region and occupies the southern part of the Curonian Spit. It borders the eponymous national park in Lithuania, which covers the northern part of the spit. The park is dominated by pine forests — tall pines rustle on the ridges of old dunes and form the landscape known as the 'Dancing Forest', where trunks are strangely twisted. In the hollows between the dunes there are deciduous woods. Swampy areas along the lagoon shore are covered by dense alder stands. Small patches of spruce forest remain in the northern part of the spit. The spit is home to 46 species of mammals; some are rare and specially protected, for example the western Siberian beaver and the wolverine are listed in the Red Book. For visitors, seven ecological trails and three tourist-excursion routes have been arranged. Fourteen kilometers from Zelenogradsk on the lagoon shore there is a park visitor center — a museum complex that includes a village representing the Viking-era 'Ancient Sambia', a dendrarium of cultivated plants, a children's town and an exhibition of wooden sculptures.