Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

Nikolskaya Sopka is considered Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky’s most important attraction. The Slava Monument brings the town’s history to life: it commemorates the city’s defence against the Anglo-French fleet attack during the Crimean War. With its five-sided obelisk and gilded dome, the monument also has a distinctive shape.

History and getting your bearings

A narrow concrete path leads from a monument to the bay and the historic isthmus. At the edge of the cliff stands Lieutenant Maksutov’s “Deadly” Battery No. 3. The path thus connects a clear sense of the landscape with another historic memorial site.

Kamchatsky Stone is also a distinctive name in the local landscape. It is the popular name for a freestanding rock on the summit ridge of 514-metre-high Mount Rakovaya. The rock itself lies 440 metres above sea level.

For getting around the city, bus routes 1, 2, 9, 29, 30 and 31 are listed as serving the “Krasnaya Sopka” stop. Check whether the routes are currently operating before travelling.

Nature attractions in the wider destination of Kamchatka Region

Nalychevo Nature Park is part of the wider destination of Kamchatka Region. Seven tourist routes run through the park and are accessible at different times of year. Since the number and availability of routes may change, check the current route conditions before your trip.

The park has around 200 thermal springs, which form groups with different hydrochemical, temperature and balneological properties. The central part of the nature park contains hot and cold mineral springs with carbon dioxide-, arsenic- and boron-containing waters enriched with mineral trace elements. Nalychevo Valley is surrounded by the volcanoes Zhupanovsky, Avachinsky, Kozelsky, Koryaksky and Dzenzur.

The Nalychevo, South Kamchatka, Bystrinsky and Klyuchevskoy nature parks in Kamchatka Krai, together with two federal protected areas, are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Volcanoes of Kamchatka”. This designation recognises the natural heritage they share, not a cultural attraction in the city.

The South Kamchatka Nature Reserve contains several geothermal areas and thermal springs. Lake Kurile, Kamchatka’s deepest freshwater lake, is also located there. In August and September, brown bears come to its shores in search of food. Visitors can also observe bears in the reserve from a purpose-built viewing tower, just a few dozen metres away; check current visitor conditions before travelling.

Kronotsky Nature Reserve has snow-covered volcanoes, lakes, hot springs and fumarole fields. A visit requires advance planning. Anyone wishing to visit the reserve independently must first complete an application on the website; check the current application requirements with the administration.

The scale of the volcanic landscape is also part of the region’s character: Kamchatka has around 30 active volcanoes and more than 160 extinct ones. The nature parks and protected areas are attractions in the wider destination of Kamchatka Region and should be distinguished from the urban attractions of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the city’s history gives you a concrete sense of place to help inform your decision. Distinguishing between the city’s memorial sites and the region’s nature attractions can help you decide what to focus on during your trip before booking.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Palana, Paratunka, Ust-Bolsheretsk, Milkovo, Nachiki, Vilyuchinsk, Yelizovo, Apacha.

Go to the wider travel overview: Kamchatka Region.