Discover Kronstadt

Kronstadt tells its maritime story in specific places: at Petrovsky Dock, in exhibitions on seafaring, and in Petrovsky Park with its monuments. Here, evidence of engineering meets insights into navigation and memories of the Russian Navy. If you’re looking for a holiday apartment in Kronstadt, you can plan your stay around whichever of these different stories interests you most.

Petrovsky Dock: Engineering and an Open-Air Exhibition

Petrovsky Dock was built in 1752, based on a design by Peter I, as Russia’s first hydraulic engineering structure for repairing and building ships. It continued to serve its original purpose until 2006. Its long period of use makes the dock a special place to explore Kronstadt’s engineering and maritime history.

On May 21, 2025, the Kronstadt History Museum’s “Petrovsky Dock” open-air exhibition was officially opened. The route runs for about 400 metres along the berm in the southern part of Petrovsky Dock. The exhibition brings an 18th-century Russian engineering structure to life: information panels display engravings, historical maps, drawings, plans showing the arrangement and movement of ships in the dock, as well as archive photographs. You can see both the structure itself and depictions that explain its history and the ship traffic there.

The tour includes three viewing platforms. There, visitors are played a mono audio piece with an original soundtrack, narrated by Russian People’s Artist Nikolai Burov. The route and its facilities may be subject to operational changes; check the current arrangements before your visit.

Lighthouse Technology at Fort Konstantin

The Museum of Lighthouse Services at Fort Konstantin displays lighthouse models and large lenses. The oldest lens on display was made in 1857. Many of the devices shown there are operational and have been used at lighthouses, buoys and navigation markers in Russia, the CIS countries and Europe. Guided tours explain how they work; visitors are also invited to try using them themselves.

Here, the focus is on the practical side of navigation, while Petrovsky Dock tells the story of shipbuilding and engineering. Admission to Fort Konstantin, parking and a guided tour are included in the museum ticket price. As ticket inclusions may change, check these details with the operator in advance and find out about the current visiting arrangements.

Archaeological Finds and a Former Water Tower

The “Underwater Archaeology” exhibition in Kronstadt offers another perspective on maritime history. On display are recovered artefacts from, among others, the ship of the line “London,” the frigate “Oleg” and the battleship “Gangut,” as well as other warships and merchant ships. The exhibition is housed in a former water tower dating from the first half of the 19th century. The historic building and the finds offer different points of interest: here, the focus is on objects connected with ships and their history.

Monuments and Architectural Ensemble at Petrovsky Park

The main attraction in Petrovsky Park is a monument to Peter the Great, the founder of Kronstadt, erected in 1841. It was created by sculptor T. Shak. The park’s waterfront is also home to Petrovsky Pier, a memorial cannon used for the noon gun, and a memorial stele honouring Russian sailors commemorated as heroes of the Battle of Tsushima. These places connect the memory of the city’s founder with the commemoration of its maritime history.

Opposite the park is the “Government Houses” ensemble. It was intended for naval personnel and the civilian population; it also includes Count Münnich’s house. This glimpse into the lives of former residents complements the waterfront monuments with the history of urban architecture and housing. A walking tour takes in Kronstadt’s main attractions; check the current booking details separately.

When choosing your holiday apartment, your preferred focus may help you decide: Would you like to explore shipyards and engineering above all, are you interested in navigation technology, or would you like to combine exhibitions, monuments and architectural history? Kronstadt’s attractions offer a range of themes, from the approximately 400-metre open-air exhibition to historical collections and memorial sites.

Discover more destinations: Molodyozhnoye, Lakhta, Pontonnyy, Komarovo, Pesochny, Sestroretsk, Volodarskaya, Solnechnoye.

Go to the main travel overview: Saint Petersburg.