White nights: when and where to see in Russia
White nights are a natural phenomenon in which the evening twilight passes into the morning without the onset of complete darkness. It is observed in the northern latitudes due to the inclination of the earth's axis: in summer the sun falls below the horizon shallowly (not lower than 6‐), and the sky remains bright.
The farther north the city is, the brighter and longer the white nights. In the Arctic cities (Murmansk, Salekhard and others), the white nights pass into the polar day – a period when the sun does not set beyond the horizon.
archangelsk
White Nights: from May 12 to July 31 (the nights here are brighter than in St. Petersburg, due to the proximity to the Arctic Circle).
How to get there:
on the plane - from 4 250 е;
by train - from 3 942 е.
What to see:
Embankment of the Northern Dvina (almost 8 km of picturesque views, sculptures and art objects);
Michael-Arkhangelsk Cathedral and the Assumption Church (at nighttime they look especially atmospheric);
Green's gazebo at the embankment and the genre sculpture "Kimeter Zero";
Museum "Small Korela" (30 minutes drive - the largest open-air museum of wooden architecture);
River station, maritime museum, local history museum, the northernmost drawbridge in the world.
Where to stay
Novotel Arkhangelsk (4 stars) – from 4 550 to 37 250 rubles. Located on the embankment of the Northern Dvina, there is a parking, air conditioning in the rooms, a gym.
Pur-Navolok (4 stars) – from 4,600 to 20,000 rubles. Hotel by the North Dvina River, there is a swimming pool, gym, parking.
Admiral (3 stars) - from 2 690 to 4 500 rubles. Located on the Northern Dvina embankment, there is parking.
Artelecom (3 stars) - from 950 to 5 500 rubles. The complex has a restaurant, beauty salon, sauna, conference room, parking.
Roomi (4 stars) – from 4,400 to 8,000 rubles. There's parking, air conditioning in the rooms.
Seraphim - from 1,600 rubles. No stars, there's parking.
Dvina (4 stars) - from 4 160 rubles. Located in the city center, there is a restaurant, gym, parking.
Makarov (3 stars) – from 2,500 to 4,000 rubles. Mini-hotel on the Northern Dvina embankment, there is parking, air conditioning in the rooms.
The capital of Pomerania (3 stars) - from 3,175 rubles. Located on the Northern Dvina embankment, there is parking.1st
vorkuta
White Nights: May 7 to May 26, July 15 to August 8.
How to get there:
by plane - from 16 582 е;
by train - from 7 092 е.
What to see:
The abandoned village of Rudnik (the atmosphere of the Soviet past);
Memorial to victims of political repression;
Vorkuta ring (road with views of the tundra and industrial facilities);
Palace of Culture of Miners (Stalin Empire);
Park of culture and recreation with views of the surrounding area.
Where to stay
- Hotel "Vorkuta" - from 4 012 rubles. Located 1.1 km from the center, there is Wi-Fi and parking.
- Hotel Gornyak - from 1,412 rubles. Located 200 m from the center, there is Wi-Fi and parking.
- Hotel Sever - from 1 645 rubles. Located 900 m from the center, there is Wi-Fi and parking.
- Hotel Megapolis (3 stars) - from 2,275 rubles. Located 300 m from the center, there is Wi-Fi, parking and SPA.
Vologda
The White Nights Period Vologde: June 11 to July 5.
How to get there:
on the plane - from 6 607 е;
by train - from 1,466 е.
What to see:
Vologda Kremlin with Sofia Cathedral (the oldest building of the city);
Lace Museum (you can participate in a master class on pertussis weaving);
Spaso-Prilutsky Dimitriev Monastery (one of the oldest monasteries of the Russian North);
Embankment of the Vologda River with wooden houses with openwork carvings;
Botanical garden (unique northern plants).
What to see.
- Boutique hotel Garda - from 6 528 rubles. Located 341 m from the center.
- Hotel Marton Vologda - from 3 413 rubles. It is 1.2 km from the center.
- Hotel Central - from 5 045 rubles. Located 456 m from the center.
- Hotel Palisade - from 3 842 rubles. It is located 662 m from the center.
- Hostel Ethnographic "Lace" - from 1,585 rubles. Located 593 m from the center.
Magadan
The White Nights Period Magadane: June 15 to July 31.
How to get there: by plane - from 20 000 е.
What to see:
Local history museum (the history of the development of Kolyma);
Memorial complex "Mask of Sorrow" (monument to victims of repression);
Sculpture "Time" (watch with a mammoth - a symbol of the city);
Cape Nyuklja (scenic views of the Sea of Okhotsk);
Tundra around the city (you can see the northern flora and fauna).
Where to stay
- Hotel Silver House - from 13 058 rubles. It is 1.2 km from the center.
- Hotel VM-Central - from 2 927 rubles. Located 617 m from the center.
- Hotel Kolymskaya - from 5 830 rubles. It is located 1.9 km from the center.
- Soviet - from 4 953 rubles. Located 1.5 km from the center.
Murmansk
The White Nights Period Murmansk: from May 1 to May 21, from July 22 to August 12 (before them - the polar day from May 20 to July 20).
How to get there:
on the plane - from 3 179 е;
by train - from 6,665 е.
What to see:
Nuclear icebreaker "Lenin" (museum on water);
Monument to the defenders of the Arctic (the memorial "Alyosha" on the hill Green Cape);
Embankment at the Marine station and lighthouse;
Catholic Church of St. Michael (unusual architecture for the Arctic);
Teriberka (stone beach, ship cemetery, opportunity to see whales).
Where to stay
Cosmos Murmansk Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals - from 8 497 rubles. It is 1.2 km from the center.
Boutique hotel Renaissance - from 7 821 rubles. Located 564 m from the center.
Murman Loft Hotel - from 4,906 rubles. Located 351 m from the center.
Mini-hotel Fanoteli - from 3,555 rubles. Located 3.2 km from the center.
City Wenceslas Hotel. Rus - from 1,870 rubles. It is 2.1 km from the center.
You will be welcomed in Murmansk.private guidesAnd they'll offer you a copy.individual toursehtravel agenciesThe cities of Murmansk will offer their services and organizetourInteresting excursions for travelers.
petrozavodsk
The White Nights Period petrozavodsk: from May 24 to July 23 (peak - June 21-23).
How to get there:
on the plane - from 8 474 е;
by train - from 4 083 е.
What to see:
Onega embankment with sculptures and views of the lake;
Petrovsky Square with a monument to Peter I;
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (the main shrine of the city);
Art-cluster “Komarinaya Trail” (creative space on the territory of the former factory);
Lenin Avenue, the embankment of Lake Onega, the National Museum of Karelia.
Where to stay
- Hotel Karelia & SPA - from 4 581 rubles. Located 2.4 km from the center, there is a SPA and swimming pool.
- Hotel Severnaya - from 2 488 rubles. Located 800 meters from the center.
- Hotel Petrozavodsk - from 2 815 rubles. Located 800 m from the center.
- Hotel Onega Castle - from 5 600 rubles. Located 1.9 km from the center, there is a SPA.
In Petrozavodsk you will be met.private guidesAnd they'll offer you a copy.individual toursehtravel agenciesPetrozavodsk will offer its services and organizetourInteresting excursions for travelers.
Salekhard
White Nights: from April 15 to June 7, from July 7 to August 15 (polar day from June 7 to July 7).
How to get there: by plane - from 18 114 е.
What to see:
Monument to the mammoth (symbol of the city);
Obdor fortress (reconstruction of an ancient fortress);
The Temple of Peter and Paul (historical architecture);
Museum of Polar Aviation (exposition on the conquest of the North);
Ethnocomplex in Gornoknyazevsk (traditions of the indigenous peoples of Yamal).
Where to stay
- Hotel Arctic (3 stars) - from 8 817 rubles. Located 600 m from the center, there is Wi-Fi, parking and SPA.
- Hotel Russian North - from 4 051 rubles. Located 2 km from the center.
- Apartments Tundra on the Arctic 4 - from 4 950 rubles. Located 444 m from the center.
yakutsk
The White Nights Period yakutske: May 15 to July 15 (literally as daylight).
How to get there: by plane - from 20 313 е.
What to see:
Old Town (open-air museum with copies of old wooden houses);
Moscow embankment with views of Lena;
Transfiguration Cathedral (one of the oldest temples of Yakutia);
Museum of History and Culture of the Peoples of the North and Mammoth Museum;
Lena Pillars (a natural attraction 200 km from the city - rocks up to 200 meters high).
Where to stay
- Hotel Orto Doidu - from 7 750 rubles. It is located 533 m from the center.
- Hotel Sterkh - from 9 030 rubles. Located 814 m from the center.
- Mini-hotel Angel - from 2 950 rubles. It is located 904 m from the center.
- Apartments Assol - from 4 674 rubles. Located 1.4 km from the center.
Prices for hotel accommodation vary depending on the hotel category, location, season and additional services. The article presents approximate price ranges per night in some hotels of these cities for 2026.