This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Vyborg.
Vyborg is a small city in Russia not far from the Finnish border (about forty kilometers) and only one hundred thirty kilometers from Saint Petersburg. For a city of its size, Vyborg offers interesting sights for its visitors. Vyborg has been part of different countries such as Sweden, the Republic of Novgorod, and Finland. The city was the second-biggest Finnish city before WWII and a major point of conflict between Russia and Finland during the war, as the Finnish evacuees wanted to go back to Vyborg and to recapture the city.
Interesting places to visit are the Viipuri Library; the Swedish Vyborg Castle (built in the thirteenth century); the Round Tower (sixteenth century); the Rathaus Tower; and, of course, the Lenin House. Lenin lived in Vyborg before the Revolution and prepared it from Vyborg, so the city had major impact not only on the history of Russia but also the world. The city is small and you do not need any public transportation to travel around. You would probably need two days for sightseeing but a day trip might prove to be too short.
Vyborg is not a top tourist destination in Russia, but there are enough tourists, so you can find a Vyborg hostel at a reasonable price. There are only a few hostels in Vyborg, but the prices are reasonable and facilities are generally very good. The hostels in Vyborg are located in the center of the city and you can walk from the train station, but it can be very cold with temperatures going lower than thirty-five below zero degrees Celsius during the cold winter months.
Vyborg is a nice, small town with controversial history; the city is a perfect two-day stop for any traveler between Helsinki and Saint Petersburg. There are excellent connections between the two cities with four or five direct trains every day.
Written by local enthusiast for Vyborg hostels
George Traveller
