- December 2, 2018
- Directions
- Svetlana Funtova
Murmansk is one of the largest northern cities in Russia. Thanks to its geographical location near the sea coast, the harsh climate is softened by a short but warm summer. The city is associated with numerous historical events and is interesting with many attractions and picturesque places. In this article we will tell you about what you can see in Murmansk in the summer.
About the city of Murmansk, climate
Construction of the city of Murmansk began in September 1916. Around the same time, the first stone of the future port was laid, which today is the largest in Russia. Development and construction proceeded at an accelerated pace. However, during World War II, Murmansk was constantly bombed, and most buildings were seriously damaged.
In the post-war period, the city was rebuilt. In 1956, the population reached 200 thousand people and continued to increase every year. Today it is one of the most important transport and industrial points in the Russian Arctic.
Murmansk is located in the Atlantic-Arctic zone, outside the Arctic Circle. By local standards, the climate here is moderately warm thanks to the Gulf Stream. Winters are long, but come a little later than in other Siberian regions. In the warm season, it is humid here and there is an abundance of heavy rain.
If you decide to visit this city, below we will tell you what to see in Murmansk in the summer.
Souvenirs from Murmansk
Combine walking around the city with buying gifts for friends and family. All large stores have specialized departments with souvenirs. Souvenirs popular with tourists are sold at retail outlets - in the lobby of the Arktika Hotel and on the 4th floor in the Murmansk Mall.
Traditional gifts from the North:
- jewelry made of minerals - from 100 ₽ per keychain;
- venison stew ≈ 250 ₽ per jar;
Venison. Try it yourself and bring it to your friends!
- fish and seafood - from 150 ₽ per 1 kg;
- herbal infusions ≈ 70 ₽ per package.
Pay attention to Sami souvenirs - slippers made of reindeer skins, crafts made of bone or antler, leather figurines and amulets. When going on field trips, ask the guides what each village is famous for and what is best to buy during stops. The best Sami souvenir shops are located in the village of Lovozero.
Unusual Sami souvenirs.
Memorials
This city is rich in history. You can learn about his heroic past by visiting the memorial complexes:
- Memorial to the Defenders of the Soviet Arctic. The monument, better known among local residents as “Alyosha”. It is located in the area of Semenovskoye Lake. During the war, there were fortifications protecting the city. The hero’s gaze is directed to the “Valley of Death” - the place where the most fierce battles took place. The height of the memorial is 35 meters, making it visible from several districts of Murmansk. The architect was I.A. Pokrovsky, and the sculptor was the great master I.D. Brodsky. The monument was opened in 1974, on the 30th anniversary of the victory of the Arctic warriors over the Nazis. 2 capsules were walled up under the monument - one with water from the site of the sinking of the ship "Fog", the other - with earth from the "Valley of Death".
- Memorial to sailors who died in peacetime. The complex was built in 2002. Almost immediately it became one of the favorite attractions of city residents. The composition of the monument consists of several structures, each of which has a special meaning: a lighthouse, symbolizing the expectation of those who will not return; cabin from the tragically sunken Kursk. The memory hall inside the lighthouse stores the names of all the dead sailors and submariners. Each element is connected to other observation platforms. One of them shows the symbol of Murmansk - an anchor with sea water.
Streets and new buildings
Murmansk is a small city with an area of only about 150 km2. However, it is divided into three administrative regions:
- Pervomaisky
- Leninist
- October
The Leninsky district began to be built up just before the start of the Second World War - in 1939. Mostly there are low-rise buildings here, no higher than five floors. The modern area includes the old housing stock - "Khrushchev" and is divided into two parts by the Rost River and Semenovsky Lake.
It is considered the most convenient quarter for living, adjacent to the lake, where townspeople swim in the summer and there is a recreation area. Clean air, silence, absence of industrial enterprises, developed infrastructure, good transport accessibility make this place attractive for new residents.
Very little new housing is being built here - secondary housing predominates, sometimes in very old houses that have long celebrated their 50th anniversary.
There are few apartments for sale in the Leninsky district. Basically, this is an old housing stock. A one-room apartment costs 2,300,000 rubles. The highest prices for housing are located in the area of Geroev-Severomortsev Avenue. Here you will not find apartments cheaper than three million.
On average, the cost of a square meter of housing in this area is 48,931 rubles.
The cheapest housing is in the block adjacent to the Rost River - a one-room apartment can be purchased for 1,550,000 rubles. Low prices are explained by poor internal roads, distance from the city center and poor transport links.
All administrative buildings, shopping and entertainment establishments are concentrated in the Oktyabrsky district. Here is the main city avenue - Lenin. Stalinist buildings and 9-story residential buildings predominate. Accordingly, real estate prices are higher here.
- One-room – 1,983,778 rubles,
- Two-room apartment – RUB 2,684,586,
- Three-room apartment – RUB 3,517,264,
- Four- and multi-room apartments – RUB 5,884,780,
The highest prices in “Stalinka” apartments are the most prestigious city apartments with high ceilings and spacious layouts. The dream of Murmansk residents, in the absence of new construction.
Average prices for apartments in new buildings in the Oktyabrsky district are 57,526 rubles/sq.m.
On the outskirts of the Oktyabrsky district there are many wooden two-story houses, where prices are much lower.
The newest, densely populated area and largest in area is Pervomaisky, with the central Kola Avenue. Here you can see striking contrasts: new houses and wooden barracks in the village of Zhilstroy. Nobody buys housing in the latter: not only is the territory far from being developed, but socially disadvantaged citizens live here.
On average, the cost per square meter of housing in new housing in this area is 48,931 rubles.
In the Pervomaisky district there is a residential area of 9 floors, it is called the “Valley of Comfort” - after the name of the sports complex that is located here. A prestigious and cozy area with developed infrastructure - hence the prices per square meter: from 60 thousand rubles.
The most prestigious microdistrict of the city is “Lights of Murmansk” (the name of the best hotel in the city), where the local elite and businessmen live. Apartments here are rarely put up for sale. The average price per square meter in a fashionable area is 70 thousand rubles.
Local residents rank the city districts where it is best to live: Oktyabrsky, Pervomaisky, Leninsky.
Museums
Also in Murmansk in the summer you can visit the nuclear-powered ship-museum “Lenin” on a tour. The ship was launched in 1957 and symbolized the scientific and economic power of the Soviet republics. It was the first ship in the world whose power plant was powered by a nuclear reactor.
The length of the submarine is 134 m, displacement is 16 thousand tons. The team consisted of 243 people. The vessel still amazes with its capabilities. Its main task was to break through the Arctic ice for the passage of other ships. However, in 1989 it was removed from the USSR Navy, and in 2009 it was turned into a museum.
Weather in June: forecast for 2022
The first summer month in the Arctic is considered the rainiest and windiest, and this year weather forecasters are encouraging. The weather in Murmansk in June 2022 is expected to be stable - the chance of light rain is predicted for 4-5 days. It is advisable to take an umbrella; a jacket with a hood will not hurt.
Air temperature is +10–16°C during the day and +5–9°C at night - you will need warm clothes.
The beginning of June is cooler, so bring sweaters and insulated shoes. Comfortable equipment for a tourist traveling in the Russian North in summer is trekking boots, spring jackets or vests.
Weather forecast in Murmansk for June 2022.
Monuments
Also in the city of Murmansk in the summer you can visit the following monuments:
- Sculpture "Waiting". It was erected in the fall of 2012. A bronze statue was created in Smolensk and is dedicated to all women, mothers and wives whose men go to sea. It best reflects the life of a port city, where most families are in one way or another related to the fleet.
- Monument to the victims of foreign intervention. In 1918, British sailors arrived in the city, which marked the beginning of the Anglo-French intervention in the Arctic. Residents who resisted were placed in prison. After the liberation of Murmansk, it became known that all 136 detained people died in casemates or were shot. In memory of this feat and patriotism, a monument was opened in the main square of the city in 1927. It looks like a two-tier structure with columns and through passages on a pedestal.
Nuclear icebreaker Lenin
Address : Marine Station, Predportovaya st., 25 Telephone : 8-8152-55-35-13 Opening hours : Wed, Thu, Fri – 12.00; Sat, Sun – 12.00, 13.00, 14.00, 15.00 Cost : adult ticket – 100 rubles, children’s ticket – 50 rubles, citizens of a foreign country – 150 rubles.
The nuclear icebreaker has been a historical museum since 2009. Therefore, visitors have a unique opportunity to see the famous ship from the inside. During the tour, which lasts about 1 hour, workers show the wardrooms, smoking rooms, the dining room, where you can have a cup of ship's tea and a bun, the observation deck and, of course, the navigator's and captain's bridges.
Interestingly, the cabins are rented out for various thematic events and conferences. The icebreaker has been laid up since 1989; all the interior decoration was restored according to sketches and photographs of that time. In 1959, the ship became the first surface vessel in history with nuclear installations on board.
Picturesque corners
A vacation in Murmansk in the summer would not be complete without visiting these beautiful places:
- Kola Bridge. It is rightfully considered one of the city's attractions. The structure provides road connections with neighboring settlements and Scandinavian countries. Its length is 2.5 km, making the bridge one of the largest structures of its kind built above the Arctic Circle. From here you can enjoy picturesque views of the Kola Bay and the city. The bridge, illuminated with multi-colored lights in the dark, becomes a decoration of Murmansk. In summer it is especially attractive.
- Ram's forehead rock. One of the main local natural attractions is the rock formation. It is called the ram's forehead by local residents due to the similarity of its outline. Formed in prehistoric times, granite has been smoothed and polished by ice and water over many centuries.
Northern Lights in Murmansk
On the polar night, people are delighted by the northern lights - they can last from several hours to several days, whimsically shimmering in different colors. To see the “dance of lights” you need clear frosty weather. By the way, in the city the glow is not visible as clearly as outside it. Experts travel tens of kilometers from the city, to the village of Teriberka.
Not only locals come here, people especially from other cities of Russia rush to this mysterious village to see an unforgettable natural phenomenon and photograph the radiance of color. The path is not short - from Moscow to Tireberka 2000 kilometers.
The Northern Lights can be observed from September 21 to March 21 (equinox guideline), from 21:00 to midnight. You can find out exactly the days of the northern lights on websites for astronomy lovers and plan your visit “for the exotic.”
The polar day is 20 days longer - lasts from May 22 to July 22. For two months the sun does not go below the horizon. Don't think that this is manna from heaven. New residents of Murmansk cannot sleep. According to doctors, the body weakens, tension increases, feelings of anxiety, fatigue, and depression develops. This can be dealt with quite successfully:
- Thick, light-blocking curtains in the bedroom
- Daily routine in accordance with biorhythms
- The surest way is to go on vacation far from the north.
Temple and Cathedral
Also in Murmansk in summer it is worth visiting local spiritual attractions:
- Church of the Savior, the Image Not Made by Hands of the Savior on the Waters. The temple was opened in 2002 and consecrated in honor of the image of the Savior on the Waters. It is rightfully one of the city's architectural landmarks. This is a white stone building in the Northern Russian style with gilded domes and arched openings. The temple rises on a hill and can be seen from different parts of the city.
- St. Nicholas Cathedral. For a long time it remained the only temple in the city. In the 90s of the last century, a large-scale reconstruction of the building was carried out. The building is made in an ascetic style, with blue domes and a greenish-turquoise roof contrasting with it. The main shrines of the cathedral are the relics of Russian saints and the myrrh-streaming image of St. Nicholas.
Travel budget - June 2022
The high price season starts in Murmansk in June Book plane and train tickets in advance. Summer in the Arctic is an attractive time for tourists who do not like the heat. During school holidays, the destination becomes popular among tourists from other regions of Russia and foreigners. Prices for train tickets and hotels in June increase by 5–10% compared to spring offers.
Main expense items:
- Train ticket from Moscow to Murmansk ≈ 3,900 ₽ in a reserved seat carriage - see current prices for train tickets on Poezd.ru →
- Air flight Murmansk-Moscow and back ≈ 6,700 ₽ (Smartavia) - find air tickets on Aviasales.ru →
- 3* hotels - on average 3200 ₽ per day for a double room - find a hotel on Hotellook.ru or Booking.com →
- Daily accommodation in a rented apartment - from 1,500 ₽ for two when booking through the Sutochno.ru service →
- Car rental ≈ 1,500 ₽ per day.
- The average bill in restaurants and cafes is 800 rubles per person.
Feedback about the service in Murmansk:
“We stayed in Murmansk at the Azimut hotel, there is a very decent cafe “Deli Cafe”. The choice is small, but breakfast for two can actually cost 400-500 rubles. A little further down the street (Lenin Avenue, 52) we found the Gray Goose lounge cafe. If you want to spend an evening in a relaxed atmosphere, this is the place for you. A good dinner for two will cost 2–3 thousand. What surprised me was that all cafes and restaurants have very slow service. If you are in a hurry, it is better to eat fast food.”
The Gray Goose Lounge Cafe is a great end to the evening!
When planning your trip budget for June, keep in mind that Murmansk is an “expensive” city in any season. Food prices here are higher than in Moscow and St. Petersburg, with the exception of seafood. Include an average of 1000 ₽ for food in your daily expenses. In any case, this will not prevent you from having a good rest, and the impressions from the trip will last for a long time.
Author: Irina Savitskaya
Article last updated: July 23, 2021
Recreation and entertainment
Local media regularly disseminate information about what is and what will be in Murmansk: exhibitions, excursions, film screenings, folk festivals. It will not be difficult for tourists to find something to do.
In addition, those wishing to relax will find a large number of night clubs, cafes, and restaurants in the city. There are also many recreational facilities for children.
Murmansk is literally imbued with the spirit of the Russian Arctic. The city combines harsh climatic conditions and, despite this, beautiful nature.
Lenin Avenue
Lenin Avenue is the main thoroughfare of Murmansk; it received its current name on October 14, 1957. Its foundation was carried out back in 1916 and they wanted to call it Nikolaevsky Prospekt. But the plans were not destined to come true due to revolutionary events and the civil war.
The first brick buildings along the avenue appeared in 1934.
The captain's houses, 7 floors high, are interesting in appearance. At that time these were real skyscrapers. It is noteworthy that the buildings were built in a short time, less than a year, and entirely by hand. Even to the 7th floor the material was carried up the stairs.
The monuments to the defenders of the Arctic on Lenin Avenue are not accidental: trains left for the Second World War from here, and German prisoners passed through here 2 years later. The highway was badly damaged during the war and it took several decades to restore it again. The monument to the sixth Heroic Komsomol battery, the monument to 19-year-old Anatoly Bredov, black marble slabs with names - all this was created at the expense of the residents and by their own efforts.
