Arkhangelsk
Experienced independent travellers seeking authentic Russian Arctic character and some of the world's lowest-cost aurora experiences
About Arkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk is Russia's great northern gateway — a city on the White Sea with 650 years of Arctic exploration history, once Russia's only sea port before St Petersburg was founded. The city preserves a remarkable collection of wooden architecture including the Malye Karely Open-Air Museum, one of Russia's finest collections of traditional wooden churches, mills, and houses moved from across the Russian North. At 64.5°N, Arkhangelsk sits inside the auroral oval with excellent winter viewing — the White Sea freezes completely in winter, creating a vast flat white landscape perfect for photography. The Solovetsky Islands (Solovki), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are accessible by boat in summer and by helicopter in winter from Arkhangelsk — the monastery complex on the main island is one of Russia's most historically significant sites. Arkhangelsk is genuinely challenging for non-Russian speakers and requires careful advance planning. As of 2024, visitors should check current travel advisories carefully before planning a trip. For those who can visit, it offers some of the world's most affordable Arctic aurora experiences.
Best Time to Visit
Monthly Weather & Aurora
| Month | Avg Temp | Dark Hours | Aurora Chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan★ Best | -14°C | 15h | High |
| Feb★ Best | -13°C | 11h | High |
| Mar★ Best | -6°C | 7h | Med |
| Apr | +1°C | 2h | Low |
| May | +8°C | Midnight sun | — |
| Jun | +14°C | Midnight sun | — |
| Jul | +17°C | Midnight sun | — |
| Aug | +14°C | Midnight sun | — |
| Sep | +8°C | 4h | Med |
| Oct★ Best | +2°C | 9h | High |
| Nov★ Best | -5°C | 13h | High |
| Dec★ Best | -11°C | 15h | High |
Activities
Getting There
Fly from Moscow Sheremetyevo (2h, Aeroflot or Nordavia). Train from Moscow (22h overnight). Note: entry requires a Russian visa (or e-visa where applicable). Travel advisories apply — check your government's guidance before booking.
Accommodation Highlights
- ✓Soviet Era hotels
- ✓Guesthouses
- ✓Modern business hotels
Location
Budget Estimator
Based on avg $80/day in Arkhangelsk. Includes accommodation, food, local transport & one guided tour. Flights not included.
Quick Info
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Hotel Severnica
Naberezhnaya Severnoy Dviny, 32, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163061
hotel
Novotel Архангельск
Naberezhnaya Severnoy Dviny, 55, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163000
hotel
Stolitsa Pomorya Hotel (Capital of Pomorye)
Naberezhnaya Severnoy Dviny, 88, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163004
hotel
Otel' Flagman
Ulitsa Timme, 29, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163071
hotel
Serafima Hotel
Ulitsa Serafimovicha, 34, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163046
hotelгостиница LaStoria
Prospekt Dzerzhinskogo, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163051
hotelDVINA HOTEL
Prospekt Troitskiy, 52, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163000
hotelAdmiral
Naberezhnaya Severnoy Dviny, 32, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163061
innOtel' Pur-Navolok
Naberezhnaya Severnoy Dviny, д. 88, Korp.1, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163000
hotelMeridian hotel
Ulitsa Sovetskaya, 5, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163020
hotel🍽️Where to Eat(10)
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Anrov
Naberezhnaya Severnoy Dviny, 71, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163046
restaurant
El Fuego Restaurant
Prospekt Chumbarova-Luchinskogo, 39, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163000
steak house
Pochtovaya Kontora 1786
Naberezhnaya Severnoy Dviny, 78, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163000
restaurant
Restoran Aziya
Prospekt Troitskiy, 18, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163046
asian restaurant
Genatsvale
Prospekt Chumbarova-Luchinskogo, 24, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163046
restaurantStare mesto
Prospekt Chumbarova-Luchinskogo, 41, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163000
czech restaurantroomi
Prospekt Novgorodskiy, 109, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163046
restaurantChaykhona
Voskresenskaya Ulitsa, 7, корп.2, 7, корп.2, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163100
restaurantParatov"
Ulitsa Krasnaya Pristan', Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163000
restaurantPomorski restaurant
Ulitsa Pomorskaya, 5, 3 Etazh, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163000
restaurant🎯Things to Do(10)
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Pomorski tourist center Victoria Bulatova
Voskresenskaya Ulitsa, 7, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163100
visitor center
Arkhangelsk Tur
Prospekt Troitskiy, 38, Ofis 221, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163000
tour agency
Northern Tourist Company Ltd
Ulitsa Pomorskaya, 5, оф 320, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163000
tourist information centerArkh-Tur
Prospekt Troitskiy, 12, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163046
tour agency
Turliniya
Naberezhnaya Severnoy Dviny, 62, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163000
travel agencyArkhangelsk Regional History Museum
Naberezhnaya Severnoy Dviny, 86, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163000
tourist attractionMuseum "Small Karelians"
Музей "Малые Корелы Малые Карелы, 2В д. Малые, Malye Karely, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163075
convention centerRusskaya Arktika
Naberezhnaya Severnoy Dviny, 36, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163046
national parkTourist Information Centre of the Arkhangelsk region
Ulitsa Svobody, 8, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163000
tourist information centerNorthern Maritime Museum
Naberezhnaya Severnoy Dviny, 80, Arkhangel'sk, Arkhangelskaya oblast', Russia, 163000
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