Call Our Travel Experts

Home » International Tours » Russia » Kizhi Island

Kizhi Island

Kizhi Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Russia and is located amidst Lake Onega. This island is 1 km wide and stretches around 6 kilometers in length. It is a stunning island in Russia that is blessed with impressive wooden architecture, traditional crafts, and the oldest wooden church in Russia. Apart from that, there are many other attractions like the Pogost of Our Savior and the Church of Transfiguration. Today this entire island and the nearby area have around 80 historical wooden structures. Moreover, the most famous is the Kizhi Pogost that keeps your eyes busy in admiring the ancient beauty. There is no second thought that Kizhi Island is one of the famous places in Russia that binds tradition and architecture. You must visit this island in order to explore the pilgrimage sites, admire the wooden architecture, and catch the best view of the surroundings.

Overview of Kizhi Island

Address Lake Onega, ‎Republic of Karelia‎, Russia
Timing Daytime
Length 6 km
Width 1 km
Area 5 km²

Highlights

  • Explore the 15th Century churches and wooden architectures on the island.
  • Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site on this beautiful Island of Russia.
  • Observe the traditional activities such as embroidery, making beaded jewelry, and woodcarving.
  • Visit Kizhi Museum and learn about the incredible past of Russia.
  • Get close to nature by exploring the flora and fauna.

Recommended for

This island is one of the best family-friendly tourist places in Russia. It offers a unique experience of sightseeing for every age of tourist

About Kizhi Island

Kizhi Island is a place where you can find the nation's most famous wooden architecture. These structures date from various centuries, and they have been well preserved on the island. You can now visit Kizhi Island from Petrozavodsk, the capital city of the Karelia region of Northern Russia. This island is located near Lake Onega and gives you the best view of natural beauty. You can take a train from St. Petersburg to Petrozavodsk. After arriving, you can take ferries and cruises to reach Kizhi Island. Throughout your visit, you can visit the complex buildings and some famous sites such as the Pogost of Our Savior, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.And the famous 18th century Church of the Transfiguration that has 22 onion domes will win your heart at one glance.

You can observe Rural life through a reconstructed village on Kizhi Island that allows you to get an insight into tradition. It is important to realize that you can explore this island on your day visit, and it is better to have a tour guide along with you.

Interesting Facts about Kizhi Island

  • The Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus that is located on Kizhi Island is the oldest wooden church of Russia.
  • The first church of Kizhi Island did not have the onion-shaped dome, but pyramid shaped roofs.   
  • This island of Russia is located almost in the center of Lake Onega.
  • An extraordinary ruble coin was issued in the year of 1995 in honor of Kizhi Island.
  • No nails were used in the building process of wooden architecture of Kizhi Island.