Vladivostok is a port city in the Russian Far East. It is located on a peninsula, washed by the Sea of Japan. Vladivostok is the capital of Primorsky Krai. This contemporary city is changing rapidly: over the last few years, a number of unique constructions and institutions have appeared in Vladivostok, including Russky and Golden Horn bridges, a huge university campus, and the Primorsky Opera Theatre. The city hosts events of an international level, including the APEC summit, and the Eastern Economic Forum.
Leading Centre of Education and Science
The Primorsky Scientific Centre of the Far Eastern division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, dozens of institutions of higher education, R&D organizations, the Botanical Garden-Institute, and the largest and most modern university campus in Russia are all located here.
Gates to Asia
Vladivostok is 750 km away from Seoul, 1,335 km away from Beijing, and a little over 1,000 km away from Tokyo. Local travel agencies offer affordable flights, boat tours and cruises to Asian countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore. If you wish to visit these and other countries, you need to ensure you arrange a visa at the embassy of the corresponding country beforehand.
Coastal City
Tourists are also offered unforgettable cruises around the picturesque coast of Vladivostok and the 50 nearby islands. There is a well-established infrastructure in the city for the rental of boats, motor boats, and SeaDoos. There are many clean and comfortable beaches and recreation camps in and around Vladivostok. Local restaurants and cafes offer a great variety of seafood and fish.
City of Parks
Parks are a favourite recreation spot for the locals and visitors of the city. Most of them are immersed in greenery, they are equipped with rides and attractions for visitors of all ages and offer a convenient infrastructure. Every park is equipped with a skating rink in winter. A number of cultural and entertainment events is held throughout the year: festivals, concerts, contests, and tournaments. Pokrovsky and Phantasia parks, Primorsky Safari Park, and the Botanical Garden-Institute are most popular among the locals.
Multiconfessional City
Orthodox Christianity has the largest number of followers in Vladivostok. There are also Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, Catholic, Baptist, and other religious communities in the city.
City of Animal Activists
Tiger Day has been held in Vladivostok since 2000. This is an environmental event when people dressed like tigers march along the central streets of the city. The main purpose of this annual initiative is to draw attention of society to the challenge of preserving the population of the Amur tiger (Siberian tiger) that inhabits the Primorsky and Khabarovsk areas.
What to See
Bird's-Eye View of Vladivostok
The peak of Orlinoye Gnezdo is the highest point of the city, served by a cable railway – two wagons with a cable drive moving rails. Take the cable railway to enjoy the most beautiful view of Vladivostok.
Bridges of Vladivostok
Russky Bridge connects Russky Island with continental Vladivostok. The bridge is 324 metres high. This is the world's longest bridge by length of span (1,104 metres). This is the present-day symbol of Vladivostok. Golden Bridge is 1,388 metres long and stretching across Golden Horn Bay with its unique V-shaped towers is just as grand.
Golden Horn Bay
The picturesque bay where Vladivostok lies is one of the most beautiful places in the city, offering magnificent views. It is a convenient for mooring vessels. The rocky and bluff shores of the bay were levelled and equipped with mooring berths, docks, and piers.
Vladivostok Fortress
The fortress constructed in Vladivostok at the end of the 19th/early 20th century – is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city. Structures with a complex system of labyrinths, underground passes, deep tunnels, and casemates are open for visitors.
Primorsky Aquarium
This is a magnificent construction, shaped like a clamshell (35,000 sq. m) on Russky Island. The construction is scheduled to be finished in December 2015. The total volume of water will reach 25,000 tons. Over 500 species of sea and freshwater animals will be shown in the aquarium. A dolphinarium with a dolphin therapy department will be located in the same building.
Museum of Ancient Motor Vehicles
The exposition includes automobiles, motorcycles, and other machines developed between the 1920s and 1970s by Soviet and foreign engineers. There are over 50 exhibits in the collection. A library, a lecture hall, and a video library are available for motor vehicle lovers.
Near the City
Russky Island near Vladivostok (100 sq. km) is a recreation spot popular among locals and visitors of the city. It is especially popular for picnics, fishing, and diving. The island amazes with its fort constructions, picturesque forests, peaks, and bays. The multifunctional campus of Far-Eastern Federal University (the most modern in Russia), beaches and recreation camps offer everything you could possibly need to enjoy leisure here. To get to the island, you can take a ferry or use public transport that crosses Russky Bridge.
Egersheld Lighthouse, the main reference point at the entrance to the port of Vladivostok for over 100 years, is also well worth a visit. It is located on Tokarevskaya Koshka, the tip of a narrow marine sand bar. You can get there on a mini-cruiser, a barge, or on foot.
