While it IS possible to take a train to Arkhangelsk from St Petersburg or Moscow, few people want to swap a 100 minute flight for a 25-hour train journey, especially when the return fare is only 1,960 rubles from Moscow. While Rossiya flies from St Petersburg and UTair from Moscow’s Vnukovo, there’s really only one way to fly to Arkhangelsk from around Russia and that’s by Arkhangelsk Airlines, formerly Aeroflot Nord. The airline operates regular flights to and from Moscow’s Sheremtyevo 1 terminal, St. Petersburg, Murmansk, Naryan-Mar and Anderma in Nenets Okrug and several other Russian cities as well as a daily flight to Tromse in North West Norway, via Murmansk.
There are two airports in Arkhangelsk: Talagi airport for intercity and international flights and Vas’kovo airport for local flights (including flights to Solovetsky).
Where to stay
Pur-Navolok Hotel Arkhangelsk is located on the Cape Pur-Navolok and provides a beautiful view of the Dvina River and the broad beach. 234 modern comfortable en-suite rooms equipped with contemporary amenities. Pur-Navolok offers 4 banquet halls, 2 bars and a luxurious restaurant, seating up to 150 and serving European, Russian as well as Northern cuisine. Rated as the place to stay by oilmen, diplomats and government officials it is walking distance from the Regional Administration offices, the commercial centre and River Port.
Room rates from 2,300 rubles a night. Online reservations at www.
purnavolok.ru. English speaking, helpful reception.
Telephone: +7 (8182) 217 200-205
88, Northern Dvina Embankment
Where to Eat
Solovetskoe Podvorye
A walk along the embankment leads you to this restaurant-bar which has been popular with residents and visitors since July 1996. It has a bar, a classic hall and a room fitted out as a traditional log cabin. Fridays and Saturdays it offers live music and the cuisine ranges from European to traditional Russian northern kitchen.
Telephone: +7 (8182) 652 418
78, Northern Dvina emb.
There are a wide range of restaurants ranging from main street Pizza and burger fast food cafes to the Bobroff restaurant, named after the award-winning beer brewed in the eponymous village 40 kms outside Arkhangelsk.
Telephone: +7(8182) 285 813
2, Popova street
The cheerful receptionists at Pur-Navulok Hotel can direct you to cool discotheques cheerful restaurants, cafes and beer halls.
