How to get to Smolenskaya. How to get to Smolensk
Cheap tours from Moscow to Smolensk, the ancient Russian city on the “seven hills”, is quickly gaining popularity! Thousands of tourists have already discovered the Smolensk region and were delighted with its architecture and unique attractions. The longest fortress in Russia, Svyato-Uspensky Cathedral, unique monuments of 1812, temples of the pre-Mongol period... Here, every inch of land breathes history!
The tourist information portal site has collected for you the most popular routes with which you can easily and quickly get to Smolensk from Moscow. We immediately discard the options “by plane to Smolensk” or “river tours to Smolensk”, because they are not relevant for the infrastructure of our city. But any other types of transport will be relevant here.
On the Lastochka Moscow - Smolensk
The most popular way to quickly and comfortably get from Moscow to Smolensk is the Lastochka high-speed electric train. In 2017, the number of “Swallows” Moscow - Smolensk increased to 3, which indicates the growing interest of tourists in this travel destination! Especially for tourists choosing weekend tours to Smolensk, a convenient tour “To Smolensk on the Lastochka” has been developed.
Lastochka schedule from Moscow to Smolensk, departure from Belorussky railway station: 07:10, 13:30, 18:20.
ADVICE! We recommend buying tickets for “Swallow” in advance: the cost of tickets will be significantly lower - you can find tickets for 400-500 rubles. But it’s worth paying attention to one point: the cheapest tickets are reclining seats; not everyone will be comfortable traveling for 4.5 hours in this position. If you buy tickets on the eve of your trip, especially for holidays, then the cost of tickets for “Swallow” can “fly up” to 2,000 rubles.
By car
The second most popular option that tourists prefer to choose to get to Smolensk is personal vehicles. The distance between Smolensk and Moscow is 395 km, so traveling to Smolensk from Moscow along the M1 Moscow-Minsk highway will take you no more than 5 hours. There are many gas stations and cafes on the European-level highway.
The advantage of such a trip is that you independently choose the route and speed of movement, you can stop along the road near “Kubinka”, near the source of the Moscow River, you can stop by the Borodino field, the homeland of the first cosmonaut - Gagarin and the ancient merchant city of Vyazma, the Griboyedovs’ estate “Khmelita” ", see the monument in Tsarevo-Zaimishche.
Many Muscovites prefer to travel to Smolensk at night in order to avoid traffic jams, which can lead to waiting for several hours.
ADVICE! If you don’t want to drive your own car, we recommend paying attention to the “BlaBlaCar” travel companion search service. The cost of travel in the company of an expert driver is from 500 rubles.
Bus "Moscow - Smolensk"
One of the budget options for transport between Moscow and Smolensk is buses. Both large buses with 40-50 seats and small Mercedes minibuses run between our cities.
Buses “Moscow - Smolensk” depart daily from the Novoyasenevskaya bus station and the Tushinskaya metro station every hour. Ticket prices vary from 700 to 1100 rubles. Travel time is approximately 6-7 hours.
ADVICE! Small buses, especially during night travel, travel at very high speeds. There are reviews from tourists who got back from Smolensk to Moscow in 3.5 hours!
On a passing train
The most convenient way to get to Smolensk is by rail. There is only one railway station in the city, so you won't miss a stop. The cost of tickets for the direct train "Moscow Smolensk" starts from 1,500 rubles, however, due to the fact that Smolensk is a large railway junction, it runs between our cities a large number of passing trains. And the cost of reserved seat tickets is much lower here.
“Moscow - Minsk”, “Novosibirsk-Minsk”, “Arkhangelsk-Minsk”, “Moscow - Prague”, “Moscow - Warsaw”, “Moscow - Brest”, “Moscow - Polotsk”... get from Moscow to Smolensk on these trains you can do it for only 800 rubles!
ADVICE! Buy tickets in advance. Firstly, the cost of tickets will be slightly lower, and secondly, cheap tickets will quickly be snapped up by smart tourists.
Book a tour at Smolensk Travel
Don’t want to think through the route of your trip to Smolensk yourself? You can book train tickets when purchasing tours to Smolensk from the Smolensk Travel company.
In addition, you can purchase tickets for a large-scale tour “Great lands: Pskov, Novgorod, Smolensk leaving Moscow
Open the veil of secrecy of the “city on the Dnieper” for yourself - come to Smolensk!
Smolenskoye is one of the oldest cemeteries in St. Petersburg. It began its “work” in the middle of the 17th century and over time grew into a large cemetery with an area of more than 50 hectares. Previously, everyone was buried, regardless of class. Now they have found their last refuge here famous people cinema, art, science.
Not long ago, the graves of director A. Balabanov, actress A. Samokhina, and singer E. Khil appeared here. Employees of the Academies, the Mining Institute, and artists of the Mariinsky and Alexandrinsky theaters are buried at separate sites. Here you can find both traditional burials and columbariums - places designed for urns with ashes.
Also on the territory of the cemetery there is a chapel in memory of Xenia the Blessed - a place of constant pilgrimage for the suffering. And at the very entrance to the cemetery there is the Smolensk Church. Local attractions can be considered a memorial plaque with the name of Arina Rodionovna, A. Pushkin’s nanny (although the exact location of her grave is unknown, but they say she is buried at the Smolensk cemetery) and the so-called “Blokovsky path”.
Here in 1921 there was the first grave of the poet A. Blok. Then, in 1944, it was moved to the Volkovskoye cemetery, but a memorial stone remained, to which fans of the poet’s work still bring flowers. The unusual monument, discovered in the pre-revolutionary years, arouses curiosity. It is dedicated to the ranks of the Russian police and is under the care of traffic police officers.
Address: St. Petersburg, st. Kamskaya, 26.
Opening hours are from 9 am to 7 pm in summer, and from 9 am to 5 pm in winter.
Smolensk Cemetery on the map (direction)
Directions to the Smolensk Cemetery
The cemetery is located near the Smolenka River, on Vasilyevsky Island. Getting there is not difficult at all.
From metro station "Vasileostrovskaya"
The closest metro station is Vasileostrovskaya. Let's start with it.
On foot
Have you decided to walk? Great!
- We left the metro, turned left from the exit and got onto the 8th line.
- Further along the line to the intersection with Kamskaya Street (the numbering of houses will increase, and you will come out on the embankment of the Smolenka River).
- Here you turn left again and walk along Kamskaya Street to the gates of the Smolensk Cemetery.
Depending on your speed, the journey from the metro to the cemetery will take from 20 to 45 minutes.
By minibus
If you don’t have time or you’re tired, you can get to the place by minibus.
There is a stop opposite the metro exit. Wait for the minibus number K-249, get in and drive to the Smolensk cemetery, to its main entrance. The entire trip takes no more than 15 minutes.
From the Primorskaya metro station
On foot
- Coming out of the metro, you need to turn left and go around the high-rise building where the Primorskaya station is located. This is Odoevsky Street. It stretches along the Smolenka River. You need to walk so that you have Cash Street and Cash Bridge behind you.
- Along the way you will come across a small bridge through which you will need to cross to the other side. Bering Street runs here.
- Straight ahead, after about 200 meters, a cemetery will appear. It looks very much like a park and you definitely won’t be able to pass by it.
By public transport
Having reached the final station "Primorskaya" and exiting the metro, you can choose a minibus with number K186 or bus number 42. The time spent on the trip will be no more than 5 minutes. You will come out to the northwestern entrance to the cemetery.
The territory occupied by the cemetery is surrounded by the 17th line of Vasilievsky Island, Maly Prospekt, Bering Street and the Smolenka River. There are buildings here that have become national property. Such as: Smolensky, Trinity and Resurrection churches, Tent Iron, Wooden, Gate chapels, a chapel for the deceased with contagious diseases, chapel-burial vaults of Xenia of Petersburg and Anna Lozhkina (the holy fool).
Cemetery services offer to use their services: buy flowers, wreaths, decorations for graves. At the rental office you can get the necessary equipment for arranging a grave. In all churches and on the territory of the cemetery, you can leave notes to remember the dead.
The Smolensk cemetery in St. Petersburg can probably be called the oldest in the whole city. It appeared approximately simultaneously with the city itself. Moreover, this place attracts with its mystery, mysticism and many legends.
Why Smolenskoye
There is a belief that during construction, workers came from Smolensk. Due to hard work and bad conditions they died early in life. And they buried them on south coast islands along Since then, the field along it began to be called Smolensk.
However, most likely, this version is just someone’s speculation. The names of the river and cemetery appeared after the construction of a church in this place dedicated to the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. The author of this icon was Saint Luke. And Vladimir Monomakh moved it to Smolensk. Hence the corresponding name.
In 1792, the church underwent reconstruction and was re-lit in the name of Archangel Michael. However, the temple has not survived to this day, as it was dismantled in the 19th century.
“Double” Smolensk cemetery
St. Petersburg and famous cemetery have general history and almost simultaneous onset. So, after the Poltava victory, thanks to which the northern capital exists, there was not a single officially approved cemetery in the city. Wherever they had to, they buried them there. On Vasilyevsky Island they were buried along the left bank of the Smolenka River (formerly the Chernaya River). In 1710, a military chancellery was built here, and the cemetery became a burial place for prisoners who died in the St. Petersburg prison. Rumor has it that the dead criminals were buried in shackles.
The name “Smolensk Cemetery” refers to two independent cemeteries located nearby - Orthodox and Lutheran (German). The Orthodox is considered the oldest.
This cemetery became the official burial place in 1738 by decree of the Synod. The German cemetery was opened later - in 1747.
The cemetery was put in order and landscaped. Since there was no chapel of its own, in 1755 a church was erected in honor of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. Since then, parishioners, city residents, and cadets have been buried here. In 1807, the remains of the Knights of Malta were buried. In 1831, a burial site for people who died of cholera was fenced off here.
By the mid-19th century, the Smolensk cemetery in St. Petersburg was considered the largest in the city. In 1860, the number of those buried was 350 thousand. Today the territory of the churchyard is about 50 hectares.
Flood
At the end of 1824, a flood hit the Smolensk cemetery. All the fences were demolished, the crosses were washed away, the burial places themselves were covered with earth so that it was almost impossible to find them. After the flood, many were unable to find the graves of their loved ones. The flood destroyed the entire archive located in the church; only the parish books, which the priests kept at home, were preserved. was destroyed almost to the ground. As a result, it had to be demolished, since the building could no longer be restored. During the flood, three old women even drowned because they were unable to escape.
In short, the entire cemetery was thrown into complete disarray and suffered enormous losses. A lot of time and effort was spent removing and restoring everything. However, many burials remained unfound. For example, the burial of the Knights of Malta.
The Legend of the Forty Priests
The Smolensk cemetery in St. Petersburg is usually crowded. Not only relatives come here to honor the memory of the deceased, but also those who simply want to take a walk and look at the graves famous people, as well as those who want to plunge into an atmosphere of mystery and mysticism. In the old historical part of the cemetery, which is very neglected, according to legend, you can meet ghosts. Many legends are associated with this place. And the most terrible and sinister is the legend of the 40 martyrs in the name of faith. Many scientists and historians believe that this is not just a legend, but an event that actually took place.
In the 20s of the last century, the authorities arrested forty priests belonging to the Leningrad diocese. Those arrested were brought to the Smolensk cemetery. They were lined up along the dug grave and given a choice: either life in exchange for renunciation of God, or death. None of the priests renounced God. Then they were all buried alive. According to eyewitnesses, for three days the groans of the martyrs were heard from underground, and then the grave was illuminated by a Divine ray, and it became quiet.
Despite the fact that almost a century has passed since the tragedy, people come to the grave to honor the memory of the forty martyrs. There are always candles burning and flowers on the grave.
Blessed Xenia of Petersburg
The Smolensk cemetery is also famous for the intercessor and guardian of St. Petersburg, famous throughout the city. And many legends are also associated with the name of this patroness.
So, according to one of them, a young girl Ksenia, having buried her husband, distributed everything she had to the poor, put on the deceased’s coat and became insane. Both in the heat and in the cold, she wandered through the city streets and said all sorts of crazy things to passers-by. But it soon became clear that everything Ksenia said had a deeper meaning. She had the gift of clairvoyance.
After Ksenia died, people began to come to the madwoman’s grave at the Smolensk cemetery. And soon a chapel was built in her honor. This church did not close even during Soviet times. People believe that if you walk around the church three times, while thinking about your innermost thoughts, then the Blessed Xenia will fulfill your wish. This is probably why you can often find suffering lovers there.
Not only legends
The Smolensk cemetery in St. Petersburg is famous not only for its secrets. Many famous St. Petersburg residents are buried on the territory of the cemetery.
Luminaries of science such as Zablotsky, Viskovatov, Beketov, writers Sollogub, Charskaya, Emin, artists Makovsky, Shebuev, Jordan and Shchukin.
On the central alley of the cemetery you can see the graves of Mozhaisky - the man who designed the world's first airplane, the creator of armadillos - Popov, famous traveler Semenov-Tien-Shansky, navigator Valkitsky, commander of the Panther submarine Bakhtin, as well as Dostoevsky’s brother and nephews.
Not far from the grave of forty priests is the Blokovskaya path. Alexander Blok was buried at this place in 1921. The poet’s grave had long been moved to the Volkovskoye cemetery, but the “original” place was not forgotten. There is a memorial stone there, and flowers from fans.
In addition to the graves of famous figures, there are beautiful and unusual monuments at the Smolensk cemetery. For example, a monument dedicated to the ranks of the Russian police, which has been preserved since pre-revolutionary times. This monument is constantly looked after by traffic police officers.
Cemetery today
In the post-revolutionary years, the cemetery was closed due to lack of space. And part of the land with burials was given for the construction of... a kindergarten.
In order to preserve at least the monuments and tombstones of famous figures, they were moved to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Today, the Orthodox part of the cemetery has been restored: the tombstones, the chapel have been restored, the alleys have been improved, and a special archive of all burials is being maintained. They no longer bury people in the cemetery (except in special cases).
The German part is in great disrepair, and there are even rumors of impending demolition. However, there have been no changes so far, and people still come here to look at the preserved monuments of the 18th century.
So, if you decide to visit the Smolensk cemetery, how to get there? The nearest metro station is Vasileostrovskaya. There is a stop near the metro exit. Take minibus No. K-249 and drive fifteen minutes to Kamskaya Street. Along it, without turning anywhere, you go straight, and ahead is the Smolensk cemetery. Address: Kamskaya street, 3.
During this time transport connection between cities has improved significantly: if previously you had to travel exclusively by train (always crowded and taking about seven hours), tickets for which had to be purchased a month in advance, now there are no problems with tickets and long hours on the road. Another option is to travel by car, if you are not afraid of traffic jams.
To Smolensk from Moscow by car
The distance from the capital to Smolensk is almost 400 km. However, I’ll make a reservation right away - no one will tell you the exact time you will spend on the road when traveling by car. The traffic situation leaving Moscow is extremely unpredictable: without traffic jams you will reach Smolensk in 4.5 hours, and if you travel on holidays or weekends - all 7. However, thanks to numerous services that transmit information about the traffic situation along this route, before departure You can always look at traffic congestion indicators and decide whether it’s worth going now or whether it’s better to postpone the trip for a couple of hours.
The best option would be to take the M1. This is the fastest way, and the road is very picturesque and minimally congested (two lanes on each side), and is of fairly high quality. Along the way, you can stop by Kubinka (not all Muscovites know that the world’s largest tank museum is located there), and also get acquainted with little-known towns and villages of the Moscow and Smolensk regions. By the way, as soon as you enter the territory of the Smolensk region, even without signs it will become obvious that you are on the way to Smolensk, which is famous for its hilly terrain. There are elevations and slopes all around.
The downside of traveling to own car, in addition to the unpredictable road situation, there is a considerable consumption of gasoline, which for a one-way trip will be about 1,500 rubles.
By train from Moscow to Smolensk
For me this option is the most optimal. Firstly, there are a lot of trains in this direction, tickets are always available. Secondly, they recently began to function high speed trains with cheap tickets and increased comfort (air conditioning, soft chairs) - tickets cost only 450 rubles (Lastochka), departure at 6:20 from the Belorussky railway station. If you don’t have time to catch it, it doesn’t matter - you can always get to Smolensk by any other train (departure intervals are 0.5-1 hours). The average cost for a reserved seat is 1000-1500 rubles (depending on the flight). Travel time on Lastochka is only 4 hours 45 minutes, on other trains – from 5 to 6 hours. Another advantage of traveling by train to Smolensk is
To Smolensk from Moscow by bus
You can also get there by bus or minibus taxis which depart from different bus stations (Rizhsky Station, Teply Stan, Novoyasenevskaya bus station, Dynamo metro station, Airport and other departure points). Ticket prices range from 500 to 700 per trip. Travel time depends on the traffic situation and ranges from 5 to 7 hours. Since the distance from Moscow to Smolensk is short, traveling by bus is a good option. Most buses and minibuses are equipped with comfortable seats. The driver makes stops (the number depends on the route) at roadside cafes.
Smolensk is located on the Dnieper River, and the distance from Smolensk to Moscow is about 400 kilometers.
First of all, I would like to tell you how you can get from Moscow to Smolensk.
Moscow-Smolensk
There is no airport in the city, so air transport is immediately rejected.
By train
One of the most popular options is rail travel.
At high speed train Swallow You can get from Moscow to Smolensk in 4 hours 37 minutes. The train leaves the Belorussky railway station in Moscow and arrives at the Smolensk railway station. The Swallow train is modern and quite comfortable, so the ticket price is relatively high - it is 1,160 rubles (seats, of course). Lastochka is also the fastest way to get from Moscow to Smolensk; other trains take about 6 hours.
For those who would like to save money, there is a cheaper option - you can go, for example, by train Novosibirsk - Brest, which makes a stop in both Moscow and Smolensk. The journey will be at night, in Moscow the train stops at 1 am, and arrives in Smolensk at 7:01 (travel time will be 6 hours). A reserved seat ticket costs only 712 rubles, thus being the cheapest train travel option. A place in a compartment will cost one and a half thousand rubles.
For those who prefer day trips, we can recommend the train Moscow - Brest, which leaves the capital at 14:09 and arrives in Smolensk at 20:00. Travel time is almost 6 hours. For a place in a reserved seat you will have to pay 794 rubles, and in a compartment - one and a half thousand.
By bus
Another relatively inexpensive way to get to Smolensk. Buses leave from the Tushinskaya bus station to Pskov. The bus leaves Moscow at 20:00 and stops in Smolensk at 2:30, so the travel time is six and a half hours. Such a trip costs 700 rubles.
By car
As mentioned above, the distance from Moscow to Smolensk is about 400 kilometers. By car, this distance can be covered in 4 - 6 hours (depending on traffic jams and, of course, speed).
For those who want to save money, there are travel companion services that allow you, for a small fee (about 500 rubles on average), to sit with a driver who is traveling along this route. So, the driver will save on gasoline, and you will save on the ticket. The downside is that you will have to ride in a car with an unfamiliar (and maybe not the most pleasant) person.
St. Petersburg - Smolensk
From Northern capital getting to Smolensk is more difficult than from Moscow, since the distance between these cities is significantly greater (about 750 kilometers).
However, this can be done using the same types of transport as from Moscow - by train, bus and car.
By train
One of the most popular options is train St. Petersburg - Smolensk.
It leaves St. Petersburg at 20:45, and arrives in Smolensk at 12:51 the next day. Travel time is 16 hours. A seat in a reserved seat will cost you 1,030 rubles, and in a compartment - 2,730 rubles.
By bus
A cheaper option is the bus. Transportation is carried out by a variety of companies, and on the website you can find out their name and the type of bus on which you will be transported.
For example, you can take the bus at 8:30 at bus station No. 2 (Obvodny Canal embankment), and at 23:00 on the same day you will find yourself in Smolensk. Travel time will be 14 and a half hours.
By car
Those 750 kilometers that separate St. Petersburg from Smolensk can be covered in 8 hours or more. Services for finding travel companions offer prices starting from 900 rubles per person.
City transport in Smolensk
And finally, let's start describing transport within the city itself. If you have already reached Smolensk, then you are faced with a new question - how to move around the city?
First of all, I note that, of course, there is no metro in Smolensk. But there are buses, trolleybuses, trams, minibuses and, of course, taxis.
Trams
There are five tram routes in the city. I quote them below:
Route No. 1. Lamp Factory - Gagarin's Ring
Route No. 2. st. P. Alekseeva - st. Bagration
Route No. 3. Sitniki - Gagarin Ring
Route No. 4. Roslavl ring - railway station
Route No. 7. st. P. Alekseeva - railway station
Trolleybuses
This type of transport in general is not very popular in Smolensk, so it is limited to just a few routes.
Route No. 1. Printing plant - Sharm LLC
Route No. 2. P. Alekseev St. - NPO "Arkada"
Buses
There are already significantly more bus routes (so I won’t list them here). In general, buses connect almost all districts and microdistricts of Smolensk.
The fare for any municipal transport is the same and amounts to 14 rubles per trip..
Taxi
There are more than 10 different companies providing taxi services in Smolensk. Their prices differ slightly.
Electric trains
WITH railway station From Smolensk, you can take a train to the nearest suburbs and neighboring cities, where there is also something to see (for example, to Vyazma, where you can admire various churches and monasteries). The distance to Vyazma is 175 kilometers, so keep in mind that the train takes several hours.
