Hotel Kaunis

Northern European Russia


A good upmarket portside option. Rooms are spacious, with decent linen and powerful showers, but the lack of netting on windows means you either roast or become a mosquito buffet in summer (bring repellent). English is spoken and the restaurant (mains from R290) overlooks the water.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Northern European Russia attractions

1. Petri Shemeikka

0.08 MILES

Those interested in the Kalevala epic poem will want to pay their respects to the kantele-plucking statue of Karelian rune singer Petri Shemeikka that…

2. Kronid Gogolev Museum

0.1 MILES

This museum displays the works of Russian artist Kronid Gogolev, who spent much of his life in Sortavala. His landscape paintings are appealing but not…

3. Firehouse

0.12 MILES

Attractive wooden relic of bygone years. Can only be viewed from the outside, however.

4. Nikolski Skete

22.79 MILES

For a great picnic site, stroll about 20 minutes north of the Transfiguration Monastery to the quaint, heptagonal bell tower of Nikolski Skete.

5. Transfiguration Monastery

23.25 MILES

Souvenir stalls line the short road that leads, via short-cut steps, up to Valaam’s main attraction. The monastery is radiant in gleaming white and sky…

6. Nikonovskaya Area

24.08 MILES

One of the few parts of the island that's easily accessible on foot from the monastery is the forested Nikonovskaya area, dotted with chapels and sketes.