This historical north-western area of St. Petersburg was named after the castle town of Vyborg after it was taken from Sweden by the Russian army under Peter the Great in the early 18th century, thus safeguarding the new Russian capital city. Today, this district connects Russia to its northern neighbor Finland thanks to the Finlyandsky railway station. The station is famously known for the arrival of Vladimir Lenin by train from Germany on April 3, 1917 to start the October Revolution. The event is commemorated by the statue of Lenin (made by S. Evseev), that dominates the square in front of the station. Lenin arrived to Russia on the steam locomotive №293, which is now installed as a permanent exhibit at one of the platforms on the station.

If you’re looking to spend the day out in the nature, this is where the trains to the seaside towns and villages such as Zelenogorsk, Sestroretsk, Repino, Komarovo and further north into Karelia depart from. Though perhaps not as bustling as the other parts of St. Petersburg, you’ll still find plenty of cafes and restaurants for any taste and budget.