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Erik
Just Starting
Joined: 01 Nov 2005
Posts: 3
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 Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 12:37 pm Post subject: Visa for Kaliningrad |
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| Planning a trip in the Baltic States. Is it possible tot use a transit visa for a visit of 2 days to Kaliningrad? In that case: do i need a a prove of health insurance? Can i enter the Kaliningrad zone with a car rented in Vilnius? |
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tripchik
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 25 Mar 2005
Posts: 136
Location: Exile
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| Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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You can check, but I don't think a transit visa is valid for a stop.
I got a regular visa for Kaliningrad and it was registered at a hotel overnight in the normal way.
You can drive a foreign car into Kaliningrad provided it has the compulsory Russian third party insurance and the windscreen sticker.
But . . . driving to Kaliningrad for 2 days? You can easily spend half a day each way at the border. It's that slow. |
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gstrohsc
Just Starting
Joined: 09 Nov 2005
Posts: 5
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 6:42 pm Post subject: Re: Visa For Kaliningrad |
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Having been to Kaliningrad several times, I can tell you that you don't want to cut any corners when it comes to your visa. If you want to spend a couple days, get a tourist visa and register with a hotel there. I recommend the Chaika Hotel. It's cheap, newly renovated and a block off one of the most popular streets in the city.
If you're driving accross the border, be absolutely sure the paperwork for the car is all in order. Border guards will use any excuse to extract extra "fees" from western tourists. Pack a lunch, crossing the border can take up to 8 hours.
Having said all that, it's a gorgeous drive, and if you can cross at Kleipeda and drive down through the Curonion Spit along the coast, it's a drive that will truly impress. |
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Erik
Just Starting
Joined: 01 Nov 2005
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 11:50 pm Post subject: visa for Kaliningrad |
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| Many thanks for the replies to my question. Practically i must believe them who tell me that foreign visitors are not so welcome. So i will limite my visite to Estland, Letland and Lithuania, and forget Kaliningrad. I'am really disapointed, because i know in advance what i will be told about the fact that Kaliningrad belongs 'still' to Russia. I had like to see myself the situation and hear what the people of Kalingrad think about... |
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tripchik
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 25 Mar 2005
Posts: 136
Location: Exile
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| Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 2:16 am Post subject: |
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gstrohsc wrote:
| Quote: | | Pack a lunch, crossing the border can take up to 8 hours. Having said all that, it's a gorgeous drive |
Yes, it is such a pity that the borders are a problem.
When I was there in August, a 50 Euro bribe would get you some way up the line of cars, but three hours was the shortest recorded crossing.
Erik wrote:
| Quote: | | Practically I must believe them who tell me that foreign visitors are not so welcome. |
It has nothing to do with foreigners being unwelcome. In my experience, I found Kaliningrad shops, hotels and restaurants some of the most hospitable in Russia.
And they are used to tourists. Busloads of Germans visit to see what happened to the former, 'Konigsberg'.
But for years, Kaliningrad has been famous for smuggling vodka, cigarettes and for laundering cars stolen from the West. I think they just want to kill this trade. Hence the delays. |
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gstrohsc
Just Starting
Joined: 09 Nov 2005
Posts: 5
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 6:19 am Post subject: Visa for Kaliningrad |
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""But for years, Kaliningrad has been famous for smuggling vodka, cigarettes and for laundering cars stolen from the West. I think they just want to kill this trade. Hence the delays.""
I agree with this. My wife is from Kaliningrad and the people there are extremely friendly. It would be a shame to miss out on this great city over some minor problems. Actually, when we go through the border and the people find out I am Canadian, they warm right up, and our trip through the border goes much faster. If they know you are from North America, they will put their best face forward.[/quote] |
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Erik
Just Starting
Joined: 01 Nov 2005
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 12:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Many thanks for your reactions. My idea was to fly to Kaunas Lithuania(cheap flights with Ryanair!). In stead of renting a car, i would try to take train or bus from there to Kaliningrad. Anyone has experience with this? |
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gstrohsc
Just Starting
Joined: 09 Nov 2005
Posts: 5
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:35 am Post subject: |
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| I have done this too. And it would be much smoother through the border than the car. Border guards get on the train at one side of the border and check your passport on the train as you go, then they get off on the other side of the border and you're on your way. I very much enjoyed this trip. I just did it last year and the scenery is great! |
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gstrohsc
Just Starting
Joined: 09 Nov 2005
Posts: 5
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:38 am Post subject: |
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| Forgot to ask. From where are you flying to Lithuania? I would be interested in these cheap flights you mentioned. Can you give me some more info about that? |
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txriverranch
Frequent Guest
Joined: 12 Nov 2005
Posts: 13
Location: Texas, United States
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| Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 5:30 pm Post subject: How to get to Kaliningrad |
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The best way to get there is by train. Much shorter time spent at the border. It is about an hour on the Russian side. I have heard the road crossing at Sovietsk (Tilsit) is very bad, time wise. Also, after leaving Russia you will be subjected to a more extensive search for cigarettes and alcohol. On the train the border police just have to make a quick look in your compartment and maybe in your bags.
The Deutsche Bahn website shows the schedules, but not the cost. www.bahn.de
IMPORTANT, some trains go through Belarus! It is better to take a longer trip than have to get another visa. |
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tumurus
Just Starting
Joined: 28 Apr 2009
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 12:44 pm Post subject: |
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Now You can get Kaliningrad 72 Hour Express Visa.
For the Kaliningrad 72 hour visa, you don't apply to your local consulate. Rather you make your booking for accommodation through one of five designated travel agents in Kaliningrad, who in turn procure the visa for you.
Maximum staying is 4 days 3 nights.
Information from Kaliningrad visa support |
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