Solovetsky Islands Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Solovetsky Islands

The Solovetsky Islands, frequently referred to as Solovki, form an archipelago in the Onega Bay of the White Sea in northern Russia. Positioned off the mainland's Onega Peninsula, this island group constitutes an administrative district within Arkhangelsk Oblast. The principal settlement is the village of Solovetsky, situated on Bolshoy Solovetsky Island, where nearly all of the local population resides. Recognized as a major cultural and natural landmark, the area is protected as a historical museum, nature reserve, and UNESCO World Heritage site.

Covering a total area of 347 square kilometers, the archipelago is made up of six main islands: Bolshoy Solovetsky, Anzersky, Bolshaya Muksalma, Malaya Muksalma, Bolshoy Zayatsky, and Maly Zayatsky. The local geography features deeply indented coastlines formed of granite and gneiss, alongside a hilly landscape that reaches heights up to 107 meters. A large portion of the land is covered in partially swampy forests dominated by Scots Pine and Norway Spruce. Numerous natural lakes are distributed across the terrain, many of which were manually linked together by former residents to create a functional canal network.

Central to the history of the region is the Solovetsky Monastery, established in the second quarter of the fifteenth century by monks from the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. By the late sixteenth century, it had grown into a dominant religious center and wealthy landholder. A heavy stone fortress erected under Ivan the Terrible endured various historical conflicts over the centuries, including an eight-year siege during the Russian Church Schism, as well as attacks during the Livonian War, the Time of Troubles, the Crimean War, and the Russian Civil War. Apart from the architectural heritage, the islands feature notable ancient stone labyrinths and settings, with well-preserved examples located on Bolshoy Zayatsky Island.

In the early twentieth century, the islands served as the location for the first Soviet prison camp, which operated from the 1920s until 1939, after which the grounds were utilized for naval cadet training. Today, the destination attracts visitors interested in its rich history and northern environment. Travel to the archipelago is facilitated by Solovki Airport, which maintains regular flights to Arkhangelsk. During the summer months, passenger ferries also provide access to the islands from Arkhangelsk, Kem, and Belomorsk.