How many white nights. When are the white nights in St. Petersburg? Why and where do they go? What places should you visit



Probably every tourist who comes to St. Petersburg is worried about when the white nights begin and end. According to many sources, in 2019 Northern capital"Will cover" this show from June 11 to July 2. That is, it is worth coming to this particular segment.

But, as many believe (wrongly), that white nights strictly last in this period of time. In reality, this is absolutely not the case. Therefore, let's look at this topic from a scientific and practical point of view.

  • How long is a daylight
  • Let's summarize

What does the term "white nights" mean?

Strange, but many people confuse them with the polar day, during which the sun does not set over the horizon at all, but, in fact, "floats" along it. If you want to see exactly this phenomenon, then it is worth visiting cities such as Usinsk, Naryan-Mar, Salekhard or Norilsk.

In white nights, the sun sets over the horizon. But, very close - it descends only behind the line at a small angle. Therefore, it is not a day outside, but constant twilight. Moreover, the closer you are to the horizon line, the lighter they are.




There is even a so-called division of twilight into "civil" - the brightest, when the stars are not visible in the sky, and "sea" - navigational, when the main stars can be discerned, and you can navigate by them. In the first case, the sun goes beyond the horizon at an angle of 6 degrees, in the second - up to 12 degrees. Also, in the capital, "civil" twilight lasts only 60 minutes.

So, it turns out that ordinary white nights are when “civilian” twilight does not turn into “sea” twilight, but immediately becomes morning. Moreover, each object can be viewed at any time of the day or night without street lighting.


An important nuance! Twilight "from dusk to dawn" can only be observed at latitudes above 60 ° 60'00 ", and Peter is located at latitude 59 ° 57'00". That is, if we take this issue formally, then there are no “white nights” as such. Even at the brightest midnight on June 20-21.

But it is difficult to notice, and for the following reason.

How long is a daylight

Let's take an officer's lookup chart for average daylight hours:




Attention should be paid to the fact that the period from May 21 to the end of July at a latitude of 64 degrees differs in that the day exceeds 19 hours, and for the whole night, including twilight, only 5 hours remain.

St. Petersburg is located south of this latitude, and the period, in which the length of daylight hours is almost 19 hours, will begin in the last week of May and end in mid-July.

And if we take into account the short night (together with the time for twilight)? And remember that the city is always more well lit than natural places due to the work of lanterns and any other lighting fixtures?




Of course, a brief "real" darkness still comes, but it is simply unrealistic to notice with the naked eye. You won't be able to see the stars either, and you won't be able to fall asleep with the curtains open either.

In reality, in the northern capital, the night is brightest from the end of May to mid-July.

What city authorities and tour operators will tell us

With regards to the city government, they are closer to the "practical" point of view. For example, SUE "LenSvet" is a company that annually approves the schedule for turning on the lights in the city.




If you go to their official website www.lensvet.spb.ru, and look at the lighting map for the current year, it becomes immediately clear when the White Nights will begin and end according to LenSvet's “version”. These are the time periods when the streets are lit only until 3 am - from the end of May to the second week of July.

The federal authorities also agree that it is during this period that the city will be the most presentable for tourists and citizens. For example, the St. Petersburg Economic Forum was previously held in the second half of July (last time it was held from 01.06 to 03.06), and in 2019 the event is scheduled for May 24-26.

Well, everything is clear with travel agencies and operators. Almost all packages for "White Nights of St. Petersburg" at the end of May and mid-July have already been sold out. It is at this time that the city is visited by the largest number of tourists.

The city of St. Petersburg has always been able to delight with its beauty all tourists who came here from different countries the world. Most of all, this place is loved by romantics and for a reason, because only in St. Petersburg you can see the white nights, which are the hallmark of the city.

The best time to relax in St. Petersburg is the beginning of July. Because at this time you can see the white nights. At this time, a special energy reigns in the city, which even the residents of the city themselves can feel. It's incredible when you look at the clock, and it's midnight and it's light outside.

As you know, on May 20, white nights begin in St. Petersburg. Since then, the sun has not descended to the horizon, and the evening twilight turns smoothly into the morning. It is worth saying that such a phenomenon can also be seen in other cities of Russia, namely: Perm, Vorkuta, Vologda, Magadan and others. But the classics of Russian literature called Peter the "City of White Nights".

For a minute, it may seem that nature changes the background, thereby making it possible to enjoy the contemplation of the beauties of the city, but only from a different angle. Parks, fountains and palaces, as if shrouded in a starry web. The city is immediately filled with romance.

A great memory of this incredible event is always associated with the opening of the Blagoveshchensky and Dvortsovy bridges.

Events for White Nights in St. Petersburg

During the White Nights, various festivals, holidays, celebrations and concerts are held in St. Petersburg. Lovers of the classics can plunge into the incredible atmosphere of the Mariinsky Theater, where the Stars of the White Nights festival will be presented.

But, the most favorite holiday of all graduates and residents of the city is the "Scarlet Sails" festival. At this time, you can see the beauty of fireworks, light shows that delight all tourists, according to Therussiantimes portal. This event began to be celebrated in 2005 and to this day it is very popular.

Among all the interesting events, concerts on the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, as well as performances on Palace Square, well, you can't do without a pyrotechnic show that takes place over the Neva.

Slowly floats down the river big ship with scarlet sails, which serves as a symbol of joy and awakens the city from winter. This event attracts over 4 million people.

The longest night in St. Petersburg is observed from June 21 to 22, and the day lasts 19 hours. After that, the duration of twilight begins to gradually decrease, and real night begins in the city. From 17 June on the streets of the city it will be possible to see the first lanterns at night, which indicates that the season has already ended.

Many people say that if you were in St. Petersburg and did not get to the White Nights, then you were not there. After all, many people try to come to this city at this particular period of time in order to see with their own eyes all the beauty.

What is the essence of the White Nights in St. Petersburg?

There is an opinion that the time of the white nights is the period when the sun does not set over the horizon. Indeed, white nights are nights when the illumination does not change, and the night consists only of twilight. The peak of the White Nights itself falls on June 22, and officially they last from June 11 and end on July 2. Throughout almost the entire summer, the length of the day in St. Petersburg is longer than in Moscow.

In cities that are located north of St. Petersburg, white nights are brighter and longer, for example: in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk. Since Murmansk is located beyond the Arctic Circle, in winter you can see a completely different celestial phenomenon there - this is the polar night. It turns out that there are days when the sun does not rise at all.

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White nights are one of the most interesting phenomena in St. Petersburg, the northern capital of Russia. White nights are the period when the sun does not set. People can only see twilight, so the lighting is sufficient even for night walks.

Many tourists are interested in when the white nights begin in St. Petersburg in 2018. After all, at this time you can walk for whole nights, enjoy entertainment, take high-quality photos without using a flash. The long-awaited period falls on the end of June - beginning of July.

What causes white nights

White nights are a phenomenon that can be scientifically explained. The sun sets below the horizon at an angle of up to 6 degrees, less than usual. The location of the sun determines how dark it can get during a certain period of the day. At the beginning of summer, daylight hours increase, and the geographical position of St. Petersburg leads to the absence of a full night for a couple of weeks.

Many tourists compare white nights with the usual evening twilight, when there is even no need to turn on city lighting.

White Nights

It is not surprising that tourists are interested in knowing when the white nights begin in St. Petersburg and when to come for pleasant walks and active tourist leisure in the summer of 2018. The period of white nights usually falls in the second half of June.

However, the indigenous inhabitants of St. Petersburg are sure: the white nights begin at the end of May and end only in mid-July.

Throughout this time, city holidays, sports and music events are held that improve the perception of St. Petersburg and more more involvement tourists to the northern capital of Russia.

The end of June is the height of the white nights, the peak tourist season... Tourists try to book a hotel room in advance and buy a train ticket.


Drawbridges during the white nights

Features of leisure in St. Petersburg at the end of June

As soon as the white nights begin in St. Petersburg in the summer of 2018, festivals, celebrations and concerts are activated:

  1. Lovers of classical art try to visit the Mariinsky Theater, which is an important symbol of St. Petersburg. It is here that the traditional annual Stars of the White Nights festival is held.
  2. Scarlet Sails is a festival that is very important for graduates of St. Petersburg educational institutions and native residents of St. Petersburg. At this time, you can enjoy fireworks, light shows. The main one is held for graduates, but residents of St. Petersburg can enjoy fireworks. The "Scarlet Sails" holiday has been held annually since 2005.
  3. Among the most interesting events are concerts that are held on the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island and Palace Square, the embankment.
  4. From June 21 to June 22, when daylight hours reach 19 hours, many people enjoy night walks. In addition, the photographs taken amaze with their beauty.

At the end of June, twilight is getting shorter. After the second half of July, a full night falls, indicating the end of the peak of the tourist season. If you are interested in when the white nights begin and end in, you need to focus on the second half of June 2018.


Scarlet Sails

You need to properly prepare for a vacation in St. Petersburg during the White Nights. It is advisable to take into account different tips:

  1. It is advisable to book accommodation in advance. However, even with this approach, it is undesirable to focus on a large discount, since in the Russian hotel business there are practically no special offers. For budget travelers, hostel services are available, which sometimes offer good conditions residence. You need to prepare for the fact that even in an ordinary hostel, the cost of living will reach 500-600 rubles due to the high demand of tourists.
  2. During the white nights, prices for all goods become very high.... All goods and drinks on the main streets of St. Petersburg can be bought only at high prices, so it is advisable to take care of the possibility of saving.
  3. Various cultural events are held annually in St. Petersburg. When planning your leisure time, it is advisable to take care of buying tickets for concerts and exhibitions in advance. In 2018, a number of matches are also held in St. Petersburg.
    Security measures are always organized at a very high level to ensure that the entire community is protected. For this reason, you need to be prepared for possible intensified checks.

When the period of white nights begins and ends in St. Petersburg, many beginners and sophisticated tourists are interested, but for the convenience of rest, you can plan a trip in the second half of July, when the city will please with beautiful night illumination and the opening of bridges will continue to occur in the same mode.

Many travelers who are planning to visit St. Petersburg want to combine this trip with the time of the "white nights" in the city. What are white nights and when do they come to Petersburg?

White nights refers to a natural phenomenon when natural illumination is not too low at night. Instead of pitch darkness, the city has constant twilight at night. This is due to the fact that the sun goes beyond the horizon by no more than 7 degrees. In cities located on the sixtieth geographic parallel, you can observe such a natural phenomenon. Petersburg is located at 59.9 ° north latitude, so it is in this city that you can observe the most beautiful Russian white nights in all its splendor. In addition to St. Petersburg, white nights can be observed in many other cities of Russia. The question is how long they last for people to pay attention to. In St. Petersburg, besides the longest bright nights, there is the most remarkable architecture. This incredible combination beckons travelers to North Palmyra.


White nights in St. Petersburg begin on May 26 and last until July 16. But officially, they even write about this in all Russian media, this is the period from June 11 to July 2. The lightest white nights are observed on June 21-22. During the official white nights in the city, street lighting at night does not turn on, it is so bright in it. At other times, a little earlier or later, there is also increased natural illumination on the streets, but not to the same extent as during the peak of white nights.


Not in all places of St. Petersburg White Night looks the same. Locals claim that the brightest places are in the area gulf of finland and on the arrow of Elagin. Affected by the water mirror reflecting light and the geographical location of these objects.


Night walks in St. Petersburg can be matched to other equally interesting events that take place on bright nights. These are the opening of fountains (end of May), city day (27 May), festival of kvass and beer (beginning of July). And, of course, the international music festival “White Nights”, within the framework of which the alumni festival “Scarlet Sails” is held.


If you are going to St. Petersburg to see the “White Nights”, I sincerely envy you. Enjoy your trip and wonderful emotions!

St. Petersburg is the brightest northern city - countless architectural delights, bridges thrown over canals, amaze the imagination. In that beautiful city every element of the street decor is crafted with a soul-striking talent. The air of St. Petersburg becomes truly filled with romance from June 11th to July 10th, because it is during this period that the amazing period of White Nights begins. The period when dreams and secret desires come true.

How wonderful it is to go out on a warm, bright evening, taking a loved one with you and walk through the streets of St. Petersburg, look at, walk along the Hermitage and enjoy the view of the Neva. During this period of time, St. Petersburg acquires a special, ringing transparency of the air.

It is difficult to count how many talented people have dedicated their amazing works to this amazing natural phenomenon. And how many love stories the city saw at that time, and how many hearts are united into one - only Petersburg knows.

Petersburg easily forgets old traditions and acquires new ones. And just as easily brings back the lost elements - this applies equally to masquerades. The night when the twenty-seventh is replaced by the twenty-eighth will be the night of the return of the masquerade ball. The main note of this event is magical creatures and fairy-tale characters. Masks are required for everyone.

White nights of St. Petersburg

White Nights is a time of magic spilled in the air, a time when every walk around the city can turn into a meeting with your soul mate. The time when the northern city will help bring back faded feelings and stir up the stagnant romance of a fading relationship.

When the White Nights Begin, the city life of St. Petersburg is becoming more active - many events are timed to this very moment. A large-scale event also takes place during the White Nights, allowing young men and women to walk in an atmosphere of joy and happiness, under the bright night sky of St. Petersburg.

Surprisingly, the witchcraft of bright nights activates athletes from all over the world! An incredibly large-scale marathon starts on June 29th. Responsible marathon runners will run forty-two kilometers - the start will be from Palace Square, and further, along the embankments of the magnificent St. Petersburg.

It is not for nothing that just when St. Petersburg is covered with a languid veil of bright nights, countless tourists strive to seize their luck by the tail and taste the witchcraft of this amazing city.