Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia

Located on the Baltic Sea between Poland and Lithuania, Kaliningrad Oblast is the northern part of what was once East Prussia. Traded and fought over for centuries, the territory is now home to mostly Russian-speaking people, but many traces of German culture are still evident in the cities and ruins of Prussian castles scattered across the landscape, making it an interesting travel destination in Russia.

The largest town in Kaliningrad Oblast is the capital Kaliningrad, formerly the famous German city of Königsberg. World War II and Soviet city planning saw the city heavily damaged, but many neighbourhoods are vibrant and friendly, with ongoing construction projects going a long way toward rebuilding. Kaliningrad is also home to many museums, theatres, monuments and pleasant parks that will interest visitors.

Kaliningrad Oblast produces roughly 90 percent of the world's amber, and the gemstone makes a popular souvenir from Kaliningrad Oblast. Tourists can visit the Kaliningrad Amber Museum and Factory.

Kaliningrad Oblast is home to the Curonian Spit, a UNESCO World Heritage Site shared by Russia and Lithuania. An elongated sand dune peninsula dotted with lighthouses and historic fishing settlements. Several towns on the Curonian Spit were popular health resorts in the 19th and early 20th centuries, including Nida, on the border of the Russian and Lithuanian sections of the peninsula.