Vorkuta is a coal mining town in Komi Republic.

Understand

Apartment buildings in Vorkuta.

Bridge in the city park.

The town of Vorkuta is closely associated with Vorkutlag, one of the most notorious forced labour camps of the Gulag. It was established in 1932 after massive depots of coal was found in the vicinity. By the early 21st century many mines had closed as problems with the high costs of operation plagued the mine operators. This has resulted in a decline in population.

Climate

See also: Cold weather

Vorkuta has subarctic climate, with very cold winters. Temperatures can easily reach −40 °C (−40 °F) during January and February. Summers are short and cool, with an average high of 10–15 °C (50–59 °F).

Get in

By plane

There are flights several times each week with Moscow and Syktyvkar, the capital of Komi Republic.

• 1 Vorkuta Airport (Аэропорт Воркута) (3 km south-east of the city centre, buses and taxis available). (updated Aug 2020)

By train

Train connections are available daily from Moscow, taking two nights. Long-distance services with Saint Petersburg and Nizhniy Novgorod are more irregular, usually departing 1–2 times per week. Regional night trains also link Vorkuta with Pechora and Syktyvkar. During holiday season sporadic services from the Black Sea appear, serving mostly domestic tourists.

• 2 Vorkuta railway station (Железнодорожная станция Воркута). (updated Aug 2020)

See

The Bolshezemelskaja tundra.

Drink

• Karaoke Klub "Karavan Karaoke" Vorkuta, Ulitsa Parkovaya, 34А, 2 Floor,, ☏ +7 904 207-17-77. (updated Apr 2021)

Sleep

• 1 "Vorkuta" hotel (Гостиница "Воркута"), Tsentralnaya sq., 5, ☏ +7 (82151) 3-79-95. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. 2900 руб/4400 руб per 1/2 person. (updated Sep 2017)

Go next

• Salekhard. Just across the Ural Mountains and into Asia, the train journey will take you through the remote wilderness to Labytnangi, across the water from Salekhard.