The promenade along the shore of Lake Onega is Petrozavodsk's best public space — wide, well-maintained, and lined with the eclectic sculpture collection donated by the city's many international twin towns over the past few decades. The lake itself is the backdrop: vast, grey-green, stretching to the horizon in all directions, with occasional islands visible in the distance.
In summer the waterfront fills with locals in the evenings, with a festive atmosphere despite the city's modest size. In winter, when the lake freezes, the promenade offers a stark and beautiful view of the ice extending to the horizon. The river station at the northern end of the waterfront is where hydrofoils depart for Kizhi Island.