Kronstadt rewards visitors who come for the naval history and military architecture. The Kronstadt Naval Cathedral on Anchor Square is the essential starting point — one of the great neo-Byzantine churches in Russia, recently and magnificently restored. Fort Alexander (the Plague Fort) on its offshore island is the most atmospheric excursion, accessible by boat in summer. The Kronstadt Naval Museum covers the full sweep of Russian naval history.
Saint Andrew's Cathedral is a place of pilgrimage associated with Father John of Kronstadt, one of the most revered figures in Russian Orthodoxy. The city is also the western terminus of the Saint Petersburg Flood Barrier, a remarkable piece of engineering that carries the ring road across the Gulf of Finland. Kronstadt makes an excellent day trip from St Petersburg, but history enthusiasts will find enough for a full day or even an overnight stay.