When you need to escape from the grime and grit of Kaliningrad, Svetlogorsk is the place to come. Besides offering some of the most posh digs available in the region, the city also has a reasonably vibrant cafй and beach scene. History buffs will also be surprised that the town formerly named Rauschen is the only town in former East Prussia to come out of the war virtually unscathed. It boasts impressive architecture, tree-lined streets, a beautiful water tower, and the largest sun-dial in Europe.

Amazingly Svetlogorsk also manages to succeed in attracting more than just ageing German couples making pilgrimages back to the beaches of their childhood. It’s a quirky destination, and in spite of traces of international culture, the whole experience is still decidedly Russian: everything from fries with dill to blacked out BMWs. Savour it before it becomes another generic seaside resort.