09:47 02-12-2025

Sablino Caves: underground adventures near St. Petersburg

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Discover the Sablino Caves near St. Petersburg: history of man-made tunnels, eerie legends, routes and tours, prices, rules, and directions by car, train, bus.

The Sablino Caves are among the most unusual places in Leningrad Oblast. Just forty kilometers from St. Petersburg, a genuine underground world opens up: long corridors, spacious halls, low squeezes, and passages that make it easy to feel like the hero of an adventure story.

How the underground labyrinths came to be

The story begins in the 18th century, when quartz sand was actively mined near Tosno for glass production. The deposit proved convenient: the rock was soft and accessible, and the workings stretched wider and deeper. That is how the first man‑made corridors appeared. By the early 19th century, extraction had stopped, and nature took over. Groundwater began reshaping the voids: some passages flooded, others collapsed, creating new links, small underground lakes, and trickling streams.

Over the years, the caves sheltered those who needed to hide — from fugitives to revolutionaries. During World War II, civilians took refuge here and partisan groups operated in the area. In the 1980s the tunnels lived through a curious, vivid chapter: families and solo 'cave‑dwellers' settled below ground, forming a commune that reportedly grew to as many as three hundred people.

What awaits inside

The Sablino Caves begin in a striking canyon carved by the Tosna River. Entrances open right in the steep banks, leading to large chambers and narrow transitions.

The best known is the 'Left Bank' cave. Parts of its passages are equipped, electricity has been brought in, and there is a chapel and halls used for concerts. Along the way you may spot bats, ancient fossils, and the famed 'mouse crawl' — a squeeze you can pass only lying down.

The 'Three‑Eyed' cave is smaller but no less intriguing. Entry is only on your belly, through one of its three openings — hence the name.

For those up for a longer route, there is 'Pearl' — a true underground city with about five kilometers of tangled passages and halls with telling names: 'Mermaid', 'Metro', and 'Column Hall'.

Legends that give you chills

The Sablino caves have their own 'residents' in local lore. The most famous is Granny Matveyevna. According to the tale, she fell from her cellar into the underworld and stayed there. Visitors have claimed they saw an old woman offering carrots, and seasoned regulars say one should not accept the treat.

Another story speaks of the White Speleologist said to rest in the 'Pants' cave. On his makeshift grave lie cigarettes, matches, and coins. Touching them is strictly forbidden — people warn it invites misfortune.

How to visit and what to know

The caves are part of a designated natural monument. Tours run by prior reservation, with tickets priced from 500 to 1,000 rubles.

The rules are strict for everyone:

• no vehicle access to the territory;
• no pets allowed;
• no smoking or alcohol;
• children only when accompanied by teachers or parents;
• winter access is limited — bats hibernate in the caves, and any disturbance can wipe out an entire population;
• masks are required indoors.

Getting there

The Sablino Caves sit near Ulyanovka.

By car: take the Moskovskoye Highway to the sign for the village, then head toward Nikolskoye. The natural complex ticket office is by the bridge.

By commuter train: depart from Moskovsky Railway Station to Sablino. From there, continue by bus or minibus to the complex entrance.

By bus: several services run from the Zvezdnaya metro station during the day. From the stop, it’s a short walk to the caves.

An underground world next to the city

The Sablino Caves bring together history, natural beauty, and a touch of the uncanny. It’s easy to lose track of time and slip into the role of an explorer, edging ever deeper into the dark corridors — precisely the feeling that draws people back here again and again.