Luga (; ) is a town and the administrative center of Luzhsky District in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, located on the Luga River  south of St. Petersburg. Population:

It was founded on the banks of the river of that name by order of the Catherine the Great on August 3 (14), 1777. The town developed in following stages:

1. Initial construction (1777–c. 1800)
2. Early growth to population of 3,000 (c. 1810–c. 1860)
3. Intense social and urban development (c. 1870–1910)
4. Soviet development according to the typical plan for smaller towns (1926–c. 1950)
5. Reconstruction of the historical town structure (c. 1960–c. 1995)
6. Transition to free market agro-industrial town (c. 1995–2005)