Things to do in St Petersburg

St Petersburg is filled with a wealth of beautiful buildings and churches, many of them along one of Russia's most famous streets, Nevsky Prospekt. Nevsky Prospekt is a wide and sweeping boulevard running through the centre of the city all along the Neva River. The Admiralty, the Alexandr Nevsky Monastery where many famous Russians are buried, the wide Griboeva Canal, Kazan Cathedral, and the Church of Our Saviour on the Spilled Blood are all located along Nevsky Prospekt. While based on the more famous St Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, many consider the Church of Our Saviour on the Spilled Blood to be the more interesting example of Russian folk-inspired architecture.

St Petersburg's most famous attraction is probably the Winter Palace and the Hermitage Museum, located on Palace Square. This massive green, white and gold Russian Baroque palace houses one of the world's greatest museum collections, ranging from ancient Russian historical artefacts to modern European art, with the sumptuously decorated rooms an exhibition in themselves. The museum is far too big to explore in one visit, so it's a good idea to choose a section when visiting.

The Peter and Paul Fortress houses old jails and dungeons open to tourists, as well as several historical museums, the country's Mint, and the Cathedral of St Paul and St Peter where every Russian emperor since Peter the Great is buried. St Isaac's is another famous church worth visiting, both for its impressive Russian Classic architecture and the climb to the top of the church's dome for panoramic views of the city.

Travellers planning a lot of sightseeing in St Petersburg should consider purchasing the Petersburg Card which allows free entry to certain attractions and lots of other discounts and specials.

The Winter Palace and the Hermitage Museum photo

The Winter Palace and the Hermitage Museum

At 656 foot-long (200m), the Winter Palace is the biggest and most lavishly decorated in the city. Once the official residence of the tsars, Catherine the Great added the Small and…

The Winter Palace and the Hermitage Museum

At 656 foot-long (200m), the Winter Palace is the biggest and most lavishly decorated in the city. Once the official residence of the tsars, Catherine the Great added the Small and Large Hermitages as a sanctuary for herself and her private art collection. The Hermitage Museum comprises a stately complex of buildings strung along the embankment, with the Winter Palace at its heart. Its collection has grown to contain more than three million pieces, its three floors covering from ancient times and modern art to works by the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. A rich interior is bedecked with elaborate mosaics, alongside white marble staircases, golden ceilings and crystal chandeliers.

Website www.hermitagemuseum.org

Opens Wednesday, Friday: 10.30am to 9pm. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: 10.30am to 6pm

Admission

Full access: RUB 700

Palace Square photo

Palace Square

Palace Square contains the picturesque Baroque buildings of the Winter Palace and Hermitage Museum, while standing opposite are the Classical yellow and white former General Staff …

Palace Square

Palace Square contains the picturesque Baroque buildings of the Winter Palace and Hermitage Museum, while standing opposite are the Classical yellow and white former General Staff buildings of the Russian army. The focal point is the Alexander Column, a tall monolith of red granite topped by the statue of an angel and a cross. Palace Square has been the site of numerous political protests, most notably the demonstrations of Bloody Sunday in 1905 that sparked the Russian Revolution. Today, the square is filled with markets and outdoor cafes, offering beautiful views of the Admiralty's golden spire and the dome of St Isaac's Cathedral across the vast stone paving.

Nevsky Prospekt photo

Nevsky Prospekt

Almost three miles (5km) long, Nevsky Prospekt is one of the best-known streets in Russia and the main thoroughfare of St Petersburg. It starts at the gilded spire of the Admiralty…

Nevsky Prospekt

Almost three miles (5km) long, Nevsky Prospekt is one of the best-known streets in Russia and the main thoroughfare of St Petersburg. It starts at the gilded spire of the Admiralty Building, passing both the Moscow Railway Station and the Alexander Nevsky Monastery. The hub of St Petersburg for centuries, it cuts through the most important segment of the city. Intersected by rivers and canals, the most beautiful part of the avenue surrounds the Griboyedov Canal. The grand Kazan Cathedral catches the eye, as does the breathtaking onion domes of the Church of Our Saviour on the Spilled Blood. Modelled on St Basil's in Moscow it's adorned with exquisite mosaic panels. Aside from the many places of worship, the street also boasts St Petersburg's finest shops and restaurants.

Website www.nevsky-prospekt.com

St Isaac's Cathedral photo

St Isaac's Cathedral

The golden dome of St Isaac's Cathedral dominates the skyline of St Petersburg, with the colonnade around the cupola offering superb panoramic views over the city. Commissioned by …

St Isaac's Cathedral

The golden dome of St Isaac's Cathedral dominates the skyline of St Petersburg, with the colonnade around the cupola offering superb panoramic views over the city. Commissioned by Tsar Alexander I to be a magnificent imperial cathedral, the ensuing masterpiece was of grandiose proportions which took more than 40 years to build. It was decorated in the most extravagant manner, incorporating many different kinds of stone and marble work. The Russian Classic exterior encloses a splendid interior adorned with red granite columns, exquisite mosaics and painted ceilings, along with sculptures, frescoes and a beautiful stained-glass window. The cathedral can accommodate 14,000 worshippers, and no photography or filming is allowed.

Website eng.cathedral.ru

Peter and Paul Fortress photo

Peter and Paul Fortress

Situated on a small island across the river from the Hermitage Museum, the Peter and Paul Fortress is the oldest surviving building in St Petersburg. Planned as a defence against p…

Peter and Paul Fortress

Situated on a small island across the river from the Hermitage Museum, the Peter and Paul Fortress is the oldest surviving building in St Petersburg. Planned as a defence against possible attacks from Sweden, the six corner bastions were turned into cells for political prisoners such as Leon Trotsky and Maxim Gorky. Other buildings in the fortress house the City History Museum and the Mint. Also enclosed within the imposing walls is the Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul, its distinctive golden needle-like spire visible throughout the city. The first church in the city to be built from stone, it has a richly decorated interior containing the tombs of every Russian Emperor since Peter the Great.

Website www.spbmuseum.ru

Opens 10am to 4pm, Thursday to Tuesday

Admission

RUB 100—RUB 500

Pavlovsk Palace photo

Pavlovsk Palace

Lying about 19 miles (31km) outside St Petersburg, the Pavlovsk Palace is somewhat more restrained than its surrounding contemporaries. Built in 1780 by the future emperor Paul I a…

Pavlovsk Palace

Lying about 19 miles (31km) outside St Petersburg, the Pavlovsk Palace is somewhat more restrained than its surrounding contemporaries. Built in 1780 by the future emperor Paul I and designed by a Scottish architect, it included landscaped gardens in the British style. Turned into a museum following the Russian Revolution, it was nearly destroyed in the Second World War. But thankfully, its old furnishings and artwork have been tracked down and beautifully restored. Today, the palace displays rooms exactly as they were when occupied by the Russian royalty. The extensive grounds are also beautifully kept and are available to visitors for strolling and picnicking.

Opens 10am to 6pm, Monday to Sunday

Tsarskoe Selo photo

Tsarskoe Selo

Tsarskoe Selo is a former Romanov summer residence located about 15 miles (25km) outside of St Petersburg. Originally a gift from Peter the Great to his wife, it was developed by d…

Tsarskoe Selo

Tsarskoe Selo is a former Romanov summer residence located about 15 miles (25km) outside of St Petersburg. Originally a gift from Peter the Great to his wife, it was developed by different emperors and empresses through the ensuing years. The Baroque Catherine Palace and the neoclassical Alexander Palace are the main buildings on the estate, the former houses the famous Amber Room panelled entirely with pieces of amber and filled with amber artwork. The palace grounds are extensive and contain many surprising small buildings, such as the Chinese Village and the Cameron Gallery, housing varied temporary exhibitions. It's an extremely popular spot in the summer months so it's a good idea to arrive early.