Saint Petersburg is a world-class destination and Russia's second largest city, with a population of more than 5 million perched at the eastern tip of of the Baltic Sea and the Neva River.
The city was formerly known as Petrograd, and later Leningrad.
This is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places on earth and virtually any building in the large historic centre, threaded with canals dotted with baroque bridges, can be considered an attraction—and indeed, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is a magical city, with a long list of major attractions. Its Hermitage Museum, housed in the Winter Palace of the Romanov Dynasty, is both one of the world's greatest and oldest collections of art, treasure, and antiquities, and one of its most beautiful buildings.
In the territory of the Inkeri town of Nien which was a capital of Finno-Ugric province Ingermanland which was part of Novgorod Republic, and Sweden. The first settlements in this region date from 2500 years ago. Archaeologists found old graves full of izhora silver treasures, also korela-inkeri epos of Kalevala halfly was written near Sester river, modern Sestroretsk.
In this time the lifestyle of aborigines was very different it was forest people which lived in tunnels underground, famous for hunting, mushroom medicine, and making steel. It was place of joining three finno ugric subethnosos suomi Inkeri and Karela, St Petersburg the former home of the tsars and the centre of imperial Russian culture, Saint Petersburg was known as "The Venice of the North" in its heyday.
Re-christened Petrograd during the first World War, the city was renamed Leningrad in 1924 in honour of communist revolutionary and founder of the Soviet Union, Vladmir I. Lenin. Bombed, besieged and starved during World War II, the city took a back seat to Moscow during the Soviet-era.
Saint Petersburg is Russia's second-largest city after Moscow, with five million inhabitants in 2012,and an important Russian port on the Baltic Sea. It is politically incorporated as a federal subject,a federal city. Situated on the Neva River, at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea, it was founded by Tsar Peter the Great on May 27 1703.
In 1914, the name was changed from Saint Petersburg to Petrograd, in 1924 to Leningrad, and in 1991 back to Saint Petersburg. Between 1713 and 1728 and in 1732–1918, Saint Petersburg was the capital of imperial Russia. In 1918, the central government bodies moved to Moscow.
Saint Petersburg is one of the modern cities of Russia, as well as its cultural capital. The Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments constitute a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Saint Petersburg is home to The Hermitage, one of the largest art museums in the world.Many foreign consulates, international corporations, banks, and businesses have offices in Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg is nicknamed the 'Venice of the North'. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the city has rapidly been making up for lost time and is by far the most cosmopolitan and Western of Russia's cities. Renamed once more in the aftermath of the fall of the Soviet Union, most Russians know it as Piter, a familiar diminutive of Saint Petersburg.
During the hardship years of Yeltsin's presidency, much of the city was controlled by the infamous Tambov gang, but have since reduced in influence. With world-class architecture, astonishing views and friendly people, there's lots to do here.
On June 12, 1991, simultaneously with the first Russian presidential elections, the city authorities arranged for the mayoral elections and a referendum upon the name of the city. The turnout was 65%; 66.13% of the total count of votes went to Anatoly Sobchak, who became the first directly elected mayor of the city.
Meanwhile, economic conditions started to deteriorate as the country tried to adapt to major changes. For the first time since the 1940s, food rationing was introduced, and the city received humanitarian food aid from abroad.This dramatic time was depicted in photographic series of Russian photographer Alexey Titarenko.
Economic conditions began to improve only at the beginning of the 21st century.In 1995 a northern section of the Kirovsko-Vyborgskaya Line of the Saint Petersburg Metro was cut off by underground flooding, creating a major obstacle to the city development for almost ten years.
In 1996, Vladimir Yakovlev defeated Anatoly Sobchak in the elections for the head of the city administration. The title of the city head was changed from mayor to governor. In 2000 Yakovlev won re-election. His second term expired in 2004; the long-awaited restoration of broken subway connection was expected to finish by that time. But in 2003 Yakovlev suddenly resigned, leaving the governor's office to Valentina Matviyenko.
The law on election of the City Governor was changed, breaking the tradition of democratic election by a universal suffrage. In 2006 the city legislature re-approved Matviyenko as governor. Residential building had intensified again; real-estate prices inflated greatly, which caused many new problems for the preservation of the historical part of the city.
Although the central part of the city has a UNESCO designation,there are about 8,000 architectural monuments in Petersburg, the preservation of its historical and architectural environment became controversial.After 2005, the demolition of older buildings in the historical centre was permitted.
In 2006 Gazprom announced an ambitious project to erect a 396-meter skyscraper opposite to Smolny, which could result in the loss of the unique line of Petersburg landscape.
Urgent protests by citizens and prominent public figures of Russia against this project were not considered by Governor Valentina Matviyenko and the city authorities until December 2010, when after the statement of President Dmitry Medvedev, the city decided to find a more appropriate location for this project.
In the same year, the new location for the project was relocated to Lakhta, a historical area northwest of the center city, and the new project would be named Lakhta Center. Construction was approved by Gazprom and the city administration and commenced in 2012. The Lakhta Center would be the first tallest skyscraper in Russia and Europe that is outside of Moscow.
The area of Saint Petersburg city proper is 605.8 square kilometers (233.9 sq mi). The area of the federal subject is 1,439 square kilometers (556 sq mi), which contains Saint Petersburg proper consisting of eighty-one municipal okrugs, nine municipal towns – Kolpino, Krasnoye Selo, Kronstadt, Lomonosov, Pavlovsk, Petergof, Pushkin, Sestroretsk, Zelenogorsk and twenty-one municipal settlements.
Petersburg is situated on the middle taiga lowlands along the shores of the Neva Bay of the Gulf of Finland, and islands of the river delta. The largest are Vasilyevsky Island besides the artificial island between Obvodny canal and Fontanka, and Kotlin in the Neva Bay, Petrogradsky, Dekabristov and Krestovsky.
The latter together with Yelagin and Kamenny Island are covered mostly by parks. The Karelian Isthmus, North of the city, is a popular resort area. In the south Saint Petersburg crosses the Baltic-Ladoga Klint and meets the Izhora Plateau.
The elevation of Saint Petersburg ranges from the sea level to its highest point of 175.9 meters (577 ft) at the Orekhovaya Hill in the Duderhof Heights in the south. Part of the city's territory west of Liteyny Prospekt is no higher than 4 meters (13 ft) above sea level, and has suffered from numerous floods.
Floods in Saint Petersburg are triggered by a long wave in the Baltic Sea, caused by meteorological conditions, winds and shallowness of the Neva Bay. The four most disastrous floods occurred in 1824 (421 centimeters or 166 inches above sea level, during which over three hundred buildings were destroyed), 1924 (380 centimeters or 150 inches), 1777 (321 centimeters or 126 inches), 1955 (293 centimeters or 115 inches), and 1975 (281 centimeters or 111 inches). To prevent floods, the Saint Petersburg Dam has been constructed.
Since the 18th century the terrain in the city has been raised artificially, at some places by more than 4 meters (13 ft), making mergers of several islands, and changing the hydrology of the city. Besides the Neva and its tributaries, other important rivers of the federal subject of Saint Petersburg are Sestra, Okhta and Izhora. The largest lake is Sestroretsky Razliv in the north, followed by Lakhtinsky Razliv, Suzdal Lakes and other smaller lakes.
Due to location at ca. 60° N latitude the day length in Petersburg varies across seasons, ranging from 5 hours 53 minutes to 18 hours 50 minutes. A period from mid-May to mid-July when twilight may last all night is called the white nights.
Saint Petersburg is a major trade gateway, serving as the financial and industrial centre of Russia, with specialisions in oil and gas trade; shipbuilding yards; aerospace industry; technology, including radio, electronics, software, and computers; machine building, heavy machinery and transport, including tanks and other military equipment; mining; instrument manufacture; ferrous and nonferrous metallurgy (production of aluminium alloys); chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment; publishing and printing; food and catering; wholesale and retail; textile and apparel industries; and many other businesses.
It was also home to Lessner, one of Russia's two pioneering automobile manufacturers (along with Russo-Baltic); it was founded by machine tool and boiler maker G. A. Lessner in 1904, with designs by Boris Loutsky, and it survived until 1910.
Ten percent of the world's power turbines are made there at the LMZ, which built over two thousand turbines for power plants across the world. Major local industries are Admiralty Shipyard, Baltic Shipyard, LOMO, Kirov Plant, Elektrosila, Izhorskiye Zavody; also registered in Saint Petersburg are Sovkomflot, Petersburg Fuel Company and SIBUR among other major Russian and international companies.
Saint Petersburg has three large cargo seaports: Bolshoi Port Saint Petersburg, Kronstadt, and Lomonosov. International cruise liners have been served at the passenger port at Morskoy Vokzal on the south-west of Vasilyevsky Island.
In 2008 the first two berths were opened at the New Passenger Port on the west of the island.The new port is part of the city's Marine Facade development project and is due to have seven berths in operation by 2010.
A complex system of riverports on both banks of the Neva River are interconnected with the system of seaports, thus making Saint Petersburg the main link between the Baltic Sea and the rest of Russia through the Volga-Baltic Waterway.
The Saint Petersburg Mint or Monetny Dvor, founded in 1724, is one of the largest mints in the world, it mints Russian coins, medals and badges. Saint Petersburg is also home to the oldest and largest Russian foundry, Monumentskulptura, which made thousands of sculptures and statues that are now gracing public parks of Saint Petersburg, as well as many other cities.
Monuments and bronze statues of the Tsars, as well as other important historic figures and dignitaries, and other world famous monuments, such as the sculptures by Peter Clodt von Jurgensburg, Paolo Troubetzkoy, Mark Antokolsky, and others, were made there.
In 2007, Toyota opened a Camry plant after investing 5 billion roubles approx. 200 mln dollars in Shushary, one of the southern suburbs of Saint Petersburg. Opel, Hyundai and Nissan have signed deals with the Russian government to build their automotive plants in Saint Petersburg too. Automotive and auto-parts industry is on the rise there during the last decade.
Saint Petersburg is the location of a significant brewery and distillery industry. It is known as the beer capital of Russia, due to the supply and quality of local water, contributing over 30% of the domestic production of beer with its five large-scale breweries including Europe's second largest brewery Baltika, Vena (both operated by BBH), Heineken Brewery, Stepan Razin (both by Heineken) and Tinkoff brewery (SUN-InBev).
The city has a lot of local distilleries which produce a broad range of vodka brands. The oldest ones is LIVIZ (founded in 1897). Among the youngest is Russian Standard Vodka introduced in Moscow in 1998, which opened in 2006 a new $60 million distillery in Petersburg,an area of 30,000 m2 320,000 sq ft, production rate of 22,500 bottles per hour. In 2007 this brand was exported to over 70 countries.
Saint Petersburg has the second largest construction industry in Russia, including commercial, housing and road construction.
In 2006 Saint Petersburg's city budget was 179.9 billion rubles about 6.651 billion US$ at 2006 exchange rates, and is planned to double by 2012. The federal subject's Gross Regional Product as of 2015 was 3,24 trillion Russian rubles about 50 billion US$ at 2015 exchange rates, ranked 4th in Russia, after Moscow, Tyumen Oblast, and Moscow Oblast,or 580,000 rubles per capita about 9,500 US$ at 2015 exchange rates, ranked 12th among Russia's federal subjects,contributed mostly by wholesale and retail trade and repair services (24.7%) as well as processing industry (20.9%) and transportation and telecommunications (15.1%).
Budget revenues of the city in 2009 amounted to 294.3 billion rubles about 10.044 billion US$ at 2009 exchange rates, expenses – 336.3 billion rublesabout 11.477 billion US$ at 2009 exchange rates. The budget deficit amounted to about 42 billion rubles.about 1.433 billion US$ at 2009 exchange rates
Saint Petersburg has three skyscrapers:
- Leader Tower (140 m)
- Alexander Nevsky (124 m)
- Atlantic City (105 m)
All three being situated far away from the historical centre. Current regulations forbid construction of high buildings in the city centre. The 310-meter (1,020 ft) tall Saint Petersburg TV Tower is the tallest completed structure in the city. However, there was a controversial project endorsed by the city authorities, and known as the Okhta Center, to build a 396 meters (1,299 ft) supertall skyscraper.
In 2008, the World Monuments Fund included the Saint Petersburg historic skyline on the watch list of the 100 most endangered sites due to the expected construction, which threatens to alter it drastically.The Okhta Center project has been finally cancelled at the end of 2010 and instead of that Lakhta Center project is started at the city outskirts.
The complex shall include 463-metre-tall (1,519-foot) office skyscraper and several low rise mixed use buildings. Lakhta center project causes much less controversy and, unlike the previous unbuilt project, is not seen by UNESCO as potential threat to cultural heritage because it is located far away from historical center.
Skyscraper construction has already started, the building should be constructed in 2018. It is assumed that the building will be the tallest in Russia and Europe.
Unlike in Moscow, in Saint Petersburg the historic architecture of the city centre, mostly consisting of Baroque and neoclassical buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries, has been largely preserved; although a number of buildings were demolished after the Bolsheviks' seizure of power, during the Siege of Leningrad and in recent years.
The oldest of the remaining building is a wooden house built for Peter I in 1703 on the shore of the Neva near Trinity Square. Since 1991 the Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments in Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast have been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The ensemble of Peter and Paul Fortress with the Peter and Paul Cathedral takes a dominant position on Zayachy Island along the right bank of the Neva River. Each noon a cannon fires a blank shot from the fortress. The Saint Petersburg Mosque, the largest mosque in Europe when opened in 1913, is situated on the right bank nearby.
The Spit of Vasilievsky Island, which splits the river into two largest armlets, the Bolshaya Neva and Malaya Neva, is connected to the northern bank (Petrogradsky Island) via the Exchange Bridge and occupied by the Old Saint Petersburg Stock Exchange and Rostral Columns. The southern coast of Vasilyevsky Island along the Bolshaya Neva features some of the city's oldest buildings, dating from the 18th century, including the Kunstkamera, Twelve Collegia, Menshikov Palace and Imperial Academy of Arts. It hosts one of two campuses of Saint Petersburg State University.
On the southern, left bank of the Neva, connected to the spit of Vasilyevsky Island via the Palace Bridge, lie the Admiralty building, the vast Hermitage Museum complex stretching along the Palace Embankment, which includes the baroque Winter Palace, former official residence of Russian emperors, as well as the neoclassical Marble Palace. The Winter Palace faces Palace Square, the city's main square with the Alexander Column.
Nevsky Prospekt, also situated on the left bank of the Neva, is the main avenue in the city. It starts at the Admiralty and runs eastwards next to Palace Square. Nevsky Prospekt crosses the Moika (Green Bridge), Griboyedov Canal (Kazansky Bridge), Garden Street, the Fontanka (Anichkov Bridge), meets Liteyny Prospekt and proceeds to Uprising Square near the Moskovsky railway station, where it meets Ligovsky Prospekt and turns to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
The Passage, Catholic Church of St. Catherine, Book House (former Singer Manufacturing Company Building in the Art Nouveau style), Grand Hotel Europe, Lutheran Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Great Gostiny Dvor, Russian National Library, Alexandrine Theatre behind Mikeshin's statue of Catherine the Great, Kazan Cathedral, Stroganov Palace, Anichkov Palace and Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace are all situated along that avenue.
The Alexander Nevsky Lavra, intended to house the relics of St. Alexander Nevsky, is an important centre of Christian education in Russia. It also contains the Tikhvin Cemetery with graves of many notable Petersburgers.
On the territory between the Neva and Nevsky Prospekt the Church of the Savior on Blood, Mikhailovsky Palace housing the Russian Museum, Field of Mars, St. Michael's Castle, Summer Garden, Tauride Palace, Smolny Institute and Smolny Convent are located.
Many notable landmarks are situated to the west and south of the Admiralty Building, including the Trinity Cathedral, Mariinsky Palace, Hotel Astoria, famous Mariinsky Theatre, New Holland Island, Saint Isaac's Cathedral, the largest in the city, and Senate Square, also known as Decembrist's Square with the Bronze Horseman, 18th century equestrian monument to Peter the Great, which is considered among the city's most recognisable symbols.
Other symbols of Saint Petersburg include the weather vane in the shape of a small ship on top of the Admiralty's golden spire and the golden angel on top of the Peter and Paul Cathedral. The Palace Bridge drawn at night is yet another symbol of the city. Every night during the navigation period from April to November, 22 bridges across the Neva and main canals are drawn to let ships pass in and out of the Baltic Sea according to a schedule.
It was not until 2004 that the first high bridge across the Neva, which does not need to be drawn, Big Obukhovsky Bridge, was opened. There are hundreds of smaller bridges in Saint Petersburg spanning across numerous canals and distributaries of the Neva, some of the most important of which are the Moika, Fontanka, Griboyedov Canal, Obvodny Canal, Karpovka and Smolenka.
Due to the intricate web of canals, Saint Petersburg is often called Venice of the North. The rivers and canals in the city centre are lined with granite embankments. The embankments and bridges are separated from rivers and canals by granite or cast iron parapets.
Southern suburbs of the city feature former imperial residences, including Petergof, with majestic fountain cascades and parks, Tsarskoe Selo, with the baroque Catherine Palace and the neoclassical Alexander Palace, and Pavlovsk, which contains a domed palace of Emperor Paul and one of the largest English-style parks in Europe.
Some other residences situated nearby and making part of the world heritage site, including a castle and park in Gatchina, actually belong to Leningrad Oblast rather than Saint Petersburg. Another notable suburb is Kronstadt with its 19th-century fortifications and naval monuments, occupying the Kotlin Island in the Gulf of Finland.
Since around the end of the 20th century a great deal of active building and restoration works have been carried out in a number of the city's older districts. The authorities have recently been compelled to transfer the ownership of state-owned private residences in the city centre to private lessors. Many older buildings have been reconstructed to allow their use as apartments and penthouses.
Some of these structures, such as the Saint Petersburg Commodity and Stock Exchange have been recognised as town-planning errors.
Saint Petersburg has a significant historical and cultural heritage.
The 18th and 19th-century architectural ensemble of the city and its environs is preserved in virtually unchanged form. For various reasons (including large-scale destruction during World War II and construction of modern buildings during the postwar period in the largest historical centers of Europe), Saint Petersburg has become a unique reserve of European architectural styles of the past three centuries.
Saint Petersburg's loss of capital city status helped the city to retain many of its pre-revolutionary buildings, as modern architectural prestige projects tended to be built in Moscow; this largely prevented the rise of mid-to-late-20th-century architecture and helped maintain the architectural appearance of the historic city center.
Saint Petersburg is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list as an area with 36 historical architectural complexes and around 4000 outstanding individual monuments of architecture, history and culture. New tourist programs and sightseeing tours have been developed for those wishing to see Saint Petersburg's cultural heritage.
The city has 221 museums, 2000 libraries, more than 80 theaters, 100 concert organizations, 45 galleries and exhibition halls, 62 cinemas and around 80 other cultural establishments. Every year the city hosts around 100 festivals and various competitions of art and culture, including more than 50 international ones.
Despite the economic instability of the 1990s, not a single major theatre or museum was closed in Saint Petersburg; on the contrary many new ones opened, for example a private museum of puppets opened in 1999 is the third museum of its kind in Russia, where collections of more than 2000 dolls are presented including The multinational Saint Petersburg and Pushkin's Petersburg.
The museum world of Saint Petersburg is incredibly diverse. The city is not only home to the world-famous Hermitage Museum and the Russian Museum with its rich collection of Russian art, but also the palaces of Saint Petersburg and its suburbs, so-called small town museums and others like the museum of famous Russian writer Dostoyevsky; Museum of Musical Instruments, the museum of decorative arts and the museum of professional orientation.
The musical life of Saint Petersburg is rich and diverse, with the city now playing host to a number of annual carnivals.
Ballet performances occupy a special place in the cultural life of Saint Petersburg. The Petersburg School of Ballet is named as one of the best in the world. Traditions of the Russian classical school have been passed down from generation to generation among outstanding educators. The art of famous and prominent Saint Petersburg dancers like Rudolf Nureyev, Natalia Makarova, Mikhail Baryshnikov was, and is, admired throughout the world.
Contemporary Petersburg ballet is made up not only of traditional Russian classical school, but also ballets by those like Boris Eifman, who expanded the scope of strict classical Russian ballet to almost unimaginable limits.
Remaining faithful to the classical basis he was a choreographer in Vaganova Academy of Dance, he combined classical ballet with the avant-garde style, and then, in turn, with acrobatics, rhythmic gymnastics, dramatic expressiveness, cinema, color, light, and finally with spoken word.
Saint Petersburg is home to numerous parks and gardens, some of the most famous of which are situated in the southern suburbs, including one of the largest English gardens in Europe in Pavlovsk. Sosnovka is the largest park within the limits of the city proper, occupying 240 ha. The Summer Garden is the oldest one, dating back to the early 18th century and designed in the regular style.
It is situated on the southern bank of the Neva at the head of the Fontanka and is famous for its cast iron railing and marble sculptures.
Among other notable parks are the Maritime Victory Park on Krestovsky Island and the Moscow Victory Park in the south, both commemorating the victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War, as well as the Central Park of Culture and Leisure occupying Yelagin Island and the Tauride Garden around the Tauride Palace.
The most common trees grown in the parks are the English oak, Norway maple, green ash, silver birch, Siberian Larch, blue spruce, crack willow, limes, and poplars. Important dendrological collections dating back to the 19th century are hosted by the Saint Petersburg Botanical Garden and the Park of the Forestry Academy.
In order to commemorate 300 years anniversary of Saint Petersburg a new park was laid out. The park is situated in the north western part of the city. The construction was started in 1995. It is planned to connect the park with the pedestrian bridge to the territory of Lakhta Center's recreation areas.
In the park 300 trees of valuable sorts, 300 decorative apple-trees, 70 limes. 300 other trees and bushes were planted. These trees were presented to Saint Petersburg by non-commercial and educational organizations of the city, its sister-cities, city of Helsinki, heads of other regions of Russia, German Savings Bank and other people and organizations.
Saint Petersburg is home to more than two hundred museums, many of them hosted in historic buildings. The largest of the museums is the Hermitage Museum, featuring interiors of the former imperial residence and a vast collection of art. The Russian Museum is a large museum devoted specifically to Russian fine art.
The apartments of some famous Petersburgers, including Alexander Pushkin, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Feodor Chaliapin, Alexander Blok, Vladimir Nabokov, Anna Akhmatova, Mikhail Zoshchenko, Joseph Brodsky, as well as some palace and park ensembles of the southern suburbs and notable architectural monuments such as St. Isaac's Cathedral, have also been turned into public museums.
The Kunstkamera, with its collection established in 1714 by Peter the Great to collect curiosities from all over the world, is sometimes considered the first museum in Russia, which has evolved into the present-day Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography.
The Russian Ethnography Museum, which has been split from the Russian Museum, is devoted to the cultures of the people of Russia, the former Soviet Union and Russian Empire.
A number of museums provide insight into the Soviet history of Saint Petersburg, including the Museum of the Blockade, which describes the Siege of Leningrad and the Museum of Political History, which explains many authoritarian features of the U.S.S.R..
Other notable museums include the Central Naval Museum, and Zoological Museum, Central Soil Museum, the Railway Museum, Suvorov Museum, Museum of the Siege of Leningrad, Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art, the largest non-governmental Museum of contemporary art in Russia, Saint Petersburg Museum of History in the Peter and Paul Fortress and Artillery Museum, which includes not only artillery items, but also a huge collection of other military equipment, uniforms and decorations.
Among the city's more than fifty theatres is the world-famous Mariinsky Theatre also known as the Kirov Theatre in the USSR , home to the Mariinsky Ballet company and opera. Leading ballet dancers, such as Vaslav Nijinsky, Anna Pavlova, Rudolph Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Galina Ulanova and Natalia Makarova, were principal stars of the Mariinsky ballet.
The First music professional institution – Conservatory – appeared in 1862 in St. Petersburg thanks to the Russian pianist and composer Anton Rubinstein. The school alumni have included such notable composers as Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Sergei Prokofiev, Artur Kapp, and Rudolf Tobias and Dmitri Shostakovich, who taught at the conservatory during the 1960s, bringing it additional fame.
Famous Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov who taught at the Conservatory for more than 30 years, created strong composers' school. Among his students were Igor Stravinsky, Alexander Glazounov, Anatoly Liadov and others. The only composer's museum in St. Petersburg is now museum in the former apartment of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. The completeness and authenticity of these rooms make the museum particularly invaluable.
Dmitri Shostakovich, who was born and raised in Saint Petersburg, dedicated his Seventh Symphony to the city, calling it the "Leningrad Symphony." He wrote the symphony while in the city during the siege of Leningrad. The 7th symphony was premiered in 1942; its performance in the besieged Leningrad at the Bolshoy Philharmonic Hall under the baton of conductor Karl Eliasberg.
It was heard over the radio and lifted the spirits of the survivors.In 1992 a reunion performance of the 7th Symphony by the then 14 survivors was played in the same hall as they done half a century earlier.[82] The Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra remained one of the best known symphony orchestras in the world under the leadership of conductors Yevgeny Mravinsky and Yuri Temirkanov.
Mravinsky's term as artistic director of the Leningrad Philharmonic – a term which is possibly the longest of any conductor with any orchestra in modern times – led the orchestra from being a little-known provincial ensemble to it becoming one of the world's most highly regarded orchestras today, especially for the performance of Russian music.
The Imperial Choral Capella was founded and modeled after the royal courts of other European capitals.
Saint Petersburg has been home to the newest movements in popular music in the country. The first jazz band in the Soviet Union was founded here by Leonid Utyosov in the 1920s, under the patronage of Isaak Dunayevsky. The first jazz club in the Soviet Union was founded here in the 1950s and was later named jazz club Kvadrat.
In 1956 the popular ensemble Druzhba was founded by Aleksandr Bronevitsky and Edita Piekha to become the first popular band in the USSR during the 1950s. In the 1960s student rock-groups Argonavty, Kochevniki and others pioneered a series of unofficial and underground rock concerts and festivals. In 1972 Boris Grebenshchikov founded the band Aquarium which later grew to huge popularity. Since then "Peter's rock" music style was formed.
In the 1970s many bands came out from underground and eventually founded the Leningrad Rock Club, which provided a stage to such bands as DDT, Kino, headed by the legendary Viktor Tsoi, Alisa, Zemlyane, Zoopark, Piknik, Secret and many other popular groups. The first Russian-style happening show Pop Mekhanika, mixing over 300 people and animals on stage, was directed by the multi-talented Sergey Kuryokhin in the 1980s.
The annual International Music Festival SKIF (Sergey Kuriokhin International Festival) is named after him. In 2004 the Kuryokhin Center was founded, were the SKIF as well as the Electro-Mechanica festival and Ethnomechanica festival takes place. SKIF focuses on experimental pop music and avant garde music, Electro-Mechanica on electronic music and Ethnomechanica on world music.
Today's Saint Petersburg boasts many notable musicians of various genres, from popular Leningrad's Sergei Shnurov, Tequilajazzz, Splean, Korol i Shut, to rock veterans Yuri Shevchuk, Vyacheslav Butusov and Mikhail Boyarsky. In the early 2000s on a wave of popularity of metalcore, rapcore, emocore and there are such groups as Amatory, Kirpichi, Psychea, Stigmata, Grenouer and Animal Jazz.
The White Nights Festival in Saint Petersburg is famous for spectacular fireworks and a massive show celebrating the end of the school year.
Over 250 international and Russian movies were filmed in Saint Petersburg.Well over a thousand feature films about tsars, revolution, people and stories set in Saint Petersburg have been produced worldwide but not filmed in the city. The first film studios were founded in Saint Petersburg in the 20th century and since the 1920s Lenfilm has been the largest film studio based in Saint Petersburg.
The first foreign feature movie filmed entirely in Saint Petersburg was the 1997 production of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, starring Sophie Marceau and Sean Bean and made by an international team of British, American, French and Russian filmmakers.
The cult comedy Irony of Fate is set in Saint Petersburg and pokes fun at Soviet city planning. The 1985 film White Nights received considerable Western attention for having captured genuine Leningrad street scenes at a time when filming in the Soviet Union by Western production companies was generally unheard of.
Other movies include GoldenEye (1995), Midnight in Saint Petersburg (1996), Brother (1997) and Tamil romantic thriller film-Dhaam Dhoom (2008). Onegin (1999) is based on the Pushkin poem and showcases many tourist attractions. In addition, the Russian romantic comedy, Piter FM, intricately showcases the cityscape, almost as if it were a main character in the film.
Several international film festivals are held annually, such as the Festival of Festivals, Saint Petersburg, as well as the Message to Man International Documentary Film Festival, since its inauguration in 1988 during the White Nights.
Saint Petersburg has a longstanding and world famous tradition in literature. Dostoyevsky called it "The most abstract and intentional city in the world," emphasizing its artificiality, but it was also a symbol of modern disorder in a changing Russia. It frequently appeared to Russian writers as a menacing and inhuman mechanism.
The grotesque and often nightmarish image of the city is featured in Pushkin's last poems, the Petersburg stories of Gogol, the novels of Dostoyevsky, the verse of Alexander Blok and Osip Mandelshtam, and in the symbolist novel Petersburg by Andrey Bely. According to Lotman in his chapter, 'The Symbolism of Saint Petersburg' in Universe and the Mind, these writers were inspired by symbolism from within the city itself.
The effect of life in Saint Petersburg on the plight of the poor clerk in a society obsessed with hierarchy and status also became an important theme for authors such as Pushkin, Gogol and Dostoyevsky. Another important feature of early Saint Petersburg literature is its mythical element, which incorporates urban legends and popular ghost stories, as the stories of Pushkin and Gogol included ghosts returning to Saint Petersburg to haunt other characters as well as other fantastical elements, creating a surreal and abstract image of Saint Petersburg.
20th-century writers from Saint Petersburg, such as Vladimir Nabokov, Ayn Rand, Andrey Bely and Yevgeny Zamyatin, along with his apprentices, The Serapion Brothers created entire new styles in literature and contributed new insights to the understanding of society through their experience in this city. Anna Akhmatova became an important leader for Russian poetry. Her poem Requiem adumbrates the perils encountered during the Stalinist era.
Another notable 20th-century writer from Saint Petersburg is Joseph Brodsky, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature (1987). While living in the United States, his writings in English reflected on life in Saint Petersburg from the unique perspective of being both an insider and an outsider to the city in essays such as, A Guide to a Renamed City and the nostalgic In a Room and a Half.
Leningrad hosted part of the association football tournament during the 1980 Summer Olympics. The 1994 Goodwill Games were also held here.
In boating, the first competition here was the 1703 rowing event initiated by Peter the Great, after the victory over the Swedish fleet. Yachting events were held by the Russian Navy since the foundation of the city. Yacht clubs: St. Petersburg River Yacht Club, Neva Yacht Club, the latter is the oldest yacht club in the world. In the winter, when the sea and lake surfaces are frozen and yachts and dinghies cannot be used, local people sail ice boats.
Equestrianism has been a long tradition, popular among the Tsars and aristocracy, as well as part of military training. Several historic sports arenas were built for equestrianism since the 18th century, to maintain training all year round, such as the Zimny Stadion and Konnogvardeisky Manezh, among others.
Chess tradition was highlighted by the 1914 international tournament, partially funded by the Tsar, in which the title Grandmaster was first formally conferred by Russian Tsar Nicholas II to five players: Lasker, Capablanca, Alekhine, Tarrasch and Marshall.
Kirov Stadium,now demolished was one of the largest stadiums in the world and home to FC Zenit Saint Petersburg from 1950 to 1993 and again in 1995. In 1951 a crowd of 110,000 set the single-game attendance record for Soviet football. In 1984, 2007, 2010 and 2011/2012 Zenit were the champions of the Soviet and Russian leagues, respectively, and won the Russian Cup in 1999 and 2010, the UEFA Cup 2007–08 season and the 2008 UEFA Super Cup.
The team leader was local player Andrei Arshavin. Zenit currently play their home games at Petrovsky Stadium. The New Zenit Stadium, which will host 2018 FIFA World Cup matches, is currently under construction.
There is also a second professional football club in Saint Petersburg, FC Dynamo Saint Petersburg, which is owned by the historic Dynamo sports society.
Hockey teams in the city include SKA Saint Petersburg in the KHL, HC VMF St. Petersburg in the VHL, and junior clubs SKA-1946 and Silver Lions in the Russian Major League. SKA Saint Petersburg is one of the most popular KHL, consistently being at or near the top of the league in attendance, despite the fact that they have never won the championship. Well-known players include Maxim Afinogenov, Patrick Thoresen, Dmitri Kalinin, Petr Prucha and Viktor Tikhonov.
During the NHL lockout, stars Ilya Kovalchuk, Sergei Bobrovsky and Vladimir Tarasenko also played for the team. They play their home games at Ice Palace Saint Petersburg.
The city's long-time basketball team is BC Kondrashin Belov, which launched the career of Andrei Kirilenko. Kondrashin Belov won two championships in the USSR Premier League (1975 and 1992), two USSR Cups (1978 and 1987), and a Russian Cup title (2011). They also won the Saporta Cup twice (1973 and 1975). Legends of the club include Alexander Belov and Vladimir Kondrashin. The city also has a new basketball team, BC Zenit Saint Petersburg.
There is a huge seasonal variation in day length due to the city's position at 60°N.
Days are less than 6 hours long at the end of December, but it never gets darker than twilight during the White Nights season in June. Not only are the days very short in late autumn and early winter, but the weather may be overcast for weeks, without a hint of blue sky, which may feel depressing.
The driest season with least precipitation is early spring. July and August are usually the rainiest months, though the difference is usually not big enough to worry about. But if you care about this, it is a good idea to have an umbrella or raincoat handy.
In November–March there are hardly any tourists at all, so you won't see the long lines of the summer at the Hermitage. Saint Petersburg's neoclassical streets are also simply gorgeous in the snow. Temperatures can range from slightly above freezing point to bitterly cold. From time to time it may get to -25°C (-13F) and below, often with high humidity and wind, so be prepared to dress warmly.
Most major tourist attractions, except those relying on the water, are still open and some hotels offer lower prices during this time. The ground is usually covered in snow and the rivers and canals are frozen during this time. Snow is not always removed from streets in time and may exacerbate traffic problems. There is danger of slipping on ice or getting hit by falling icicles. Wear good boots, take small steps, and watch your feet!
In April, the streets are covered in sludge as the snow melts.
June is peak tourist season during the famous White Nights (roughly 11 June–2 July), when the sun sets only for a brief period of twilight, and the streets stay alive around the clock. Book early.
July and August are usually the warmest months. This is a rather northern city, and it rarely gets really hot, but even more modest warmth can be hard to bear in summer because of the high humidity. Rain showers usually come and go throughout this time, so it is always a good idea for one to have an umbrella or rain jacket at all times, even on sunny clear days.
Late September—early October is a lovely time in the city. The temperatures drop to moderate, often with strong winds, and the tourists are all gone. Rain is still common.
Fountains operate from May through mid-September. Most trees are in leaf from May through October.
Note the days of school holidays, when museums and other similar venues can become considerably more crowded. School holidays are in early November (autumn break), the first half of January (winter break) and late March (spring break). Moreover, general holidays are held around the New Year into early January, as well as in early May.
St Petersburg in Winter: Strelka (east-most tip) of Vasilyevsky Island is in lower extreme left, facing Peter and Paul Fortress and the Hermitage on opposite banks of the Neva River
Russian visa requirements are complex but are not hard to manage with some online research.
A visa is not required for a trip of less than 72 hours if you arrive in St. Petersburg by ferry or by cruise liner and you have a pre-arranged program of excursions by an approved local company. This kind of visa for cruise passengers is called Blanket visa and can be ordered online at Russian travel agency.
Pulkovo Airport (IATA: LED), 20km south of the city centre, serves many international and domestic destinations. A new terminal opened in 2014. There is unlimited free Wi-Fi. The airport has business lounges that are free for first and business class travelers but are available for use by all passengers upon payment of a fee. The lounges include snacks, drinks, televisions, and showers.
Travel between the airport and the city:
City buses numbers 39, 39Ex and minibus K39 operate service between the airport and the Moskovskaya (ŠŠ¾ŃŠŗŠ¾Š²ŃŠŗŠ°Ń) metro station (RUB40, 35 minutes). Buses are available 05:30-01:30. From the Moskovskaya metro station, you can take metro line 2 (blue), which operates between 5:45AM and 12:20AM, to the city centre (20 minutes).
If you arrive late at night and the metro is not operating, you can also take a night bus from the metro station to the city centre. Minibus K39 also stops at the Aeroport commuter rail station. From there, you can take a train to Saint Petersburg's Baltiysky Station (17 minutes, 6:00AM-11:30PM), next to the Baltiyskaya metro station. This is only convenient if it is near your accommodation.
Uber costs RUB500-900 to the city center.
Taxis can be ordered from the service booth in the arrivals hall. Prices are fixed based on the zone of travel; the cost to the city centre is RUB1000-1400, including booking fees. Without traffic, the trip takes 30 minutes, but it can easily take an hour during rush hour. As an alternative, Taxi 068 has a mobile app that you can use to book a taxi to the center for RUB600, but you will need a Russian phone number to communicate. If calling from the airport arrival hall, it will take 10-20 minutes for the taxi to arrive.
Pre-booked taxis will cost RUB1,300-1,600 to the centre, but you will be welcomed in the arrival hall by your driver carrying a sign with your name. Pre-booking through the internet is without risk, no credit card information is asked, and pre-payment is not required. LingoTaxi has English-speaking drivers and dispatchers.
Night train No. 3/4 "Express", one of the very few still having an original livery differing from Russian Railways unified corporate one, at Moskovsky Rail Terminal
Five principal train stations in Saint Petersburg:
Baltiysky Station - Trains operate to/from Petrodvorets (Peterhof), Lomonosov (Oranienbaum), Gatchina, Luga, and other cities. Also used by trains to/from Aeroport station, with connecting buses to Pulkovo airport.
Finlyandsky Station (Metro: Ploschad Lenina) - Trains operate to/from Vyborg, with continuing service to Helsinki (Allegro high speed) and other cities in Finland.
- Ladozhsky Station (Metro: Ladozhskaya) - Trains operate to/from Murmansk, Ekaterinburg, Cheliabinsk, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Astana (Kazakhstan), Helsinki (night-train Leo Tolstoi), and other cities.
Moskovsky Station (Metro: Ploshchad Vosstaniya & Mayakovskaya) - Trains operate to/from Moscow, Novgorod, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Volgograd, Kazan, Samara, Rostov-on-Don, Ufa, Sochi,Tallinn(Estonia) and other cities.
Vitebsky Station (Metro: Pushkinskaya) - Trains operate to/from Pushkin (formerly Tsarskoe Selo), Pavlovsk, Belarus, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria, Germany, Lithuania, Riga (16 hours, from RUB2,700).
To/from Russia
Tickets for travel originating in Russia can be bought at the train stations or online. Long distance train tickets are generally more expensive if bought close to the date of travel. See Russia#By train 2 for more details on travelling in Russia by train.
Sapsan high-speed trains (4-5 hours, 6 per day, RUB2,300-3,500 for 2nd class if bought several days in advance) make travel between downtown Saint Petersburg and downtown Moscow very easy. Some trains make a few stops including Tver. The crew speaks English.
Overnight rapid trains (8-9 hours, RUB800+) are slower but usually cheaper. Price and comfort levels vary, with the luxurious private Grand-Express "hotel train" (featuring some compartments with showers!) at the high end, all the way down to budget connections in third-class platzkart cars. Second-class coupe coaches, which include a bed and sheets, are a good value.
To/from Finland
VR Group operates high-speed Allegro trains running at up to 220km/h between Helsinki and Saint Petersburg (3.5 hours, 4 per day, €59-79 for 2nd class). Tickets originating in Finland can be purchased from the VR Group website, via some travel agencies, and at major VR train stations in Finland. Border-crossing formalities are completed on board the train immediately after departure from Helsinki.
The trains are almost always on time and there are no delays in crossing the boarder. On-board currency exchange is available.
International buses and buses to major cities in Russia all leave from the main bus station (Avtovokzal), near the Obvodny Kanal metro station. Some may make additional stops elsewhere in the city; see below. Buses are the preferred method of travel to/from Estonia and Latvia, but generally do not make sense for travel to Finland or within Russia.
The process of crossing the border by bus takes much longer than when travelling by train or air. Border agents only speak Russian and are sometimes not aware of visa requirements, which leads to delays.
To/from Russia
The train is much more preferred method of travel than the bus within Russia. Domestic bus schedules can be accessed on AviaBus.
To/from Finland
Lux Express operates service to/from Helsinki (€15-20, 7 hours, 3x per day). This is the cheapest way to travel to Helsinki, although it takes twice as long as the train.
Matkahuolto provides information on traveling by bus to/from Finland. There are direct buses between Saint Petersburg and Helsinki (7-8 hours, 4 per day, €35) and Lappeenranta (6 hours, 3 per day, €31), with further connections to other cities in Finland.
Sovavto operates daily buses between Saint Petersburg and Turku (10 hours, €53), with stops at several cities including Helsinki (7.5 hours, €35).
To/from the Baltics and other cities in Europe
Lux Express operates service to/from Tallinn (€14-30, 7 hours, 7x per day) with a stop in Narva (€9-16, 5 hours, 7x per day), Tartu (€22-25, 7 hours, 5x per day), as well as a service to/from Riga (4x per day, 11 hours, €33-35), with continuing service to the rest of Europe. Office at Mitrofanjevskoe Shosse 2-1, near Metro Baltiyskaia (Baltiyskiy vokzal). Tel: +7 812 441 37 57. Lux Express buses depart from Baltiskii Station and the main bus station (Avtovokzal).
Ecolines operates daily departures to Riga (€36, 10-12 hours, 3x per day) as well as service to Minsk (€34, 15 hours, 1-2x per day) and Kiev (€68, 19 hours, 2x per day). Office at Pod'ezdniy pereulok 3 near Metro Pushkinskaya 10:00-22:00. Tel: +7 812 314 2550, +7 901 300 6170. Ecolines buses depart from Vitebsky vokzal (near Metro Pushkinskaya) and the main bus station (Avtovokzal).
Neva River from the Gulf of Finland
If you join a cruise tour of St. Petersburg, then you don't need a Russian visa but you have to stay with the tour.
St. Peter Line operates visa-free cruises to St. Petersburg from Helsinki, Tallinn, and Stockholm.
RechFlot and Stolichnaya Sudokhodnaya Kompania (SSK) operate river cruises on the inland waterway "Volga-Baltic" which links Moscow, the River Volga, and Lakes Onega, Ladoga and Neva.
Passenger Port of St. Petersburg Marine FaƧade is the main boat terminal in St. Petersburg, and is where 90% of cruise ships dock. It was built on reclaimed land on the western shore of Vasilyevsky Island at the mouth of the Neva River, 8km west of the city center. With its 7 berths and 4 terminals, Marine FaƧade is able to handle 7 large cruise ships and more than 15,000 passengers per day. Bus #158 operates between terminal 3 and the Primorskaya metro station.
Smaller cruise ships sail up the Neva river and dock at either English Embankment Angliyskaya Naberezhnaya) or Lieutenant Schmidt Embankment, both of which are closer to the city center.
Touring St. Petersburg
Except during the winter, the 9 low bridges in St. Petersburg are drawn during the night to allow for the passage of boat traffic. Therefore, if you don't make it to the side of the river where you are staying before the bridges are drawn and there are no high bridges to cross, you will be stuck until the bridges are lowered.
Note that there are "breaks" when some the bridges are lowered in the middle of the night for approximately 30 minutes to briefly allow everyone to get home. The bridge schedule is particularly noteworthy for those staying on Vasilyevsky Island, which is unreachable at certain times of the night. Seeing the bridges drawn in the middle of the night is a must for all visitors to the city!
The Bolshoy Obukhovskiy Most, 14km south of the Alexander Nevsky Bridge (Most Aleksandra Nevskogo), is never drawn, allowing for 24-hour crossing of the Neva River. However, the bridge is out of the way and will increase the cost of your taxi or Uber.
Metro SPB Line2: Chyornaya rechka. The station is devoted to Alexander Pushkin and located not far from the place where he was fatally wounded in the duel with Georges d'Anthes
Saint Petersburg's metro system is the second largest in Russia, after that of Moscow. The metro is a cheap and effective way to get around the city, and also a major tourist attraction due to the beautiful decorations of the stations. Amateur photography without a tripod, etc is allowed, although professional photography is prohibited.
The trains are fast and run frequently. During rush hour, there are often only 30 seconds between trains. Fares are RUB45 per entry regardless of the distance traveled. Multi-trip passes can be purchased including a 10-trip pass for RUB355 must be used within 7 days of purchase.
The system can be accessed by inserting a brass token into the turnstile slot, by tapping a Podorozhnik smart card purchased from a machine at the station, or by tapping a Mastercard PayPass or Visa PayWave card on the white circle near the turnstile. Large baggage requires payment of 1 additional fare.
Opening and closing times vary; the subway is closed from approximately midnight to approximately 05:45, depending on the station.
Metro maps can be found in every train car and always have station names in the Latin alphabet. The station names on the platforms are also in the Latin alphabet, and many other signs are in English. Station announcements on the train are only in Russian, but if you listen carefully you will hear the conductor announce the current station name and the next station as the doors are closing.
Highly recommended is the use of the metro cards that work as electronic wallets, e.g. the Electronic card "Podorozhnik". They can be acquired at the metro cash desks, charged at the desks or the automated ticket machines in metro stations and then used to pay metro and bus fare by simply swiping over the readers at buses or turnstiles.
This greatly reduces wait times for metro tickets and is much easier than paying coins on the bus rides and it is also cheaper as the price per fare is lower for paying with the card than paying with cash. When initially charged with a balance, the card itself should be free or require only a very small deposit.
Recommended is buying the card during off-peak times at the metro stations, charging the cards later is then usually with no wait times as many Russians somehow prefer waiting at the cash desks over using the ticket machines. The cards can be bought by anyone with cash and function like cash (lose the card = lose the money).
Be advised that the cash desks at the metro stations don't advertise the cards and may need a picture of the Podorozhnik card (website print or phone picture) to "understand" what the customer wants. The cards *should* be able to be refunded (deposit and remaining balance, if any) before leaving St. Petersburg, if the amount remaining is worth waiting and effort on the cash desks.
The cards work for all metro, tram and trolleybus fares in St. Petersburg and many bus routes. Some private bus routes and most or all Marshrutki do not yet accept the cards, so money in coins may be needed for some routes. Ticket controllers carry a small card reader to verify if the Podorozhnik card was swiped in the bus, so that works as expected. A similar card type exists for Moscow City, the Troika, but the systems do not yet interact, i.e. the Moscow "Troika" does not work in St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg "Podorozhnik" does not work in Moscow.
Stations are deep underground, and transferring trains at transfer stations involves long walks that can take up to 10 minutes.
Trains can be extremely crowded during rush hour. Be aware of your belongings and expect to have to push your way out of the train upon arrival at your station.
Buses and trolleybuses run frequently and cover much of the city. Route information is available using Google Maps. Information for trolleybuses and trams is also available online.
Trolleybuses are indicated by the letter 'm' on the stops, and diesel/gas buses by the letter 'A'. Both buses and trolleybuses may show the same route number, but the trolleybus route in this case is frequently shorter, and can vary in some minor respects.
Trams are not common in the city center due to traffic issues but are available outside the city center.
Tickets (RUB40, more to the suburbs) are sold by attendants on board the vehicle. They usually only speak Russian and prefer exact change.
Buses and trolleys on main routes are frequently overcrowded. If you are caught without a valid ticket, you will be fined RUB300.
Taxis are always available but are much more expensive at night. Every private vehicle is a potential taxi. Flagging down a vehicle and paying for a ride somewhere is perfectly normal in Russia and quite popular although ill-advised for tourists. Safety is, of course, an issue. As a rule, you should never get in a private cab if it already has passengers inside.
Refuse requests from the driver to take on more fares unless you reached your destination; if he insists, ask to stop at a safe-looking place, pay and leave. If the driver stops for gas, step out of the car, take your belongings, and get some fresh air while he is fuelling it. Those travelling alone (men and women) should wave off any suspicious ride for any reason whatsoever.
Gypsy cabs which linger near popular bars and restaurants at night have been known to be especially dangerous, with several instances of druggings and robberies.
Drivers do not usually speak English. Watch out for overpriced taxis outside Hermitage museum. They have meters that run at 4 times the rate of regular taxis. Negotiate a flat fare before getting on the taxi. If the driver insists on using the meter you should walk away.
Uber is a safer and cheaper method of transport than taxis. Drivers usually don't speak English, but communicating with the driver is not necessary since the fares and destinations are all handled through the app. Popular alternatives to Uber are: Yandex.Taxi, Gett and Taxovichkoff, all have mobile apps and have similar concept to Uber.
Route taxi or marshrutka is sometimes the fastest way to get somewhere. Vans have 14-20 seats, are usually white or yellow, always with a letter K followed by the route number plate (such as K-28). Often they are small Chinese or Turkish buses. There are no regular stops; you must tell the driver when you want to get out, or wave while on the roadside to stop one. You must pay to the driver at entry, usually RUB30-40.
If you cannot reach the driver on your own, pass the money through the other passengers and be ready to pass other's money if you sit close to the driver. The Marshrutka experience may seem exciting sometimes, especially when you see some brave driver counting change while steering with his knees at 110km/h (70mph). Many marshrutka drivers are illegal immigrants and speak Russian poorly,if any at all.
Commuter trains may be useful to get to the suburbs. Fares are based on travel distance. Speeds are moderate, but trains operate frequently. Information is available in Russian online.
While the terrain in Saint Petersburg is flat, the city is not bicycle-friendly due to limited bike lanes, bad weather, and dangerous car traffic. However, you are allowed to take a bicycle onto the elektrichka trains upon payment of a small fee and go to a less crowded suburb to enjoy a ride.
Activities
The historic center of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments are UNESCO world heritage, so definitely worth your while.
The Hermitage Museum complex from across the Neva River. From left to right: Hermitage Theatre – Old Hermitage – Small Hermitage – Winter Palace the "New Hermitage" is situated behind the Old Hermitage.
The Hermitage Museum/The Winter Palace is Saint Petersburg's prime attraction, a massive palace-museum showing the highlights of a collection of over 3,000,000 pieces spanning the globe. The Hermitage is truly one of the world's great museums, with an imposing setting displaying priceless works by Rembrandt, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Rubens and more. Getting a tour guide is recommended; they can charge as much as $100, but the additional information they impart can be well worth the price, and they can readily take you directly to the items you want to see.
Ticketing is complex, but the Hermitage itself is RUB300 for Russians and RUB400 for foreigners and they do check if you have a Russian passport, even if you speak Russian. Students of all nationalities get in for free, but don't forget your student card with photo the 'administration' will likely reject your ID if it doesn't have a date on it.
Entrance is free on the first Thursday of every month. Large bags aren't allowed in the museum, and a massive cloakroom downstairs,no charge, as usual in Russia exists to assist with jackets and bags. A ticket allowing photography costs RUB200. Some rooms and all temporary exhibits prohibit all kinds of photography.
Advice for foreigners visiting the Hermitage Museum: Find a tour group. This may have changed, call the museum ahead of time to find out.: Entry fee is RUB200 instead of RUB400, and includes the photography fee and a whistle-stop tour of the museum (but note the free entry for students). Don't accept a tour from the numerous touts hanging around the queue.
Instead, march past the queue and in through the main entrance, or the exit opposite if the queue's blocking the entrance (don't worry, you're not queue-jumping). Have a scout around for notices with museum tour times in your native language, or in extreme circumstances, ask at the desk. If you find a good candidate, you're all set to go to the Tours Office to book yourself on it.
This is where things get slightly surreal. To get to the Tours Office from the main entrance, go forward past the cashiers, and turn left down the corridor.
The Tours Office is in front of you at the end, and may or may not be marked. Get yourself a place on your tour, collect the bit of paper, go to cashier No. 5 (who is not with the rest of them, instead turn left out of the Tours Office and she's in a box at the end of the corridor), pay, get your paper stamped, take it back to the Tours Office and get it checked, stamped again and muttered over and then you're ready to brave the coat dungeon.
You can buy tickets on-line, and have a confirmation emailed to you. It is currently slightly more expensive than a local ticket as they charge in dollars at an old exchange rate ($18 including photos), you just walk straight to the front of the queue. Hand your booking confirmation and passport to information desk. She will get the ticket office to check your details and issue the tickets.
The queues at the ticket office can be long, and purchasing a ticket online can help you bypass this queue first thing in the morning. However, at other times the museum can limit the admission rate because of the numbers already in the museum. In this case having purchased your tickets in advance won't save you as much time. There are also ticket machines just before you get to the cash desk which have much shorter lines.
The museum has a cafe and large shop near the entrance, and numerous small shops throughout the galleries. Audio guides are available in English, and most signs in the gallery are in English and Russian. Guide books are available for around RUB300.
Russian Museum, Inzhenernaya Ul. 4 (Across Ploshad Isskustv from the Grand Europe Hotel). 10AM to 6PM daily ex. Tuesday. An extensive collection of Russian paintings and sculpture. People who are disappointed that the Hermitage is mainly western European art love this museum, since most of the artists are relatively unknown to non-Russians.
The main building, the Mikhailovskiy Palace houses the main exhibits, and the Russian Museum also oversees the permanent and temporary exhibits at the Stroganov Palace, Marble Palace and Mikhailovskiy Castle. Tickets to each can be purchased separately or as a universal pass. Foreigners RUB350, Russians RUB150.
The Admiralty, North end of Nevsky Prospekt (Next to the Hermitage). Not open to visitors, but worth seeing from the outside.
The bridges on the Neva. Open 2 times per night to allow boats to pass.
Museum of Artillery, Combat Engineers and Signal Troops. Housed in old Arsenal fortress-like building near the Peter and Paul Fortress and surrounded by moat. HUGE collection of weapons from the beginning of history until the present, including an extensive collection of Soviet weaponry from WW2 and the Cold War.
Tanks, ballistic missiles, Katuscha trucks, countless Kalashnikovs. Personal note: Absolutely awesome, one of the highlights of all my European travels. If you speak Russian and can pass as a Russian, a 2-hour private guided tour costs around €15. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and the last Thursday of the month.
Ethnographic Museum, Next to the Russian Museum Mikhailovskiy Palace. An interesting and educational display of the traditions and costumes of various ethnic groups found in the lands of the former Russian Empire. Foreigners 350 RR, Russians 100 RR.
Alexander Nevskiy Monastery. Located at the Eastern end of Nevskiy Prospekt next to the River Neva. The site also has the Tikhvin Cemetery which houses the tombs of some of the world's most famous composers; Tschaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky and Borodin, and also the author Fyodor Dostoevsky, along with many other famous Russian figures.
Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood, Canal Griboedova, 2a (Between Nevsky Prospekt and the Neva). A traditional style Russian church built on the spot where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. The interior is elaborately decorated with over 6000sqm of mosaics. Photography without a tripod and extra lighting permitted for free. 250 RR
Our-Lady-of-Kazan Cathedral, Kazansky Sobor), Nevsky Prospekt and Canal Griboedova (Metro: Nevsky Prospekt). Impressive neoclassical exterior, richly decorated interior. Includes the tomb of Gen. Kutuzov, hero of the war of 1812. Free entry.
Saint Isaac's Cathedral, St. Isaac's Square. 11am to 7pm daily ex. Wed. Located near to the Admiralty. It was built in 1818 and is a major attraction in the city. It is the third highest cupola cathedral in the world. There are night time visits, too, and the view from the colonnade (observation deck) is one of the best views of the city, for those who are willing to climb 400 steps. Foreigners 300 RR, Russians 120 RR.
Narva Triumphal Arch (Narvskie Vorota), prospect Stachek 1. You have just come out of Narvskaya metro station, and here it is! The arch was built to meet and greet Russian soldiers who came home having defeated Napoleon Bonaparte's army. It is made of bricks and plated with cooper. The chariot reined by Pheme is running atop. Many tourists and citizens misbelieve that the arch is monolithic. Nope, it's inhabited!
You might have seen a lot of arches in your life. But you've hardly been within any. You come to the left door, enter the arch and buy a ticket (RUB100). Then you climb a very high spiral ladder which pierces the pier,not for those who are prone to dizziness. Eventually, you are in the crown of the arch.
Here, at a height of 15 meters above the ground, a small exhibition hall is. Usually they exhibit something related to wars and battles Russia and USSR participated in. In August 2015 they were exhibiting things and photos telling about World War I. RUB100.
Loft Project ETAGI, Ligovsky prospekt, 74. Culture centre located in five-storey former bakery building with several exhibition spaces (combined surface around 5000 square metres). Contemporary art exhibitions, concerts, events (flea markets). Parts of Etagi loft are two art galleries, four exhibitions spaces, a cafe (with great interior and outside terrace), a hostel and a bookshop.
Kirov's museum, Kamennoostrovskiy prospect 26 (Gorkovskaya or Petrogradskaya metro stations). Daily: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wednesdays: closed. A good museum is never just a set of items. It speaks to people and answers their questions.
This museum will answer these ones: How did Soviet people live in the 1930s? What did their flats look like? What beds did they sleep on? What bathrooms did they go to? Where did they keep their food? What pens did they write with? How did Soviet people regard "luxury"?
What sweets did Soviet children want their parents to buy them? The museum is the flat of Sergey Kirov who was the mayor of Leningrad in 1927-1934. But it isn't about Kirov only. It's about the epoch he lived in. It was the time between the World Wars when Joseph Stalin headed the USSR. RUB120.
Jangseung spirits, "the. 15 guardian spirits came from Korea and gathered in the southwest corner of Park Sosnovka the intersection of prospect Toreza and Svetlanovsky prospect - 60°00'41.3"N 30°20'50.7"E. It's believed that these 4-meter-high wooden spirits radiate positive energy and frighten demons away. Hurry up! Humid climate and vandals have destroyed 12 poles of the 15!
Vasilievsky Island
Andreyevsky Cathedral, 6 line V.O., 11. Perhaps the most beautiful religious building on the island, built in 1780. The main cupola is framed by three narrow towers, and is topped by a two-tiered belltower. The gilt, three-layered iconostasis inside is an impressive 17 meters tall.
Church of the Assumption of Mary, Naberezhye Leitenanta Schmidta, 27. This five domed church was built in 1897. In 1935, as happened to many churches in Russia, it was converted by the Soviets into a warehouse, but in 1993 it was reopened for services. The ongoing careful renovations began in 1996.
Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art, No 2, 29th line, Vasilyevsky Island. 10am-10pm, Tuesday closed. Erarta project brings under one roof Russia's largest private Museum of Contemporary Art (with over 2,300 works in its collection as of the time of writing) and the art gallery.
The building has a cafƩ (3rd floor), a restaurant, a gift store and a print shop. It has an overall floor area of 10,000 square meters. The Museum especially is worth visiting for its creativity, not only exhibiting other artists' works but also acting as an author itself. RUB500 for the Museum.
Exchange Building (Naval Museum), Birzhevaya Square, 4. 11AM-6PM Tu-Su. As of spring 2016 this building appears to be completely defunct. The Naval Museum is now in a brick building at Truda Ploschad The Exchange Building, which houses the Naval Museum, is the centerpiece of the Strelka ensemble.
It was built in 1816 in the Neoclassical style. The Naval Museum, one of the largest in the world, contains historical displays of the Russian navy from its founding to the present day, including weaponry, models of ships, and even some original mastheads. Extensive World War II display, and also not directly related to Naval history, a diorama box of the storming of the Winter Palace. Foreigners: RUB320, Russians: RUB90.
Ivan Kruzenshtern Statue, Across from Naberezhye Leitenanta Schmidta, 17. A statue of Admiral Ivan Kruzenshtern, was built in 1870 in honor of the 100-year anniversary of the renowned Admiral's death.
Kunstkamera (Room of Curiosities), Universitatskaya Embankment 3 (Close to the Palace Bridge; enter around the corner on Tamozhenny Pereulok). 11AM-6PM Tu-Su, closed every last Tuesday of the month. This museum is primarily famous for its one-room freak show collection of 300 year-old deformed fetuses in formaldehyde,of which you are not allowed to take pictures.
The rest of the museum consists of trinkets from various world cultures (over one million exhibits).A statue of the famous 18th century Russian Renaissance man himself, famous for his contributions to mathematics, literature, painting, natural science, chemistry, physics, mineralogy, history, philology, and art. Foreigners: RUB200, Russians: RUB100.
Mining Institute Museum, 21st line V.O., 2. By appointment for group tours only. One of the largest and oldest geological museums in the world, containing more than 230 thousand items, collected from more than 80 countries. Even if you don't make it inside on a tour, it's worth passing by to admire it's imposing 1811 Imperial-style facade.
Narodovolets (the People's Will) Submarine D-2, Shkipersky protok, 10. W-Su 11AM-5:15PM. A small museum aboard a WWII submarine, dedicated to the actions of the submarine throughout the war (run by the Naval Museum).
Rostral Columns. The first monuments you'll immediately notice on the Strelka, the Rostral Columns are yet another symbol of the city. Constructed in 1810, the columns are each adorned with six rostra (traditionally, the prows of captured ships), symbolizing the might of the Russian Baltic Fleet. At the base of the columns you'll see sculptures representing the great rivers of European Russia, the Volga, Dnieper, Neva, and Volkhov. In addition to their decorative purpose, the columns also served as lighthouses, and to this day the gas flames are lit on holidays.
Rumyantsevsky Park and Obelisk, between the 1st and 2nd lines along Universitetskaya naberezhye. The big obelisk in the center of the park was moved here from Mars Field in honor of Count Peter Rumyantsev's victory in the Russo-Turkish War of 1791. On the southern end, look for two statues of the famous Russian painters Repin and Surikov.
Russian Academy of the Arts, Universitetskaya naberezhye, 17. Russia's largest center for advanced study in the arts, founded by Lomonosov and Shuvalov, and was until the 20th century the only school of its kind in Russia. The impressive neoclassical building was built in 1788.
Theban Sphinxes, across the road from the Academy of the Arts. You wouldn't expect it, but these two granite sphinxes are three thousand years older than the city itself! They were excavated in 1820 in the temple of Amenhotep III near Thebes. Upon seeing them, the Russian writer and diplomat Muravyev wrote to the Tsar, and convinced him to purchase the statues for display in Petersburg. They were installed in 1834. Oddly enough, sphinxes seem to be popular in the city - there are another six made by Russian sculptors lurking about.
The Twelve Colleges, Universitetskaya naberezhye, 7/9. One of Domeniko Trezini's many neoclassical buildings in Petersburg, built in 1742. The ensemble is comprised of twelve identical, connected, three-story buildings. The main facade faces Mendeleevskaya St, rather than the Neva, because at the time of construction, there was a canal in place of the street, across from which was the main market on the island. Today the ensemble houses the Geological and Agricultural departments, as well as Admissions.
Zoological Museum, Universitetskaya naberezhye, 1. 11AM-6PM daily. A wild lesson in taxidermy, the museum contains over 17 million species, stuffed, mounted, and fossilized (although due to constraints of finitude, the building "only" displays some 500 thousand). The collection began at the Kunstkammer, and grew into its enormous state under the later Imperial period. You won't have to look hard, but look for the complete blue whale skeleton, as well as the world's only stuffed mammoth. e
Churches and Temples
If you have seen the top tourist destinations but still have enough time, turn off the tourist highway and see some more churches and temples scattered throughout St. Petersburg. Many of them do have something unique to show!
Church of the Holy Trinity, prospect Obukhovskoy oborony, 235. Old Russian prince had a farm... And he wanted his village to have a church. He decided that it would resemble two Russian Easter dishes - kulich and paskha. The idea made the church outstanding before it was built. Then the prince found the architect who would bake the dishes. The Easter table is laid just across from Proletarskaya metro station.
The church is round and yellow like a well-baked pie. It departs from the tradition, most Russian orthodox churches are cross-shaped. The bell tower isn't a tower at all. It's a pyramid plated with metal. The church is well-lit. The architect used windows and walls to direct sunbeams and then let them play inside.
On clear days icons, candlesticks and chandeliers seem to be floating in the air! Ironically, along with the church, wherefrom people send messages to God, the architect built the Main post office of St. Petersburg, wherefrom people send messages to each other. The latter made him famous. The ways of God are inscrutable!
Politechnical University Church of the Intercession, Politekhnicheskaya ulitsa, 29. Technical university. What can sound more secular? The church breaks the stereotype. It was drawn by the teacher who taught drawing in the university. Initially, the church was to be a part of the library. The scientists even invented an iron curtain (long before it turned into a metaphor) to split the altar from the reading room.
Then it was decided to attach the church to the university hostel as a separate building. God and students became neighbours. The church mishappened to be opened on the brink of World War I and everything which followed it. That's why it was frescoed only in the mid-'90s. But it saved the church from being ordinary. It's a rarest place where one can see the Last Judgement Scene frescoed in modern times. God is painted as a large and mighty hand. The Scales of Justice are weighing human souls.
The sinners are being dragged to hell by the demons. In hell they are turning into the silhouettes. But some of them are being pardoned. God's mercy is painted as the spring which is cooling hell. Four kingdoms Babylon, Macedonia, Persia and Rome are painted as a square above hell to make visitors google, why. In the corridor God is painted neither as God the Father, nor as God the Son but as the Dove (God the Holy Spirit). It's also a rarest case in Russia!
No trip to St. Petersburg is complete without seeing an opera or ballet performance. The Mariinsky is perhaps the most well-known institution, but it is by no means the only theater in the city. Tickets are sold throughout the city at kiosks and shops called Teatralnaya Kassa, which charge a nominal,usually about 20 RR fee for "insurance," which is theoretically optional.
The theater box offices themselves sell tickets directly, too, and usually for the same price. Sometimes blocks of tickets sell out at the kiosks but tickets are still available at the theater, or vice versa, so it is worth checking both places if you have your heart set on a particular performance.
It is possible to take not-so-small children into some performances if you take a private box, although you will need to ask when you buy your tickets.
Do not buy your tickets "online". "Online" prices are 10 times higher than the actual price and are geared for foreigners who don't know Russian. Example: 10th row seats at the Conservatory's performance of "The Marriage of Figaro" online cost $107, but if you go to the theatre directly a few days before, you pay RUB500.
Mariinsky Theater, Theater Square 1. The Mariinsky Theater (formerly the Kirov, which is the name the troupe still uses when touring abroad) is world-class for both opera and ballet. There are English supertitles for operas sung in Russian; operas in other languages have Russian supertitles. Performances are offered in two halls: the main theater, and the newly-built Mariinsky Concert Hall. Tickets can be purchased on the theater's website.
Mikhailovskiy Theater, Ploshad Isskustv 1 (Between the Russian Museum and the Grand Hotel Europe). The exterior is not as recognizable as the Mariinsky, but the interior is nearly as grand, and the theater hosts both Russian and foreign headliners in opera and ballet.
St. Petersburg Opera, Galernaya Ul. 33 (West of the Bronze Horseman). An intimate theater (half-sized stage, and only about 150-200 audience seats) which puts on the major repertory operas at a lower price than the major theaters and has a fascinating foyer - one has to see it to believe it.
Conservatory Theater, Theater Square 3 (Across the street from the Mariinsky Theater). While the hall itself is not lavish - quite sterile, really - a good option for seeing Russian and repertory operas cheaply, performed by faculty and students of the conservatory where Tchaikovsky (and many other famous figures from the Russian music world) studied.
Theater on Vasilyevsky Island, Sredny prospect 48 ("59°56'27.9"N). If it were in New York City, it would rather be an 'off-Broadway' theater. But being in St. Petersburg it's a big but cozy theater on a big but cozy island. They stage Russian and foreign drama, e.g. The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Without a Dowry by Alexander Ostrovsky, Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov. They neither turn plays into 'performances for schoolchildren' nor into manifestations of underground art.
They don't change dramatists' texts but choose the angles to show that a 150-year-old play isn't just a 'piece of art from the gorgeous past' and is still reflecting human life.
Youth Theater, Pionerskaya ploschad 1. Don't take the theater's name literally! They do stage Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs by Brothers Grimm, The Moomins by Tove Jansson, The Emerald City by L. Frank Baum and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. But the theater isn't for children and teenagers only.
Here you can see Plays by Samuel Beckett, King Lear by William Shakespeare, Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury, Poor Folk by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, A Profitable Position by Alexander Ostrovsky and Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev. Leave your age outside the theater but remember to take your heart and mind with!
Theater of Russian State Institute of Performing Arts, Mokhovaya 35. The theater inherits the building from Tenishev School where Vladimir Nabokov studied. It obliges it to... Frankly speaking, it obliges the theater to nothing but does create the specific atmosphere. It's a theater and a school simultaneously. The auditorium is a deep wooden amphitheater with long and armless benches.
The directors' talent is to combine this antique interior with fresh stage ideas. The actors are the students who are finishing the institute. As a part of their finals, they make a performance. They stage Odyssey, Lysistrata, Don Juan, Romeo and Juliet, A Street Car Named Desire and many other plays.
The repertoir changes every year. The actors often regard the house as a part of the stage. Don't be shocked when somebody suddenly jumps from nowhere to the bench next to you. Here you have a unique chance to see the actors who have learnt everything to perform well but aren't influenced by any theater with its intrigues and other paraphernalia yet. It's the theater where actors not only can show their best. They have to do it. Otherwise they will flunk their final exams.
The music scene in St. Petersburg is diverse, with several classical, jazz, and pop concerts to choose from each week. Tickets are available at the same Teatralnaya Kassa locations as ballet and opera tickets, although tickets to pop concerts - especially US and European stars on tour - sometimes use exclusive distributors.
For pop and rock concerts, unless you buy tickets for the dance floor or tanzpol, you are expected to sit quietly in your seat as if you were at a ballet - ushers are vigilant about keeping the audience from standing up, dancing, or cheering,polite applause is allowed, but that's about all.
Several of the ballet and opera theaters above also offer orchestral and recital performances, so those are not repeated below. Also, don't forget the many small clubs where up and coming bands play.
St. Petersburg Philharmonic Grand Hall, Mikhailovskaya Ul. 2 Entrance across from the Grand Hotel Europe. A world-class orchestra which records and tours abroad. The Small Hall (Maliy Saal) hosts excellent chamber music performances and recitals.
St. Petersburg Philharmonic Small Hall, Nevsky Prospekt 30 Next to the Metro station on Nevsky Prospekt. The Small Hall (Maliy Saal) of the Philharmonic hosts excellent chamber music performances and recitals.
Jazz Philharmonic Hall, Zagorodny Pr. 27 (South of Nevsky Prospekt, use Vladimirskaya Metro Station). Offers a variety of jazz performances several times per week.
Ice Palace (Ledoviy Dvorets), (At Prospekt Bolshevikov Metro Station). One of several sports arenas that also serves as a concert hall for pop and rock concerts.
Oktyabrskiy Concert Hall, Ligovskiy Prospekt 6 Near Ploshad Vosstaniya. Pop and rock concerts in an auditorium close to the city center.
Most cinemas in St. Petersburg show Hollywood films dubbed in Russian. Art cinemas like Dom Kino often show independent American or British movies subtitled in Russian. DVDs of American/European films are also often dubbed.
There have been crackdowns on sellers of bootleg DVDs, so it may be difficult or expensive to find DVDs in English these days. There are several DVD stores in the city often near Metro stations and it is worth asking about films in English.
Annual Message to Man international documentary, short, and animated films festival takes place in June or July, screening many films in English.
Dom Kino, 12 Karavannaya Ulitsa Near Gostiniy Dvor Metro Station. Sometimes shows films in their original language.
Avrora Cinema, Nevksy Prospekt 60.
St Petersburg is considered to be a cultural capital of Russia not only because of Hermitage, but also because it attracts people working in creative industries.
There many young artists, musicians, designers etc. These kind of people have their own places, so called creative spaces. It's interesting to see young designers and programmers working or tourists sleeping in ex-palaces on the river bank.
Loft project Etagi, Ligovsky prospekt, 74. The oldest and biggest cultural center. Cafe, hostel, designer shops, book store etc
Taiga, Dvortsovaya naberezhnaya, 20. Cultural center on the river bank. Good view over Petropavlovskaya fortress. Designer shops, offices, hostel, bar, ping pong etc.
Fligel, ulitsa Vosstaniya, 40. Recently opened cultural center. Bars, cafes, hostel, shops etc
Creative spaces tour, ploschad Vosstaniya. Tour over cultural centers listed above run by Olga Polyakova, local activist in the creative industries.
St Petersburg is beautiful city. But there is no observation platform like in Paris or London. Because of the constructions law that forbids building skyscrapers in historical centre. So there are few options where you can get great view.
St Isaac's cathedral, Isaakievskaya ploschad. The highest church in St Peterburg has so called Colonnaded Walkway at 43 metres height
Roof top tour, Nevsky prospekt. There are many young people in St P, who call themselves roofers. The roofer guide offers a rooftop tour right on Nevsky prospekt. This one is safe and legal. And it has very unique location. Costs 1000 rub/person
Roof top restaurants. Moskva, Makaronniki, Mansarda, Terrassa and several others upscale restaraunts. Expect a 2000-5000 rub bill per person.
A tour of the canals by boat is a great way to see the city in the summer. The typical tour is through the Moika, out to the Neva to see the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Cruiser Aurora, then in through the Fontanka,sometimes as far as the Mariinsky Theater.
Tours start at many points along the route and return to their starting point,hawkers for different boat companies abound and the boats may or may not have a cafe and toilet on board. Almost all tours are in Russian. RUB400-600 seems to be the average price.
Anglotourismo Boat Tours, Fontanka Embankment 21. Canal boat tours in English, departing from near the Anichkov Bridge Nevsky Prospekt and Fontanka in season (May 2 - Sept 30).
You can also walk along the canals and admire the numerous bridges, some of them very interesting like the Bank Bridge.
The alternative way to explore St Petersburg is to know it from inside, walking and talking with locals and trying local activities. Those people who have lived here for years would like to tell you a plenty of stories, open some secret places as roofs or courtyards etc. and treat you as a friend.
Sputnik Tours by locals. Tours by locals for 1 to 10 people. Some tours are free and others are cheap (from 10$). Many of them are unique like Russian cooking classes, rooftop, flea market, Uzbek food tours, art galleries, lofts etc. from 10$.
Petersburg Voyage Tours by locals. Daily Tours in English in small groups. A good way to find out about St. Petersburg more! from 35$.
Discover Walks St Petersburg, Sytninskaya st. Saint Petersburg 197101. Meet actual Native of St Petersburg in addition to exploring major landmarks. Join a walk with locals who will decode the city with you, and also learn from an insider about local events and festivals, about where to shop, good places to eat or drink, secret places locals keep to themselves. Severeal tours to join every day, €15, by reservation.
St.Pete walking tours in English by Ribin Igor. Tours by locals for 1 to 6 people. Walking tours round the city and main museums for any budget. from 10$.
CommunistLeningrad walking & driving tours. All major and unknown communist sights in the capital of the Revolution by locals + Kommunalka admission. From 10$.
Victory Day , on May 9, celebrates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. This day is marked with an opening military parade on Palace Square, directly in front of the Hermitage, visiting various war monuments, giving flowers to war veterans who are dressed in full military outfits, and an evening parade down Nevsky Prospekt which includes survivors of the Siege of Leningrad.
Scarlet Sails takes place on the weekend of the summer solstice, the shortest day of the year, around June 24. It includes concerts, water shows, and fireworks, with festivities going until 4:00AM. The main streets are closed for the festivities.
Stars of the White Nights Festival includes performing arts events in June, centered around the Marinsky Theatre.
New Years is the biggest holiday of the year in Russia.
Russian Language and Culture Institute at Saint Petersburg State University. 12-15 students per class. 4 weeks at (21) 45-minute lessons per week: RUB33,600.
School of Russian and Asian Studies.
Private language schools.
CREF - Centre of Russian, English & French Studies.
EducaCentre, 2 locations: Komendantskaya square #1, Atmosphere Shopping Mall, 6th floor and 12th line of Vasilievskiy Island. (20) 45-minute group lessons per week: €180, (30) 45-minute group lessons per week: €225; €60 administrative fee.
EDUCA Russian Language School, 3 Bolshaya Morskaya (Metro: Gostiny Dvor). Not to be confused with the similarly-named school listed above. Central location, although teachers are younger and less experienced. (20) 45-minute group lessons per week: €195, (30) 45-minute group lessons per week: €240; €65 enrollment fee.
Liden & Denz, Italyanskaya ulitsa #17. Highly rated, although pricier than other schools. (20) 50-minute group lessons per week: €280, 2-week minimum.
ProBa Language Centre, Zagorodnyi prospekt #17 (Metro: Vladimirskaya or Dostoyevskaya). Facilities are very basic. 2 week minimum. Group classes: €450 for 2 weeks.
There are plenty of ATMs and legitimate currency exchange booths in the city centre. There are also many 24-hour supermarkets.
Souvenirs are commonly available on Nevsky Prospekt, particularly near the Hermitage, although prices for everything are higher here than on side streets.
Apraksin Dvor. perfect for people watching, but keep your purse and camera close since it is a favorite of both shoppers and pickpockets. You can find almost anything here. Undergoing a long-term revitalization plan.
Gostiny Dvor. The city's oldest and largest shopping centre, dating to the mid-18th century. The name means Merchant Yard, as its old role was to provide both shops and housing to merchants from far away. It sells almost everything from Playstations to Saint Petersburg Vodka. Prices are high.
Udelnaya flea-market, take blue metro line to Udel'naya station, go up the escalator, turn right, cross the railway in front of you and turn right. Blocks of concrete-steel-glass cubes selling various new goods, turns to roofed flea market stalls with good stock and widely varying wares which turns to non-roofed stalls and ending up with trade-places of blankets placed on the ground up-north where the market ends.
Half way up the flea market on left side is Middle-Asian style open-fire grill-restaurant-tent with reasonable prices and delicious kebabs, shashliks and pork ribs. Bargaining in Russian will be appreciated.
Passazh. The Harrods of Saint Petersburg, a smaller and very beautiful shopping center for the elite.
Souvenirs Fair, Nab. kanal Griboedova 2 Canal Griboedov behind the Church of the Saviour on the Spilt Blood. A huge variety of cheap souvenirs from Matroyshka dolls to Soviet Memorabilia. Be aware that all the Russian Raketa watches sold are counterfeits. English is generally spoken here and the market caters to tourists.
DK Krupskoy, Pr. Obukhovskoy oborony 105 Metro: Elizarovskaya. Used to be a book market but nowadays you can buy various things there. It's a very well known place among locals but not by foreigners. You can find souvenirs by a very good price there. Much cheaper than stores in the city centre.
Russian cuisine is famous in the world, and high-quality authentic Russian dishes are available all over Saint Petersburg. But there is other interesting food in the city.
Central Asian (Uzbek/Tajik) food. There is huge Uzbek immigrant community and they have unique culinary traditions. Very cheap (250RUB/meal) and very tasty. Most of the places are hole in the wall type and hard to find. There are many places inside Sennoy market. Also foodies can sign up for Uzbek food tour.
Georgian food. Very unique and tasty cuisine. Georgian restaurants are scattered all over St Petersburg. It's more expensive (600RUB/meal) than Uzbek. But worth trying.
It's hard to find Uzbek/Georgian food outside of ex-USSR. Try it here.
Nothing, absolutely nothing, tastes better than hot Russian crepes with caviar, mushrooms, caramel, berries, or what have you with a cup of tea on a cold winter street.
Chainaya Lozhka, Has around 50 restaurants all over city (Nevsky Pr. 44 is one of the most centrally located). These fast-food restaurants serve blini Russian crepes with a variety of fillings - you choose your own at the counter. They also have a wide selection of teas. Some restaurants have wifi. RUB300.
Yolki-Palki Traktir, Has 6 restaurants in the city, mainly in the centre Nevsky Pr. 88 is right on the main street. Some open until late, some open 24h. . Decent food with very affordable prices, smoking and non-smoking sections. Staff in some restaurants may actually serve you in English. RUB600.
Kroshka Kartoshka, Has over 25 restaurants all over city. It a big european chain of fast food restaurants that offers baked potatoes with your choice of topping but also has salads, soups and deserts. RUB300.
Teremok, Several locations. This blini chain began with street-corner kiosks throughout the city,many are quite easy to find, and they have expanded to include counter-service restaurants serving not only blini, but also kasha, salads, and other quick, inexpensive fare. Some central locations are Bolshaya Morskaya Ul. 11, Nevsky Pr. 60, and Nevsky Pr. 106. The restaurants have menus in English if you ask. RUB100-300 for a filling meal.
U Tyoshi Na Blinakh, Several. Cafeteria-style Russian and Ukrainian food for a reasonable price with faux-rustic decor, not like a Soviet-era stolovaya. Has more than blini: soups, salads, meat dishes, desserts, etc. Those who know the Mu-Mu chain in Moscow will recognize this, although on a smaller scale.
St. Petersburg, kan. Griboyedova 7 or 9. Good and cheap food in the very centre next to the Saviour on the Spilled Blood church. Pay attention, there are two restaurants called St. Petersburg next to each other and the second one is more expensive. 45 rubels for a Borsch soup, 140-200 rubels for a main dish, side dishes 35 rubels.
Pirogi, Nab. reki Fontanki, 40. Open 24/7. A cozy and charming cafe-restaurant ambience during the day, turning into cute and relaxing bar in the evening as well as a vibrant music venue at night. A variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages at a very reasonable price. Good and moderately priced food served 24 hours a day. The menu comes in both English and Russian. Friendly and helpful English-speaking staff.
Free Wi-Fi. Separated smoking/non-smoking sections. A good selection of traditional Russian pies filled with meat, chicken, fish, mushrooms or cabbage served with three different salads big enough to be a main course, 130 rub. Beef Stroganoff with mashed potatoes: 240 rub. Soups: 130 rub. Average bill per person: 450 rub two courses + beer or wine.
Pirogov dvorik or Pie Courtyard, kan. Griboyedova 22 and many other. Open 9-22 daily. Tasty pies with meat, fish, vegetables or fruits and berries. Different styles and sizes. Traditional russian cuisine like Borscht or roast beef. NB: a pie is not made with pastry in Russia, but with a bread-like substance. 5 eur.
Saint-Petesburg Metro office eatery, metro Primorskaya, ul. Odoevskogo 26 (on a Odoevskogo St. Walk 100 meters along high building of Metro Office. Second entrance with stairs is eatery). during daytime. closes early. Open during day time. You can freely come and have a lunch. Choise is not wide: 3 to 5 salads, couple of soups and few mains with tea or juice or fruit drink. 3-5 eur.
V Meste, Just off ulitsa Vosstaniya (From Ploshad' Vosstaniya, wander north towards Chernishevskaya checking every side road to the right until you find one with a giant concrete and glass building at the end, second or third right turn. Head down that road, and it's on your right, but the sign is just an A4 piece of paper laminated and stuck to the open door). generally 9-23, but varies. Done out like an old Soviet apartment.
Has a HUGE range of board games and a decent range of food. The food is simple, but filling and delicious. Pirogi and simple sandwiches are the name of the game here. Beer is also cheap, and coffees are bottomless. There are also a few old Soviet era videogames for you to try your hand at for a nominal fee.
If you've never visited a Russian flat that belongs to someone over the age of 30, then it's worth visiting just for the experience. The staff speak English, and are friendly enough to help you navigate the menu - unlike a lot of Russians! RUB250.
Ristorantino Carducci, Sezzhinskaya Street, n. 37. Lunch: Monday - Saturday, 12:00 - 16:00; Dinner: Monday - Saturday, 16.30 - 23.00. Fine cuisine in a romantic atmosphere in the center of St. Petersburg. The menu includes the classic recipes of the Italian and European cuisine prepared in accordance with the highest traditions.
SCHASTYE (Š”Š§ŠŠ”Š¢Š¬Š), M. Morskaya, 24 (close to Isaakiyevsky cathedral). Sun-Thu 09am-01am, Fri-Sut 09am-06am. Breakfast, Dinner, English menu. Menu in SCHASTYE present dishes by french and italian cuisine in autor’s interpretation by chief Dmitriy Reshetnikov, its always original and nobody can stay indifferent after this dishes. In SCHASTYE serve many different desserts by chief-bakery Ekaterina Kiselkova and cookies, chocolate, candys or different homemade dessert in original packing can be a good present or compliment.
La Baguette, Grazhdanskaya ul 27. Very nice, cosy little tea and cake shop near Griboedova canal with a sweet faux-French atmosphere. You can also have tasty meals there. Mains approx. RUB300.
Kavaleria, Kavalergardskaya ul 20. A great family-run place just a block away from the spectacular must-see Smolniy Monastery and Tavricheskiy garden. Fresh local and foreign beers, great cuisine with huge portions, english menus and english-speaking staff. Great for watching sport events too. Mains RUB300-400.
1,001 Nights, 21. noon-23:00 daily, live music & belly dancing F-Su 20:00-23:00. This would be but an ordinary undistinguished Uzbek restaurant, were it not within one block of the Winter Palace. Given location, the place is spectacular in that it maintains decent service and very good food. RUB300-500.
Acquarel, next to the Birzhevoy bridge. Right on the water, this restaurant offers Italian food alongside a French/Asian fusion menu. Friendly people, delightful atmosphere, and a wonderful view, Acquarel is a wonderful and delicious dinner option or even a great place to relax and get a drink in their lounge chairs.
Barrel Bar, Kazanskya st. 12PM-2AM. restaurant in the cultural heart of the city with a varied menu and superior wine list A great place for lunch and dinner. Prices from RUB350 for main.
Cafe Old Tbilisi 5 near the Vasilieostrovskaya metro station. 11:00-23:00 daily. You'll probably be the only foreign visitor to this small unassuming place on Vasilievsky Island, but the great Georgian food is absolutely worth the short metro trip. The quality for the price here is just outstanding. RUB650.
Caravan-Sarai, 1,. In a city with plenty of Uzbek food, this may outshine the competition. Not for the service or the decor, but for the very long menu of top-notch Uzbek cooking. RUB400-600.
Clean Plate Society, 13. After the enormous success of opening bar "Mishka" last year, avant-garde musician/heartthrob Kirill Ivanov and budding chef-mogul Alexander Berkovksy have ventured into the restaurant, or more precisely cafe-club, business. Obschestvo Chistykh Tarelok, or Clean Plates Society in English, is named after a children's fairy tale alleging that Lenin told children that those who finish all the food on their plate would become members of the Clean Plates Society.
Quality burgers, cream soups and vegetarian dishes with worldwide influences. Almost everything is under RUB300. Recommended for hipster-watching in St. Petersburg.
Gin-no Taki, 17. 11:00-06:00 daily. A very reasonably priced Japanese chain restaurant just across the street from the Chernyshevskaya metro station. The interior is very stylish, even if the fashion shows on the TVs are a bit much, and you can control your service with the aid of a call button. The food is good, but the sodas might be even better—free refills! It's also a very solid choice for a place to unwind late-night after a wild night. RUB150-400.
Gastronom , Š“. 7 close to Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood. Sun-Thu: 12PM-12AM; Fri, Sat: 12PM-3AM. Excellent desserts,tiramisu is really great; good reviews for dinner. Wide selection of international fare: Thai, Italian, Russian, steaks. Rare place with 5 varieties of Caesar salad. Outdoor terrace is comfortable for a baby stroller, but closes before late Sept. Simple salads average at 200, sophisticated salads 300-400. Most soups are at 200. Pasta 300-400. Mains average at 350-400.
Jean Jacques, very close to Moskovsky vokzal. Decent lower-end French cuisine. Nothing-special breakfasts: either omlet or croissant or porridge.
Kafe Ket, 22 Ul. Stremyannaya. Kafe Kat is a tucked into a rather unassuming location, just off Nevsky. This little restaurant serves what might be the best Georgian food in St. Petersburg. There is an English menu and the staff is friendly. RUB1500 for 2, 3 courses + beer
Kafe Tbilisi, Sytninskaya ul, 10 Metro Gorkovskaya behind the market. Georgian food. The dishes prepared in pots are excellent.
The Idiot, 82, Moika Emb. Named after the Dostoevsky novel, and offering a wide variety of very tasty vegan, vegetarian, and seafood dishes at prices higher than what you'd expect. All served in a very cozy and attractive cellar stocked with books, ex-pats, and intellectuals.
Montana Saloon, 20, Kirochnaya str. or 19, Izmailovsky pr. American cuisine, wonderful steaks best in St Petersburg, good wine and pleasant atmosphere. A bit expensive,the best steak costs RUB850, but it is worth it.
Harbin, 34/2. 12:30-23:30 daily. Chinese in Saint Petersburg is often better than in most parts of Europe. This restaurant is cozy and overcrowded show up early or late if you want to ensure that you get a table, and has an extraordinarily long and complex menu. If you have no native speaker with you, bring a food dictionary, or you will have no idea what you are ordering. RUB800.
Giuseppe Park, 2B Canal Griboyedova just next to Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood and Russian Museum. 11am-1am. Excellent Italian food in a white nearly-luxury setting. In peak hours, choose easier-to-cook dishes to minimize risk of mistake. Great gaspacho, quatro formagio pizza. Good for a late breakfast as well (although no breakfast-time menu: only omlets, RUB170). Heated outdoor terrace open until at least end of Sep. No wifi, for a reason: it's a place to eat. Average bill per person: RUB1500 (3 courses, no alcohol).
Mama Roma. A chain of Italian restaurants; free wifi. Malaya Konyushennaya, 4/2: outdoor terrace is open heated until at least end of Sep; terrace perfect with toddler: spacious enough for baby strollers; has children-safe wide couches.
Oliva, 31 Bolshaya Morskaya ul.. Kitchen closes at 11:30pm. Greek restaurant with a genuine Greek chef; popular with expats.
Oriental Express restaurant/buffet, ul. Marata 21 close to Moskovsky train station. Tourists-oriented and doesn't hide it, the place has a good selection of traditional Russian dishes. Buffet and restaurant share the same building and kitchen and have few common dishes, but are otherwise very distant from each other at least in prices. Free wifi ask waiter for instructions. Restaurant: salads 220..310; soups 210..340; mains: 310-540. Buffet: salads 80, soups 80-130, mains 130-190.
Teplo, B. Morskaya, 45 close to Isaakiyevsky cathedral. Mon-Thu, Sun 9am-12am, Fri-Sat 1pm-1am. Still TripAdvisor #1, it's currently loosing its charm and excellent service. Still, quite charming good value for money, although drinks are quite expensive. Fireplace in winter and courtyard with umbrellas and flowers in summer. Most staff speak English, those who don't are still helpful at navigating the English menu.
Lunch set menu from 1pm. Equally good for breakfast from 9am, Mon-Fri only with omlets, pancakes, a weekly rotation of porridges and fritters. Free wifi ask waiter for instructions; childrens playroom; separate non/smokers; outdoor terrace open until at least 5ths of Oct but no gas heaters. Same owners as a nearby Zoom Cafe. Dinner: average bill per person: RUB1000 three courses, no alcohol. Breakfasts: omlet 110, porridges 80, tea 90.
Traveling Sack for a Pregnant Spy, 17 close to Kazansky cathedral. M-F 11am-01am, kitchen closes at 11:30pm; Sa-Su noon-02am. A very fun Russian restaurant, that would be worth visiting as a gallery of weird spy-kitsch, but the food is also decent. No wifi. Average bill per person, no alcohol: RUB800.
Vostochny Ugolok, 52 close to Isaakievsky cathedral. 24 hours. Good-quality Caucasian cuisine in a vivid interior. Excellent shahlyki and manty. Average bill per person (3 courses): 1000 rub.
Zazhigalka 74 Nevsky Prospekt 74 Opposite McDonald's Rubinshteyna Street, next to Red Tower Chinese Restaurant. Walking distance from Anichkov Bridge over Fontanka River. 24 hours. Located just opposite McDonald's the one near ul. Rubinshteyna, this restobar is open 24 hours a day. They serve business lunch from 12-5 PM with 3 options.
Choose the RUB250 one, it includes salad, soup, main meal, garnish or side dish, berry drink, and bread. The RUB200 option include no soup and the RUB150 includes no course/garnish. Food was very good. Looked classy and tasted great. Very great cool, lounge feel atmosphere. Menus have English translation and several staffs can speak English. Great service too. Business lunch - 250 RUB.
Zoom, Gorohovaja str. 22 close to Isaakiyevsky cathedral. Until 24; last order until 22:30. Same owners as TeplĆ³, but much more intimate; not a victim of top TripAdvisor positions. About RUB1000 per person three courses, no alcohol.
Austeria , Iohann Alley, Peter & Paul Fortress Near the entrance to the fortress. 12PM-12AM. This restaurant, offering a very European setting with mostly Russian high quality food, nabs a lot of tourists visiting the fortress. But nonetheless, the service and food remain phenomenal - while tourists are trapped here, it is no tourist trap. Off season, particularly during the snowy winter months it place can be almost magical, as you get the beautiful restaurant more or less to yourself. Meals start at RUB1150 but can reach much higher.
Baku. 12PM-2AM. One of the city's more impressive interiors, modeled after the palaces of the Shirvan Shahs imagine eating in Sheki's Khan-Saray. Only opened in 2006, but has received rave reviews from all quarters since. A great place to try out Azeri cuisine. Prices from RUB1300s.
Grand Hotel Europe Restaurant. The Sunday Jazz Brunch here is a "Not to Miss" if you are looking for a real splurge. About $90 USD per person includes a full caviar spread and sushi bar in addition to the normal brunch fare carving station, omelette station, salads, fruit, baked goods, desserts, the options are nearly endless.
There is also bottomless champagne glasses and the champagne is quite good and a huge frozen ice sculpture that is tapped where you can refill your glass with iced vodka as many times as you'd like. The jazz is very good and the pace is relaxed and enjoyable. The only caveat: As with most Russian eateries, there is no non-smoking section, so if you are not a smoker, ask for table away from the majority or risk having to inhale cigarette smoke while you dine.
Kalinka-Malinka, Ital'yanskaya ulitsa, 5. Overdone and overpriced Russian-kitsch tourist trap for foreigners (Russians wouldn't be caught dead here). But if you're staying nearby, they'll treat you fine and you can eat some bear meat. RUB1400.
Na Zdorovye, 13/4 (3 blocks up Bolshoy Prospect from the Sportivnaya metro station). 12:00-23:00. This is the kitschiest kitchen in town, but it's no tourist trap, not by a long stretch. Its way off on the Petrograd Side north of the stadium, and is frequented mostly just by Russians, who come to enjoy the fun over-the-top decor, and the delightful tastes just like babushka makes it cooking.
Sending the kitsch even further over that top are the performances of Russian/Gypsy folk music and singing 19:00-23:00 daily. Come here for a full meal or the vodka shots + zakuski, and you'll have a memorable night. RUB900.
Sunduk 42. M-F 10:00-24:00 Sa-Su 11:00-24:00. A great, small, cozy, and very stylish brick-walled Russian restaurant, with excellent food, and good enough service. Live entertainment comes often, and is often surprisingly good—imagine sitting down and only then seeing a solo jazz guitarist sit down to play some beautiful music. It's been open for more than a decade, and there's a reason why it's a fixture of the local restaurant scene around Furshtatskaya. RUB850.
Terrassa, Kazanskaya, 3 Highest floor of shopping center behind Kazansky cathedral. Offers magnificent view to Kazansky cathedral from terrace. Pastries are well worth the price. Averages: soups RUB330-380; salads RUB400-700; pizza RUB500; mains RUB1000; tiramisu RUB320.
Bars in Saint Petersburg generally have the best beer selection of any city in Russia. The Baltika Brewery headquarters is in Saint Petersburg and the beer is very popular in the city. Many tour companies offer nightly pub Crawl tours of Saint Petersburg; these can be found easily via an online search.
Dumskaya ulitsa has several small crowded and rowdy venues including Datscha, BarBarA, Fidel, Belgrad. These bars have cheap beer, crazy dances, Balkan, ska, punk, disco or whatever the DJ has on his mind.
Bratya Tonet Wine Bar, Birzhevoy per. 4 Vasilyevsky Island. 11AM-2AM. A classy place with live music.
Bristol Pub, ul. Marata 36/38. Very home-atmosphere and friendly.
Chroniki, ul. Nekrasova 26 Metro: Mayakovskaya; Ploshchad Vosstaniya. Anachronistically harmonizes the drinking cultures of a modern Scandinavian bar and a classic Leningrad ryumochnaya - the traditional Soviet-era watering hole. This is not a rowdy club for dancing to Eurodance all night, but rather a classic bar perfect for intellectual debates of a more cultured public. The stylish interior is very modern yet cozy, simple yet edgy, with white tiled walls, brass windowsills, gilded antique Soviet chandeliers.
There is a massive wooden table for larger groups as well as a tall standing or leaning, if you’ve already had a few table perfect for slamming down your shot glass, or grabbing a quick bite to eat before running off on errands or to your next bar-hopping destination. The beautiful and uniquely stylish wooden bar counter spans across two spaces: smoking and non-smoking.
This is one of very few reasonably priced and cool bars in St. Petersburg located above basement-level, allowing its customers to gaze at passersby as well as take in the beauty of the classic St. Petersburg architecture on Nekrasova street. The black-and-white photos on the wall include images of a strict 1970s Leningrad barmaid as well as her jovial clients - a nostalgic reminder that in this beautiful northern city.
Its inhabitants were always capable of drinking and always loved drinking. The preferred order at Chroniki is, as per tradition at a Leningrad ryumochnaya, hard alcohol there are a many vodka varieties, from the legendary Stoli for RUB90 to Finnish, Swedish and Danish brands and the bartenders also recommend Crimean port wine - Massandra, locally brewed craft beer, and a house-special cocktail Free Ingria, inspired by the eternal confrontation between St. Petersburg and Moscow.
The snack selection includes sandwiches one for RUB100 , two for RUB150, five for RUB350, distinctive Northern tapas served with a choice of boiled tongue, salmon, chicken, vegetables or, of course, herring the traditional Russian chaser for vodka. The weeknights are more chilled out for quiet but steady drinking and on the weekends, friends of the owners are invited to DJ and merry revelry almost always inevitably ensues.
Conchita Bonita, Gorohovaya 39 Metro: Sennaya-Sadovaya, Admiralteyskaya. Very cozy tex mex bar/restaurant with warm atmosphere and always smiling personnel. Conchita Bonita is well known for it’s high quality kitchen, inexpensive prices, unquestionably best strawberry margarita in town and over 300 different cocktails. Restaurant’s staff speaks English and you can also ask for English menu.
Guests of Conchita Bonita are called Donna Conchita’s family and every Saturday they come to the restaurant to celebrate Donna Conchita’s birthday at midnight. On Fridays and Saturdays after 12:00PM the floor is open for dancing and to spice things up there is even a dance pole in the center of the floor to give some extra spin.
Dead Poets, Zhukovskogo, 12. Sum-Th: 2PM-2AM; F-Sa: 2PM-8AM. A quiet cocktail bar. Cocktails: RUB350-600; Bottle of wine: RUB1,600-9,500.
Dickens Pub, 108 Fontanka Canal Near Sadovaya & Technologichesky Institute metro stations, just off Moskovsky-Fontanka bridge. Good service, great food, and a wide range of English and other international beers, with over 15 on tap. There are also many superior whiskeys too! Dickens Pub is a good place to eat. Be prepared for a party - especially on Fridays & Saturdays!
Hat Bar, ul. Belinskogo, 9 (Metro: Gostiny Dvor), [66]. 7PM-3AM. Crowded bar with live jazz music.
Hemingway Bar. 12:00-05:00. A comfortable, big bar with upscale drinks and cooking. The biggest draw is the cool clientele and live performances: blues, jazz, R&B. One tip though, if you open the door to a DJ blaring Russkaya popsa—leave because you won't be able to hear yourself think. ~RUB1400 to eat.
Red Fox Pub, Pulkovskoye 3/1 Metro: Leninsky Prospekt, south of the center. 11AM-3AM. Great craft beer and bar food.
Stirka 40°, Kazanskaya 26. Combination bar and laundromat. Have a beer while washing your clothes! Operated by a famous local designer that also operates the Produkty Fontanka 17 club.
Tower Pub, Nevsky Prospekt 22 Metro: Nevsky Prospekt. Open 24 hours. A great place to rest, have a quick drink or stay for the whole evening. The bartenders are really nice, do speak English and are in for a chat on a quiet night. It's located in the basement of a large building but the atmosphere is really nice. No live music.
Vinny Shkaf, Rubinshteina St., 9/3 Just off Nevsky Prospekt. 2PM-11PM. A classy wine bar. Wine bottle: RUB1,500-6,000; 330ml beer: RUB290.
Xander Bar at Four Seasons Hotel, Voznesenskiy prospekt 1 Metro: Admiralteyskaya. Old-world luxury atmosphere. Smart casual attire. Cocktails: RUB550-650.
There is a wide and excellent selection of great clubs that will satisfy all tourists looking to spend the night out. The city hosts clubs of all music. Rock, pop, jazz, hip hop/RnB, and a lot more.
Griboedov, Voronezskaya Ulitsa 2 Metro: Ligovsky. Open daily except Tuesday; 12PM-6AM. A suitably spaced out place for a club whose name can also be interpreted as "the mushroom eater" or a famous Russian's poet surname, the acts here are famously offbeat, especially on weekdays when you're as likely to find a poetry reading as live reggae or a DJ spinning psychedelic trance. This club is hidden in an underground bomb shelter with a new performance space/bar/restaurant atop the bunker's hill.
Metro Club, 174 Ligovsky Prospekt Metro: Ligovsky. 10PM-6AM. Saint Petersburg's biggest club, with 3 floors. Mostly for people aged 16-30. Eurodisco music such as techno, trance and house. Entry:RUB200-400 depending on time and date.
Mishka, Fontanka 40, in the basement Metro: Nevsky Prospect; Mayakovskaya; Ploshchad Vosstaniya. A popular DJ bar/cafe for local scenesters, as well as 20 something tourists and ex-pats, located on the most central intersection Nevsky prospekt and Fontanka. Due to strict dress code don't try to enter with a backpack and be ready to hear that the party tonight is "invitation only". It means the security did not like your look.
The place was opened by St. Petersburg avant-garde musician and heartthrob Kirill Ivanov and friends in the beginning of 2011, at the end of 2011 Mishka has already achieved the title of St. Petersburg's Best Bar according to TimeOut magazine. During daytime, Mishka more of a cafe with free WiFi, where you can relax, read and/or chat and enjoy a selection of sandwiches and fresh salads.
In fact, it's one of the few places that serves in line with the Western understanding of salad - a huge bowl of fresh greens with a choice of other fresh ingredients to add, rather than the traditional Russian understanding of salad which is usually a lot of mayonnaise with other ingredients and often without any greens at all.
There are two spaces - the entrance space is the "club" side, generally the rowdier side and the place to get boozed up and drunkenly dance the night away, and the second space is more relaxed, more brightly lit, non-smoking, and a comfortable place to grab a bite to eat (even at 4am!) and sit and chat with your friends without shouting over the music from the entrance space.
At night there is usually a DJ playing (even on weeknights!) whatever hipsters are listening to these days (rather than typical Russian clubs that only play worn-out house and 90s pop) and the bar can get very crowded on weekend nights. Try one of the dozens of specialty shots to get your night started in the right spirit... or to end your night, if you're on a bender.
Mod Club, Kanal Griboedova, dom 7 in the courtyard Next to Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood; Metro: Nevsky Prospect. 6:00PM-6:00AM. Cavernous live music hall with old brick walls and loft outdoor bar, separate room with wrap-around bar and small DJ stand, chill-out room with small concerts and a terrace bar for dancing under the White Nights skies. Pizza is sold in the back.
Very diverse music program: from reggae to punk/metal, but mostly rock. Friendly atmosphere. The crowd is made up of students, musicians, artists and expats. The space also includes MOD Gallery with local art on display. Design of the club is worth checking out as well. Menus in English, English-speaking bartenders, inexpensive beer. Entry: RUB150 on weekends.
Produkty, Fontanka 17 Metro: Nevsky Prospect; Mayakovskaya; Ploshchad Vosstaniya. Literally, Groceries. Opened in the fall of 2011 by designer Lisa Izvozchikova, owner of Stirka bar. The space is modest in size, but being one of the rare cafe-bars in St. Petersburg located above basement-level, boasts views of the Fontanka and features local DJs as well as more amateur music lovers spinning their favorite tunes, sipping cocktails and occasionally dancing and even singing along if the mood strikes them.
Produkty features a carefully thought-out range of alcohol - all the makings of any classic cocktail as well as a delicious and dry cider St. Anton, grog, milkshakes with berries, a homemade hot ginger tea, as well as freshly squeezed orange juice. The food is mainly vegetarian, and the offerings include couscous and sandwiches.
All the furniture was brought from Berlin: the leatherette-upholstered bar, massive leather armchairs, round bar stools from the 1970s, chairs taken from GDR kindergartens and schools, typewriters and a Wurlitzer jukebox that only accepts Deutschmark (don't worry! you can buy the necessary Deutschmark tokens at the bar). The classic hipster-reference to East Germany is not completely lost when it comes to describing the style and clientele of Produkty.
Due to social stigma, there are not many gay clubs in Saint Petersburg. However, there is a large underground scene and many people use online websites and mobile applications to meet other gay and lesbian folk.
Central Station, ul Lomonosova 1/28. The biggest gay club in Saint Petersburg, it features three floors, plays a selection of house and disco music, performances of drag queens, a dark men-only room and also contains Saint Petersburg's only all day sushi restaurant. Gays are not very accepted among the locals and are even targeted once in a while. It is common for people to wait outside and harass people leaving the club. cover after midnight: RUB100-300.
With the exception of some high-end hotels, all hotels and hostels offer free WiFi and many have computer terminals. Almost all accept credit cards.
1912, Chapayeva street 2 (Gorkovskaya metro station, near the railroad station with trains to/from Helsinki. checkin: 14:00; checkout: 12:00. A 12-person hostel. Clean spaces, nice interiors. Breakfast included. Dorm bed: RUB590-990.
Apple Hostel, Sadovaya st. 8, gate code 3B, Door code #2468, 2nd floor. Dorm bed: RUB500-800.
Avantage, 1 Line, 24. Vasilievskiy Island. Basic kitchen facilities. Not much English spoken. From RUB600.
Baby Lemonade, Inzhenernaya str. 7. Colorful and cozy hostel with 1960's style. Dorm bed: RUB650-800.
BroadSky Hostel, Rubinshteyna str. 15/17. Dorm bed: RUB600-700.
Cubahostel, Kazanskaya 5, 4th floor just off Nevsky Prospekt, near the Church of Our Lady of Kazan. A nice hostel, with modern and inventive decoration. Although it's advertised as a party hostel and situated over an English pub, noise isn't a problem. Dorm bed: From RUB699; Visa invitation: RUB1400.
Friends, 8 locations + scattered apartments including: Griboedov channel, Nevsky prospect, Bankovsky pereulok and Vosstania street. Named after the famous TV show, spotless dorms, great location and extremely helpful staff. From RUB400.
Gamak Hostel, Nevsky Prospect 103. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 11AM. Dorm bed: RUB450; Double/Twin: RUB2,000.
Ligovskiy 74, Ligovskiy #74. 3rd floor of cultural centre Loft Project ETAGI, [86]. Dorm bed: From RUB500.
Location Hostel, Admiralteijskij prospekt 8 top floor, across from the Hermitage, another location at Etagi: Ligovskiy #74. Great staff and good and clean rooms. Free towel. The showers are ok, worked all the time, but the ceiling in showers is low! Microwave, fridge and washing machine available but no cooking plate available. 24h reception. Dorm bed: €15-20.
MIR, Nevsky Prospekt #16. Free walking tours. Dorm bed: RUB690-740.
Mozaika, Ligovskiy Prospekt #50, building #1 10 min from main train station, close to 3 metro stations. checkin: 13:00; checkout: 12:00. Cool red-brick building! Big kitchen, lockers, hot water, huge common area, free towels and bed linen. Dorm bed: RUB400-900.
Red House Hostel, Belinskogo street 11. Colorful dorm rooms. Bike rental. Dorm bed: RUB349-449.
Simple Hostel, 2 central locations: Gorokhovaya 4 and Nevksy Prospekt 78. Clean and comfortable, large common rooms, full kitchen, and friendly girls on staff. Dorm bed: From RUB700.
Soul Kitchen, 1-st Sovietskaya 12 app 1. Free laundry and full kitchen facilities. Breakfast included. RUB980-1450.
Sweet Village Hostel, Ligovskiy prospekt, 87. Dorm bed: RUB400-850; Double:RUB2,500.
5th Sovetskaya 21. checkin: 12.00; checkout: 12.00. Cosy Swiss managed B&B in a nice area off the main drag. Rooms include breakfast, TV, tea/coffee, Non-smoking. From RUB1,600.
Chao Mama, Grazhdanskaya str. 27. Awesome design, extremely helpful staff, big kitchens, and spacious rooms. Private apartments: From RUB1,800.
Comfort Hotel, 25 Bolshaya Morskaya Ul. 2 blocks off Nevsky Prospekt between the Moika and Admiralty; walking distance to St. Isaacs Square and Palace Square. Small hotel (18 rooms) with attentive service. Breakfast buffet included. English-speaking staff. RUB3,200-7,500.
Dom Dostoevskogo, 61/1 Griboedov channel,3 underground stations are within 2 minutes walk: Sennaya, Sadovaya, and Spasskaya.. checkin: 14.00; checkout: 12.00. A small and comfortable mini-hotel in the centre, in the same building where the famous Russian writer Dostoevsky used to live. 10 cozy rooms with plasma TVs. From RUB2,000.
Ermitage Hotel, Millionnaya st.11 Located in the historical centre. checkin: 14:00; checkout: 12:00. A small hotel with genuine St. Petersburg spirit. Offers 4 double rooms that allow usage of a fully equipped study and a magnificent hall with fire-place - and with the whole staff of the hotel at your disposal. From RUB4,300.
Herzen House, Bolshaya Morskaya st.25 right at the historical center. checkin: 14:00; checkout: 12:00. 20 rooms of different types, TV, bathroom, phone, air-conditioning in each room. 24-hours English speaking reception. Excellent breakfast (buffet) included. From RUB3,900.
Kamerdiner, 6 Ozernoi Pereulok Metro: Ploschad Vosstaniya, a short walk from the Moscow Railway Station. Walk along Ulitsa Vosstaniya from Nevsky and take first right after small park. checkin: 14:00; checkout: 12:00. Small cosy hotel located in a quiet, leafy lane. Seven rooms in lavishly restored former mansion looking onto monastery, very friendly service and attentive staff. Continental breakfast, satellite TV, fridge, safe, air-conditioning, 24-hour security, visa support, theatre bookings, guided tours, airport transfer. RUB5,200-6,500.
Matisov Domik, Matisov Island near the Mariinsky Theatre. A small, cosy hotel. The hotel has excellent service with large, clean rooms and satellite television (all but one news channels, Russia Today, are in Russian). The hotel is a jewel in an otherwise poorer area of the city; however, this should not put potential visitors off as it is the perfect way to see both perspectives of the city. Single: RUB2,800; Double: RUB3,400.
Hotel Moscow, 2 Alexander Nevsky pl Metro Ploschad' Alexandra Nevskogo. Incredibly gargantuan concrete monolith that continues to carry forward the Soviet traditions of former monopoly operator, Intourist. Ugly and soviet in style, but the location right above a metro station is excellent and the price can be right, especially if booked in a package. Single: RUB4,300; Double: RUB4,500-6,000.
Nevsky Express Hotel, 93 Nevsky pr. Metro: Ploschad Vosstania. 3 star hotel.
Nevsky Forum Hotel, Nevsky pr., 69 800 m from Moscow Railway Station. checkin: 14:00; checkout: 12:00. 5 minutes walk from Moscow railway station. The hotel offers 29 rooms different categories. All rooms are equipped with bathroom with bathtub or shower, satellite TV, telephone, air conditioning, mini-bar, electronic safe-box, hair-dryer. 24-hours reception & room-service, business & conference facilities, transport & excursion service, visa support & registration service, laundry. From RUB5000.
Nevsky Grand Hotel, 10 Bolshaya Konyushennaya St,Just around the corner from Nevsky Prospect, 5 minutes from the subway and a 10 minute walk from the Hermitage Museum. Air conditioning in every room. Rooms are very small, but functional. Staff speak English well, and breakfast is included in the room rate (available from 7AM til 11AM). Shortcomings: no fridges in rooms; steep staircase at the entrance is difficult for a stroller. From €80 for double; frequent special offers.
Nevsky Hotel Moyka 5, 5, Moyka in the center near to the Hermitage Museum and Palace Square. 3 star hotel. Buffet breakfast. While the cheapest rooms are a bargain, you get what you pay for. Get a room with a jacuzzi and sauna.
Northern Lights, Bolshaya Morskaya st.50/6 in the historical centre. checkin: 13:00; checkout: 12:00. A small, beautifully designed hotel. The hotel is Western owned and managed, ensuring that services are up to the highest international standard. Continental breakfast, visa support, airport transfers.
Old Vienna, Malaya Morskaya13/ Gorohovaya 8 in the centre. 400 m. to Hermitage. checkin: 13; checkout: 12. A both stylish and cozy mini-hotel of buisiness class level. All 14 rooms of the hotel are equipped with air conditioning, bathroom, satellite TV, telephone, mini-bar, hair-dryer, DVD. Breakfast (buffet) is included.
Rachmaninov, Kazanskaya 5 Next to the Kazan Cathedral, in the city centre. checkin: 14:00; checkout: 12:00. Art-hotel. 24h reception. Single RUB4,300-6,300; Double: RUB5,000-9,600.
Sabrina, Bolshaya Morskaya st.21 1 block from Nevsky Prospect and the Hermitage. A family-run bed & breakfast. Basic, but very clean and comfortable. A bit difficult to find as it is on the fourth floor of an apartment building. Code for building entrance: 2230#. €40-100.
Safari, Uliza Babushkaya. Good service and you might be able to negotiate a better price. Looks bad from outside, but from the inside is fairly new and clean. RUB2,200-2,500.
Swiss Star B&B, in the historical centre of the city. checkin: 14.00; checkout: 11.00. A Swiss-managed bed & breakfast. Stylish, safe and very clean. 8 Rooms (5 with attached bath) and a big, fully equipped kitchen. Free breakfast and tea/coffee. Non-smoking. English speaking staff. Single: €40-90; Double: €50-110; Russian invitation: €35-45.
Vera, Suvorovsky prosp. 25/16, 5th floor close to Grand Hotel Emerald. checkin: 2pm. Up-to-date and cozy rooms; 4th to 6th floors of an old building. Staff speak English by default, not Russian--which is quite rare. 6th floor features mansard windows. Some rooms have poor sound isolation from the corridor (eg. 514, 604). Free internet over wire, cable supplied. Breakfast: No-frills; no hot plates but fresh fruits; no espresso, only American coffee.
Alexander House, 27 Kryukova kanala emb.. checkin: after 14:00; checkout: before 12:00. 4-star boutique hotel close to the Mariinsky Kirov Theatre on the embankments of the Kryukov Canal. Designer interiors and a homey atmosphere. Each of the 19 rooms is individually furnished and designed. From €116.
Angleterre, Morskaya 24 adjacent to St Isaac’s Cathedral. From RUB8,000.
Astoria, 39 Bolshaya Morskaya on Saint Isaac's Square, next to Saint Isaac's Cathedral and across from the historic Imperial German Embassy. A 5-star hotel.
Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace, ŠŠ¾Š·Š½ŠµŃŠµŠ½ŃŠŗŠøŠ¹ ŠæŃ-ŠŗŃ, 1 Admiralty. A 5-star hotel. Built within a 19th century royal palace guarded by 2 lion statues. From RUB14,800.
Grand Hotel Emerald, 18 Suvorovsky pr. (few-minute walk from Moskovsky Railway Station and Nevsky Prospekt. Luxurious five-star hotel. Hosts several restaurants, SPA, Top Gym fitness centre and conference facilities.
Grand Hotel Europe, 1/7 Mikhailovskaya st. in the centre of town on Nevsky Prospekt. A 5-star hotel. Hosts functions and several restaurants. Many rooms have great views over the city. Well worth a visit.
Petro Palace, 14 Malaya Morskaya. Has a spa, swimming pool and gym (but only free for guests before 11AM) and the rooms maids are very efficient - appearing to clean rooms several times a day. It is next to several excellent restaurants, coffee bars and a small shop. RUB11,000-15,000.
Radisson Royal, 49/2 Nevskiy pr. on Nevskiy Prospekt. A 5-star hotel. The hotel boasts a fitness centre, sauna and massage parlour.
Radisson Sonya, Liteynyy prospekt, 5/19 At Mikhailovsky Military Academy. Difficult to find a place to eat nearby if you arrive after midnight on weekday. RUB17,000-57,000.
Taleon Imperial Hotel, Nevsky Prospect 15. A 5-star hotel in a former palace. Includes a spa and sauna. From RUB10,000.
W St. Petersburg, 6 Voznesensky pr. next to St. Isaac's Cathedral. Ultramodern and chic hotel. Hosts Bliss Spa and mix restaurant by Alain Ducasse.
The emergency service number is 112.
Free WiFi is available in most hotels, cafes, restaurants, bars, and shopping centers.
There are many computer clubs/internet cafes, usually crowded by kids playing CounterStrike.
Saint Petersburg has a somewhat undeserved reputation for being a dangerous city. Things have calmed down since the Wild West (or Wild East) days immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but some common sense is still required.
As with most other major cities, avoid traveling alone at night, and do not get into altercations with drunks. If traveling at night, it is recommended to stay on the main sidewalks and avoid any dark alleys or yards. Gypsy cabs are not recommended under any circumstances, especially those that linger near bars where expatriates and tourists congregate.
Downtown and western parts of the city are safest. Suburbs like Kupchino, Veteranov, Ligovo and Sennaya in the centre should be avoided at night time.
As a general rule, the farther you are from the city center, the more dangerous it is.
Saint Petersburg's football club, Zenit Saint Petersburg, is one of the biggest clubs in the country, and has its own gang of hooligans. If you decide to visit the football stadium to watch the club play, you should buy tickets to center sectors. If you do not do this and a fight starts, you are likely to get dragged into it by either the hooligans or the police, since both will think you are part of the brawl.
Take care of money, documents, cameras, mobile phones, and anything of value because of pickpocketing. Especially watch out on the Metro during busy times, as people start pushing at the train doors, and pickpockets are frequent, particularly (but not only) at Gostinyy Dvor Metro Station. When riding the Metro, keep in mind that robbery can be a real threat; you should constantly watch what is going on around you and who is standing very close to you.
Thefts of photo equipment are really a big problem in Saint Petersburg. Photo bags probably won't save your camera,it can be opened in less than 5 seconds. Cameras should be kept in bags slung across the body at all times, with your hands keeping a firm grip on them, and no watches or jewelry should be visible at all.
Quite obviously, do not show in public that you have a lot of money. Robberies are not uncommon, and many foreigners have been threatened at gun and knife point. However, foreigners are not targeted specifically, and robbers will attack both foreigners and natives that carelessly reveal their wealth.
Take special care on Nevsky Prospekt, particularly the area with the city tour buses, a favorite spot of pickpockets and particularly of those after photo equipment. On the bright side, Nevsky Prospekt sees little mugging.
Russian driving is wild. Drivers attack their art with an equal mix of aggressiveness and incompetence. Guidelines are lax and rarely followed. As a pedestrian, take great care when crossing the roads, as pedestrian crossings are in 99% of cases ignored, even by police. If you are thinking of driving yourself, bear in mind that the Russian traffic police are extremely corrupt, even by Russian standards.
Pedestrian crossings with a traffic light are quite safe to use, most car drivers will stop of course, other cars will either be rear ended, or drive through crossings at ridiculous speeds with no regards for safety. Just like in any other big city always look left and right before crossing the road and make eye contact with the driver if possible.
Bar fights do occur. In the centre of the city and around Nevsky Prospekt, they are unlikely to happen. However, in the suburbs and local cheaper pubs, fights occur almost daily. If you are staying with locals living in these areas, it might be a good idea to avoid these bars. Police are unlikely to show up as they consider fights as small, unimportant, regular and a waste of time, and they will probably laugh at you for calling.
Another subtle danger that can affect your trip is the inevitable effect of winter weather. Poor clearance of snow and ice is a big problem in this city. Caution is advised in snowy winters because of falling ice from roofs, and pedestrians should pay special attention to ice on the streets.
Overall, be warned that if you are used to living in the US and/or Western Europe, Saint Petersburg, as well as the rest of Eastern Europe, will seem different, and, at times, a bit intimidating. On the other hand, Russian people are usually friendly, welcoming and interested towards foreigners, and nothing should happen to you unless you put yourself in harm's way. If you don't care about them they don't care about you, and nothing should get in your way of having a great holiday.
Another danger is the bar scams that abound in the city. Please avoid at all costs Crystal bar on Griboyedov channel embankment, right next to the Savior on the Spilled Blood church. Here's how the scam works:
Girls approach you and invite to have drinks together, and the even offer to pay for those drinks. They build trust and take you to other bars. After those bars they talk to a friend on the phone that says that whatever club you want to go is closed and so they take you to Crystal club.
There you immediately start being served drinks and food without showing you the menu and then they charge you a ridiculous amount. Calling the police is pointless as they will not show up.
In Saint Petersburg cold water is cleaner than hot.
There are numerous public toilets, most of which are attended by a person who will charge about RUB15 for entry. It is a good idea to take your own toilet paper, as it is not always provided. The toilets are typically extremely dirty by Western standards. If you are a Westerner, you can get away with wandering into the Western hotels, which have lovely bathrooms— the Grand Hotel Europe in particular.
Just don't ever push your luck with suit-clad men guarding the hotel entrances, they are tough as nails if provoked. Many restaurants also allow tourists to use the toilet without being a customer.
Saint Petersburg is plagued by mosquitoes during the summer, as the swampy surroundings of the city give the mosquitoes excellent living conditions. In budget accommodation with few countermeasures against the mosquitoes, this can be a problem at night, putting your well deserved sleep at risk.
Day trips can be done on your own or via an organized excursion offered by many tour operators. Even though it is a lot to see in one day, Peterhof, Kronshtadt, and Lomonosov are all located in the same general direction west of Saint Petersburg and are all accessible by hydrofoil, so it is popular to see all three sites in one day.
Oreshek fortess, a view from the right bank of Neva River
Gatchina — Big palace and park located in a beautiful village 50km south of Saint Petersburg.
Kronshtadt — Old seaport town on Kotlin island, 20km directly north of Lomonosov. Main Russian naval base from early 18th century. You may take a hydrofoil back to the Hermitage for RUB 400 one-way.
Lomonosov or Oranienbaum — Park with museum honoring Michael Lomonosov. 9km west of Peterhof via the A121 highway. Train station name is Oranienbaum ('Orange tree' in German). TIP - You may also visit Kronshtadt and take a hydrofoil back to the Hermitage for RUB 400 one-way, an inexpensive alternative to the more expensive ones leaving from Peterhof.
Oreshek Fortess — a medieval russian fortess at Orekhovy Island in the mouth of Neva, 50km east of Saint Petersburg.
Pavlovsk — Lusicous green park where you could feed the squirrels from your hands. Can be reached by train from Vitebskiy station not the main hall, but the smaller hall for local trains, which is on the right side as you face the station. Pavlovsk train station is close to the northwestern gate to the park, and from there it is a long but pleasant walk though the park to the palace.
Peterhof — Home of the sumptuous "Russian Versailles" and the recently open to visits Petrodvorets Watch Factory - Raketa, 30km southwest of Saint Petersburg.
Pushkin or Tsarskoye Selo — 25km south of Saint Petersburg, with beautiful parks and palaces, most notably the Catherine Palace built for Tsarina Catherine I.
Repino — House-museum of the artist Ilya Repin, located just off the Gulf of Finland, where he lived and worked. To get there: Elektrichka train from the Finlandsky Station (45 minutes, round trip fare RUB 120, eleventh stop on the westbound line — check in advance to make sure the train you board stops in Repino — then from the station cross the main road and walk down the path to the left of the supermarket through a resort complex to the next major road. Turn left and walk about 1.5km to the gate marked Penaty. The walk takes about 45 minutes. The museum and grounds close at 3PM, or earlier if there are no visitors.
Staraya Ladoga — the first capital of Russia is a pleasant little village four hours away with an incredible wealth of historical sights, including its own stone kremlin and church frescoes by the hand of none other than Andrei Rublev.
Vyborg, — town situated on the Karelian Isthmus near the head of the Bay of Vyborg, 130km to the northwest of St. Petersburg, 38 km south from Russia's border with Finland, where the Saimaa Canal enters the Gulf of Finland. Swedish built castle, started in the 13th century and extensively reconstructed by Russians in 1891–1894.
Mon Repos, one of the most spacious English parks in Eastern Europe, laid out in the 19 century. Fortifications of the Mannerheim Line (built by Finland against the Soviet Union) are close by. Check the schedule of the 75 minute rapid train online.
If you leave Russia and plan to return, make sure you have a multiple entry visa.
Novgorod — Ancient town with churches and museums, 180 km from St. Petersburg.
Narva, Estonia — 160km southwest of Saint Petersburg. Located on the Narva river, which serves as the border between Russia and Estonia. Twin castles - Russian, established Grand Duke Ivan III, and Danish/Swedish.
Tourism Observer
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