Glorious Saint Petersburg is a honeypot for every culture enthusiast. In this City of Tsars and Bridges, the Venice of the North, you’ll immerse yourself in the wealth of the Russian past and country’s cultural heritage like nowhere else in Russia. A crown jewel of capitals, St. Petersburg is adorned with wealthy architecture, magnificent palaces, lush gardens, splendid historical cathedrals, and numerous bridges that are especially beautiful during white nights.
Top 10 Things to Do in St. Petersburg
The City of Bridges
Romantic Saint Petersburg is dotted with countless bascule bridges. Being one of the main Saint Petersburg attractions, they offer a great show of bridges’ drawing. Can you imagine that there are more than 300 of them, each of different styles and sizes? Almost all parade river crossings were built in the center, next to the main attractions. But no less other interesting structures can be seen if you turn off the usual tourist routes. Seeing all of them may take weeks, if not months. But it is a perfect reason to return to Saint Petersburg from time to time to see the city at its best.
When for the first time in St. Petersburg, you can satisfy your curiosity by seeing just several bridges. We personally recommend checking out the Blagoveshchensky Bridge, the Palace Bridge, the Trinity Bridge, and the Foundry Bridge. Conveniently, all of them are located right in Saint Petersburg’s center. |
Canal Cruises
One of the best ways to enjoy Saint Petersburg water canals is on a canal cruise! Like veins, numerous canals breathe through the city, presenting a unique experience of taking a boat tour. The total length of all watercourses on the territory of Saint Petersburg reaches 282 km (175 mi)! The presence of so many channels is not accidental. As Peter the Great decided to build a city on a swamp, it required the construction of canals and drainage ponds. The earth dredged out was used to raise the surface. At the end of the 19th century, the Neva delta consisted of 48 rivers and canals, forming 101 islands. That's where St. Petersburg got its name of Venice of the North.
The canals are especially breathtaking after sunset when St. Petersburg is filled with lights that cover the magnificent bridges. Embark on a day or night Saint Petersburg canal cruise and reveal the city from a new perspective. |
White Nights
White nights or the midnight sun is a natural summer phenomenon that occurs mostly in places north of the Arctic Circle or south of the Antarctic Circle. During this amazing event, the sun never sets completely and remains visible even at midnight. Saint Petersburg can boast quite a long duration of white nights. There is a so-called "official" period from June 11 to July 2. At the same time, many consider May 25-26 to be the beginning of the White nights, and July 16-17 as the end.
The period of white nights in St. Petersburg is a perfect time for festival enthusiasts. With the arrival of white nights, St. Petersburg is absorbed with different cultural festivals, concerts, and street parties. The main hallmark of this period is the Scarlet Sails, known in Russian as "Alye Parusa" festivity. If you see spectacular fireworks and a real sailing ship with crimson sails going down the Neva River, know that this is the holiday of school graduates in Saint Petersburg. What a fascinating city |
Hermitage
Want to get acquainted with Russian art and architecture? Then your path leads you to the famous Hermitage. Located on the banks of the Neva River, this iconic place represents the city's impressive heritage. In fact, it can be called a treasure trove. The Hermitage holds the most extensive art collection in the world, which was a private collection of Catherine the Great. Explore the riches of the great empress and fantastic halls of Russia's imperial past in the museum, which is, actually, located in the Winter Palace of the Romanov Dynasty, another sight of your Saint Petersburg must-see list.
The greatness of Saint Petersburg Hermitage isn't overstated. Only in 2019 it attracted 4,956,524 visitors, which gave it eighth place among the most visited art museums in the world. Open hours: 10:30 AM - 18:00 PM Tickets: 6.5 USD (500 RUB) |
Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood
A wonderful example of Russian architectural style, Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood is one of the most recognizable things to see in Saint Petersburg. Constructed in place of Alexander II's death, the building amazes everyone with its beauty: decorated with semiprecious stones and covered in jewelry enamel, the church seems to be very fairy and light. Besides, the church is adorned with one of the largest mosaic collections in entire Europe. It takes about 23.130 square feet of the church's walls!
To honor the fallen Emperor, 20 granite boards, which describe the events of the reign of Alexander II, were fixed in the niches of the temple. One of the mosaics shows the coats of arms of cities, counties, and provinces. A special canopy was built over the preserved slabs of the sidewalk and pavement, on which the mortally wounded Emperor fell. Open hours: Mon - Tue: 10:00 AM - 17:00 PM; Wed: off; Thu - Fri: 10:00 AM - 17:00 PM |
Peter and Paul Fortress
Directly opposite the Hermitage, on the opposite bank of the river, you’ll see the kingly Peter and Paul Fortress. This notable star-shaped citadel contains some interesting Saint Petersburg sights. For example, the Peter and Paul Cathedral, which is the oldest church in the city with a 122.5 m (402 ft) bell-tower. Besides, it is the burial place of all of the Romanov Tsars. Oh, and don’t miss a real canon! Following a centuries-old tradition, a cannon is fired each noon from the Naryshkin Bastion.
On the fortress territory, there is also a Museum of everyday life in the city in the XVIII-XIX, as well as the Trubetskoy Bastion prison, where political prisoners were held. Among the prisoners were Ministers of the tsarist government, L. D. Trotsky, F. M. Dostoevsky, and N. G. Chernyshevsky. The territory of the fortress and the beach are open to the public. Open hours: 10:00 AM - 18:00 PM Tickets: 10 USD (750 RUB) for a combination ticket |
Peterhof
If you feel that it’s time to go beyond traditional Saint Petersburg sightseeing, make a day-trip to “Russian Versailles”, Peterhof. This wonderful residence is a screaming representation of Russian tsars’ richness. Shining statues, creative gardens, and unthinkable fountains are a great getaway from the city’s harry & harm, which is actually one of the UNESCO-listed places.
The complex is huge and contains all kinds of sights. For example, Upper and Lower gardens, Grand Cascade, numerous museums (of fountain business, playing cards, collectors, Imperial bicycles, Benoit family). But the main pride of Peterhof is the magnificent fountains. The number of them reaches one and a half hundred. Among places beyond St. Petersburg, Peterhof is a real gem that you definitely need to visit. Open hours: 10:00 AM - 18:00 PM Tickets: 13 USD (1000 RUB) |
Singer House (House of the Book)
Those who eager to experience the authentic Petersburg atmosphere and refined taste should not give a miss to Singer House (Дом компании «Зингер»), also known as the House of the Book (Дом книги). Located at the intersection of Nevsky Prospekt and the Griboyedov Canal, this historical landmark is the most atmospheric bookstore in the heart of Nevsky Prospekt.
Once you’ve picked your favorite book, treat yourself to a fragrant coffee in Singer Cafe on the second floor. Interestingly, the five upper floors serve as the headquarters of the VKontakte team (Russian online social media). Open hours: 09:00 AM - 11:00 PM |
Summer Garden
Perhaps the most famous and visited tourist Park in the city is the Summer garden (Kutuzov Emb., 2). The park is small, cozy, and well maintained. Like almost everything in Saint Petersburg, the place was touched by the gracefulness of Tsar Peter the Great: the territory is decorated with elegant statues, gazebos, and fountains. The Summer garden is surrounded by water on all sides. The Neva and Fontanka rivers became the natural border of the park from the North and East, and Moika together with Lebyazhya Kanavka — from the South and West.
The entrance is free, but please note that the Summer garden is closed for desiccation in spring. |
Grand Maket Russia
Grand Maket Russia (Гранд Макет Россия) is like a dollhouse. But instead of a house, there is Russia. Yes, the country. At least some parts of them. It may sound strange but in reality everything is much simpler.
Grand Maket Russia is a private museum with a model layout designed on a scale of 1:87 that covers an area of 800 square meters (8,600 sq ft). This layout represents everyday Russian reality, implemented through many mini-stories with little models of people, cars, public transport, buildings, shops, road, and many other little details - a perfect place to get familiar with the country a little bit closer. What is more, during construction, 11 tons of plaster were used, so make sure to check out this tremendous piece of work! Open hours: 10:00 AM - 20:00 PM |
Best of all, St. Petersburg is perceived in contrast with another capital of vast Russia - Moscow. Its combination of past and future and party vibes pleasantly contrast with the cultural heritage of St. Petersburg. Besides, Moscow - Saint Petersburg high-speed train is a rather popular connection among locals and tourists as well as the reverse, so the rail tickets may be sold out fast. To be on the safe side, we recommend getting your tickets in advance.
For example, you can use the Russian Train Tickets booking platform. It offers a great intuitive interface and allows to book tickets for any train in Russia easily and worry-free.
For example, you can use the Russian Train Tickets booking platform. It offers a great intuitive interface and allows to book tickets for any train in Russia easily and worry-free.
Saint Petersburg is surely something you won’t forget. It’s always lively, beautiful, and alluring. Breathtaking summer White nights, architectural artifacts, art, history, and unparalleled atmosphere - there is always something to come back for. Once you find yourself in this city, you can leave the question “What things to see in Saint Petersburg?” aside. As the answer to it is “Everything.”