St. Petersburg

Travel Guide
St. Petersburg showing heritage architecture

St. Petersburg Travel Guide Video

Cruise along canals, tour architectural masterpieces and enjoy festivals under a midnight sun in Russia’s second-largest city.

See grand buildings, stately boulevards, golden spires, windings canals and opulent art in St. Petersburg, one of Russia’s most impressive cities. The former capital of the Russian Empire was founded by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703 to show off the country’s imperial might. Today, it is Russia's cultural capital and a burgeoning tourist centre of galleries, museums, palaces and cathedrals.

In the historic centre, visit the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood, built on the exact spot where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated. Beneath its multicolored domes is a richly decorated building with thousands of square feet of mosaics. Explore St. Isaac’s Cathedral, one of Russia’s largest churches. At the Peter and Paul Fortress, see the tombs of the Romanovs, the imperial dynasty that ruled Russia for 300 years.

St. Petersburg has much to offer art lovers. Inside the colossal baroque Winter Palace, find the Hermitage. One of Russia's largest museums, it holds more than 3 million works of art and historic artifacts. For more art and culture, examine paintings by native artists at the Russian Museum. Learn about folklore and traditions by visiting the Russian Ethnography Museum.

Also known as "Venice of the North," St. Petersburg is built on a number of islands and crisscrossed by canals and rivers. For a different city perspective, cruise the waterways on a boat. 

Enjoy a unique experience with a visit to St. Petersburg in June for the White Nights. During these midsummer evenings the sun barely sets and the city hosts several festivals. See opera, ballet and musical performances at the White Nights Festival. Revel in the Scarlet Sails, a huge celebration with fireworks, concerts and a water show.

Reach St. Petersburg by flying into Pulkovo Airport. Get around by public transportation or rental car. Enjoy the city’s history, culture and attractions, and save some time to venture farther afield. St. Petersburg is within easy reach of the sumptuous estates of the Romanov Tsars including Peterhof Palace and Pavlovsk Palace.

Where to stay in St. Petersburg

Kazan Cathedral which includes heritage architecture and a church or cathedral

St. Petersburg City Centre

4.5/5(147 area reviews)

Fascinating museums, prominent churches, and charming cafes are just a few top things to explore in St. Petersburg City Centre. A visit to Alexandrinsky Theatre or Anichkov Palace might round out your trip, and you can jump aboard the metro at Gostiny Dvor Station or Dostoyevskaya Station to get around town.

St. Petersburg City Centre
Nevskiy Prospekt showing a city and night scenes

Nevsky Prospekt

4.5/5(74 area reviews)

Museums, theatres and churches highlight some notable features of Nevsky Prospekt. Make a stop by Faberge Museum or Fontanka River Embankment while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Mayakovskaya Station or Gostiny Dvor Station to get around town.

Nevsky Prospekt
Grand Market Russia Interactive Museum

Moskovskiy

4/5(5 area reviews)

Moskovskiy is well liked for its breweries and churches. If you're hoping to get in some sightseeing, Victory Square and Saint Petersburg Sports and Concert Complex are top spots, and you can jump on the metro at Zvyozdnaya Station or Moskovskaya Station to get around.

Moskovskiy
Alexander Nevsky Lavra showing heritage architecture and a park as well as a small group of people

Tsentralny

5/5(1 area review)

Travellers choose Tsentralny for its fascinating museums. Hop aboard the metro at Mayakovskaya Station or Dostoyevskaya Station and check out top sights like Anna Akhmatova Museum at the Fountain House.

Tsentralny
St. Isaac\'s Cathedral which includes heritage architecture

Admiralteysky Area

If you're spending some time in Admiralteysky Area, Yusupov Palace and St. Isaac's Square are top sights worth seeing.

Admiralteysky Area
St. Petersburg featuring a statue or sculpture

Palace District

While you're in Palace District, take in top sights like Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood and jump on the metro at Nevsky Prospekt Station to see more of the city.

Palace District

Popular places to visit

Reviews of St. Petersburg

4.7
Top destination
5 - Excellent
118
" "5 - Excellent 74.68354430379746%
4 - Good
36
" "4 - Good 22.78481012658228%
3 - Okay
3
" "3 - Okay 1.8987341772151898%
2 - Disappointing
1
" "2 - Disappointing 0.6329113924050633%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
3 Mar 2020

Yat' Restaurant, Russian cuisine, on Moyke River Embankment, just off Palace Square is worth checking out. Inexpensive and traditional. Also Georgian Cuisine, Phali-Khinkhali (not 100% sure of spelling) on Bol'shays Morskaya Ulitsa. Lovely.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
27 Feb 2020

Well worth a visit. Easy to do alone. Everywhere accessible by foot. No need for the expensive tours. Entry fees very reasonable. Hard Rock Cafe - great. La Famillie - fantastic! Romeos - over charged us - don't go!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
23 Feb 2020

Maria at Getaguide was superb showing us the Hermitage Museum. we pre booked the by pass the queue option. The Faberge Museum is also a must see. The red line underground stations are also a must see. The travel card is great value.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
28 Jan 2020

Beautify huge, tidy city of old, huge buildings with history

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
2 Jan 2020

Truly stunning. Old and modern combined. So much history.

5/5 - Excellent

Stephen
29 Dec 2019

Use the metro it’s fast, efficient and inexpensive, use YANDEX APP for taxis, visit the Russian spa, Bani. Use the hop on and off bus, visit Nevsky street, Russian vodka museum and hermitage is a must. There is lots lots more to do. Very very nice.