Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg

Often referred to as the European capital of Russia, St Petersburg has gained worldwide fame as the home of many high-class museums and buildings of architectural interests. Its many orthodox churches are the most famous example of the astonishing architectural accomplishments of Russia and the former Soviet Union. Yet, St. Petersburg offers also nice shopping facilities, lively nightlife, and cultural entertainment such as high-class theater and opera performances.

Church of spilled blood in St Petersburg

Saint Petersburg, Russian cultural capital with architectural pearls

Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Leningrad, is the old capital of Russia and its window to Europe. This beautiful city built in early 1700s hosts many architectural wonders. The most amazing of St Petersburg churches is the fairytale-like Church on Spilled Blood. With its onion-shaped domes of pure gold reaching towards the sky, this magnificent orthodox cathedral is such an incredible sight you would rather not believe it is real. This famous church is of special interest not only as a masterpiece of Russian architecture, but also as a memorial monument, which was built in the place where Czar Alexander II was murdered in 1881.

Places to see. The massive Hermitage Art Museum is one of the most famous sights of Saint Petersburg. In this astonishing palace-like museum you can easily spend days admiring the accomplishments of the most famous artists of the world. There are also other interesting and world-famous museums in St Petersburg, as well as high class concerts in Saint Petersburg available regularly. One more thing St. Petersburg is famous for is performing arts, which can be enjoyed in the fabulous opera and theatres in St Petersburg.

Palace Square, Saint Petersburg, Russia

The Russian Venice. Offering something green for those who want to stay out, the fountains and pavilions of the Summer Garden are the place to go when you want to take a deep breath of fresh air in St Petersburg. The river Neva, which flows in the middle of the city, as well as the many canals create an essential part of the city image of St. Petersburg. The city is known as the Russian Venice, and offers pleasant surroundings for boat tours. When the cultural treasures of the city are seen, there is also always shopping in Saint Petersburg, which is concentrated on the main street called Nevski Prospect. The lively nightlife of St Petersburg is also worth checking out.

Practical information for your trip to Saint Petersburg

Climate in St Petersburg is continental with quite warm summers and cold winters. The period between June and August is the warmest, while winter usually lasts from November to late March. In general, St. Petersburg is a year-round destination.

However, if you want to see the famous palace parks, come in summer.

Street view of St Peteresburg by night

Getting around. Metro is the best way to move around St Petersburg. There are frequent connections available to almost anywhere in the area of St. Petersburg. Metro tickets in St Petersburg are cheap, but as all announcements are given in Russian, navigating in the vast network of stations can cause problems if you are not familiar with Russian language and alphabets. If you want to stay above the ground, trolleybuses run frequently in the city, and taxis are also available at a reasonable price.

Canal in St Petersburg

Travelling to St Petersburg is easy, although most foreign nationalities need a visa. International flights to St Petersburg are available from all over the world. Another pleasant way to reach the city is by train from Finland (Helsinki), or with a Baltic cruise. When moving around in St Petersburg, the fastest way is by subway. Frequent local bus connections are available in the city center. Rental cars in St Petersburg are also available, although if you are not planning to leave the city, a bus or subway is more recommended.

Inside Peter and paul cathedral

Visitor services. Hotels in St Petersburg are easy to find, and restaurants in St Petersburg will also not run out any time soon. Talking of the services, also tailored sightseeing tours in St Petersburg are available. St Petersburg is generally a safe city, but as pick-pocketing is quite common and robberies do happen, it is important to take good care of your belongings and avoid walking around in unknown neighborhoods at night. Keep your passport with you all times, as the police might check your ID. Some Russian language skills are needed for independent touring.