A starting point in the exploration of the great city of Saint Petersburg is considered to be the Palace Square being the heart of the city. The square is crowded at any time of day and night. This spot of tourist attraction is turned into established place of holding of various folk fests, parades, the greatest fairs meanwhile during winter the square is turned into a huge skating rink. In the heart of the square tourists will find the Alexander Column being one of the main symbols of the city. In close vicinity to the square tourists will discover several remarkable historical sites.
White Nights, drawbridges, many attractions, unique museums, and its special culture – you will find all these and more in the northern capital of Russia - Saint Petersburg. The city is … Open
Saint Petersburg impresses its visitors with a vast choice of gastronomy establishments being of great attraction for tourists. Many restaurants and city cafes features centuries-long … Open
The next important destination of the city of Saint Petersburg is the Saint Isaac’s Square and the same name cathedral located near the square. Apart from the remarkable religious site the square sides with another significant landmark being the Lobanov-Rostovsky Residence and a small garden spreading around. This is a place of location of known white marble Medici Lions which are imaged on various souvenirs and memorable gifts. A trip to the State Open Air Museum Pavlovsk Palace will turn to an unforgettable adventure. In general the city of Saint Petersburg counts about three hundred museums meanwhile an exact number of historical landmarks is still unknown.
The city of Saint Petersburg has been for many years the most in demand tourist destination of global scale. The Capital of Culture of the country attracts foreign guests with plenty of … Open
The square in front of Great Peterhof Palace is decorated with the stunning fountain “Samson tearing apart the lion’s mouth”. Unfortunately, the original composition was damaged during the Second World War, despite how carefully it was guarded. The same fate befell many parts of the majestic Peterhof, but all the structures that were affected by the conflict were immediately restored to the fullest possible extent. The palace was built in the year 1725 according to the project of Johann Braunstein and Jean-Baptiste Leblond and rebuilt in 1752 by order of Elizabeth, who admired the Palace of Versailles. Francesco Rastrelli was invited as an architect. The “Petrine Baroque” had been the original style of the building and it was changed to “mature baroque” after remodeling. In its halls, you can find not only the majestic apartments where noble persons lived but also the museum collection which is displayed there nowadays.
A number of entertainment establishments presented in Saint Petersburg equals the number of its landmarks and cultural sites. Tourists will find in the city various entertainments fitting … Open
Drawbridges of the northern capital of Russia deserve special attention. The most famous among them is monumental Palace Bridge, which is one of the symbols of the city (in a pulled up version). It owes its name to the Palace Embankment and the Winter Palace which are located nearby. No less interesting is Trinity Bridge which was considered as the longest one before the erection of another beautiful structure – the Alexander Nevsky Bridge. Bolsheokhtinsky Bridge is also worth taking a walk on and it is notable for being the first drawbridge of the cultural capital. Among fixed bridges of the city on the Neva are Bank Bridge (named for its proximity to the Assignation Bank), Egyptian Bridge, and Marble Bridge.
1. A heat of the tourist season on Saint Petersburg falls within a period from the middle of may till the end of September as this period features the most favorable weather for trips and … Open
Another meeting place for many lovers is Nevsky Prospect, which is the main street of the city on the Neva. This is a place where “something is constantly happening”: actors in old-fashioned costumes are greeting guests of the city, tourists are examining sights and locals are meeting each other. During the national holidays, the avenue becomes even more lively because the most interesting and popular events are always held here. The city is famous for its magnificent theatrical performances. Every visitor should certainly estimate the repertoire of the most famous theaters of the northern capital of Russia such as Mariinsky Theater and Alexandrinsky Theater. It is worth noting that cultural sites are located in beautiful old buildings. You should definitely listen to the history of these iconic places before visiting. Wonderful performances for children are held in the Theater of Young Spectators named after Bryantsev.
Discovering the architecture of Saint Petersburg from bird's eye view! Church of the Savior on Blood, Catherine Palace, Peter and Paul Cathedral, Saint Michael Castle, Alexander Palace, Kunstkamera, all those monuments are defining the image of Saint Petersburg … Open
The building of the Main Admiralty, which is located next to the picturesque Alexander Garden, is another must-visit place in the city, and the ship, which crowns the spire of the building, is another symbol of the northern capital of Russia. The complex was built in 1706 in the Empire style that was popular in that era. Today the main command of the Navy of the country is located here. Two iconic sculptures of St. Petersburg depicting Peter I is situated nearby – “The Tsar Carpenter Monument” and “The Bronze Horseman”. On the right side, you can find the already mentioned Winter Palace. Passing in the other direction, the majestic Nicholas Palace can be seen by tourists. The building was erected in 1861 as the residence of Grand Duke Nicholas the Elder.
Saint Isaac Cathedral, Winter Palace, Kazan Cathedral, Alexandrinsky Theatre, Smolny Cathedral, Trinity Cathedral, as well as many others, they all become the world's cultural heritage objects and remain as iconic monuments for Saint Petersburg … Open
“Singer Company House” should be included in the tourist route for visiting of the iconic places of Saint Petersburg, the cultural capital of Russia. The building, which nowadays is called “House of the Book”, was erected at the beginning of the 20th century. Pavel Suzor, who was the architect, combined elements of the modernist style (which you can see here) with the Neo-Baroque ones. It is noteworthy that it was on the basis of House of the Book, that the Singer Building in New York was created. Back then it was the tallest one in the city (the St. Petersburg building was never planned to be built like a skyscraper). Elegant arches of the Narva Triumphal Gate and the Moscow Triumphal Gate are among other iconic places of the city that should be highlighted. Both structures are excellent examples of the Empire style, which were built in 1834.
White Nights, drawbridges, many attractions, unique museums, and its special culture – you will find all these and more in the northern capital of Russia - Saint Petersburg. The city is … Open
Kronstadt Island is a good destination for fans of fortification buildings. It worthy visiting no matter which of the aims is: to see the Kronstadt fortress (or rather, what is left of the magnificent building), learn about building a base in the Kronstadt Maritime Museum, wander around Yakornaya Square, or enjoy the magnificent sculptural compositions and also make a wish at the unusual sight of the city (the Tree of Desires). Visiting the Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is also on the option. This seaside town is famous for its admirable forts which have repeatedly defended the city for centuries. Some of the best-preserved defensive structures are “Prince Menshikov battery”, “Totleben fortification”, “Peter the first Citadel”, as well as “Konstantin” and “Reef” forts.
Saint Petersburg impresses its visitors with a vast choice of gastronomy establishments being of great attraction for tourists. Many restaurants and city cafes features centuries-long … Open
An unusual construction is the so-called “Gingerbread House”, which stands out sharply against the rest of the buildings. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century in the Art Nouveau style. Nowadays it still evokes in people’s minds associations with a fairytale house. The beautiful Nikonov Hotel is also located here. The Brusnitsky mansion, which was built in 1884, is another remarkable building in St. Petersburg. The first owner was a peasant, Nikolai Brusnitsyn, who established a leather workshop here in 1847. Later in 1882, the building was rebuilt according to the design of Anatoly Kovsharov, who created a beautiful example of eclectic architecture. During the October Revolution, the last owner of the mansion, Nikolai’s son, Alexander Brusnitsyn, was imprisoned by the Bolsheviks. Back then it was decided to use the building as a state tannery.
The city of Saint Petersburg has been for many years the most in demand tourist destination of global scale. The Capital of Culture of the country attracts foreign guests with plenty of … Open
It might be interesting for tourists to walk through the historical prisons of the city. The most famous of them is the prison “Kresty”, and next to it you can find the Prison Museum of the same name. It began to function in 1893, and many famous personalities have been imprisoned there since then. Lev Trotsky, Nikolai, and Lev Gumilyov were among them. After the murder of Kirov and the beginning of “Stalin’s terror”, many victims of repression were brought here. Today all this is told in the memorial which is dedicated to those events. It is significant that on the copper plates near the monument you can see the lines from the priceless works of Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Joseph Brodsky, Nikolai Gumilyov, and his wife Anna Akhmatova. During the entire history of “Investigation Isolator No. 1”, there were only three attempts to escape. Another prison of the Soviet era, which is situated in the Trubetskoy bastion, can be well appreciated by lovers of excursions in prisons.
A number of entertainment establishments presented in Saint Petersburg equals the number of its landmarks and cultural sites. Tourists will find in the city various entertainments fitting … Open
A few words should definitely be said about The Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra which is a magnificent monastery complex. On its territory, there are several necropolises where tourists can take a walk. A special decoration of Tikhvin cemetery is the Necropolis of Art Masters. It is a huge collection of sculptural compositions created by famous artists. Those who like to walk around the graves of famous people should go to Nikolskoe cemetery, which is located in the same complex. Walking along the picturesque embankments of the city on the Neva River has a special romance to it, and it is hard to identify which of them is the best. However, the same applies to the magnificent park areas of the city. In the historical part of the cultural capital of Russia, there are so many interesting parks and gardens that their quantity is comparable to the amount of breweries in Munich.
1. A heat of the tourist season on Saint Petersburg falls within a period from the middle of may till the end of September as this period features the most favorable weather for trips and … Open
“Grand Market Russia”, “Saint-Petersburg in Miniature” and the Russian Railway Museum are interesting for visitors with children. There are several museums that should be recommended for those who want to learn more about the life of local residents at different times. First, the Russian Museum of Ethnography is the best for this. Secondly, there are two cultural sites where you can learn about life in the Soviet era: the Museum of Soviet Lifestyle and the Museum of Soviet Arcade machines. There are sights that will attract the attention of lovers of everything unusual. The Museum of Russian Vodka, MuzEros and the Coffee Museum could be mentioned among them. Fans of art will be welcome in such cultural sites as Shadow museum and the Museum of the Imperial Porcelain Factory. Furthermore, numerous art galleries of the city, as well as the unique Museum of street art open their doors to visitors.
In the section below, you can get one of our excursion, activities or city discovery tours over Saint Petersburg and surroundings. Our website offers 10-30% lower ticket prices, when compared to the offline purchase on the spot.
City tours, excursions and tickets in Saint Petersburg and surroundings
Plan your own excursion through Saint Petersburg: churches, museums and castles
Saint Isaac Cathedral, Saint Petersburg
Location on the map: Facts:
» The Saint Isaac Cathedral is the largest Orthodox church in St. Petersburg and the unique architectural structure dominating in the downtown. » The height of the cathedral is 101.5 m, the length and width is about 100 meters.
» The building of the cathedral is decorated with 112 monolithic granite columns of different size; statues representing 12 of the Holy Apostles are located on the corners and the tops of the gables.
» The Saint Isaac Cathedral has the unique collection of monumental painting of the first half of the 19th century, 150 panels and pictures.
» Construction of the cathedral lasted as much as 40 years. This was due to the fact that a soothsayer predicted to architect Auguste Montferrand his death immediately after the completion of the Saint Isaac Cathedral. Therefore, the architect didn’t rush with construction; he really lived a little less than a month after consecration of the cathedral.
Church of the Savior on Blood, Saint Petersburg
Location on the map: Facts:
» The Church of the Savior on Blood is one of the main sights of St. Petersburg, which is the museum and a monument of Russian architecture. » The temple was erected on the site, where in 1881 Alexander II was killed. The temple was built as a memorial to the King Martyr.
» The height of the central dome of the temple is 81 m; the temple accommodates up to 1,600 persons.
» The building represents a congregated image of the Russian Orthodox church. The architecture of the temple is an example of the late stage in evolution of the Russian style.
» The Church of the Savior on Blood is a veritable museum of mosaic, covering an area of 7,065 square meters. Mosaic was created in the workshop of Russian artist Vladimir Frolov on sketches by more than 30 artists
Winter Palace, Saint Petersburg
Location on the map: Facts:
» The Winter Palace is the former grand residence of Russian emperors. » Currently, the Winter Palace is part of the State Hermitage Museum and is the largest building of the museum complex.
» The building of the Winter Palace consists of 1,084 rooms, 1,945 windows and 117 stairs (including secret ones).
» The most important events related to the history of Russia are associated with the Winter Palace, as private life of Russian monarchs took place there.
» Surviving palace interiors have not only artistic, but also historical value.
Catherine Palace, Saint Petersburg
Location on the map: Facts:
» The Catherine Palace is one of the largest palaces in the vicinity of St. Petersburg; that’s former imperial palace. » The building was laid in 1717 by the order of Russian Empress Catherine I.
» The Catherine Palace was built in Late Baroque style.
» One of the most famous rooms in the Catherine Palace is the Amber room, which was decorated mainly with amber.
» During World War II, German invaders stole the Amber Room decoration and put it in the Amber Museum in Konigsberg. That was the last place where it was shown.
Kazan Cathedral, Saint Petersburg
Location on the map: Facts:
» The Kazan Cathedral is the outstanding monument of architecture and fine art in Russia. » The cathedral was built in the first half of the 19th century in the Empire style imitating the temples of the Roman Empire.
» The Kazan Cathedral is richly decorated outside and inside with sculptures created by Russia's best sculptors.
» An integral part of the interior of the cathedral is painting of the iconostasis of, the walls, and dome poles.
» The main treasure of the temple is a revered copy of the Our Lady of Kazan.