Holidays in St. Petersburg 2022 - what to see, where to go, tours, hotels

St. Petersburg is magically transformed in the evening; it is a must-see sight. Lantern lights and building illumination give the city a new look. At this time of day, you can continue exploring the sights or choose entertainment to suit your taste. It won’t be difficult to find a place for dinner - the city has a wide variety of establishments, there are restaurants with panoramic views, cozy establishments, wine bars, etc. The famous restaurant is Rubinshteina Street. It should not be surprising that in the cultural capital, even in bars, lectures and poetry readings are held.

brief information

St. Petersburg has many names. It is called the Venice of the North, the Northern capital, the cradle of the revolution, the city on the Neva, the cultural capital. It received its name not in honor of the emperor, but in honor of the Apostle Peter, who was considered the patron saint of Peter I.

In Soviet times, the city was renamed in honor of the leader of the proletariat V.I. Lenin. It was Leningrad until the early 90s of the twentieth century, when by decision of the city authorities the former name was returned. The memory of the Soviet past is preserved in the name of the region, which is still called Leningradskaya.

St. Petersburg is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world . It is located north of all other Russian cities with a population of more than a million people. St. Petersburg is often compared to Venice due to the large number of canals and rivers. Initially, there were one hundred and one islands on the territory of the city. Over time, some channels were filled in during construction. Nowadays, there are forty-two islands in St. Petersburg.

Sunny weather is rare here. There are no more than 62 clear days per year. Some seasoned city residents try to seize any opportune moment and sunbathe on the beach near the Peter and Paul Fortress even in winter, if the sun begins to warm up.

Champ de Mars

Field of Mars - once this space was called the Great Meadow. Parades and folk festivals were held here. Later the meadow received the name Poteshnoye Pole. Then - Tsaritsyn Meadow. In 1805, the meadow was renamed the Champ de Mars. On November 6, 1957, the first Eternal Flame in the USSR was created here. It was lit from the open-hearth flame of the Kirov plant. In 1967, the Eternal Flame on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin walls was lit from the Eternal Flame of the Champ de Mars.

Where: embankment of the Moika River

How to get there: Nevsky Prospekt metro station (exit to the Griboyedov Canal) 1.1 km. We exit the metro, immediately turn right and move along the even side of the Griboedov Canal forward to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. We go around the temple on the right side. We continue to move forward along the fence of the Mikhailovsky Garden. We cross the 2nd Garden Bridge. In front of you, to the right, is the Champ de Mars.

When is the best time to go to St. Petersburg - weather

St. Petersburg is located in a temperate climate zone, transitioning from maritime to continental. The city is often cloudy, air humidity is high, and the weather can change several times a day.

• Winters here are moderately cold, and summers are usually not hot. The coldest month is February. The average temperature this month is about -5.8C. The first half of winter is characterized by changeable weather, thaws often occur. Starting from mid-winter, it becomes colder, the number of sunny days increases, and humidity decreases.
• Spring comes late. Snow melting begins at the end of the first spring month, cold snaps and frosts often occur.
• In summer the city is warm, but not too hot. Frequent weather changes are possible. Average temperatures in July are about 18.8C. From late spring to mid-summer, the period of white nights begins in St. Petersburg. At this time, the long evening twilight gradually gives way to dawn.
• Autumn weather in the city begins in August. The first autumn frosts usually occur at the beginning of October.

From 600 to 700 mm of precipitation falls here annually. The wetter period occurs during the warm season, from April to October. From mid-June to August there is a swimming season in the Northern capital. The water in the Gulf of Finland warms up to 17.5 - 20 degrees in summer.

If you don’t like standing in huge queues, then it’s better to come in May and September. This way you can visit the main attractions without as many tourists as in the summer. If queues are not a problem for you, we recommend going in June, during the white nights. It is also very beautiful in winter, especially if you are lucky with the sun.

How much do tickets to St. Petersburg cost?

There are several ways to get to St. Petersburg. We will tell you about the prices of the two most popular: by plane and by train.

Flights

• The cheapest way is to fly from Moscow. The cost of tickets from the capital and back starts from two to three thousand, in the summer - from four and a half thousand.
• From Siberian and Ural megacities - from eight thousand.
• From the southern regions - from six to eleven thousand.

We recommend looking for tickets on Aviasales. This is an aggregator that compares prices among all airlines and finds the most profitable ones for the desired destination. What’s very convenient is that when you select a date, you can see prices for each day and month. This way you can find the days with the cheapest tickets.

Train tickets

It happens that the cost of a flight is lower than the cost of a train trip and also takes less time. For example, you can fly from Moscow and back for two to three thousand, and the cost of a reserved seat ticket starts from three thousand rubles.

However, traveling by train has its advantages: inexpensive plane tickets are not always available, and trains arrive in the city center. For long distances in Russia, traveling by train is usually more profitable.

⇒ Average ticket price to St. Petersburg from Moscow:

• Reserved seat - from 2500 rub.
• Coupe - from 3800 rub.
• Luxury - from 7800 rub.

Train tickets can be booked through the Traind service.

Alexandrinsky Theater

The Alexandrinsky Theater is one of the oldest in the country that has survived to this day. The theater troupe was created by decree of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna in 1756. In 1832, the theater received a building created by the architect Carlo Rossi, which we are looking at now.

Where: Ostrovsky Square, 6

How to get there: from the Gostiny Dvor metro station 390 m. We exit the metro, turn right and immediately go to the underground pedestrian crossing. We go forward along the tunnel until it exits. We walk forward to the first unregulated pedestrian crossing. We cross it and immediately turn right. We go forward along Catherine Square. As soon as the square ends, we turn left and go to the unregulated pedestrian crossing, which will be almost immediately on the right. Let's go through it. In front of you is the Alexandrinsky Theater.

Cost of tours to St. Petersburg

Tour packages to St. Petersburg are in demand. It is better to prepare in advance and buy a tour a few months earlier. Often it is more profitable to take a ticket than to go on your own. The price of the tour will immediately include round-trip flights, transfers, hotel accommodation, and possibly meals.

⇒ Tours at minimal prices for the dates you are interested in can be selected without leaving your home without commission using online aggregator services:

Travelata.ru – here you can find the cheapest tours. Onlinetours – there are profitable last-minute tours here. Level.Travel - tours here are more expensive, but it’s better to compare. Misto Travel – if you are flying from Ukraine, look for tours here.

Eg:

• From Moscow, prices for tours start from 26,000 rubles for 7 days for two with accommodation in a 3* hotel. (Price in August)
• From Siberia (for example, Novosibirsk) you can take a tour for 36,000 rubles for two for 7 days in a 3* hotel. (Price in August)
• From the Urals (for example, Yekaterinburg) for 30,000 rubles according to the same criteria. (Price in August)

Find tours to St. Petersburg >>

Food prices in St. Petersburg

• Hungry travelers along the way can eat at inexpensive canteens or chain cafes such as Teaspoon. This is one of the most budget options with a large selection of quite tasty dishes. You can eat here for 150-300 rubles, and there is also a business lunch.
• St. Petersburg is famous for its pies and pancakes. At the Plyushkin House cafe, Volchek’s bakeries, and the Pirogovy Dvorik cafe-bakery, a snack will cost approximately one hundred and fifty rubles.
• The budget chain of oriental restaurants "Eurasia" offers visitors sets of rolls and woks, and the chains of coffee shops "Shokoladnitsa", "Bushe" and "Coffee House" offer cakes and hot drinks. Eating in a good restaurant will cost no less than a thousand rubles.
• The cost of groceries in the store does not differ from the national average. Bread costs from 30 to 70 ₽, a liter of milk - from 40 ₽, bananas - from 60 ₽, and apples - from 70 ₽ per kilogram. The average bill for basic goods is about 400-500 rubles.

Where to stay in St. Petersburg

Travelers usually make a trip to the Northern capital during vacations, vacations and holidays and stay in the city for at least three days. The city has many accommodation options at a wide range of prices. Hotel rooms with a view of St. Isaac's Cathedral are not affordable for everyone, but the views from the window are not the most important thing. Many tourists choose a rented apartment near the center.

Prices depend on the location and living conditions , both in an apartment and in a hotel. As a rule, the cost of living is highest in the central part of the city; renting housing in residential areas will be cheaper. The most budget-friendly option would be to stay in a hostel, but it has its drawbacks in the form of extraneous roommates and a shared bathroom.

They start offering apartment rentals at the station. Rental prices here are usually greatly inflated, and there is a risk of fraud. It’s safer to find rental housing before you leave.

Hotel prices

Young travelers who want to avoid unnecessary expenses when visiting the Northern capital choose to stay in a hostel. Middle-aged tourists prefer inexpensive hotels. The cost of a room for two people in a budget hotel or hostel starts from 1300 RUR per night. A place in a dormitory room in the Graffiti L or Velohostel hostels in the city center costs from 500 ₽.

⇒ Cost of double rooms:

• In a guest house or hostel – from 1300 ₽.
• In a three-star hotel – from 2000 ₽.
• In a four-star hotel - from 5000 ₽.
• In a five-star hotel – from 8,000 ₽.

It is better to book your seats in advance on Hotellook, as the demand for convenient options is quite high, especially in the summer and on New Year's holidays. These periods are considered the high tourist season. Accommodation prices at this time are significantly higher than in the off-season.

Apartment rental prices

To stay in a foreign city in a comfortable home environment, you can rent an apartment. Through the Airbnb service, city guests will find a variety of budget and beautiful accommodation in the center of St. Petersburg or close to it. And for registering on this service you will receive a discount of 2100 rubles on your first booking.

For a small price you can rent a room in a former communal apartment. The height of the ceilings allows you to organize a two-story studio in such a room. Such housing can be found, for example, near the Institute of Technology.

It's best to read reviews before booking a room. It happens that the room has poor sound insulation, heating problems, or an unpleasant smell. Pay attention to the owners. They are simple private traders and it is impossible to predict their behavior in advance.

Apartment with a view of the Neva

⇒ Cost of daily rental housing in the center:

• Room in an apartment – ​​from 900 rubles
• Apartment for two guests – from 2500 rubles
• Double studio next to the Hermitage – 4000 rubles
• An attic designed for a company of up to five people - from 6,000 rubles.

Find accommodation in St. Petersburg >>

Nevsky Avenue

We continue our journey. Now we suggest just walking along Nevsky Prospekt . Stand with your back to the Kazan Cathedral, turn right. We go straight along the avenue.

Nevsky is the main street of St. Petersburg, 4.5 km long. Here, almost every building has its own history. Most prominent writers and artists spoke about Nevsky Prospekt in their works. From here you can go to the most popular and significant places in St. Petersburg.

Very soon, on the right, you will see a small clock tower - part of the City Duma building, one of the dominant features of Nevsky Prospekt. The clock, by the way, works and strikes the allotted time every hour. On New Year's holidays, when the whole city turns into a magical winter fairy tale, the clock acquires a voice. Now every hour a melody plays, as if hundreds of bells are ringing.

Next to the Duma building is a long two-story building, which faces 4 streets at once. This is Gostiny Dvor with the metro station of the same name.

We go further, cross Sadovaya Street along the underground passage. We move along the building of the reading room of the Public Library. Immediately behind it is the Catherine Garden, which leads to the Alexandrinsky Theater.

Where: Nevsky Prospekt metro station (About meters)

How to get there: you can see Nevsky Prospekt from different points. We suggest coming to the Nevsky Prospekt metro station (exit to the Griboyedov Canal). We get off at the metro, immediately turn right and move forward along the avenue towards increasing numbering of houses.

Resort areas of St. Petersburg

central District

The oldest buildings are located in the historical center of St. Petersburg. Here the greatest concentration reaches the number of iconic attractions and ancient streets lined with apartment buildings and mansions. The central part of the city is decorated with squares with marble statues and lush vegetation, the embankments of the Fontanka and Moika rivers, and arched bridges over the canals.

Nevsky Prospekt is replete with the facades of expensive hotels and restaurants. Small alleys are filled with hostels and cozy hotels with several rooms, art cafes and traditional St. Petersburg candy bars.

Nevsky Avenue

Northern regions

The resort area of ​​the city includes the northern areas, which are formally part of St. Petersburg, but represent several separate resort villages. The largest of them are Zelenogorsk, Repino and Sestroretsk.

Areas on the coast of the Gulf of Finland

The resort area stretches along the coast of the Gulf of Finland and extensive coniferous forests. Tourists staying in local sanatoriums, modern spa hotels, holiday homes and country complexes come here for a wellness and beach holiday.

Zelenogorsk

On the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland is the Petrodvortsovy district of St. Petersburg with the cities of Strelna, Peterhof and Lomonsov. There are several famous country palaces here. The Oranienbaum palace and park ensemble, located on the territory of the city of Lomonosov, the Great Strelninsky (Konstantinovsky) Palace on the Strelka River and the Peterhof Museum-Reserve invariably attract a large number of history and architecture connoisseurs to the southern coast of the bay.

Oranienbaum Palace and Park Ensemble

Marble Palace

We move further along Millionnaya Street. Let's stop at house number 5/1. In front of you is the Marble Palace. Built in 1768 - 1785. designed by the Italian architect Antonio Rinaldi. It is worth noting that more than 32 types of stone were used for construction, brought from various countries of the world.

This is the very first building in St. Petersburg to use marble stone in its exterior decoration. The building occupies the space between Palace Embankment, Mramorny Lane and Millionnaya Street. The main halls of the palace open their doors only for organized mass visits; places must be reserved in advance.

Where: Millionnaya st., 5A

How to get there: 1.3 km from Nevsky Prospekt metro station (exit to Griboedov Canal). We exit the metro, cross the bridge, reach the sidewalk and turn right. We only go straight to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood (large mosaic baths). We continue to go straight, cross the bridge (Novo-Konyushenny), move further forward, another bridge (Malo-Konyushenny), keep to the left and continue to walk forward along Aptekarsky Lane to Millionnaya Street (here the lane ends). We move to the opposite side of Millionnaya. We turn right and walk 50 meters forward to Mramorny Lane. We move to the opposite side of the alley - in front of you is the Marble Palace.

Millionnaya Street leads us to a large green square - the Field of Mars.

Tourism

The leading directions in the city's tourism sector are excursions , various types of active entertainment, trips for health purposes and visits to cultural and social events.

Types of excursion and event tourist destinations in St. Petersburg. This northern metropolis is called the cultural capital for a reason. It is famous for its many architectural monuments, cultural and historical attractions and more than two hundred museums, galleries and exhibition complexes.

It is difficult to imagine St. Petersburg without St. Isaac's Cathedral, ceremonial lights on the Rostral columns, more than twenty movable bridges, the Alexander Pillar or without the cruiser-museum "Aurora".

Travelers from many countries are familiar with the architecture of Nevsky Prospekt - the main city perspective, running from the Admiralty to the Orthodox monastery in the Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

Most tourists come here at the height of summer, when the famous St. Petersburg white nights are most pronounced. The long, bright twilight, which is replaced by dawn, attracts romantically minded young people to summer St. Petersburg.

Many travelers go to St. Petersburg during the New Year holidays. Mass events at the end of spring also attract visitors, when City Day is celebrated.

Wellness holiday

The resorts of St. Petersburg have a rich history associated with medical and health tourism. During the construction of the new capital, Peter I ordered to find a nearby area with mineral springs and establish hospitals there.

The outskirts in the north of St. Petersburg, surrounded by a vast forest area, represented mainly by pine groves, and a long sandy line of the Gulf of Finland, covered with soft sand, are called the Resort District. Among the natural beauties there are deposits with mineral-rich water with healing properties and healing mud.

Sanatorium "White Nights"

The administrative unit includes several small resort towns. St. Petersburg sanatorium complexes use modern methods of healing: they practice climatic and thalassotherapy, use applications and wraps with healing mud, treatment with mineral waters, various types of healing massage and hardware treatment.

Nordic walking is also widely used as a therapeutic and recreational technique. In the Petrodvortsovo district, located on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, the infrastructure of the sanatorium and resort sector has also received great development. There are also many sanatoriums and spa hotels here, providing visitors with complex treatment services for many diseases and supportive therapy.

Leisure

Fans of a sports lifestyle will find a lot of entertainment here. St. Petersburg boasts a large number of stadiums, sports clubs, health centers, paintball courts and laser tag clubs. City parks are equipped with sports equipment and exercise machines, running and cycling paths.

The territory of the Kurortny district has the most developed infrastructure in the field of active recreation. On its territory there are many golf clubs, karting sites and travel agencies offering rides on ATVs, buggies or jeeps. On the Gulf of Finland you can go boating, windsurfing or kiting.

In winter, public places for figure skating and ice towns with slides open within the city and in the suburbs, and ski tracks are equipped in parks. In the suburbs there are ski resorts “Golden Valley”, “Okhota-Park”, “Pukhtolova Gora”, “Igora”.

Beach holiday

There are twenty-five officially operating beach areas within the city and its vicinity. Many residents and guests of the city relax on the beaches of the Gulf of Finland, which belong to the Resort District. The wide coastline here stretches for several kilometers, and fur-bearing coniferous forests grow along the sandy beach areas.

In Sestroretsk, Komarovo and Zelenogorsk, the beach areas are landscaped, equipped with changing rooms, sun loungers and sports grounds.

Many vacationers come to the shores of the artificial lake Sestroretsky Razliv.

Swimming on city beaches is prohibited.

Read about the beaches of St. Petersburg in this article.

Eliseevsky store

Let's return to Nevsky Prospekt and go to its opposite side. A little to the right and in front of you is the Eliseevsky store.

The building was built in 1903 by the architect Baranovsky. Eliseevsky has been a store throughout its history. Today the halls have exactly the same appearance as they had in 1902, at the time of their opening. All elements were restored according to original drawings, which were confirmed by the first owners of the building or photographs. You can find out the history of this building and enter its closed rooms, but you need to sign up for a tour.

The shop window of the Eliseev merchants deserves special attention. Today there is a most interesting composition of mechanical dolls - moving characters from the fairy tale “The Nutcracker”. The dolls were created by the famous theater artist Mikhail Shemyakin.

Where: Nevsky Prospekt, 56

How to get there: Gostiny Dvor metro station, 250 m. We exit the metro, turn right and immediately go to the underground pedestrian crossing. Turn left in the first tunnel. We go straight to the exit from the passage. Here we select the right exit. We leave the crossing, go straight ahead to Malaya Sadovaya Street (it is pedestrian), we pass through it. To your left is the Eliseevsky store.

Where to go and what to see

Parks

St. Petersburg has many green areas. Guests of the city can see many gardens, squares and boulevards in all their glory. All areas of the city have their own places for walking and recreation. In the vicinity of the Northern capital you can find different natural landscapes. Near the Gulf of Finland, terraces covered with coniferous forest descend in steps to the shore. In the suburbs there are kama hills and hilly-moraine terrain.

Peterhof

Peterhof is one of the most famous garden and park ensembles in the suburbs of St. Petersburg. It consists of the Lower Park, where the grandiose fountain structure of the Grand Cascade is located, and the green vestibule of the Upper Garden.

There are a large number of ponds on the territory of the Lugovoy and Kolonistsky landscape parks of the ensemble. A walk around Peterhof can take the whole day. Tourists are attracted by fountain complexes, an abundance of small architectural forms, green meadows framed by trimmed bushes and landscapes of the Gulf of Finland.

Find excursions to Peterhof >>

Mikhailovsky Garden

The Mikhailovsky Garden is located on the banks of the Moika River in the center of St. Petersburg. It is decorated with English-style lawns, an artificial pond and interesting art objects. The park has a playground for children.

Summer garden

The territory of the Summer Garden, laid out in the eighteenth century, is considered a monument of landscape gardening art. This is one of the most popular places for summer walks. During the reconstruction in 2008, the central alley of the summer garden was decorated with trellises with climbing plants, and work was carried out to restore the Pyramid fountain, the Menagerie Pond, the Cross Walk, pavilions and other park areas and elements.

The summer garden was decorated with more than twenty sculptures carved from marble blocks. The sculptures, which had suffered over time, were replaced with high-quality duplicates.

Find excursions to the Summer Garden >>

Botanical Garden of Peter the Great

The territory of the Peter the Great Botanical Garden is located next to the Bolshaya Nevka embankment. Several types of rhododendrons and sakura are planted in the park. In the tropical greenhouse you can see cacti, succulets, various types of ferns, bamboo, orchids and many other tropical plants.

300th Anniversary Park

The territory of the Tercentenary Park of St. Petersburg is located on the territory of the Primorsky district and is a promenade along the coast of the Gulf of Finland. Thanks to its wide walking paths, the park has won the love of St. Petersburg residents and city guests.

Park of Culture and Recreation

The territory of the Park of Culture and Recreation is a whole island. The park hosts various public holiday events and celebrates children's holidays.

We moved to Antalya. We tell you everything in detail in our group. in contact with: https://vk.com/antalya2. Also watch our videos at YouTube:

Park "Dubki"

The Dubki Park, laid out by order of Peter I, is located on the Sestroretsk territory, within the boundaries of the Kurortny district. Ancient oaks grow here, some trees are more than three hundred years old. There are many paths throughout the park, alleys, several areas for vacationers and a small area with attractions for children.

Theaters and cinemas

There are more than seventy theaters in St. Petersburg. Among them are such institutions as the Russian State Alexandrinsky Theater, the Bolshoi Drama Theater, the Academic Drama Theater and the world famous State Academic Mariinsky Theater.

In addition to academic ones, the city has theaters of other genres. Tourists can attend performances in the puppet theater, Variety Theater, and clown-mime theater.

In addition, musicians and artists perform at venues in the State Hermitage, Yusupov Palace and the State Philharmonic.

Alexandrinsky Theater

Museums

To describe all the city's museums, you will need to write several books. There are more than two hundred exhibition galleries and museums in St. Petersburg. among them there are also unusual museums dedicated to some aspects of our life or the history of various objects.

State Hermitage Museum

The most famous museum is the State Hermitage. It is located in the Winter Palace and four other buildings near the banks of the Neva. The works of such brilliant painters as Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, Rubens, and Rembrandt are stored here. The collection of impressionist works includes paintings by Picasso, Manet, Van Gogh and Cezanne.

Find excursions to the Hermitage >>

Russian Museum

The State Russian Museum, located in the city center, contains paintings by Russian masters from different times. Here you can see works by Kustodiev, Vrubel, Venetsianov, Bryullov and many other artists.

Kunstkamera

A landmark museum for the city is the Kunstkamera, founded by Peter I back in 1702. The most famous exhibition of the museum is a collection of anatomical developmental anomalies. In addition, here you can see objects from cultures of different eras and nationalities.

Find excursions to the Kunstkamera >>

Entertainment and shopping centers

In St. Petersburg you can visit many shopping and entertainment centers. Gostiny Dvor has been the city's main shopping gallery for almost three hundred years. This city's oldest department store houses branded boutiques, several cafeterias and ample parking. Fashion shows, exhibitions and concerts are held here.

At the intersection of Ligovsky and Nevsky Prospects there is one of the main shopping centers of the city - “Gallery”. The five-story building houses more than three hundred shopping and entertainment establishments and a cinema.

At night in St. Petersburg you can attend parties, discos and various shows.

Gostiny Dvor

Water parks

There are three large water parks in the city. The largest of them is Peterland. Its dome allows ultraviolet light to pass through and allows visitors to get a natural tan. The complex has many water attractions for all ages and an extensive spa complex.

On the territory of the Vyborg district there is a large Rodeo Drive complex. In addition to attractions, there is a hydromassage pool and a sauna complex.

The VODA club entertainment complex, offering visitors various types of hydromassage, a huge warm pool and entertainment for children, is located in the Resort district of the city.

Water park "Piterland"

Amusement parks

The largest, most interesting and diverse of the entertainment parks in St. Petersburg can be called “Divo-Ostrov”. There are several themed play areas with exciting rides, a play area for kids and a cafe.

Dolphinariums

The city dolphinarium of St. Petersburg hosts performances with the participation of sea animals. Beluga whales, Black Sea dolphins, sea lions and walruses perform here. In the aquarium located here, visitors can observe the life of sea inhabitants.

Raising bridges in St. Petersburg

Free entertainment - watching bridges being raised. Pay attention to some points: The most spectacular is the opening of the Palace Bridge. You can observe the process from near the Hermitage or from the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island. Street musicians often perform near the bridge, fire shows or clown performances are held.

The opening of the Troitsky, Bolsheokhotinsky and Blagoveshchensky bridges is a beautiful sight. Be sure to watch this process from the shore where you rented housing. If you find yourself on the other side at this moment, you will have three options:

• The first is to wait until the bridges are bridged.
• The second is to order a taxi and drive along the Cable-stayed Bridge or along the toll Western High-Speed ​​Diameter. It will be expensive and time consuming.
• The last option is to wait until morning. Not long ago, a night metro train began running between the Sportivnaya and Admiralteyskaya stations. It can only be used on weekends. The train runs from the center to the Petrogradsky district and Vasilyevsky Island.

Find excursions to the bridge openings >>

Festivals and events

Cultural life in St. Petersburg consists of one after another festivals, festive performances, various events, meetings, concerts and sporting events. Every day here you can attend exhibitions, literary readings, performances, participate in flash mobs and art projects.

Night of Museums

One of the grandiose cultural events of the city is the Night of Museums. The event is held every year in the middle of the last spring month. Last year it was held on the night of May 18-19. Many city museums and exhibition halls are participating in the event. To visit all exhibitions and museums taking part in it, you need to buy only one ticket.

During the event you can see a lot of interesting things, but travelers who want to visit the Hermitage or the Russian Museum will be disappointed. They haven't been taking part in the action lately.

"Day of the Hermitage Cat"

In May, the State Hermitage celebrates “Hermitage Cat Day”. At the end of spring, the museum organizes a festive event dedicated to the furry rodent fighters who have lived in the Winter Palace since the era of Catherine II. The program includes a walk through the habitats of museum cats, an exhibition, competitions and the holiday itself.

Music and theater festivals

In the summer, music and theater festivals are traditionally held in St. Petersburg. The classical music festival “Musical Collection” has a rich ten-year history. The Academic Chapel is the venue for the “Musical Olympus”. During the summer, the city hosts a variety of jazz and film festivals.

Star performances

During the New Year and Christmas holidays, residents and guests of the city also expect a large number of cultural events. During this time, you can attend festive performances by pop and show business stars, exhibitions and theatrical performances.

Exhibitions

All year round, the city hosts photography exhibitions, festivals, concerts, singer performances, personal and collective exhibitions of artists, fashion shows, performances by reenactors, events dedicated to various national cultures and much more.

Summer garden

We will continue our journey further. Immediately behind the Champs de Mars, separated by Sadovaya Street, is the first garden in the history of the city - the Summer Garden . It was built by order of Peter the Great, and one of the residences of the Russian ruler was erected here. The first fountains in Russia began to be built in this garden. The Summer Garden has two entrances - from the Neva and Moika embankments. The famous fence, sung by Anna Akhmatova, overlooks the Neva.

Most attractions are also located closer to the Neva embankment. Therefore, we suggest entering the garden from the Neva. At the Champ de Mars, cross the pedestrian crossing to the left, to the gray building of the University of Culture. Walk along it to the Neva embankment, turn right and now only straight 150 meters to the beautiful gates that invite you to the shady alleys of the garden.

Where: St. Petersburg, Summer Garden

How to get there: Gostiny Dvor metro station, 1.2 km. We exit the metro, turn right and immediately go to the underground pedestrian crossing. Turn left in the first tunnel. We go straight to the exit from the passage. Here we select the right exit. As soon as we leave the passage, we immediately turn left and walk to the corner of the building. We turn right. We go forward 1 km. You will need to cross Italianskaya Street, Inzhenernaya Street. Walk along the Engineering (Mikhailovsky) Castle. Then we cross the embankment of the Moika River and the roadway. In front of you is the Summer Garden.

Prices for attractions

Holidays in St. Petersburg mainly mean visiting entertainment events and historical places. Prices for visiting city attractions for 2021 will help you calculate your travel budget:

• Tickets to the State Hermitage cost from 400 to 600 rubles (if ordered online - 580 rubles). On the first Thursday of every month and December 7, you can visit the museum for free.
• The cost of a comprehensive day ticket to the Russian Museum is 550 ₽.
• Visit to Peterhof - 450 ₽.
• Entrance to the observation deck under the dome of St. Isaac's Cathedral - 200 ₽.
• Landscape park of the Pavlovsk Museum-Reserve (open from ten in the morning to six in the evening) - 100 ₽.
• Ticket to the Kunstkamera - 300 ₽.
• The cost of a ticket in the form of a bracelet to the Divo Island amusement park is 2500 ₽ for a full day.
• Visit to the aquarium in a shopping mall - from 550 to 750 ₽
• An adult ticket to the Piterland water park costs from 1500 to 1900 rubles and from 890 to 990 rubles for children.

Admission to many interesting places and attractions is free:

• Entrance to the territory of the Peter and Paul Fortress is free. For a fee you can visit the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the Nevsky Panorama and other museums of the complex.
• The park area of ​​the Summer Garden is open to the public.
• You can enter for free the operating Cathedral of the Kazan Mother of God, the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral, and the territory of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra (an active monastery).
• On weekdays you can visit the central park of Elagin Island for free.
• A visit to the Catherine Park in Tsarskoe Selo is paid only in the warm season, from the second of May to the twentieth of October. The ticket office is open from nine in the morning to seven in the evening; in the summer the park itself is open from seven in the morning until eleven in the evening; in the cold season, opening hours are reduced.
• You can visit Gatchina Park and Alexander Park in Tsarskoe Selo for free.
• Entrance fees to Pavlovsky Park are charged daily in the summer (opening hours from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) and on weekends and holidays in winter (opening hours from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).

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Kazan Cathedral

We leave Singer's house, there is a traffic light right at the exit - we go to the opposite side of Nevsky Prospekt.

In front of you is the Kazan Cathedral . It is deservedly called one of the largest buildings in the city. The cathedral was built in 1811 according to the design of the architect Voronikhin. The building clearly shows images of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The main feature of the Kazan Temple was the external and internal colonnades. The architectural design of the structure is made in the form of a four-pointed Latin cross, the middle of which is crowned with a dome. The decoration of the cathedral is admirable - wonderful paintings occupy a special place.

Where: Kazanskaya Square, 2

How to get there: How to get there: Nevsky Prospekt metro station (exit to Griboyedov Canal) 220 m. Exit the metro. We cross Nevsky Prospekt to the opposite side and turn right. We cross the Kazansky Bridge. On your left side is the Kazan Cathedral.

St. Petersburg guest card

When purchasing a guest card, a tourist gets the opportunity to visit many museums and excursion programs for free or with a significant discount, discounts on some restaurants, souvenirs and hotel accommodations.

The card holder can skip the line to the Hermitage, the Russian Museum, the Peter and Paul Fortress and St. Isaac's Cathedral. This advantage is significant during the high season, when there are many tourists everywhere.

The cost of the card is quite high. Last year, a two-day card cost 3,890 rubles. It will be useful for those who are ready to spend days visiting museums. You can buy it here.

Transport

Air Transport

In the southern part of St. Petersburg, fifteen kilometers from the historical center, there is the territory of the Pulkovo International Airport. It has two terminals and is connected to the city by bus.

You can use the taxi order service at the dispatch center. Also in the airport building there are counters of car rental companies “Europcar”, “Sixt”, “Avis” and “Hertz”. You can also pre-book a Kiwitaxi transfer from the airport to your hotel or apartment.

Railway transport

Trains from St. Petersburg depart from five stations: Moskovsky, Finlyandsky, Vitebsky, Ladoga and Baltic. Of these, four (with the exception of Baltic) serve intercity routes and suburban routes. From here there are railway lines in the northern, eastern and southern directions, to Finland and Kazakhstan.

Moskovsky Station is the arrival point for high-speed trains from the capital. The trip takes only four hours. Finland Station serves express trains to Helsinki.

Sea and river transport

The city has a developed network of sea and river passenger transportation. The rivers and canals of St. Petersburg are filled with pleasure tourist boats and motor ships. Boat excursions can be found here.

Also, in the summer, popular urban transport runs along the city’s water network - aquabuses, which are river minibuses that run from Arsenalnaya Embankment to the Staraya Derevnya metro station and make several stops near the metro along the way. The city's maritime terminal is connected by ferry to Stockholm, Tallinn and Helsinki.

Metropolitan

The city metro has five lines, marked on the plan with different colors, and sixty-seven stations that open from 5:30 to 6:00 am and close from 0:00 to 1:00 am.

Public ground transportation

There are many bus, trolleybus and tram routes in St. Petersburg, as well as minibuses. The most developed type of ground transport is buses. In 2014, summer night routes were launched, operating from the beginning of May to the end of October. Currently, buses operate on five routes at night.

The public transport schedule at night depends on the bridge construction schedule during the river navigation season. Most bridges are opened between 1:25 and 2:20 am and from 5:00 to 5:45 am.

There are also a large number of taxi services and car rental points in St. Petersburg.

Mikhailovsky Castle

Having passed through the Summer Garden, moving away from the Neva, you will very soon see an unusual coral-colored building with a golden spire - the Mikhailovsky Castle. Legend has it that the castle was painted in the color of the glove of Paul the First's lady favorite. The second name of the castle is Engineering, and in documents of the 18th century it is listed as the Palace of St. Michael. The first drawings of this castle came from the hands of Paul I himself. For about twelve years he worked on options for his residence; by the start of construction, thirteen different engineering plans for the future castle had been accumulated.

Where: Sadovaya street, 2

How to get there: Gostiny Dvor metro station, 1 km. We exit the metro, turn right and immediately go to the underground pedestrian crossing. Turn left in the first tunnel. We go straight to the exit from the passage. Here we select the right exit. As soon as we leave the passage, we immediately turn left and walk to the corner of the building. We turn right. We go forward 800 m. You will need to cross Italianskaya Street, Inzhenernaya Street. We go forward, soon a coral-colored building will appear on your right, surrounded by a canal - this is the Mikhailovsky Castle.

Rent a Car

If you want to have time to see many sights and interesting places in comfort, it will be more convenient to rent a car. The cost per day starts from 2,100 rubles.

Rental includes:

• Unlimited mileage
• Accident insurance
• Third party liability insurance
• Theft insurance

You can rent a car on the proven service Economybookings.

Tips for traveling to St. Petersburg

1. Those who plan to visit St. Petersburg on their own should take into account some points so as not to be disappointed with the trip:
2. Fine days occur from late spring to mid-summer. This has its drawbacks: there are many visitors to the city, and prices are high. Good weather sets in during the golden autumn, at the end of September.
3. In winter it is convenient to go to museums, concerts and exhibitions.
4. School holidays should be avoided. Museums at this moment are filled to capacity with visitors.
5. Don't trust the weather forecast. Even if they promise a warm and sunny day, it is better to take an umbrella and warm clothes with you. The forecast must be found out for certain areas. For example, Vasilyevsky Island has its own microclimate.
6. Before night walks, you should familiarize yourself with the bridge construction schedule.
7. Observe basic safety measures. Fraudsters and thieves are found in all cities.

Kunstkamera

Kunstkamera
One of the largest anthropological and ethnographic museums in the country. Its exhibits include exhibitions on the culture and life of all peoples of the world, but it has earned its main fame for its collection of anatomical rarities and various anomalies.

Where?: Universitetskaya embankment, 2. The closest metro station to the museum is Admiralteyskaya. After Admiralteyskaya you need to move towards the Palace Bridge, then along the University Embankment you can easily walk to our point.

How much does a trip to St. Petersburg cost?

We calculated the basic cost of an independent three-, five- and ten-day trip for two people to the Northern capital from Moscow. This calculation does not include visits to entertainment events and historical places, various household expenses and other personal needs.

The basic cost consists of:

1. Air travel from Moscow and back. This is about 5,000 ₽ for two people in the off-season and 10,000 ₽ at the height of the tourist season through Aviasales.
2. Accommodation in an inexpensive hotel near the city center - approximately 1,500 ₽ per night for a room for two through Hotellook.
3. Visits to inexpensive catering three times a day - about 2000 rubles for two people.
4. Travel by public transport four times daily - about 360 ₽.

Based on this, we get the basic cost of an independent trip to St. Petersburg for two in the off-season:

• Three days – 16580 ₽
• Five days – 24300 ₽
• Week – 32020 ₽
• Ten days – 43600 ₽

Building of the Twelve Colleges

The building of the Twelve Collegiums
The building of the Twelve Collegiums is one of the first buildings on Vasilyevsky Island. The complex consists of several buildings. The main end is located towards the embankment, and the rest are facing it. According to legend, Peter the Great ordered his favorite Menshikov to erect a building here and promised him that he would give up the entire remaining territory of the site for the construction of a mansion. As a result, Count Menshikov ordered the construction of the Twelve Colleges building to begin so that it occupied the minimum available space on the site.

Where?:

1. You need to get to the Nevsky Prospekt metro station;
2. Next, go along the underground passage to the opposite side;
3. Take bus 7 and get to the “Strelka Vasilievsky Island” stop.

Geographical position

St. Petersburg ranks second after Moscow in terms of population among cities in our country. It is the capital of the Leningrad region, located in the northwestern part of the European territory of the country, at the confluence of the Neva into the Gulf of Finland and occupies both banks of the river, dozens of islands and the shore of the bay.

The city was built on the site of a lowland formed as a result of the rise of the bottom of the prehistoric Littorina Sea. The altitude of the area in the central part of St. Petersburg is only two to three meters above sea level. The highest point - 176 meters - is located in Krasnoye Selo and is called the Dudergof Heights.

The bed of the Neva River is the main waterway of Northern Palmyra. Flowing into the Baltic Sea, it forms the Neva Bay in the Gulf of Finland. The Fontanka, Moika, Black River and Ekateringofka rivers flow into it through city canals and stone channels.

Approximately 40% of urban land is occupied by green space. St. Petersburg has a large number of gardens, parks, boulevards and public gardens. Outside the city, a vast area is covered with forests, consisting mainly of coniferous trees.

Everything that is useful for every tourist on a trip:

• You can find and book tours online at Travelata and Onlinetours.
• You can book and compare hotel prices on Hotellook. And the apartments are on Airbnb.
• You can choose the cheapest air ticket among all airlines on Aviasales, and a train ticket on Poezd.
• Find excursions around the world on Tripster.
• Buy insurance and not worry about your health at Cherehapa.
• Rent a car to see even more interesting places on Economybookings. Or a bike on BikesBooking.
• Book airport transfer Kiwitaxi.

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Anichkov Bridge

Our route is coming to an end and now we are heading to the final attraction - Anichkov at the bridge across the Fontanka River.

The bridge is decorated with sculptural groups “The Taming of a Horse by Man,” created by sculptor P. K. Klodt. The bridge is one of the symbols of St. Petersburg. They say that its name “Anichkov” came from the engineer-Lieutenant Colonel Anichkov, who was the builder of this structure.

Where: corner of Nevsky Prospekt and the Fontanka River embankment.

How to get there: from the Gostiny Dvor metro station 560 m. We exit the metro, turn right and immediately go to the underground pedestrian crossing. We go forward along the tunnel until it exits. We continue to go straight. We walk along Ostrovsky Square and cross the pedestrian crossing forward. We continue walking along the Anichkova estate to the pedestrian crossing across the embankment of the Fontanka River. Let's go through the transition. You are on the Anichkov Bridge. Here is one of Klodt's famous sculptures.