What to do in Saint Petersburg, RUSSIA

St. Petersburg has been a city that was designated to be great in this world, since the time Tsar Peter the Great founded it in 1703. While it underwent a name change to Petrograd in 1914 and Leningrad in 1924, the importance of the city was so phenomenal that it was eventually changed back to St. Petersburg in 1991.  

Water is everywhere in St. Petersburg and that water means winding canals and historical bridges. There are three hundred and twenty-four bridges in all throughout the city and visitors will want to stroll across as many as possible or at least watch a couple of them be raised under the stars on a warm summer evening.  As people are walking along the canals, they will be able to see numerous luxurious mansions along the shoreline. Every once in a while, the canals will be interrupted by a plaza as well as a neoclassical palace, but no one will mind as their minds will be drawn to the new beautiful structure until the canals begin once again.

Let's find out why St. Petersburg is becoming such a popular destination, here are some of the top things to see and do !   
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You can start your trip in Palace Square, the central square of Saint Petersburg, which conjoins some of the city’s major landmarks and monuments, including most famously the Winter Palace.
Because it is so spacious it regularly functions as the grounds for national parades and concerts. In the past, the square has been transformed during the winter months to become a free ice rink. 
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​Right next to the Winter Palace you will find the main reason some people visit St. Petersburg....

​​The Hermitage Museum first opened to public in 1852 is not only one of the oldest museums in the world, it is also one of the best. It is located inside the Winter Palace of Empress Catherine the great and spans more than 1,500 rooms. Leonardo da Vinci, Monet, Van Gogh, but also artwork from ancient times – this museum will quite literally take your breath away. 
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Another important attraction in the city center is The Russian Museum

The Russian Museum, housed within five different places in one complex has the largest collection of Russian fine art once can find under one roof. The Benois Wing holds the most popular pieces of art, however, it is at the end of the museum tour, so people should plan accordingly.
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​A few steps away from The Russian Museum you will stumble upon a beautiful church...

The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is one of St. Petersburg most photographed landmarks prominently situated along the Griboedov Canal. The church, built at the end of the nineteenth century, is constructed in a classical Russian style decorated with colorful domes and glazed tiles. After decades of negligence and nearly 30 years of restoration this glorious church was finally open to public in 1997 quickly becoming one of the city most visited attraction. ​
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A stunning church with a view...

The dome of St. Isaac's Cathedral dominates the city skyline and its gilded cupola can be seen glistening from all over the city. You can climb up the 300 steps to the observation walkway at the base of the cathedral's dome and enjoy the breathtaking views over the city. The cathedral, which can accommodate 14,000 worshipers, now serves as a museum and services are held only on significant ecclesiastical holidays.
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​Take a walk on the legendary Nevsky Prospekt, one of Russia's most famous and lively streets
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All big cities have their main shopping street and in St. Petersburg you'll find Nevsky Prospekt, a 4 km avenue where you will find an endless selection of shops, bookshops, cafes and restaurants many of them housed in buildings of historic importance. By day, it is a bustling shopping area and by night it becomes a wonderland of fun and entertainment. In fact, visiting this avenue by night is a great way to experience its unique charm. A walk along the Nevsky Prospekt promises to satisfy your senses from beginning to end. Eat, shop and study Russian History on this awe-inspiring avenue.

Treat yourself to an unforgettable evening at one of the most famous theaters in Russia

The city also features world-renowned drama, musical, and ballet performances. Each performance is absolutely jaw-dropping. The home of Saint Petersburg's finest opera and ballet companies, The Mariinsky Theatre is a monumental neoclassical building most impressive for its sheer size and the beautiful decoration of its auditorium.
Opened in 1860, it is one of the oldest theaters in Russia with regular performances of ballet plays such as “The Nutcracker” and “Russian Seasons” .

​If you are traveling with kids make sure to check out the newly build Grand Maket Russia model museum 
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The Grand Maket Russia model museum, is the largest model museum in Russia and the second largest in the world. It represents everyday life in Russia: from work, leisure, sports, study, military service, travel, and more. It also features different modes of transportation with movement, light and sound effects: from trains to cars, trucks, trams and buses. The display is interactive, and visitors can push buttons to activate different effects. It is not located in the city center but very well-connected by public transport.
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​St. Petersburg is an absolute gem when it comes to cultural heritage. If you’ve come as far as St. Petersburg, don’t miss out on all the wealth of attractions that can be found venturing outside of the city.

The following destinations never fail to impress with their history and grandeur...

Peterhof, is a magnificent complex of palaces and majestic gardens with fountains and golden statues stretching along the St. Petersburg seafront. 
Dominated by the opulent Grand Palace and displaying a rich variety of architectural styles, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the city's most iconic attractions and compared by many with Versailles.
​While the best time to visit Peterhof is of course summer, when all the buildings in the park are open to visitors and the famous fountains are in operation, this is also the busiest time to visit and long ques are frequent.

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The Catherine Palace, constructed in the 18th century for the Russian Empress Elisabeth I, the daughter of Peter the Great as her Summer residence. 
Damaged and pillaged by the nazi during WWII the palace has been beautifully restored ever since.
The jewel of the palace is the Amber Room, a world-famous chamber decorated in amber panels backed with gold leaf and mirrors. Filled with 18th-century paintings and ornate rooms, this white and gold palace surrounded by large gardens with lakes and pavilions never fails to impress its visitors.
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Kronstadt is a city and military seaport on Kotlin Island in the gulf of Finland. Until 1998, Kronstadt was a closed city, from then on it became a touristic attraction with free access to its territory. The highlight of this military city is ​The Naval Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Kronstadt, a majestic Orthodox church with beautiful dome frescoes and exquisite statues. There is a very large memorial square in front of the church where military parades are often held. 

While most of the major tourist attractions are found in the city center within walking distance from each other, we reccommend taking a couple of rides in the efficent and architecturally beautiful metro. Each station is a magnificent work of art and the metro is the most popular and affordable way to travel across the city with rides costing only 0.70$ / 0.60 € .
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One of the best times to visit St. Petersburg is during the White Nights season ( from the end of May to mid-July ), when the sun never sets and the city is alive 24 hours a day with festivals, activities, concerts and longer opening hours for museums, restaurants and shops. During the White Nights season the number of tourists in St. Petersburg increases, especially on the days when the main festivals are taking place. At this time the prices in hotels and restaurants are more expensive. Therefore, it is recommended that you book in advance if you are traveling during this period. ​

The city is famous not only for literature, architecture and music, but also for its rowdy nightlife. With its countless bars, pubs, clubs and discos, the pulsating nightlife in St. Petersburg will not disappoint you. With a clubbing scene getting bigger and bigger, you will be able to party hard any day of the week. If what you need is a drink in the middle of the night, there is always somewhere to go with some bars even open 24 hr. 
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Taking an evening walk in Rubinsteina, a street full of lively bars and restaurants located in the heart of the city center close to Nevsky Prospekt is a must for those seeking to have a good time. If you love good food and drinks this street will make you a satisfied and happy person with more than 50 bars and restaurants to choose from.

Nowadays traveling to Russia is way simpler and cheaper to compare with just a couple of years ago. In a move to increase tourism in the region the government is now offering fast online e-visa applications and low cost airline Wizzair has recently opened a hub in Saint Petersburg offering cheap round trip flights for as low as 30 € making this elegant and stunning city a perfect candidate for a fun-filled city break. 

Suggested lenght of stay : 5 days