Today we’re bringing you a destination that people often talk about but, in reality, is rarely well known: Saint Petersburg. A city of intriguing palaces and gorgeous architecture that was previously reigned by tsars, Saint Petersburg strikes a fine balance between the classic and the modern, reinventing itself on a daily basis without losing its authenticity.
The first thing you need to know is that Saint Petersburg is an enormous city, which means large distances often separate the various tourist attractions. If you’re planning on visiting each of the city’s charming tourist attractions, be sure to come well prepared. We recommend wearing comfortable footwear and, if travelling in winter, wrapping up extremely warm.
The city is also known as ‘Piter’ or ‘the Venice of the North’, owing to its canal network and 342 bridges.
If you’re thinking about spending a few days in the city, we recommend buying the City Pass. This card will grant you access to most of the city’s museums, in addition to boat trips and the sightseeing tourist bus.
If you’re hoping to get around using public transport, you’ll be glad to hear that it is largely reliable. You may also be interested to learn that the Saint Petersburg metro system is one of the deepest-lying in the world, meaning you’ll need to descend several flights of escalators to reach the metro platforms.
On tour
Our tour begins at the Winter Palace, which has been reconverted into the state Hermitage Museum, in the centre of Saint Petersburg. This is the former residence of the Russian tsars, built in a Rococo style with tones of gold, water green and white adorning the façade. This building is home to an enormous collection of European artwork, but we recommend visiting just to witness the sheer luxury of its interior.
The square facing Winter Palace is home to the Alexander Column, which was raised to commemorate Russia’s victory over Napoleon’s France.
From Winter Palace we will head to the city’s most visited church, the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood. Built in a Russian revival architectural style, this colourful church stands on the spot where Tsar Alexander II was killed, whose remains lie inside one of its chapels.
Just a stone’s throw away lies the Kazan cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan, with no entrance fee to this famous Russian landmark.
If you feel like taking a break and recharging your batteries at any point during the tour, you could pop into one of the city’s several ‘anti-cafés’. This new trend, which first started to pick up speed in Russia in 2010, consists of recreational spaces where you pay for the time you stay rather than what you consume. Anti-cafés usually have teas, coffees, pastries and snacks available to clients, who can recline in their comfortable sofas, connect to the Wi-Fi and even tuck into a sandwich that they purchased elsewhere. Anything goes here. If you prefer the idea of catching 40 winks in a comfortable armchair as opposed to traipsing back to your hotel, nobody’s going to bat an eyelid. They are usually open 24 hours-a-day.
If you fancy soaking up the atmosphere by strolling down the city’s streets, there’s nothing better than wandering down the city’s longest avenue, the Nevsky Prospekt. Around 5 kilometres long, this is one of the world’s most historic streets. It is home to a fantastic series of cafés, shops, restaurants and museums, depicting a striking contrast between luxury and poverty.
If you’re looking to take some typical Russian products back home to your loved ones, you’ll find everything you could possibly want at the Elisseeff Emporium. We also recommend taking a look inside the Literaturnaya Café, located at number 18, which maintains its pre-revolution interior. Alexander Pushkin, the father of modern Russian literature, had lunch here right before participating in the duel in which he would eventually die.
Saint Petersburg’s cultural offering is immense, but you must also find time for another type of tourism. One such activity is a boat ride down the city’s canals, which can be done in the warmest months of the year. These trips offer passengers magnificent views of Saint Petersburg from the water.
In winter, when the canals are frozen over, these boat rides are unable to run. Not put off, locals make the most of the freezing conditions to go ice skating.
Daring local residents make holes in the ice so that they can take a dip in the freezing waters below. This is a long-running tradition, with participants claiming that it offers multiple health benefits.
In direct contrast with this large avenue is the city’s Historic Centre, where we recommend heading to the Kolomna district. The most intriguing thing about this district is how it manages to maintain its 19th-century appearance, where a stroll down the street is like travelling back in time. This is a peaceful district, not troubled by heaving crowds, where its several green parks and beautiful canals lend it a romantic vibe.
If you’re going to visit Saint Petersburg during the summer, you’ll be able to witness a fascinating phenomenon. Namely, that the sun never completely sets in Saint Petersburg during the summer, with the skies adopt a shade of light grey at night. During this period, the streets are brimming with festivals and the city quite literally never sleeps.
One of the organised events is the Stars of the White Nights Festival, held in the city’s largest and most prestigious theatre, the Mariinsky Theatre.
The best views of the city are found from the dome of Saint Isaac’s Cathedral.This dome, measuring 101.5 metres from top-to-bottom, is one of the largest on the planet. It measures almost 22 metres in diameter, with 100 kilograms of gold used as part of its exterior design.
Night life: shows and partying
Saint Petersburg is Russia’s second largest city, boasting the nightlife that one would expect of a buzzing capital city – and then some!
Dumskaya street is the place to head if you’re looking to stay out until the early hours. It is home to a huge selection of reasonably-priced bars and clubs, making it an excellent option for party lovers. This street has a unique vibe with a very young demographic. The clubs are small and somewhat rough around the edges.
Belinskogoy street is another hub of Saint Petersburg nightlife.This street is home to Bar Purga, which operates following a bizarre concept: every night is New Year’s Eve! You’re guaranteed a good time.
Another street worth heading to at night time is Nevsky Prospekt, which is home to many different pubs and has a more European atmosphere.
For readers who are more interested in theatre and opera, Saint Petersburg boasts an impressive schedule of events.
The most famous theatres are Mariinsky Theatre and Mikhailovsky Theatre.
The Mariinsky Theatre, located in the city centre, hosts both ballet and opera performances. With a capacity for 2000 spectators, we recommend buying your tickets in advance on the theatre’s official website, as there are rarely any tickets available on the day of the event.
The Mikhailovsky Theatre is one of the oldest theatres in the country and is also found in the city centre. The same rule applies with regards to tickets. You should also take into account that this venue occasionally holds events restricted to Russian audiences.
As you can see from the above, Saint Petersburg is a city of a thousand faces which offers something for everyone. Have you packed your bags yet?
