Why travel to St Petersburg?
This 'Venice of the North' is a splendid metropolis of grand, baroque buildings laced around with canals and a dynamite joie de vivre.
Colourful, attractive, very walkable and deeply cultured, the city contains perhaps the world's most spectacular museum - the amazing Hermitage - among many other offerings.
Summer days are very, very long - in fact night hardly falls at all around midsummer - so there's plenty of light-time to waft around the streets in a haze of vodka-fuelled goodwill with your new Russian chums...and chums there will be, for St Petersburg people are very, very sociable.
The city is also artistic, sophisticated and not especially expensive. St Petersburg Pictures
This 'Venice of the North' is a splendid metropolis of grand, baroque buildings laced around with canals and a dynamite joie de vivre.
Colourful, attractive, very walkable and deeply cultured, the city contains perhaps the world's most spectacular museum - the amazing Hermitage - among many other offerings.
Summer days are very, very long - in fact night hardly falls at all around midsummer - so there's plenty of light-time to waft around the streets in a haze of vodka-fuelled goodwill with your new Russian chums...and chums there will be, for St Petersburg people are very, very sociable.
The city is also artistic, sophisticated and not especially expensive. St Petersburg Pictures
Downside:
- Petty crime is commonplace, including thievery by street children and police can be, shall we say, difficult.
- This being an ex-swamp, mosquitoes swarm in the summertime, so take a strong repellent and sleep precautions if you expect to be in budget accommodation.
- Springtime thaws lead to vast swords of ice dropping off roofs, occasionally killing pedestrians.
- Russian drivers are borderline crazy and have no respect for pedestrians so take care crossing roads.
- There are plenty of crumbling wrecks, concrete tower blocks and pitted pavements amid the baroque glories.
- Petty crime is commonplace, including thievery by street children and police can be, shall we say, difficult.
- This being an ex-swamp, mosquitoes swarm in the summertime, so take a strong repellent and sleep precautions if you expect to be in budget accommodation.
- Springtime thaws lead to vast swords of ice dropping off roofs, occasionally killing pedestrians.
- Russian drivers are borderline crazy and have no respect for pedestrians so take care crossing roads.
- There are plenty of crumbling wrecks, concrete tower blocks and pitted pavements amid the baroque glories.
Climate guide:
Best: May-Sept, especially June for White Nights festival, though it's crowded then.
Not so good: Nov-March. Winters are long, cold and dark, but...they do offer a different perspective on life!
Best: May-Sept, especially June for White Nights festival, though it's crowded then.
Not so good: Nov-March. Winters are long, cold and dark, but...they do offer a different perspective on life!
Main Attractions:
The famous 4km [2.5mls] Nevsky Prospekt street is an easy choice for a first St Petersburg walk, starting at the Admiralty with spectacular interior and city views from nearby St. Isaac's Cathedral, and taking in among many other sights the massive, baroque Winter Palace in equally massive Palace Square [including the Hermitage Museum, see below]]; the sculpted Anichkov bridge; the Beloselsky Palace and ending at Alexander Nevsky Monastery.
Along the way is the city's main shopping area.
Also near Nevsky Prospekt is the gorgeous, multicoloured Church of the Spilled Blood and the Mikhail Palace/Russian Museum.
The city's oldest building, Peter and Paul Fortress and Cathedral [particularly the interior], a short walk across the river, is the next move, along with the Strelka district on Vasilevsky island and its grand old buildings and great views.
There are plenty more interesting streets and quirky sights to see as you travel around St Petersburg, including visitable apartment/ museums of famous Russians such as Rasputin, Pushkin, Rimsky-Korsakov and Dostoyevsky.
The Yusupov Palace, where Rasputin was finally terminated, is lavish and worth a trip.
The famous 4km [2.5mls] Nevsky Prospekt street is an easy choice for a first St Petersburg walk, starting at the Admiralty with spectacular interior and city views from nearby St. Isaac's Cathedral, and taking in among many other sights the massive, baroque Winter Palace in equally massive Palace Square [including the Hermitage Museum, see below]]; the sculpted Anichkov bridge; the Beloselsky Palace and ending at Alexander Nevsky Monastery.
Along the way is the city's main shopping area.
Also near Nevsky Prospekt is the gorgeous, multicoloured Church of the Spilled Blood and the Mikhail Palace/Russian Museum.
The city's oldest building, Peter and Paul Fortress and Cathedral [particularly the interior], a short walk across the river, is the next move, along with the Strelka district on Vasilevsky island and its grand old buildings and great views.
There are plenty more interesting streets and quirky sights to see as you travel around St Petersburg, including visitable apartment/ museums of famous Russians such as Rasputin, Pushkin, Rimsky-Korsakov and Dostoyevsky.
The Yusupov Palace, where Rasputin was finally terminated, is lavish and worth a trip.
The Hermitage Museum, Russia's best art collection in the stunning Winter Palace:
This massive edifice houses nearly three million artifacts - in an awesome environment that often overshadows the exibits - which would require nine years to see, so do some research and choose your targets carefully, but do include a visit to the amazing state rooms of the Winter Palace.
Avoiding huge Hermitage queues: buy a two-day voucher [discounted and the museum certainly justifies a couple of days] a few days in advance from the Hermitage online. Print the voucher and then exchange it for an entry ticket on arrival at the groups/disabled entrance. To see the most popular section of the museum, the Treasure Gallery, book a guided tour as soon as you arrive.
Festivals:
25 Dec- 5 Jan, Russian Winter celebrates with traditional activities such as music, dance, sleigh rides, folk shows, just outside the city.
late Feb-early March, Goodbye Russian Winter, as above.
June, the White Nights arts festival is St Pete's liveliest event.
April/May, St Petersburg Music Spring Festival, classical music.
mid Nov, Autumn Rhythms is a jazz festival based in St Pete's clubs.
This massive edifice houses nearly three million artifacts - in an awesome environment that often overshadows the exibits - which would require nine years to see, so do some research and choose your targets carefully, but do include a visit to the amazing state rooms of the Winter Palace.
Avoiding huge Hermitage queues: buy a two-day voucher [discounted and the museum certainly justifies a couple of days] a few days in advance from the Hermitage online. Print the voucher and then exchange it for an entry ticket on arrival at the groups/disabled entrance. To see the most popular section of the museum, the Treasure Gallery, book a guided tour as soon as you arrive.
Transport:
The metro system is brilliant, trolley buses and trains a little complicated, metered taxis OK and sightseeing by motorboat - in the summertime - excellent.
The metro system is brilliant, trolley buses and trains a little complicated, metered taxis OK and sightseeing by motorboat - in the summertime - excellent.
Activities:
River cruises are an excellent way to appreciate the watery aspect of this grand Russian city; boats big and small are available for hire long or short.
Banyas or Russian bathhouses [saunas] are an interesting cultural experience, particularly if you enjoy being beaten.
Skating in the winter is free on most canals but in the summer you'll have to pay at one of the ice palaces.
River cruises are an excellent way to appreciate the watery aspect of this grand Russian city; boats big and small are available for hire long or short.
Banyas or Russian bathhouses [saunas] are an interesting cultural experience, particularly if you enjoy being beaten.
Skating in the winter is free on most canals but in the summer you'll have to pay at one of the ice palaces.
Short Trips:
- Peterhof [Petrodvorets], Peter the Great's Grand Palace, museums and gardens - with spectacular water features is 29km from the city; travel by bus or hydrofoil.
- Pushkin [Catherine's Palace], a renovated masterpiece in the baroque style, surrounded by parks, is 25km south of the St Pete.
- Veliky Novgorod; this charming carpenter's town [UNESCO World heritage Site] is 186kms [110mls] down the road to Moscow, 3.5 hours by train, bus or car, and well worth a few hours. Most attractions are religious and/or wooden. Many travellers visit en route St Pete- Moscow.
- Peterhof [Petrodvorets], Peter the Great's Grand Palace, museums and gardens - with spectacular water features is 29km from the city; travel by bus or hydrofoil.
- Pushkin [Catherine's Palace], a renovated masterpiece in the baroque style, surrounded by parks, is 25km south of the St Pete.
- Veliky Novgorod; this charming carpenter's town [UNESCO World heritage Site] is 186kms [110mls] down the road to Moscow, 3.5 hours by train, bus or car, and well worth a few hours. Most attractions are religious and/or wooden. Many travellers visit en route St Pete- Moscow.
Festivals:
25 Dec- 5 Jan, Russian Winter celebrates with traditional activities such as music, dance, sleigh rides, folk shows, just outside the city.
late Feb-early March, Goodbye Russian Winter, as above.
June, the White Nights arts festival is St Pete's liveliest event.
April/May, St Petersburg Music Spring Festival, classical music.
mid Nov, Autumn Rhythms is a jazz festival based in St Pete's clubs.
For some precise dates or more information see: European Festivals or Arts Festivals.
Arts/Culture:
Museums: The incredible Hermitage Museum - with a building as wonderful as its contents, the extensive and beautifully housed Russian Museum, the superb Museum of Decorative Arts, the tasty Russian Vodka Museum and the Kunstammer, housing Peter the Great's collection of freaks and monsters..
Classical Music: St Pete has two first-class Philharmonic orchestras. Book through Maximilian Ticket Agency.
Dance/Opera: The Kirov Ballet can be seen at Mariinsky Theatre in winter months only - and foreigners pay four times as much as locals, or see the superb Maly Opera and Ballet at the gorgeous Maly Theatre, [aka Mussorgsky].
Choral Music: fabulous churches offer sensational sounds, mostly free. e.g. Preobrazhenski Church 10am and 6pm, or Alexander Nevsky Monastery at 6pm - with a spooky bonus cemetery hosting Tchaikovsky, Borodin, Rimsky-Korsakov and Dostoyevsky.
Live Music & Clubs: The city has endless night action of all sorts in varied styles, constantly morphing into something new, so just take a walk, ask the concierge or
check the monthly 'Neva News', the bi-weekly 'St Petersburg Times', or 'Pulse' magazine for event info/listings.
Museums: The incredible Hermitage Museum - with a building as wonderful as its contents, the extensive and beautifully housed Russian Museum, the superb Museum of Decorative Arts, the tasty Russian Vodka Museum and the Kunstammer, housing Peter the Great's collection of freaks and monsters..
Classical Music: St Pete has two first-class Philharmonic orchestras. Book through Maximilian Ticket Agency.
Dance/Opera: The Kirov Ballet can be seen at Mariinsky Theatre in winter months only - and foreigners pay four times as much as locals, or see the superb Maly Opera and Ballet at the gorgeous Maly Theatre, [aka Mussorgsky].
Choral Music: fabulous churches offer sensational sounds, mostly free. e.g. Preobrazhenski Church 10am and 6pm, or Alexander Nevsky Monastery at 6pm - with a spooky bonus cemetery hosting Tchaikovsky, Borodin, Rimsky-Korsakov and Dostoyevsky.
Live Music & Clubs: The city has endless night action of all sorts in varied styles, constantly morphing into something new, so just take a walk, ask the concierge or
check the monthly 'Neva News', the bi-weekly 'St Petersburg Times', or 'Pulse' magazine for event info/listings.
Accommodation:
B&Bs are a fine alternative to expensive hotels, more fun less money and especially useful during festivals - such as White Nights - when places are difficult to find.
B&Bs are a fine alternative to expensive hotels, more fun less money and especially useful during festivals - such as White Nights - when places are difficult to find.
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