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ST PETERSBURG TRAVEL GUIDE
This Venice of the North began as Petrograd, was renamed Leningrad and today as a result of the fall of communism is now called St. Petersburg. Home to 4.7 million people it sits on the Baltic Sea and Neva River. Founded by Peter the Great on what was once swamp land, this city was built by Italian architects giving it a more European style. There are no onion-shaped domes or colourful red brick buildings like in Moscow. Instead baroque and neoclassical architecture dominate and a network of canals runs throughout the city adding a touch of romanticism to St. Petersburg. Today it is considered one of the most modern and cosmopolitan cities in Russia. With eclectic art galleries, gourmet cuisine and underground bars and nightclubs, St. Petersburg is an ideal city-break destination for travellers from the UK (and elsewhere).
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ST PETERSBURG WEATHER - When To Go
Needless to say winter, December through February is not the best time of year to visit St. Petersburg. Temperatures hover well below freezing and sunlight barely penetrates the horizon during the deepest darkest days of the season. Summer however, during June, July and August has almost 24 hours of daylight with temperatures ranging from 20-30 degrees Celsius. The Russians start celebrating White Nights, the long days, in May when the parks and streets fill with blooming flowerbeds and leaf buds begin to appear on the trees.
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ST PETERSBURG ATTRACTIONS - Things to See & Do
Central St. Petersburg
The central part of the city outlined by Nevskii Prospekt on the south, the Fontanka canal and the Neva has the majority of the city’s primary attractions, outstanding restaurants and clubs and other forms of entertainment. The cultural portion of this sightseeing triangle consists of the Winter Palace and Palace Square, the Saviour on Spilled Blood Cathedral, the Russian Museum, Summer Gardens and Mussorgsky Concert Hall.
The original residence of Catherine the Great, the Winter Palace is also home to the Hermitage Museum. It consists of six incredible buildings with the star of the show being the Winter Palace. These buildings contain a collection of over 3,000,000 priceless works from Faberge eggs to coronation carriages. Some of the artists contained in this collection are Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Degas, Raphael, Matisse and Renoir. Do not plan on seeing everything in a few days. It could take years to see every piece on exhibit. The visitor should plan on hiring a guide as these experts know where all the primary artefacts and artworks are contained within the museum.
The Saviour on Spilled Blood Cathedral was built to commemorate the death of Alexander II killed by a car bomb where the cathedral now stands. The church was erected in the more traditional style of Russian architecture with the multi-coloured onion domes. The inside of the cathedral is quite beautiful with over 7000 square metres of mosaics created by 30 artists.
Often overlooked because of the glory of the Hermitage, the Russian Museum contains an impressive collection of Russian Art. The main body of works are housed in the Mikhailovskiy palace built in 1819 for the brother of Tsar Alexander I, the Grand Duke Mikhail. Temporary exhibits are shown in the Stroganov Palace, Marble Palace and Mikhailovskiy palace, all part of the Russian Museum.
The Summer Gardens were erected in 1704 by Peter the Great with the help of French landscape designer Le Blond. The formal gardens are home to lovely fountains, trees imported from around the world and over 80 statues. There is a small fee to gain entrance to the gardens but the beauty and serenity are well worth the price.
The Mussorgsky Concert Hall, also called the Mikhailovskiy Theatre is home to the primary forms of cultural entertainment in the city. The opera, ballet, and philharmonic orchestra all call this theatre and concert hall home.
Some of the other points of interest that are also located in this tourist triangle include St. Isaac’s Cathedral. To begin its construction 11,000 serfs pounded 25,000 planks into the ground. Over 100 kilos of gold created the dome of the cathedral and 112 granite column support the church. Services can be attended by over 14,000 people. For an incredible view of the city climb the 562 steps to the top of the dome.
The Peter and Paul Fortress was built by Tsar Peter I in 1703. It sits on Zaiachii Island facing the Winter Palace. Contained within its walls are the Peter and Paul Cathedral, Peter’s Boathouse, The Mint and the Trubetskii prison. Many of the Russian Tsars are buried in the cathedral.
The Kazan Cathedral, built in the early 1800s to resemble St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome, once housed the Museum of Atheism. Today the museum is now called the Museum of Religion. Daily religious services are held here.
To get a true sense of how a Russian palace looked in its heyday visit Yusupov Palace. All the interiors consist of the original furniture and design plans. There is even a red and gold miniature theatre. The cellar is where a murder attempt on the mad monk Rasputin occurred in 1916.
Remember to take a boat tour of the canals. These boats travel through the Moika and go past the Peter and Paul Fortress and through the Fontanka. There are many boarding areas along the route where the visitor can hop on one of these boats.
Vasilievsky Island
This island is northwest of the city’s centre and divides the Neva River. It was intended to be the centre of the city by Peter the Great but logistically it did not work out. However many attractions of interest are located on the eastern side of this island.
The St. Petersburg Doll Museum has an extensive exhibition of puppets, dolls and toys. The visitor can even watch art school students at work. Some of their pieces are for sale at the museum’s store.
The Smolensk Orthodox Cemetery was established in 1738. There is a small chapel that was built over the relics of Ksenia, the patron saint of the city.
The Andreyevsky Cathedral built in 1780 is also located on the island. It is one of the most breathtaking churches in St. Petersburg.
Visit the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography to see some really odd and bizarre exhibits. While there are traditional collections of weapons, tools and clothing there are also exhibits of distorted skeletons, pickled mammals and preserved Siamese twins.
The Zoological Museum founded in 1832 is considered one of the largest in the world. There are more than 40,000 animals on display including two baby mammoths and an amazing array of beautiful butterflies.
The Menshikov Palace was the first stone building erected in the city of St. Petersburg. The interior is a melange of 17th century furniture and artefacts from around the world. There is also an excellent exhibition of clothing worn by Peter the Great. Do not miss the Italian inspired foyer or the ballroom built to resemble the Grand Hall in the Catherine Palace.
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ST PETERSBURG - Eating Out & Nightlife
The locals in St. Petersburg love to party. This city enjoys music of all types and most are represented in the clubs bars and dance halls that are peppered throughout the city. Rock, jazz, techno, pop, hip-hop and blues are all featured in St. Petersburg. Many of the local nightclubs are located in old bomb shelters. While this does seem strange they are the perfect spots to muffle the loud music as well as being secure and well ventilated.
There are also movie theatres scattered around St. Petersburg. These cinemas show the latest Western films. They are usually in English with Russian subtitles.
While there is no particular area in the city to seek out night-time entertainment, Nevskii Prospect is a good place to plan an evening out. The thoroughfare goes right through the centre of the city. Located along its walkways are bars, nightclubs, restaurants and fashionable boutiques. The party often spills out onto the sidewalks as locals travel from bar to bar enjoying a night of fun and dancing.
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ST PETERSBURG - Getting Around & Local Transport
The best way to travel around the city is using the Metro, St. Petersburg’s underground transportation system. Tickets are quite inexpensive and the trains run frequently. When taking the train pay attention to the different stations as they are works of art. Buses and trolley buses are also an efficient and inexpensive way to get around the city but are slower than the Metro and can get held up during rush hour.
Public transportation stops at 12:30am every night and does not resume until 5:40am so plan accordingly. There are taxicabs available throughout the day and night. Keep in mind many of these taxis are simply locals with a car looking to make some quick money. Also keep in mind the city is divided by the Neva River. All the main bridges are raised at night to allow boats to pass. Do not get stuck on the wrong side of the river, as there is no way to cross back until morning
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ST PETERSBURG FLIGHTS - FLYING THERE FROM THE UK
British Airways operate flights to St Petersburg leaving from London and regional UK airports (connecting via London).
You could also fly via KLM or Air France, connecting in Amsterdam or Paris.
A good overview of all flight options from your regional airport is available via big online flight-booking websites such as Expedia.co.uk or ebookers.
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