Do you want to see St. Petersburg in all its glory, and not just from the water or while walking along Nevsky? Go up to one of the viewing platforms. There are 11 such places in this article.
Content
- Lakhta Center
- Colonnade of St. Isaac’s Cathedral
- Duma Tower
- Vladimir Cathedral Bell Tower
- Colonnade of Kazan Cathedral
- Bell tower of Smolny Cathedral
- The bell tower of Peter and Paul Cathedral
- Nevsky panorama
- St. Petersburg Hotel
- Hotel SO/St. Petersburg
- Obolensky Hotel
Lakhta Center
- Address: 1 Vysotnaya Street
- Ticket price: from 1200 rubles
The new observation deck on the 86th floor of the Lakhta Center is the tallest in Europe. You can only get up as part of an excursion. First, the guide will take you through the expositions on the 3rd and 4th floors, tell you the story of the skyscraper and the city, and then you will ascend to the 83rd and 86th floors in a high-speed elevator. From a height of 365 meters, a circular panorama of St. Petersburg opens up — don’t forget to take a photo, as if you are holding the city in the palm of your hand.
To catch tickets, you need to carefully monitor the Lakhta Center website – they are sold out instantly.
The new observation deck on the 86th floor of the Lakhta Center is the tallest in Europe. Photo: Michaelvbg/Shutterstock.com
St. Isaac’s Cathedral colonnade
- Address: St. Isaac’s Square, 4
- Ticket price: from 300 rubles
Perhaps the most famous observation deck of the city. The climb to the colonnade is 262 steps and 43 meters high. Upstairs you will find an audio guide and a circular view of the center of St. Petersburg — from here you can clearly see St. Isaac’s Square, the Admiralty, the Lakhta Center and other attractions. Try to make out the domes on the horizon and guess which cathedral is which.
The colonnade is crowded at any time of the year, so it is better to buy a ticket in advance online. In the summer, there are evening sessions — at sunset, the views are especially cinematic. The time spent in the queue is worth it.
Read more about St. Isaac’s Cathedral in our detailed guide to the cathedral.
The climb to the colonnade is 262 steps and 43 meters high. Photo: Julia Moiseenko/Shutterstock.com
Duma Tower
- Address: Nevsky Prospekt, 33
- Ticket price: from 300 rubles
From a height of 44 meters, there is a view on all four sides, but Nevsky Prospekt is especially beautiful. Nearby — Gostiny Dvor, Kazan Cathedral, Singer House, St. Catherine’s Basilica — dizzying beauty!
On weekends and holidays, guided tours are held here — you can see the clockwork of the tower up close. On other days, the viewing room is open from 10:00 to 22:00, but the rules of visiting are still worth studying beforehand.
The Duma Tower is over 200 years old. Photo: Baturina Yuliya/Shutterstock.com
Vladimir Cathedral Bell Tower
- Address: Vladimirsky Prospekt, 20B
- Ticket price: from 200 rubles
A less touristy, but interesting place with a steep staircase, where you can already anticipate the breathtaking views. From a height of 41 meters, the panorama of Zagorodny and Vladimirsky Avenues opens, in the distance you can see the Kazan and St. Isaac’s Cathedrals. You can also see the domes of the main part of the cathedral from here and, of course, the romantic St. Petersburg roofs in all their glory.
The observation deck has several tiers, but the upper one is closed in winter for safety reasons. The most interesting thing is to come in the late afternoon — at 17:50 you can watch the bell ringer’s work, hear the bell ring and later meet the sunset.
No pre-registration is required. If desired, you can take an audio guide on the spot.
A less touristy, but interesting place with a steep staircase, where you can already anticipate the breathtaking views. Photo: Telia/Shutterstock.com
Kazan Cathedral colonnade
- Address: Kazan Square, 2
- Ticket price: 250 rubles
Currently, the roof of the Kazan Cathedral can only be climbed with an excursion — it tells about the cathedral itself and some of the buildings around it. The tour group is conducted not only in the public halls of the cathedral, but also in some administrative premises, for example, the hall where Sunday school classes are held. Here, the guide reads a prayer, after which you can climb to the observation deck.
The view from there is modest, mainly at the Singer house and a piece of Nevsky Prospekt. But you can take a closer look at the bas-reliefs on the walls of the cathedral and take a spectacular photo with the dome.Kazan Cathedral.
Currently, the roof of the Kazan Cathedral can only be climbed with an excursion. Photo: Ultraskrip/Shutterstock.com
Smolny Cathedral Belfry
- Address: Rastrelli Square, 1
- Ticket price: from 200 rubles
An appointment to visit the observation deck is not required, admission for children under 7 years of age and preferential categories is free, everyone else is advised to make a small donation.
The cathedral’s observation deck is considered the highest in the historical part of the city. Photo: Katvic/Shutterstock.com
Maybe a cup of coffee?
We made a selection of specialty coffee shops where Petersburgers go.
Peter and Paul Cathedral Bell Tower
- Address: Peter and Paul Fortress territory, 3J
- Ticket price: from 200 rubles
The height of the entire bell tower is 122.5 meters, and the observation deck is 43 meters high. You can get here as part of the “Three Centuries above the City” tour, which is held twice a day in the summer. It introduces visitors to the history of the construction, rebuilding and restoration of the Peter and Paul Cathedral over the 300 years of its existence, as well as the tradition of Russian church bells, the history of the bell tower with an angel and the chiming clock.
The view from the observation deck is limited due to the bells hanging on three sides. But the fourth one offers a breathtaking view of the arrow of Vasilyevsky Island, Rostral Columns and the Neva River.
The height of the entire bell tower is 122.5 meters, and the observation deck is 43 meters high. Photo: Roman Evgenev/Shutterstock.com
Nevsky panorama
- Address: Peter and Paul Fortress territory, 3T
- Ticket price: from 150 rubles
This is a walking route along the wall of the Peter and Paul Fortress — from Gosudarev to Naryshkin bastion. From here you can enjoy a panoramic view of the center of St. Petersburg: from the Savior on Spilled Blood to the arrow of Vasilyevsky Island. The noon shooting ceremony can be seen from here every day at 12:00. The peculiarity of this site is that it provides an opportunity to look at the city from a special angle — or just as the founders of the city saw it from the bastions more than 300 years ago.
St. Petersburg Hotel
- Address: Pirogovskaya embankment, 5
- Cost: from 6500 rubles
The hotel has an interesting history. This twelve-storey building on Pirogovskaya Embankment was built in the late 1970s using advanced technologies with the participation of outstanding Soviet architect Sergei Speransky and builders from Yugoslavia. The hotel was distinguished by the fact that modern equipment and furniture were brought to it. The design also turned out to be iconic: the building became the architectural dominant of the area.
For the first time in the country, the hotel began using a Western breakfast system — a buffet and a continental breakfast.
This hotel is an observation deck in itself: it offers panoramic views of the city’s embankments.
Hotel SO/St. Petersburg
- Address: Voznesensky Prospekt, 6
- Cost: from 22,080 rubles
The five-star stylish hotel was designed by the famous Italian designer Antonio Citterio. One of the advantages is the panoramic views of the romantic St. Petersburg rooftops. The suite has a great view of Voznesensky Prospekt and St. Isaac’s Cathedral.
If rooms are not available, admire the main sights of the city from the rooftop terrace of the hotel. It is open from May to September, but it is better to take care of table reservations in advance.
The suite has a great view of Voznesensky Prospekt and St. Isaac’s Cathedral.
Obolensky Hotel
- Address: 1/12 Pestel Street
- Cost: from 10,667 rubles
The hotel boasts a rooftop observation deck with stunning views of the city center. Knowledgeable people even take guided tours to this terrace.
The interior is also worthy of attention: it contains references to the events of 1825 in various details, from elegant antique furniture to grotesque portraits of the Decembrists.
The hotel boasts a rooftop observation deck with stunning views of the city center.
Each observation deck opens up St. Petersburg from a new perspective. Go higher to finally fall in love with the city.
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Cover photo: aapsky/Shutterstock.com
