St. Petersburg is a city that you want to return to. If you’ve already visited the Hermitage, walked along Nevsky Prospekt, and taken photos at St. Isaac’s Cathedral, there’s a chance to explore these iconic places from a different perspective. In the article we have collected details that will help to rediscover the city.
Contents
- Nevsky Prospekt
- The Hermitage
- St. Isaac’s Cathedral
- Kazan Cathedral
- Peter and Paul Fortress
- Cruiser Aurora
- Lakhta Center
- Summer Garden
- Mariinsky Theatre
- New Holland
Where to stay in St. Petersburg
A room with a canal view, a quiet courtyard with geraniums, or a short walk to the Hermitage — everyone has their own St. Petersburg. To make an informed decision, check out our guide to the different districts and choose hotels with discounts.
Nevsky Prospekt
There are a lot of people day and night, so don’t expect privacy, but the experience will be worth it. The even side is sunny and lively, while the odd side is more peaceful. If you’re looking for quiet, head to Staro-Nevsky, located behind the Moscow Railway Station.
Nevsky stretches for 4.5 kilometers — if you want, you can walk it in a couple of hours. Photo: Vladimir Kovalchuk/Shutterstock.com
Something unusual:
- Concerts and performances are held at the Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace, which has a soft pink facade. The repertoire includes evenings with a jazz orchestra, “The Sinatra Century,” and gala concerts by ballet soloists. Come early to take photos in the luxurious interiors and try the eclairs at the buffet. Tickets start at 400 rubles.
- The René coffee shop on the second floor of the Singer building offers a wonderful view of Kazan Cathedral. Come in the morning to get a table by the window.
- Tired of the hustle and bustle of Nevsky Prospekt? Turn into the courtyard. For example, into the closed Italian Courtyard, a quiet place that has already become a landmark. You can get inside by calling the coffee house’s intercom.
Unusual tours of St. Petersburg are available on Tripster:
Hermitage
- Winter Palace with paintings, sculptures and artifacts of Eurasia and the East;
- Small Hermitage with Peacock clock and Western European art;
- Large Hermitage with Renaissance works from Italy;
- The New Hermitage with antique art and an art gallery;
- The Hermitage Theater with a unique atmosphere.
The Hermitage also includes the Main Headquarters, the Old Village Restoration and Preservation Center, the Imperial Porcelain Factory Museum, and the Menshikov Palace, all located in different parts of the city.
The Hermitage’s collection includes over 3 million works of art. It would take 6 years of continuous walking to view every exhibit. It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance to avoid spending hours in queues. Tickets start at 500 rubles.
Winter Palace with paintings, sculptures and artifacts of Eurasia and the East. Photo: tovovan/Shutterstock.com
Something unusual:
- The Hermitage offers themed tours that transport you to the desired era, whether it’s Ancient Egypt or Renaissance Italy. For children, there are interactive programs such as “Cats in Art. Following the Footsteps of Furry Pets” and “Amazing Mechanisms.”
- If you’ve already visited the main museum, check out the Gem Gallery. The Golden Storeroom features the gold of the Scythian kings, while the Diamond Storeroom showcases jewelry masterpieces from around the world.
St. Isaac’s Cathedral
A symbol of the city on the Neva River, St. Isaac’s Cathedral is the largest domed church in Russia and the fourth tallest in the world, standing at 101.5 meters. Tourists and newlyweds often take photos in front of St. Isaac’s Cathedral, and locals like to walk nearby.
The interior is decorated with mosaics, paintings, religious sculptures, and stained glass windows. You can enter the cathedral like a museum to admire its beauty. The entrance fee is 450 rubles. To see the city panorama from a height of 43 meters, climb the colonnade, which costs 300 rubles.
The symbol of the city on the Neva, the largest domed temple in Russia. Photo: Baturina Yuliya/Shutterstock.com
Something unusual:
- You can have a snack and enjoy the beauty of the cathedral at the Mansarda and Rterrace view restaurants, or on the veranda of the Happiness coffee shop.
- Another option is to have a picnic in the field near the Bronze Horseman. The view of the cathedral and the Neva River is like a postcard. Just don’t forget to clean up after yourself.
St. Isaac’s Cathedral hides more than meets the eye: stories about the pendulum, the dismantling of the cathedral, and tips on how to climb the colonnade without waiting in line – all of this is covered in a separate article.
Kazansky Cathedral
A grandiose architectural monument in the Empire style. It is especially impressive from the Nevsky side, where 94 columns are visible, with about 50 more hidden inside. The cathedral is decorated with sculptures by renowned artists, including those by Bryullov, Bruni, and Basin.
St. Isaac’s Cathedral and the Kazan Cathedral are not only landmarks but also active churches. They host religious services, baptisms, and weddings. The cathedral can also be visited with a guided tour by appointment, where you can learn about its history, decorations, the icon of Our Lady of Kazan, and the tomb of the great military leader Kutuzov. It is also possible to walk around the cathedral for free.
A grandiose Empire-style architectural monument. Photo: Ultraskrip/Shutterstock.com
Something unusual:
- The church has a cafe called “Kripta” with Russian cuisine and fresh pastries. The prices are reasonable: borscht costs 300 rubles, befstroganov costs 320 rubles, and a pot of tea costs 150 rubles. You can take handmade chocolate as a souvenir.
- You can admire the beautiful view of the cathedral and take an impressive photo from the Terrace, Jungle Garden Cafe, and Osoba establishments.
In this article, we have compiled a list of places in St. Petersburg where you can enjoy a raff under the stucco, eat borscht, and catch the white nights on the veranda.
Peter and Paul Fortress
A single ticket for three days with guided tours costs 1,000 rubles. It includes the cathedral, the tomb, the prison, and the museums (excluding the bell tower). Walking around the site is free.
The iconic place from where the birth of St. Petersburg began. Photo: Stanislav Samoylik/Shutterstock.com
Something unusual:
- In the 18th and 19th centuries, the fortress served as a prison forpolitical prisoners. The exhibition “The History of the Trubetskoy Bastion Prison” is one of the most powerful: you can see what the prisoners’ cells looked like, the conditions they were kept in, and learn about the regime and the tragic fate of most of them.
- To immerse yourself in history, you can attend a coin-stamping workshop at the Mint, explore the history of Petrograd at the Commandant’s House, or visit the exhibition at the Engineering House.
- After the cultural program, go for a stroll in the Troitsko-Petrovsky Square opposite the fortress. It’s a quiet and cozy place, where you can feel like a true Petersburg resident.
- There is a pier on Mytninskaya Embankment, and a sailing ship departs every 15 minutes from 11:00 to 19:00 to the Admiralty. The fare is 200 rubles.
The Aurora Cruiser
Now Aurora is open to visitors: a ticket is 600 rubles for Russians, 1000 rubles for foreigners. You must print it out in advance or directly at the checkout. There is a virtual reality tour — 3,000 rubles for a group of up to 5 people.
Keep in mind: every year, the cruiser is closed for a few days due to preparations for Navy Day. In 2025, it will happen from July 14th to 26th.
A heroic ship that survived the First World War, foreign voyages, and served until the 21st century. Photo: Sergei Sokolnikov/Shutterstock.com
Something unusual:
- The best way to see the Aurora is from the water. When choosing a boat tour of St. Petersburg’s canals, make sure to include a stop by the cruiser.
- The ship’s tours are led not by ordinary guides, but by real captains and experienced sailors.
The Lakhta Center
The Lakhta Center is the first and only skyscraper in St. Petersburg. Initially, it was planned to be built closer to the city center, but the idea was abandoned because the skyscraper would have been out of place in the historical landscape.
The Lakhta Center is 462 meters high, making it not only the tallest building in Europe but also the 16th tallest in the world. It has 87 floors of offices and public spaces. The tower can be seen from almost any part of the city.
On the shore of the Gulf of Finland, there is the first and only skyscraper in St. Petersburg. Photo: Karasev Viktor/Shutterstock.com
Something unusual:
- You can see the whole of St. Petersburg from the observation deck of the skyscraper. Tickets with a tour starting at 1,700 rubles are sold two days in advance. It’s better to take morning sessions – the view is clearer, and there are fewer people.
- The Lakhta Center offers excellent views from the beach in the 300th Anniversary of St. Petersburg Park. If you want a shot with a contrast between nature and urbanism, head to the eco-trail in Lisy Nos, near the Lukomorye point.
Where to see all of St. Petersburg from above: rooftops, colonnades, towers, and a skyscraper — choose from 11 observation decks.
Summer Garden
The oldest park and the first garden in the city, which was personally overseen by Peter the Great. It is a green oasis surrounded by palaces and mansions, featuring marble sculptures, fountains, flower gardens, and a monument to Ivan Krylov. In hot weather, it is especially pleasant to stroll along the shady alleys and enjoy the cool atmosphere. In winter, it’s atmospheric during snowfall.
The garden is open from May to September from 10:00 to 22:00, and from October to March until 20:00. In April, it’s usually closed for drying. Don’t forget to visit the Coffee House, a cozy place where you can relax with a cup of aromatic coffee.
The oldest park and the first garden in the city was personally supervised by Peter the Great. Photo: Anton Kudelin/Shutterstock.com
Something unusual:
- Opposite the garden, on the Fontanka side, is the mosaic courtyard of the Vladimir Lubenko Art School, an unusual open-air museum where everything is covered with colorful mosaics: walls, benches, and even a fountain.
- There’s a cafe near the Small Orangery, near the Red Garden. Sit at a table outside and take stylish photos, as if you’re not in St. Petersburg, but somewhere in Paris.
Mariinsky Theatre
Every self-respecting theater enthusiast dreams of visiting the Mariinsky Theatre at least once in their life. The history of the Mariinsky Theatre dates back to 1783, and it was named after the wife of Emperor Alexander II, Maria Alexandrovna. The luxurious interiors, mesmerizing sets, and captivating atmosphere leave a lasting impression on even the most frequent theatre-goers.
Today, performances are held at three venues: the historic stage for classics like Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and Eugene Onegin, as well as the concert hall and the modern Mariinsky-2 building. Tickets for the new stage are usually cheaper and more accessible. You can sometimes find them at a discount at the ticket office an hour before the show starts.
The luxurious interiors, mesmerizing scenery and atmosphere impress even those who frequent theaters. Photo: Mistervlad/Shutterstock.com
Something unusual:
- Would you like to see behind the scenes? Take a tour of the main stage or Mariinsky-2. Tickets are quickly sold out, so it’s best to plan in advance. The cost starts at 2,000 rubles.
- A couple of minutes from the theater, there is a documentary film studio called Lendok. There is also a cozy restaurant with a terrace. In good weather, it is the perfect place to sit outside after a performance. Sometimes, you can catch filming or movie screenings.
New Holland
New Holland’s modern appearance was created by the American architectural firm WorkAC. The architects have beautifully landscaped the area, restored the buildings, and created a garden for a comfortable stay. Here you can have a picnic, play table tennis, and visit the cafes and shops inside the Bottle, a former prison building.
The modern look of New Holland was created by the American bureau WorkAC. Photo: Stanislav Samoylik/Shutterstock.com
Something unusual:
- In the summer, there are free outdoor movie screenings. Grab a blanket, your favorite snacks, and settle on the lawn.
- On Wednesdays and Sundays, guided tours are available on the island by reservation. The cost starts at 500 rubles, and individual tours start at 3,500 rubles for a group of up to 5 people. You will learn about the history and the details of the space’s reinterpretation.
Discover a new side of St. Petersburg and make every day feel like a movie. You can find a cozy hotel to relax after your walk on Ostrovok.
Cover photo: Ultraskrip/Shutterstock.com
