Things to do in Saint Petersburg: must-sees and where to stay

In short: Saint Petersburg, a city of palaces and canals, is explored on foot and by boat. Spend at least a day at the Hermitage, climb the colonnade of St Isaac’s, admire the mosaics of the Savior on Spilled Blood, walk down Nevsky Prospekt, and go to see the fountains of Peterhof. In early summer, the White Nights are magical.

The Hermitage and the Winter Palace

Housed partly in the Winter Palace, the Hermitage is one of the largest museums in the world, from antiquity to the Impressionists. Choose a few rooms rather than trying to see everything.

St Isaac’s and the Savior on Spilled Blood

The golden dome of St Isaac’s Cathedral dominates the city; its colonnade offers a panoramic view. The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, with its colourful onion domes, is covered in mosaics inside.

Nevsky Prospekt and the canals

The city’s main avenue, Nevsky Prospekt, crosses the canals. A boat trip on the canals and the Neva is one of the best ways to see the façades.

The Peter and Paul Fortress

On an island in the Neva, the Peter and Paul Fortress, the city’s birthplace, holds the cathedral where the tsars are buried.

White Nights and raised bridges

In early summer, it stays almost light all night. During the navigation season, the bridges over the Neva are raised at night to let ships through: check the times if your hotel is on another bank.

Day trips from Saint Petersburg

• Peterhof and its fountains, on the Gulf of Finland, in summer.
• Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo) and the Catherine Palace, with its Amber Room.
• Moscow, about 4 hours away by Sapsan train.

Getting around

• The metro, one of the deepest in the world, and walking in the centre.
• Boats on the canals and the Neva in season.
• From Moscow, the Sapsan train takes about 4 hours.

All our tips for the country: Travel in Russia.

Where to stay in Saint Petersburg?

• Historic centre (Nevsky Prospect). The main avenue, walking distance from the great monuments and canals. Ideal for: first visit.
• Around the Hermitage and St Isaac’s. The district of palaces and major museums. Ideal for: culture, couples.
• Vasilyevsky Island. Calmer, across the Neva, with lovely embankments. Ideal for: quiet stays.
• Petrogradsky side. Around the Peter and Paul Fortress, more residential. Ideal for: local life.

The areas and useful services are on our Saint Petersburg page.