Blessed with channels across the city and by enchanting bridges, it is also lined with baroque structures. Saint Petersburg is Russia’s 2nd biggest city and most multicultural in Europe. It is not surprising that Russian nobility selected Peter as the place for their Royal residences. This is a fantastic city and lovely as the Russian people.
Top galleries, churches, and also royal residences: an inspiring checklist of the very best places to visit in Saint Petersburg, Russia. We all know that Russia isn’t really preferred amongst western visitor. Old and also brand-new bias are possibly the reason. However, the reality is that Russian people are amongst the friendliest people in Europe.
In fact, if you are stressed over your safety, you must understand that Russia has a really, really low rate of petty crimes.
- Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
Considered the most iconic sight in St. Petersburg’s the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood. But looks can be misleading. Unlike the legendary St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, the Church of the Saviour is barely 100 years old. Nevertheless, it marks the very spot where Tsar Alexander II was killed in 1881.
Alexander III started building as a memorial to his late father. As many churches in Russia, the Church of the Saviour is now a museum and was never reconsecrated after the Soviets government closed it. Still, you absolutely have to go inside. The colourful mosaics are extraordinarily gorgeous!
- Hermitage Museum
The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg is not just one of The Oldest (otherwise the earliest) galleries on the planet, it is equally among the very best. It lies inside the Winter Palace of Empress Catherine the fantastic and also extends greater than 1,500 spaces. Monet, Van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci, yet likewise old Scythian Gold as well as art work from the dawn of time– this gallery will certainly surprise you with its splendour. The Russian Tsars managed to built a huge collection of precious art work that will fit right into the massive Winter Palace. There are lots of outbuildings and even an archive you can check out.
- Peterhof Palace
Peterhof Palace was developed by Tsar Peter to beat Versailles. He could not have actually handled to construct a larger royal residence, however the luxurious water yards that his engineers produced is just amazing. Particularly the grand waterfall that attracts numerous tourists every year to Peterhof.
Peterhof Palace is not situated in St. Petersburg any longer, yet a few miles away to the west. You will certainly need to take the insane hydrofoil speedboats to reach there, which is a great experience by itself, or get a regional bus.
- Saint Isaac’s Cathedral
Saint Isaac’s Cathedral is an architectonic marvel. It is not only the largest orthodox basilica in the world but also the fourth largest cathedral in the world. Strictly speaking, it is not a proper church anymore either. Like the Cathedral of the Saviour on Spilled Blood, it is now a museum. Only on the highest feast days service are held here. A small portion of the huge Cathedral is devoted to regular worship activity these days, though. Absolutely go all the way to the top, as this is by far the best view of St. Petersburg!
- Peter and Paul Fortress
Peter and Paul Fortress marks the very spot St. Petersburg was founded. It was here, Tsar Peter erected a small wooden hut in 1703 AD and oversaw the construction of the mighty fortress. The bell tower of the Peter and Paul Cathedral (122.5 meters) is still the highest building in St. Petersburg. Below lie the many sarcophagi of the Russian Tsars.
Peter and Paul Fortress also played the most crucial role during the Russian revolution and was later used as a prison. Make sure to tour the walls (you will have to pay a little extra fee) and enjoy the beautiful view of the river Neva and the Winter Palace on the other side.
- Mariinsky Theatre
Russian opera and ballet production are world renowned. And of all the grand operas in Russia, the Mariinsky Theatre is the finest. Absolutely make sure to book tickets for a performance during your stay. The ancient interiors are beyond marvellous as is the incredible skill of the Russian ballet dancers!
- Fabergé Museum
The Fabergé Museum opened in 2013. But despite that short history, the privately-owned museum is already one of the highlights. Here you will see 9 of the fabled Imperial Easter Eggs and some 4.000 other exhibits from Farbergé and the golden age of jewellery! You will need to get tickets in advance.
- Canal tour
St. Petersburg is a city of many water canals. In fact, there are over 800 bridges crossing a total length of 300 kilometres of artificial canals. They served as important transport ways and kept the city built on marshland dry. These days, most traffic sticks to the roads. But as a tourist, you absolutely should go on a canal tour and see St. Petersburg from a different side.
- Catherine Palace
Even a quick taxi ride through St. Petersburg will impress the sheer quantity of palaces in the city onto you. There are quite literally thousands! Perhaps the grandest of them all lies in Pushkin, some 25 kilometres outside. Catherine the Great built it to escape the many obligations at court.
Even in winter the palace and the wide gardens are more than worth a visit. The highlight, however, will be the world famous amber room. The original was lost during World War II, but Russian artisans created a perfect replica you can now see the Catherine Palace. Truly outstanding!
- Nevsky Prospect
The Nevsky Prospect is a royal avenue 4.5-kilometer-long at the very heart of St. Petersburg. Uncounted shops, palaces, churches, and luxury hotels line the fabulous street and there really is no way around visiting the Nevsky Prospect.
Even if you don’t plan to do any shopping, you really should walk along the street to breathe in the atmosphere. And truth be told, some of the most beautiful buildings in St. Petersburg can be found on Nevsky Prospect. You don’t want to miss it.
Krestovsky Stadium – Officially Saint Petersburg Stadium
Popularly called as Zenit Arena, the Krestovsky Stadium is where the football matches will take place in Saint Petersburg during the World Cup 2018 in Russia.
Capacity: 64,287
Completed: April 2017
Cost: $1.5bn (rumoured)
Games hosted at Russia 2018: Morocco vs Iran, 15 June; Russia vs Egypt, 19 June; Brazil vs Costa Rica, 22 June; Nigeria vs Argentina, 26 June; Round of 16, 3 July; Semi-final, 10 July; Third place play-off, 14 July.
History lesson Krestovsky Stadium was supposed to be one of the world’s most exciting, cutting-edge sports arenas. That may still be the case but the path here has been fraught with delays, soaring costs and numerous controversies – denting the pride many in Vladimir Putin’s home city feel about its new attraction. It took a decade to build and was finished eight years after the originally mooted completion deadline. That would have predated Russia’s securing of the World Cup and made for a much smaller, lower-key venue; the project rapidly escalated in scope after 2010 and it became, according to some estimates, the world’s most expensive football stadium.
Star attraction the stadium is, for those not counting the cost at least, worth the wait. Its vertiginous stands are spectacular, the views out on to the Gulf of Finland from behind the seats are wonderful and the ‘Spaceship’ design is unmistakable. For anyone wanting to make sure of a few thrills before the football kicks off, the vast park on the approach to the ground contains a number of decidedly white-knuckle rollercoasters.
Getting There during FIFA World Cup 2018
Fortunately, St Petersburg is not a very big city, so nothing really feels that far away. Although the stadium is located on the Krestovsky Island, there are several ways to get there by public transport. The easiest way is to take the subway to the station Krestovsky Ostrov, located on the purple line. From there it is a direct walk through the park, Primorsky Park Pobedy, towards the stadium. There are also shuttle buses leaving from various subway stations: the S3 from Petrogradskaya Station, the S4 from Viborgskaya Station and the S6 from Chkalovskaya Station. A family shuttle leaves from Chkalovskaya Station and arrives right at the doors of the stadium, a better option for people with less mobility. These buses start running 2.5 hours before the start of a match. Remember, that during the World Cup, Fan ID holders are entitled to free public transport to and from the stadium in route to matches.
Saint Petersburg Stadium, 1 Futbolnaya Alleya, St Petersburg, Russia, +7 812 244 33 33
