St. Petersburg is the cultural capital of Russia, the richest city on the water in beautiful architecture. Getting to know him takes a lot of time, but what if you only have 1, 2 or 3 days at your disposal? Answer: it is important to think in advance about what you want to see in St. Petersburg, and to correctly draw up routes. And if there is an opportunity to spend 4-5 days in the city, then the trip will definitely be unforgettable!
Palace Square
It is worth starting your acquaintance with St. Petersburg from Palace Square, the main one in the city. In the center is the Alexander Column, and around the Winter Palace, the building of which is occupied by the State Hermitage, the building of the Guards Corps and the General Staff Building with the famous Triumphal Arch. The old architectural ensemble makes an indelible impression. From Palace Square, you can get to the most famous bridge of the same name in a matter of minutes. The raised Palace Bridge is a visiting card of St. Petersburg.
State Hermitage
The State Hermitage is one of the greatest museums in the world, it contains such works as "Benois Madonna" by Leonardo da Vinci, "Return of the Prodigal Son" by Rembrandt, "Holy Family" by Raphael. They say that visiting St. Petersburg and not visiting the Hermitage at the same time is bad form, but you should understand that a thorough walk through the museum will take a whole day. And it takes six years to spend a minute at each exhibit.
Nevsky Prospect
Nevsky Prospect is the first thing that comes to mind when asked what to see in St. Petersburg. Once it was here that the first street of the new capital was located, so all the main attractions are nearby. Walking along Nevsky Prospekt, the heart of the city, the traveler will see the Literary Cafe "S. Wolf and T. Beranger", where Alexander Pushkin loved to visit, the Eliseev Palace Hotel, the Stroganov Palace, Kazan Cathedral, the House of the Singer Company, where "House of Books" and Vkontakte office, Savior on Spilled Blood, Gostiny Dvor, and much more.
Kazan Cathedral
The construction of the Kazan Cathedral on Nevsky Prospekt began in 1801 and ended in 1811. Today the Kazan Cathedral is an architectural monument, which every traveler can enter to enjoy the beauty of the interior decoration, as well as look at the trophies of the war of 1812 and the grave of Field Marshal Kutuzov. To take a beautiful photo of the cathedral, it is recommended to go up to the second floor of the Singer House, located opposite.
Saint Isaac's Cathedral
The majestic St. Isaac's Cathedral is a must-visit place for every guest of St. Petersburg. It was built for many years, from 1818 to 1858, in order to now delight every viewer with its beauty and power. Anyone can get inside, and from the Isaac colonnade you can enjoy a magnificent view of the city. Not far from St. Isaac's Cathedral is Senate Square, in the center of which there is a monument to Peter I, known as the Bronze Horseman. It is also included in the list of “what to see in St. Petersburg for the first time”.
Savior on Spilled Blood
Savior on the Spilled Blood is a bright and beautiful church, which is very different from other churches in St. Petersburg. It was erected in 1907 in memory of Emperor Alexander III, who was wounded at this place in 1881. Visually, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is similar to the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, which stands on Red Square in Moscow. Both temples were built in the pseudo-Russian style and look festive and attractive.
Peter-Pavel's Fortress
The city of St. Petersburg began with the Peter and Paul Fortress. The foundation was laid in 1703 on Hare Island. In the past, the fortress was used to contain dangerous state criminals, today the tomb of the Romanovs' house is located in the cathedral and many Russian tsars rest there.
Seaside Park Victory
Seaside Victory Park is located on Krestovsky Island. Huge and picturesque, it is ideal for a comfortable outdoor seating. Here you can sit on a bench with a book or headphones, walk along the paths, feed ducks and swans in the lakes, and have a picnic.
On the territory of the Primorsky Victory Park there is also an amusement park "Divo-Ostrov", where you can have fun and noisy time on a weekend.
F.M.Dostoevsky Museum-Apartment
For the last three years, the great Russian writer Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky lived in an apartment at 5/2 Kuznechny Lane. It was an ordinary apartment in a tenement building, small and cozy. Today everyone can find out how the writer lived, as well as his closest people, spouse and children. An audio guide is recommended.
Alternatively, you can also consider the museum-apartments of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin or Anna Akhmatova.
Bookstore "Subscription editions"
St. Petersburg is a city of reading people. The Subscription Editions store was opened in 1926 and still exists today. The amazingly atmospheric and pleasant place is popular with locals and visitors alike. There you can find intellectual literature, branded stationery, badges, souvenirs and shoppers. There is also a small, cozy coffee shop in the Subscriptions.
Loft Project Floors"
The Etazhi art space is a territory of creative and active people. The walls are decorated with graffiti, modern music sounds from the speakers, and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere reigns everywhere. In "Etazhi" you can get dressed, put on shoes, replenish the collection of unusual accessories, collect souvenirs, and also have a tasty meal. The main feature of "Etazha" is the roof, which offers a beautiful view of St. Petersburg.
Shop of merchants Eliseevs
Travelers wander into the Eliseevsky store like a museum, because both the external and internal views cause silent admiration. Everything inside the store is imbued with luxury, and on the shelves and counters - delicacies, prestigious alcohol, fresh pastries and handmade chocolates. You can wander around the store for a long time, to the accompaniment of a piano that plays by itself.
Museum of Contemporary Art "Erarta"
Erarta is the largest private museum of contemporary art in the Russian Federation. The collection consists of 2,800 exhibits, including painting, sculpture, graphics and video art. Thinking about what else to see in St. Petersburg, you should pay attention to this unusual location.
Rivers and canals of St. Petersburg
Petersburg is a city built on water, and it is a separate pleasure to look at it from a ship. You can go on a trip along rivers and canals, for example, from the Anichkov Bridge. A day walk will allow you to enjoy views of the main attractions, while a night walk includes the opening of bridges. This spectacle is breathtaking!
Roofs of St. Petersburg
Looking at the city from above is a must-see point of acquaintance. Tour guides offer several roofs to choose from, depending on which part of the city the traveler wants to see. You can go on such a walk as part of a group or individually.
You can endlessly list what to see in St. Petersburg, but it is important not only to visit all the sights, but also to feel the special atmosphere of this city. To do this, you need to walk more, explore the embankments, look into courtyards, small bookstores, souvenir shops and coffee shops.
