Best Things To Do in Saint Petersburg, Russia

Are you looking for what to do in Saint Petersburg?

PLACES TO SEE

The Russian cultural capital, St. Petersburg is also known as the ‘Venice of the North’. Take a walk through the historical centre and enjoy the live view of the world-known sights that you've already seen sometime on postcards. 

  • The Winter Palace and the Hermitage Museum: The official residence of the Russian monarchs from 1732 to 1917, the Winter Palace was intended to reflect the power of the Russian Empire. Today, this monumental building is a part of the complex of buildings housing the famous Hermitage Museum. 
  • The State Hermitage: Is considered to be the largest art museum in the world. The Museum's exhibitions, storerooms and departments are housed in ten buildings. Six of them are remarkable buildings constructed in the 18th and 19th century. The collection contains almost 3 million items, including paintings, sculptures, numismatics and archaeological objects. 
  • The Peter and Paul Fortress: The first fortified complex was built in 1703 to protect Peter the Great's northern city from Swedish attacks. The fortress later served also as a notorious political prison, known for its famous residents, like Dostoyevsky, Gorky and Trotsky. 
  • Most of the Russian emperors and empresses were buried in the beautiful baroque Peter and Paul Cathedral, which stands in the middle of the fortress. 
  • The Summer Garden and Summer Palace of Peter the Great: The Palace was built in the early 18th century to serve as a summer residence of Peter the Great. Enjoy this well preserved palace and take a walk through the Peter's favorite park. 
  • St. Isacs Cathedral: Once the largest church in Russia, St. Isacs Cathedral with its gilded dome dominates its surroundings. Beside impressive fades and interiors, the church boasts amazing views of the city. 
  • Alexander Garden: The city's most central park, found opposite the Hermitage Museum. The park was named after Tsar Alexander II, who opened it in 1874. It is known for its musical / dancing fountain. 
  • Admiralty: The Admiralty shipyards were built in 1704 on the left bank of the Neva River. Nowadays, the Admiralty represents one of the most beautiful examples of the early Russian Classicism.

THINGS TO DO

Pubs and Nightlife

  • Cosmonaut Club: A night club with lots of organized events throughout the year. 
  • 2nd Floor Club: Dancing, fun and concerts
  • Jimi Hendrix Club: A blues club with Armenian cuisine.
  • Red Fox Club: A nice basement cafe with live jazz performances every night. 
  • Dickens Pub: An English pub ambience, offering plenty of English beers. 

Shopping 

  • The whole of Nevsky Prospekt offers the best variety of shops and stores in St. Petersburg. 
  • Babushka Art Store: The Store offers a wide range of Russian souvenirs and presents. 
  • House of Books: A great selection of Russian and foreign literature, art and travel books and more.

Below we have a list of things to do in Saint Petersburg and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.

This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Saint Petersburg getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.

Make the most of your trip to Saint Petersburg with confidence.

Tourist Attractions in Saint Petersburg

Here is the list of things to do in Saint Petersburg and tourist attractions in city.

  1. St. Isaac's Cathedral

    4.9 (2464 Votes)
    St. Isaac's Cathedral

    Art And Culture, Church, Religious Site, Landmark

    St. Isaac's Cathedral or Isaakievskiy Sobor as it is locally called is the largest cathedral for the Russian Orthodox Church in the city of Saint Petersburg. Built as a dedication to Saint Isaac of Dalmatia, this church bears references to quite a few styles of architecture. Most prominent among these styles of architecture are the eminent Late Neoclassical influences which have gone together i...Read more
  2. State Academical Mariinsky Theatre

    Entertainment, Theatre

    The Mariinsky Theatre has a long standing reputation of hosting some of the best opera and ballet performances in the country. Conductors such as Mikhali Zhukov, Israel Chudnovsky and Valery Gergiev have performed their most celebrated works in this venue. The Mariinsky theatre has in the recent times linked up with many of the world’s greatest opera houses and regularly hosts varied perf...Read more
  3. The State Hermitage

    4.8 (2031 Votes)
    The State Hermitage

    Art And Culture, Art Museum, Museum, History Museum

    This historic art museum really needs no introduction. One of the largest museums in the world, there are over three million pieces of art that are stored in the archives. Only a small portion of this collection is put on display. Founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great, this museum is also one of the oldest in the world. The Hermitage Museum is housed in six buildings, all of which are quite ol...Read more
  4. Palace Square

    4.9 (1633 Votes)
    Palace Square

    Palace, Architecture , Heritage Building

    The Palace square holds a commanding position in St Petersburg. It is surrounded by great architectural buildings like the baroque Winter Palace on one side and the Imperial Army General Staff building and Hermitage museum on the other, and dates back to the times of Alexander the Great. The Nevsky Prospect lies just a few metres away from the square and it is flanked by the Admiralty gardens, ...Read more
  5. The Peterhof Palace

    Historical Site, Palace, Architecture

    The Peterhof Palace overlooking the Baltic Sea is located on the royal palace estates and now acts as a museum surrounded by lush green garden and a number of fountains. The landscaped garden and fountains around the palace have earned it the title of the Russian Versailles. It is enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It contains the Lower Gardens and the majority of fountains of The Peterh...Read more
  6. Yusupov Palace On Moika

    4.7 (1408 Votes)
    Yusupov Palace On Moika

    Museum, Historical Site, Palace, Specialty Museum

    Known as the location of the attempted murder of the notorious mystic Rasputin, Yusupov Palace is one of the many estates that the influential family of Yusupov. Built by French architect Jean Baptiste Vallin de la Mothe, the mansion is built luxuriously and holds about 40,000 works of arts. The favourite residence of Felix Yusupov, the most notable feature of the palace is the palatial theatre...Read more
  7. Peter And Paul Fortress

    4.8 (2075 Votes)
    Peter And Paul Fortress

    Art And Culture, Church, Religious Site, Museum

    One of the most important locations in Saint Petersburg, this fortress was established by Peter the Great. Originally built out of wood in 1703, the fortress was completely rebuilt using stone from 1706 to 1740. Domenico Trezzini was the man behind the marvelous designs of this fortress. Today, the State Museum of Saint Petersburg History is the main tourist attraction in the fortress but by no...Read more
  8. Grand Maket Russia Interactive Museum

    Specialty Museum

    The Grand Maket is a museum that depicts the magnificent nation of Russia in a miniature scale. A sheer delight to visit, the museum has everything; from the palaces to the railways and even the bridges! An interactive museum, the Grand Maket is worth spending hours in, admiring the excellent craftsmanship and modelling of the dummies. The day and night setting of the Maket with matching lights...Read more
  9. The Bronze Horseman

    4.9 (1676 Votes)
    The Bronze Horseman

    Art And Culture, Landmark, Statue

    The Bronze Horseman statue was commissioned by Catherine the Great. The statue and the pedestal took twelve years to complete between 1770 and 1782. A depiction of Peter the Great riding his horse, the bronze statue is considered to be a piece of art that has intricate beauty. The statue which is over twenty feet tall has a great amount of detailing. The artist wanted to recreate a scene with P...Read more
  10. Neva Embankments And Neva River Cruise

    Museum, River, Entertainment, Cruise

    Neva is one of the largest rivers in Europe in terms of Volume. The river gives St. Petersburg a romantic, medieval feeling, making the whole city a network of canals with over 300 bridges. Founded in the 18th century, St Petersburg was to be regarded as the ''Venice of the North''. There are various embankments along th river like the Admiralty embankment, the English embankment known for its ...Read more
  11. Church Of The Savior On Blood

    Art And Culture, Church, Religious Site, Architecture

    Previously known as Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, this iconic landmark is one of the most important destinations in Saint Petersburg. Being a major attraction, the church attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists on an annual basis. Established on the site where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated, the church was dedicated to his memory. Alexander III commissioned the construction of t...Read more
  12. Anichkov Bridge

    4.9 (1177 Votes)
    Anichkov Bridge

    Landmark, Bridge, Historical Site, Architecture

    The Anichkov Bridge is essential viewing for tourists when in St. Petersburg, not just for its excellent vantage point but also for the unique history behind it. The bridge is arched with facades of pink granite and the cast iron railings have fantastical images of mermaids and seahorses. It is the oldest bridge across theriver Fontanka river. Worth noting are the four statues that flank the br...Read more
  13. Nevsky Prospekt

    Art And Culture, Landmark, Historical Site, Dine In

    The Nevsky Prospekt is perhaps the most famous stretch of road in Saint Petersburg. This historic road was designed and implemented by Peter the Great. Originally, the road served as the starting point for the route to Moscow and Novgorod. In modern times, the Nevsky Prospekt is the main cultural center of the city and also functions as its main access road. This street is home to several night...Read more
  14. The Naval Cathedral Of Saint Nicholas In Kronstadt

    Religious Site, Cathedral

    This attention-grabbing, grand Naval Cathedral is a befitting dedication to Russia’s brave navy. It was built in 1913 by Vasily Kosyakovin in Neo-Byzantine design in the city of Kronstadt, just 50 kilometres from St Petersburg. The inside of the cathedral is beautiful and airy with a gorgeous ceiling. The cathedral is the main shrine of the Russian navy and has an intriguing history. It h...Read more
  15. The Catherine Palace

    4.7 (1170 Votes)
    The Catherine Palace

    Art And Culture, Art Museum, Museum, Palace

    This palace located in the south eastern part of Saint Petersburg used to serve as the summer home for the Tsars. A flamboyant and elaborate monument to the affluence of the Russian Crown, this palace is a shining example of the Rococo style of architecture. Catherine I of Russia commissioned the building in 1717, after which it has been renovated and remodeled several times. The exterior of th...Read more