Irina Ostapenko

travel and art

What to see & where to stay
at Saint Petersburg

 

What to see in Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is the second capital of Russia, and the cultural capital due to so famous writers and poets as F. M. Dostoevsky, A.S. Pushkin, S.A. Esenin and others, living and working here., The Academy of Art, the best ballet of Mariinsky theatre and one whole architectural complex of the city, which was build by Italian famous architects by Peter I — whose patron saint the city was dedicated. Due to the life of the capital there ate a lot of nobility palaces and in whole Saint Petersburg looks like more European city as Russian.

 

 

Main sights of Saint Petersburg

  • Hermitage Museum is a world famous museum, located in Winter Palace and General Staff Building, opens: Wednesday, Friday, Satterday 11:00 to 20:00 Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday 11:00 to 19:00, Monday closed hermitagemuseum.org
  • Russian Museum — a great collection of Russian Art, located in Mikhailovsky Palace, opens Monday 10:00 to 20:00, Wednesday 10:00 to 18:00, Thursday 13:00 to 21:00, Friday -Sunday 10:00 to 18:00, Tuesday closed rusmuseum.ru
  • Mariinsky theatre mariinsky.ru
  • Yusupov Palace — has an unique interiors, guided tour visit, yusupov-palace.ru
  • The Peter and Paul Fortress spbmuseum.ru
  • Rostral columns and Strelka —a visit card of Saint Petersburg
  • The Bronze Horseman — the legendary statue and symbol of Saint Petersburg
  • Admiralty Building —like architectural echo of The Peter and Paul Fortress on other Neva river side joining the city image into a whole one
  • St Isaac’s Cathedral famous Saint Petersburg landmark opens 10:00 to 18:00 last entry 17:30 Wednesday closed cathedral.ru
  • Kazan Cathedral one more famous Saint Petersburg landmark
  • Smolny Cathedral famous historical site and baroque heritage
  • Kunstkamera — Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, 10:00 to 18:00, Monday closed kunstkamera.ru

 

 

Saint Petersburg sights: bridges

  • Opening and closing bridges for cargo ships passage — is a famous touristic and romantic show in Saint Petersburg. At nights the city is not asleep, fairy atmosphere is continues to the middle of night — on Neva bank nearby Palace square and along Nevsky prospect, especially during White nights (middle — end of June) See timetable of bridge lifting: en.mostotrest-spb.ru
  • Northern Venice Saint Petersburg is city of canals and rivers and has a lot of banks and bridges. Some famous sights:
    • Sphinx statue — on Neva bank opposite Russian Academy of Arts
    • Egyptian bridge — with sphinx
    • Lion bridge — with lions
    • Bank bridge — with griffins
    • Annechkov bridge — with horses
    • Pevchesky bridge — with elegant cast-iron barrier
    • Green bridge — next after Red bridge
    • Red bridge— next after Blue bridge
    • Blue bridge — 100-meter-wide, the widest in the world
    • Yellow bridge — Hrapovitsky bridge

 

 

Saint Petersburg neighborhood

  • Peterhof Palace — famous summer residence of Russian emperors, «The Russian Versailles», 40 min by boat from pier «Down with the Lions» departed every hour, 10:00 — 17:30 April — November. peterhofmuseum.ru
  • Tsarskoe Selo — with famous Catherine Palace- is one more summer residence of Russian emperors with famous Amber room (26 km 50 min by car from Saint Petersburg) opens 10:00 to 18:00 ticket office to 16:45 Tuesday and last Monday of month — closed tzar.ru
  • Pavlovsk Palace — is one more gorgeous residence of Russian emperors, with famous Grand Hall and elegant gardens (30 km 1 hour by car from Saint Petersburg) opens 10:00 to 18:00 last entry 17:00

 

 

What to see & where to stay on a map 

Some varians of hotels for walk getting main sights, mostly with a pool, ordering by distance from Neva river:

 

 

Four Seasons Lion Palace *****

  • Elegant Four Seasons hotel with 5-star high quality service and facilities
  • Located next door to St Isaac’s Cathedral and nearby Neva river (450 m 6 min)
  • Indoor pool
  • BOOK

Approximately price per 2 adults with breakfast:

38 sq.m

36 sq.m

500 euro

755 euro

garden view

terrace, garden view

 

 

 

Angleterre Hotel ****

  • Located opposite St Isaac’s Cathedral nearby Mariinsky theatre (1,6 km, 20 min)
  • SPA, Indoor pool with St Isaac’s Cathedral view — reservation in advance
  • Some guests found pool water not so warm as they like
  • BOOK

Approximately price per 2 adults without breakfast:

22 sq.m

22 sq.m

38 sq.m

120 euro

170 euro

485 euro

no view

St Isaac’s Cathedral view

suite, St Isaac’s Cathedral view

 

 

 

Taleon Imperial Hotel *****

  • Located on Nevsky prospect and Moika river — in epicenter of historical center, easy and nice to walk to every main sight of Saint Petersburg
  • In spite of centre location silently
  • SPA with indoor pool on a roof and sun terrace
  • Some guests expected more from the breakfasts
  • BOOK

Approximately price per 2 adults with breakfast:

35 sq.m

45 sq.m

120 sq.m

209 euro

242 euro

783 euro

may be in mansard

suite

with SPA, lounge access

 

 

 

Grand Hotel Europe, A Belmond Hotel *****

  • Elegant Belmond hotel with 5-star high quality service and facilities
  • Located opposite Russian Museum, 100 m from Nevsky prospect
  • Fitness centre with SPA and plunge pool opens 24 hours
  • BOOK

Approximately price per 2 adults with breakfast:

28 sq.m

47 sq.m

401 euro

662 euro

balcony, courtyard view

balcony, city view

 

 

 

Solo Sokos Hotel Palace Bridge *****

  • Located in Vasilyevsky Island, nearby Rostral columns (900 m.12 min) and The Peter and Paul Fortress (1,8 km. 23 min)
  • Great SPA with indoor pool and very large gym
  • *SPA you can use not staying in the hotel. Avoid peak evening hours — avoid crowds
  • BOOK

Approximately price per 2 adults with breakfast:

28 sq.m

49 sq.m

80 sq.m

211 euro

303 euro

345 euro

standart

suite

suite, dinner area

 

 

 

Ambassador ****

  • Located nearby Mariinsky theatre (1 km, 12 min) in historical district but not touristic — it’s a true original Saint Petersburg without crowds and you can walk along canals, see famous bridges and feel the city’s own distinct spirit
  • SPA with indoor pool
  • Panoramic city views (with St Isaac’s Cathedral) from restaurant area where the breakfasts are served
  • Without a private parking
  • BOOK

Approximately price per 2 adults with breakfast:

24 sq.m

70 sq.m

117 euro

176 euro

standart

suite

 

 

 

Holiday Inn Express — Sadovaya ***

  • Located nearby Mariinsky theatre (600 m, 8 min) in historical district but not touristic — it’s the best location to explore Saint Petersburg and feel the city’s own distinct spirit without touristic crowds
  • Free private parking in a courtyard
  • BOOK

Approximately price per 2 adults with breakfast:

20 sq.m

25 sq.m

76 euro

93 euro

mansard, small window at a roof

standard