Saint Petersburg attractions

Saint Petersburg unites hundreds of iconic places – from imperial palaces and cathedrals to embankments, bridges, and historic districts. Here you'll find materials about the city's main attractions with facts, history, and clear navigation.

White Nights in Saint Petersburg: where to walk and what to see

White Nights in Saint Petersburg: when they begin, best places for walks, bridge drawing, city rooftops and excursions. Where to watch the White Nights in St. Petersburg and how to spend this time.

Bars of Saint Petersburg: where to go for a cocktail

Bars of Saint Petersburg: addresses, prices, cocktails, atmosphere, and guest reviews. Where to go for unusual drinks and a beautiful evening in St. Petersburg.

Развод мостов в Санкт-Петербурге в 2026 году

Bridge drawbridges in St. Petersburg in 2026: schedule, time and where to watch

Bridge drawbridges in St. Petersburg 2026: schedule of bridge openings, what time bridges are raised, which bridges open and where is the best place to watch. A complete guide for tourists and excursions in St. Petersbu…

Strelka of Vasilyevsky Island: history, Rostral Columns and the main panorama of Saint Petersburg

Strelka of Vasilyevsky Island in Saint Petersburg: Rostral Columns, the Stock Exchange building, the history of the place and the best views of the Neva, the Winter Palace and the Peter and Paul Fortress. What to see an…

Rivers of St. Petersburg: how many are there in the city and which are the most famous

Rivers of Saint Petersburg: the Neva, Fontanka, Moika, Karpovka, Smolenka and Chernaya Rechka. How many rivers and canals in St. Petersburg, interesting facts and beautiful embankments of the city on water.

Annunciation Bridge – the first permanent bridge across the Neva in St. Petersburg

Annunciation Bridge in St. Petersburg – the first permanent bridge across the Neva. History of construction by Stanislav Kerbedz, renamings, unique railing by Bryullov, when the bridge is drawn and where to best watch t…

The Tauride Palace: from Catherine II's gift to political upheavals

The Tauride Palace in St. Petersburg: a gift to Potemkin from Catherine II, the events of 1917, Starov's architecture, the Catherine and Dome Halls, legends, and tours.

The Benois Wing of the Russian Museum – a tour through the art of change

The Benois Wing in St. Petersburg: from a printing house to the Palace of Arts, neoclassical architecture, Malevich, Kandinsky, Chagall, 'Red Square', 'The Demon Flying', and the 20th-century collection

Stroganov Palace on Nevsky: how Russia's richest family lived

Stroganov Palace in St. Petersburg: history of construction under Sergei Stroganov, architecture by Francesco Rastrelli, pink facade, coat of arms with sables, Voronikhin interiors, Masonic symbols, and the museum today.

The Marble Palace – Catherine II's most personal gift to her favorite

Marble Palace in St. Petersburg: gift from Catherine II to Grigory Orlov, 32 types of marble, Orlov and White Halls, Konstantin owners, and a branch of the Russian Museum.

The Peter and Paul Cathedral – a symbol of St. Petersburg and the burial vault of Russian emperors

Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg: history of the fortress's main church, architecture by Domenico Trezzini, the golden spire with an angel, interior, bell tower, and the imperial burial vault.

10 facts about the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg that everyone should know

Peter and Paul Fortress in Petersburg: 10 surprising facts about Peter I's fortress – an eagle on the payroll, a star-shaped fortress, a prison, the Romanov burial vault, the midday shot, the hare Arseny, and legends of…

The Small Hermitage – a palace for the inner circle and the beginning of a great collection

The Small Hermitage in St. Petersburg: history of Catherine II's secluded palace, the northern and southern pavilions, the Pavilion Hall, the Hanging Garden, the Peacock Clock, and the first masterpieces of the Hermitag…

The Large Hermitage in St. Petersburg – the building where Catherine 2's private collections became a great museum

The Old Hermitage in St. Petersburg: history of construction under Catherine 2, architecture of Yuri Felten, halls of Leonardo da Vinci and Titian, the Soviet Staircase, and world-class collections.

The New Hermitage – the first public museum of St. Petersburg

The New Hermitage in St. Petersburg is the first building in Russia constructed as a public art museum: history of creation, atlantes, architecture, halls, and main exhibits.

Вид на Исаакиевский собор во время блокады

St. Isaac's Cathedral during the siege of Leningrad: the feat of people, the rescue of art, and life on the edge

St. Isaac's Cathedral in besieged Leningrad: camouflage of the dome, storage of museum treasures, life of people in the basements, vegetable gardens on St. Isaac's Square, and the fate of the cathedral after the war.

Вид на Михайловский дворец со стороны площади Искусств

The Mikhailovsky Palace: The First State Museum

The Mikhailovsky Palace in St. Petersburg: history of the imperial residence, architecture by Karl Rossi, interiors, and main masterpieces of the State Russian Museum.

Вид на Эрмитажный театр со стороны Дворцовой набережной

The Hermitage Theatre in St. Petersburg: architecture of Ancient Greece

The Hermitage Theatre in St. Petersburg – the oldest court stage of Catherine II, built on the foundation of Peter I's palace

Вид на Михайловский замок в Санкт-Петербурге

Mikhailovsky Castle: the only castle in St. Petersburg shrouded in legends

Mikhailovsky Castle in St. Petersburg: history of construction, architectural features, the tragedy of Paul I, mystical legends, and the museum today.

Зимний дворец в Санкт-Петербурге – главный фасад

The Winter Palace and why it is called a 'city within a city'

The Winter Palace – the former imperial residence and the heart of the Hermitage. History of the palace, architecture, halls, facts and tips for visiting.

Смольный собор в Санкт-Петербурге — Воскресенский собор

Smolny Cathedral and its secret sides

Smolny Cathedral – a gem of Petersburg Baroque by the Neva. History of construction, Rastrelli's architecture, observation deck, interiors, myths and legends of Smolny Cathedral in Saint Petersburg.

Эрмитажные коты на территории Зимнего дворца

Hermitage cats: the fluffy guard of the Winter Palace

Hermitage cats are the living guardians of the Winter Palace. Learn the history of the Hermitage cats, their service in the Hermitage, their feats during the siege, and the modern life of the tailed staff of the St. Pet…

Крейсер Аврора у Петроградской набережной в Санкт-Петербурге

The Aurora cruiser – a walk across the decks of great history

Cruiser Aurora – a legendary museum ship in St. Petersburg. History, structure, combat path, and a tour of the decks and halls.

Казанский собор в Санкт-Петербурге – вид на фасад и колоннаду

Kazan Cathedral – the main church of Nevsky Prospekt

Kazan Cathedral in Saint Petersburg – history of creation, Voronikhin's architecture, colonnade, shrines, Kazan Square and useful information for tourists in the city center.

Фасад Зимнего дворца и набережная Невы — Государственный Эрмитаж в Санкт-Петербурге

The Hermitage in St. Petersburg — halls of the Winter Palace, history, and masterpieces of world art

The State Hermitage in St. Petersburg — the Winter Palace, grand halls, museum history, and masterpieces of world painting. What to see in the Hermitage and how a tour of the city's main museum goes.

Кунсткамера в Санкт-Петербурге — здание первого музея России на Университетской набережной

The Kunstkamera — the museum where science in Russia began

The Kunstkamera — Russia's first museum, founded by Peter I. History, collections, rare exhibits, and reasons to visit the museum in person.

Новая Голландия в Санкт-Петербурге — вид сверху на остров

New Holland in Saint Petersburg: how a historic island became a modern urban space

New Holland in Saint Petersburg is a historic island with canals, warehouses, and a naval prison that has become a modern public space in the city.

Разводные мосты в Санкт-Петербурге ночью на Неве - Дворцовый мост

Drawbridges of Saint Petersburg – a symbol of the city on the Neva

Drawbridges of Saint Petersburg: when bridges are raised in Saint Petersburg, which bridges are the most famous, schedule, best viewing spots, and tips for city guests

Peter and Paul Fortress

The Peter and Paul Fortress is the place where Saint Petersburg began. Here Peter I laid the first stone of the future capital, and the symbols of the era still preserve the city's history. Discover the heart of Peter…

Исаакиевский собор - начало. История создания Исаакиевского сабора.

St. Isaac's Cathedral - the beginning. The history of the creation of St. Isaac's Cathedral.

St. Isaac's Cathedral began as an adventure of a novice architect who… elegantly deceived his competitors like in the fable of the axe soup. And that is exactly how the building that became a symbol of St. Petersburg ca…

Living deck of Russian Style

The 1903 ball and the «living deck» of Russian Style The famous deck «Russian Style», familiar to almost every Soviet family, has real historical prototypes. It was this «living deck» that came to life at the last gr…

Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood

One of the most beautiful and recognizable churches in Russia, built on the site where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated. Unique mosaics, the shine of the domes, and the atmosphere of old Petersburg make the Church …

Bablovsky Park in Pushkin: a secluded forest, secrets, and mysteries

If you are looking for a place where imperial history meets pristine nature, Bablovsky Park in Pushkin will be a perfect discovery. It is the largest park in Tsarskoye Selo, covering nearly 300 hectares. Unlike the gran…

Catherine Park in Pushkin: a journey to imperial Russia

Tsarskoye Selo is a place where history comes alive. Just 26 km from St. Petersburg is the majestic Catherine Park, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is a garden of 107 hectares, full of architectural mas…

Александровский парк в Пушкине, Царское Село - вид на дворец

Alexandrovsky Park in Pushkin - history, palaces and walks in Tsarskoye Selo

Alexandrovsky Park in Tsarskoye Selo is a unique place created in the second half of the 18th century under Catherine II. Here the grandeur of imperial history is combined with the silence and coziness of shady alleys. …

Центральный военно-морской музей в Санкт-Петербурге, вид с набережной Мойки

Central Naval Museum in St. Petersburg - history of the Russian fleet

The Central Naval Museum named after Emperor Peter the Great is a place where you get a feeling of a real journey through time. Here you can see how the maritime power was born, with what ships it defended its borders a…

The Summer Garden in St. Petersburg - a walk through history into the city's silence

The Summer Garden is a true island of peace, history, and unhurried reflection. Every time you pass under its ornate fence, you realize that the city seems to pause time and lets you simply walk, look, and feel.

Дворцовая площадь с Эрмитажем и Александрийской колонной

Palace Square in St. Petersburg: a center of tourist attraction and the history of Russia

Palace Square in St. Petersburg is the historical center of the city, an architectural mecca, and a pole of cultural attraction. Every year, millions of tourists from around the world and city residents strive to come h…

Saint Petersburg is a city with rich architecture and history, where almost every square or embankment has its own significance. Palaces, museums, cathedrals, monuments, bridges, and entire historic districts shape its recognizable appearance.

Here are the country's largest museum complexes, imperial residences, ancient fortresses, and iconic architectural ensembles. The city combines different eras – from Peter's time to the early 20th century – making its cultural heritage especially diverse.