Pavlovsk: palace, park and main attractions

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Tour to Pavlovsk

Discount: -200 rub. per ticket

5 - 6 h.

From 4500 ₽

Vosstaniya St. 1

Pavlovsk is the most romantic suburb of St. Petersburg. The main attraction of the city is undoubtedly Pavlovsk Park – a recognized masterpiece of world landscape art

18 Oct 2026 Sun

12:30

From 4500 ₽ per person

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Grand Journey to the Imperial Residences (Pushkin, Pavlovsk, and Gatchina)

Discount: -450 rub. per ticket

10 h.

From 3550 ₽

A one-day tour of three imperial parks: the picturesque lakes of Gatchina, the romantic alleys of Pavlovsk and the formal ponds of Tsarskoye Selo. Peace, views and the harmony of nature.

From 3550 ₽ per person

Why choose Leningrad-Tour

Office in the city center

Our office is in the center of Saint Petersburg, and bus pickup points are nearby. You do not need to search for the departure point or walk several blocks.

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You can book a trip for a large group, family, school class, corporate event or celebration. We will match the format and the number of seats you need.

Discounted tickets

Seniors, students, schoolchildren and preschoolers get discounted rates on a number of tours.

Tours across Russia

Besides Saint Petersburg and its suburbs, we offer multi-day tours to cities and regions across Russia.

A wide choice of routes

Sightseeing, bus, boat, evening, walking and school tours, plus suburban trips — we will find a program for any kind of visit.

Comfortable transport

We operate clean, comfortable tourist coaches. A spacious cabin matters most on longer routes.

Pavlovsk Palace • park • Slavyanka • the first railway • a day trip

Pavlovsk: the palace, park, and history of an imperial residence

Pavlovsk is a palace above the Slavyanka valley, a huge landscape park, bridges, pavilions, old alleys, and a town with an amazing musical history. People come here for an unhurried walk: to go to Pavlovsk Palace, see the park, go down to the water, reach the Temple of Friendship, and feel a residence where nature plays no less a role than architecture.

What to see Walking route

Pavlovsk: the residence of Paul 1 and Maria Feodorovna

The history of Pavlovsk begins in 1777, when Catherine 2 gave the lands in the Slavyanka River valley to her son Paul Petrovich and his wife Maria Feodorovna. The occasion was family-related and very important – the birth of their first child, the future Emperor Alexander 1.

At first it was the village of Pavlovskoye with small wooden buildings and hunting grounds. Then came the palace, park, pavilions, bridges, and an entire country residence, worked on by Charles Cameron, Vincenzo Brenna, Carlo Rossi, Andrey Voronikhin, and other masters.

In 1796, Paul 1 granted Pavlovsk the status of a town. After his death, the residence passed to Maria Feodorovna, and it was under her that the palace and park acquired a particularly refined, thoughtful character: more air, art, walks, garden corners, and a very personal atmosphere.

Pavlovsk todayPavlovsk is loved for leisurely walks. Paths lead along the Slavyanka, bridges appear among the trees almost unexpectedly, the palace now hides, now reveals itself between the alleys, and the park changes mood at different times of the year. In spring it becomes fresh and bright, in summer it hides in the shade of old trees, in autumn it gathers gold, and in winter it turns into a large snowy panorama.

What to see in Pavlovsk

The first route is best built around three main experiences: the palace, the park, and the Slavyanka River valley. This way Pavlovsk quickly becomes clear: first the ceremonial part, then the water, bridges, pavilions, and long park vistas.

Pavlovsk Palace and the monument to Paul I in front of the main facade
Pavlovsk Park with the Slavyanka River valley and landscape areas
The Apollo Colonnade, the Pavilion of the Three Graces, and the Temple of Friendship
The Visconti Bridge, the Bridge of the Centaurs, ponds, and scenic viewpoints by the water
BIP Castle and Mariental Park for a walk beyond the main park

Pavlovsk reveals itself well on foot: the route can be short, or you can go deeper into the park and almost forget that St. Petersburg is right nearby.

Why people go to Pavlovsk

Pavlovsk has a gentle character. Peterhof impresses with its fountains, Tsarskoye Selo with its ceremonial Baroque, while Pavlovsk relies on landscape, water, shady paths, classical architecture, and the feeling of a long country walk.

For one of the most beautiful landscape parks near St. Petersburg
For Pavlovsk Palace and the story of Maria Feodorovna
For a walk along the Slavyanka, its bridges, and pavilions
For a calm day-long route without an overloaded pace
For the story of the first railway and musical Pavlovsk

Pavlovsk for different trip durations

Pavlovsk is easy to tailor to the format of your day: a short walk by the palace, a full route through the park, or a relaxed trip with the palace, distant alleys, and additional spots near the town.

2–3 hours

A short walk

Suitable for a first introduction: Pavlovsk Palace, the monument to Paul I, the Private Garden, the Bridge of the Centaurs, and several spots by the palace part of the park.

Half a day

Palace and park

A good format for the main route: the palace, the central part of the park, the Apollo Colonnade, the Temple of Friendship, the Slavyanka valley, and the Visconti Bridge.

Day 1

Pavlovsk in a day

You can add the distant areas of the park, Belaya Bereza, a walk along the Slavyanka, lunch in town, and a calm return through the main scenic viewpoints.

More than 1 day

Pavlovsk and surroundings

You can add BIP Castle and Mariental Park to the park visit, or combine the trip with Pushkin if you want to see two imperial residences side by side.

Pavlovsk Palace: the home of Maria Feodorovna

Construction of Pavlovsk Palace began in 1782 for Pavel Petrovich and Maria Feodorovna. The palace looks calmer than many grand residences around St. Petersburg: it stands on a hill next to the park and immediately sets a soft, very cohesive tone for the entire visit.

A special role in the palace's history belongs to Maria Feodorovna. She oversaw the decoration of the residence, loved art, collected items brought back from a European journey, and gave Pavlovsk a personal, almost homely touch. In the palace halls you can see interiors and collections of paintings, porcelain, furniture, and decorative art.

Construction began in 1782
The original design is associated with the architect Charles Cameron
The palace was the summer residence of Maria Feodorovna
The interiors preserve the history of the family of Paul I and museum collections

Pavlovsk Park: 600 hectares of walks and landscapes

Pavlovsk Park covers about 600 hectares and stretches along both banks of the Slavyanka River. It is a landscape park, so the main role is played not by strict symmetry but by the feeling of a natural walk: paths, meadows, bridges, water, trees, and pavilions appear gradually.

The park has several areas with different moods: the Palace area, the Slavyanka Valley, the Old and New Sylvia, White Birch, the Parade Field, the Great Star, and the Valley of Ponds. For a first visit, it is enough to choose a route from the palace to the river and the main pavilions.

The Slavyanka River valley with its bridges and water views
The Apollo Colonnade and the Temple of Friendship
The Pavilion of the Three Graces and the Centaur Bridge
White Birch, the Sylvias, and the far walking areas

Weather in Pavlovsk by season

Pavlovsk looks good at any time of year: the park changes color, the paths feel different, and the palace is perceived anew each season. For a walk, it is important to consider the weather: by the water and in open meadows it can be cooler than in the city.

🌸

Spring

approximately +3…+13 °C

In spring the park comes to life: the first green shades appear, the Slavyanka sounds louder, and a walk to the palace and pavilions becomes especially easy.

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Summer

approximately +16…+24 °C

In summer it is convenient to walk through the far areas of the park, heading to White Birch, the bridges, and the Slavyanka valley. In the shade of the trees it is usually more comfortable than in the city.

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Autumn

approximately +12…+2 °C

In autumn Pavlovsk Park gathers gold, copper shades, and soft light. A good season for photographs, long walks, and routes through scenic viewpoints.

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Winter

approximately -3…-10 °C

In winter Pavlovsk becomes calm and graphic: white meadows, dark trunks, the palace against the snow, and short routes near the central part of the park.

Walking route through Pavlovsk from the railway station

Pavlovsk is conveniently explored on foot. From the railway station you can walk to the palace, then head into the park and gradually reach the most beautiful spots of the Slavyanka valley. This route takes several hours and is well suited for a first visit.

The main logic of the walk is simple: first the ceremonial center by the palace, then bridges, pavilions, water and quieter areas of the park. If desired, the route can be shortened at the palace or, conversely, extended to Belaya Bereza and the far alleys.

Pavlovsk railway station
Pavlovsk Palace and the monument to Paul I
The Private Garden and the palace area
Bridge of the Centaurs and the Great Stone Staircase
Pavilion of the Three Graces
Apollo Colonnade
Temple of Friendship
Slavyanka River Valley
Visconti Bridge
Belaya Bereza or return to the palace

Bridges, pavilions and the Slavyanka valley

In Pavlovsk Park there are many places that are best appreciated while moving. First a bridge appears, then a turn toward the water, then a pavilion among the trees, then a view of a meadow or a bend of the Slavyanka.

The Temple of Friendship, the Apollo Colonnade, the Visconti Bridge, the Bridge of the Centaurs and the Pavilion of the Three Graces help you feel the park's design: architecture does not compete with nature but gently blends into it. That is why Pavlovsk is especially good for a leisurely route of several hours.

Bridges and pavilions are integrated into the natural landscape
The Slavyanka valley offers the main water views
The park is suitable for a long walk at any time of year
The route can easily be shortened or extended to suit your mood

Pavlovsk in detail

Frequently asked questions about Pavlovsk

What to see in Pavlovsk first?

It's best to start with the Pavlovsk Palace and the central part of the park. Then you can walk to the Centaur Bridge, the Pavilion of the Three Graces, the Apollo Colonnade, the Temple of Friendship and the valley of the Slavyanka River.

How to get to Pavlovsk from Saint Petersburg?

The easiest option is a commuter train from Vitebsky railway station to Pavlovsk station. From the station you can walk to the park. There are also surface transport routes to Pavlovsk from the southern districts of Petersburg and from Pushkin.

What to see in Pavlovsk in 1 day?

In one day it's convenient to see the Pavlovsk Palace, the central part of the park, the Slavyanka valley, the Temple of Friendship, the Apollo Colonnade, the Visconti Bridge and several viewpoints by the water.

Why is Pavlovsk called Pavlovsk?

The name is connected with Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich, the future Emperor Paul 1. Catherine 2 granted him these lands in 1777; at first the place was called the Village of Pavlovskoye, and in 1796 it received city status and the name Pavlovsk.

What is Pavlovsk famous for?

Pavlovsk is famous for its palace, a huge landscape park, the valley of the Slavyanka River, the history of Maria Feodorovna, the first public railway in Russia and the music station.

How much time is needed for Pavlovsk Park?

A short walk will take 2–3 hours. For the palace, the central part of the park and the route to the main pavilions, it's better to allow half a day. A long walk through the far parts of the park can take almost a whole day.

Where is the Pavlovsk Palace located?

The Pavlovsk Palace is located in Pavlovsk, at 20 Sadovaya Street, in the central part of the palace and park ensemble. From Pavlovsk station you can walk to the palace through the town and the park entrances.

Which railway is connected with Pavlovsk?

Pavlovsk is connected with the first public railway in Russia. It linked Saint Petersburg, Tsarskoye Selo and Pavlovsk in the 19th century and made the town a popular place for walks, concerts and summer holidays.