CityBuddy
Peterhof Palace
Best time to visit
May-September, when the fountains are active and the gardens are in bloom. Arrive at 11:00 to witness the ceremonial lighting of the Grand Cascade with the March of Peter the Great.
Budget tips
A full ticket costs about 1000 rubles (the park) plus 600 rubles for the palaces, and can be bought online to skip the line. On the first Wednesday of the month admission is reduced, but watch out for the crowds: better to pay full price and avoid hours of waiting.
Recommended for
Lovers of Baroque gardens, Families with children, Nature photographers, Lovers of Russian history
Plan your visit
3-4 hours (half a day with the boat trip)
About
Quick facts: Over 150 fountains and 4 monumental waterfalls make up this complex without the need for pumps. The water flows by gravity from the canals that collect it from the surrounding hills. The Grand Cascade alone features 64 fountains and 255 gilded statues standing out against the blue of the Gulf of Finland.
Highlights: Peter the Great personally designed the ingenious hydraulic system. No mechanical pumps, only the natural elevation difference of 22 meters between the Ropsha hills and the sea. The fountains still work today exactly as they did in 1721, with water traveling through 4 kilometers of canals and cast iron pipes.
Insider tips
- Take photos of the Sun Fountain at 2:00 PM: the rays break through the water crystals creating perfect rainbows for exactly 20 minutes.
- Bring a change of clothes if you visit in July: the Oak Fountain and the 'water games' hide sudden jets that soak unsuspecting passersby.
- Avoid Saturday and Sunday when 50,000 visitors arrive. Prefer Tuesday or Wednesday early in the morning.
- The hydrofoil ride from central Saint Petersburg takes 40 minutes and avoids 2 hours of highway traffic: book a round-trip ticket (about 1500 rubles).
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More attractions in Saint Petersburg
State Hermitage Museum
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
Saint Isaac's Cathedral
Peter and Paul Fortress