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Things to Do in Saint Petersburg, Russia
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Plan language: EnglishMost popular attractions in Saint Petersburg, Russia
For those looking for things to do in Saint Petersburg, Russia, the attractions are extraordinary. Inside the Winter Palace, the State Hermitage Museum displays over three million works of art. Twenty-nine kilometers from the city, the Peterhof Palace enchants with its 150 golden fountains. The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, with its 7,500 square meters of mosaics, completes the unmissable tour.
1. State Hermitage Museum
An imperial palace that holds treasures from every corner of the planet, with a story that smells of court intrigues. You will walk through golden halls, boundless galleries, and masterpieces that changed the course of art.
Quick facts: Over 3 million works of art are kept within its walls, from Egyptian mummies to masterpieces by Picasso. It takes 24 kilometers of galleries to tour the entire museum, although walking through every single room would require at least 11 years of your life.
Highlights: After closing time, the museum's official cats take possession of the underground areas. A colony of over 50 felines descends directly from the cats brought to court by Elizabeth of Russia in 1745 to keep mice away. Each cat has a personal passport with a photo stamped by the Ministry of Culture, and a foundation takes care of their feeding and veterinary care.
2. Peterhof Palace
A triumph of water and gold where every fountain tells a different story. You will stroll among jets that turn off as visitors approach and water tricks that, since 1723, keep soaking distracted guests.
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.
3. Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
A riot of onion domes that seems to have come out of a fairy tale, but the real surprise is inside. Get ready to be left speechless before 7,500 square meters of mosaics covering every inch of the walls.
Quick facts: Over 7,500 square meters of interior mosaics cover every visible surface, from the walls to the ceiling. Construction lasted 24 years and the final cost was over 4.5 million rubles at the time.
Highlights: While outside the Church is a riot of colorful domes, the interior is completely covered with over 7,000 square meters of mosaics depicting biblical scenes, created by 30 different artists. Not a single centimeter of wall has been left undecorated. Every pillar, arch, and vault gleams with golden tiles and precious enamels.
Have you heard of free walking tours?
After traveling to 30+ countries, there's one thing I wish someone had told me from day one, and it completely changed how I experience new cities.
Free walking tours. Yes, actually free. No credit card needed. No catch.
Local guide, 2-3 hours
Major sights, hidden gems, local stories
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I've done these in dozens of cities and they've been the highlight of almost every trip. If you're visiting Saint Petersburg, Russia, do this on your first day. You'll thank me later.
4. Saint Isaac's Cathedral
Admire one of the highest golden skies in Europe. You will climb 262 steps for a breathtaking view over the city of canals.
Quick facts: The golden dome soars to 101.5 meters and is covered with about 100 kilograms of pure gold. Inside you will find over 200 mosaic artworks covering an area of nearly 6,500 square meters.
Highlights: Climbing the 262 steps of the spiral staircase, you reach the panoramic colonnade, from which you can take in the entire historic center with a single glance. No photograph does justice to the feeling of vertigo when you are up there, suspended between the sky and the domes below.
5. Peter and Paul Fortress
Discover where Saint Petersburg was born, among secret prisons, imperial tombs, and a cannon that fires every day at noon. You will walk on the same stones where tsars, revolutionaries, and writers left their mark.
Quick facts: Every day at noon a cannon fires a shot from its walls, a tradition that has continued uninterrupted since 1865. Its cathedral holds the tombs of almost all Russian tsars from Peter the Great onward, 11 sovereigns in total.
Highlights: Beneath your feet, the Fortress hides an intricate system of casemates and prisons where figures such as Dostoevsky and Trotsky were imprisoned, with cells still preserving the original graffiti of the inmates. Few know that there is a small beach on the Neva River here, which has become the locals' favorite spot for sunbathing in summer with a spectacular view of the city's spires.
6. Catherine Palace
Stroll through halls covered in gold and crystals, where each room surpasses the previous one in splendor. Admire the legendary Amber Room and let yourself be dazzled by the light of the 696 chandeliers of the Ballroom.
Quick facts: More than 100 kilograms of gold were used to decorate the interiors of the palace. The Grand Ballroom extends for about 1,000 square meters, illuminated by 696 candles in its crystal chandeliers.
Highlights: The Amber Room was a masterpiece of amber panels and gold leaf, which disappeared during World War II. After 24 years of work, Russian artisans recreated an identical copy, using 6 tons of amber and 8 million dollars' worth of precious materials.
7. Summer Garden
A corner of baroque paradise where Tsar Peter the Great loved to take refuge. Symmetrical avenues, silent statues, and the scent of centuries-old lime trees will accompany you on a journey through time.
Quick facts: More than 250 white marble statues populate this formal garden, many of them original 18th-century pieces brought from Italy. Once accessible only to the tsars and their court, today anyone can stroll along its tree-lined paths and restored fountains.
Highlights: There is an enclosure with white peacocks wandering freely in the meadows, a tradition dating back to the Romanovs who loved to display exotic animals. The Crown Fountain, the only one to survive among the 39 originals, is so rich in gilded details that it looks like an open-air jewel.
8. Nevsky Prospect
Walking here means strolling through the living room of Russian history. Among pastel-colored palaces, Orthodox churches, and literary cafes, every corner tells a piece of Petersburg.
Quick facts: It stretches for 4.5 kilometers from the Winter Palace to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Every building along this street is numbered progressively, but the street numbers reach up to 200 thanks to the inner courtyards and side streets.
Highlights: If you look carefully, on the even side of the street you will still find the old wrought-iron signs of 19th-century shops that survived the bombings of the siege. Every evening at sunset, the silhouette of the Kazan Cathedral dome and Gostiny Dvor stands out against the Neva sky in a shade that only the north can offer.
9. Russian Museum
Get lost among thousands of Byzantine icons and paintings that tell Russian history. You will walk through immense neoclassical halls, smelling antique wood and oil paint.
Quick facts: Over 400,000 works of art are housed in this building designed by architect Carlo Rossi, the same man who designed much of the center of Saint Petersburg. The collection ranges from ancient Russian icons of the 12th century to the avant-garde movements of the 20th century, with masterpieces by Repin, Bryullov, and Malevich.
Highlights: The Benois Wing houses Bryullov's "The Last Day of Pompeii," a canvas measuring 4.5 by 6.5 meters that made all of 19th-century Rome weep for its dramatic intensity. Few know that in the basement there is a storage area open to visitors where restorers work in full view on time-damaged artworks.
10. Fabergé Museum
A dive into the refinement of the tsars, where gold and precious stones tell stories. You will admire unique masterpieces in a palace that is itself a work of art.
Quick facts: Over 4,000 works of art are housed in this neo-baroque palace on the banks of the Moika River. The famous Fabergé Eggs, created for the imperial family, are only part of a collection that ranges from period jewelry to paintings by Russian masters.
Highlights: Nine of the forty-three original Imperial Eggs are displayed here, including the Coronation Egg with a surprise inside. It contains a miniature reproduction of Catherine the Great's carriage, complete with crystal windows and opening doors. To see as many all together, you would have to visit the Moscow Kremlin or the collection of Queen Elizabeth II.
Where to Stay in Saint Petersburg, Russia
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Traditional Sweet Dishes
Pirozhnoye (layer cake) from Leningrad
This classic Soviet-era cake features thin honey or biscuit layers with a sour cream filling. It originated in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) and remains a nostalgic dessert for locals.
Pashka
Pashka is a rich, creamy Easter dessert made from quark cheese, butter, sugar, and dried fruits. It is traditionally molded into a pyramid shape to symbolize the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Vatrushka
Vatrushka is a sweet bun filled with tvorog (farmers cheese) and sometimes raisins or jam. It is a beloved pastry found in bakeries across Saint Petersburg, often enjoyed with tea.
Traditional Savory Dishes
Beef Stroganoff
Despite its global fame, Beef Stroganoff was actually created in Saint Petersburg in the 19th century by French chef Charles Briere for Count Alexander Stroganoff. The original recipe used sour cream and mustard, not mushrooms.
Pelmeni
Pelmeni are Siberian dumplings filled with minced meat and spices that became a staple in Saint Petersburg. They are traditionally served with sour cream, butter, or vinegar and are a beloved winter comfort food.
Kulebyaka
Kulebyaka is an elaborate Russian pie with multiple layers of filling, such as salmon, rice, eggs, and mushrooms. It was famously described by Anton Chekhov and is a specialty of Saint Petersburg's historic restaurants.
Traditional Beverages
Kvass
Kvass is a fermented beverage made from black or rye bread, with a slightly sweet and tangy taste. In Saint Petersburg, street vendors sell it from bright yellow barrels during the summer months.
Russian Tea (with samovar)
Tea culture is deeply rooted in Saint Petersburg, where it is traditionally brewed in a samovar and served strong with lemon, sugar, or jam. The city's famous literary cafés were once gathering spots for writers like Dostoevsky to sip tea.
Sbiten
Sbiten is a traditional Russian honey and spice drink, often made with ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. It was a popular alternative to tea in Saint Petersburg before the 18th century and is still enjoyed warm during cold winters.
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Most popular day trips
Peterhof (Petrodvorets)
Grand palace and fountain park on the Gulf of Finland.
Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin)
Catherine Palace with the famous Amber Room.
Getting there
Airports
Train stations
Moscow, Novgorod, and other major cities
Vyborg, Helsinki (Finland)
Pulkovo Airport connects to city center via bus 39 or the Aeroexpress bus. Taxis cost around 1000-1500 RUB.
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Comments (6)
Get the metro card with unlimited rides for your stay. The stations themselves are gorgeous and worth riding around just to see them. Way faster than taxis.
White nights are unreal. The city barely sleeps and everyone is out walking along the canals at midnight. Felt totally safe the whole time.
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is beautiful but absolutely packed with tourists. Go first thing in the morning if you want actual photos without strangers in every shot.
Food was decent but not a highlight. Lots of heavy soups and bread. Found one good Georgian place that saved the trip food-wise.
The weather was gloomy and cold even in June. Pack layers and a rain jacket. But honestly the gray skies made the architecture look even more dramatic.