Saint Petersburg

Russia's northern capital and the country's cultural capital — around 5.4 million people in the city proper and 7 million in the wider area, making it the second-largest city in the country. Founded by Peter I in 1703 in the delta of the Neva as a "window on Europe". A UNESCO site: a historic centre with 200+ museums, 2,000+ libraries and 80+ theatres. Former capital of the Russian Empire (1712-1918), birthplace of the Revolution of 1917, and the site of the Siege (1941-1944), 872 days, the longest blockade in history. Before travelling, be sure to check the current visa rules and sanctions restrictions.

Main sights

The State Hermitage — the third-largest art museum in the world (after the Louvre and the British Museum). The Winter Palace and 4 adjoining buildings, 3 million items, among them Leonardo, Raphael, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Matisse and Picasso.
Peterhof — the "Russian Versailles", a UNESCO site, 30 km out. The Grand Cascade with 64 fountains, the Grand Palace and the Lower Park.
The Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood (the Church of the Resurrection of Christ) — the mosaic cathedral of 1907 on the spot where Alexander II was assassinated, the city's main "Russian" church rather than a European one.
St Isaac's Cathedral — the largest cathedral in Russia (101 m, the 4th tallest domed cathedral in the world), with a viewing walkway around the colonnade.
Kazan Cathedral — the main cathedral of the city and the tomb of Field Marshal Kutuzov.
Nevsky Prospekt — the main street, 4.5 km long; everything of importance is on it or just off it.
Palace Square — the main square, with the Alexander Column.
The Peter and Paul Fortress — the foundation of the city (1703), with the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the burial place of every Russian tsar from Peter I to Nicholas II.
Erarta — the largest private museum of contemporary art in Russia.
The Russian Museum — the largest collection of Russian art, in the Mikhailovsky Palace.
Tsarskoye Selo (the town of Pushkin) and the Catherine Palace — 25 km out, a UNESCO site, with the Amber Room, restored in 2003.
Pavlovsk — the summer palace of Paul I, 30 km out.
The Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum — the school where Pushkin studied.
The Kunstkamera — the first Russian museum (1714), founded by Peter I.
The Mariinsky Theatre — the leading opera house in Russia, where Tchaikovsky's works were premiered.

Food and prices

The cooking is Russian and specifically Petersburgian: pelmeni dumplings, borsch, beef stroganoff, herring under a fur coat, pirozhki, kulebyaka pies, and koryushka (smelt, a Petersburg speciality in April and May). There is a strong coffee and craft-bar scene. Lunch in a cafe 650-1,200 ₽ ($8-15), dinner in a restaurant 2,000-4,900 ₽ ($25-60). A litre of petrol 50 ₽ ($0.6), the Saint Petersburg metro (5 lines) 60 ₽ ($0.7), a Yandex Go taxi 250-1,000 ₽ ($3-12). Prices are as of 2026.

Transport

Pulkovo International Airport (LED) — Aeroflot, Rossiya, S7. There is no Aeroexpress rail link; the K39 shuttle bus into the centre (to Moskovskaya metro station) 80 ₽ ($1), a taxi 2,000-2,900 ₽ ($25-35). Around the city: the metro (5 lines), trams, buses and marshrutkas (shared minibuses running fixed routes). From Moscow, the Sapsan high-speed train takes 4 hours (3,300-8,200 ₽, $40-100). Before travelling, be sure to check the visa rules.

When to go

May to July brings the white nights (from 21 May to 22 July the sun barely sets). The main events are Scarlet Sails (the city's biggest festival, marking the end of the school year, in late June) and the Stars of the White Nights Festival (at the Mariinsky, in June). Winter (November-March) is harsh, -5 to -25°C and dark (daylight from 10 to 16), but the Hermitage under hoar frost is beautiful. Given the current situation, check the visa rules before you travel.