Back to map
A
St Petersburg
Russia

Things to do in St Petersburg

1,064 attractions · Russia

Photo: Виктория Стрижова, CC BY-SA 4.0

Northwestern Federal District, Russia · 59.937, 30.314

About St Petersburg

St. Petersburg serves as Russia's cultural capital, constructed on a network of islands and canals in the Neva River delta. The city is renowned for its imperial architecture, best represented by the expansive State Hermitage Museum and the adjacent Winter Palace. Visitors often congregate at Palace Square to witness the neoclassical design of the city center. Meanwhile, the Savior on the Spilled Blood offers a distinct contrast with its traditional Russian mosaic-clad domes, while the Peter and Paul Fortress stands as the city's original citadel.

Good to know

  1. 1

    The city's historical center and related monument groups are collectively designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site due to the integration of Baroque and Neoclassical architecture.

  2. 2

    During the summer months, the city experiences the 'White Nights,' a phenomenon where the sun barely sets, resulting in continuous twilight.

  3. 3

    The city's transit system contains some of the deepest metro stations in the world, with several stations built over 80 meters below the surface.

  4. 4

    St. Petersburg was constructed on reclaimed marshland, requiring the driving of millions of wooden piles into the soft ground to support its heavy stone buildings.

  5. 5

    The city's canal system, often called the 'Venice of the North,' features over 300 bridges connecting its various islands and river banks.

Plan your visit to St Petersburg

Best time to visit

June to early July, to coincide with the White Nights and the most favorable temperatures for canal exploration.

How many days

4-5 days, providing enough time to explore the major museums and nearby palace complexes.

Getting around

The city features an extensive metro system supplemented by an dense network of trams, trolleybuses, and marshrutka minibuses.

Where to stay

Stay in the Admiralteysky or Tsentralny districts to be within walking distance of the primary imperial sites and major transit hubs.

Budget

Mid-range; while luxury accommodation is available, local dining and public transport options are generally accessible for various budgets.

Top things to do in St Petersburg

The 1,064 most popular places in St Petersburg.

Filtered by
  1. 661 Pamyatnik M.yu.lermontoau
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Pamyatnik M.yu.lermontoau

  2. 662 Muzey Voyennogo Kostyuma
    Museums Hidden gem

    Muzey Voyennogo Kostyuma

  3. 663 Matveev bridge
    Places of interest Hidden gem

    Matveev bridge

  4. 664 Домовая церковь святой великомученицы Анастасии Узорешительницы на Васильевском острове
    Temples Hidden gem

    Домовая церковь святой великомученицы Анастасии Узорешительницы на Васильевском острове

  5. 665 Teatr "Nz"
    Venues Hidden gem

    Teatr "Nz"

  6. 666 Героям броненосца "Император Александр III"
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Героям броненосца "Император Александр III"

  7. 667 Pamyatnaya Doska
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Pamyatnaya Doska

  8. 668 Dvorets Velikogo Knyazya Alekseya Romanova
    Places of interest Hidden gem

    Dvorets Velikogo Knyazya Alekseya Romanova

  9. 669 Monument V. A. Zhukovskomu
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Monument V. A. Zhukovskomu

  10. 670 Pamyatnik Voyennym Medikam Pavshim V Voynakh
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Pamyatnik Voyennym Medikam Pavshim V Voynakh

  11. 671 Monument to Maxim Gorky
    Museums Hidden gem

    Monument to Maxim Gorky

  12. 672 Galereya Kukol
    Museums Hidden gem

    Galereya Kukol

  13. 673 Park
    Parks Hidden gem

    Park

  14. 674 Muzey Voskovykh Figur
    Museums Hidden gem

    Muzey Voskovykh Figur

  15. 675 Tserkov' Khrista Na Neve
    Temples Hidden gem

    Tserkov' Khrista Na Neve

  16. 676 Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ
    Temples Hidden gem

    Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ

  17. 677 Khram Svyatykh Novomuchenikov I Ispovednikov Rossiyskikh
    Temples Hidden gem

    Khram Svyatykh Novomuchenikov I Ispovednikov Rossiyskikh

  18. 678 Muzey Sberegatel'nogo Dela
    Museums Hidden gem

    Muzey Sberegatel'nogo Dela

  19. 679 Pamyatnik Zhenshchinam Boytsam Mpvo
    Places of interest Hidden gem

    Pamyatnik Zhenshchinam Boytsam Mpvo

  20. 680 Pavilion under the flag
    Museums Hidden gem

    Pavilion under the flag

  21. 681 Podvor'ye Tikhvinskogo Bogorodichnogo Uspenskogo Muzhskogo Monastyrya
    Temples Hidden gem

    Podvor'ye Tikhvinskogo Bogorodichnogo Uspenskogo Muzhskogo Monastyrya

  22. 682 Pamyatnik Leninu
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Pamyatnik Leninu

  23. 683 Pamyatnik Galine Starovoytovoy
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Pamyatnik Galine Starovoytovoy

  24. 684 Pamyatnik Vodovozu
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Pamyatnik Vodovozu

  25. 685 Памятник Героям Краснодона
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Памятник Героям Краснодона

  26. 686 Monument to Nikolay Gogol
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Monument to Nikolay Gogol

  27. 687 Peterburgskiy Muzey Parfyumerii
    Museums Hidden gem

    Peterburgskiy Muzey Parfyumerii

  28. 688 Dot
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Dot

  29. 689 Porfirovaya Vaza
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Porfirovaya Vaza

  30. 690 S-Pb Gosudarstvennyy Detskiy Muzykal'nyy Teatr "Karambol'"
    Venues Hidden gem

    S-Pb Gosudarstvennyy Detskiy Muzykal'nyy Teatr "Karambol'"

Explore by category

Jump straight to what you're into.

St Petersburg on the map

Top attractions plotted across the city.

Open full map
Open full map

Frequently asked

How many attractions are there in St Petersburg?

Aventuro lists 1,064 curated attractions in and around St Petersburg, sorted by popularity.

What's the top attraction in St Petersburg?

Palace Square is the most popular place to visit in St Petersburg right now.

What kind of attractions does St Petersburg have?

The largest category is museums, with 279 places to explore.

Which other cities are worth visiting nearby?

Travellers also explore Moscow, Kazan, Novosibirsk.