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. 721 Muzey Istorii I Tekhniki Pao "Kirovskiy Zavod"
    Museums Hidden gem

    Muzey Istorii I Tekhniki Pao "Kirovskiy Zavod"

  2. 722 sound Museum
    Museums Hidden gem

    sound Museum

  3. 723 Rok-Opera, Spb. Gosudarstvennyy Teatr
    Venues Hidden gem

    Rok-Opera, Spb. Gosudarstvennyy Teatr

  4. 724 Dokhodnyy Dom N. A. Mel'tsera
    Places of interest Hidden gem

    Dokhodnyy Dom N. A. Mel'tsera

  5. 725 The Locomotive of Lenin
    Historical places Hidden gem

    The Locomotive of Lenin

  6. 726 sphinx statue
    Historical places Hidden gem

    sphinx statue

  7. 727 Tarabum
    Venues Hidden gem

    Tarabum

  8. 728 Pamyatnik Mikhailu Miloradovichu
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Pamyatnik Mikhailu Miloradovichu

  9. 729 Sankt-Peterburgskiy Tvorcheskiy Soyuz Khudozhnikov
    Museums Hidden gem

    Sankt-Peterburgskiy Tvorcheskiy Soyuz Khudozhnikov

  10. 730 Памятник архитектуры XIX века
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Памятник архитектуры XIX века

  11. 731 Golovinskiy Bridge
    Places of interest Hidden gem

    Golovinskiy Bridge

  12. 732 Pamyatnik Pobeditelyam
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Pamyatnik Pobeditelyam

  13. 733 Monument to Pyotr Chaykovski
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Monument to Pyotr Chaykovski

  14. 734 Molvinskaya Kolonna
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Molvinskaya Kolonna

  15. 735 Respublika Shkid
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Respublika Shkid

  16. 736 St.-Petersburg Theatre "Russian Ballet"
    Venues Hidden gem

    St.-Petersburg Theatre "Russian Ballet"

  17. 737 Stadium "Monolith"
    Venues Hidden gem

    Stadium "Monolith"

  18. 738 Memorable sign A.Nobelyu
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Memorable sign A.Nobelyu

  19. 739 Monument to Alexander Matrosov
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Monument to Alexander Matrosov

  20. 740 Pervyy Kavaler Ordena Andreya Pervozvannogo, Fodor Alekseyevich Golovin, Byust
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Pervyy Kavaler Ordena Andreya Pervozvannogo, Fodor Alekseyevich Golovin, Byust

  21. 741 Art-Izmereniye
    Venues Hidden gem

    Art-Izmereniye

  22. 742 Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
    Temples Hidden gem

    Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul

  23. 743 Dvorets Velikogo Knyazya Nikolaya Nikolayevicha
    Places of interest Hidden gem

    Dvorets Velikogo Knyazya Nikolaya Nikolayevicha

  24. 744 Geroyam Oktyabr'skoy Revolyutsii
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Geroyam Oktyabr'skoy Revolyutsii

  25. 745 Agitator
    Places of interest Hidden gem

    Agitator

  26. 746 Dekorativnoye Zheleznoye Derevo
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Dekorativnoye Zheleznoye Derevo

  27. 747 monument Nakhimov
    Historical places Hidden gem

    monument Nakhimov

  28. 748 Dokhodnyy Dom I. F. Alyushinskogo
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Dokhodnyy Dom I. F. Alyushinskogo

  29. 749 Tserkov' Svyatoy Blazhennoy Ksenii Peterburgskoy Pri Bol'nitse Svyatoy Blazhennoy Ksenii Peterburgskoy
    Temples Hidden gem

    Tserkov' Svyatoy Blazhennoy Ksenii Peterburgskoy Pri Bol'nitse Svyatoy Blazhennoy Ksenii Peterburgskoy

  30. 750 Monument to Vasya Alekseev
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Monument to Vasya Alekseev

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.