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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.

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  1. 811 Severnaya Roshcha
    Parks Hidden gem

    Severnaya Roshcha

  2. 812 Vystavochnyy Zal Konyushennoye Vedomstvo
    Museums Hidden gem

    Vystavochnyy Zal Konyushennoye Vedomstvo

  3. 813 Domovyy Khram Prepodobnogo Serafima Vyritskogo
    Temples Hidden gem

    Domovyy Khram Prepodobnogo Serafima Vyritskogo

  4. 814 Bagetnaya Masterskaya "Art-Fotos"
    Museums Hidden gem

    Bagetnaya Masterskaya "Art-Fotos"

  5. 815 Dacha Knyagini Ye. P. Saltykovoy
    Places of interest Hidden gem

    Dacha Knyagini Ye. P. Saltykovoy

  6. 816 Planeta Dinozavrov, Vystavka
    Museums Hidden gem

    Planeta Dinozavrov, Vystavka

  7. 817 Zavod Im. M.i. Kalinina
    Museums Hidden gem

    Zavod Im. M.i. Kalinina

  8. 818 Muzey Sssr
    Museums Hidden gem

    Muzey Sssr

  9. 819 House with Mephistopheles
    Places of interest Hidden gem

    House with Mephistopheles

  10. 820 Del'finariy
    Zoos Hidden gem

    Del'finariy

  11. 821 Pamyatnik Grechko
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Pamyatnik Grechko

  12. 822 Bust of Ilya Repin
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Bust of Ilya Repin

  13. 823 Khizhina Yenota
    Zoos Hidden gem

    Khizhina Yenota

  14. 824 Muzey Istorii Parfyumerii
    Museums Hidden gem

    Muzey Istorii Parfyumerii

  15. 825 Muzey Stanovleniya Demokratii V Sovremennoy Rossii Im. Anatoliya Sobchaka
    Museums Hidden gem

    Muzey Stanovleniya Demokratii V Sovremennoy Rossii Im. Anatoliya Sobchaka

  16. 826 Dokhodnyy Dom N. P. Ferzena
    Places of interest Hidden gem

    Dokhodnyy Dom N. P. Ferzena

  17. 827 Osobnyak L.f.dosta
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Osobnyak L.f.dosta

  18. 828 Pamyatnik Posvyashcheniye V Pionery
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Pamyatnik Posvyashcheniye V Pionery

  19. 829 Obshchestvo Vzaimnogo Kredita
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Obshchestvo Vzaimnogo Kredita

  20. 830 Duet
    Venues Hidden gem

    Duet

  21. 831 Chapel of St. ravnoap. Nina and Venerable. Sergius of Radonezh
    Temples Hidden gem

    Chapel of St. ravnoap. Nina and Venerable. Sergius of Radonezh

  22. 832 Pamyatnik Russkim Moryakam
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Pamyatnik Russkim Moryakam

  23. 833 Rachmaninov Garden
    Museums Hidden gem

    Rachmaninov Garden

  24. 834 The main imperial stables
    Historical places Hidden gem

    The main imperial stables

  25. 835 Nauchno-Metodicheskiy Tsentr "Muzeya Kosmonavtiki I Raketnoy Tekhniki Im. Akademika V. P. Glushko"
    Museums Hidden gem

    Nauchno-Metodicheskiy Tsentr "Muzeya Kosmonavtiki I Raketnoy Tekhniki Im. Akademika V. P. Glushko"

  26. 836 Dokhodnyy Dom Arkhitektora Baranovskogo
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Dokhodnyy Dom Arkhitektora Baranovskogo

  27. 837 Dom Lebedeva
    Historical places Hidden gem

    Dom Lebedeva

  28. 838 Muzey Mikrominiatyury
    Museums Hidden gem

    Muzey Mikrominiatyury

  29. 839 Mira Art Gallery
    Museums Hidden gem

    Mira Art Gallery

  30. 840 Kukol'nyy Teatr Putti
    Venues Hidden gem

    Kukol'nyy Teatr Putti

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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.