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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.

Filtered by
  1. 121 Muzey Maf
    Museums Popular

    Muzey Maf

    Muzey Maf, known as the Museum of Anomalous Phenomena, explores unusual customs, folklore, and inexplicable historical e...

  2. 122 Rossiyskiy Gosudarstvennyy Muzey Arktiki I Antarktiki
    Museums Popular

    Rossiyskiy Gosudarstvennyy Muzey Arktiki I Antarktiki

    The Russian State Museum of Arctic and Antarctic is housed within the former St. Nicholas Church of the Edinoverie, a di...

  3. 123 Alexander Nevsky Bridge
    Places of interest Popular

    Alexander Nevsky Bridge

    The Alexander Nevsky Bridge is a concrete arch bridge crossing the Neva River in St. Petersburg, connecting the Malookht...

  4. 124 Ekzoopark
    Zoos Popular

    Ekzoopark

    Ekzoopark is an indoor exotic animal exhibition located within the Rio shopping center in St. Petersburg. The facility s...

  5. 125 Дом великана
    Amusement parks Popular

    Дом великана

    Dom Velikana is an interactive museum in Saint Petersburg designed to make visitors feel miniature by placing them in a...

  6. 126 Liteiny Theatre
    Venues Popular

    Liteiny Theatre

    The Liteiny Theatre, officially known as the State Dramatic Theater on Liteiny, is one of St. Petersburg's historic cult...

  7. 127 Музей оптики
    Museums Popular

    Музей оптики

    The Museum of Optics is an interactive science center operated by ITMO University, focusing on the physics of light and...

  8. 128 Nekrasovskiy Sad
    Parks Popular

    Nekrasovskiy Sad

    Nekrasovskiy Sad, historically known as Prudkovskiy Garden, is a public park located in the Tsentralny District of Saint...

  9. 129 The Museum of Political History of Russia
    Museums Popular

    The Museum of Political History of Russia

    The Museum of Political History of Russia occupies the former Kshesinskaya Mansion and the adjacent Brandt Mansion, both...

  10. 130 Submarine C-189
    Museums Popular

    Submarine C-189

    Submarine C-189 is a decommissioned Project 613 (Whiskey-class) Soviet submarine permanently moored as a museum ship on...

  11. 131 Академический Малый драматический театр – Театр Европы
    Venues Popular

    Академический Малый драматический театр – Театр Европы

    The Maly Drama Theatre – Theatre of Europe is a world-renowned venue led by artistic director Lev Dodin since 1983. It i...

  12. 132 Izmaylovsky Garden
    Parks Popular

    Izmaylovsky Garden

    Izmaylovsky Garden is a historic public park located on the embankment of the Fontanka River in St. Petersburg, original...

  13. 133 Fountain
    Places of interest Popular

    Fountain

    The fountain located at 59.9719768, 30.2418551 is a prominent feature within the landscaped grounds of the Lopukhinsky G...

  14. 134 Biblioteka Vkusov
    Places of interest Popular

    Biblioteka Vkusov

    Biblioteka Vkusov is a restaurant and lounge located on Nevsky Avenue in St. Petersburg that integrates culinary service...

  15. 135 Lutheran Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul
    Temples Popular

    Lutheran Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul

    The Lutheran Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, known locally as Petrikirche, is a neoclassical church originally bui...

  16. 136 The Benois Wing
    Museums Popular

    The Benois Wing

    The Benois Wing is a dedicated exhibition space of the State Russian Museum, housing the nation's most comprehensive col...

  17. 137 Troitskiy bridge
    Places of interest Popular

    Troitskiy bridge

    The Troitskiy Bridge is a historic steel cantilever structure crossing the Neva River in St. Petersburg, connecting the...

  18. 138 Stroganov Palace
    Historical places Popular

    Stroganov Palace

    The Stroganov Palace is a prominent example of Russian Baroque architecture, designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli in the mid...

  19. 139 Admiralty
    Historical places Popular

    Admiralty

    The Admiralty serves as the headquarters of the Russian Navy and is a central anchor of St. Petersburg's urban layout. D...

  20. 140 Ovsyannikovskiy Sad
    Parks Popular

    Ovsyannikovskiy Sad

    Ovsyannikovskiy Sad is a historical public garden located in the Tsentralny District of St. Petersburg. Established in t...

  21. 141 Sheremetevskiy Dvorets - Muzey Muzyki
    Museums Popular

    Sheremetevskiy Dvorets - Muzey Muzyki

    The Sheremetev Palace, also known as the Fountain House, houses the Museum of Music as part of the St. Petersburg Museum...

  22. 142 Museum of Cosmonautics and Rocket Technology
    Museums Popular

    Museum of Cosmonautics and Rocket Technology

    The Museum of Cosmonautics and Rocket Technology is located within the St. John's Ravelin of the Peter and Paul Fortress...

  23. 143 Инженерный сквер
    Parks Popular

    Инженерный сквер

    Inzhenerny Square, also known as Engineers' Garden, is a historic public space located directly behind the Mikhailovsky...

  24. 144 Yegipetskiy Most
    Places of interest Popular

    Yegipetskiy Most

    The Egyptian Bridge is a historic crossing over the Fontanka River in Saint Petersburg, notable for its distinct Egyptia...

  25. 145 Blue Bridge
    Places of interest Popular

    Blue Bridge

    The Blue Bridge (Sinij Most) in St. Petersburg is the widest bridge in the city, spanning 97.3 meters across the Moika R...

  26. 146 Lendok
    Places of interest Popular

    Lendok

    Lendok, or the Leningrad Documentary Film Studio, is a historic center for cinematography located in a renovated 19th-ce...

  27. 147 Muzey Gorodskogo Elektricheskogo Transporta
    Museums Popular

    Muzey Gorodskogo Elektricheskogo Transporta

    The Museum of Urban Electric Transport is located in the historic Vasilyevsky Island tram depot, which dates back to the...

  28. 148 State Museum of the History of Religion
    Museums Popular

    State Museum of the History of Religion

    The State Museum of the History of Religion in St. Petersburg is one of the few museums in the world dedicated entirely...

  29. 149 Приют комедианта
    Venues Popular

    Приют комедианта

    Priut Komedianta is a distinctive repertory theater in St. Petersburg that operates without a permanent troupe of actors...

  30. 150 Alexandr Popov Central Museum of Communications
    Museums Popular

    Alexandr Popov Central Museum of Communications

    The Alexandr Popov Central Museum of Communications is housed in the historic Prince Bezborodko Palace, built by Giacomo...

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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.