One of the most beautiful cities in Russia that many people admire is Saint Petersburg.
You will surely have a great time, and this article can come in handy to outline the things to do in Saint Petersburg. However, if this city is still not on your bucket list, you should add it right away.
People traveling from the US often get confused with St Petersburg, Florida. So while checking the weather for Saint Petersburg, Russia, don’t get confused with tomorrow’s weather in St. Petersburg. Like the basics of any trip, make sure to check the weather data on a site of repute, like tomorrow’s weather.
The Roots
Saint Petersburg has a royal history and is unique in its culture that attracts visitors from across the world. The Tsar family lived in this beautiful city 300 years ago, and you can find all the extravagant Russian royal palaces here.
A fact worth mentioning is that while people look for royal lineage in the largest and capital city of Russia, i.e, Moscow, they are actually in Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg, «or Peeter», as the Russians call it, is the city of Peter the Great and Queen Ekaterina II. Regardless of the number of times you visit the city, it has something new to offer you every time.
You can have a trip that lasts for two weeks and discover the various offerings in and around the city. However, there are a few places that you should never miss, whatever the length of your stay be.
Hermitage Museum and the Palace Square
Hermitage Museum is one of the oldest in the world and includes the work of Monet and Van Gogh. It even has Leonardo da Vinci’s work too. The museum is so big it can take more than a day of your time to adore every corner of this magnificent structure.
The biggest part of the museum is at Empress Catherine’s Winter Palace. It is the erstwhile royal palace of the Russian Tsars’ family. You will truly appreciate its beauty and grandeur when you visit it. It is one of the most famous structures in the city of Saint Petersburg.
Right in front of the Hermitage Museum, you will find the Palace Square, often dubbed as one of the most spectacular squares in the world. The place is gigantic and is even bigger than the famous Red Square of Moscow. It gives you a sense of how opulence and enormity were the norms of the Russian Empire’s structures.
Palace Square stood witness to both drama and Emperor Parade. It holds a permanent place among the ten most beautiful places in Russia. The Alexander column is right at the center of the square and is 47.5m tall, weighing around 704 tons. A striking piece of architecture that does not have any foundation.
Churches and Cathedrals
Saint Petersburg has a lot of churches and cathedrals that you can visit, and it often becomes difficult to choose which one to miss. This section has the main cathedrals that you should never miss and are an absolute must. These include:
● Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood — People often mistake this one for Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. Their make and style are similar, and it depicts a unique Russian essence. During World War II, this church served as a food warehouse.
● Kazan Cathedral — This is the main cathedral of the city, located on the main street or the Nevsky Prospect. Russians call it the «little brother» of the Vatican.
● St. Isaac’s Cathedral — You get a wonderful view of the city from the Colonnade of this cathedral, which is at 43 m. The place serves as a museum and is the largest Orthodox Church in the world. It can house close to 14,000 people standing inside the structure. The statue of the Bronze Horseman is in front of the church and is a symbol of Saint Petersburg.
Drawbridges Tour
As the locals say, if you do not have a fixed plan for the night in Saint Petersburg, this is your go-to place. It is also the reason why St Petersburg is popular as a city of Bridges.
The bridges open up almost every night from April to November for the big cargo ships to pass. It looks spectacular and is something which you should not miss during your trip.
The above list can prove to be a good starting point for your Saint Petersburg trip. However, it is crucial to note that this list is not exhaustive, and you can add places as per your liking.