15+ amazingly unique things to do in St Petersburg Russia

Wondering what to see in St Petersburg, Russia? Find some of the best things to do in St Petersburg, including museums, churches, and palaces. 

When I first went to Russia, my knowledge was restricted to Stalin and Putin and Siberia and to vodka and politics and the fact that it’s now illegal in Russia to tell kids that gay people exist. I had little idea what to expect from Russia so I went there with low expectations and a lethal dose of skepticism.

Luckily, it surprised me BIG time and even sparked my love for post-Soviet countries. Hopefully, you will love it, too.

If it’s your first time in Russia, St. Petersburg is a great place to start. It’s a light version; influenced by the West and very tourist friendly. 

Here is my best things to do in St Petersburg travel guide. Let’s take a look.

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Introduction to St Petersburg

St. Petersburg was founded by Peter the Great in 1703 – hence the name Petersburg. The city was known as Petrograd from 1914–1924 and later Leningrad from 1924–1991.

St. Petersburg is the second-largest city in Russia and is known as the cultural capital of Russia.

Aside from some pretty impressive cathedrals and palaces, Saint Petersburg is home to the Hermitage, one of the largest art museums in the world, and the Lakhta Center, the tallest skyscraper in Europe.

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Understand Russian humor and culture

Saint Petersburg has many Peterburgets in it (5.4 million, which is a lot where I come from).

Most of them are nice and open to foreigners like me, and many do speak English although they automatically think you’re fluent in Russian after you’ve said Spasiba or Nasdarovje. 

Aside from the cleaning lady who stole my eyeliner, I only met well-mannered and charming people. Like this taxi driver:’Aside from the cleaning lady who stole my eyeliner, I only met well-mannered and charming people. Like this taxi driver:

One night when I was driving back to the hotel, he turned to me and said with a thick Russian accent (deep voice): You know thees building?

No, I said.

Is an institution. Mad meen here, they keell with axe. You next door.

He grinned: Get it?

A little morbid considering it was a murder institution and I was their neighbour. But he had a sense of humor. I’ll give him that.

Things to do in St Petersburg Russia

You know how all countries have something they’re known for – like a hallmark? Denmark has hygge, Switzerland has the Alps & the chocolate, and Romania has Dracula.

But Russia, well Russia has the largest land area in the world (it’s as big as the planet Pluto), it has Kalashnikovs, a long line of gruesome Tsars, it has communism, the Russian mafia, mail-order brides, and Boris Yeltsin.

We also know Russia for its world-class literature, art, ballet, and while we’re at it: Tchaikovsky, Matryoshka dolls, black caviar, and Fabergé eggs. Phew, let me just catch my breath.

The latter – the cultural side – is what you’ll find LOTS of in St Petersburg.

When it comes to historic and cultural things to do in St Petersburg, you will not be disappointed. From discovering palaces and cathedrals to exploring a man-made island and much more!

Saint Petersburg, Russia

Best things to do in Saint Petersburg Russia

1. St. Isaac’s Cathedral

One of my favorite things to do in St Petersburg is visit the impressive St. Isaac’s Cathedral.

St. Isaac’s Cathedral is Saint Petersburg’s largest Russian Orthodox church and the fourth-largest cathedral in the world with a seating capacity of 14,000 people. It was built between 1818 and 1858. 

I’ve been to large cathedrals before, like St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City (awesome place, btw). But this was different.

From the moment I walked through the sky-high doors I couldn’t stop looking up at the soaring ceiling with religious drawings, stunning mosaics, and gold. 

Saint Petersburg, Russia
Right?

2. Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood

Let’s move on to the dead-seriously-named Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood. It has to be the most intense church name in history, which is odd considering its cheerful lollipop architecture and style.

The church was built by Bloody Nicholas as a tribute to his father Alexander II who was assassinated in 1881.

It’s similar to St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, which is even more saturated with rainbow colors and was constructed under the reign of no other than Ivan the Terrible.

By the way, have you ever noticed the funny nicknames of the old Russian rulers?

There are of course the nice ones, like Catherine the Great (1729-1796) and Yaroslav the Wise (1019 – 1054), but some of them are straight-out hilarious, like Sviatopolk the Accursed (1015 – 1019) and Ivan Moneybags (1304-1340) or Dmitry the Terrible Eyes (1322 – 1326) and Alexis the Quietest (1645 – 1676).

I’d be Miriam the Adventurous (1982- sometime in a distant future).

Saint Petersburg, Russia
Saint Petersburg, Russia
Saint Petersburg, Russia
Saint Petersburg, Russia

3. Narva Triumphal Arch

And then there’s the Triumphal Arch.

You know the iconic Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It was built to celebrate France’s victory in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars.

So, when Peter the Great of Russia defeated Napoleon in 1812 during the Patriotic War, he couldn’t help himself. He built the Narva Triumphal Arch. 

Touché, Russia.

things to do in St Petersburg
Photo by Canva

4. Fabergé museum

Fabergé eggs are as Russian as Boris Yeltsin.

And at the privately owned Fabergé museum, you can see the world’s largest collection of Carl Fabergé masterpieces.

It features nine Imperial Easter Eggs and over 4,000 other display items from Fabergé, like jewelry, home decor, and fantasy-themed objects.

You can take a virtual tour here.

Saint Petersburg, Russia

5. Smolny Cathedral

The sky-blue Smolny Cathedral is a must if you’re going to St Petersburg. 

This unrivaled masterpiece created by Bartolomeo Rastrelli is the centerpiece of a convent.

It was built between 1748 and 1757 and features beautiful baroque details and classic onion domes typical of old Russian monasteries. Make sure to visit the 63m-high bell tower for a great view of the city.

things to do in St Petersburg

6. St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral

If baroque is your thing, you’ll love St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral.

The cathedral was built in 1762 for the Russian Navy. The sky-blue façade is Rococo style, which was popular in St Petersburg in the mid-18th century.

The domes look like the ones at Catherine Palace and Peterhof Palace

things to do in St Petersburg
Photo by Canva

7. New Holland arch

New Holland is one of Saint Petersburg’s more unusual historic landmarks.

Peter the Great created this man-made island in 1719 as a naval port between the Kryukov Canal, the Admiralty Canal, and the Moyka River.

The 22,8m high Neoclassical archway marks the entrance to the island.

things to do in St Petersburg

8. The Kunstkammer Museum

Peter the Great also commissioned the Kunstkammer Museum, also known as the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography.

What started as a private collection of curios stuff – model ships and stuffed animals – became the first museum in Russia and one of the oldest in the world.

9. Rostral columns

The two Rostral columns on Vasilyevsky Island are landmarks of St Petersburg. Traditionally, a rostral column is a naval monument that commemorates a victory at sea.

On major public holidays, torches are lit on top of them.

things to do in St Petersburg
Photo by Canva

10. Peter and Paul fortress

From 1700 to 1721, Peter the Great was at war with Sweden. He built the Peter and Paul fortress in 1703 to defend his planned capital city, today’s Saint Petersburg.

It was the first building in St Petersburg and marks the birthplace of the city. 

The fortress was never used for defense as intended, though. Instead, it has served as a military base, the burial ground of the Russian Imperial family, and a forbidden jail for more than 200 years.

Saint Petersburg, Russia

11. Palace Square

The Palace Square is the nerve center of the city.

It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to important historical events like Bloody Sunday of 1905 or the October Revolution of 1917 and cultural monuments:

The Hermitage Museum, the Guards Corps Headquarters, the General Staff Building, and the Alexander Column.

The Palace Square is also where you’ll find most sightseeing tours.

Saint Petersburg, Russia
The Senate Square outside The Hermitage

12. Go to the theatre

The Mariinsky Theatre is famous all over the world as the main theatre of St Petersburg. It’s sort of a must when you’re in town.

Tickets for ballet performances cost around US$33.

things to do in St Petersburg
Photo by Canva

13. Go on a canal tour

By the end of April, a canal tour of St Petersburg is a must. The city has more than 300 km of canals and 800 bridges! 

By taking a tour like this, you get to see much of the historic center including New Holland Island, the Mariinsky Theatre, Peter and Paul’s Fortress, and the mysterious St. Michael’s Castle, just to name a few.

Saint Petersburg, Russia

14. Visit a market

Visiting a market is a great way to experience some of the local culture in St Petersburg.

Udelnaya flea market lies near the Udelnaya metro station, and it’s the largest market in St. Petersburg as well as one of the largest in Russia.

Kuznechny market is the best-known food market. It’s conveniently located in the city center.

Saint Petersburg, Russia
Matryoshka dolls are a Matriark symbol so I had to get one for mom

15. The Hermitage

The most interesting things to do in St Petersburg include a visit to the Hermitage!

The Hermitage is one of the largest and oldest museums in the world, and it was founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great (who was the longest-ruling female leader of Russia).

It has more than three million items spanning the years from the Stone Age to the early 20th century. Quite a collection!

Saint Petersburg, Russia
The fairy tale carriage awaits
Saint Petersburg, Russia

Where to eat in St Petersburg

To be honest, I didn’t expect much from the food scene in Russia. As a picky eater, I feared I would have to live off Borscht and vodka, which would leave me hungry, drunk, and unsatisfied. But my fears were overblown.

I have to give it to Saint Petersburg, because not only did I find lots of interesting restaurants both Russian, Asian and Western – but the meals were also dirt cheap. 

Here are some of the best restaurants in St Petersburg:

Meat Head: One restaurant in particular that could easily be the best in Saint Petersburg was Meat Head, which is right next to The Church of our Savior on Spilled Blood. I ordered magret duck breast with stewed pear and carrot puree with a glass of white wine. Incredible!

Khochu Kharcho: I looooooove Georgian food. If you haven’t tasted it yet, try it here. It’s amazing.

Severyanin: Try this restaurant for Russian food (dumplings and duck breasts are great). Waiters speak English.

Saint Petersburg, Russia
Lunch at Meat Head

Where to stay in St. Petersburg Russia

You’ll find lots of great hotels in St Petersburg! Of course, it all depends on how you’re traveling and what you’re looking for.

In general, I’d say that Tsentralny is the best place to stay in St. Petersburg. It’s in the city center and you’ll have everything nearby. 

Akyan St.Petersburg: A great location and lovely, comfortable rooms are what I love about this hotel. It’s located in the heart of St Petersburg, which means you have most of the main sights and great restaurants within walking distance. Find the latest prices here.

Saint Petersburg, Russia

Day trips from St Petersburg

St. Petersburg is an absolute gem when it comes to cultural and historic heritage.

If you have time to spare, venture outside the city to explore legendary parks, palaces, museums, and churches where Russian Tsars spent their summers. All these three-day trips are St. Petersburg UNESCO heritage sites:

Peterhof Palace

Peterhof Palace and Gardens are also known as the Russian Versailles.

This impressive estate was built by Peter the Great to celebrate his victory over Sweden in 1703. Wander the majestic halls and symmetrical gardens where the imperial family spent their summers.

Peterhof is an easy day trip from St. Petersburg. Located just 28 km from the city center, it’s super easy to take the hydrofoil to Peterhof or join an organized tour. 

This tour includes a skip-the-line ticket and gives you early entrance before the museum opens up to the public (HUGE plus in the high season!). 

Hydrofoil to Peterhof-4

Kronstadt & Naval Cathedral

The Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas – not to be confused with the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral (from 1762) above – was built in Kronstadt between 1903 and 1913. It’s the last and largest of the naval cathedrals of the Russian Empire. 

This impressive cathedral was modeled after Byzantium’s crown jewel, the Hagia Sophia, and was dedicated to the fallen seamen of the Russian navy. 

Here’s how to visit on a day trip.

Catherine Palace

Another popular day trip from St. Petersburg is Catherine Palace.

Peter the Great built it for his second wife, Catherine, in 1717. It later became a summer residence for other Russian tsars and royals, such as Catherine the Great.

Catherine Palace is a Rococo palace in Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin), 30 km south of St. Petersburg, Russia. You can get there on your own or join a tour here.

things to do in St Petersburg
Photo by Canva

Ask me anything about things to do in St Petersburg!

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40 Comments

  1. I saw this post while searching St. Petersburg on Pinterest, and i have to say this post helped me to write another city in my bucket list. Loved the article but weren’t these babushka dolls called “Matryoshka”s?

      1. Well, I’m Russian, and I loved your post so much! Thank you! But we never call these dolls”‘babushka”, we call them “matryoshka” as Nikki said.

  2. I am about to leave to Moscow on a business trip and am considering visiting Saint Petersburg one weekend. As a female did you feel like it was pretty safe there? I have traveled internationally quite a bit, but do not speak much Russian which can be tricky at times in Moscow. Would you recommend going alone as a single female?

    1. Hi Samantha,
      I highly recommend visiting St. Petersburg. It’s a beautiful city! I went there alone and it’s the most modern city in Russia so you should be fine. Just follow the basic advice, like don’t walk alone in dark alleys, watch out for scammers and choose a good hotel/hostel.

  3. Hi Miriam!
    Quick question! What kind of lens and mode did you use to take these pictures? Everything looks great!
    Sarah

    1. Hi Sarah,
      I use a Canon EOS 750D and for lenses I mostly use my wide angle (Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM) and everyday lens (Canon EF 24-105 mm 4OL IS USM). All of the above photos are taken with my everyday lens. Normally, I just use the CA setting, but it all depends on the weather and motive really.

  4. A matryoshka doll (Russian: матрёшка; IPA: [mɐˈtrʲɵʂkə] ( listen), matrëška), also known as a Russian nesting doll, or Russian doll, is a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside another. … Matryoshka dolls are often referred to as “babushka dolls”, babushka meaning “grandmother” or “elderly woman”.
    Matryoshka doll – Wikipedia

  5. Heys,
    Nice post. Loved it and planning on visiting.
    But how many days do you think I need to book to see St Petersburg?
    And what budget would you say would be good on spending per day ?

    1. Hi Olyboly,

      I’d say 5-7 days in St. Petersburg is optimal. There’s lots to see and experience so if you have a whole week, that would work the best. Budget is always a difficult thing to advise on as it depends on how you travel: For instance, do you prefer hotels or hostels, do you travel alone or have someone to split the hotel bill with, how many attractions are you going to visit, and do you want to eat out every day? Personally, I spent about 4000 RUB per day and I traveled solo: hotel (2400 RUB), food: (1200-1600 RUB) and attractions: (400-600 RUB).

  6. Hi Miriam. I guess we are sort of related cos I’m an old Aussie.

    You make me feel a bit remiss & lacking. I’ve been to about 80 countries mostly for business & many off the beaten track but I have never put together such a warm hearted blog of my travels illustrated by such beautiful photographs.

    I don’t know if you realise it or not but let me tell you anyway … it’s not just your travels & places you visit that have the light turned on them but also your personality, character & love of life.

    Congratulations Danish girl. OH, & by the way … I hope you have or will visit Tasmania … birthplace of your Princess Mary.

    1. Ron, thank you so much for your kind words. I’m super glad you stopped by and left a message.

      I haven’t been to Tasmania (yet), but Oz is very high on my have-to-visit list so hopefully I get around to visit soon!
      Happy travels from Denmark 🙂

    1. Glad to hear you and your family had such an amazing trip, Kalka! St. Petersburg is definitely one of those cities you could spend lots of time exploring. There’s so much to see and do.

  7. It was commissioned by Tsar Alexander III in memory of his father, Tsar Alexander II. Who was assassinated on that site in 1881. Construction began in 1883 (during reign of Tsar Alexander III), and was completed in 1907 (during reign of Tsar Nicholas II). Tsar Alexander II was “Bloody” Nicholas’ grandfather.

  8. Hi, after reading your blog and particularly your post about travelling alone as a woman to Russia, I finally decided to go to St. Petersburg last March (alone). Everything was much better than I had expected. The Hermitage, churches and palaces were amazing. The food was delicious and in general things were not expensive there — not much different from where I come from (Jakarta, Indonesia). I don’t understand any Cyrillic at all (learned a few when I was there), but Google Translator and Yandex were always there to help! 🙂

  9. Thanks for sharing those photos Miriam – beautiful indeed! Russia is such a misunderstood place thanks to the traditional Western media. It is beautiful, rich culturally and its people are friendly and definitely have a sense of humour 🙂

    However, there are indeed some pitfalls to watch out for such as rip off ballet tickets, bar scams, zero dollar tour scams and more. Still, as long as one is careful, one will really enjoy a trip to Russia!

  10. Thanks for a wonderful set of photos and information. I have been fascinated by St. Petersburg, particularly the cathedrals and the history. It’s not what one expects. It’s nice to see and read the other side. Pity the media doesn’t do more to see such places as opposed to the darker side. We need more like this to foster good relations with other countries.

    Lee Shipton.

  11. Miriam, that is an absolutely wonderful travel report! What a great photos you took! Russia can be meh at times. We been a tour to Saint Petersburg this April and had few free days to explore around. Did you go to Moscow after Petersburg? We purchased train tickets for Sapsan train on https://www.russiantrains.com/. I want to thank you for being a reliable source for traveling to Saint P, me and my partner read through the guide multiple times and used it for our initial planning stage 🙂 Hope to meet you one day.

    1. Thank you so much, Peter. What a lovely message 🙂 I didn’t go to Moscow, but it’s on my list for future adventures.
      All the best from Denmark

  12. Wow, this is a very good blog about St. Petersburg! Very well put. It’s like I already had a tour 🙂 Thank you for the information and travel tips! I will save this blog for reference. 🙂

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