Updated February 19th, 2020

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St. Petersburg is a Russian city along the Baltic Sea. It’s location makes it easily reachable by cruise ship. Therefore tourists seem to venture to St. Petersburg more than Moscow. In this ultimate guide to St. Petersburg, Russia you will find everything you need to know to have an enjoyable visit.

During my visit to St. Petersburg I learned that there is a bit of a rivalry, you could say, between Moscow and St. Petersburg. Each city declares they are the better city with superior residents. After being in both cities I discovered I liked St. Petersburg much more than Moscow. Maybe it is because it was modeled after Amsterdam and full of waterways or that it was made to feel more like a European city. There also seemed like more better food and more things to do in St. Petersburg. I have to say that I found the locals to be a little more friendly too. Even though I call Moscow home, St. Petersburg wins in my book!

Getting to St. Petersburg

You most likely will be arriving on an organized cruise ship, flying directly into St. Petersburg or traveling from Moscow. If you are coming from Moscow I recommend you take a train like I did. Various options are available from the express high speed trains to overnight sleeper trains. Depending on the type of a train a direct journey can be as quick as 3.5 hours or as long as 13 hours. There are several train stations in both cities, so make sure you choose the ones that are the most convenient. Most likely coming into Moscow Station in St. Petersburg will be the handiest as it is closest to the main attractions of the city. 

I recommend the high speed Sapsan trains, because not only are they the quickest option they also have luggage racks, comfortable seats, clean toilets and a dining car. You can pre-order a meal, but I wouldn’t recommend it. The food is better in the dining car because warm food is available and most importantly you get to choose what you order instead of the pre-ordered meal which is more of a snack of packaged goods. If possible bringing food aboard is an even better option. Allow enough time at the Russian train stations, you need to go through a quick security.

What To Do in St. Petersburg

Canal/River Tours

By Boat

Take a canal and river cruise throughout the city. Learn more about the city as you listen to commentary and see St. Petersburg’s best sights. If you would like to be a little more active consider…

By Kayak

….doing a kayak tour on the canals and rivers instead. With PiterKayak you can do an early morning kayak tour right through the heart of St. Petersburg like I did. Read about my full experience here. They also have a couple of other options later in the day to other parts of the city.

Museums & Palaces 

St. Petersburg is an opulent city full of museums and palaces. It would take you days and days to throughly visit all of the historic institutions that the city contains.

Hermitage Museum

In some places like the Hermitage Museum you are able to go inside a palace and visit a museum all in one.  Labeled as the second largest museum in the world, the Hermitage is an art museum that was founded by Catherine the Great in 1764. I can vouch for the museum and definitely say that it is gigantic. Visitors could easily spend several days roaming the countless rooms and exhibits that contain art from around the world. Click here to read more about visiting the museum and my experience there.

Peterhof Palace

The Peterhof Palace is Peter the Great’s Palace that he built in the early 1700s to rival Versailles. Not only is it a grand palace, but the grounds around the palace are full of extravagant fountains and museums showcasing imperial life in St. Petersburg. It is a huge complex that is actually located a bit outside of the city and best reached by a high speed hydrofoil boat. Read my full guide and experience here.

Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood

The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is one of the most iconic buildings in St. Petersburg. It is now a museum that you can visit and see the beautiful mosaics inside.

Fabergé Museum

The Fabergé Museum is full of Fabergé exhibits including the famous Fabergé Easter eggs. It was on my list, but I ran out of time and I didn’t get to visit.

Theatre

You can go to Russia and not see a ballet, but I don’t think you should! Many of the theaters regularly show the traditional operas and classic Russian ballets like Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. There are many theaters to choose from, but here are a few of the most popular. You can buy tickets online, but make sure to do it earlier because they often sell out fast. Also make sure to dress up a bit. Russians dress up much more than the average American going to a theater event.

The Mikhailovsky Theater

I didn’t know much about things to do in Russia before I moved to Moscow, but I did know about Russian Ballet. When I missed out on seeing the Nutcracker at Christmastime due to flight delays, seeing a Ballet became an urgent priority for me. One of the oldest theaters in Russia, The Mikhailovsky Theater is where I chose to see Swan Lake. When I was in middle school I was in a mini Swan Lake during the end of the year dance recital so I thought it would be a special ballet to see in Russia. During the performance I eagerly watched the movement I remembered performing from so many years ago.

Mariinsky Theater

One of the most famous theaters is the Mariinsky Theater.

Alexandrinsky Theater

The Alexandrinsky Theater historic and classical theater near Nevsky Prospekt.

The Hermitage Theatre

An evening at the Hermitage Theatre is said to be just like it was in the past. This includes the seating system, which is first come, first serve.

Free Walking Tour

As always I have to encourage you to take a free tour. I went with Petersburg Free Tour. The tour started in Palace Square in front of the Hermitage. At first I thought it would be too focused on historical facts, but it ended up being a good balance between factual information and funny tidbits. I didn’t have any trouble understanding the guide’s English, but I could tell there were a couple of times people didn’t understand her pronunciation. Even though the tour was 3 hours we didn’t cover too large of an area, but saw a lot of the historical buildings in the area. There aren’t any food/toilet stops during the tour so I recommend paying for a toilet at the toilet trailer (see below) in front of the Hermitage before the tour or going to a nearby pay toilet when you stop on the steps facing the Neva River about halfway through (may not always be the same stops). The tour ends on Nevsky Prospekt, the main street of the city full of restaurants.

Where to Stay in St. Petersburg 

My stay at Aston Hotel was one of my best hotel stays of the year due to the friendly staff, clean rooms and overall value of the stay. They even provide extra bottles of water for free. That of course made me very happy!

It’s about a 15min walk from Moscow Train Station. I exited through the wrong doors and had a confusing walk around the building which added 5 or 10 minutes. If you choose the correct door and don’t have excessive luggage it isn’t too bad of a walk to the hotel.

Villa Aston Restaurant is connected to the hotel. It offers a buffet breakfast and free daily tea time. One afternoon I had a really good pasta dish at the restaurant as well.

Book your Stay at Aston Hotel today!!

Where to Eat in St. Petersburg

Testo

(Kazanskaya Ulitsa, 29, Sankt-Peterburg, Russia, 190000)

My meal at this Italian place was one of best meals I had in Russia. It’s close to Nevsky Prospekt, but a little off the main throughway.

Marketplace

(Nevsky avenue, 24, Sankt-Peterburg, Russia, 191186)

Oh the joy when I discovered this place. This was the type of restaurant I was desperately missing all year, a choose your own food place. There are different stations, like a stir-fry station and grill area for meats. When I saw the create your own salad line, I felt like I found a pool of real water after a year long hike in the desert. You can spend awhile looking at the food and deciding what you want, but it can be a quicker option. Also great for solo travelers.

Daily MiniMarket

(Nevsky avenue, д. 72, Sankt-Peterburg, Russia, 191025)

This is another good place for a solo traveler or anyone who wants a quick and healthier bite to eat. It’s a grocery store that has a seating area in the front area overlooking the busy street. They will heat up any food you buy. They also have a toilet.

Where to Find a Toilet

You need to pay for any public toilets. I like most of the European influences on the city except that one. In the touristy areas near the Hermitage, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, along the Neva River, etc there are porta potty type structured toilets. There is a toilet trailer with sinks parked outside the Hermitage museum.

More About Russia

• Moscow Things to Do: The Must See Sights, Unique Things to Do,  Spartak Stadium
• Moscow Markets: Izmailovsky Market, Danilovsky Market
• Moscow Museums: Moscow City Museum, Victory Museum, Museum of the Patriotic War in 1812, State Historical Museum,
• Moscow Life: Moving to Moscow, Malls, Christmas in Moscow, Metro, Learning Spanish, My Russian Apartment, What is Life Really Like in Russia, FiFa World Cup, Russian Winters, and more posts about life abroad in Russia.
• St Petersburg: The Hermitage Museum, Kayaking the Rivers & Canals, Peterhof Palace

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