St Petersburg! It’s where I’d send anyone who loves art.
Shall I show you the city first, or the palaces outside it?
— Sasha
St Petersburg
Palaces, canals and the White Nights
The Hermitage, the Neva bridges opening at night, and June evenings that never get dark.
Sasha's picks
-
The HermitageThe Winter Palace and three million objects. Go early, choose a few rooms, and come back.Half a day
-
Church of the Savior on Spilled BloodEvery inch of the inside is covered in mosaics.Two or three hours
-
The canals by boatAn hour on the rivers and canals shows you the city the way it was meant to be seen.Two or three hours
-
St Isaac’s colonnadeClimb about 260 steps for the best view over the rooftops.Two or three hours
-
The Peterhof fountainsThe Grand Cascade by the Gulf of Finland. The fountains run from spring to October.Half a day
-
Catherine Palace and the Amber RoomIn Pushkin, under an hour south: the restored Amber Room and the palace park.Half a day
-
The bridges open at nightFrom April to November the Neva bridges lift after 1 a.m. to let ships through.Two or three hours
-
The MariinskyBallet and opera where The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker were first staged.Two or three hours
-
Pyshki at the old pyshechnayaSugar-dusted doughnuts and milky coffee, served the same way since 1958.About an hour
When to go
June for the White Nights, when it barely gets dark. May and September are calmer and still bright.
| Season | Months | What it’s like |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | Dec–Feb | Short days, the Neva frozen, and quieter museums. |
| Spring | Mar–May | The ice breaks on the Neva in April and the Peterhof fountains start. |
| Summer | Jun–Aug | White Nights in June and the Scarlet Sails festival. Busy. |
| Autumn | Sep–Nov | Golden parks in September, wet and grey by November. |
A 3-day plan
Three days gives you the city and one palace day.
-
1
Palace Square and the water The Hermitage · St Isaac’s colonnade · The canals by boat · The bridges open at night
-
2
Peterhof and the theatre The Peterhof fountains · Pyshki at the old pyshechnaya · The Mariinsky
-
3
Pushkin and the mosaics Catherine Palace and the Amber Room · Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
Getting there
The Sapsan train from Moscow takes about four hours. Pulkovo airport is 30 to 40 minutes from the centre.
ROTW prices every trip for your dates, hotel level and group size. Pin what you like, send it to me, and I'll come back with a real quote.
— Sasha
Questions people ask
When are the White Nights?
Roughly late May to mid-July. Around the solstice the sky only fades to twilight.
Can I see the bridges open?
Yes, during the navigation season from April to November, after about 1 a.m. A late boat trip is the best way to watch.
How many days do I need?
Three or four days, with one of them for Peterhof or Pushkin.
