Tag Archive: Saint-Petersburg

Along with must-see tourist places I would recommend some really interesting spots which are very popular amongst locals. You will experience how the youth in Saint-Petersburg live nowadays and will see that this city develops rapidly.

One of my favourite places is New Holland.

This is a well-known place, a tiny island in the city centre which has a huge history. A former military base, it has since been reconstructed into a modern park with different leisure activities and places to dine.
The place is full of nice little shops, cute coffee shops, and cafés. Also, there are some cultural programs including concerts of trendy musicians, educational courses and various kinds of events that you need to be informed about in advance. This park is the best choice for spending time a nice during the summer, although it is still open in the winter and has  an ice rink. 
You can combine visiting New Holland Park with a trip to the Mariinsky theatre because they are located in the same district.

http://www.newhollandsp.ru/en/

New Hooland in winter

New Holland in summer

Night out

If you want to go out for a meal or for a drink, the most popular area in Saint-Petersburg for spending a great night is Ulitsa Rubinsteina. Located in the heart of the city centre, it has become the main restaurant street in Saint-Petersburg. There are 40 houses here and more than 50 restaurants!  If you are a fan of jazz, you can go to “48 Chairs” with its live music and stylish atmosphere. Something more simple? No problem! Visit the local craft beer bar “Punk Brew”. Fancy karaoke after that? “Poison Bar” is just next door and waiting for your finest hour. Poison Bar is very popular for its good selection of famous songs and its friendly atmosphere. Hungry and want something exotic? Go to “Bekitzer” which makes the best Israeli street-food and holds great parties in the evenings.

Café Rubinstein

Ulitsa Rubinsteina

Poison Karaoke Bar

Ulitsa Rubinsteina

Monument to Russian writer Sergei Dovlatov

Zoom Café.

Small and cozy Zoom Cafe has been an established spot for lunch in the city for a few years. You can find it as a suggestion in every city-guide throughout Saint-Petersburg. The atmosphere is homely and relaxed. Soft lights, pleasant music and friendly staff help to make your visit comfortable. The food is simple and reminiscent of Russian home cooking.

You can entertain yourself playing board games, or reading the books and latest magazines while waiting for food.

Please note that Zoom Café is very popular and you will need to book a table in advance.

http://www.cafezoom.ru/eng/

“Teplo” Restaurant.

Another nice and cosy place owned by the same people as Zoom Café is Teplo. A great location near St. Isaac’s Cathedral makes it a good opportunity to combine both places in one day. This restaurant is perfect for families with children: it has a fireplace and a nice terrace. The interior meets the name of the place; it is very cosy and warm, the staff are super friendly and you will want to come here over and over again.

http://v-teple.ru/eng/

Georgian Food

Georgian cuisine is very popular in Russia and Saint-Petersburg has a great selection of restaurants on offer. The most popular dishes are khachapuri (a traditional Georgian dish of cheese-filled bread) and khinkali (Georgian dumplings with a variety of fillings).

Here are some places I would recommend:

Phali-Khinkali

http://phali-hinkali.ru/

Khachapuri I Vino

https://www.restoclub.ru/spb/place/hachapuri-i-vino-1

• Soviet Leningrad:
• Visit a ”Ryumochnaya”.

Ryumochnayas (the name is derived from the Russian word for shot glass) are as close as you’ll get to the drinking traditions of 20th-century Russia. Cheap and unpretentious, they were a step up from drinking at home (or in the street), the place to go if you couldn’t afford a restaurant in both the USSR and 90s Russia. The local favourite is Mayak Café, going since the 80s and now filled with Soviet memorabilia. There is no sign outside but you can spot the place by the large head of Lenin in the window. A traditional order would be zakuski – Russian d’oeuvres of dill pickles, sausages, pickled herring – consumed with alcohol.
20 Mayakovskogo Street

Visit Udelnaya Flea Market.

If you are interested in vintage and authentic soviet antique souvenirs you definitely need to visit Udelnaya Flea Market. It is considered to be the best flea market in Russia and attracts a lot of tourists because of the unique things you can buy there. The place is quite hard to find and takes some time to get to but, once you are there, you can get lost amongst the numerous stalls of soviet badges, books, stamps and porcelain.

Note: The market is only open on weekends. When exiting Udelnaya metro station, cross the rail tracks, keep going right through the modern part of the market, and mind your bags and valuables while there.

Anna Petrova

The Venice of the North, The Northern Palmyra. Leningrad, Petrograd… This city has so many names but it is indeed unique in its beauty and atmosphere. This city is Saint-Petersburg.  What is unique about Saint-Petersburg? Saint-Petersburg is living history. It combines the atmosphere of the Tsar’s Russia and Soviet times. Famous writers and musicians made their masterpieces here.

In this city you can never get bored: it has everything one needs. If you are a Russian history fan you can easily get lost in the numerous historic museums. Fans of the arts will be impressed by both the famous classic art collections and the contemporary art galleries and museums.

In this article I have collected the top places and things to do, which, in my opinion, you have to experience whilst in Saint-Petersburg.

 

The Hermitage

The Hermitage is considered to be the main museum of art in Saint-Petersburg. One cannot go to Saint-Petersburg without visiting the Hermitage.  This pearl of Baroque style is located on the main square in Saint-Petersburg – Palace Square – and was created by the Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli, a favourite of Catherine the Great. Being already a piece of art from the outside, the Hermitage includes one of the biggest collections of art in the world. Here you can enjoy the paintings of such famous artist as Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt. Moreover, for those who are interested in modern art, it will be a pleasant surprise to explore the rich collection of XX and XXI century art in the contemporary art block.

https://www.hermitagemuseum.org/wps/portal/hermitage?lng=en

The Hermitage from the Palace Square

The Palace Square in winter

 

Church of the Saviour on Blood.

While walking down Nevskiy prospect, it is impossible to miss the breathtaking view of the Church of the Saviour on Blood from Naberezhnaia Kanala Griboedova. Without doubt, this church is considered to be a masterpiece of mosaic art.

The word «blood» included in the name of the church refers to Emperor Alexander II, who was mortally wounded in March 1881. After the tragedy the decision was taken to build a church as a memorial right on the spot where the Emperor was killed. Funding of the church was provided by the Royal family and private donors.

It is fantastic how one building can combine so many types of materials and techniques and look so harmonious at the same time! During the construction, marble, granite, enamel and copper were used, but what really astonishes every visitor is the fact that the church contains over 7 500 square metres of mosaics.

http://eng.cathedral.ru/spasa_na_krovi/

Mosaic top of the Church of the Saviour on Blood

 

St. Isaac`s Cathedral

Located in the heart of Saint-Petersburg, St. Isaac`s Cathedral is the biggest Russian Orthodox cathedral in the city. It took approximately 40 years for the cathedral to be constructed under the French-born architect Auguste de Montferrand’s direction and, in 1858, the church opened its doors for the public. Now it is a museum and impresses visitors with its monumental decoration. The interior combines all types of materials and techniques: you can see mosaic icons, paintings, and sculptures made of malachite and lapis lazuli.  Even the locals passing by the Cathedral are still amazed by the massive red granite columns which weigh 114 tons  each.

Do not miss the opportunity to enjoy the city from the top of St. Isaac’s Cathedral! It is definitely worth climbing the 300 steps up to the Cathedral’s colonnade to be impressed by  the breathtaking views of the city.

http://eng.cathedral.ru/

St. Isaac’s Cathedral in winter

View from St. Isaac’s Cathedral’s Colonnade

 

Peterhof.

If you are in Saint-Petersburg in summer, one of the greatest activities for you will be visiting Peterhof. To the south west of the city, Peterhof is mostly famous for its Imperial Residence, also known as the “Russian Versailles”. Peter the Great, while visiting Europe, was so inspired with Versailles that he decided to found the residence outside the city as well. Now Peterhof is a fabulous ensemble including palaces and a world-famous fountain system. It will take you a while to recover after your first look at the amazing and luxurious Great Cascade. You will see more and more wonderful things:  designed fountains like Chess Mountain and Golden Mountain, statues of Adam and Eve, and even a special invention of Peter the Great; hidden fountains which can suddenly turn-on (making you both surprised and wet!).  With this in mind, you should be careful, or at least have a change of clothes with you!

Now Peterhof is considered to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

http://en.peterhofmuseum.ru/

Peterhof Grand Cascade Fountain

 

Pushkin ( Tsarskoye selo)

If you want to experience the atmosphere of Imperial Russia, Tsarskoye Selo is the right place for you! Tsarskoye Selo is the amazing residence of the Romanov Family, with a great park and palace complex.  Currently, there are two imperial palaces; the baroque Catherine Palace and the neoclassical Alexander Palace.

In the Catherine Palace, designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli, you will find the mysterious and famous Amber room which was destroyed by Nazis during World War II. After the War, reconstruction began on Tsarskoye Selo and now it has been renovated and opened for the public.

Moreover, here you can follow the steps of Alexander Pushkin – the world-renowned and, arguably, greatest Russian poet – by visiting the museum in the former Imperial Lycee, where he was schooled.

http://eng.tzar.ru/

Catherine Palace in Pushkin

Marble Bridge in Pushkin

 

A little bit about transport.

Transport in Saint-Petersburg is quite cheap and fast. We have a very convenient underground and it is better to buy a card called “Podorozhnik” and put money on it.  You will save some money this way because every trip will be cheaper.   However, the metro also operates on one-use-only coins called ‘zhetons’.  Buses are cheap as well and go every   5-10 minutes. Another very convenient way of getting around is by “Marshrutka” (mini bus) which is much faster than the bus but can be more expensive.

 

Tours

If you enjoy walking, and want to see all the most famous attractions in one day, you can take a free tour:

http://petersburgfreetour.com/free-tour/

If you have a limited amount of time or don’t have the energy to walk from one attraction to another, you can use the hop-on hop-off red bus.

https://citytourspb.ru/en/

 

Boat Trip.

If you are in Saint-Petersburg in mid-spring, summer or mid-autumn, it’s absolutely worth taking a boat trip where you can see the city from the water. You can find boats everywhere in the city centre and the price is usually the same for all of them. I would recommend to take a boat on a sunny day or, even better, during the legendary White Nights where you can see open bridges from the water. It is an absolutely fantastic view! Overall, summer is the best time to go to Saint-Petersburg because you can get the chance to see the legendary, captivating White Night, and the city that never sleeps. At the same time, summer is the busiest time for tourists, and the prices can rise dramatically so plan your trip carefully.

View on St. Petersburg from Griboedov canal

View on St. Petersburg from Neva River

To be honest, it is impossible to count all the good places in Saint-Petersburg, there are so many of them! I hope you will have the chance to visit this beautiful city one day, and will fall in love with Saint-Petersburg from the first minute because this city simply cannot leave you half-hearted. It charms with its romantic canals, open bridges and legendary White Nights.

St. Petersburg White Nights

Anna Petrova