Saint Petersburg: A New Geography

Bus Tour "New Geography of Petersburg"

We start from the modern city highway — the Western High-Speed Diameter, which offers a magnificent view of the Gulf of Finland. You will see the tallest skyscraper in Europe, also ranked among the top 5 most environmentally friendly skyscrapers in the world — "the Lakhta Center". More than 100 innovative engineering and architectural solutions were applied during its construction on the gulf’s shore. This is how the symbol of the new Petersburg appeared. Get your cameras ready: we will admire the Lakhta Center from the observation deck of the new Yacht Bridge and travel by bus so that the skyscraper will be literally within arm’s reach. The bus tour is available through local tour operators as part of their packages.

"Erarta" Museum of Contemporary Art

"Erarta" is the largest private museum of contemporary art in Russia.
Its collection includes over 2,800 works by more than 300 artists from different regions of the country.
"Erarta’s" projects help bring contemporary art to a wide audience, allowing everyone to find something important, interesting, and captivating in it.
The museum was recognized by National Geographic as one of the five must-visit museums in Saint Petersburg.

Opening hours: Mon, Wed–Sun 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM; Tue — closed

Address: 2, 29th Line Vasilievsky Island, Saint Petersburg

Website: https://www.erarta.com/en/

"Sevkabel Port"

You will enjoy a walk along the pedestrian embankment of the new cultural cluster “Sevkabel Port.” First of all, it’s beautiful, and secondly — very tasty: at the local food court, try Mexican burritos, Israeli hummus, burgers, and shawarma. In good weather, you are guaranteed an aesthetic pleasure from postcard-perfect views.

Address: 40 Kozhevennaya Line, Vasilievsky Island Harbor, Saint Petersburg

Website: sevcableport.ru

Boat Ride from "Sevkabel Port" Pier

Enjoying the sea sunsets has become a new tradition in Petersburg.
And the best way to do it is from the open deck of a riverboat sailing "into the sunset." Music, a gentle sea breeze, and stunning colors spreading across the sky — these make a perfect evening.
Boat rides are available during the navigation season — from mid-April to the end of September.
Duration of the ride: 1 hour

Kronstadt: Sightseeing Tour

For many years, Kronstadt was the protector of Saint Petersburg from the sea and the main base of the Baltic Fleet. Access to the main maritime citadel of Peter’s Russia is possible only via the dam, which offers fantastic views of the Gulf of Finland and the impregnable forts surrounding the island fortress like fairy-tale warriors. The bus tour is available as part of local tour operators’ packages.

Museum and Historical Park "Island of Forts"

The first and largest park in Russia dedicated to the navy. Spread over an area of 9 hectares, it features several themed zones. Take a walk along the Alley of Russian Navy Heroes, which tells the story of more than three centuries of its history, visit the Memorial Lighthouse with the names of naval heroes, step into the Cabotage Harbor, and admire the first forts on the Kronstadt roadstead. Opening hours: Mon–Sun 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Free admission

Address: 14Zh Citadelskoe Highway, Kronstadt

Naval Glory Museum

An innovative museum of military glory with many interactive simulators. Feel like a pilot at the controls of a naval aviation helicopter and airplane, then take command as captain of a ship or submarine. The history of naval development, from Ancient Rus to the present day, is presented here on interactive screens and through augmented reality elements. Then you can see the first Soviet nuclear submarine K-3. This is the legendary "Leninsky Komsomol" — the pioneer of the nuclear submarine fleet. In 1962, it broke through the ice and was the first in the world to surface near the North Pole — an event comparable to the first space flight. Opening hours: Tue–Sun 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM; Mon — closed

Address: 18 Citadelskoe Highway, Kronstadt

Website: https://mvms.ru/en

Boat Tour Around the Kronstadt Forts

Enjoy panoramic views of the park, historic fortress forts, and lighthouses from the deck of the riverboat. The tour route passes by six forts: Alexander I, Konstantin, Pavel I, Milyutin, Kronslot, and Peter I. Boat tours are available during the navigation season — from late April to mid-November.

Naval St. Nicholas Cathedral

This is the last church consecrated in 1913, the year marking the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. Naval academy graduates of Saint Petersburg take their oath in the square in front of it. The interior decoration of the cathedral is notable — unusual choros chandeliers, murals, and a unique mosaic floor design combining ancient Christian iconography with maritime symbolism. Opening hours: Mon–Sun 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Address: 1 Yakornaya Square, Kronstadt

Peterhof: Lower Park

One of the most beautiful suburbs of Saint Petersburg, where the first ceremonial country residence appeared in the early 18th century. The main attraction of Peterhof is its fountains, cascades, and the small palaces of the Lower Park. The park is designed in the style of French formal gardens. The fountains in the Lower Park operate during the summer season — from late April to mid-October. Opening hours: Mon–Sun 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Address: 2 Razvodnaya Street, Peterhof

Website: https://en.peterhofmuseum.ru/objects/peterhof/bolshoy_petergofskiy_dvorets

"Alexandria" Park: Mechanical Train Tour

Take a ride through the parks of Peterhof on a mechanical blue locomotive and enjoy the beauty of one of the best landscape parks in Europe. This small fun adventure is especially memorable for little travelers. Opening hours: Mon–Sun 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Address: Alexandria Park, Peterhof

Website: https://en.peterhofmuseum.ru/objects/aleksandriya/park_alexandriya

“Hermitage. Immersion into History”: VR Film

Look back into the depths of centuries using VR glasses. You will see ladies and gentlemen strolling the corridors and learn what happened within these walls hundreds of years ago. This tour is available only as part of local tour operators’ packages.

Restoration and Storage Center "Staraya Derevnya"

The "Holy of Holies" of the Hermitage collection. The State Hermitage collection includes about 3 million exhibits. However, not all masterpieces are on display. You will have the opportunity to see items that have been stored for years in the reserves. In the storage facility, you will see the magnificent Costume Gallery, the Carriage Shed with examples of imperial ceremonial carriages, a collection of Western European and Russian furniture, and much more. Visits to the center are only possible as part of guided tour groups by scheduled sessions. Opening hours: Tue–Sun 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM; Mon — closed

Address: 37V Zausadebnaya Street, Saint Petersburg

Website: https://www.hermitagemuseum.org/news/visitus2020/visitus2020_item/rhc/?lng=en

Main Headquarters of the State Hermitage: Art Meditation

One of the best collections in the world of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and Cubist artists — from Renoir to Matisse, and from Monet to Picasso. You will experience a new interactive program, "Art Meditation," focused on the exhibition of French Modernist art. Together with a guide-mediator, you will try to understand why works by Monet, Degas, Cézanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh, and Matisse caused scandals and were perceived as a revolution in painting and art at the beginning of the 20th century. Opening hours: Tue, Fri, Sat 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Wed, Thu, Sun 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Mon — closed

Address: 6–8 Palace Square, Saint Petersburg

Website: https://www.hermitagemuseum.org/news/visitus2020/visitus2020_item/staff_mc/?lng=en

Book Space "Podpisnye Izdaniya"

Visit one of the oldest bookstores in the city — "Podpisnye Izdaniya." You will hear its history, see its preserved and updated design, and experience the elegant beauty and charm of this trendy place. Here, be sure to pick up the most Petersburg souvenirs: postcards with views of the city, pins, accessories, and even a piece of Petersburg’s famous curb stone! Opening hours: Mon–Sun 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Address: 57 Liteyny Prospect, Saint Petersburg

"Courtyards and Entrance Halls of Petersburg": Walking Tour of Old Petersburg Neighborhoods

You will see Petersburg courtyards and grand entrance halls with tall windows, wrought-iron staircases, and luxurious mouldings. The guide will tell you when Petersburg’s rental houses appeared and who lived in them, how ordinary citizens and famous writers of old Petersburg-Petrograd-Leningrad lived. You will walk through secret alleys and see Petersburg through the eyes of its residents. The tour is available as part of local tour operators’ packages.

"Nevsky Center" Shopping Complex: Observation Deck in the City Center

We return again to the roofs of Petersburg. Consolidate what you've seen from above and add to your collection of city views. From this deck, you can see the main architectural landmarks.

Address: 114–116 Nevsky Prospect, Saint Petersburg

Public Space "New Holland"

A center of contemporary culture, a lively event venue featuring film screenings, concerts, exhibitions, and festivals. During a walk around the island, the guide will tell you about the history of New Holland, dating back to the time of Peter the Great, the architectural features of its buildings, and the renovation that transformed a semi-abandoned historic district into one of the trendiest places in modern Petersburg. Entry to the island is free. Opening hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Fri–Sun 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM; entry closes 30 minutes earlier

Address: 2 Admiralteysky Canal Embankment, Saint Petersburg

Website: https://www.newhollandsp.ru/en/

Boat Tour from Kunstkamera to Yelagin Island

A ride along one of the most beautiful water city routes. We start from the city center, pass under the Palace Bridge, near the Rostral Columns and the Peter and Paul Fortress. Next, we travel through the Little Neva under the Exchange Bridge, from where we enter the Gulf of Finland, circle Krestovsky Island, and once again see the panorama of the "Lakhta Center" and "Gazprom Arena" from an impressive angle. Then the boat passes under the Yacht Bridge along the Middle Nevka and finally docks at Kirov Central Park of Culture and Rest (CPKO). Boat tours are available during the navigation season — from April to November.

Yelagin Island Park

The park on Yelagin Island is a place where you can connect with nature without leaving the center of a huge metropolis. In winter, people skate; in summer, they rollerblade, feed squirrels, ducks, and swans, attend musical evenings, or simply stroll along the alleys enjoying the fresh air. The park also hosts the city’s most beautiful festivals: tulip festivals, street theater performances, craft fairs, and more.

Yelagin Island Palace

The palace is located in the eastern, highest part of the island and draws attention from afar. It was built by architect Carlo Rossi by order of Emperor Alexander I for his mother, the dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna. The palace interiors combined the grandeur and elegance of an imperial residence and remained unchanged throughout the 19th century. They are still rightfully considered one of the best examples of the Empire style in Russia. Park opening hours: Mon–Sun 6:00 AM – 11:00 PM Palace opening hours: Tue, Thu–Sun 10:00–18:30; "Museum Wednesdays": Nov 1 – Mar 31, 12:00–22:00; Apr 1 – Oct 31, 13:00–21:00; Mon — closed; ticket offices close 30 minutes earlier

Address: 4 Yelagin Island, Saint Petersburg

Website: https://elaginpark.org/en/