There is no denying it, traveling in Saint Petersburg for me was like traveling in western European cities, with all the unique historical values and developed infrastructure, but at half the price of that in the West. If you are looking for a tourist-friendly, familiar but unique enough to entice your wanderlust destination, Saint Petersburg should be on the list.
I spent a week in Saint Petersburg during autumn (not the best time), and I have decided to compile a list of things to do in this city compressed into a more vacation-friendly timeline. Within this city guide, you will find out when the best time to go is, affordable accommodation options, ways to get around, and a list of fun things for you to do in this wonderful city.
Saint Petersburg Itinerary Map
Quick Summary
| ♥️ Must Visit: | The Savior on the Spilled Blood Cathedral |
|---|---|
| 🏛️ Best Museum: | The Hermitage Museum |
| 🛌 Place to Stay: | Talisman Gorokhovaya |
| 🌤️ When to visit: | Jun - Aug |
| 🏃♂️ Getting around: | Walk, Metro, Buses |
8 Best Things to Do in Saint Petersburg
1. Kazan Cathedral
- 📍 Location: Kazan Cathedral [Map Link]
- 🕐 Opening Hours: 7AM - 8PM
- 💰 Entry Fees: Free
Walking along Nevsky Avenue, you will stumble upon Kazan Cathedral, one of the biggest cathedrals in the city, so it can be difficult not to check it out. The cathedral offers free entry from 7AM to 8PM.
Where to Stay in Saint Petersburg?
Daily Budget
This location is moderately priced, with transportation, food, and accommodation averaging around $35 - $55 USD per day per person. It's not exactly cheap, but it's not overly expensive either.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
2. The Savior on the Spilled Blood Cathedral
One of the most iconic landmarks of St. Petersburg, this colorful cathedral is located between the criss-crossing canals of Saint Petersburg. The cathedral is especially beautiful at dusk from the big bridge on Nevsky Avenue near Kazan Cathedral.
Be sure to go inside and look up. The interior is even more epic than the exterior, in my opinion.
3. The Winter Palace and the Palace Square
- 📍 Location: The Winter Palace [Map Link]
The Winter Palace is another beautiful landmark you have to see in Saint Petersburg. Its unique green/white color combination and perfect symmetry make the exterior quite a sight to behold. To make this place even better, the inside of the palace is home to the Hermitage Museum.
4. The Hermitage Museum
- 📍 Location: The Hermitage Museum [Map Link]
The Hermitage Museum houses one of the most prestigious and largest art collections in the world. Even if you are not interested in art, the museum does house temporary exhibitions for you to learn about the history of Russia. When I was there, the October Revolution exhibition was on display. It was interesting to see how the revolution played a big role in transforming Russia into what it is today.
The 3 million items housed in the Hermitage museum occupy a large complex of six historic buildings. The museum is a labyrinth. I can see myself spending an entire day here, learning and admiring the prestigious art collection and the unique interior design with a grand Russian touch.
5. St. Isaac's Cathedral
- 📍 Location: St. Isaac's Cathedral [Map Link]
- 💰 Entry Fees: Few RUB
This cathedral is impressive both on the outside and on the inside, but the best part of this cathedral is not any of that; it's the fact that you can climb up the tower to reach the balcony and absorb Saint Petersburg from the top.
Although you have to pay a few RUB to go up and get in separately, but due to its location, 360° open-air panoramic balcony, and its proximity to the Winter Palace, it was worth all the Rubles needed. I spent almost an hour up there taking time-lapse videos of the city's skyline.
When you get inside, beware. You might get neck pain afterward because the cathedral decor and the colorful interior will have your head all the way back, looking up, and your jaw all the way down. Yes, it's that stunning!
6. Peterhof
Photos by Alex 'Florstein' Fedorov.
Peterhof is a summer palace located outside of Saint Petersburg. The palace consists of a series of palaces, gardens, and the Grand Cascade, for which the place is known. If you are here during the summer, check out the big fountains at the Grand Cascade. Keep in mind that the fountains are only operational from May to September, so time your visit accordingly.
7. Mariinsky Theatre
- 📍 Location: Mariinsky Theatre [Map Link]
Photos by Perfektangelll
If you plan your trip ahead of time, make sure to align your visit with any opera, ballet, or concerts that are performed at the Mariinsky Theatre and book the ticket beforehand so you can see the grand interior of this historic theatre. To see the upcoming shows, please visit this page.
8. Get your Coffee Fix at Bonch
- 📍 Location: Coffee Bar Bonch [Map Link]
If you are looking for a lovely cozy cafe to get your coffee fix of the day before you begin exploring Saint Petersburg, I've got the perfect place for you.
Located near the Winter Palace, Coffee Bar Bonch is the best place to sit and enjoy a nice cup of coffee, watching the locals socialize or just sitting and working on your laptop in peace. The cafe has fast free WiFi (you need a Russian phone number to activate the WiFi) and plenty of power sockets around the cafe. The coffee and cakes are delicious and not too pricey.
When To Visit Saint Petersburg?
June to August is the best time to go, as the temperature is perfect for outdoor activities, hovering around 20-25°C, and you are more likely to get a clear day than during shoulder seasons. Clear days are hard to come by outside of the summertime, so I would only recommend this period.
How to Get to Saint Petersburg?
Traveling to Russia is cheaper than most people think. You can easily find plenty of flights by Aeroflot operating in Europe and Central Asia. You can also browse through Skyscanner or Expedia to find the cheapest possible flight from where you are.
How To Get Around Saint Petersburg?
Saint Petersburg attractions are mostly concentrated around the Winter Palace area, so most of the places are within walking distance.
If you want to explore a little further, the metro system is possibly the cheapest and fastest way to get around inside the city. It should cost you around 45 RUB (0.8 USD) per single trip of any distance.
Buses are a little bit cheaper (40 RUB), but depending on the traffic and time, it might be faster and more reliable to stick with the metro.
Getting to and from the airport is relatively easy and cheap. When you exit the terminal, there will be a bus waiting to go to the city. Hop on and pay 40 RUB (luggage not included), and it will take you to the "Moskovskaya" metro station. From there, you can take the metro to your accommodation.
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3 Comments
Hi Pete,
So happy to find someone from the same country. Came across your blog and I find it interesting reading about your profile. You provided very detailed information =) I will be travelling to Russia in mid Jun and is my first time there! Super excited and nervous. For the admission tickets, what is your advise? Buy it online in advance or on that day itself when I am at the venue. Hope to hear from you soon too! =)
Hey Hannah!
Thank you for the compliment! :) You will be in Russia as the best time when the weather isn't so cold and sky not so miserable haha. I bought all the tickets when I was there and there was no problem but keep in mind that I was there in November and there are considerably fewer people than June.
There is also a ticket machine where you can buy all these tickets without having to wait in line. It might be a bit more expensive (from what I heard) buying from the machine but you don't have to wait in line.
Best bet is to go there and if the line is not long, queue up and buy from the kiosk. If it is long, go to the machine or get one online right on the spot if you have data on your phone. This should leave rooms for flexibility. :)
I hope this helps!
Hi Pete!
Thanks for replying back so fast! Yup, it sure does help me. I also do hope and pray that is not raining.
Have a great day ahead!