Russia Saint Petersburg travel guide

History facts

Saint Petersburg was founded in 1703. The city is built on the shores of the Gulf of Finland on 32 islands (2021 data). The first building, the Peter and Paul Fortress, is located on one of the islands – Zayachy. Saint Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia with a territory of more than 1,450 square meters and a population of 5,597,763 people (2024 data). The city has 800 bridges, 13 of which are drawbridges, more than 90 rivers and canals.

Sain Petersburg the Peter and Paul fortress

Climate

Saint Petersburg has a northern maritime climate: in winter and summer it is cloudy, foggy, rainy. The weather is very changeable – rain in the summer can suddenly start and end just as quickly. After May 25 and until mid-June, “White Nights” are observed, the total duration of which is more than 50 days.

Rostral columns Vasilievski Island Saint Petersburg

Metro

The Saint Petersburg metro is the deepest in the country, 30-86 meters, and has 5 lines. Line 3 is the central one to get to the historical city – at the stations “Nevsky Prospekt”, “Gostiny Dvor”, “Mayakovskaya”. The metro in Saint Petersburg is beautiful and very clean. Most stations are decorated with natural materials. A ticket for 1 trip with no time or distance limit costs just under 1 US dollar.

Main tourist sights

Saint Petersburg is called the “Cultural Capital” of Russia. The city’s architecture is unique. Straight, strict streets and avenues frame large and small squares. There are many museums, cathedrals, and courtyards in Petersburg. The suburbs are home to world-famous royal residences. The city’s numerous rivers and canals are a special feature of Saint Petersburg.

The main tourist attractions.
• The State Hermitage
• The State Russian museum
• The Peter and Paul fortress
• The St. Isaac’s Сathedral
• The Kazan Сathedral
• The Church of the Savior on Blood
• The Summer garden
• The Mariinsky theatre
• The Catherine’s palace and Amber room in Pushkin
• The Cascade of fountains in Petergoff and Grand palace
• The Palace and Park in Pavlovsk
• The river Neva and Saint-• Petersburg channels
• White nights and draw bridges

The Palace drawbridge in Saint Petersburg

Tips

Saint Petersburg is very friendly to tourists. There are many restaurants, cafes with various cuisines of the world. There are cultural and entertainment creative spaces that are fashionable among young Russians, where they come to relax, eat well, and have fun. In the spring-summer-autumn tourist seasons, during the New Year period, many city festivals are held. Read more about it at the link https://ets-russiatravel.com/tours-to-russia-dmc/best-in-russia/events-calendar-saint-petersburg/

General tips about Russia travel and Saint Petersburg as well please read here https://ets-russiatravel.com/tours-to-russia-dmc/travel-tips-to-russia/