Top 10 Places to Visit in St Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is considered the official cultural capital of Russia. Boasting many centuries of rich heritage and unique architecture, it’s a city that warrants full exploration. But if you simply don’t have time to see all that’s on offer, you’ll need to set your sights on the city’s highlights.

If you need Russian visa support and advice ahead of your visit, it’s worth accessing it at the earliest possible stage. It isn’t usually difficult to obtain a visa for visiting Russia, but it’s still advisable to get a head start.

Other than this, it’s simply a case of making a beeline for the best of Saint Petersburg – 10 examples of which you’ll find below.

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If time is a factor, prioritizing the State Hermitage Museum comes highly recommended. Founded by Catherine the Great all the way back in 1754, this spectacular facility has more than three million items in its collection and ranks within the top 10 museums and galleries in the world.

If time is a factor, prioritizing the State Hermitage Museum comes highly recommended. Founded by Catherine the Great all the way back in 1754, this spectacular facility has more than three million items in its collection and ranks within the top 10 museums and galleries in the world.

Somewhat smaller but no less impressive, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood was constructed between 1883 and 1907. Inside and out, a series of spectacular mosaics complement the lavish design of the church.

Considered the official birthplace of the city, being the first structure to have been built in Saint Petersburg in the early 17th century. The Peter and Paul Cathedral at the heart of the structure is the final resting place of every Russian tsar from Peter 1.

Saint Petersburg is home to a number of stunning squares, though none more important or historically relevant than Palace Square. This was the site of the October revolution of 1917 and the Bloody Sunday Massacre.

Perhaps the single most famous and photographed street in Saint Petersburg, Nevsky Prospekt is where you’ll find the finest shops, restaurants, entertainment, and nightlife in the city. Not to mention, some of the most beautiful buildings in Russia.

An absolute must during any visit to Saint Petersburg, Peterhof Palace, and its iconic park is the country’s closest approximation of Versailles. Peter the Great took his inspiration from the iconic French structure, though created something significantly more opulent and imposing.

Inspired by the world’s most famous basilica in Rome’s Vatican City, Kazan Cathedral shares a strong likeness with Saint Peter’s. Construction of the cathedral was completed in 1811, at which point the 80-meter-high dome was one of the tallest in the world.

Also known as the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, this fabulous structure was Russia’s first ever museum and is one of the world’s oldest by a significant margin. It also remains one of the most fascinating and enchanting to this day, with more than a million artifacts from all over the world in its archives.

Last but not least, you don’t have to be antiquities expert or a jewelry fanatic to get a kick out of the Faberge Museum. One of the most recent museums to open its doors in Saint Petersburg, the Faberge Museum houses approximately 4,000 incredible works of art, including a group of nine imperial Easter eggs created by Fabergé with a combined value that’s simply incalculable.

Once again, if you require a tourist visa for Russian entry, be sure to seek advice and get started on your application as early as possible.