Saint Petersburg.
Your next chapter?

Overview

For the city in Florida, see Saint Petersburg (Florida)

Saint Petersburg (Russian: Са́нкт-Петербу́рг Sankt-Peterburg), known as Petrograd (Петроград) in 1914-1924 and Leningrad (Ленинград) in 1924-1991, is the second largest city of Russia, with 5.6 million inhabitants (2021), the fourth most populous city in Europe, the world's northernmost city of at least a million residents, and the former capital of the Russian Empire. Founded in 1703, it is not ancient, but its historical cityscape is remarkably well-preserved. The center of Saint Petersburg occupies numerous islands of the Neva River delta, divided by waterways and connected by huge drawbridges. Since 1991, it and some historical suburbs, including Peterhof, have been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It is part of the Silver Ring of cultural and historical centers of the Northwest of Russia. It is home to one of the world's largest museums of art, the Hermitage. Many Russians know the city as Piter (Питер), a diminutive of Saint Petersburg.

Understand

Saint Petersburg was built by Peter the Great in 1703 on the Neva River, on the land he had just conquered from the Swedish Empire, outside the area then populated by the Russian people. Pre-planned almost from the very beginning, the city, called by Peter "my window on Europe", was designed to look European rather than Russian, was designed by many European architects. As the capital of the Russian Empire from the early 18th century to the early 20th century, the city grew steadily, saw many crucial events of the Russian history, and was a major cultural center. Many world-famous artists, scientists, writers and composers, such as Mendeleev, Dostoevsky and Tchaikovsky, lived and worked here.

In 1917, the city came under communist rule after the Russian Revolution. The significance of Saint Petersburg has declined somewhat after the transfer of the Russian capital to Moscow in 1918, but this allowed its cityscape to remain largely intact to this day. During World War II, the city was besieged by the Wehrmacht for 872 days, resulting in more than a million deaths, mainly from starvation. It remains the deadliest siege in world history.

The city has undergone several name changes since its founding. Due to the German origins of the name "Saint Petersburg", its name was changed to the more Russian-sounding "Petrograd" in 1914 in the wake of World War I. Subsequently, its name was changed to "Leningrad" in honour of the founding leader of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. In 1991, after the breakup of the Soviet Union, the original name was restored, though the surrounding area remains known as Leningrad Oblast. During the hardship years of Yeltsin's presidency in the 1990s, much of the city was controlled by the Tambov gang.

Saint Petersburg has almost always been, or at least tried to be a city with strong foreign connections, and this is where its authenticity lies. Don't expect it to be overly indigenous. Matryoshkas and other such souvenirs popular among foreigners have very little to do with its authentic life.

White nights and black days The city's position at 60°N makes for huge seasonal variation in day length. Days are less than 6 hours long at the end of December, but it never gets darker than twilight during the White Nights season in June. Not only are the days very short in late autumn and early winter, but the weather may be overcast for weeks, without a hint of blue sky, which may feel depressing. However, when the sun does shine through in December, the light of the low sun, not more than only seven degrees above the horizon at its zenith, bathes the city and its snow-covered landmarks, canals, and neoclassical architecture in an enchanting, diffuse, golden light.

Weather The driest season with least precipitation is early spring. July and August are usually the rainiest months, though the difference is usually not big enough to worry about. But if you care about this, it is a good idea to have an umbrella or raincoat handy.

In November–March there are hardly any tourists—even domestic tourists—so you won't see the barest hint of the long lines of the summer at the Hermitage. Saint Petersburg's neoclassical streets are also simply gorgeous in the snow. Temperatures can range from relatively mild, slightly above freezing point, to bitterly cold. From time to time it may get well below the averages, to -25°C (-13F) and below, often with high humidity and wind, so be prepared to dress warmly. Most major tourist attractions (except fountains and all sorts of water transport, of course) are still open and some hotels offer lower prices during this time.

Snow cover persists on average from November till early April (late April in the countryside), with most of it falling during the first half of the winter. Snow is not always removed from streets in time and may exacerbate traffic problems. The danger of slipping may be high in winter, as the surfaces are often covered with ice. Wear good boots, take small steps, and watch your feet! Also beware of icicles falling from roofs.

The rivers and canals are frozen on average from late November till April. Usually from late April till November the Neva is navigable, and during this season most of its huge bridges are drawn up to let ships pass for several hours each night according to a published schedule. This is a spectacular sight during the White Nights, but also a major transport inconvenience.

In April, the sludge resulting from melting snow and the dust which forms when it dries up may get tiresome.

May 9 is Victory Day (День победы) celebrating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. This day is marked with an opening military parade on Palace Square, directly in front of the Hermitage, visiting various war monuments, giving flowers to war veterans who are dressed in full military outfits, and an evening parade down Nevsky Prospekt which includes survivors of the Siege of Leningrad.

June is peak tourist season during the famous White Nights (roughly 11 June–2 July), when the sun sets only for a brief period of twilight, and the streets stay alive around the clock. The last ten days of June, during the White Nights Festival of all-day performances, concerts, festivals, and parties, are the busiest time of the season and it can be difficult to reserve accommodation and transport. Book early.

July and August are usually the warmest months. This is a rather northern city, and it rarely gets really hot, but even more modest warmth can be hard to bear in summer because of the high humidity. Rain showers usually come and go throughout this time, so it is always a good idea for one to have an umbrella or rain jacket at all times, even on sunny clear days.

Late September—early October is a lovely time in the city. The temperatures drop to moderate, often with strong winds, and the tourists are all gone. Rain is still common.

Fountains work from May through mid-September. Most trees are in leaf from May through October.

When deciding on the time of your visit, keep in mind the days of school holidays, when museums and other similar venues can become considerably more crowded. School holidays happen in early November, the first half of January and late March. Moreover, general holidays are held around the New Year into early January, as well as in early May.

New Years is the biggest holiday of the year in Russia. Reserving a hotel room is usually not a problem during this time, but be prepared for very large crowds and noisy celebrations.

Talk

The language spoken in Saint Petersburg is Russian, as in most parts of Russia. English is usually taught in schools and universities, so younger people are supposed to understand it to some extent, but the chance of finding anybody who is fluent in English on the streets is, though better than elsewhere in Russia including Moscow, still not that great. Average people will probably be able to point out a direction, but don't expect much more. The signs and labels in most places, especially off the beaten path, are still in Russian only, with a notable exceptions of metro (subway) and street signs in the city centre. It may be a good idea to get familiar with the Russian Cyrillic alphabet before the travel, as this is easy and lets you recognize street names and so on.

Get in

Russian visa requirements are complex but are not hard to manage with some online research. See the Get In section of the article on Russia for information.

Airport to city travel City Buses 39Э (Express) operate service between the airport and the Moskovskaya (Московская) metro station for transfers to/from Metro Line 2 and other buses, while bus 82 operates service to/from the Проспект Ветеранов station for transfers to/from Metro Line 1 and other buses. Buses are available 05:15-01:40. Taxis can be booked via the mobile app or via the desk in the arrivals hall. Taxi 068 also can be booked online. Expect these touts to try to rip you off. Pre-booking through the internet is without risk, no credit card information is asked, and pre-payment is not required.

By train Tickets can be bought at the train stations or online. Long distance train tickets are generally more expensive if bought close to the date of travel. See Russia#By train 2 for more details on travelling in Russia by train.

There are five principal train stations in Saint Petersburg:

From Russia Tickets for travel originating in Russia can be bought at the train stations or online. Long distance train tickets are generally more expensive if bought close to the date of travel. See Russia#By train 2 for more details on travelling in Russia by train.

Sapsan high-speed trains (4-5 hours, 6 per day, for economy class if bought over 2 months in advance, for economy class if bought over a week in advance, usually sell out) make travel between downtown Saint Petersburg and downtown Moscow very easy. Some trains make a few stops including Tver. The crew speaks English.

Overnight rapid trains (8-9 hours, +) are slower but usually cheaper. Second-class coupe coaches, which include a bed and sheets, are good value.

By bus International buses and buses to major cities in Russia all leave from the , near the Obvodny Kanal metro station. Some may make additional stops elsewhere in the city; see below. Buses are the general method of travel to/from Estonia and Latvia.

The process of crossing the border by bus can take a long time. Border agents only speak Russian and are sometimes not aware of visa requirements, which leads to delays.

From Russia The train is much more preferred method of travel than the bus within Russia due to traffic jams.

From the Baltics and other cities in Europe Buses operate to/from the Ivangorod/Narva border crossing, which must be crossed on foot before boarding another bus on the opposite side of the border for continued travel. Border crossing times can range from 3 to 6 hours for entering Russia from Estonia and 1 to 3 hours when leaving Russia to Estonia. Buses between Estonia and Saint Petersburg almost always sell out; it is best to book a week or two in advance.

Lux Express. Lux Express is the most comfortable bus between Saint Petersburg and the Russian border.

Ecolines. Buses depart from the main bus station (Avtovokzal) at Obvodniy channel embankment, 36.

Baltic Shuttle. Buses are older and less comfortable than those of Lux Express but the schedule may be more accommodating. Buses depart from the main bus station (Avtovokzal) at Obvodniy channel embankment, 36.

Skylines / Uplines. Operates minibus daily departures from Ivangorod (2 hours, 6 per day). In Saint Petersburg, services depart from the bus station near Metro Bukharestskaya while arriving at Metro Prospekt Veteranov, Leninsky Prospekt, Moskovskaya before heading to Bukharestskaya. Bookings are made online using VKontakte.

By boat If you join a cruise tour of St. Petersburg, then you don't need a Russian visa, but you have to stay with the tour; however, many of these operators have stopped since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. See Russia#Get in.

VolgaDream and Stolichnaya Sudokhodnaya Kompania (SSK) operate river cruises on the inland waterway "Volga-Baltic" which links Moscow, the River Volga, and Lakes Onega, Ladoga and Neva.

Ports Passenger Port of St. Petersburg “Marine Façade" is the main boat terminal in St. Petersburg. It was built on reclaimed land on the western shore of Vasilyevsky Island at the mouth of the Neva River, 8 km west of the city center. With its 7 berths and 4 terminals, Marine Façade is able to handle 7 large cruise ships and more than 15,000 passengers per day. Bus 158 operates between terminal 3 and the Primorskaya (Примо́рская) metro station.

Smaller cruise ships sail up the Neva river and dock at either English Embankment (Англи́йская на́бережная; Angliyskaya Naberezhnaya) or Lieutenant Schmidt Embankment, both of which are closer to the city center.

Get around

Bridge draw schedule Except during the winter, the 9 low bridges in St. Petersburg are drawn during the night to allow for the passage of boat traffic. Therefore, if you don't make it to the side of the river where you are staying before the bridges are drawn and there are no high bridges to cross, you will be stuck until the bridges are lowered. There are "breaks" when some of the bridges are lowered in the middle of the night for approximately 30 minutes to briefly allow everyone to get home. The bridge schedule is particularly noteworthy for those staying on Vasilyevsky Island, which is unreachable at certain times of the night. Seeing the bridges drawn in the middle of the night is a must for all visitors to the city!

The Bolshoy Obukhovskiy Most, 14km south of the Alexander Nevsky Bridge (Мост Алекса́ндра Не́вского), is never drawn, allowing for 24-hour crossing of the Neva River.

The official bridge draw schedule is published online.

The following are the times when the bridges are drawn and will not be able to be crossed:

Funds or passes can be loaded onto the card. See info boards besides the cash desks for pricing. There is an additional RUB60 deposit for the card which will be refunded when you return it. Petersburg and many bus routes. Ticket controllers carry a small card reader to verify if the Podorozhnik card was swiped in the bus.

Saint Petersburg's metro system is the second largest in Russia, after that of Moscow. The metro is a cheap and effective way to get around the city, and also a major tourist attraction due to the beautiful decorations of the stations. Amateur photography (without a tripod, etc.) is allowed, although professional photography is prohibited. The trains are fast and run frequently. During rush hour, there are 2-3 minutes between trains.

Opening and closing times vary; the subway is closed from approximately 00:15 to approximately 05:45, depending on the station.

Metro maps can be found in every train car and always have station names in the Latin alphabet. The station names on the platforms are also in the Latin alphabet, and many other signs are in English. Station announcements on the train are only in Russian, but if you listen carefully you will hear the conductor announce the current station name and the next station as the doors are closing.

Stations are deep underground (30 to 86 meters), and just getting down by escalator can take 1-2 minutes. Transferring trains at transfer stations also involves long walks that can take 5 to 10 minutes. You may also be taken for additional luggage inspection.

Trains can be extremely crowded during rush hour. Be aware of your belongings and expect to have to push your way out of the train upon arrival at your station.

Buses (автобус) and trolleybuses (троллейбус - trolleibus) run frequently and cover much of the city. Route information is available online and by using the free Yandex.Transport (Яндекс.Транспорт) mobile app. A list of all bus routes is available online.

Buses and trolleys on main routes are frequently overcrowded during rush hours. Tickets (, with a discount for transfers from the metro) are sold by attendants on board the vehicle (exact change preferred) or by tapping a Russian debit or credit card at the reader.

Trolleybuses are indicated by the letter 'm' (the lower case version of the Russian letter 'т') on the stops, and diesel/gas buses by the letter 'A'. Both buses and trolleybuses may show the same route number, but the trolleybus route in this case is frequently shorter, and can vary in some minor respects.

Trams (трамвай – "tramvai") are not common in the city center due to traffic issues but are available outside the city center.

By local train Commuter trains (электричка, elektrichka) may be useful to get to the suburbs. Speeds are moderate, but trains operate infrequently. Information is available in Russian online.

By taxi Yandex is the official taxi company of Russia and taxis are best hailed via the Yandex Go mobile app. Taxis are always available but are much more expensive during peak periods or when the metro is closed.

Gypsy cabs or flagging down a random car for a ride are also means of transportation but safety and overcharging tourists are common with these methods.

By bicycle While the terrain in Saint Petersburg is flat, the city is not bicycle-friendly due to limited bike lanes, bad weather, high curbs and dangerous car traffic. However, you are allowed to take a bicycle onto the elektrichka trains upon payment of a small fee and go to a less crowded suburb to enjoy a ride.

See

The historic center of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments are UNESCO world heritage, so definitely worth your while.

As the center of the Russian world for 200 years of the Romanov Dynasty, the city reaped the rewards of Peter the Great's impossibly grandiose and tyrannical vision, and the Empire's extreme inequality. The wealth of the wealthy in Imperial Russia was almost unfathomably extreme, and led to the extreme opulence of the palaces and ecclesiastical buildings throughout the city center, as well as the suburban palaces at Peterhof, Gatchina, Strelna, Pushkin, and Pavlovsk. The greatest concentration of sights is found within the huge area of the center inside the Obvodny Canal, along the south embankment of Vasilievsky Island, and in the southern half of Petrogradsky Island.

Highlights The most important attraction is the Winter Palace on Palace Square (right by the Admiralty and the Bronze Horseman), which houses the Hermitage Museum, and which was the winter residence of the Romanov Tsars and essentially the center of the Russian Imperial government. The Hermitage Museum is easily one of the top five art museums in the world, but even if you don't care about art, wandering around the enormous palace itself is extremely rewarding. The nineteenth century, whimsical Church on the Spilled Blood nearby is another internationally recognized icon of the city, with a spectacular setting on the Griboedov Canal near the Mikhailovsky Garden, and filled—literally filled—with beautiful mosaics.

Strolling the palace-lined banks of the Moika, the Fontanka, and the Griboedov Canal in the historic center is a must. During the summer months, you can also enjoy this magnificent architecture from the boat by joining any of the popular (albeit expensive) "channel tours," or opt for a budget boat trip along the Neva river on a so-called riverbus, which is a tiny boat zooming along the river on several routes that are integrated into the system of public transport.

In the same neighborhood, walk down Nevsky Prospekt, which serves as Saint Petersburg's main grand avenue for shops (especially the historic mall of Gostiny Dvor), theaters, and another realm of palaces and cathedrals, most notably the massive Kazan Cathedral. The Kazan Cathedral is functioning, so its easier to visit than the other big cathedrals (no lines, entrance fees, etc.). In the same neighborhood, but off Nevsky, are the Square of the Arts, where you'll find the Russian Museum—an absolute can't-miss for art lovers. The Mariinsky Theater is one of the world's most beautiful performance venues, and you should check it out even if you can't see an opera or ballet performance. Mammoth Saint Isaac's Cathedral, with its impressive balcony views, is another obvious sightseeing destination.

Across the Neva River are more can't-miss sights. The Peter and Paul Fortress on the Petrograd Side is easily one of the city's top three attractions. Aside from its sheer beauty, visit it for its immense history as the final resting place of the Romanov Tsars, as well as its role as a notorious prison for the most high-profile political prisoners under their rule. On Vasilievsky Island, you must at least take a taxi over to the Strelka for the views by the Rostral Columns, across the street from the Old Stock Exchange, home to the Naval Museum, surely one of the best of this kind on the planet. Then take another ride along University Embankment before heading back across the river. Better yet, stop along the way at the weird and wonderful Kunstkamera museum of ethnology, home to Peter the Great's bizarre collection of oddities.

Complicating the desire to see the city's highlights in a short period of time are the magnificent suburban palaces at Peterhof, Pushkin, Lomonosov, Strelna, and Pavlovsk. Any tourists who visit Saint Petersburg and don't see neither the Tsarskoye Selo palaces at Pushkin, nor the Bolshoi Palace at Peterhof, really should be a bit ashamed of themselves. It's like going to Paris and skipping Versailles. Of the three, the Pavlovsk Palace would be the least unforgivable to miss, but if you have the time—go.

Exploring more The center has much more sights. Mars Field with the Memorial to the Revolutionary Fighters and the Eternal Flame, the Circus, wonderfully baroque Smolny Cathedral, Peter the Great's Cabin, the rolling parkland of the Tauride Palace and Gardens, Alexander Nevsky Monastery, the Yusupov Palace where Rasputin was killed (if you get the chance to see a performance in the theater inside, jump on it), the neoclassical bust-filled Summer Gardens, Mikhailovsky Castle, the Marble Palace, the small but powerfully heartrending Museum of the Defense and Blockade of Leningrad. Literary buffs should seek out Dostoevsky's local haunts, including the famous "Murder Walk" from Crime and Punishment, which will take you right from Raskolnikov's apartment to the door of the very apartment where the grisly deed was done.

Head back across the river to the Petrograd Side, past the Peter and Paul Fortress, you'll find the Saint Petersburg Mosque, the really impressive Military Museum, the museum-ship of the Cruiser Aurora, the ever... interesting Museum of Political History, and the Botanical Gardens. On Vasilievsky, the whole Neva embankment is filled with great museums and grand buildings. Especially great places to visit (aside from the aforementioned Naval Museum and Kunstkamera) include the Menshikov Palace (run by the Hermitage), the Twelve Collegia, and the Mining Museum. And don't forget to hunt down the some 3,300 year-old sphinx statues from the Theban Necropolis!

Further afield There are many things to see in the north and south of the city—especially in the south. Southern Saint Petersburg is home to the Narva Triumphal Arch and its sister monument—the Moscow Triumphal Gate, the huge Monument to the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad (which honestly should be one of the main attractions in this city, if not for its distance from the center), Moscow Victory Park, and one of the best examples of Stalinist architecture (more interesting than you'd think) at the House of the Soviets, fronted by a very large Lenin statue. The most wonderful sight in southern Saint Petersburg, though, may be the whimsical, candy cane-colored Chesme Church.

The eastern part of the city (colloquially known as the Right bank) is renowned for its nineteenth century industrial architecture in the districts of Okhta and Porokhovye (former gunpowder factories).

Northern Saint Petersburg is a bit less notable, but adventurous travelers can find some things of interest, especially in the old industrial district around the Finliandskii Station, at the Forestry Academy and Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery for the fallen in the Siege of Leningrad.

The naval fortress of Kronstadt at Kotlin island, nowadays accessible by road across the dam, is a very significant site for fans of the history of military architecture, and makes for enjoyable day trips by boat.

Do

The Telegram Messenger groups InterNational Events, SPb Couchsurfing, Say Yes Saint Petersburg, Train Your Brain, World Language Cafe, Mafia English Events, and English Meetup Saint Petersburg all contain almost daily events for meeting locals or other foreigners, excursions, or practicing languages.

Opera, ballet and theater No trip to St. Petersburg is complete without seeing an opera or ballet performance. The Mariinsky is perhaps the most well-known institution for opera and ballet, but it is by no means the only theater in the city. Tickets are sold on each theater's website, at each theatre's box office, and throughout the city at kiosks and shops called Teatralnaya Kassa. Sometimes blocks of tickets sell out at the kiosks but tickets are still available at the theater, or vice versa, so it is worth checking both places if you have your heart set on a particular performance. It is possible to take not-so-small children into some performances if you take a private box, although you will need to ask when you buy your tickets.

Concerts The music scene in St. Petersburg is diverse, with several classical, jazz, and pop concerts to choose from each week. Tickets are available at the same Teatralnaya Kassa locations as ballet and opera tickets, although tickets to pop concerts – especially US and European stars on tour – sometimes use exclusive distributors. For pop and rock concerts, unless you buy tickets for the dance floor (tanzpol), you are expected to sit quietly in your seat as if you were at a ballet - ushers are vigilant about keeping the audience from standing up, dancing, or cheering (polite applause is allowed, but that's about all).

Several of the ballet and opera theaters also offer orchestral and recital performances. Also, don't forget the many small clubs where up and coming bands play.

Film Most cinemas in St. Petersburg show Hollywood films dubbed in Russian. Art cinemas like Dom Kino often show independent American or British movies subtitled in Russian.

Annual Message to Man international documentary, short, and animated films festival takes place in October, screening many films in English.

Canal boat tours A tour of the canals by boat is a great way to see the city in the summer. The typical tour is through the Moika, out to the Neva to see the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Cruiser Aurora, then in through the Fontanka (sometimes as far as the Mariinsky Theater). Tours start at many points along the route and return to their starting point - hawkers for different boat companies abound on Nevsky Prospect. Boats may or may not have a cafe and toilet on board. Most tours are in Russian but English tours can booked from the Water Tourism Center.

Sport Watch football: FC Zenit Saint Petersburg play in the Russian Premier League, the top tier of Russian football. Their home ground is Krestovsky Stadium, on Krestovsky island 10 km north of city centre. Take Metro M3 (Green Line) west towards Begovaya and get off at Novokrestovskaya.

Watch basketball: BC Zenit Saint Petersburg play in the VTB United League and are considered one of the "big four" of its strongest teams. Their home ground, commonly known as Sibur Arena though it's not its official name anymore, is near Zenit's football stadium.

Watch hockey: HC SKA Saint Petersburg play in the Kontinental Hockey League. Their home ground, SKA Arena, is the largest indoor hockey stadium in the world. Take Metro M2 (Blue Line) south towards Kupchino and get off at Park Pobedy, from there you can take either a shuttle bus to the arena that departs every 5 minutes at match days, or a 15-minute walk through the park.

Viewpoints and rooftops The best views in the city are from rooftops, such as rooftop bars and restaurants. Nice views can also be obtained by climbing the more than 250 steps of St. Isaac's Cathedral. Rooftop tours, generally in Russian, are also offered.

Learn

If you are looking to study in Russia, Saint Petersburg State University, founded by Peter the Great in 1724, is one of Russia's oldest and most prestigious universities. Other prestigious universities in Saint-Petersburg include ITMO University (University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics), Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University and the Saint Petersburg campus of the Higher School of Economics

See Studying in Russia for a list of language schools in Saint Petersburg.

Buy

Small cornerstores are not necessarily more expensive than larger stores.

Churches often have small souvenir/religious shops with a large variety of items.

The famous place to shop is of course on Nevsky Prospekt in the Center. The streetfront shops there, Passazh, and the historic mall at Gostiny Dvor skew upscale, but there are street markets just off Nevsky, most notably Apraksin Dvor (south on Sadovaya from Gostiny Dvor) where you can get anything on the cheap (especially cheap if you speak Russian).

Luxury shopping with world-class brands is available in two places in St. Petersburg: DLT luxury multi-brand store and Staronevsky fashion district.

Eat

Tasty local offerings for street food/fast food include shawarma (шаверма) and pyshki (пышки). Shawarma is a decidedly Saint Petersburg phenomenon (you won't find much of it in other Russian cities), served mostly by Azeris, and is everywhere—in cafes and on the street. Pyshki are Russian doughnuts, wonderful with coffee, and are strongly associated with Saint Petersburg. Russian chain restaurants such as Teremok (Теремок), Kroshka Kartoshka (Крошка Картошка), and Dodo Pizza are common in Saint Petersburg. Булочные Ф. Вольчека is a chain of many bakeries with slices of cake or small tubs of ice cream for under RUB100.

For restaurant dining, offerings are diverse. A pretty unique place to eat Russian cuisine would be the attractive restaurant on the grounds of the Peter and Paul Fortress. International, Western European, Asian fusion (Russified Chinese food is really good, but requires a culinary dictionary to order), etc. are just as easy to find as Russian, and sushi is very popular. Georgian cooking, despite its obscurity, is one of the world's great cuisines, is common in Saint Petersburg. The Central Asian, usually Uzbek, restaurants are a lot of fun too.

Drink

Pubs Bars in Saint Petersburg generally have the best beer selection of any city in Russia. The main Baltika (Балтика) brewery is in Saint Petersburg, although there is political controversy surrounding the beer after the company was effectively seized by the government in 2023.

Nightclubs Saint Petersburgers know how to party. There is a wide and excellent selection of great clubs that will satisfy all tourists looking to spend the night out. The city hosts clubs of all music. Rock, pop, jazz, hip hop/RnB, and a lot more.

There are several more popular neighborhoods where is the bigger concentration of nightclubs, one famous one being Dumskaya street (Думская улица) connected with Lomonosova street (улица Ломоносова), the neighborhood which is usually just called "Dumskaya", both right near Gostiny Dvor metro station. Another popular one is Rubinshteina street (улица Рубинштейна), which is closer to Mayakovstaya metro station. Overall, locals usually consider Rubinshteina to be above Dumskaya in terms of quality of clubs and people who go there, so it's recommended to choose Rubinshteina between them. But there are plenty of good clubs all around city center, usually closer to Nevsky avenue (Невский проспект), but not limited to it.

There are also several small, rather dirty gay clubs in the city; Cabaret (Кабаре) has multiple locations.

Sleep

The best area for a tourist to stay in is generally considered to be near the Nevsky Prospekt Metro. You'll be able to walk to most of the main attractions, and there are many restaurants, shops, cafes, clubs, etc. right on Nevsky. Staying off Nevsky along one of the beautiful canals is also a fabulous idea.

If you want to sleep further from city centre, it is good to keep close to the blue line, as you can easily change to any other metro line from there, or transfer to the airport connection on Moskovskaya station, and it stops by the most popular tourist attractions too.

As Petersburg is a huge city and most of its interesting sights are in the centre or to the south of the city, avoid staying in northern or eastern suburbs, even if you have metro nearby, as you will spend way too much time commuting to make good use of your stay - about half hour to reach the centre, not including walking to the metro station, which can easily double it.