The best sites to visit in Russia’s cultural centre!
With the new free e-visa entry to St. Petersburg and the surrounding Leningrad region of Russia, Malaysians together with 52 other countries can visit Russia with ease! The captivating city of St. Petersburg is filled with lots of unique architecture that has seen a lot throughout Russia’s history. A bevy of museums and cathedrals and palaces that each have a different story to tell about Russia. That being said, we’ve come up with these ten things to do in St. Petersburg.
1. Explore the State Hermitage Museum
Known as the second-largest art and culture museum in the world, the State Hermitage Museum is usually mentioned in the same vein as The Louvre in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
The 255-year old museum houses over 2.7 million works of art and artifacts that date back as far as the peak of Egypt, with actual mummies on display. Even better, work by artistic visionaries like Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, and Anthony van Dyck is also open for public viewing.
Address: St. Petersburg, nab. Palace, 34
Opening Hours: 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday-Sunday; 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM every Wednesday & Friday; closed on Mondays
2. Marvel at the opulence of Peterhof Palace
A certified UNESCO Heritage Site, the Peterhof Palace was commissioned by Tsar Peter in the 18th century as a response to the Palace of Versailles by King Louis XIV of France, thus earning it the moniker, “The Russian Versailles.”
It’s meticulously manicured and maintained which has kept the palace in its pristine condition that has captivated tourists around the world. Stunning gardens with unique architecture and accented with gold everywhere you go, Peterhof Palace served as an inspiration for the rest of St.Petersburg’s architecture.
Address: Razvodnaya Ulitsa, 2, St Petersburg, Russia
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM on Sunday – Friday; 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM on Saturdays
3. View the Imperial Easter Eggs at the Faberge Museum
The Faberge Museum is a more recent museum, opened in 2013 through the restoration of the 18th-century Shuvalov Palace that now currently houses the Faberge’s prized collection of eggs.
The Imperial Easter Eggs were made to the order of the last two Romanov Tsars of Russia by Faberge, the renowned Russian jewelers whose lineage and expertise in jewelry crafting extend today.
Address: Fontanka river embankment, 21, St Petersburg, Russia, 191023
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:45 PM, daily
4. Cruise down St. Petersburg’s Canals
Like you would on a gondola in the canals of Venice, Italy, St. Petersburg also features a citywide system of canals. Even better, companies offer canal cruises that take you through the different landmarks of the city.
Boat through the canals of St. Petersburg and take in the waterfront sites of iconic St. Petersburg landmarks like the Hermitage Museum and Cathedral of the Savior on Spilled Blood.
Address: Embankment River Moyka, 26, Sankt-Peterburg, Russia 191186
5. Go Kayaking Down the Neya River and Visit the Aurora Cruiser
Speaking of traveling by water, if cruising the canals left you wanting more of seeing the best of St. Petersburg by water, go ahead and take a kayak down through the Neya River with a stop at the famous Aurora Cruiser.
The evening row takes you through even more historical landmarks of St. Petersburg, like the Winter Palace, where the Baroque influence makes for strikingly unique architecture. It’ll end with a tour of the Aurora Cruiser, one of the battle-class ships that saw usage during the Russo-Japanese war.
Address: Petrovskaya embankment, 6, Saint Petersburg, 197046
Hours: Tours start at 5:45 PM/6:00 PM
6. Get Inside the Nicholas Naval Cathedral
Immediately recognizable with its light blue walls and golden domes, the Nicholas Naval Cathedral also holds ornate chandeliers and intricate paintings on the walls of the interior.
Address: Nikol’skaya Ploshchad’, 1/3, St Petersburg, Russia, 190068
7. Visit the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
The icon of St. Petersburg, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is actually a monument to a fallen Russian Emperor. Back in March 1881, then-emperor Alexander II was fatally wounded in an assassination attempt. Once his son, Alexander III, rose to power, he commissioned the building of the church as a memorial to his father, it stands on the site where the attack took place.
Make sure to book the St. Petersburg CityPass to gain access!
Address: Griboyedov channel embankment, 2Б, St Petersburg, Russia, 191186
Opening Hours: 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM, Thursdays – Tuesdays; closed on Wednesdays
8. Climb to the top of St. Isaac’s Cathedral
St. Isaac’s Cathedral is the largest cathedral in all of Russia and the fourth largest orthodox cathedral in the world. However, because of its massive size, the cathedral serves a dual purpose as a museum with a viewing deck at the top of the basilica that overlooks the entire city.
Make sure to book the St. Petersburg CityPass to gain access!
Location: St Isaac’s Square, 4, St Petersburg, Russia, 190000
Address: 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM on Thursdays – Tuesdays; closed on Wednesdays
9. Explore the MASSIVE Peter and Paul Fortress
Don’t let the picture fool you, the Peter and Paul Fortress is more than a solitary building. In fact, the fortress stands as the original citadel of St. Petersburg. The massive star-shaped compound was founded by Peter the Great over 300 years ago. The compound’s highest point, the bell tower of the Peter and Paul Cathedral, is the highest building in the city, rising to 122.5 meters off the ground.
Make sure to book the St. Petersburg CityPass to gain access!
Hours: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM on Thursdays – Tuesdays; closed on Wednesdays
10. View the world’s largest collection of Russian Fine Art at the Russian State Museum
The Russian State Museum, while holding the world’s largest collection of Russian Fine Art, also boasts a significant place in history. It was established by Nicholas II, son of Alexander III (who founded the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, remember?). After the Russian Revolution in 1917, a lot of private art collections from around the country were nationalized and relocated to the Russian State Museum.
Make sure to book the St. Petersburg CityPass to gain access!
Location: Inzhenernaya St, 4, St Petersburg, Russia, 191186
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM on Mondays; 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM on Wednesdays, Fridays-Sundays; 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM on Thursdays
Enjoy these activities on a free e-visa visit to St. Petersburg!
St. Petersburg is a city rich with history and culture. The striking architecture that maintains its unique Baroque and neoclassical stylings from the late 17th and early 18th century give the city a unique identity to go along with its storied history. Now that Russia has decreed free e-visas to St. Petersburg for Malaysians, what are you most looking forward to seeing and doing in St. Petersburg?
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