The first day of any trip has its own special taste for me, which combines slight (or not so much) fatigue from the path traveled, confusion in thoughts, a desire to see everything at once and embrace the immensity. And there is also a feeling of some indescribable happiness and delight. I don’t know about you, but it’s always like this for me. This is probably why I remember well the first days of my vacation or trip. I also have a habit of “listening to myself” to understand how I feel at the moment. For me this is very important - to feel it means to live it and keep it in memory.
Usually, when I drove into the city, I always felt awe and glee. This time, either the road tired me or the unusual circumstances of this journey, but I did not experience anything unusual. Well, Peter and Peter. It was as if we had arrived in Moscow.
At first we moved around the city normally. All the time straight along Moskovsky Prospekt. We should have gone to Sadovaya, but decided to listen to the sign for Nevsky and went to Vladimirsky Prospekt. As it turns out, there is a problem with left turns in St. Petersburg. That's why we got lost. It's easy to go far, but it's harder to get out.
We drove around St. Petersburg for an extra hour. Then we arrived at the place. Well, not quite in the right place - on Italianskaya Street. Living on Nevsky is not easy - no one parks cars on the main street of the city.
Found quickly, checked in without problems, I already wrote about this. We rested in our room for some time. When we went outside, it was already dark. We had dinner at the cafe on Italianskaya, 10. You can read more about the cafe in. After a good dinner we went for a walk along Nevsky Prospekt.
So, January 3, 2013, St. Petersburg, Nevsky Prospekt, 48. Air temperature +1+2. Puddles.
Looking to the right - Nevsky in all its New Year's splendor.
Gostiny Dvor (Nevsky, 35) is ahead. The building of early classicism consists of two-story arcades that stretch for an entire block (a distance of more than 1 km.)
Looking to the left - an empty bottle of champagne on the crosswalk. That's right - New Year.
The gray building in front is the Russian National (Public) Library (Nevsky, 37). This building is part of the ensemble square. Ostrovsky. We will go there a few days later - on Christmas.
And now we are moving along the underground passage to the other - odd - side of Nevsky Prospekt.
Three houses ahead Nos. 48, 46, 44 (in the photo below). We go from the side of Palace Square. The numbering of houses is decreasing.
On the far right, brightly decorated with garlands, building 48 is the Passage building. From the side, this building houses the theater named after. V. Komissarzhevskaya.
The next house - No. 46 - once housed a bank and restaurant. Now there is an excellent bookstore called Bookvoed. What's not there? I recommend!
Nevsky, 44 is the house where the famous confectionery shop “Sever” is located, our hotel where we stayed, and two dozen other different offices and organizations. Of course, the first two are my favorite.
Another look at our St. Petersburg haven and the legendary Sever confectionery.
Arcade of Gostiny Dvor. We went inside and walked around the first floor. Some souvenirs, mostly very expensive, are for foreigners.
Herringbone. St. Petersburg is luxuriously decorated.
Nevsky, 33 - building of the City Duma. The turret is very beautifully decorated with garland. Visible from afar.
Houses no. 44, 42, 40.
I have already talked about the 44th house. At number 42 there is an Italian fast food restaurant, Sbarro, as well as the Central Theater Box Office - the oldest in the city. In 1854-1873. lived in this house. F. Tyutchev.
At house 40 there is a landmark of St. Petersburg - the Abrikosov restaurant. Cool restaurant! I will talk about it in more detail later. Between houses 40 and 42 there is an Armenian Apostolic Church (18th century). It so happens that I don’t have a photograph of this church. We walked and walked there several times, but didn’t take pictures of the church.
The Grand Hotel Europe is located at house number 36. This is a luxurious five star hotel. The hotel building was built in the eclectic style in 1873-1875.
Catholic Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria (Nevsky, 32-34) - building of the 18th century.
House No. 32, yellow in color, is not particularly remarkable. But the next one - house number 30, blue - is very famous. It was built on the corner of the Griboyedov Canal and Nevsky Prospekt in 1759-1761. Architects: Rastrelli and Jaco. Pushkin, Vyazemsky, Zhukovsky, Krylov, Ryleev visited the bookstore in this house. The owner, Engelhardt, organized musical evenings and masquerade balls here. This house went down in the history of Russian literature; the events of M. Yu. Lermontov’s drama “Masquerade” took place here.
Here's a closer look at the edge of Engelhardt's house. And the next house - the house with a turret - is no less legendary.
House No. 28 - House of Books. The building was built in 1902-1904. American "Manufacturing Company Singer" in Art Nouveau style. This is an architectural monument of federal significance. The building is really very elegant.
Griboedov Canal. The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is visible in the distance.
Opposite the House of Books is the magnificent Kazan Cathedral. This is one of the largest churches in St. Petersburg, built in the Empire style in 1801-1811. designed by architect Voronikhin. A stunningly beautiful cathedral that you can stare at for hours.
Near the cathedral there are two monuments - M.I. Kutuzov and M.B. Barclay de Tolly.
Peter Online has prepared a list of interesting places in the heart of the Northern capital that you should not miss while walking. Many of these objects are not in official tourist guides, however, if you want to experience St. Petersburg 100%, here are 50 interesting attractions that are definitely worth visiting in the city on the Neva.
1. Cinema "Khudozhestvenny"
One of the oldest cinemas is located a stone's throw from the Mayakovskaya metro station. It awaits you: a wide selection of films, all the premieres from the obligatory program and other joys of cultural pastime.
Nevsky Prospekt, 67
2. Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace
The palace of the famous architect Stackenschneider today houses the Anatoly Sobchak Museum of the Formation of Democracy in Modern Russia, as well as one of the first exhibitions of wax figures in St. Petersburg.
Nevsky Prospekt, 41
3. Anichkov Bridge
One of the most famous bridges in St. Petersburg. The bridge received its name in honor of colonel-engineer Mikhail Anichkov, whose battalion was located beyond the Fontanka in Anichkova Sloboda during the time of Peter the Great.
4. Anichkov Palace
The palace was built as a gift to Elizabeth Petrovna's favorite Alexei Razumovsky. Because of its location, Anichkov Palace served as a decoration at the entrance to St. Petersburg, whose border in the mid-18th century ran along the Fontanka. After the revolution in 1937, the Palace of Pioneers was opened there, which still exists today.
Nevsky Prospekt, 39
5. “Writers’ Book Shop”
This oldest bookstore in St. Petersburg was founded back in 1934 on the initiative of M. Gorky and S. M. Kirov. Today, the bookstore hosts meetings of St. Petersburg writers, poetry evenings, presentations of new books and much more. A reading club is planned to open soon.
Nevsky Prospekt, 66
The cozy garden was designed back in 1816-1834 by the architect C. Rossi. Now this is one of the most favorite vacation spots for both St. Petersburg residents and city guests. Every year, fairs and folk festivals are held in the garden.
Ostrovsky Square
7. Gostiny Dvor
In ancient times, this building was the central place of trade in the city. You could buy absolutely everything here.
Today Gostiny Dvor has lost its former scale and is an ordinary shopping center, although this in no way diminishes its historical value.
Nevsky Prospekt, 35
8. Monument to the St. Petersburg photographer
Since 2001, the bronze photographer has been decorating Malaya Sadovaya Street. It is curious that the prototype of the monument is the famous St. Petersburg photographer - Karl Karlovich Bullu.
Malaya Sadovaya street, 3
9. St. Petersburg cats
Since 2000, the cat Elisha has settled on the facade of the Eliseevsky store; a little later he acquired a neighbor, the cat Vasilisa, who, on the contrary, lives on the facade of the building on Malaya Sadovaya, 3. Pets of St. Petersburg are always happy to have their guests.
Malaya Sadovaya, 3
10. House-commune of engineers and writers - “Tear of Socialism”
The experimental house is the first commune of engineers and writers. It was the creation of such houses that was supposed to help fulfill the dream of a communist paradise on Earth. There weren’t even kitchens in this house; everyone ate together in the dining room.
Rubinshteina Street, 7
11. “Eliseevsky store”
Eliseev's store opened in St. Petersburg in 1903. The work of the famous architect G.V. Baranovsky belongs to the early modern style. Initially, St. Petersburg residents were shocked by the unusual appearance of the building, and to this day the whimsicality of its forms leaves no one indifferent.
Nevsky Prospekt, 56/8
12. Monument to Peter I the Carpenter
If you still can’t find a job, then you should turn to Peter I, a carpenter, for help. After all, who else but Peter the Great, who is busy building a new ship, can help you with this.
Admiralteyskaya Embankment
13. House of Books
The building, created for the office of the Singer sewing machine manufacturer, was transformed after the revolution into one of the most famous bookstores in St. Petersburg. On the upper floors there is one of the offices of the social network Vkontakte.
Nevsky Prospekt, 28
14. John Lennon Street
For fans of the legendary group The Beatles, this street is not a secret, although you cannot find it on city maps. The mysterious street is located behind two doors leading to the Pushkinskaya 10 art center.
Pushkinskaya street, 10
15. Circus on Fontanka
The Great St. Petersburg State Circus was opened to visitors on December 26, 1877. The circus building, designed by architect V. A. Quesnel, is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe.
Fontanka Embankment, 3
16. Funtik
An incredibly touching kitten named Funtik settled at the entrance to the Republic of Cats cafe. Any child can make a wish; to fulfill it, you need to hug or pet Funtik. Unfortunately, the kitten's magic does not extend to adults.
Yakubovicha Street, 10
17. Gavryusha and Uncle Styopa
In the courtyard on Pravda Street you can meet not one, but even two favorite characters from childhood - the dog Gavryusha and the policeman Uncle Styopa. The world's only reading dog lives in the courtyard of house No. 11. To fulfill your wishes, you need to write a letter and put it in Gavryusha’s mailbox. A well-known policeman regulates traffic near house No. 3.
Street of Truth
18. “House-ring”
This building was built at the end of the 18th century. Its courtyard has a regular round shape. Today it is one of the oldest residential buildings in St. Petersburg. It is curious that the parents of A.S. Pushkin lived in it from 1827 to 1833.
Fontanka Embankment, 92
19. Kazan Cathedral
The first building of the cathedral was built during the reign of Anna Ioannovna. The appearance that the Kazan Cathedral has today, it acquired under Paul I. The Emperor wanted the new building to resemble St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome.
20. Monument to St. Petersburg rain
The symbolic monument in the city of rain is located in the Izmailovsky Gostiny Dvor. Everyone can not only admire the spectacular creation, but also ask the inverted umbrella for good weather.
Shopping center Izmailovsky Gostiny Dvor, 1st Krasnoarmeyskaya street, 15
21. Mosaic courtyard
One of the youngest attractions in St. Petersburg is located on Tchaikovsky Street. Benches, paths, walls - literally everything is decorated with incredible bright colors of mosaics. It is noteworthy that the colorful courtyard was created by the hands of young students of the Small Academy of Arts.
Tchaikovsky Street, 2/7
22. Tower with 24-hour dial
An original clock with a 24-hour dial adorns the observatory tower in the courtyard of the old building of the BSTU Voenmekh. It’s unusual to look at the fancy dial, but the time is always shown correctly. Unusual clocks appeared in St. Petersburg more than a hundred years ago, during the construction of one of the buildings of the All-Russian Research Institute of Metrology, under the strict leadership of D. I. Mendeleev.
1st Krasnoarmeyskaya street, 1
23. Couple in love
A bright couple in love decorates a courtyard on the Fontanka near the estate of the merchant Glebov. The designers were inspired by similar monuments in England and France. The evergreen guy and girl delight St. Petersburg residents in any weather, because in reality they are created from wire and artificial turf.
Fontanka River embankment, 90
24. Girl on a Tyrannosaurus
The spectacular six-meter sculpture called “The First Horseman” depicts a Chinese girl riding a Tyrannosaurus rex. It first appeared in the city several years ago at a temporary exhibition in the courtyard of the Marble Palace, opposite the monument to Alexander III. The exhibition ended, but the original monument remained; now the girl with the domesticated reptile has become an integral companion of the Russian emperor.
Courtyard of the Marble Palace, Millionnaya Street, 5/1
The famous monument to the creator of St. Petersburg, erected under Catherine II. If you believe the legend, as long as the monument to the first Russian emperor stands in its place, everything will be fine with the city.
Senate square
There are no monuments to Alexander I in St. Petersburg, but there is the Alexander Column. It is curious that it is believed that the sculptor Orlovsky gave the angel at the top of the pedestal the facial features of Alexander I.
Palace Square
27. Graffiti portrait of Viktor Tsoi
A vibrant memorial to the popular rock musician was created by a team of HoodGraff artists on the 24th anniversary of his death. In general, there are many places in St. Petersburg dedicated to the famous leader of the Kino group; there are even plans to erect a monument.
The yard between Vosstaniya Street, 8 and Mayakovsky Street, 5
28. Rotunda on Gorokhovaya
A mystical building with a scandalous reputation went down in the history of St. Petersburg as a place where Masons gathered, sacrifices were carried out by Satanists, and many other creepy things took place, as evidenced by the frightening lattice in the form of a pentagram.
Urban legends also tell the story of a boy who climbed into some passage in a building and emerged half an hour later as a decrepit old man. Today it is difficult to get into the building; residents are tired of curious informals.
Gorokhovaya street, 57
29. Church of Our Lady of Lourdes
The Roman Catholic Church was built in 1903-1909 at the request of the French Catholic community; after the revolution, about 3,700 French Catholics lived in St. Petersburg. The gloomy Gothic building of the Catholic Church complements the unusual city landscape with its severity.
Kovensky lane, 7, letter A
30. Monument to Alexander Pushkin
The figure of the brilliant Russian writer has been delighting St. Petersburg residents for more than 130 years - the opening took place on August 7, 1884. According to an urban legend, they wanted to move the monument to another place, but the children playing in the garden began waving their arms and shouting: “This is our Pushkin!”, after which it was decided to leave the memorial at the historical site.
Pushkinskaya street
31. Graffiti portrait of Sergei Bodrov Jr.
A team of artists from the HoodGraff group decorated the city with a bright memorable portrait of the famous actor, beloved by many in the films “Brother” and “Brother - 2”. The graffiti is dedicated to the tragic date - September 20.
Stop Obukhovskaya Oborony Avenue / Alexander Nevsky Lavra, near Alexander Nevsky Square
32. Poultry Yard
The cozy St. Petersburg courtyard has become a real bird's paradise. Here the family stork has built a nest, the nightingale sings magical trills, wise wood grouse look at passers-by, and the eagle protects everyone from adversity. The original courtyard is also decorated with the “Hymn to the St. Petersburg Court.”
Nevsky Prospekt, 11
33. Admiralty
The famous ship once crowned the main shipbuilding center of the country. The hollow ball under the boat contains incredible historical treasures: information about all the repairs of the needle and the boat, the names of the craftsmen who took part in the work and several St. Petersburg newspapers of the 19th-20th centuries.
After recent renovations, modern workers also contributed to the historical treasury, leaving their “Message to Posterity.”
Admiralteysky proezd, 1
34. St. Isaac's Cathedral
The legendary symbol of St. Petersburg, was once one of the largest domed structures in the world. The lengthy construction of the cathedral - beginning 1818 - end 1916 - gave rise to the legend that the House of the Romanovs would fall as soon as the final repairs were completed and the scaffolding was removed from the cathedral. And, indeed, the prediction came true.
Isaac's Square, 4
35. “Historical courtyards”
Beautiful ladies walk along the streets, an organ grinder whistles a simple tune, a bearded janitor works painstakingly - the characters painted on the walls of one of the houses on Gorokhovaya Street will transport residents of St. Petersburg and visitors to the world of the 19th century.
Gorokhovaya Street, 31-37
36. Lions Bridge
One of the most luxurious bridges in St. Petersburg spans the Griboyedov Canal. The crossing is decorated with snow-white noble lions. However, the figures of the beast lords not only serve decorative purposes, but also hide cast iron supports, holding the entire bridge structure on chains.
Griboyedov Canal Embankment, 98
37. Courtyard with Carlson's house
Now, to see the house of your favorite hero, you don’t need to go to Stockholm; St. Petersburg fans of Astrid Lindgren’s work decided to place “a man in the prime of his life” on their roof.
Fontanka River embankment, 50
38. "Emerald City"
Following the yellow brick path along Pravdy Street, you can find yourself in the magical St. Petersburg emerald city. The journey promises to be eventful, you can meet the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Lion, as well as meet the sorceresses Stella, Vellina and the wise Goodwin.
Pravdy Street, 2-8
39. Pushkin’s House in Kolomna
A small, modest room with one window in house No. 185 on Fontanka was Alexander Sergeevich’s home after graduating from the Lyceum and right up to his southern exile.
Fontanka River embankment, 185
40. Apartment house Kudryavtseva
The house, located at the intersection of Sadovaya Street and Fontanka Embankment, was popularly nicknamed the “iron house” because of its unusual angular shape. The famous architect Vasily Shauba was given only one condition during the construction of the building - strict cost savings.
The architect decided to create a building in the neoclassical style, but minimal costs led to a violation of the integrity of the composition and a simplified design of the facade.
Fontanka Embankment, 199
41. Mumu
In 2006, one of the most touching monuments in the city was erected near the “Two Mu” cafe. It depicts a dog with sad eyes, obediently waiting for its owner; his coat and boots were also cast.
Sadovaya Street, 94/23
42. Sculpture “Lamplighter”
A memorial to the street lamp was erected in the Northern capital on Odesskaya Street. Engineer Ladygin invented the incandescent lamp in 1872, and a year later the first street lamp appeared right near his house.
Odessa street
43. House from a Russian fairy tale
The façade of the building is made with intricate decoration of many details: leaves, flowers, kokoshniks - you can’t see it all. And if you are lucky enough to get into the courtyard, you can see a whole ancient Russian ensemble with a turret. The house has been decorating St. Petersburg since 1900 and most recently, in 2012, it was restored after a fire.
The building, built according to Lishnevsky’s design at the beginning of the 20th century, was one of the tallest in the city at that time. The composition was an incredible combination of Gothic, Art Nouveau and Central European Renaissance styles.
However, the bizarre appearance does not even suggest the multifunctional significance of the building - it housed a number of city institutions.
Voznesensky Avenue, 40-42
46. Yusupov Garden
The park began its history back in 1730, when the Yusupov princes built their estate. In the 1860s, by order of Alexander II, the garden was open to the public, but was still closed for the winter. Later, the park began to receive visitors all year round; in winter, figure skating began there, and at the beginning of the 20th century, all-Russian and international competitions were held.
Sadovaya street, 54
47. Monument to Peter the Great
The monument began to be created during the life of the first Russian emperor, but for various reasons it was completed only by 1747. After a long search for shelter, the monument was installed opposite the Mikhailovsky Castle during the reign of Paul I in 1801.
Sadovaya street, 2
48. Monument to the ship "Poltava"
The sculpture is a copy of a ship created in 1709 under the strict guidance of Peter I himself. Gazprom presented the city with a bronze Poltava.
Voskresenskaya embankment
49. 5 corners
The unusually shaped house has survived to this day in the form in which it was remodeled by the famous architect A. Lishnevsky in 1913. If you look at it from the side, you can clearly see how its perspective flies like a swift arrow into five corners and suddenly ends at the entrance located near the theater box office.
Zagorodny Avenue, 11
(22 Ratings)
To the question: “Where can I go for a walk in St. Petersburg?” no one will give you a definite answer. And this is understandable. Peter, as St. Petersburg is friendlyly called, is not an ordinary city, it is a metropolis in which every building, every street, every square and every courtyard remembers the events of a certain century. It's Peter! It is entirely woven from grandiose events, it breathes eternity and grace...
To feel this city with your heart, you need to start a walk around St. Petersburg from Nevsky Prospekt, which, according to Andrei Bely,
"like any avenue, there is a public avenue, that is, an avenue for the circulation of the public (not air, for example)..."
Where to go for a walk in St. Petersburg - the best beautiful places and unusual routes
1. Nevsky Prospekt
Nevsky Prospekt is a large communication highway of St. Petersburg. There is no way to get around it if you are already in the city - neither from east to west, nor from west to east.
Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg, photo
There are as many as four metro stations on Nevsky, which contributes to filling the street with tourists, visitors, the public seeking fame, attention, communication... Do you want to see some celebrity? Come to Nevsky Prospekt and you will definitely meet her there. Nevsky is the most popular place for the promenade if you have not yet decided where to take a walk in St. Petersburg.
2. Catherine's Garden
If you are looking for where to take a walk in St. Petersburg and we are talking about Nevsky, it is worth remembering the Catherine Garden, the entrance to which is also located on Nevsky, just opposite the Eliseevsky store on Ostrovsky Square. The photographs of the towering monument to Catherine II were taken by the authors in the Catherine Garden, by the sculptor who captured the greatness of the Empress - Mikhail Mikeshin.
Interesting places in St. Petersburg where you should take a walk - Catherine's Garden and a fragment of the monument to Catherine II
The overall composition of the monument will certainly be interesting: at the feet of Catherine the Great there are sculptures of her loyal subjects:
- Field Marshal Pyotr Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky
- Field Marshal General Grigory Potemkin
- Generalissimo, great commander Alexander Suvorov
This great three faces Nevsky Prospekt;
- poet Gabriel Derzhavin
- Head of the St. Petersburg Imperial Academy of Sciences, Princess Ekaterina Dashkova
Their sculptures face the Anichkov Palace;
- Chancellor of the Russian Empire Alexander Bezborodko
- President of the Imperial Academy of Arts Ivan Betskoy
These great figures address the public library;
- Admiral Vasily Chichagov
- Count Alexey Orlov-Chesmensky
To the facade of the Alexandrinsky Theater.
- Address: pl. Ostrovsky, Art. Metro Gostiny Dvor"
3. Gostiny Dvor
Gostiny Dvor was built during the time of Catherine the Great, in 1757-1785. There were as many as nine markets operating on the territory of this largest shopping complex in St. Petersburg.
If you decide to walk around the perimeter of the Gostiny Dvor building, prepare comfortable shoes - the total length of the building is approximately one kilometer. From Gostiny Dvor you can get to one of four nearby streets - Nevsky Prospekt, Dumskaya, Lomonosova and Sadovaya.
Gostiny Dvor in St. Petersburg
There are also four metro stations near Gostiny Dvor:
- Nevskaya
- Perinnaya (exit to Dumskaya Street)
- Lomonosovskaya
- Sadovaya
- Opening hours of Gostiny Dvor: daily, 10:00-22:00.
- Address: Nevsky Prospekt, 35, st. Metro Gostiny Dvor"
4. Drawbridges over the Neva
Since St. Petersburg is located on islands lying at the mouth of the Neva River, the normal functioning of river and sea transport requires special infrastructure - drawbridges. In total, there are more than 800 bridges in the northern capital, including 21 drawbridges.
Navigation on the Neva lasts from April to October, during this period it is necessary to raise bridges; special services are involved in the procedure. Bridges are raised at night, you can see this picture with your own eyes.
Drawbridges of St. Petersburg
The most colorful pictures of the divorce are shown by the Dvortsovy, Liteiny, Troitsky and Bolsheokhtinsky bridges.
Many types of St. Petersburg bridges are depicted on greeting cards and business cards of the city. The most photogenic is the Palace Bridge, which is usually photographed against the backdrop of the Peter and Paul Fortress. Following the Palace Bridge, you can get from the Winter Palace to the spit of Vasilyevsky Island.
If you plot your travel route along the Trinity Bridge, which is located next door, you will get from Dvortsovaya Embankment to the Petrogradskaya Side. The Trinity Bridge is only being raised halfway - the span that is located on the left bank of the Neva, near the Palace Embankment, is being raised.
Another route where you can take a walk in St. Petersburg is a pedestrian walk from the Palace Bridge to the Liteiny Bridge and then a transition to the Vyborg side of St. Petersburg.
The Liteyny drawbridge serves precisely to connect the Vyborg side with Liteyny Prospekt. In the Liteiny area the Neva makes a turn. A walk along the route Palace Bridge - Liteiny Bridge (you can walk either along the Palace Embankment or along the Moika Embankment) will last about 40 minutes.
5. Kazan Square and Kazan Cathedral
It’s worth a look here to see the monuments to the great Russian commanders - Mikhail Kutuzov and Mikhail Barclay de Tolly. Both famous military leaders commanded the Russian army in difficult times for Russia, during the Patriotic War of 1812, during the period of confrontation with the troops of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Where you can take a walk in St. Petersburg - Kazan Cathedral, photo
- Address: Kazanskaya square, st. Nevsky Prospekt metro station
6. St. Isaac's Cathedral
If we talk about the famous St. Isaac's Cathedral, then in the history of St. Petersburg there were several of them: the first was wooden, Peter I was married in it. The second was stone, which was built on the site of a dilapidated wooden one. But it didn’t last long either - the Neva washed away the foundations and the temple had to be rebuilt anew. The third is the result of a forty-year period of construction, completed under Emperor Paul I. The architect of the cathedral was a young Frenchman, Auguste Montferrand, who died almost immediately upon completion of construction.
However, the skill of the author of the majestic structure has not sunk into oblivion - St. Petersburg decorated a magnificent temple, its decoration contains sculptural compositions, mosaics, stained glass, paintings, the cathedral makes an indelible impression on the guests of northern Palmyra.
St. Isaac's Cathedral, photo
Currently, Isaac is used as a museum; only on rare occasions are services held here.
As soon as the white nights arrive, tourists rush to St. Isaac's Square - just at this time the main tourist attraction of the temple - the colonnade - is available until dawn.
- Ticket price: 250 rubles, visit to the Colonnade - 150 rubles.
- Opening hours: daily, except Wednesday, 10:30 - 18:00, evening programs (April 27 - September 30): daily, except Wednesday, 18:00 - 22:30
- Address: St. Isaac's Square, 4 st. metro station "Admiralteyskaya"
7. New Holland
New Holland is a man-made island, a monument of industrial architecture, created in the 18th century in the Neva delta. The project envisaged the construction behind the island formed by the Moika, Admiralteysky and Kryukov canals of a large marine transport and storage facility in which ship timber needed by the shipyards of St. Petersburg could be stored.
Man-made island New Holland, photo
The project was completed at the end of the eighteenth century. According to historical documents, there was also a small palace of Peter I on the territory of New Holland.
The symbol of the island is a magnificent portal arch, made in a classical style; its photo and design can be found in almost all textbooks on architecture in the world.
Buy train tickets to St. Petersburg
- Free admission
- Opening hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00 - 22:00, Friday - Sunday 9:00 - 23:00
- Address: Admiralteysky Canal embankment, 2, st. metro station "Admiralteyskaya"
8. Central Park of St. Petersburg
Central Park of St. Petersburg named after. CM. Kirov is located near the St. Petersburg stadium, where matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup are being played.
It is located on Elagin Island, in the north of the city. Once upon a time there was the residence of Russian emperors, now the site is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the very center of the park is the Elaginoostrovsky Palace, where two museums currently operate:
- Museum of Russian Decorative and Applied Arts
- glass art museum
Central Park is the most beautiful place where you can take a walk in St. Petersburg, there are river boats and catamarans for rent, you can go rollerblading, and go on excursions to the mini-zoo.
- Opening hours: daily, 6:00 - 00:00
- Address: Elagin Island, st. metro station "Krestovsky Island"
9. Summer Garden
The Summer Garden is the idea of Peter I embodied in reality. It was conceived as a regular park - all lines had to be clear, geometrically correct - paths met at right angles, the landscape of the park should be decorated with sculptures of ancient gods. However, time has made its own adjustments, and the garden has become a little distracted from its regularity.
Summer Garden in St. Petersburg - the idea of Peter I, brought into reality
Peter's Summer Palace is located near the Neva; unfortunately, it is currently under restoration.
Having looked into the Summer Garden, look for a monument to the fabulist Krylov; children's theater performances are regularly shown near it.
- Free admission
- Opening hours: May-September 10:00 - 22:00, October - March 10:00 - 20:00, daily except Wednesday
- Address: Palace embankment, st. metro stations "Nevsky Prospekt", "Chernyshevskaya", "Gostiny Dvor"
10. Spit of Vasilyevsky Bridge
The Spit of Vasilyevsky Bridge is a part of Vasilyevsky Island, modified in order to locate a commercial port here. However, all the ships could not fit here, so they were eventually redirected to the neighboring city of Kronstadt and to Gutuevsky Island, and the port territory was transformed into a semicircular cape square, at the point where the Bolshaya Neva meets the Malaya. Opposite the arrow stands the stock exchange building, which will soon house the Museum of Russian Guards and Heraldry, located within the Hermitage.
The Strelka has an amazing decoration - Rostral columns, located between the cape and the Exchange building. Rostras are the prows of enemy ships, taken as a trophy, and they also represent allegorical figures of the largest and historically valuable rivers - the Volga, Neva, Dnieper and Volkhov. In past times, the Rostral Columns were used as beacons; now the fire on them can be seen during city festivals.
My God, how I love, how I love coming home...
Like reading the license plates of Leningrad cars like a prayer,
And meet with my native Petrograd at the old mosque,
Flying through the white nights of an intoxicated soul.
Alexander Rosenbaum
How strange it is to come to your hometown as a guest. To look at painfully familiar houses and streets through the eyes of a tourist and see something that did not catch your eye before, to get to know the city again after a long separation.
St. Petersburg is always beautiful for me. Neither the dilapidated facades of houses on Goncharnaya, Khersonskaya and Poltavskaya, nor the crowds of Chinese on Nevsky, nor the chaotic crowd of cars can spoil my joy of meeting my beloved city.
But most of all I was happy about the people on the streets. Whatever one may say, Muscovites and Leningraders differ radically from each other. What's the difference?
Let's look at St. Petersburg through the eyes of a man who lived here most of his life and has now become an ordinary guest of the Northern capital.
Like any normal Leningrader, I am sensitive to criticism of my city. But it’s one thing to listen to unpleasant things from strangers, and quite another to notice something that visitors may really not like. Is it worth dwelling on the shortcomings of the city, where there is Palace Square and the Alexandria Column, the Hermitage and raised bridges in the cool white St. Petersburg night?
It’s not worth it, of course, but it would be stupid to deny all this.
My first complaint about my hometown is, oddly enough, the traffic on Nevsky and the streets adjacent to them. Living in St. Petersburg, I rarely used public transport and even less often was a pedestrian, so the manner of St. Petersburg drivers to completely calmly drive onto zebra crossings and stand there until they managed to complete the maneuver killed me. I immediately asked myself the question, “Did I really do that too?” It seems not))) . To be honest, I haven’t seen and don’t see anything like this in Moscow. Maybe it's the cameras? St. Petersburg drivers are still completely unafraid
Here, for example, is the intersection of Marata and Nevsky streets. The light is green for pedestrians. How to get around this yellow car?
And this is the corner of Vladimirsky and Nevsky. Poor pedestrians have to maneuver between cars, risking their own lives
There are crowds of people on Nevsky! I always thought that this was how it should be and was immensely surprised by the wide Tverskaya in Moscow, where no one touches each other with their elbows or shoves their bags. Scooters and cyclists can easily ride along Tverskaya, but it’s impossible to ride a bike along Nevsky, so they try to ride along the roadway, creating problems for themselves and motorists.
Slowly but surely, St. Petersburg is turning into Amsterdam!
Palace of Beloselsky-Belozersky. I love this Stackenschneider creation. The Atlanteans still stand calmly under the gloomy St. Petersburg sky, looking with surprise at the human anthill.
As a child, I sincerely sympathized with these Atlanteans, who carried the heavy burden of times on their shoulders. I felt so sorry for them that my dad came up with a fairy tale that at night, when there are no passers-by on the streets, the Atlanteans leave their pedestals and, together with Klodt’s horses on the Anichkov Bridge and their handlers, take a break from their unbearable work, gain strength and get up again in the morning to continue to maintain the walls of the beautiful palace.
And life is in full swing on Nevsky! Summer verandas, which for some reason they tried to ban several years ago, are full of people. It seems to me that these verandas not only do not spoil the appearance of the city, but, on the contrary, make it more comfortable. Only now it becomes crowded for pedestrians on the pavement.
Fontanka! I’m already unaccustomed to such movement along the river))), hundreds of river buses with tourists, barkers, tour guides...
We approach the Anichkov Palace. Palace of Pioneers! Childhood memories.
a street artist who creates amazing paintings using spray paint.
Rock band on the pavement, opposite Gostiny. .
Artists at the fence of Katka's kindergarten
Tired Peter, sitting down to rest in the shade of an ancient lantern))
and Chinese tourists... It's all Peter, baby!
We are walking along the odd side of Nevsky. Opposite is the famous Eliseevsky with a window “named after Shemyakin” and the former Lancome store, which opened in 1990. This was a whole event for us in those years and every woman from St. Petersburg had to come here and, after standing in line, buy the coveted mascara with a golden rose on the case.
Taking a photo against the backdrop of the monument to Catherine the Great is truly priceless!
Kazan Cathedral. This is a place of power for me. In all the most difficult moments of my life, I come here to find a point of support and balance. All I need to do is walk along the gallery of the colonnade, touch the rough surface with my hand and rise like a Phoenix from the ashes of any scrape. There is no such place for me in Moscow and most likely there never will be.
At Gostiny Dvor we were attacked by a rabid squirrel and a bear. They danced, came at us with hugs and took away our camera, but we didn’t give up!))
St. Petersburg woman...I continue to be convinced that people on the streets of St. Petersburg are much more beautiful and elegant than those whom I see in Moscow. And that's a fact.
Griboedov Canal. All the same trams))
St. Petersburg intelligent dog))
Tired passerby
We also now have Wi-Fi on the buses.
Moscow station. How many Chinese traveled with us to Moscow on Sapsan? Million!))) We had to sit in the bistro car for the entire 4 hours to the capital to hide from them.
My day as a guest in my hometown has ended. He is still the same, my Peter. But how painful it is to look at the dilapidated facades of beautiful old houses (((. Traces of former greatness are especially clearly felt after Moscow, elegant and licked by Sobyanin.
Maybe money will finally reach St. Petersburg and it will acquire the appearance that it deserves for its history and role in the life of the country. I hope so.
And you?
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St. Petersburg at any time, and especially in summer, attracts millions of tourists from different cities and countries. You can easily join them, even if you only have . It is most convenient to come to the Northern capital. Moskovsky Station is located in the very center of the city. The main street of St. Petersburg, Nevsky Prospekt, is literally nearby, you just need to walk a few steps diagonally and cross Ligovsky Prospekt.
The facades of 240 buildings overlook the avenue; it is the most crowded street in the city, approximately two million people pass along it every day. While admiring these marvelous buildings, the main thing is to ensure that you are not trampled. This is probably why Nevsky Prospekt is considered the warmest street in the Northern capital. In summer it is 2-3 degrees warmer here than in the suburbs, and in winter it is 10-12 degrees warmer.
A walk along Nevsky Prospekt usually starts from Vosstaniya Square and ends at. They began to build the avenue on both sides at once, on the side of the Admiralty and on the side of the Nevsky Monastery. Previously, Nevsky Prospekt was called “Nevsky Prospect”. The main street of St. Petersburg received its modern name in 1781, not at all because the Neva flowed nearby, but because the Alexander Nevsky Lavra appeared on the site of the Nevsky Monastery.
You definitely need to walk the entire Nevsky Prospekt, but first, stock up on strength and prepare for a long walk. From Vosstaniya Square to the main square of the city, Dvortsovaya, you need to walk more than 3 kilometers, but there is something to see. Both sides are decorated with palaces, historical buildings of different architectural styles, cinemas, shops, hotels.
You can stop here without any problems. Respectable and respectable tourists are always welcome to open the doors luxury hotels , and for students or travelers on a small budget hostels are suitable , which are in abundance around. They are less comfortable, but inexpensive, only 500-600 rubles per night.
On the way to the avenue, it crosses three rivers at once: the Fontanka, the Griboyedov Canal and the Moika. The first one is found in Fontanka. Anichkov Bridge is, of course, the most popular bridge in the city; tens of thousands of people pass here every day. And it gained its popularity thanks to its artistic design, namely “Klodt’s horses.” Sculptor Peter Claude created the sculptures in 1841. At first they were two sculptures made of bronze, and then they sculpted the sculptures from plaster.
On the Fontanka, you can change the format of the excursion from walking to water. Here, as well as on the Griboyedov Canal and on the Moika, people vying with each other to invite people to board ships for a ride along the rivers and canals of St. Petersburg. You should not ignore the water excursion; an adult ticket will cost 500-600 rubles, but in an hour you will see almost all the main attractions of the city from the water and will plunge into the atmosphere of Northern Venice.
Ostrovsky Square
Continuing your walking tour, you should definitely look into Catherine Square, located right next to Nevsky Prospekt. Here St. Petersburg artists will paint your portrait or cartoon for a small fee. And if you don’t like art, you can just sit in a picturesque place on a bench, relax and feed the pigeons.
In the middle of the square there is a monument to Catherine II. There is a legend that they invested quite seriously in it. The court ladies took off their jewelry, earrings, diamonds and buried them in the ground under the pedestal, but so far no one has been able to find this precious treasure.
Directly opposite Ostrovsky Square, across the road, take a look at the legendary store of the Eliseev merchants. The store itself is a St. Petersburg landmark. And after shopping, don’t forget to make a wish. St. Petersburg is not only a city of attractions, but also a city where dreams come true. On Malaya Sadovaya Street there is a fountain in the shape of a ball. There is a legend that if you spin the ball and make a wish, it will definitely come true.
Not far from Ostrovsky Square is the Bolshoi Gostiny Dvor. In addition to being a listed building, it is also another place for shopping, a kind of historical shopping center. Also from here you can go to St. Petersburg, its suburbs and to. The most popular, of course, is the sightseeing tour.
House of the Singer company
Although the attractions can be reached on foot. One of the most notable buildings here is the home of the Singer clothing company. Now it houses the city's largest bookstore and the headquarters of a popular social network. In contact with .
In 1902, the clothing company decided to build a skyscraper on Nevsky Prospect, similar to those in New York, but this was contrary to the historical architectural traditions of St. Petersburg. Architect Pavel Syuzor brilliantly and originally solved this problem. He erected a six-story building that fit perfectly into the surrounding architectural landscape, and above it he placed a light, almost entirely glass, tower with a dome, which gave the building a sense of height. The House of Books opened here in 1938, and it was within its walls that the expression “a book is the best gift” was born.
St. Petersburg is a city where a guidebook is really needed. There are a huge number of them in the House of Books, from the simplest cards costing from 70 rubles to entire volumes costing 500 rubles and more. For young people who are interested in informal St. Petersburg, there are guidebooks with descriptions of places that are not covered on standard excursions. You can also buy thematic guides: “Dostoevsky’s Petersburg”, “Literary Petersburg”, “Mystical places of St. Petersburg”.
“House of Books” is open daily from 9.00 am to 0.00 am.
Patisserie Wolf and Beranger
Having armed yourself with a reliable guide for your walk, you can think about having a snack. An excellent place for lunch right there on Nevsky Prospekt; residents of St. Petersburg better know it as “Wolf and Beranger’s Confectionery”. Opened in 1834, it immediately became extremely popular and fashionable. It was here, on January 27, 1837, before going to the duel, Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin made an appointment with his second, his lyceum friend Konstantin Danzas. And here, a few days after the death of the great poet, guests read the first handwritten copies of the poem “On the Death of a Poet” by young Lermontov.
Pushkin lived very close, on Moika 12, and loved to come here with his family. Now any guest of St. Petersburg can sit at that same Pushkin table and try the poet’s favorite dessert - a baked apple in puff pastry with prunes. Now the former pastry shop is called the Literary Cafe.
The cafe is open every day from 12.00 to 23.00
Although in St. Petersburg you can eat for every taste and budget, it is in this part of Nevsky Prospect that there are especially many restaurants and cafes. And the incredible high cost is another myth; you can have a delicious lunch within 300 rubles. Moreover, a delightful view of the Griboedov Canal and the Kazan Cathedral is a nice bonus.
Kazan Cathedral
Opposite the “House of Books”, across the road, is the Kazan Cathedral, located on Nevsky Prospekt. Its monumental appearance is mesmerizing. The columns of the cathedral are made of granite monolith; there are one hundred and eighty-two of them in total.
Andrei Voronikhin, when designing this cathedral, had to comply with the canon, the rule according to which Orthodox churches are built. Therefore, as a rule, the altar should be in the east, and the main entrance in the west. The doors that face Nevsky Prospect are the Northern doors, and the gallery of columns very successfully hides the impression that the cathedral stands sideways to Nevsky Prospect.
There is always a huge queue inside the cathedral; people stand to pray in front of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. This is a family heirloom of the Romanovs, the image in front of which the sovereigns prayed before and after the coronation, from which they asked for blessings before important state and family events. It was in the Kazan Cathedral that the great Russian commander Mikhail Kutuzov was buried.
It is no coincidence that St. Petersburg was considered the spiritual center of Russia. It will take at least a week to visit all the churches and monasteries of the Northern capital, but you can see the main shrines in a day. The Kazan Cathedral is an active church and is open from 7.00 until the end of the evening service at 20.00. Entrance to the temple is free.
From the Kazan Cathedral to the main square of St. Petersburg it is literally a stone's throw; you just need to cross the bridge over the Moika River and turn right into the arch of the General Staff Building. And here she is.
Unique photographs of Nevsky from the times of pre-revolutionary Russia.
