Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is the second-largest city in Russia and widely regarded as one of the most beautiful destinations in Europe. With a population of more than 5 million, it has a huge historic city center, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is a city of architecture and culture but the nightlife is pretty great, too.

History of St. Petersburg

The second-largest city of Russia after capital Moscow was once the capital of Imperial Russia in the 18th century, shortly after its foundation was laid by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703. As Leningrad, the city underwent one of the most significant sieges of history. The Siege of Leningrad by Nazi Germany and their allies went on for almost 900 days. Recently it came under much limelight as well, St. Petersburg stadium being one of the venues of FIFA World Cup 2018.

What to See in St. Petersburg

1. State Hermitage Museum

A monumental museum situated across 6 buildings on the Palace Embankment. It is one of the largest and oldest museums of art and culture in the world, with a collection of over 3 million items!

The Hermitage Museum is one of Russia's most important museums. It is home to one of the biggest collections anywhere in the world, and has a long history since it was established 1764 by Catherine the Great. The museum has several exhibitions dedicated to various styles and eras, such as the Italian Renaissance, the Italian and Spanish fine arts, the Impressionists and post-Impressionists and so on. The museum has acquired over the years several paintings of the greatest artists ever known to man - Rembrandt, Raphael, Anthony van Dyck, Holbein and of neoclassical, modern and post-Impressionists such as Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Matisse among several others. The museum's collection is so huge that it is spread across 6 buildings on the Palace Embankment, of which 5 are always open to the public. And even then, it is only a small part of the collection that is displayed at any given time. This place is an absolute must, regardless of whether art is your thing or not. The entry is free for everyone on the first Thursday of every month. On other days, foreigners have to pay more than locals.

2. Peter and Paul Fortress

The Peter and Paul Fortress was originally a fortified area meant to protect the state from foreign attacks. It was constructed in 1703 and then extended and modified for the following four decades. While the fortress never saw any actual combat, it still has a dark story behind it, as it served as a prison and execution quarters during the Bolshevik revolution in the early 20th century. Today, it's part of the State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg.

Within the walls of the fortress and surrounded by beautiful gardens and stone paths, there are several buildings. Perhaps the best known is the 18th-century Peter and Paul Cathedral, the final resting place of Russian czars. Prison cells, a city museum, and the Saint Petersburg Mint building (founded in 1724 to manufacture coins and still in operation) are also located within the walls of the fortress.

3. Winter Palace

The Imperial Palace of St. Petersburg and the residence of the Tsars. Today it is the main building of the Hermitage Museum.

The Winter Palace is the single most popular building in St. Petersburg. It has the richest of imperial histories, and still holds all of it's grandeur from it's glory days. The palace design we see today was completed in the 1760s in the Russian Baroque style, and is a piece of genius by the architect Bartholomeo Rastrelli, who's magnificent works are seen in many imperial buildings of St. Petersburg. The palace is in the shape of a square, with a courtyard in the centre. Inside, it has nearly 1500 rooms. The Hermitage collection was always housed in the Winter Palace, however today it has become the primary reason for the millions that visit the palace everyday. The banquets, rooms, galleries and the intricate architecture inside this massive palace just cannot be missed. The imperial glory of the Winter Palace was restored after the fall of the communist regime, and you have not visited St. Petersburg without visiting the Winter Palace.

4. Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood

This historic church was built on the location where Alexander II was fatally wounded, and is an absolute sight to behold.

After initiating several reforms in Russia never taken before, Alexander II was subject to many assassination attempts. The one which succeeded was at the location of the church we see today, when he was mortally wounded by a bomb thrown at him. This imposing cathedral was funded solely by the imperial family and private donors, and is one of the most stunning structures in all of St. Petersburg. The architecture is unlike the Baroque and Neoclassical styles predominant throughout the buildings of that period, and was actually built in classical Russian architecture. The interior and the exterior of the church are so emphatically detailed with mosaics that is actually one of the largest collections of mosaics in the world. During the wars and the revolutions, the church was significantly damaged. After 3 decades of restoration, it was opened again in 1997 in all it's historical grandeur, and today serves as museum of mosaics, and is one of St. Petersburg's top attractions.

5. Palace Square

Palace Square is St. Petersburg's largest public square. Quite like Moscow's Red Square, it is adorned with a collection of hugely important structures and events. Palace Square is St. Petersburg's favourite public space. It is home to some of St. Petersburg's most popular tourist attractions.

Many major events in Soviet/Russian history have taken place right on the square—Tsar Alexander II was shot here in 1879, and Bolshevik troops started the Revolution here in 1917 by storming the Winter Palace, where the royalty lived. Since then, the square has also been used for marches and demonstrations, from military parades to celebrate Victory Day (which marks the end of WWII) to New Year's Eve celebrations.

6. Saint Isaac's Cathedral

Technically speaking, St. Isaac is the world's largest Orthodox basilica, though the building has been converted into a museum, and religious service is rarely held here anymore. The cathedral was named after Saint Isaac the Confessor, a Christian monk who founded an important monastery in Constantinople.

What to Eat in St. Petersburg

Russians love to binge on calorie-rich dishes and wash it down with hearty portions of desserts. Beef Stroganoff, originated in the 19th century, primarily made of beef pieces and sour cream sauce with vegetables. Savoury pancakes, Borscht, Pirozhki, and Shchi are other popular dishes to try in the city. Local wine and Russian Vodka remain favourite choice to wet your whistle.

Shopping in St. Petersburg

As most of the shops have location in the historical center, shopping in St. Petersburg is quite fun. For, one can enjoy the sightseeing of architectural wonders and purchase some amazing clothing and other items from the exquisite spots simultaneously. For an exhaustive indulgence in a shopping spree, visitors are recommended to visit Bolshoy Prospect of Petrograd Side and Nevsky Prospect housing some chic and luxury brands, while Galeria and Gostiny Dvor are recommended if one wants to do some budget shopping. However, if one wants to buy souvenirs in St. Petersburg, then they can explore markets near the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood or some imperial porcelain factory shops, and let the memories of this tour prevail for a longer duration.

When to Visit St. Petersburg

Russian winters are notorious for below-freezing temperatures, and St. Petersburg is no exception. Avoid February because it's the coldest month of the year. St. Petersburg summers are sunny and pleasant. Late June and early July are the best months for St. Petersburg travel because of the White Nights, an international arts festival of outstanding opera and ballet performances by the Mariinsky Theatre.

How to reach St. Petersburg

By Air

There are no direct flights to St Petersburg, Russia from India. However, there are multiple connecting flights which are just as easy and convenient. As mentioned before, many tourists prefer to visit Moscow first. There are direct flights to Moscow from the Indian capital Delhi which operates twice every day of the week. Flown by Russia’s own Aeroflot, this air service provides the best flight duration – 6 hours 25 minutes. There are numerous flights every day from Moscow to St Petersburg and the time taken is only 1.5 hours. The next best option is the 8 hours 35 minutes flight from Delhi via Ashgabat by Turkmenistan Airlines. Emirates have flights via Dubai as well, and so do Qatar, Lufthansa and Swiss Air via Doha, Frankfurt, and Zurich.

By Train

It is not possible to go from India to St. Petersburg by train. But one can go from Moscow certainly. Reaching Moscow is easier than reaching St Petersburg, and from the capital city, there are multiple trains to take you to your destination. From Leningrad station in Moscow to Moskovsky station in St Petersburg runs the Sapsan train, which is the fastest and smoothest train journey one can imagine. It takes you to your destination in under four hours. If you want it to be a luxury trip, Grand Express and Red Arrow are there at your disposal.

By Road

Going to St Petersburg from India by roadway would be like taking the road less traveled. Unless people have an expedition to make, in which the road trip in itself is the objective, going by land makes no sense. There are geographically possible roads via Iran or Kazakhstan, and also via the Trans-Siberian Highway. But to implement them practically takes a lot of effort and political permissions.