Saint Petersburg has a dramatic quality that few cities can match. It was built on a swamp by the will of one man. Tsar Peter the Great founded the city in 1703. He wanted a window to the West. In 9 years, a capital rose from the marshes. The city was designed by Italian and French architects. Its palaces and cathedrals rival those of any European capital. The Neva River runs through the centre like a silver spine. Bridges open at night to let ships pass. The summer months bring the famous White Nights. Saint Petersburg is a city of art, literature, and revolution. It holds 200 museums and 8,000 cultural landmarks.
In This Article
The State Hermitage Museum: 3 Million Objects in 6 Buildings
The Hermitage is one of the largest art museums in the world. It occupies 6 buildings along the Palace Embankment. The Winter Palace was built between 1754 and 1762 by Bartolomeo Rastrelli. The palace has 1,786 doors, 1,945 windows, and 1,057 rooms. The museum collection holds 3 million objects. If you spent 1 minute at each object, you would need 5.7 years to see everything. The collection includes works by Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, and Michelangelo. The Jordan Staircase is 20 metres wide and made of white marble. The Small Throne Room dates from 1833. The Peacock Clock was made in 1777. It is still wound by hand every Wednesday. Entry costs 18 euros for adults (as of 2026). The museum receives 5 million visitors annually.
Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood: 7,500 Square Metres of Mosaics
The Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood was built on the site where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. Alexander II was killed by a bomb thrown by Ignacy Hryniewiecki. Construction began in 1883 and finished in 1907. The church resembles St Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. The interior is covered in 7,500 square metres of mosaics. That is more mosaic surface than any other church in the world. The iconostasis is decorated with Sardinian marble. The church was closed for worship in 1930. It was used as a vegetable warehouse during the Siege of Leningrad. Restoration began in 1970 and took 27 years. The church reopened as a museum in 1997. Entry costs 10 euros (as of 2026).
Peterhof: 150 Fountains and 4 Cascades in a 1,000-Hectare Estate
Peterhof is often called the Russian Versailles. It was built by Peter the Great between 1714 and 1723. The estate covers 1,000 hectares. The Grand Palace stretches 300 metres along a terrace. The Lower Park has 150 fountains and 4 cascades. The Grand Cascade has 64 fountains and 255 sculptures. It uses 10,000 litres of water per second. No pumps are used. The water comes from natural springs 22 kilometres away. The Samson Fountain shoots water 20 metres into the air. It was installed in 1735. The Monplaisir Palace was Peter’s favourite residence. Entry to the Lower Park costs 15 euros (as of 2026). The Grand Palace costs an additional 12 euros. The best time to visit is between May and October when the fountains operate.
Palace Square and the Alexander Column: A 47.5-Metre Monument
Palace Square is the main square of Saint Petersburg. It measures 500 metres by 300 metres. The Alexander Column was erected in 1834 to commemorate the Russian victory over Napoleon. The column is 47.5 metres tall. It weighs 600 tons. It stands without any attachment to its base. The column is held in place by its own weight. The General Staff Building was built between 1819 and 1829. It has a 580-metre curved facade. The Triumphal Arch was added in 1828. The square has been the site of many historical events. The Bloody Sunday massacre of 1905 began here. The 1917 October Revolution was announced from the square. Today the square is free to visit 24 hours. It hosts concerts and public events throughout the year.
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