The Venice of the East, Petrograd or Leningrad - St. Petersburg had many names throughout its history. Just as varied as its names is the world's northernmost metropolis and Russia's second largest city. Hardly any other city in #russia is so rich in large tsar's palaces, baroque churches and classicist buildings. So explore this beautiful city and immerse yourself in its history.

Important: For a city trip to St. Petersburg you need a visa!

Public Transportation

With its 342 bridges, #stpetersburg is rightly called the Venice of the East. Countless canals and islands line the cityscape. A boat tour through the city is therefore not only practical, but also absolutely worthwhile. From the water you have the perfect view of the city.

The traffic in St. Petersburg is hellish, so you should rather refrain from driving yourself. Instead, you can explore the city well and cheaply with the Metro. 

Sights

The Catherine Palace

If you want to experience St. Petersburg, you must visit the Katharinenpalast. Strictly speaking, it is not in St. Petersburg, but in Pushkin, about 25 kilometres away, which used to be called Tsarskoye Selo.

The highlight of the tour through the Catherine Palace is the world-famous Amber Room. It was a gift from the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm I to the Russian Tsar Peter the Great. At that time the Amber Room was called the eighth wonder of the world. During the Second World War it was brought to Königsberg by the Germans and disappeared. Only a few art treasures of human history are entwined around so many myths and theories as around this space. Since 2003 you can see an exact reconstruction of the Amber Room in the Katharinenpalast.

Peterhof Castle

We recommend that you visit Peterhof Castle, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The huge Versailles-style park with a magnificent palace was built on the Gulf of Finland. Stroll through the extensive park and admire the countless fountains, fountains and fairytale gardens. It makes you feel like a real tsar, doesn't it? From St. Petersburg there are regular buses and boats to Peterhof.

The Hermitage

The Hermitage is one of the largest art museums in Europe and one of the most important in the world. You can admire 60,000 works of art in more than 350 rooms. You don't have to drive far to visit the Hermitage, as it is located in the centre of St. Petersburg. The building consists of several parts built in the 18th and 19th centuries. 

Picturesque churches and cathedrals

Magnificent churches are scattered throughout St. Petersburg and characterize the image of the city immensely. The most famous is, of course, the Church of the Resurrection, also known as the Church of the Redeemer, which, with its colourful domes, is one of the most popular postcard motifs. The Isaac Cathedral, on the other hand, captivates with its impressive size, which is why you have a wonderful panorama view from its tower. 

St. Petersburg has much more to offer than golden palaces, pomp and castles. The world's northernmost metropolis is multi-faceted, shines in the truest sense of the word and is definitely worth a visit!