Sightseeing in Saint Petersburg

Exclusively throughout the year, Vamos Travel can provide private guided city tours, which can range from 2 – 5 hours. If you would like a private guide at your disposal, to gain a deeper insight into St Petersburg and to guarantee a fabulous sightseeing adventure then we suggest you add this to your enquiry form and contact Vamos Travel today. “Let’s Go!”

The Admiralty was first built in 1704 and was one of the original buildings to be constructed in Saint Petersburg. However, the Admiralty that can be visited today was built between 1806 - 1823 and remains to be an outstanding piece of Russian architecture that radiates imperialism with its white columns and decorative statues. The Admiralty is not only a major landmark attraction for sightseeing but it is also the capitals compositional centre, as the cities major thoroughfares converge at this spot. The spire on the central building is decorated with a weather vane of a small ship, which can be seen from the main surrounding streets and has become a symbol of St. Petersburg. Today, although no longer the naval headquarters it is home to the naval college and this magnificent building should be seen whilst on your holidays in Russia.

The Alexander Nevsky Lavra was founded by Peter I in 1710, who assigned the utmost importance to the monastery, intending it to become the religious centre of the country. The monastery was named after the St. Alexander Nevsky and was given Lavra status in 1797, which is only reserved for a monastery of the highest order. At the turn of the 20th century there were 16 churches in the monastery complex, of which five still survive: Holy Trinity Cathedral, the Church of the Annunciation, St. Lazarus' Church, St. Nicholas' Church and the Church of the Holy Mother of God the Joy of all Mourners. This amazing ensemble of religious buildings can be found connect to the Nevsky Prospekt, between Alexander Nevsky Square and the Obvodny Canal. Not only are there the churches to discover, but our guests can enjoy the Garden and two cemeteries, where some of the most famous Russian’s are buried, like Rimsky, Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky. The Alexander Nevsky Lavra is open daily and is the most wonderful tourist attraction to be enjoyed in St Petersburg.

Anichkov Palace, was built in the 1740s, originally designed by Mikhail Zemtsov. The palace was named after Colonel Mikhail Anichkov who set up his camp on this site at the time of the founding of the city and whose regiment built the original wooden bridge over the Fontanka, now known as the Anichkov Most. Although, it lies on the Nevsky Prospekt, its main entrance faces the river, as in the 18th century the people of high society would have arrived on boat. Many young princes grew up in this palace and in 1935 the premises were returned to children and it was known as the Leningrad Palace of Pioneers. Today it is still occupied by a children's organization and exhibitions of their works are regularly held in the palace grounds, where there is a modern theatre and concert hall.

Interestingly, this city has the largest number of bridges of any city in the entire world, even more than Venice or Amsterdam, with a total of 539 bridges. The first bridge in St. Petersburg was built in 1703 and the longest bridge is the Alexander Nevsky. The widest bridge in the world belongs to Russia in St Petersburg, called Siniy Most or in English ‘Blue Bridge’. It was designed in 1818 and is built out of cast iron and is partly painted blue. One note you will want to remember is ‘beware of the bridges’ which are raised at night at varying times to let boats through. There are lots of stories of stranded people being marooned all night in bars with their respective bridges only to open in the wee-hours of the morning. And while this provides for colourful conversation about your weekend break experiences, we warn you, it can get very cold!

The Bronze Horseman is a famous monument to find on your sight seeing explorations, located close by to the Admiralty & St Isaac’s cathedral and was made in dedication to Peter the great. The statue was commissioned by Catherine II and made by the French sculptor Falconet in 1784 and the name ‘Bronze Horseman’ was given to the monument by the Russian writer Pushkin. This is a popular post card photo opportunity, feel free to send yours to our Russia city breaks department.

After assuming power in 1855, Alexander II initiated a number of unpopular reforms and was assassinated short into his reign of Russia. With money collected all over Russia, the Church of Christ's Resurrection, commonly referred to as the ‘church of Saviour on Spilled Blood’ was erected in memory of the Emperor Alexander II death. The Church of the Spilled Blood stands on the spot of his assassination in March 1881. The churches design and appearance is very similar to Moscow’s Church of St. Basil the Blessed, with its unique & rich decorative style. Also, the interior is worth a closer inspection, as it has one of the largest mosaic ensembles covering the facades and interior walls, designed by the most prominent Russian artists of the time. The Church of Christ's Resurrection is one of the major religious landmarks to be seen. It’s highly recommended you take a visit there.

The Hermitage Museum is conveniently situated in the centre of the capital, housed in five spectacular historical buildings and is quite simply a must see on holidays to St Petersburg. With the possible exception of the Louvre, there is no museum in the world that rivals the Hermitage in size and quality. Its collection is so large that it would take years to view it in its entirety. At last count, there were nearly 3 million works on exhibit. 15,000 paintings, 12,000 sculptures, 600,000 drawings, 600,000 archaeological finds, 224,000 objects of applied art, a million coins and medals, etc. The total length of the Hermitage routes is over 20 km and it would take a person over a hundred years to cast if only a cursory glance at each object of the Hermitage. The museum is especially strong in Italian Renaissance and French Impressionist paintings, as well as possessing outstanding collections of works by Rembrandt, Picasso, and Matisse. In addition, to the magnitudes of priceless art, the building itself is an attraction in its own right. The State Hermitage museum’s collection is housed in the lavish Winter Palace, one of the most outstanding examples of Russian baroque architecture in the world. The Winter Palace occupies an important place amongst all the great architectural achievements and is a true embodiment of greatness and power of Russia. The Winter Palace stands with grandeur scale, luxury and decorative brilliance and must be see up close during a luxury weekend break in St. Petersburg. We recommend pre-arranging a multi access ticket, so the best parts of the museum can be enjoyed.

Whilst strolling the famous Nevski Prospect, there is a building that cannot be possibly missed on your day trips, of course, we are referring to the Kazan Cathedral. It took ten years to build the cathedral, between 1801-1811 and it was designed by Architect A.Voronikhin, who drew influences from the Basilica of St Peter's in Rome. The cathedral was commissioned by Emperor Paul I and was named after the ‘miracle making’ icon of Our Lady of Kazan, which the church housed till the early 1930s and was kept there to protect the house of Romanovs. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan is an impressive site, with an enormous slightly curving colonnade consisting of 96 Corinthian order columns. It’s an outstanding example of classical Russian architecture, with a hint of European influences. Today, it belongs to the Orthodox Church and is one of the most important buildings in the city and whether on a Saint Petersburg breaks or a backpackers tour, Kazan cathedral must be visited.

The Mariinsky Theatre is the world-renowned theatre, known during Soviet times as the Kirov Opera and Ballet Theatre. The Mariinsky enjoys the reputation of producing the finest Opera & ballets in the World and particularly for its Classical Ballet. The theatre rose to the dizzying heights of international success under the leadership of the conductor Yuri Temirkanov and the current Chief Conductor and Artistic Director Valery Gergiev. The theatre’s Ballet Department also flourished under the famous Leonid Yakobson and has enjoyed performances by the world renowned Rudolf Nureev. Tickets should be bought in advance for any performance at the Mariinsky Theatre and we highly recommend an evening here to complete the perfect luxury city break in St Petersburg. Enquiry today about opera, ballet & orchestra performances at the Mariinsky Theatre.

Emperor Paul I spent his adult life worrying about being assassinated and constructed a purpose built fortified palace to feel more secure. The Mikhailovsky Castle was constructed in 1797-1801, surrounded by water for defensive purposes. Along two sides are the Moika & Fontanka rivers and on the other sides are two specially dug man-made canals. Who designed Mikhailovsky Castle, remains unresolved, it is an unusual architectural phenomenon within the city that has been a silent witness to a tragic part of history. Within just 40 days of moving into the castle, Paul I was murdered, an assassination supposedly inspired by Paul's son Alexander. After the death of Paul, the Royal family never used the castle as a form of residence, so it was passed to the Engineering School, but today the medieval castle belongs to the Russian Museum. Travellers can discover this mysterious building by the famous summer gardens and we advise you take a look at the castle from different sides, as the architects designed the castle in many styles, from; Italian Renaissance to gothic.

Nevsky Prospect is the main avenue of St Petersburg & probably the most famous street in Russia. The Nevsky Prospect meanders through the most historical parts of the city, decorated with fine buildings, squares and bridges. Nevsky is the prime place for shopping, entertainment, nightlife and historic-culture. Along this road, you can find the largest department store Gostiny Dvor, Arts Square, the Russian Museum and the monument to Catherine the Great. In our opinion, where the Nevsky becomes most beautiful, is where it has Kazan Cathedral on one side and the Dom Knigi book store on the other. A walk down Nevsky Prospect is an incredible experience and is the map to the cities best cultural and historical sites. If your time is limited in Russia’s cultural capital, then walking along the Nevsky Prospect must be a priority. It’s the back bone to the city and it will be the perfect beginning to a luxury break in Russia.

Nikolsky Navy Cathedral is a wonderful example of the traditional Russian & baroque style architecture, located on bank of the Kryukov canal connecting the Fontanka & Moika rivers. It was erected between1753 – 1762 by the order of Empress Elizabeth, in honor of lost seamen and named after Saint Nicolas Naval, ‘the savior of the seamen’. The golden Baroque spires and domes of St. Nicholas' Cathedral are simply stunning and being the last remaining example of Baroque architecture in St Petersburg, makes this wonderful building even more exclusive. The cathedral's interior is richly designed many walls are decorated with scenes from the history of the Russian Navy.

The Peters and Paul’s Fortress is the original nucleus of the city of St.Petersburg. Situated on the tiny Zayachy Island, it contains one of the oldest buildings in the city. In the middle of the fortress are Peter and Paul Cathedrals where all of the Russian Emperors and Empresses from Peter the Great to Alexander III are buried. The spire of the cathedral with a three metre high angel on top is one of the symbols of the city and the highest landmark of St Petersburg. In a very unsettled time in history, the fortress was constructed to protect the lands along the banks of the Neva River and the Gulf of Finland from the envious eyes of Sweden. Under the rule of the Romanovs dynasty a city rapidly developed around the fortress, to what became Saint Petersburg. Undoubtedly, it is one of the most amazing fortification monuments in Europe and is a major tourist landmark to enjoy. Within the fortresses grounds one can discover the famous political prison ‘The Bastille’, the printing house, city history museum and the Mint, only the second place in Russia where coins and medals are minted.

The Russian Museum has the world's largest collection of Russian art, which is housed in four separate locations off the Nevsky Prospekt: the Stroganov Palace, Marble Palace, St Michael's Castle and the Mikhailovsky Palace, which is the main building of the state Russian Museum. For clients looking for culture, this museum will be the biggest highlight in the endless holiday attractions found in Russia. The collection spans virtually every form and genre of art, from the 10th century to the present day. There are over 400,000 pieces of work to be viewed ranging from paintings and sculptures to folk and decorative art, a collection that can only be rivaled by the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. Located in the very centre of the city, Russia’s largest art museum cannot be missed on a short break holiday. It gives guests an exceptional opportunity to view the development of Russian art throughout the centuries. Art & culture lovers must visit the state Russian Museum. It is a treasure of Russia and has world importance.

One of the most visited historical landmarks is the Smolny ensemble, which dates back to the middle of the 18th century. Peter the Greats daughter Empress Elizabeth had Bartolomeo Rastrelli build a convent for her and he chose a site on a bend of the Neva River which had previously been allotted for the Smolyanoy Dvor or Tar yard (Smolny is Russian for tar). Rastrelli the creator of the Winter Palace, Pushkin Palace and Peterhof and many more famous attractions, created another masterpiece that gradually developed into an ensemble of architectural wonders that attract thousands of tourists each year. The convent’s official name is the Resurrection Novodevichy Convent but to most it is commonly referred to as the Smolny Convent. The blue and white building of the Smolny Cathedral is centre piece of the Smolny Convent and some believe it to be Bartolomeo Rastrelli finest work. The magnificent five domed Cathedral of the Resurrection, built in 1748-64, is a spectacular vision, oozing magic and power. Today, the Smolny Cathedral is used mostly as a concert hall and the chambers of the convent are used by some local government institutions and offices. Don’t miss the opportunity to see this landmark attraction in all its glory; it will be a significant moment during your St Petersburg breaks. Contact the Russia travel specialists or browse through our great city break packages on-line.

Dominating the skyline is the Dome of the St. Isaac's Cathedral and like the spires of the Peter & Paul's Cathedral and the Admiralty, the golden dome of St Isaac's can be seen from most parts of the city and is a major city symbol. St. Isaac's is a real marvel, a remarkable memorial of 19th century architecture and a divine creation of French architect August Monferrand, who dedicated 40 years of his life to see the completion of the cathedral. Built between 1818 and 1858 in Russian classical style, St. Isaac's Cathedral is one of the most impressive religious buildings in the world. In fact Saint Isaac's is the fourth biggest single-domed cathedral in the world after St. Peter's in Rome, St. Paul's in London and Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence. The golden Dome rises to 101.5m high, it accommodates 14,000 worshipers, has 72 huge columns and is known throughout the world for having the richest interior & exterior decoration. The walls are decorated with beautiful paintings made by renowned Russian painters and mosaics that are so intricate it is hard to believe they are not paintings. After viewing the cathedrals interiors, climb the 300 stairs to the observation point and get a breathtaking view. Many luxury city break clients have remarked how much they enjoyed the views from here.

The Palace square is arguably one of the most perfect urban spaces in Russia, a place where guests can feel the breadth of the cities history and feel the grandeur of imperial days. The elegant Dvortsovaya Ploshchad is the main square and won’t fail to impress you on your short break of St Petersburg. Literally, when standing in the middle of Palace square a magnificent architectural ensemble unfolds, which is quite phenomenal and is a must-see holiday attraction. On everyside of the square there is a building of historical importance. Here you’ll find, the Winter Palace, the former army's general staff headquarters and the Admiralty. In the centre of the square is the 47.5m tall Alexander column, which is topped by a statue of an angel that symbolizes peace in Europe. The column was erected to commemorate the Russian victory in the Napoleonic wars and stands today as a fantastic focal point to the Palace square. Interestingly, the statue is not fixed to the base, but stays standing by weight alone. Anyone visiting must come to Palace Square. It is the most beautiful place and will be a highlight on a luxury holiday in Russia.

One of the major landmarks of St.Petersburg is another creation of the master Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli, it is of course, the famous Winter Palace. From the 1760s the Winter Palace was the main residence of the Russian Tsars and today it is one Russia’s best tourist attractions. Magnificently located on the bank of the Neva River, the Winter Palace recounts an extraordinary century of Russian history, golden age of intellect and artistic achievement. There are over a 1000 rooms in the Winter Palace, some of the most famous ones are: the Gallery of the 1812 War, the Great Throne Room and the Malachite Room. At present the Winter Palace, together with four more buildings houses the extensive collections of the Hermitage museum, one of the world’s most respected museums. On either a long luxury holiday tour of Russia or even a short weekend getaway, the Winter palace cannot be missed.

The long & elegant yellow building that stands along the Moika River is known as Yusupov Palace, which used to be residence to one of Russia’s wealthiest families ‘the Yusupovskys’. The Yusupov Palace is an outstanding work of classicism style construction and is a delightful sight to behold, but beneath this beautiful exterior lies a dark past of traumatic history. The Yusupov Palace was a silent witness to the murder of one of Russia’s most historically renowned figures, Grigory Rasputin. Within the palace, there are excellent tours to join, to see the beautiful interiors and to discover the full story of the murder of Rasputin. Before leaving, one should visit the Yusupov Theatre, to see one of the world’s most richly decorated theatres. Many classical concerts are performed here and we highly recommend to organise tickets to enjoy one of Russia’s finest stages.