Stand on Palace Square at dusk in June and the sky never quite goes dark, the Winter Palace holding the last of the light while the city keeps walking. That half-lit hour is the thing most visitors remember about St. Petersburg, and it is only one of the reasons the historic centre rewards slow, unhurried days.
The city suits travellers who like art and architecture at close range, who are happy to cross a river for a view, and who would rather see two palaces properly than six badly. It also suits anyone willing to leave the centre for a suburban palace or a boat trip.
This guide covers the main sights in the historic centre, on the Petrograd Side and on Vasilievsky Island, the suburban palaces worth the journey, and a one-day plan that strings the best of them together.
Top things to do in St. Petersburg
1. Winter Palace and the Hermitage Museum
The Winter Palace on Palace Square was the winter residence of the Romanov Tsars and the centre of the Russian Imperial government. It now houses the Hermitage Museum, and even if you have no interest in art, wandering the enormous palace itself is rewarding.
It sits right by the Admiralty and the Bronze Horseman, so combine the three in a single walk. Give the palace more time than you think you need.
2. Church on the Spilled Blood
This nineteenth-century church is one of the city's internationally recognised icons, set on the Griboedov Canal near the Mikhailovsky Garden. Its interior is filled with mosaics.
Pair it with a walk along the canal afterwards, when the light on the water is at its best.
3. Peter and Paul Fortress
On the Petrograd Side, the fortress is one of the city's top three attractions. Visit it for its history as the final resting place of the Romanov Tsars and for its role as a prison for high-profile political prisoners.
It lies beyond the river from the centre, so plan it as a half-day on the Petrograd Side rather than squeezing it between central sights.
4. Nevsky Prospekt
Nevsky Prospekt is the city's main grand avenue, lined with shops, theatres and palaces and cathedrals, most notably the massive Kazan Cathedral. The historic mall of Gostiny Dvor is here too.
Walk it in one direction and take a different route back along the canals so you see more of the centre.
5. Kazan Cathedral
The Kazan Cathedral stands on Nevsky Prospekt and is a functioning church, which makes it easier to visit than the other big cathedrals, with no lines or entrance fees.
Step in while you are already walking the avenue rather than making a separate trip.
6. Saint Isaac's Cathedral
Saint Isaac's Cathedral is a mammoth building with impressive balcony views over the centre. It is one of the obvious sightseeing destinations in the city.
Go up to the balcony on a clear day, and combine the visit with the nearby centre streets on foot.
7. The canals and embankments of the historic centre
Strolling the palace-lined banks of the Moika, the Fontanka and the Griboedov Canal is a must. In summer you can see the same architecture from the water on the popular channel tours, or take a budget riverbus along the Neva, a small boat on routes integrated into the public transport system.
Choose the boat option that suits your budget, and save the walk for the evening when the embankments are quieter.
8. Strelka of Vasilievsky Island and the Rostral Columns
On Vasilievsky Island, the Strelka offers views by the Rostral Columns, across the street from the Old Stock Exchange, which houses the Naval Museum.
Take a taxi over, see the Strelka, then ride along University Embankment before crossing back over the river.
9. Kunstkamera
The Kunstkamera is a museum of ethnology and home to Peter the Great's collection of oddities. It is described as weird and wonderful, and it sits on Vasilievsky Island.
Stop here on the same trip as the Strelka and University Embankment, since they are close together.
10. Russian Museum and the Square of the Arts
Off Nevsky Prospekt is the Square of the Arts, where you will find the Russian Museum. For art lovers it is a can't-miss.
Combine it with a walk down Nevsky Prospekt, which runs nearby.
11. Mariinsky Theater
The Mariinsky is one of the world's most beautiful performance venues and one of the city's best-known institutions for opera and ballet. Check it out even if you cannot see a performance.
Tickets are sold on the theatre's website, at its box office, and at kiosks and shops called Teatralnaya Kassa. Blocks of tickets sometimes sell out at the kiosks while seats remain at the theatre, or the other way round, so check both if you have your heart set on a particular performance.
12. Suburban palaces at Pushkin and Peterhof
The Tsarskoye Selo palaces at Pushkin and the Bolshoi Palace at Peterhof are magnificent, and skipping both is like going to Paris and skipping Versailles. The Pavlovsk Palace is the least unforgivable to miss, but go if you have the time.
These are suburban trips, so set aside a full day for one of them rather than trying to fit two into the same afternoon.
13. Smolny Cathedral
The wonderfully baroque Smolny Cathedral is one of the many sights beyond the immediate centre.
It is best paired with other stops on the same side of the city rather than treated as a quick detour.
14. Museum of the Defense and Blockade of Leningrad
This museum is small but powerfully heartrending, and it deals with the siege of the city.
Go when you have the emotional space for it, and keep the rest of the day light afterwards.
15. Kronstadt
The naval fortress of Kronstadt on Kotlin island is a significant site for anyone interested in the history of military architecture, and it makes for an enjoyable day trip by boat. It is now accessible by road across the dam.
Treat it as a full day out of the city rather than an add-on to a central sightseeing day.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start on Palace Square at the Winter Palace, and give the Hermitage Museum a proper stretch of the morning. Step outside to see the Admiralty and the Bronze Horseman while you are there.
Afternoon. Walk down Nevsky Prospekt, stopping at the Kazan Cathedral and the historic mall of Gostiny Dvor, then branch off to the Square of the Arts and the Russian Museum. If time allows, continue to Saint Isaac's Cathedral for the balcony views.
Evening. Cross to the Petrograd Side for the Peter and Paul Fortress, then return through the centre along the Moika, the Fontanka or the Griboedov Canal, passing the Church on the Spilled Blood. Finish with a performance at the Mariinsky Theater if you can get tickets, or simply look at the building.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see the city's architecture from the water?
During the summer months, when you can join a channel tour or take a budget riverbus along the Neva. The riverbus is a small boat on routes integrated into the public transport system.
Do I need to book opera and ballet tickets in advance?
Tickets are sold on each theatre's website, at each theatre's box office, and at kiosks and shops called Teatralnaya Kassa. Blocks of tickets sometimes sell out at the kiosks while seats are still available at the theatre, or the reverse, so check both if a particular performance matters to you.
Which suburban palaces should I prioritise?
The Tsarskoye Selo palaces at Pushkin and the Bolshoi Palace at Peterhof are the two to aim for. The Pavlovsk Palace is the least unforgivable to miss if you are short on time.
Can I see the main sights without leaving the historic centre?
Yes. The greatest concentration of sights is inside the Obvodny Canal, along the south embankment of Vasilievsky Island, and in the southern half of Petrogradsky Island, which covers the Winter Palace, Nevsky Prospekt, the Kazan Cathedral, Saint Isaac's Cathedral and the Peter and Paul Fortress.
Decide which suburban palace you want most, check the theatre listings, and start building your days around the light.