Saint Petersburg

Good to know

1. 1Tsar Peter the Great founded the city in 1703, and it served as the Russian capital for roughly two centuries until 1918.
2. 2The city has been called Petrograd and Leningrad as well, and many locals still call it simply Piter.
3. 3The Hermitage, housed partly in the former Winter Palace, is one of the largest art museums in the world, and no one sees all of it in a single visit.
4. 4In late June the northern latitude brings the white nights, when the sky stays light well into the small hours and the bridges over the Neva are raised at night for passing ships.
5. 5The city sits on dozens of islands in the Neva delta and is crossed by many canals and hundreds of bridges, which is why it is often compared to Amsterdam or Venice.
6. 6Russian is the main language, written in Cyrillic, and the historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Tips for a first visit

• Learn to recognise Cyrillic letters before you go, since street signs and many menus rely on them. A translation app with a camera function helps a lot.
• The metro is deep, fast and often beautiful, and it is the easiest way to cover long distances. Walking connects the sights in the centre.
• Try pelmeni, blini with various fillings, and a bowl of borscht or solyanka. Many cafés also serve pirozhki, small baked or fried pies.
• Check the bridge-raising times if you plan to be out at night, because the Neva bridges split the city into parts while they are up.
• Bring comfortable, waterproof shoes, as pavements can be uneven, wet or icy depending on the season.
• Dress neatly when visiting churches, and women are usually expected to cover their heads in active Orthodox churches.

When to go

Late May to early July is the most popular time, with long days and the white nights, though it is also the busiest. Late summer and early autumn are calmer and still pleasant. Winter is long, dark and cold, but the snow, frozen canals and warm museum interiors have their own charm. Spring comes late and can be damp and grey.

From the airport

The main airport, Pulkovo, lies south of the centre. The usual ways into town are a taxi or ride-hailing car, which takes roughly 30 to 60 minutes depending on traffic, or a bus to a metro station on the southern line followed by a metro ride into the centre. Allow around an hour for the bus and metro option.