St Petersburg is one of my favourite cities - as many of you know my lovely husband is Russian and he has shown me his city through his eyes, which is why I might be slightly prejudiced!!
The first thing we do when we arrive in St Petersburg is walk through the city streets and reacquaint ourselves with the city. Many people don’t realise that St Petersburg is a city built on the delta of the River Neva (it is built on over 42 islands) and so is characterised by waterways and bridges. It is called Venice of the East, but in my opinion is more beautiful. To walk around the city and peer into courtyards can fill hours of time. Some buildings are spectacular, exuding history and some look like they are about to fall down. St Petersburg is a city full of contrasts. But the streets buzz with activity at all hours (especially during the summer months) and you can feel the energy pulsating in the air.
The first thing we do when we arrive in St Petersburg is walk through the city streets and reacquaint ourselves with the city. Many people don’t realise that St Petersburg is a city built on the delta of the River Neva (it is built on over 42 islands) and so is characterised by waterways and bridges. It is called Venice of the East, but in my opinion is more beautiful. To walk around the city and peer into courtyards can fill hours of time. Some buildings are spectacular, exuding history and some look like they are about to fall down. St Petersburg is a city full of contrasts. But the streets buzz with activity at all hours (especially during the summer months) and you can feel the energy pulsating in the air.
 This photo was taken from Nevsky Prospekt looking at the Church of the Saviour of the Spilled Blood. This church is amazing – firstly for the mosaics in the building and secondly – that it was painstakingly renovated after the fall of Communism. During the communist era – it was used as a munitions storage - it’s almost impossible to understand how this could happen. |
If you are in St Petersburg walk through the Mikhailovsky gardens towards the church on a summer’s day and then have a look through.
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Another great thing to do in St Petersburg is to go on a boat trip around the canals. The canals in the city centre are the Moyka, Fontanka and Griboyedova. You can easily book a tour from the many sellers on Nevsky Prospekt but it is wise to ask what their itinerary is before paying. You will see a different side of the city on the water..
The Hermitage is another must. Even if you are not interested in museums and art galleries – it will impress you. I couldn’t believe that I was standing directly in front of a Rembrandt painting. No crowds, just me and Rembrandt. I have been to the Hermitage twice and still feel that I have only seen a small amount of this beautiful palace/art gallery. You can only absorb so much beauty in one sitting. My advice is to wear comfortable shoes and go wherever you feel.
During the summer months St Petersburg experiences White Nights (Mid-June to the end of July). During this time, the night is like twilight and it only gets dark for one or two hours. Stay up one night and watch the bridges open from 2.30am to 5am to let the big ships come into the harbour. It is a spectacular sight.
I look forward to hearing if you’ve been to St Petersburg and your thoughts about my favourite city……
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