Guide to St Petersburg, Russia: Why you need to go!

I’ve always had a soft spot for Russia. Even before I studied Russian language and literature as part of my university degree, I’ve always been fascinated by Russian history, culture, fairytales and music. So when I had the chance to finally visit St Petersburg, it was like a dream come true. Here are a few reasons I think you’ll love it too:

Venice of the North

Well, for starters, it’s a true Venice of the North. Built on 101 islands, all linked together by 350 different bridges, St Petersburg certainly gives the Italian city a fair run for its money. The city is packed with beautiful baroque and neoclassical buildings, and strict laws forbid the building of any structure more that 23 metres tall in the historic centre, meaning that the charm of the original city is preserved. Instead of walking around, why not book a canal cruise and see the city from the water?

Beautiful Churches

I know we can all get a bit fed up of “yet another church” when travelling around Europe, but St Petersburg really does have some beauties. As ornate inside as they are on the outside, entering feels like stepping into treasure trove of glinting light while the smells of incense mingle in the air. In terms of impressiveness, my must-sees are: St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood and Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan, but in terms of the prettiest I have a soft spot for Smolny Cathedral and Convent and the Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist.

World famous museums

You cannot go to St Petersburg and not visit the Hermitage. One of the largest and oldest museums in the world, the interiors are almost just as impressive as the vast collection it houses. With more than 3 million artworks, all housed in seven interconnecting buildings with three floors and at least 400 rooms, the Hermitage can be confusing to navigate. However, it is all so beautiful that even if you wander through without a plan, you will not be disappointed. I would definitely recommend booking tickets in advance (the extra cost is worth it) as the queues can be very long.

Fantastic Daytrips

Once you’ve finished exploring the city itself, there are some fabulous places you can visit as a day trip. Russian tsars did all need to have both a winter and summer palace after all!

• Peterhof: built by Peter the Great in the 18th century as his summer residence. After wandering around the lavish palace, extensive gardens and fountains, you will see why this is known as the “Russian Versailles”.
• Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo: Tsarskoye Selo, meaning Tsar’s Village, is home to another summer residence, the Catherine Palace and its adjoining gardens. Worth a visit to see the beautiful Amber Room, often described as the eighth wonder of the world.
• Pavlovsk: yet another imperial residence. Pavlovsk is named after Tsar Paul I, who was gifted the land by his mother, Catherine the Great. Wander around the expansive parks where you will find the beautiful Temple of Friendship.
• Kronstadt: You can take a boat trip from St Petersburg to the island of Kronstadt, where you’ll find the beautiful Naval Cathedral of Saint Nicholas.

Withdrawing Cash in St Petersburg in Russian Rubles (RUB)

To withdraw cash at the best rates, I highly recommend getting a WISE card before you go. This allows you to convert money into Russian rubles (or any other currency!) at the best rates and then withdraw cash in Russia without hidden fees. Wise is a UK-based financial services company (available in most countries worldwide) and is highly regulated in the various regions it operates in (in the UK it is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority).

Get your WISE card here.

Travel Insurance

Make sure that you have travel insurance to cover you for your trip. I can highly recommend Heymondo. I use them to cover me for all my trips and their app is very easy to use.

Purchase Heymondo travel insurance here.

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