Saint Petersburg

Peter the Great's window on Europe: Winter Palace art, Summer Palace fountains and White Nights bridge raisings on the Neva, Russia's most elegant cultural capital.

Saint Petersburg lies in northwestern Russia where the Neva River meets the Gulf of Finland. Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, it was the capital of the Russian Empire from 1712 to 1918. With a population of about 5.5 million, it is Russia's second-largest city and its "window to Europe," and its entire historic center was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990. The city is made up of 42 islands and more than 300 bridges. The main areas are: the central district on the south bank of the Neva (the Winter Palace, Nevsky Prospect, St. Isaac's, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood and Kazan Cathedral, most sights within walking distance); the Peter and Paul Fortress and Vasilievsky Island on the north bank (the Old Stock Exchange, the Kunstkamera); and the royal palaces in the suburbs: Peterhof (the Summer Palace), 30 km to the west, and Pushkin (the Catherine Palace and Amber Room), 25 km to the south, along with Pavlovsk. The climate is mild and maritime, but winters are long. From late May to mid-July are the White Nights (around June 21 the night never gets fully dark), which is also the best travel season, with temperatures of 18–25°C; the Neva bridge raisings (starting around 1:10 a.m.) and the Peterhof fountains are both at their best then. September brings golden autumn colors and fewer visitors; November–March is -5 to -10°C with very short daylight and lots of snow, but the Winter Palace and the Mariinsky Theatre are almost queue-free. Getting there: there are direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai and other cities to Pulkovo Airport (LED); take Bus 39 to Moskovskaya metro station. From Moscow, the Sapsan high-speed train takes about 4 hours, or you can take the overnight Krasnaya Strela (Red Arrow) train. The city has 5 metro lines (the platforms are very deep, and Admiralteyskaya is one of the deepest stations in the world); a single ride costs about 70 rubles, and the Podorozhnik card works across the system. The center is best explored on foot, and canal and Neva boat tours are the best way to take in the city. We recommend 3–4 days: 1 day for the Winter Palace (at least 4 hours), 1 day for the central churches and Nevsky Prospect, and half a day to a full day each for Peterhof (fountains run May–September) and the Catherine Palace, with an evening ballet or White Nights bridge raising. Tips: because of sanctions, foreign bank cards do not work, so bring plenty of cash or get a UnionPay card; in peak season, book Winter Palace and Catherine Palace tickets in advance on the official websites (the Catherine Palace has the strictest limits); women should cover their heads in churches; during the White Nights it is still bright after midnight, and once the bridges are raised you cannot cross between islands, so choose the right bank for your accommodation; Saint Petersburg is rainy and windy, so bring a waterproof jacket.

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