The northern capital is so abundant in sights that it is very difficult to choose from this variety. The main tourist routes are not very diverse. Currently, the city on the Neva can offer everyone a huge choice. It all depends on the interests and the amount of free time.
Museums and parks of St. Petersburg
The Hermitage is rightfully considered one of the greatest museums in the world. It houses at least 3 million exhibits. It is simply physically impossible to bypass it completely in one day. After all, its area covers 6 full-fledged houses on the embankment of the Neva.
Winter and Stroganov Palaces and Palace Square, the General Staff Building and the Admiralty. Peter and Paul Fortress and St. Isaac's Cathedral. Museums and historical sights of the Venice of the North are known even to those who have never been here. Moreover, St. Petersburg is a city of 800 bridges. Initially, all city bridges were drawbridges. Today, only 21 bridges amaze guests and residents of the city with such a spectacle. Cast iron arches and openwork lattices of Dvortsovoy, Bolsheokhtinsky, Liteiny are real masterpieces. And, of course, they deserve attention at any time of the year.
Suburbs of St. Petersburg
In the vicinity of the Northern capital, there is also a large number of places worthy of attention. It is not for nothing that many are included by UNESCO in the UNESCO World Heritage List. First of all, of course, this is the Peterhof State Museum-Reserve. Located 30 kilometers from the city, this unique ensemble of palaces and fountains will not leave anyone indifferent. After the victory over the Swedes in 1709 near Poltava, Peter I decided to build a residence that could compete with Versailles. And, I must say, he did it wonderfully.
Upon arrival at Peterhof, you can see 144 fountains and 3 cascades. The entire ensemble was built using the natural relief of the selected area. The composition of the Grand Cascade, the main attraction of the park, has been taking shape for over a hundred years. The lower (Great grotto) is the center of the composition. Two cascading staircases of seven steps, decorated with bas-reliefs with gilding and sculpture, border the main platform. This unforgettable show was created according to the idea of the king himself and according to his personal project.
However, the suburbs of St. Petersburg are not only palaces and fountains, but also wonderful natural reserves. For example, Lake Vuoksa. Its name is translated from Finnish as "new lake". Located on the Karelian Isthmus, this largest body of water is an example of a glacial lake. Its area is 108 square meters, and the average depth is 5, 1 m. Here you can take a boat ride, pick berries and mushrooms, and fish. Or just enjoy the scenic views.
Educational excursions for adults and children
If you deviate from the usual tourist route, Petersburg will amaze you with a variety of unusual places to choose from. Here you can find a huge number of excursions useful for people of all ages. For example, the "Museum of Water" is a unique complex where guests will have an unforgettable journey through the underground labyrinth of the city. The way to the museum itself lies through the Tauride Garden. This way you can combine pleasant walks with useful excursions.
For children, St. Petersburg is a real find. In the interactive museums "Umnikum" and "Labyrinthum" they will independently be able to make scientific discoveries and put on fascinating experiments. In the Museum of the Republic of Cats, you can not only admire the representatives of various cat breeds, but also learn about the cat history of Russia, and get to know their brothers in the Hermitage.
Naval traditions museums
Museums of naval glory are of particular interest. There are permanent exhibitions on the cruisers Aurora and Shtandart, submarines Narodovolets and D2. You cannot pass by the oldest museum in the country - the Central Naval Museum. There are weapons of different centuries and models of ships of the Russian fleet of the XIX-XX centuries.
The Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineering and Signal Corps impresses with its scale. It was built on the personal order of Peter I in 1703 and was called "Zeikhgauz". For its exposition, "memorable" and "curious" weapons were collected from all over the Russian Empire. Now the museum fund is 850 thousand exhibits, located in 13 halls on an area of more than 17 thousand square meters. m.
