Russia's most amazing city
A city of canals and cathedrals, palaces and terraces, St. Petersburg is unmatched in its splendor. On the banks of the Neva River, it is the northernmost city in Russia with over four million inhabitants. Its lavish palaces, lush parks, hundreds of bridges, and world-class museums have made it one of the top 10 travel destinations in the world.
Since Peter the Great moved the seat of his young empire from Moscow to the banks of the Neva River, St. Petersburg has been the crown jewel of capitals. Its architects drew from the majesty of Europe's most breathtaking sites - the canals of Venice, the palaces of Versailles, the cathedrals of Rome, the streets of Amsterdam, and the aura of Vienna. These aspects have joined together to create a city of unspeakable perfection.
In the heart of the city stands the Winter Palace. One side faces the Palace Square with its looming Alexander Column, erected to celebrate the victory over Napoleon. To the rear of the palace is the Neva River and the Peter and Paul Fortress, designed to defend the city from water attacks.Inside the Winter Palace is the world-famous Hermitage Museum, the largest collection of Russian art in the world. The Hermitage originated as the private art collection of Catherine the Great, with hundreds of paintings now displayed in the Palace’s halls, many of which are works of art themselves.
St. Isaac's Cathedral is also next to the Winter Palace. The largest orthodox cathedral in the world, it was built in the classic Roman style with cupolas of 100 kilograms of pure gold. A few blocks from the Palace Square you will find the Savior-on-the-Blood Cathedral, built in the place where czar Alexander II was assassinated. The outskirts of the city hold just as many wonders, such as Catherine’s Palace in Tsarskoe Selo (Pushkin) and Peterhof Palace.
The best time to visit St. Petersburg is during summer. The best way to travel to St. Petersburg is with one of our package tours.