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Must See

State Hermitage Museum Spread over six historic buildings including the famous Winter Palace, this impressive museum is one of the oldest anywhere and has the largest collection of art in the world.
Nevsky Prospekt Stroll along St Petersburg’s main thoroughfare for fine shopping and dining and views of some major sites. It starts at the Admiralty and runs eastwards next to Palace Square.
The Admiralty building At the focal point of three of the old city’s most important streets, the Admiralty with its tall spire is one of St Petersburg’s most recognisable landmarks.
St Isaac’s Cathedral 19th-century gold-domed cathedral is the largest in the city and although classical on the outside, is extraordinarily colourful and rich in the inside.
Church on the Spilled Blood Constructed on the site of the assassination of Tsar Alexander II, this remarkable building is elaborately decorated with onion domes on the outside and stunning mosaics on the inside.
Peter and Paul Fortress and Cathedral. Built on an island by the north bank of the Neva River and the burial place for Russian Tsars, the fortress is also surrounded by sandy beaches which are popular with locals during the summer months.

Must Do

Walk around the historic centre of the city which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and be inspired by the largely preserved Baroque and neoclassical buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Travel to the city in June to experience the White Nights Festival, a time when the sun never fully sets and St Petersburg comes alive for this major cultural festival.
Built on a network of islands, the streets of St Petersburg are criss-crossed with canals and linked by ornate bridges. The perfect setting for a romantic walk, especially in the colder months when the city becomes frozen over, creating a magical and wintry atmosphere.

Food and Drink
You’ll find no shortage of places to eat in St Petersburg serving both European and local dishes, from restaurants serving local specialities such as stroganov to hip international cafes. A speciality of St Petersburg is the blini, or pancakes, served with red or black caviar and borscht (beetroot soup).
Shopping
The majority of St Petersburg’s shopping, from designer to souvenirs, can be found on or just off the Nevsky Prospekt. Traditional souvenirs include lacquered boxes, engraved amber and, of course, Matryoshka dolls.
Where to Stay
Anywhere close to the Nevsky Prospekt is considered central.
Things to Do

CITY TOUR - A private tour including all the main sights with brief stops at Peter and Paul Fortress, St Isaac’s Cathedral, Palace Square with the Winter Palace, Kazan Cathedral, Nevsky Prospekt and the Church of Spilled Blood.
HERMITAGE WINTER PALACE - Tour the Hermitage Museum with a private guide including the Winter Palace state rooms and the main fine arts and archaeological exhibits. Entrance included.
CAVIAR AND VODKA TASTING - In the refined surroundings of the Grand Hotel Europe’s Caviar Bar and Restaurant, is an opportunity to experience the true taste of fine Russian cuisine. Dine on red caviar, Russian borscht and a shot of Russian Premium vodka. For a more lavish experience choose the Caviar Bar cocktail of beluga, oscietra, sevruga and salmon caviar with blinis, cream and chopped eggs.
CATHERINE PALACE - Located 26km out of St Petersburg in Pushkin, this former summer residence of the Russian Tsars is a glorious blue rococo building set in a grand French-style park. This guided tour will take you through the incredible Great Hall and other impressive rooms extraordinarily decorated in the styles of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
YUSUPOV PALACE WITH RASPUTIN EXHIBITION - The former noble Yusupov family once lived in this intriguing palace in the centre of St Petersburg. Second only in wealth to the royal family, the Yusupovs were extremely powerful in the city and known for their philanthropy and art collection. Notorious as the scene of the murder of the monk Rasputin, there is now an exhibition within the palace detailing his life and death.
MOSCOW - When visiting St Petersburg you may wish to extend your break to include grand city of Moscow. There is so much to experience in Moscow from the stunning architecture to the great musical traditions. Where St Petersburg is known as the ‘City of Palaces,’ Moscow is known as the ‘City of Church’s’ and this is reflected in the array of magnificent holy sights spread across the city, and of course lets not forget the Kremlin, an iconic attraction in the heart of this expressive city. At Cresta we think this is a fantastic way to make the most of your trip and we are happy to be able to offer everything you need for a twin centre break in Russia. We can offer a range of rail options from 1st class day trains to traditional overnight trains with a private cabin, and we have a range of accommodation and ideas for things to do. For all this and much more please visit our website where you will find everything you need from the travel experts at Cresta.