Tour guides Russia > Saint Petersburg

5 ideas for guided tours in Saint Petersburg

• Peterhof Palace

  

  Just 25 kilometers from St. Petersburg, on the shores of the Baltic Sea, lies the town of Peterhof. Peter the Great had a monumental palace built here between 1714 and 1723.

  He wanted to rival the Palace of Versailles, and some still consider it even more beautiful than the Sun King’s residence. This imperial estate stretches for about 270 meters, with numerous halls adorned with magnificent decorations and paintings.

  The true splendor of Peterhof lies in its French-style gardens, with green walkways, sculptures, and above all, its spectacular fountains such as the Grand Cascade and the Samson Fountain. It’s worth noting that the Peterhof estate is a reconstruction dating back to 1964, as the Nazis burned and blew it up during World War II.

• Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood

  

  Along the Griboedov Canal, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood rises with its colorful domes, glittering mosaics, and walls rich in detail. Built on the very spot where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated, it remains a powerful memorial.

  Inside, every wall is covered with mosaics—biblical scenes, floral patterns, vivid colors. The light shifts throughout the day, catching the gold and giving the space an almost otherworldly feel. You move slowly, absorbed by the density of images.

  Stepping outside, the canal draws your gaze toward Nevsky Prospekt, the city’s main avenue. Nearby, the Kazan Cathedral stands in sharp contrast, its neoclassical facade and massive colonnade facing the Savior’s intricate, colorful beauty.

  In the background, the Peter and Paul Fortress recalls the origins of St. Petersburg. The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood remains an unforgettable image, frozen in history yet still part of the city’s everyday life.

• Nevsky Prospect

  

  In St. Petersburg, Nevsky Prospekt stands as a lively artery, a broad ribbon where cars, pedestrians, and colorful facades all converge. Stretching for more than four kilometers, it showcases a blend of neoclassical, baroque, and Art Nouveau styles, like a moving summary of the city.

  The avenue begins near the Admiralty and runs all the way to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery. Along the way, the Moika River cuts across its path, with green bridges and shifting reflections. Eighteenth- and nineteenth-century buildings still line the street, tall and orderly, forming an almost intact backdrop.

  A few landmarks inevitably catch the eye: the former Singer Company headquarters, now a grand bookstore, or the lavishly decorated Elisseeff Emporium, where architecture meets indulgence. The Stroganov Palace, meanwhile, recalls the baroque splendor of another era.

  The walk eventually leads to Gostiny Dvor, a vast shopping arcade that never seems to quiet down. On Nevsky Prospekt, every step mixes history with daily life, luxury with simplicity, leaving the impression of a city that tells its story through its main street.

• Hermitage Museum

  

  On the banks of the Neva, the Hermitage Museum spreads through the former Winter Palace and several adjoining buildings. Its monumental facades impress before you even step inside, but it’s once within that you grasp its scale—endless corridors and room after room unfolding without end.

  With more than 400 galleries, it would take days just to see a fraction. It’s best to choose a few, come back again, even get lost sometimes. Each visit leaves a different impression, shaped by the floor you explore, the light, or simply your mood.

  Here’s a short list of some of its highlights:

  – Antiquities: on the ground floor, a journey through Prehistory, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and the Middle Ages.
  – The Jewelry Gallery: necklaces, gemstones, decorated weapons, mineral sculptures—everything sparkles in these low rooms.
  – Italian Art: on the first floor, works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, and other masters.
  – Flemish Art: also on the first floor, Rubens and his contemporaries fill the walls with bold colors and crowded scenes.
  – French Art: from Poussin to the Impressionists, a collection rivaled only by Paris.
  – Modern Art: on the second floor, Western and American paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries, a striking contrast to the older halls.

• Vasilievsky Island

  

  The city of St. Petersburg was built on marshland, which is why so many islands formed around the Neva.

  Today, only 42 remain, as many canals were filled in over time. Among them, you can stroll across Vasilyevsky Island, also known as “Basil Island,” the largest in the delta.

  Cross the Dvortsovy Most bridge to enjoy the view of the left bank and the Peter and Paul Fortress. Head to the eastern tip, the “Strelka,” where you’ll find the Rostral Columns, former beacons decorated in tribute to the Russian navy.

  The island is home to 18th-century mansions and buildings, including the beautiful Menshikov Palace, famous for its remarkable collection of furniture and objects from the aristocracy of the era. End your visit at the island’s tip, on Palace Embankment, where one of the finest views of the former Russian capital awaits.