You can come to the city on the Neva at any time of the year, because palaces, cathedrals and museums welcome guests equally in summer and winter. The article will tell those who decided to go to St. Petersburg in October, how to spend time here with pleasure and benefit.
What attracts tourists to the city
Among the most visited European cities by tourists, St. Petersburg is in seventh place, and it is also one of the twenty most famous cities in the world. However, travelers come here not for the sun or sea bathing, but to admire the magnificent architecture, visit museums and see with their own eyes numerous masterpieces of world significance. No wonder St. Petersburg is called not only the northern, but also the cultural capital of Russia.
Features of a trip to St. Petersburg in the fall
Before sketching a rough plan of possible activities during the autumn trip to the city of white nights, it is necessary to mention some features that await travelers.
Firstly, the weather in St. Petersburg in October is mostly cloudy and cold, the sky is gray and inhospitable, the sun rarely peeps through gloomy clouds, there are rains. This is not surprising, given that the city lies geographically in the temperate continental climate zone. The proximity of the Baltic Sea causes a large number of cloudy and cloudy days, even in summer, not to mention the off-season. Therefore, those who decided to come to St. Petersburg in October should definitely think about warm clothes and an umbrella.
Secondly, given that the peak of tourist attendance in the city falls on the period of white nights, that is, May - July, in the fall you can count on discounts and it is easier to find a last-minute ticket. So, going to St. Petersburg in October will be cheaper. But this only applies to vouchers from travel agencies. If you plan your trip on your own, then you don’t have to count on special savings: the cost of hotels and entrance fees to museums is the same in summer and winter.
Thirdly, as mentioned above, in the fall the flow of tourists in St. Petersburg will dry up. If you are not afraid of the north winds, come to St. Petersburg at the end of October, then you can visit the planned places and enjoy the cultural masterpieces of world significance. In palaces, temples and museums at this time of year there are significantly fewer people, which facilitates the overview of attractions.
Short list of events
What to do in St. Petersburg in the fall? It all depends on the purpose of your trip. If this is a short-term business trip, and this is your first time in a city, then you should definitely visit the main attraction of the northern capital - the State Hermitage Museum, one of the largest museums in the world. If there is enough time, then it is worth visiting the Peter and Paul Fortress, from where the whole history of the city began, as well as St. Isaac's Cathedral - one of the most significant Orthodox churches in the world.
If you came to Northern Venice as a tourist, then you definitely need to draw up an action plan. Since the city is very large and crowded with sights, the cultural program will be saturated.
Peter in October: what to see for a tourist
What can be included in the inspection during the autumn trip in St. Petersburg, regardless of the weather:
- Palaces , of which there are about forty in the city. The most famous of them, the pride of all of Russia, which amaze with the architectural grandeur and grandeur of the interior decoration - the Winter Palace, Marble, Vorontsovsky, Stroganovsky, Catherine (here is the eighth wonder of the world - the Amber Room), Anichkov, Kamennoostrovsky, Mikhailovsky Castle, Fountain House.
- Museums There are more than two hundred of them. Among them are world-famous, famous for their most valuable collections: the State Hermitage Museum, the State Russian Museum, the Kunstkamera (Peter's Cabinet of Rarity), the Zoological Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Museum of the Academy of Arts, and the Russian Ethnographic Museum.
- Theaters The most famous is the Mariinsky Opera and Ballet Theater, it is also worth visiting the Alexander and Mikhailovsky Theaters, the Music Hall, the Theater for Young People named after A. Bryantseva, chamber theater "St. Petersburg Opera", the Bolshoi Drama and Maly Drama theaters, "Shelter of the Comedian" and others.
- Temples and cathedrals. In St. Petersburg there are many Christian churches, cathedrals, Muslim mosques, Buddhist temples, synagogues. Among them are the cathedrals: St. Isaac's, Kazan, Sampsonievsky, Smolny, Peter and Paul, Vladimir, Sofievsky, Spas-na-Blood. Also magnificent are the Basilica of St. Catherine of Alexandria, the Lutheran Church of St. Peter and Paul.
- Monasteries of St. Petersburg that are worth visiting: Smolny, Alexander Nevsky Lavra, Ioannovsky, Resurrection Novodevichy.
Now you know what Peter offers in October. Reviews of tourists say that visiting these places will bring a lot of new experiences, you will have a great mood, despite the St. Petersburg splen.
Where to go in good weather
If during the trip to St. Petersburg in October the weather will be fine, then it is worth expanding the cultural program and inspecting:
- famous monuments of St. Petersburg - The Bronze Horseman, monuments to Catherine II, Suvorov, Alexander III, Peter I, Pushkin, Krylov, Alexander Nevsky, Nikolai I, Alexander Column;
- fountains - "Octagonal", "Stamp", "Crown", "Lacosta", "Pyramid", "Nereida", "Bird's yard";
- parks and gardens - Alexandrovsky, Botanical, Summer, Lopukhinsky, Tauride.
Walk on the Neva by boat. Vasilievsky and Hare Islands
If it does not rain, a water excursion will be an excellent pastime. A boat trip along the Neva includes visiting the embankment with palaces, numerous bridges, the Gulf of Finland, a trip to the Peter and Paul Fortress on Zayachy Island and a visit to the architectural ensemble of Strelka Vasilievsky Island.
The night boat trip under the spans of drawbridges will remain unforgettable. Stunning views of the night city will not leave anyone indifferent.
Restaurant tour
Arriving in St. Petersburg in October, you can arrange a "feast of the stomach" and visit such well-known institutions of the city as Pyshechnaya on Bolshaya Konyushennaya, Literary Cafe, art cafe "Stray Dog", restaurants "Palkin", "Metropol", "Austeria" , the lobby bar of the Grand Hotel Europe, the merchant cafe "North", the cafe "Singer" in the Book House, the wineglass "Lighthouse".
When it is cold and dank outside, it is very pleasant to sit in a cozy atmosphere and taste delicious dishes from the best Russian chefs. The restaurants play live music, often for the entertainment of guests arranged vivid show programs.
Now you know where to go to St. Petersburg in October. The northern capital is the second largest city in Russia, it will not disappoint you.