St. Petersburg is one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in Northern Europe. He is very good at any time of the year. Even in the cold and windy winter it gives its guests a rich program of excursions and an unforgettable charm. There are many different cultural places. Therefore, if you have a question about where to go to St. Petersburg in the winter, then do not think, because there are more than enough such places. There are many excursions. In the cold season, this city looks even more beautiful and touching.
General information about St. Petersburg in the winter. Saint Isaac's Cathedral
What awaits tourists this time of year? The Hermitage, numerous palaces, the Kazan Cathedral, the Neva bridges - this is only part of what awaits you in the winter, ready to open its doors and show all the secrets. In cold weather, the city looks even better. This is a very special moment in life when crowds of tourists are reduced, the rhythm of life becomes more measured and calmer, and the city looks even more elegant under the snow. Tourists will make a trip to the winter fairy tale, see the snow-covered geometry of the streets, numerous canals in ice, trees in hoarfrost.
A very successful period for contemplation of local museums will be winter, because there will not be a terrible crush of tourists, which will allow you to fully explore the various expositions. Take, for example, an excursion to the famous St. Isaac's Cathedral. This is the place where you need to go to St. Petersburg in the winter. This is the former main cathedral of Russia in its imperial times, and at the present time - the largest practical dome structure of the Old World. Go to the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Climb to the colonnade of the place from where you can see the panorama of St. Petersburg.
Yusupov and Winter palaces, Peter and Paul Fortress
The question of where to go in St. Petersburg is especially relevant in winter. Visit the banks of the Moika River, where the Yusupov Palace, built in the 18th century, is located. It well preserved front apartments, halls of the art gallery, a small home theater and residential quarters. Restorers even managed to revive its artistic interiors bit by bit. The soul freezes from contemplation of this beauty. After all, it was here that Rasputin Grigory was killed under mysterious circumstances. On Hare Island, we recommend visiting the Peter and Paul Fortress. It was built at the base of the city itself on the Neva. From afar her golden graceful spire is noticeable.
On the territory of this fortress there are several old museums. It is impossible not to mention the Winter Museum, whose walls are witnesses to love affairs of emperors, important decrees, social events, revolution and magnificent balls. The Winter Palace in our time is the main building of the Hermitage. There are paintings by Titian, Rubens, Van Gogh, Cezanne. Try it, and maybe you will personally see and discover the secret of Kazimir Malevich in his painting “Black Square”.
Mariinsky and entertainment center “Neptune”
Take time and go to the Mariinsky. This is the oldest musical theater in Russia. In it, relax and abstract from the hustle and bustle of life, rest your soul. If you are looking for the sights of St. Petersburg in winter, you would like something unusual, you can go to the Neptune entertainment center.
It has the attraction “Horrors of Petersburg”, with the help of which you can discover a very interesting mystical city and get to know better its horror stories and legends. Such an unusual attraction consists of thirteen rooms, each of them illustrates the plots of literature and urban history. In the rooms there are Rodion Raskolnikov, Peter the Great, Princess Tarakanova and Grigory Rasputin.
Summer Garden and Book House
St. Petersburg would not be a cultural capital if it hadn’t hosted countless business, entertainment, sports and music events all year round. The restored Summer Theater was opened next to the Field of Mars; now it has become good to walk in it in winter, and not just in summer. This garden was laid by Peter the Great himself, he (the garden) is sung by poets and captured by famous artists. Also at night you can walk on the roofs of St. Petersburg buildings, admire the Sablinsky caves, feel the atmosphere of well-courtyards.
Near the bridge is also the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, another symbol of the city. Where to go in St. Petersburg in the winter if you like literature? In this case, go to the Book House. On certain days, a real Zoo Show is organized. It takes place in Lenexpo, located in pavilions 8 and 8a. Children are delighted with a visit to the zoological museum and the cruiser Aurora.
Evening walks in Petersburg
This city is famous for evening walks, because during them all its beauty is revealed. You can visit the Gostiny Dvor, the enchanting Book House, Kazan Cathedral, Palace Square and the Winter Palace. Even if you were already there during the day, we still advise you to visit in the evening - completely different impressions.
And now we will briefly consider some more places to visit in the dark:
- The Electric Transportation Museum is a very interesting place with retro-trolleybuses and retro-trams.
- “Grand Layout of Russia” - it is worth seeing this country in miniature.
- Museum “Republic of Cats” - all cat lovers love it.
- “Floors”, a loft project where creative youth gathers, there are many interesting and unusual exhibitions.
- “Erarta” - a museum of modern art.
- Theaters, for example, Komissarzhevskaya and BDT.
So we answered the question of where to go to St. Petersburg in the winter evening. You can also add skating on an open or closed rink, games in a time cafe.
Engineering Castle, Sheremetyevo Palace, Museum of the Arctic and Antarctica
In the afternoon it is recommended to go to the Engineering Castle and listen to the guide, be sure to visit the Sheremetyevo and Stroganov palaces, touch the luxury and beauty in which noble and wealthy people lived in the past in St. Petersburg. And the best thing, of course, is to read in advance, familiarize yourself, make a plan, and then go along the route that you have outlined. After all, it all depends on your taste. There are any entertainments in the city. For example, go to the Museum of Antarctica and the Arctic.
These sights of St. Petersburg in winter can be seen much better. The Arctic Museum opened in 1937. After the intensive development of Antarctica began, in 1958 the same place was opened. It more and more lost the direction of ideology, became a monument to the efforts of all generations of researchers and a good archive. In 1998, the museum was separated from the institute and made a separate independent state institution with a new name - RSMAA. From the same year, its exposition consists of the following sections: “Antarctica”, “History of development and research of the Northern Sea Route”, “Nature of the Arctic”. So if you decide what to do in St. Petersburg in the winter, consider this option.
Where in St. Petersburg to have fun with a child under five
When a person looks at magnificent sculptures, parks, buildings, his heart beats. There is a desire to show something to your children. What to visit in St. Petersburg in the winter with a child? The answer to this question will not be any difficulties, because life here never freezes. There is even a special group that has been organizing such entertainment since 1999. She is very popular.
You will get the opportunity to walk along the half-empty huge halls of the Hermitage with your children, examining the masterpieces of world culture presented here: luxury goods, furniture, sculpture, graphics and painting. In order for your child to have more than enough impressions, we offer you to visit several theaters and museums, a sporting event or an aqua park in a couple of days, take a walk in the magnificent city center, and organize a tea party in a quiet cafe. You can also look at the zoo, go to the Peter and Paul Cathedral. Lots of fun for the kids!
Hikers
Where to take a walk in St. Petersburg in the winter? You can choose one of the routes: from the Moscow railway station to the Peter and Paul Fortress, from the summer garden to the Bronze Horseman.
And if it’s very cold and they don’t decide anything in a cafe for half an hour, then you can go, for example, to the Russian Museum. For lovers of skiing, the Tuutari Park resort is considered the best place, where there are several good ski slopes, as well as cottages and hotels with baths and saunas.
What you can see in St. Petersburg at night
Fans of relaxation in the dark will also receive their portion of entertainment. Due to the climate, you can’t wander around St. Petersburg, and most young people move to bars and clubs. There are a lot of them. We will limit ourselves to a few: “Dacha”, “Griboedov”, “Purga”, “Fidel”. Everything is the opposite in them; after sunset, life here is just beginning. Night Peter in the winter is completely different than in the summer.
But not everyone loves such entertainment. In this case, you can just see the city with night illumination. He's very handsome. Especially the Alexander Theater and the nearby monument. Or appreciate the beautiful picturesque alley that leads to the monument to Catherine II. It is worth stopping near the window of the Eliseevsky store.
The best excursions in winter St. Petersburg
In winter, St. Petersburg is a dim, special beauty of all gray, including graphics, against a gray background. You need to see all this and feel it yourself. After all, there are romantic, abnormal, mystical and unusual places. Now we will list them: Arrow of Vasilyevsky Island, Peter and Paul Fortress, Hermitage, Trinity Bridge, Field of Mars, Kazan Cathedral, Peterhof Museum-Reserve, Spas-na-Krovi, Bronze Horseman monument.
These beautiful places of St. Petersburg in the winter for a few excursion days can be mastered. And on your next visit, inspect the rest. Then the task of studying the
sights of St. Petersburg can be considered completed.