St. Petersburg is Russia’s second largest city, nestled on the Neva River at the top of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. The city has staged historical significance since it was founded by Peter the Great on May 27, 1703 as it witnessed the rise and fall of Imperial Russia, civil war and three revolutions. St. Petersburg is the ‘’Window to the West,’’ serving as Russia’s cultural soul of Russia, home to composers, poets and musicians and sanctuary to timeless and precious art.
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St. Petersburg remains to be one of the world’s most beautiful cities, a major factor why its tourism soars. Tourists enter St. Petersburg through Pulkovo Airport which is approximately 17km south from the city center. From the airport, visitors have the option to take the taxi or bus-to-train combo to arrive to the city. Railways, taxis, buses and rent-a-car services are the available options when touring the city. But, it is the old-fashioned trams that are often referred for that slow-paced way of city sight-seeing.
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Since the city has a good line-up of hotels and accommodations, tourists spending the weekend in St. Petersburg will find their temporary home with ease. B&B’s that exude that home-away-from home feel very well fit the budget. For personalities with a lifestyle to maintain, upscale hotels complete with top amenities, such as Rocco Forte Hotel Astoria and Four Seasons Hotel, are found in every corner of St. Petersburg.
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Tasting the city’s world-known dishes seals the St. Petersburg experience. Tourists must not fail to indulge in Russian crepes with caviar, mushrooms, berries, and everything on it. Chainaya Lozhka, with branches all over St. Petersburg, serves Russian crepes that come with a variety of fillings. One of the high-end restaurants with impressive interior is Baku, a wonderful place to taste Azeri cuisine. Restaurants that serve international dishes are also in St. Petersburg’s dining scene, satisfying those who crave for pizza, sushi, burrito or Chinese.
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More than just a city characterized by winding canals and broad avenues, St. Petersburg is gem when it comes to architectural and art. The Hermitage, Mariinsky Theater and St. Isaac’s Cathedral are only few of the world-famous attractions of the city. Museums, palaces, historic buildings, cathedrals and bridges comprise the awesome cityscape of St. Petersburg.
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The popular spots of St. Petersburg makes this city a mecca of beauty, that is why the Winter Palace, Kazan Cathedral, Nevsky Prospect, the Admiralty, Palace Square, the Naval Museum, the Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Petersburg University, the Menshikov Palace, the Bronze Horseman, Fine Arts Academy, Alexandrinsky Theatre, Smolny Cathedral, the monument to Catherine the Great and the Church of Resurrection on Spilled Blood should be a part of every visitor’s itinerary.
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Being in the Neva River, the best way to see the St. Petersburg is through the traditional boat ride that can cruise through thin canals, promising a view of the fascinating scene of the city’s insides. With all the city’s astounding features combined, it is never hard to comprehend why St. Petersburg is a fascinating city that can be ranked equal to New York and Paris.