Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
11
Suggested
St. Petersburg
Itineraries
St. Petersburg, for all its size and
grandeur, is best viewed in small glimpses,
by first studying the columns and crannies
of each square at a time, and only then
looking at the genius of the city plan. You
could spend a full day walking up and
down Nevsky Prospekt, its main thor-
oughfare, or tracing the banks of the Neva
River. Either itinerary would exhaust and
overwhelm you, and probably do little to
enhance your understanding of the city's
brilliance and beauty. The tours below are
designed to help you appreciate both the
minutiae and the scale that St. Petersburg
comprises. Though they are as compact as
possible, the tours still include long quay-
side walks, so bring good shoes.
1 THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN BRIEF
The city's historical and royal heart beats around Palace Square (Dvortsovaya
Ploshchad), presided over by the resplendent, sea-green Winter Palace, home of the
Hermitage Art Museum. This small district houses few hotels and restaurants, but it's a
crucial starting point for experiencing St. Petersburg. The curved facade of the General
Staff headquarters faces the Winter Palace from across the square, its three-layered arch
leading to Nevsky Prospekt while shielding the square from the street noise and bustle.
The square opens westward toward the Admiralty Building, whose ever-glistening spire
acts as a compass point for the city, the nexus of three main avenues. Farther west lies the
Decembrists' Square, anchored on one end by the enormous single-domed St. Isaac's
Cathedral, and on the other by the fearsome Bronze Horseman statue rearing up over the
stone banks of the Neva River.
Nevsky Prospekt is St. Petersburg's geographical anchor, an elegant avenue named
after medieval Russian warrior prince Alexander Nevsky. When you're touring the city, it
helps to bear in mind where you are in relation to Nevsky at any given time. The hotels
on upper Nevsky, near Palace Square, are mostly top-notch and top-price. Lower Nevsky
has a few mid-range Soviet-era options and an increasing number of inexpensive bed-
and-breakfasts. Restaurants on the avenue range from Russian fast food for a few rubles
to members-only nouveau riche hide-outs. More creative dining options can be found on
the side streets just off Nevsky.
North of central Nevsky are the Square of the Arts and the Summer Gardens, an area
that includes the often underrated Russian Museum, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic,
several theaters and galleries, and the dizzying domes of the Church on the Spilled Blood.
Hotels here are scarce, but bars and cafes dot the neighborhood.
 
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