Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DAY-TRIPS FROM ST PETERSBURG
The Peterhof
Tsarskoe Selo and Pavlovsk
The Imperial palaces of Peterhof and Tsarskoe Selo , half an hour to an hour outside the
city, are both splendid day-trips. Although entering the palaces is increasingly expensive,
you can slip away from the crowds into the surrounding parks. As you leave St Petersburg
on the bus, look out for the awe-inspiring war monument to Leningrad's World War II sac-
rifice, and Lenin “hailing a taxi” near Finland station.
The Peterhof
Most visitors with time for just one day-trip opt for Peterhof (Grand Palace Tues-Sun
10.30am-7pm, closed last Tues of month; R550, student R300; park daily 9am-8pm; R450,
student R250), 29km west of St Petersburg, known as the “Russian Versailles” and famed
for its marvellous fountains and impressive cascades. Though originally built between 1709
and 1724 for Peter the Great, each of the subsequent rulers made their mark here. Travel by
hydrofoil in summer (every 30min 10am-7pm; R650 each way or R1100 return; 30-40min)
from outside the Winter Palace or take minibus #224, #300 or #424 from Avtovo, or #103
or #420 from Leninsky prospekt.
Tsarskoe Selo and Pavlovsk
The small town of Tsarskoe Selo (also known as Pushkin, after the “Russian Shakespeare”
whowaseducatedattheneighbouringLyceumschool),30kmsouthofStPetersburg,centres
onthe CatherinePalace (palace: Wed-Mon10am-6pm,openuntil9pmthefirstthreeMon
of the month, closed last Mon of the month; R320; grounds: daily 7am-9pm; R100, stu-
dent R50). The ostentatious blue-and-white Baroque structure built by Catherine the Great
is surrounded by a richly landscaped park. Scottish architect Charles Cameron's elegant
Neoclassical gallery stretches high above it. To get to Pushkin, take minibus #342 or #545
from Moskovskayaor#186from Kupchino;alternatively,takeatraintoDetskoeSelofrom
Vitebsky station, then bus #371 or #382.
The same minibuses take you 5km further south to the more intimate Pavlovsk Palace
(Sat-Thurs 10am-5pm; closed first Mon of the month; palace R450, student R250; grounds
R150, student R80), its magnificent Neoclassical interior set amid luxurious 1500-acre
grounds.
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