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White water rafting: A pleasant adventure on river Tejaswini | Video

Who says that you have to travel to a far-off land to gain a sense of adventure? 

Believe it or not, the God's Own Country has the apt blend of peace and excitement. For those with a love for 'living on the edge', a trip to northern part of Kerala could be quite refreshing in many ways.

Rafting on the river Tejaswini is one such venture that could almost take your breath away; with the crystal clear water allowing you to admire the beautiful green fern growing on golden brown rocks. Not to mention the awesome view of the lush green surroundings of Cherupuzha in Kannur.

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The whitewater rafting, organized by Xtreme Adventures in association with Alpha Team Adventures, could be termed more than satisfactory. Rafting on Tejaswini could be the pit stop before your planned rafting trip to Rishikesh and other similar locations that offer tougher versions of the sport. 

Also read: Scuba diving in Kovalam

Rafting today

Charged at a Rs. 1200 per head for a duration of two hours, this activity is not popular to the local residents of the area. 

Shyju Sebastian, CEO of the Xtreme adventures, grew up along the mangroves. “We would make rafts out of bamboo sticks. These were large rafts that were sold once we had finished transporting goods from one part of the bank to another,” Shyju explained. These were expensive to make.

The inflatable rafts are less expensive and were easier to maintain. “We generally permit a group of five people or more for each rafting session,” he explained. The first rule; the participants should be over 14-years-old.

A shot at the bigger picture

Cherupuzha, according to Shyju, has a lot of scope for adventure tourism. Surrounded by green terrains and mesmerizing hills, this little township could become a prominent zone for water sports. “We did have a tough time in the initial years of the establishment. But now, we are doing extremely well. Our clientele hail from Kannur and nearby areas. We are also considering kayaking as an additional recreational activity in the area.

Things to remember

Here are few facts to keep in mind before you venture out on a raft:

a) Ensure that you are wearing a life jacket at all times.

b) Always wear a helmet as there are several chances of head injuries.

c) Follow the instructions to the 'T.'

d) Don't be afraid. For only fear can ruin the fun!

Also read: Gliding through the clouds at Vagamon

A light swim to wake the body up

While the rafting turned out to be an ideal substitute for a workout in a gym, swimming in the crystal clear water was something one could call 'out-of-the-world.' It is truly blissful to let the river current take you to a land you have never explored!

A fine stepping stone

The rafting experience at Cherupuzha is an ideal stepping stone to those who aspire to try the more challenging high-altitude rapids. But all-in-all, this adventure is bound to bring you closer to nature.

Where : Cherupuzha, approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes from Kannur city.

How do you get there: Bus or train up to Payannur or Kannur. You could then consider hiring a cab or any other means of the transport to get to the destination.

Food outlets: The little food joints/shacks are perhaps the ideal spots for a sumptuous meal. Try some authentic pathiri   with egg curry , bonda (south Indian snack) and of course some tea for breakfast.

A piece of advice:

There aren't too many options for accommodation at Cherupuzha unless you are eligible for government guest houses (there is a CRPF guesthouse 20mins from the rafting spot). It is ideal if you stay at Kannur or Payannur. Also, it is added advantage if you are able to make arrangements for a private vehicle at your disposal at all times.

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Kavvayi Islands

Kavvayi islands, kannur overview.

Kavvayi Island is situated near Payyanur, a town in northern Kerala. Kavvayi Islands are spread over an area of approximately 37 square kilometers and are surrounded by the Kavvayi backwaters, which is a picturesque network of lagoons, rivers, and canals. Recorded in the travel writings of scholars and explorers Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo, Kavil Pattanam, now called Kavvayi, has been recreated into a beautiful island. Spread over the districts of Kannur and Kasaragod, the Kavvayi islands, also called Kavvayi Kayal) are the largest backwater island group in north Kerala.

Historically, kavil Pattanam used to be the hub for spice and gems trade, done through the port of Malabar, which also brought in precious Damascus steel. The port, however, was closed after the British banned it in the 17th century. The name Kavil Pattanam was changed to Kavvayi by Sir William Hogan. The main highlight of Kavvayi is the islands covered with lush green vegetation, coconut groves, and mangrove forests.  The backwaters and mangrove forests serve as habitats for various marine and avian species. It is home to several migratory birds, including rare and endangered species

Read More on Kavvayi Islands

Things to do.

The backwaters are fed by four rivers and streams - the Kavvayi, Kankol, Vannathichal, Kuppithodu and Kuniyan rivers. The largest island of the island group is Valiyaparamba, and the backwaters near it are also known by the same name. 

The Payyannur municipality, in an attempt to draw in more tourists, organises kayaking events and has developed a park near the ferry at Kavvayi, serving as a breathtaking view of the entire backwaters. Visitors can sit and watch the boats go by, and also avail boating facilities.

One of the most popular adventures sports here is water zorbing, where one has to get inside a large inflated plastic ball, to be able to “walk” on the water without getting wet. 

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Kavvayi Kayal is from October to March when humidity is at its low and it isn't raining as hard. The weather around this time is very cool and pleasant, and ideal for all the nature walks adventure sports, and boating trips and picnics.

One must avoid the monsoon months of June, July and August, as the average rainfall that Kavvayi receives is over 3578 mm. The summer months of May and June are very humid, and hot. The average annual temperature of Kavvayi is 27.2 °C.

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Cherupuzha Grama Panchayath

Cherupuzha, kannur kerala.

Formation Year -2000

Area   -   75.64sq km

District -  Kannur

Block   - Payyannur

Nearest Railway Station   - Kannur Railway Station

Nearest Airport   -  Calicut International Airport

Nearest City   - Kannur

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St. Petersburg   Travel Guide

Courtesy of Getty Images |

18 Best Things To Do in St. Petersburg

Updated Feb. 12, 2021

St. Petersburg is a great city for sightseeing, with an abundance of art-filled galleries and brilliant architecture to explore. Stroll along the Nevsky Prospekt and have a coffee at a local cafe, explore north end's sites like the Winter Palace and

• All Things To Do

Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace

Catherine the Great founded the Hermitage Museum in 1764 as a place to house her private art collection. The main museum complex comprises six buildings, including the Winter Palace, which was the home of the czars for almost 200 years. It finally opened to the public in 1852, and since then has been one of the largest and most interesting museums in the world. It draws more than 4 million visitors each year – in fact, this museum is the main reason some travelers visit St. Petersburg in the first place. Recent travelers offered fulsome praise for both the art on display and the opulent building housing the works. For many, the only downside was the constant crowds.

Bursting at the seams with art from masters like Leonardo da Vinci and Pablo Picasso, the Hermitage demands a substantial commitment of time to see even a portion of its collection, which encompasses 3 million works of art and artifacts. Some previous visitors reported spending seven hours touring the grounds. If you plan to spend a considerable amount of time admiring the works, consider purchasing the two-day entrance ticket.

Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood

The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is one of the main attractions in St. Petersburg, drawing crowds to its ornately decorated onion domes and the stunning mosaics housed within. Alexander III commissioned the construction of the church in 1883 as a tribute to his slain father, Alexander II, who was assassinated on this site by a group of revolutionaries. The church's name references this murder and much of the art inside has a martyrdom theme.

Recent visitors invariably raved about the beauty of the building, with the intricate mosaics inside regularly cited as being especially remarkable. Travelers also said the church is small, so you'll probably be able to tour the inside in less than an hour.

St. Isaac's Cathedral St. Isaac's Cathedral

The construction of St. Isaac's Cathedral was ordered by Alexander I in the early 1800s. This neoclassical marvel was finally completed in 1858 after 40 years of construction. St. Isaac's has an interesting history: it survived Nazi shelling in World War II and even briefly served as a museum of atheism under the Soviet regime.

St. Isaac's Cathedral possesses an imposing exterior presence with its single massive dome, but you'll also want to check out its opulent interior, with its multicolored marble floors and stunning frescoes, which never fail to impress visitors.

Peter and Paul Fortress Peter and Paul Fortress

The Peter and Paul Fortress is where St. Petersburg was founded. Peter the Great commissioned the building of a fort on Hare Island in 1703 and initiated construction of the fortress. Among its attractions is the Peter and Paul Cathedral, which has a bell tower that remains one of the tallest structures in the city. Along with its impressive height, the cathedral also houses the remains of centuries of Russian czars and their families. The Grand Ducal Burial Chapel, which is connected to the older cathedral, contains the tombs of other members of the Romanov family. At various times, including during the Soviet period, the fortress was used as a prison. Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Maxim Gorky, Mikhail Bakunin and Leon Trotsky are among the notables who were held there. Now it operates as part of the State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg. The St. Petersburg Mint also forms part of the fortress.

The fortress exerts a powerful draw for history buffs. Visitors often single out the cathedral as especially impressive. The fortress is a popular destination and can be crowded, especially in summer. Past visitors suggested timing your visit for noon, when the fortress cannon fires a blank shot. The cannon shot was once used to signal the beginning and end of the work day and commemorate special state events, among other things.

Catherine Palace and Park Catherine Palace and Park

Though it's located about 20 miles outside St. Petersburg proper, the Catherine Palace and Park certainly merits a visit by anyone in the area, especially enthusiasts of elaborate and fanciful architecture. In 1717, Peter the Great commissioned a building for his wife, Catherine, who succeeded him after his death, but her namesake palace only began taking on its grand stature in 1743, when their daughter, the Empress Elizabeth, engaged a series of architects to expand upon it. The result was a massive building with ornate blue and white facades decorated with real gold. The interior is no less spectacular. What's more, the surrounding 1,400-acre park features multiple fountains and bridges.

Recent visitors offered lavish praise for the palace's extravagance and the opulence of the furnishings. The Amber Room was a particular highlight for recent visitors. The original Amber Room, which was decorated with six tons of amber and other semiprecious stones, was looted by Nazis during World War II. The whereabouts of the original Amber Room remain a mystery, but in 2003 the palace unveiled a reconstruction of the room – which is what visitors can admire today. The only downside to all this beauty? The palace is known to attract crowds year-round, according to reviewers.

Peterhof Palace & Garden Peterhof Palace & Garden

If you're visiting St. Petersburg in the summer, the Peterhof Palace & Garden is an absolute must-see. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Peterhof was the brainchild and summer palace of Peter the Great. The palace is frequently likened to Versailles , which inspired its design.

While the palace is an impressive site, the manicured gardens and numerous fountains really steal the show, according to recent visitors. Reviewers also add that you shouldn't bother with the palace if you have time constraints, because exploring this palace can easily take an entire day.

Russian Museum Russian Museum

The Russian Museum boasts the world's largest collection of Russian art. Its main exhibition space has been housed in the neoclassical Mikhailovsky Palace since 1895. The Russian Museum also consists of several other buildings, including the Marble Palace, the Mikhailovsky Castle (St. Michael's Castle), the Stroganov Palace and the Benois Wing. For many travelers, a visit here offers the chance to view artwork not often seen outside of Russia.

The complex is massive, so be prepared to spend several hours here, according to past visitors. It's a good idea to figure out what you want to see beforehand, so you can better plan your tour of this fascinating museum. The rooms in the Benois Wing, which hold works by Kandinsky and Malevich, are particularly popular (and often crowded). The museum usually has at least one excellent special exhibit on display. With a massive collection of more than 400,000 works from the 10th to the 21st century, the museum may be best viewed with a tour guide or by using the corresponding free English-language smartphone app , which offers an audio guide.

Fabergé Museum Fabergé Museum

The Fabergé Museum in the Shuvalov Palace houses the world's largest collections of works by Peter Carl Fabergé, including nine of the renowned, bejeweled imperial Easter eggs for which the artist is best known. In addition to the Fabergé pieces, which had originally been collected by the prominent American entrepreneur Malcolm Forbes, the museum boasts a collection of more than 4,000 works of Russian decorative and fine arts. Fabergé, who was born in St. Petersburg, crafted his famous eggs for the last two Russian emperors, Alexander III and Nicholas II. He also made jewelry, religious objects, silverware and other items, examples of which can be seen in his eponymous museum. The 4,700-square-foot palace inside which the museum is located qualifies as a popular destination in its own right.

While the eggs may be the main attraction, visitors frequently are impressed, if not awed, by the quality and quantity of other works of art on display. Many also enthuse about the beauty of the building itself.

Mariinsky Theatre Mariinsky Theatre

Iconic not only for its grand architecture, but also for the legendary performances held here, the Mariinsky Theatre is a must-see for fans of opera and ballet. According to some, seeing a performance here is as essential as paying a visit to the Hermitage Museum to understanding Russian life. Along with the premieres of "Sleeping Beauty," "The Nutcracker" and "Swan Lake," this theater is where dancers like Anna Pavlova and Mikhail Baryshnikov honed their skills, not to mention opera singers like Feodor Chaliapin. Dating back to 1860, the theater building itself is also an impressive sight thanks to its opulent interiors.

Past visitors highly recommended seeing a performance here while in St. Petersburg. Reviewers gushed about the theater's lavishness and the talent of the performers.

Summer Garden Summer Garden free

After battling the crowds at the Hermitage and taking in countless masterpieces at the Russian Museum , you're going to need a place to unwind. So why not go to the same spot Peter the Great used to go for some rest and relaxation?

Most come to the Summer Garden to just soak in the atmosphere, which travelers describe as tranquil. Classical gardens, Italian statues and lovely fountains will let you know that you made the right call to visit. Other structures housed here include the Summer Palace, which is maintained by the Russian Museum and available for touring for a fee. Because the Summer Palace is modest in comparison to some of the city's other noble structures (it's just two stories and houses seven rooms), many past visitors chose not to tour the interior.

Alexander Park Alexander Park

Located near the Catherine Palace and Park , the nearly 500-acre Alexander Park is less formal than its neighbor. The Alexander Palace, which was a frequent retreat for the last czar, Nicholas II, sits inside the park. Though the palace is currently closed for renovations, there are still several other attractions within the park worth seeing. The park also contains the remains of the Chinese Theatre, an opera house designed by Antonio Rinaldi (who also designed the Chinese Palace still standing in the Oranienbaum State Museum Reserve ), which was destroyed during World War II. A Chinese Village remains, and its restored cottages were made into apartments, and many of the park's adornments have an Asian motif. The park also features miniature versions of some of St. Petersburg's most famous buildings.

The park is often described as peaceful, pleasant and relaxing. Its pathways accommodate walkers, runners and bicyclists (as well as users of wheelchairs). Past travelers said Alexander Park makes for a nice addition to any visit to Catherine Palace, but they also said it's not worth the trip from St. Petersburg if you don't plan to also tour Catherine Palace.

Yusupov Palace Yusupov Palace

Also known as the Moika Palace, Yusupov Palace is a St. Petersburg landmark. It was the main residence of the House of Yusupov, which was a wealthy family of Russian nobles.

Travelers come here to take in the luxurious interior. Those with a deep interest in Russian history find the palace especially fascinating. Others said the palace provided a more convenient option than Peterhof Palace & Garden , which sits about an hour outside St. Petersburg.

Oranienbaum State Museum Reserve Oranienbaum State Museum Reserve

While Menshikov Palace deserves exploration, the palace is part of a larger estate known as the Oranienbaum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area also encompasses the Palace of Peter III and the Chinese Palace, both of which were designed by the Italian architect Antonio Rinaldi. The Oranienbaum consists of an Upper Park and a Lower Park. The former features artfully planned canals, ponds and bridges, while the latter was decorated with fountains and sculptures.

Recent visitors praised the impressive gardens adorning the Oranienbaum's grounds and said the palace and its attractions are not as popular as some of St. Petersburg's other royal residences, so the Oranienbaum is much quieter and less crowded. Reviewers were also quick to recommend touring the inside of the Chinese Palace for its opulence.

Grand Maket Russia Grand Maket Russia

Grand Maket Russia, or Grand Model Russia, is a more than 8,600-square-foot scale model of the country that showcases Russia's urban and rural life. With illumination from half a million electric lights, the model reproduces the country's roads, railroads and waterways. The interactive display also has numerous buttons allowing visitors to put various vehicles in motions. To see all of the display's intricacies, visitors can even borrow binoculars.

Recent visitors expressed amazement over the model's high degree of detail. While frequently described as kid-friendly, this is a highly entertaining thing to do for people of all ages, according to reviewers.

Menshikov Palace Menshikov Palace

The Menshikov Palace, the first large structure built with stone in St. Petersburg, was constructed for Prince Alexander Menshikov, a close associate of Peter the Great, in the early 1700s. It was used for formal state functions until Menshikov fell out of favor with the emperor's successor. It currently belongs to the Hermitage and displays some of the museum's paintings and sculptures. The palace, which sits on Vasilyevsky Island on the banks of the Neva River, combines extravagant appointments, including ample use of marble, with everyday domesticity. Its blend of traditional Russian architecture and Western European style became known as Petrine Baroque.

Visitors tend to find the architecture rather fascinating and appreciate the views of the river. Though some pointed out this felt more like a grand house and less like a palace. Others said it's not worth making a special trip to the island. However, the palace is typically not as busy as some of the city's other things to do and may provide a respite from the crowds.

The Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Kronstadt The Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Kronstadt

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Nevsky Prospekt Nevsky Prospekt free

Erarta Museum Erarta Museum

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Top 20 St. Petersburg attractions and experiences

St. Petersburg has a true wealth of attractions and experiences to offer travelers, from spectacular Imperial palaces to quirky and absorbing museums, from boat trips along the city's majestic rivers and canals to walks in the footsteps of St. Petersburg's literary and artistic greats.

In fact, there's more than enough to see and do in St. Petersburg to keep visitors entertained for weeks or even months. One of the biggest challenges for independent travelers is to work out what they will actually have time to fit in to their itinerary, particularly as St. Petersburg is one of Europe's largest cities, with the historical centre alone covering several square kilometers and some of the most famous attractions located far out in the suburbs. To help you get the most out of your time in St. Petersburg, our travel writers have drawn on their own expertise and years of feedback from travelers to compile this Top 20 list of attractions and experiences.

The Hermitage (The Winter Palace)

Undoubtedly St. Petersburg's most famous visitor attraction, and universally acknowledged as one of the world's greatest treasuries of art and antiquities, the Hermitage is a name to be conjured with, and reason enough on its own for many travelers to book a trip to St. Petersburg.

The Hermitage Museum now spans several sites, but for most visitors it is the main collection in the Winter Palace that is an essential component of any St. Petersburg itinerary. Here you'll find not only centuries of European fine art and a rich collection of Greek and Roman antiquities , but also the astonishingly opulent 18th and 19th century state rooms of Russia's imperial family.

Since the summer of 2014, much of the Hermitage's renowned collection of impressionist and post-impressionist art (in terms of artistic quality, undoubtedly the highpoint of the collection) has been transferred across Palace Square to the General Staff Building , so if your main reason for visiting the Hermitage is to see the art, then you have to consider making time for the second location, possibly with a break for refreshments between the two.

Optimal: One day for the Winter Palace and General Staff Building collections.

Minimum: Two hours

Further reading

Explore the Hermitage: An introduction to St. Petersburg's greatest museum.

The Mariinsky Theatre

St. Petersburg's other internationally renowned cultural institution, and for some visitors an even greater draw than the Hermitage, the Mariinsky Theatre has profited in recent years from the financial and creative turmoils of Moscow's Bolshoi to become the undisputed preeminent musical theatre in modern Russia.

Renowned for the impeccable discipline and devotion to tradition of its ballet company, and blessed in Valery Gergiev with one of contemporary classical music's most exciting and exacting conductors, as well as international stars of ballet and opera including Ulyana Lopatkina, Diana Vishneva and Anna Netrebko, the Mariinsky Theatre is a world-class venue for ballet, opera and orchestral music.

Recent years have seen the Mariinsky spread beyond its historic home, the wedding-cake late-19th century opera house on Teatralnaya Ploshchad ("Theatre Square"), with the addition in 2006 of the Mariinsky Concert Hall, and in 2013 the long-awaited opening of the second opera and ballet stage, Mariinsky II. While most visitors will want to enjoy the rich atmosphere and ornate interiors of the main theatre, both new venues are beautifully designed inside, with state-of-the-art acoustics and stage technology, making them well worth exploring for music enthusiasts.

Optimal: As many performances as time and your budget will allow.

Minimum: At least one evening performance at the Mariinsky should be an essential component of any Petersburg itinerary.

Rivers and canals of St. Petersburg by boat

If you're visiting St. Petersburg from May to October, there are a number of ways to explore the city by boat, from taking the hydrofoil to the suburban palace and park at Peterhof to enjoying dinner and live jazz on an evening cruise along the Neva. When the weather's good, visitors should really take any opportunity to get out on the water, but even the shortest visit to St. Petersburg in summer should include one boat trip along the city's central rivers and canals.

There is a wide range of different offers available at the various quays on or near Nevsky Prospekt, with larger boats offering guided tours (some in English) and on-board refreshments, and smaller boats that you can rent by the hour, choose your own route, and bring your own food and drink. All routes through the centre take in some portion of the Fontanka and Moyka Rivers and the Griboedov and Kryukov Canals. Some also head out onto the River Neva, while around midnight most of the boats in the city offer the chance to watch the opening of the Neva's bascule bridges from the water. Whatever route you end up taking, a boat trip is a fantastic way to see St. Petersburg from a different angle, and perhaps the best possible means of getting an impression of the sheer scope of the city's architectural beauty and romance.

Optimal: If you're in the city for more than a few days, it's definitely worth taking two trips - one sightseeing tour through the centre and one to watch the bridges opening .

Minimum: A basic sightseeing tour along the rivers and canals of the centre will take just over an hour.

When it comes to visitor attractions, St. Petersburg is as famous for the Imperial palaces and parks in the suburbs as for the museums and palaces in the city centre. Among the former, Peterhof is the one we would class as absolutely unmissbale, especially in summer when the park's incredible collection of fountains is in operation.

It took Peter the Great over a decade and a few false starts before he found the right site for his summer residence. Modelled partly on Versailles, but with many features that reflected Peter's specific tastes and interests, the park was expanded under Peter's daughter, Empress Elizabeth, to greatly surpass its French antecedent in scope and grandeur. While the Grand Palace at Peterhof is less spectacular than the Catherine Palace at Tsarskoye Selo, Peterhof excels in the diversity and range of its attractions, from the charming baroque buildings of the Petrine era to the extraordinary gilded extravagance of the Grand Cascade to the catalog of gardening styles encompassed in the Upper and Lower Parks to the ever-growing number of museums housed in the various buildings on the estate.

Optimal: There is plenty at Peterhof to keep you occupied for a whole day, and the Lower Park is a great place to picnic in the summer.

Minimum: As the journey from the city centre takes at least 45 minutes, half a day is the minimum time necessary to visit Peterhof even for the briefest overview.

St. Isaac's Cathedral & Colonnade

The low-rise skyline of St. Petersburg's historic centre is dominated by the grand gold dome of St. Isaac's Cathedral, the life's work of French architect Auguste de Montferrand and the city's largest and most spectacular religious building.

Completed in 1858, St. Isaac's took over forty years to build and decorate. Its strictly European Empire-style facades and colonnades are made unique by the employment of red Karelian granite, while the interiors also meld Orthodox tradition with Catholic influence and extraordinary extravagance in the choice of materials. Different types of semiprecious stone from all over Russia form the interior walls and columns, while an abundance of original art and sculpture goes only a little way to filling the vast hall of the cathedral, designed to accommodate 14 000 standing worshipers. As well as visiting the Cathedral interiors, travelers can buy an extra ticket to climb the 300 steps up to the colonnade. From here, you can enjoy some of the best views of St. Petersburg available.

Optimal: A tour of the cathedral and colonnade should take around two hours. It's certainly worth getting an audio guide for the cathedral, and possibly for the colonnade if you are entirely unfamiliar with the lay-out of the city.

Minimum: While visiting the cathedral interiors is hardly essential if you have limited time to explore the city, the colonnade is just about the only accessible place in St. Petersburg where you can enjoy something like aerial views of the downtown, so it's well worth taking half an hour to visit.

The Peter & Paul Fortress

The place where the city of St. Petersburg began, the Peter and Paul Fortress never actually saw military action, but has fulfilled a variety of functions over its three-century history, from burial place for nearly all of the Romanov Emperors and Empresses to notorious political prison to the site of key experiments in the development of Soviet rocket technology. All of these aspects of the fortresses history are celebrated in diverse exhibitions across various buildings, and it is the ramshackle charms of these various museums and collections as much as the grandeur of the spectacular Ss. Petersburg and Paul Cathedral that make the fortress an essential visitor attraction.

Optimal: It's possible to spend the best part of a full day at the Peter and Paul Fortress, and if possible you should definitely take the time (around five hours) to visit the Peter and Paul Cathedral, explore the displays on the History of St. Petersburg in the Commandant's House and at the Museum of Cosmonautics and Rocket Techonolgy, and walk along the top of the curtain wall.

Minimum: If you're short of time, it's probably enough to pop inside the Cathedral and walk the ramparts (just over an hour).

Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood

While it lacks the authentic medieval charm of St. Basil's in Moscow, the Church on Spilled Blood is nonetheless one of St. Petersburg's most instantly recognizable landmarks, its riotously colorful Russian Revival architecture making a stark contrast to the elegant neoclassicism of the State Russian Museum next door. This is part of the church's charm, in that it serves to constantly remind the visitor to St. Petersburg that, despite the Italianate elegance of most of the "Golden Triangle", you are still definitely in Russia. It's extraordinary also that a monument to mark such a tragic event (the assassination of Alexander II) should be so exuberantly colorful.

Optimal: As gaudy and colorful on the inside as on the outside, the Church on Spilled Blood is worth going inside if you have time to listen through an audio guide with the story of the church's construction (just over an hour in total).

Minimum: If you're on a whistlestop tour, there's no need to set aside time for the Church on Spilled Blood, as you're bound to pass it more than once in even the shortest exploration of St. Petersburg.

Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin)

Home to not one but two vast 18th century palaces, surrounded by beautifully landscaped parkland with a rich variety of follies and monuments, Tsarskoye Selo is a testament to the immense wealth and lavishness of the Romanov Imperial family. The rococo Catherine Palace by Bartolomeo Rastrelli, a sister building to his Winter Palace in the city centre, is the most famous attraction, particularly thanks to the extraordinary Amber Room, but there are many other highlights to see, with almost every great St. Petersburg architect of the 18th and early-19th centuries contributing something to the ensemble.

Optimal: Like Peterhof, Tsarskoye Selo is best enjoyed at a leisurely pace over a full day, with a break for a picnic in the park or lunch at one of Pushkin's restaurants.

Minimum: There's no point in visiting Tsarskoye Selo unless have a full morning or afternoon free. It's all worth considering combining Tsarskoye Selo with the palace and park at Pavlovsk a few kilometers east. This also gives you the opportunity to dine at the excellent Podvorye restaurant.

Opening bridges

The Neva River connects Lake Ladoga to the Baltic Sea, and during the summer navigation season tens of cargo ships per day follow this important route, making it necessary to open the bascule bridges across the Neva in central St. Petersburg. This is done after midnight, and during the White Nights especially it has long been a tradition for crowds to gather along the embankments to watch the raising of the bridges. The raised arches of Palace Bridge make for one of St. Petersburg's most famous views, but its as much the atmosphere of lazy revelry and contentment inspired by the eternal twilight that makes this such an unmissable St. Petersburg experience.

Optimal: If you have the opportunity, then it's worth taking a midnight boat trip out to watch each bridge rise from the water.

Minimum: It is only really Palace Bridge and Trinity Bridge that gather big crowds, and they are undoubtedly the most beautiful. To watch the two adjacent bridges rising and walk the kilometer along the river between the two is a pleasant way to spend an hour before bed.

Nevsky Prospekt

"There's nothing finer than Nevsky Prospekt, at least not in St. Petersburg." So begins Nikolay Gogol's famous tale of St. Petersburg's central avenue. While that story may end in disillusion and despair, there's little doubt that Nevsky is one of the world's greatest streets. Running 4.5 kilometers from the Admiralty in the west to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery in the east, Nevsky Prospekt has a hardly single building dating from after 1917. Highlights include the magnificent Art Nouveau Singer Building , the baroque Stroganov Palace , Kazan Cathedral with its curved neoclassical colonnade, the Horse Tamers statues on Anichkov Bridge , and the 18th century shopping arcade Gostiny Dvor .

Nowadays, St. Petersburg's most exclusive shopping area is actually the eastern end of Nevsky, beyond Ploshchad Vosstaniya. As well as landmark buildings and up-market boutiques, however, Nevsky Prospekt also offers an electric atmosphere and energy. Especially in summer, Nevsky is bustling no what the hour, and an increasing number of bars and cafes without outdoor seating give you a better opportunity to enjoy the avenue's living theatre.

Optimal: It will take at least two hours to walk the full length of Nevsky Prospekt, allowing for brief contemplation of the major sights and attractions.

Minimum: The most famous landmarks on Nevsky are nearly all in the stretch that runs through St. Petersburg's "Golden Triangle" from the Fontanka River to the Admiralty. This section of the avenue can be explored in around 30 minutes.

Bronze Horseman

St. Petersburg's most famous public monument, this equestrian statue to Peter the Great is not only one of the most instantly recognizable symbols of St. Petersburg - like the Statue of Liberty for New York or the Eiffel Tower for Paris - it is also the subject of one of the greatest poems in the Russian language, Alexander Pushkin's The Bronze Horseman: A Petersburg Tale . Completed in 1782, the statue took 12 years of work by the French sculptor Étienne Maurice Falconet, recommended to Catherine the Great by Denis Diderot himself. The pedestal of the monument, the "Thunder Stone", is purportedly the largest ever moved by man.

The Bronze Horseman is easily combined with a visit to St. Isaac's Cathedral, so does not require a specific time on your itinerary.

State Russian Museum

While the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow is undoubtedly the finest collection of Russian art in the world thanks to its beautiful premises and rich collection of 20th century work, it is matched up to the October Revolution almost painting for painting by the State Russian Museum. Occupying the magnificent Mikhailovsky Palace, the Russian Museum's main collection is a treasury of Russian visual from throughout the ages, with highlights including medieval icons, atmospheric late-19th century genre paintings, and several modernist masterpieces.

Optimal: The main collection in the Mikhailovsky Palace will take 2-3 hours to do justice to, and it's also worth visiting the collections in the Marble Palace both to see this beautiful building and for the Peter Ludwig collection of international Pop Art.

Minimum: While the Russian Museum is definitely one of St. Petersburg's top visitor attractions, if you are on a first-time trip to Russia and visiting Moscow as well, it makes sense to choose either the Russian Museum or the Tretyakov Gallery, as the two have very similar content right down to different variations of the same work in some cases.

Dostoevsky's St. Petersburg

While nearly every great figure of Russian literature spent some time in St. Petersburg, and many wrote works with St. Petersburg as their setting, none is so inextricably linked with the geography and atmosphere of the city as Fyodor Dostoevsky. For many travelers, it is reading his works that sparks an initial desire to visit St. Petersburg, even though his descriptions often make the city monstrous and forbidding. As St. Petersburg's historic centre has been comparatively untouched by change in the 20th century, much of Dostoevsky's Petersburg is still there to explore, and the areas around Sennaya Ploshchad and Vladimirskaya Ploshchad are rich in sights connected to his life and works.

Optimal: Our Dostoevsky walking tour takes 3.5 hours, including a visit to the Dostoevsky Memorial Museum .

Minimum: To get an idea of where Dostoevsky lived, you can just visit the museum and the adjacent Church of the Vladimir Icon , as well as the Monument to Fyodor Dostoevsky , in about an hour.

A small promontory of land at the eastern end of Vasilevskiy Island , the Strelka ("Spit") is right in the middle of the Neva River Delta, with magnificent views on all sides, including the Winter Palace , Palace and Trinity Bridges , the Peter and Paul Fortress and St. Isaac's Cathedral . A perennially popular site for wedding parties and bus tours to stop and take photos, the Strelka also has landmarks of its own, specifically the magnificent Rostral Columns , with their gas beacons lit for public holidays and maritime anniversaries, and the elegant classical temple of the St. Petersburg Stock Exchange , all works of the French-born architect Thomas de Thomon.

The Strelka is an integral part of any exploration of Vasilevskiy Island, and does not require separate time on your itinerary.

Pushkinskaya 10

Established in 1989 as a squat for independent artists, alternative musicians, and other "underground" types, Pushkinskaya 10 is an arts and performance centre in an old apartment building a short walk from Nevsky Prospekt. A warren of studios and exhibition space haphazardly linked together as the Museum of Non-Comformist Art , Pushkinskaya 10 can be somewhat bewildering for visitors, and much of the space is often inexplicably closed (the two bars, both of which are also concert venues, are by far the most accessible parts of the complex), but it's well worth visiting for the increasingly rare chance to get a glimpse of the old Leningrad bohemia and its once revered dissident art scene.

Optimal: The best way to visit Pushkinskaya 10 is to come in the early evening and hope that the galleries are open, before heading to one of the two music venues for a concert.

Minimum: A 15-minute visit should suffice to get an overall impression of the center's atmosphere.

Carlo Rossi's Petersburg

Practically unknown outside Russia, this Italian-born architect was the major creative force behind great swathes of central St. Petersburg, particularly the city's grand formal squares, with their Empire-style columned facades and trademark yellow-and-white plasterwork. His most famous buildings include the General Staff Building on Palace Square, the Alexandrinsky Theatre , the Senate and Synod Building , and the Mikhailovsky Palace (the State Russian Museum ). In the "Golden Triangle" of St. Petersburg's historic centre, moreover, it's hard to take more than a few steps without finding more of Rossi's work.

Optimal: Our walking tour of Rossi's most famous buildings takes around 2.5 hours.

Minimum: You'll see Rossi's work when you visit the Hermitage, the State Russian Museum, the Bronze Horseman, and just about anywhere you walk in central St. Petersburg.

Kunstkammer (Museum of Anthropology and Ethnology)

The city's oldest museum, the Kunstkammer was founded in 1718 by Peter the Great himself, and is primarily of interest as a monument to the remarkable endeavours and enthusiasms of St. Petersburg's extraordinary founder. Housed in an elegant baroque building on Vasilevskiy Island, the museum has a rather pedestrian collection of ethnographic exhibits, and most visitors are drawn rather to Peter's own fascination, the huge number of deformed fetuses preserved in jars and other freaks of nature. Slightly less sensational but also of interest are the displays devoted to the great Russian polymath Mikhail Lomonosov.

A visit to the Kunstkammer will take around 1.5 hours.

Ploshchad Pobedy and Moskovsky Prospekt

St. Petersburg's historic centre is renowned for having undergone little architectural change during the 20th century. In fact, the Soviet authorities were inclined to abandon the centre, redolent of the imperial past, and develop a new city to the south, along Moskovsky Prospekt . Most visitors only see this part of town on their way to and from Pulkovo Airport, but its worth exploring for several fantastic examples of Stalin-era architecture, including the monumental House of Soviets , as well as the memorials to the Great Patriotic War in Park Pobedy ("Victory Park") and on Ploshchad Pobedy ("Victory Square"). The latter is home to a magnificent panoramic monument to the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad , which has a museum detailing the defense of the city beneath it.

Optimal: It is worth spending a couple of hours exploring Moskovsky Prospekt southwards from Park Pobedy Metro Station, as well as taking a tour of the museum beneath the Monument to the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad.

Minimum: If you're short of time, there's not reason to make an extra trip out to Moskovsky Prospekt as you'll be able to see the highlights on the way to/from the airport.

Mikhailovsky Theatre

While there's no questioning the Mariinsky Theatre's position as St. Petersburg's leading venue for opera and ballet performances, it is worth paying attention to this second historic theatre on Ploshchad Iskusstv, not only because of the last decade's largely successful financial and artistic renaissance, which has seen the Mikhailovsky engage top foreign talent and gain an international reputation, but also because it can often be a more affordable and accessible way to see ballet in St. Petersburg. This is especially true when tickets at the Mariinsky are scarce during the White Nights Festival.

Ballet enthusiasts should definitely consider taking in a show at the Mikhailovsky as an addition to, rather than a replacement for, performances at the Mariinsky.

Yelagin Island

Accessible from the city centre in around 20 minutes by metro, Yelagin Island (also known by its Soviet-era name as the "Kirov Central Park of Culture and Leisure") rarely finds a place on tourist itineraries. It really should be more popular, however, offering not only a (comparatively) small but very elegant Imperial palace by Carlo Rossi, but also attractive parkland, a boating lake in summer and outdoor skating in winter, and the surprisingly avant-garde wonders of the Museum of Glass Art . The lack of cars on the island and the small entrance fee make it a secluded a tranquil spot, and its probably the best of the green spaces within the city if you're looking for somewhere to enjoy a relaxing walk.

Yelagin is a great place to while away a summer afternoon, and also has a fairly active calendar of cultural events in the warmer months, including a couple of music festivals.

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15 Top Tourist Attractions in Saint Petersburg, Russia

By Alex Schultz · Last updated on May 4, 2024

Renowned for its elegance and grandeur, Saint Petersburg is awash with stunning architecture, as majestic palaces and cathedrals jostle for space alongside its many canals and waterways. Located at the mouth of the Neva River on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, it is the second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, for centuries, it was the capital of the Russian Empire.

Everyone from artists and architects to composers, scientists, and writers were attracted to its shores. This turned the city into a cultural powerhouse, with fantastic art collections to be found alongside opulent opera houses hosting world-class ballet, classical music, and theater performances.

There are plenty of things to do in Saint Petersburg with it museums, historical tourist attractions, and palaces. Nicknamed ‘the City of White Nights’ due its endless summer days, this is a magical place to visit at any time of year.

15. Faberge Museum

Located in the stunning Shuvalov Palace, this wonderful museum hosts the most extensive collection of works by the famous Russian jeweler Peter Carl Faberge, after whom it is named.

Containing over 4,000 artworks, its refined rooms and sophisticated galleries showcase everything from porcelains and paintings to intricately carved and ornately designed bronze, silver, and gold objects.

The undoubted highlights are the museum’s nine Imperial Easter eggs that Faberge himself created for Alexander III and Nicolas II – the two last Russian Tsars. Bedecked in jewels, they shimmer and shine in the light and exhibit some exquisite and elaborate craftsmanship.

14. Alexander Nevsky Monastery

Sprawling over a vast site, the Alexander Nevsky Monastery is one of the most important spiritual centers of the Russian Orthodox Church and is still in use to this day. Founded by Peter the Great in 1710, it is located on the spot where Alexander Nevsky – a former prince and now patron saint of the city – is said to have defeated the Swedes in battle in 1240.

Encompassing two fine Baroque churches, the Neoclassical Holy Trinity Cathedral, and a host of ornate tombs of famous Russian figures, the monastery and its leafy grounds are certainly fascinating to explore.

13. State Russian Museum

Occupying one entire side of Arts Square in the center of Saint Petersburg, the State Russian Museum is a fabulous place to head to if you want to learn more about Russian art. Established in 1895, the museum is located in the enormous Mikhailovsky Palace, which itself is a work of art: the Neoclassical building is home to lots of exquisite rooms and galleries.

Beginning with artworks and Byzantine-inspired icons from the 12th century, the comprehensive collection takes you on an incredible journey through the ages, with socialist-realist works on show alongside portraits of princes and epic landscape paintings. Often overlooked in favor of the Hermitage, the State Russian Museum is well worth checking out if you are at all interested in art.

12. New Holland Island

Built in 1719, the artificial New Holland Island is so named because the waterways and canals all around it make it look as if it has just popped up out of Amsterdam. The triangular island came into being when Admiralty Canal and Kryukov Canal were dug to connect the Moika River to the Neva River – and by extension, the Gulf of Finland.

Once a shipyard and naval base, New Holland Island has been renovated in recent years and now boasts numerous art galleries, coffee shops, and restaurants.

11. Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art

If you’re interested in contemporary Russian art, then the Erarta Museum is the place to go; its extensive collection is set over five floors within a massive building on Vasilyevsky Island. Encompassing some 2,800 artworks, its sprawling galleries are home to graphics, installations, and sculptures, with a plethora of paintings also on display.

In addition to its fabulous permanent collection, the museum also regularly hosts temporary exhibitions, as well as shows and performances. Beautifully laid out and presented, its brilliant artworks and sleek design usher in a new ‘Era’ of ‘Art,’ and this is what lends the museum its name.

10. Mariinsky Theater

One of the most prestigious cultural institutions in the country, the Mariinsky Theater, has been dazzling opera and ballet goers since it was founded in 1859.

A fitting setting for all the world-class dancers, singers, and musicians that have performed on its stage over the decades, the lavishly decorated concert hall really is a delight to gaze upon.

Named after the wife of Tsar Alexander II, the Mariinsky Theater is one of the best places in Saint Petersburg to watch a show, along with the Mikhailovsky Theater.

9. Yusupov Palace

Also known as Moika Palace, due to its location on the banks of the river of the same name, Yusupov is one of the best places to visit if you want to see how aristocrats lived in Imperial Russia. While its exterior is quite plain, besides its pastel-yellow color, the interior is simply staggering to explore: its many halls are decorated with only the finest furniture, artworks, frescoes, and tapestries that money can buy.

Built in the 1770s and named after the wealthy Russian noble family that owned it, the colossal palace remarkably even boasts its own private theater. In addition to all its many riches, Yusupov Palace is famously where Grigori Rasputin, the Russian mystic who was believed to have influence over Tsar Nicolas II, was murdered in 1916.

8. General Staff Building

Gently curving its way around the south of Palace Square, the General Staff Building is one of the most famous architectural monuments in the city and faces both the State Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace. Designed by Carlo Rossi, the elegant Neoclassical building was built between 1819 and 1829, and its two wings are separated by a majestic triumphal arch.

This was erected to commemorate Russia’s victory over Napoleonic France in 1812 and has some marvelous statues perched atop of it. Once the headquarters of the general staff of the Russian armed forces, the eastern wing of the beautiful building is now part of the State Hermitage Museum and houses a stunning array of awe-inspiring art pieces.

7. Peter & Paul Fortress

Set in the exact spot where Saint Petersburg was first founded, the Peter & Paul Fortress was built all the way back in 1703. It is from its star-shaped defensive fortifications that the city slowly spread out around it.

Occupying a prominent position on the banks of the Neva River, the fortress has lots of fabulous buildings for you to explore, such as the Trubetskoy Bastion and the magnificent Peter and Paul Cathedral.

Besides its fascinating historical sights and interesting exhibitions that relate to the Russian revolution and Imperial Russia, the fortress also hosts a number of festivals, events, and concerts during the year. In addition to this, the sandy beach that lies at the foot of its wall makes for a popular sunbathing spot when the sun is shining.

6. St Isaac’s Cathedral

One of the largest cathedrals in the world of any denomination, St Isaac’s gargantuan size is certainly staggering to behold; its enormous gold-plated dome is visible from almost anywhere in Saint Petersburg. As it took 40 years to build, grander and more elaborate designs kept getting added to the original plans: over 100 massive columns were erected alongside several other smaller domes.

Inside is even more impressive as beautiful reliefs, mosaics, and iconostasis cover every imaginable surface. Although it still holds services, St Isaac’s Cathedral was turned into a museum in 1931 by the Soviet government and remains so to this day.

5. Kronstadt Naval Cathedral

Built between 1903 and 1913, the Kronstadt Naval Cathedral is quite unique and unusual in terms of its design: it combines Neo-Byzantine and Romanesque architecture with various Russian features.

Located on the small island of Kotlin that lies in the Gulf of Finland, the glimmering white cathedral was financed by the Russian navy and is dedicated to fallen seamen everywhere.

While its beautiful cupola and facade are delightful to gaze upon, its cavernous interior is no less impressive, as grand chandeliers and mosaics look down upon its marble floors and columns. As it is located just a short ferry ride away from Saint Petersburg, it is well worth spending half a day or so in Kronstadt to see the town and its gorgeous cathedral.

4. Catherine Palace & Park

Located some 30 kilometers to the south of the city, the breathtaking Catherine Palace is where the Russian tsars came to relax and unwind during the summer months. The grand and flamboyant style of the palace dates to 1752, when the architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli redesigned and redecorated the original building, plastering elaborate stuccoes all over it.

It is painted a bright bluish-green, with the white columns and gold statues and embellishments standing out delightfully; the Rococo palace really does make for a spectacular sight.

Inside are a number of lavish ballrooms for you to explore. The Golden Enfilade of staterooms are the undoubted highlight, while the Amber Room and Grand Hall are also must-sees. Named after Catherine I who commissioned it, the palace is set in some fantastically laid out and landscaped gardens; these are perfect for taking a relaxing stroll in after all the overwhelming splendor you’ve just taken in.

3. Peterhof Grand Palace

Commissioned by Peter the Great to outshine the Palace of Versailles with its opulence and grandeur, the Peterhof Grand Palace certainly makes a good go of it. Covering a considerable area, its series of palaces and gardens are simply spellbinding to wander around, with beauty, art, and nature on show wherever you look.

Built between 1709 and 1756, each new addition, palace, or building was grander than the last. Each architect added their own features, with the Throne Room and Chesme Hall being two of the most finely decorated of the lot. Located all around the palaces are a dazzling array of landscaped gardens complete with fountains, cascades, flowerbeds, and statues.

Not to be missed when in Saint Petersburg, the Peterhof Grand Palace fully earns its nickname of ‘the Russian Versailles’ and is equally splendid in terms of what it offers up.

2. Church of the Savior on Blood

Appearing as if out of a fairytale, Saint Petersburg’s Church of the Savior on Blood looks very much like the world-famous Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. This similar design sees five richly decorated onion domes tower above the main body of the church below.

Built between 1883 and 1907 at a colossal price, the gorgeous church was erected in the memory of Tsar Alexander II, who was fatally wounded by anarchists at the same site.

Inside is just as majestic as its fantastic exterior; every conceivable surface is coated in astonishing mosaics of saints and icons. After having been ransacked in the Russian revolution, used as a morgue in WWII and as a vegetable warehouse in Soviet times, the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ – to give it its official title – has thankfully been restored to its former glory.

1. State Hermitage Museum

The second-largest art museum in the world after the Louvre in Paris, the State Hermitage Museum’s vast collection is remarkably spread across five buildings and 360 rooms in the center of Saint Petersburg. Founded by Catherine the Great, an avid art collector, the huge number of paintings, sculptures, and antiquities were added to by various tsars, and it was Nicolas I who opened them to the public in 1852.

Following the Russian revolution, many extensive private collections were seized, which only further bolstered its numbers. Today, the State Hermitage Museum has around three million artworks in its collection. With such renowned names as Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Picasso, and van Gogh on show, wandering around its galleries really is a treat. One could spend days, if not weeks trying to see everything.

Whether it is prehistoric art, the Italian Renaissance, the Dutch Golden Age, or 19th-century Russian art that you are interested in, the State Hermitage Museum is simply a must when in Saint Petersburg.

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