See St Petersburg on a city tour
Friday, 17, Jul 2009 12:00
St Petersburg is the ideal destination for a European city break - the metropolis was originally built as part of a tourism project back in the 18th century, meaning that there is much to see and do on a St Petersburg tour.
The city is rich in culture, boasting numerous palaces, cathedrals and monuments, as well as 220 museums, 42,000 libraries, over 80 theatres, 45 galleries and 80 clubs.
Furthermore, some 100 cultural and arts festivals are held in St Petersburg annually, meaning that there are plenty of opportunities to time a St Petersburg city break with one of its many events.
Just a few of the main attractions you can expect to take in on a St Petersburg tour include the Hermitage - which is one of the biggest museums in the world and offers exhibits from a variety of countries and time periods - as well as stunning imperial palaces such as the Winter Palace and Peter the Great's Summer Palace, which also functions as a museum.
The spectacular Alexandro-Nevskaya monastery, Andreyevsky Cathedral and St Isaac's Cathedral are among the must-see religious buildings in St Petersburg, while tourists are also likely to be drawn to monuments such as the Bronze Horseman in the city's main square and various large sculptures of Peter the Great, Catherine the Great and the famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.
Other popular sights consist of the Peter and Paul Fortress - which has a bell tower that is the highest building in St Petersburg - and the architectural delights of Palace Square, St Isaac's Square, the island of Novaya Gollandiya - or New Holland as it is also known - and the Ploshad Dekabristov, otherwise known as the Decemberists' Square.
If you fancy taking a break from sightseeing on your St Petersburg city break, you could check out the area's burgeoning restaurant and cafe scene and sample some authentic local cuisine, as well as dishes from around the world.
Meanwhile, the city's lively nightlife consists of various late-night bars, live music events and high-end nightclubs for the rich and famous - of which there are plenty in St Petersburg.
The metropolis has so much to see and do your best option may well be to book a specific St Petersburg tour to help you take in the main sights at the start of your stay in the city, before moving on to other attractions at your own pace later on.