How to Find Saint Petersburg's Best Tourist Spots

St. Petersburg is a Russian city located on the Baltic Sea, often referred to simply as Petersburg. The former names of the city are Petrograd and Leningrad. In Russia, the only larger city is Moscow, and St. Petersburg is also the fourth largest city in all of Europe. This beautiful and elegant city is often noted as being the most Western European style city in Russia. With very rich history and culture, St. Petersburg offers a lot to potential tourists. For those planning to visit St. Petersburg in the future, here are some of the city's best tourist attractions.

Instructions

1. Visit the Siege of Leningrad Museum. This museum is devoted to the January 1944 besiege of Leningrad (former name of St. Petersburg) by the Nazis, which the protectors of Leningrad did not surrender to submission. With many artifacts, photographs, films, and both permanent and temporary exhibitions, this museum makes for a moving and fascinating view of St. Petersburg's history.

2. Check out the Menshikov Palace. Alexander Menshikov was a close friend to Peter the Great. His palace is probably the most decadent and luxurious to ever exist in the city. There are many detailed and exciting tours of this palace. The interior is restored in an eighteenth century manner, and there are many Russian historical artifacts from that period on display here (see Resources below).

3. Go to the Yusupov Palace on the Moika. This is a lovely landmark that displays architectural styles spanning the eighteenth to twentieth centuries. This palace showcases five generations of Russia's aristocratic dynasty. Be sure to take a look at the chamber of the Yusopovs, which provides an exciting, intimate view into their former living quarters (see Resources below).

4. Spend some time at the State Hermitage Museum. Many refer to this museum as the Russian version of the Louvre in Paris. With an astounding collection of over three million works detailing the development of world culture, visitors will be able to browse everything from Stone Age artifacts to French paintings from the nineteenth century (see Resources below).

5. Take a look at the palace and park of Peterhof. Peterhof is truly an amazing and magnificent sight, with its majestic fountains, immaculate lawns, and exterior reminiscent of Versailles in France. Be sure to check out the impressive Grand Cascade. This is a wonderful place to witness European aristocratic fashions up close.

Tips & Warnings

• St. Petersburg is a large and extremely culturally rich city. To fully enjoy the city, try to plan your vacation to be at least a week long.

Resources

• Menshikov Palace
• Yusupov Palace
• The State Hermitage Museum