Russia Travel Guide | Must-Visit Attractions in Saint Petersburg

Following our previous posts on Moscow, let’s dive into Saint Petersburg! 👉 If you love history, art, or oil paintings, the Hermitage is a must. 👉 If you want instagrammable photos, Catherine Palace is your top choice. Saint Petersburg’s attractions can be divided into three main areas: 1️⃣ Churches and theaters around Nevsky Prospect 2️⃣ Catherine Palace (far from the city center, take a taxi) 3️⃣ Peterhof Palace (also far, requires a taxi) Day 3 We arrived by night train and were jet-lagged and tired, so we took it easy and even napped in the afternoon 😂 🟡 Kazan Cathedral | Free Scenic outside with fearless pigeons 🕊️, and fairly decorated inside. As non-Christians, we didn’t feel deeply connected though. 🟡 Admiralty Building | Free We accidentally skipped this 🥲, but it’s said to have exquisite reliefs and takes about 30 minutes to see. 🟡 Peter the Great Monument | Free A bronze statue of Peter the Great in Decembrists’ Square—great for a quick photo 📸 🟡 St. Isaac’s Cathedral | 450 RUB The decorations and ceiling paintings were impressive, but as non-believers, we got a bit of “church fatigue” 😅 (It’s like visiting too many temples in a row!) 🟡 Mariinsky Theatre | Prices vary by show and seat We watched the ballet “The Fountain of Tears”. Having read the story in advance helped a little 🩰, but some dramatic transitions felt confusing. A friend watched a play and struggled due to the language barrier. Maybe the circus would have been more fun? 🤡 Overall, Day 3 was relaxed. Many top attractions in Saint Petersburg are churches, palaces, and museums. Without deep historical knowledge, the experience can feel superficial—like a foreigner visiting the Forbidden City without understanding Chinese history. Day 4 🟡 Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood | 450 RUB Similar to St. Isaac’s—beautiful, but another church 😅 🔴 Vampire Church | 600 RUB A friend recommended it as “rebuilt after a fire” 🔥… We expected a haunted house but found a solemn religious space. Good for gothic-style photos though! 🖤 🟢 Catherine Palace | 1800 RUB The interior was magnificently decorated and architecturally surprising 🏰. Although some say it’s overrated, we enjoyed it! Final Tips: Use Yandex Go for taxis 🚖 Learn a bit of history before visiting palaces & churches 📚 Book ballet/theatre tickets only if you understand the language or plot 🎭 #SaintPetersburg #TravelRussia #Hermitage #CatherinePalace #Ballet #TravelTips