3 Days in Saint Petersburg, Russia

8 Best Things to Do in Saint Petersburg

1. Kazan Cathedral

Walking along Nevsky Avenue, you will stumble upon Kazan Cathedral, one of the biggest cathedrals in the city, so it can be difficult not to check it out. The cathedral offers free entry from 7AM to 8PM.

2. The Savior on the Spilled Blood Cathedral

One of the most iconic landmarks of St. Petersburg, this colorful cathedral is located between the criss-crossing canals of Saint Petersburg. The cathedral is especially beautiful at dusk from the big bridge on Nevsky Avenue near Kazan Cathedral.

Be sure to go inside and look up. The interior is even more epic than the exterior, in my opinion.

3. The Winter Palace and the Palace Square

The Winter Palace is another beautiful landmark you have to see in Saint Petersburg. Its unique green/white color combination and perfect symmetry make the exterior quite a sight to behold. To make this place even better, the inside of the palace is home to the Hermitage Museum.

4. The Hermitage Museum

The Hermitage Museum houses one of the most prestigious and largest art collections in the world. Even if you are not interested in art, the museum does house temporary exhibitions for you to learn about the history of Russia. When I was there, the October Revolution exhibition was on display. It was interesting to see how the revolution played a big role in transforming Russia into what it is today.

The 3 million items housed in the Hermitage museum occupy a large complex of six historic buildings. The museum is a labyrinth. I can see myself spending an entire day here, learning and admiring the prestigious art collection and the unique interior design with a grand Russian touch.

5. St. Isaac's Cathedral

This cathedral is impressive both on the outside and on the inside, but the best part of this cathedral is not any of that; it's the fact that you can climb up the tower to reach the balcony and absorb Saint Petersburg from the top.

Although you have to pay a few RUB to go up and get in separately, but due to its location, 360° open-air panoramic balcony, and its proximity to the Winter Palace, it was worth all the Rubles needed. I spent almost an hour up there taking time-lapse videos of the city's skyline.

When you get inside, beware. You might get neck pain afterward because the cathedral decor and the colorful interior will have your head all the way back, looking up, and your jaw all the way down. Yes, it's that stunning!

6. Peterhof

Photos by Alex 'Florstein' Fedorov.

Peterhof is a summer palace located outside of Saint Petersburg. The palace consists of a series of palaces, gardens, and the Grand Cascade, for which the place is known. If you are here during the summer, check out the big fountains at the Grand Cascade. Keep in mind that the fountains are only operational from May to September, so time your visit accordingly.

7. Mariinsky Theatre

Photos by Perfektangelll

If you plan your trip ahead of time, make sure to align your visit with any opera, ballet, or concerts that are performed at the Mariinsky Theatre and book the ticket beforehand so you can see the grand interior of this historic theatre. To see the upcoming shows, please visit this page.

8. Get your Coffee Fix at Bonch

I haven't done this in a while, but since I found the perfect place for people travelling in Saint Petersburg, it's hard not to recommend.

Located near the Winter Palace, Coffee Bar Bonch is the best place to sit and enjoy a nice cup of coffee, watching the locals socialize or just sitting and working on your laptop in peace. The cafe has fast free WiFi (you need a Russian phone number to activate the WiFi) and plenty of power sockets around the cafe. The coffee and cakes are delicious and not too pricey.

The location is shown above.

When To Visit Saint Petersburg?

June to August is the best time to go, as the temperature is perfect for outdoor activities, hovering around 20-25°C, and you are more likely to get a clear day than during shoulder seasons. Clear days are hard to come by outside of the summertime, so I would only recommend this period.

How to Get to Saint Petersburg?

Traveling to Russia is cheaper than most people think. You can easily find plenty of flights by Aeroflot operating in Europe and Central Asia. You can also browse through Skyscanner or Expedia to find the cheapest possible flight from where you are.

How To Get Around Saint Petersburg?

Saint Petersburg attractions are mostly concentrated around the Winter Palace area, so most of the places are within walking distance.

If you want to explore a little further, the metro system is possibly the cheapest and fastest way to get around inside the city. It should cost you around 45 RUB (0.8 USD) per single trip of any distance.

Buses are a little bit cheaper (40 RUB), but depending on the traffic and time, it might be faster and more reliable to stick with the metro.

Getting to and from the airport is relatively easy and cheap. When you exit the terminal, there will be a bus waiting to go to the city. Hop on and pay 40 RUB (luggage not included), and it will take you to the "Moskovskaya" metro station. From there, you can take the metro to your accommodation.

What to Pack for Saint Petersburg, Russia?

As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Saint Petersburg, Russia:

• Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
• Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
• Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
• Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
• Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
• Down Jacket: In freezing temperatures, a down jacket is essential. The Columbia Men's Lone Fir Hooded Jacket (for women) is my choice. They are warm, lightweight, and available in various colors.
• Wool Beanie: A wool beanie is perfect for keeping your head and ears warm.
• Wool Gloves: I always have wool gloves handy to keep my hands warm in cold weather.
• Wool Socks: Don't forget to keep your feet warm with wool socks.
• Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
• Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
• Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
• Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
• Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
• Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
• Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
• Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.

For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.

Looking for a more comprehensive packing list for Europe? Check out:What to Pack For Europe: The Essential Packing List

Further Reading for Russia

I hope you found this Russia travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Russia, I have tons more articles you might like:

• I love Moscow. Not many people agree with me, but I think it has its own charm that, without any expectation, one could enjoy thoroughly. It also has a ton of awesome photo spots for Instagrammers and photographers alike. Here’s 9 best photo spots in Moscow you should visit.
• When people think of a trip to see the Northern Lights, they associate it as being an expensive activity. However, did you know that you can do it in Russia, which is probably one of the cheapest places to witness the Northern Lights in the world? Here's a guide on how to witness the Northern Lights cheaply in Murmansk, Russia.
• You can find more Russia travel guides on my Russia Travel Guide page.
• Or watch my award-winning Russia travel video here: "Russia Hour" travel video.
• Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary for Europe? Here is the 3-Month Itinerary for Europe.
• Packing for a trip to visit a region as big as Europe can be extremely daunting. Here's a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe - The Essential Packing List.
• Want to visit Europe in winter? Better prepare for the cold. Here's a winter packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe in Winter - The Essential Packing List.
• Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
• Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
• Want to dive deeper into Northern Europe? You can find more about it on my Northern Europe Travel Guide page.
• For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.