Take a Private Guide to see St. Petersburg
by Emily54
If like us you're not so young anymore, then our tip is to hire a private guide. It may cost a little extra, but we found it well worth the cost. You will avoid the lines to museums, the huge crowds of people coming from cruise ships - and best of all you will be able to go at you own pace. No need to rush to keep up the the group tour guide and others in the group. We used Tatiana from Russian Adventure - www.russianadventure.com and can thoroughly recommend her. Her personal service, kindness and knowledge really made our trip a pleasure. Walking along the Neva embankment in the evening. It was such a beautiful sight.
Russian Museum
by furioso
Often overlooked by visitors in favour of the Hermitage, the extensive Russian Museum is a must for anyone interested in Russian art and culture. It's housed in the former Mikhailovsky palace, which was designed by Carlo Rossi and built in 1819-25 for Grand Duke Mikhail (brother of Tsars Alexander I and Nicholas I) as compensation for not getting a go on the throne. The museum was founded in 1895 under Nicholas II, and opened three years later. The building is most impressively viewed from the back, during a late-night stroll through the pleasant Mikhailovsky Gardens behind it. The illuminated palace by night makes a great spot for romantic holiday snaps.
Peter The Great
by sunshine9689
I just wanted to talk a bit about our great emperor Peter I, since it was his vision and passion that created the city...
Born on the 9th of June 1672 (Gemini like me), the healthiest of other 13 sublings, he was put on the trone at the age of 10, sharing the country with his mentally ill brother Ivan. The real power however belonged to his elder and very smart sister Sofya (25 years old) who was in control of all Russia for 7 years (she was forced to become a nun later and spent the rest of her days in the monastery, died at the early age of 47).
Peter`s childhood was spent outside of Moscow, in the village of Preobrazenskoe. There he absorbed European ideas (mostly in the nearest German-founded village) instead of those antiquated notions of Kremlin. From early on he showed a lot of interest in the military and marine studies and was really good at it!
At the age of 17 Peter got married under the pressure of his mum. It lasted for 9 years and then he sent his unwanted wife to the monastery (yeah, a good way to get rid of people) and got re-married to his German lover.
In the 90s Peter started thinking about getting some sea exits for his country cause oddly enough Russian had none at that time. He succeeded 25 years later when defeating Sweden.
In 1703 Peter founded his beloved StP and in 1712 the city was called the capital of Russia.
He died at the age of 53 after impulsively jumping in cold waters of Finnish Gulf (to save passengers from a shipwreck) and catching a cold later, in 1725.
Peter was an extraodinary man: knew dozens of crafts and subjects (like navigation, blacksmith`s, carpenter`s, ship building, etc); could just eat bread and onion for dinner; was extremly strong even though he did not look like much (I mean he was tall, yes, but really thin, not mascular at all); loved teeth extraction (you were better off to keep you mouth shut around him and not complain about having a toothache, cause he would immediately come and pull that sucker out).
Hungry Mosquitoes
by scubaphoto
Take note if you are like me and don’t enjoy mosquitoes feeding on you whilst you sleep be aware that they are prevalent in St Petersburg, certainly in September and October when I visited. I would like to think that I was personally responsible for keeping the city mosquitoes population under control during my time here.
If you would like a peaceful sleep take along a net or some repellant.
Liteyny Prospekt
by bugulma
Nevsky Prospekt is crossing by Liteyny Prospekt, in the area closer to Moscow Railway Station Square. I recommend you turn to the right to the prospekt on the crossing (if you go towards to Hermitage), then you can enjoy several beatiful building facades like you see on the picture.
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Cell in the prison
The island with all labels in Russian
Looking back at the Rotterdam
A pond in a park
