Things to do in St Petersburg in 2 Days
There are so many things to do in St Petersburg in 2 days. St Petersburg, Russia beckons with its sophisticated architecture, extravagant churches, ornate palaces and historic buildings. There is truly so much to see in this megacity that it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer massiveness of St Petersburg.
Famously nicknamed “Venice of the North”, in reality, St Petersburg is actually so much more than that. Think of the opulence of Roman architecture, the winding canals of Venice, and the enchanting palaces of Austria, but mixed in with an exquisite Russian twist. That’s St Petersburg.
With only 2 days to conquer this storied city, you may need to move fast – but getting to know this decorative metropolitan might be one of the most memorable travel experiences in your lifetime.
Transportation
Getting to St Petersburg
You can get to St Petersburg in a few different ways - bus, train, ferry, car and more. If you’re flying, Skyscanner is the best site to use to track the cheapest prices. Flights will arrive at Pulkovo Airport in St Petersburg.
Getting around St Petersburg
This itinerary is designed so you can visit St Petersburg’s attractions using public transport. However, since you may be pressed for time, you can also look into going on a guided tour instead, which will no doubt be a less time rushed option.
Viator offers plenty tours you can go on, ranging from day trips, 2-day tour packages, and much more. There are also St Petersburg private tours available. Some trips you could check out are:
Right! Let’s move on to the itinerary,
DAY 1
A little taste of everything St Petersburg has to offer
Rostral Columns
St Isaac’s Cathedral
Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood
Palace Square
Hermitage Museum and Winter Palace
Optional: Peter and Paul Fortress, Yusupov Palace, Kazan Cathedral, Trinity Cathedral
Stop 1: Rostral Columns
The Rostral Columns of Chesmenskaya and Moreiskaya are icons of St Petersburg. Built in the 1770s as a momento of the victories the Russian fleet had achieved, the two columns are comprised of granite and pudost stone. The columns are located on the Strelka (spit) of Vasilievsky Island, the largest island in the Neva Delta.
The Rostral Columns are made out of granite and pudost stone
You can see a great view of the Winter Palace from the Rostral columns
Located in front of the Old Stock Exchange building, the Rostral Columns are the perfect way to start your 2 days in St Petersburg. This is an excellent opportunity to get your first taste of the unique Russian architecture on offer in this sprawling city.
Another perspective of the view from the Rostral Columns
The Rostral Columns are in front of the Old Stock Exchange Building in St Petersburg
Access: From Admiralteyskaya Metro Station, make a left turn, then right, then turn left again on to Nesky Prospekt. Follow the street onto Palace Square, cross Palace Bridge. You’ll see the Rostral Columns from here, so walk to the direction of the columns.
Stop 2: St Isaac’s Cathedral
Your next stop will be St Isaac’s Cathedral, an impressive and striking Cathedral bearing a gilded cupola. If you’re amazed by the exterior of St Isaac’s, just wait until you walk inside.
St Isaac’s Cathedral’s opulent interior
St Isaac’s Cathedral was built by French-born architect Auguste Montferrand. The church was under construction for about 40 years between 1818 to 1858. All that hard work is evident in the intricate and decorative design of this exquisitely beautiful cathedral.
The breathtaking interior of St Isaac’s Cathedral
The cathedral can reportedly hold up to 14,000 attendees. However, the cathedral is now mainly used as a museum and services are only held on significant religious occasions.
Don’t forget to climb the 300 steps leading to the top of the Cathedral, where you’ll be rewarded with a satisfying view of the city.
Access: Get off at Metro stop Admiralteyskaya. From there, St Isaac’s Square is about a 7-8 minute walk. St Isaac’s Cathedral is right next to St Isaac’s Square.
Stop 3: Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood
Your next stop is one of the big aesthetic treats of today. Prepare to be astonished by the lavishly designed Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood. This opulent-looking church is one of the best-known in Russia, and it’s not hard to see why.
The Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood in St Petersburg is one of the city’s most recognisable sights
This quintessentially Russian Church dons ornate decorations on the inside and outside
Interesting fact - this beautifully crafted Russian Orthodox church was built on the spot where Alexander II was killed over a century ago. However, don’t let this deter you from marvelling at this architectural beauty. Sometimes referred to in shorter terms (‘Church on Spilled Blood’, ‘Church of Our Saviour’, etc), the church was built to mirror the famous St Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow’s Red Square. However, I would say that this church is even more striking than the Cathedral that inspired it.
The interior of the Church of Saviour on Spilled Blood is equally as splendid as its exterior
The church is 81 metres high and features five domes. Its interior is filled to the brim with mosaics and glimmering pieces, so much so that your eyes don’t know where to look. The Church is a downright architectural masterpiece, so you don’t want to miss this stop.
Another perspective of the interior of the Church of Saviour on Spilled Blood
Kazan Cathedral is closeby (about an 8 minute walk), so you may want to take a detour and visit this beautiful cathedral too.
Access: The closest metro station is Nevsky Prospekt station. From here, the Church is about a 5-minute walk.
Note: While it would make more logical sense to visit this Church as your last stop of the day (given the proximity of the other locations to each other), I’ve put the Church as today’s third stop, and the Hermitage Museum as the last stop, because you could really spend a long time in the Museum, and it will be better served as the final stop of your itinerary for the day.
Stop 4: Palace Square
Palace Square (Dvortovaya Ploshchad) is where you’ll stop before you make your way to arguably St Petersburg’s most renowned attraction – the Hermitage Museum. St Petersburg’s Palace Square is the central square in the city, and connects the Nevsky Prospekt with Palace Bridge, leading to Vasilievsky Island.
Alexander Column in the centre of Palace Square
It is here where you’ll be in the midst of imposing buildings such as the Winter Palace, the building of the Guards Corps Headquarters and the General Staff Building. Standing proudly in the center of the square is Alexander Column, which was designed by architect August Montferrand (who, if you remember, also designed St Isaac’s Cathedral - thumbs up for history lessons).
Palace Square has been the venue for many important events in Russian history
The Palace Square has a long, storied past and has played venue to many important historical events in St Petersburg city. It was the site of the unsuccessful assassination attempt of Tsar Alexander II on April 2, 1879. Sadly, it was also the setting for the event known as the “Bloody Sunday Massacre” on January 9, 1905. Most famously, in October 1917, Bolshevik troops invaded the Winter Palace, marking the end of the Tsarist rule in Russia.
Access: Get off at Admiralteyskaya metro station, turn right, and then take the first left onto Bolshaya Morskaya Ulitsa. Keep going on the street across Nevsky Prospekt, and through the archway of the General Staff Building. If you keep continue walking, you’ll find yourself at Palace Square.
Stop 5: Hermitage Museum and Winter Palace
Here’s the big one of the day. The State Hermitage Museum is hands down, St Petersburg’s most visited attraction. It is also one of the world’s largest and most acclaimed museums of all time.
The Winter Palace is part of the Hermitage Museum
The Hermitage Museum is a must see in St Petersburg
Boasting an impressive 3 million items in its collection, the Hermitage displays an extraordinary range of items, from impressionist artworks, golden treasure and luxuriant statues. Of course, the interior itself is an astonishing work of art. If you love museums, this will be a true paradise. Notably, the Winter Palace used to be the official residence of the Romanov Tsars from 1732 to 1917.
For the last stop of your day, spare at least a few hours exploring the Hermitage Museum
The Winter Palace in the Hermitage Museum has some truly remarkable rooms
It has been said that you would need 11 years (yes, you read that right) to examine everything, if you were given just one minute to look at every exhibit in the museum. That’s why we’ve left this as the last stop of your day – it’s important to not be too rushed when visiting the Hermitage, as taking in the exhibits of your interest is all part of the experience.
Another stunning room in the Hermitage Museum
Opulent decorations inside the Hermitage Museum
IMPORTANT: The Hermitage opens daily from 10:30am to 6pm (last admission 5:30pm), but is open until 9pm (last admission 8:30pm) on Wednesdays and Fridays. The museum is closed on Mondays.
That’s why we recommend coming here as your final stop on either a Wednesday or Friday. Trust me, you’ll need that extra time as it can also get very crowded (as I’m sure you’ll understand) with tourists flocking in from various tour groups and cruise ships. Plus, there’s an endless amount of things to see in there!
We would say an ideal amount of time to spend at the State Hermitage is about 3-4 hours.
Access: The Hermitage Museum and Winter Palace can be found in Palace Square (see Palace Square’s Access tips).
Optional Stops: Peter and Paul Fortress, Yusupov Palace, Kazan Cathedral, Trinity Cathedral
If you’ve somehow found yourself with extra time on this already packed itinerary, you can check out one or more of the following worthy attractions: (but seriously, the ones we picked out are must do’s, so we suggest prioritising them).
St Peter and Paul Fortress
Yusupov Palace
Kazan Cathedral
Trinity Cathedral
A snapshot of Peter and Paul Fortress from afar
Transport: The best way to get around on Day 1 is with a combination of the metro and on foot. As most attractions are quite close to each other, it will actually save time to use the efficient metro system rather than to drive a car, as you’ll spend more time potentially being stuck in traffic and finding parking.
DAY 2
Pristine Palaces in St Petersburg
Catherine Palace
Peterhof Palace and Gardens
Stop One: Catherine Palace
Today you’ll be visiting two grand palaces, and Catherine Palace will be the first of the day. When all is said and done, beautiful Catherine Palace will no doubt be one of the most memorable parts of your trip.
Construction on the palace started in 1717 when Catherine I of Russia hired the German architect Johann-Friedrich Braunstein to construct a summer palace for her.
Stunning Catherine Palace
Get to Catherine Palace early to make the most of your day
In 1752, Empress Elizabeth lived in the Palace, but found that she didn’t quite fancy the way Catherine I had decorated it. As a result, she ordered a renovation of the palace according to her tastes and upped the gold ante as she ordered more than 100kg of gold to completely gild the roof and façade of the palace, making the palace look even more extravagant and luxurious than before.
Empress Elizabeth ordered 100kg of gold to overhaul Catherine Palace
However, Catherine II (the Great) of Russia halted the works when she learned of the exorbitant costs of maintenance, and she later criticised Empress Elizabeth’s careless actions in her memoir.
Catherine Palace was the perfect venue to watch a classical performance at night
The lights and the golden decorations at Catherine Palace made for a special evening
If you have time, tour the gardens of Catherine Palace as well
One thing you won’t want to miss as you tour the Palace is the well-known Amber Chamber, a beautifully decorated room composed of a set of panels and baseboards made up of fragmented amber shards. The ballroom is another truly exquisite room you won’t want to miss.
The Amber Room is one of the most beautifully decorated rooms of Catherine Palace
The Amber Room is a special room inside Catherine Palace
The grounds of Catherine Palace are breathtaking, so allow yourself at least 2-3 hours to tour the Palace.
Access: By suburban train and bus, you can buy a ticket from Vitebsky train station to Pushkin train station (Tsarskoye Selo). From Puskin train station, catch bus number 371 or 382, or the minibus numbers K-371, K-388 and K-38 to Catherine Palace.
Alternatively, you can take the metro to Moskovskaya station, and take either minibus K-342 or K-545 to the Palace. You can also alight at Kupchino metro station instead, and take either minibus K-286, K-342 or K-545.
Stop Two: Peterhof Palace and Gardens
Peterhof Palace is perhaps St Petersburg’s most aesthetically pleasing palace, as it immediately stands out due to its eye-catching golden exterior and imposing yellow building.
Peterhof Palace is full of gold
The fountains of Peterhof Palace are a worthy photo stop
Peterhof Palace is beautiful from every angle
Famous statue of Peterhof Palace
Commonly referred to as Russia’s answer to the Palace of Versailles, you could easily spend a whole day here if you wanted, exploring all the magnificent things on offer. Peterhof Palace is listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO and deservedly so, because the complex is simply breathtaking.
Peterhof Palace is Russia’s version of the Palace of Versailles with its opulently decorated rooms
You could easily spend a few hours at Peterhof Palace
Walk around the whole gardens to catch Peterhof Palace at different angles
There are actually a few attractions to see within the Peterhof complex, this includes:
The Grand Palace – the former summer residence of the Russian tsars
The Grand Cascade – a luxuriant fountain in front of the palace
Other palaces and museums – includes the Marly Palace, Cottage Palace, Church Wing, Museum of Collections, Museum of Playing Cards
The Gardens of Peterhof – includes Upper Park, and the spectacular Lower Park with hosts some of the world’s most beautiful and largest fountains
The Gardens of Peterhof Palace have a lot to offer
Cap off Day 2 with a visit to Peterhof Palace
Peterhof Palace and its cascading fountains
Peterhof gets busy and peaks around 11am to 1pm. Be sure to check opening and closing times as they can change from season to season, and depending on what day it is.
A last look at Peterhof Palace
We recommend also spending about 3-4 hours or more touring the grounds, as there are so many cool little hidden treasures around the Gardens to check out.
Access:
From downtown St Petersburg
By metro or train, you can arrive at a few stations depending on what’s most convenient for you.
From Avtovo metro station, take minibuses 224, 300, 424 or 424-A, or regular buses 200 and 2010.
From Leninskiy Prospekt metro station, take minibuses 103 (K-224) or 420.
From Prospekt Veteranov metro station, take minibuses 343y or 639-6.
From Baltiyskiy train station, take the commuter train to New Peterhof station, or take regular buses that will arrive at Peterhof in about 10 minutes. The applicable routes are bus numbers 344, 348, 350, 351, 352, 355 and 356.
You can also take a boat to Peterhof with Hydrofoil (a fast boat). The boat goes from the pier opposite the Hermitage, and takes about 30 minutes to reach Peterhof Pakace. Each trip is 700 rubles per adult, or 300 rubles for children aged between 3 and 12. You’ll end up at the Lower Park Gardens.
From Catherine Palace
If you’re arriving from Catherine Palace, there a few options you can take.
One is to walk 14 minutes from Catherine Palace to School Street Bus Station. From there you can take bus 187 to Moskovkaya Station, then take bus 114 to Leninskiy prospect Station. Stop at Pravlenskaya St and walk about 7 minutes until you reach Peterhof.
You can also walk 4 minutes from Catherine Palace to Leont’evskaya St/Srednyaya St bus station, where you can take bus number 382 bound for Pushkin (Zhelexnodorozhnaya St). Get off at Gorod Pushkin Vokzal stop. Walk about 1 minute to the Tsarskoye Selo train station. From here, take the train bound for Prospekt Slavy. From Prospekt Slavy, walk 9 minutes to Belgradskaya St. From here, take bus number 114 bound for Leninskiy prospkect station. Stop at Pravlenskaya St and walk for about 7 minutes until you reach Peterhof.
These options take over 2 hours and can be very difficult to navigate, especially if you don’t speak or read any Russian. Taking a taxi from Catherine Palace to Peterhof Palace is our recommendation.
Transport Tips
Today might be a long day because Catherine Palace and Peterhof Palace are about a 50 minute drive away from each other, and about 2.5 hours from each other using public transport.
If time is of the essence, consider hiring a taxi for the day using Kiwitaxi or Yandex taxi.
The ride from downtown St Petersburg to Pushkin will be around 20-25USD. The fare from Catherine Palace to Peterhof Palace will be slightly higher than this amount, at around 25-28USD. From Peterhof Palace back to downtown St Petersburg takes about over an hour, and will approximately cost 25-30USD depending on traffic.
To save money, you might want to take public transport for some legs of the journey and a taxi for other legs.
Best places to stay in St Petersburg
St Petersburg is quite an affordable place to stay, with many 2-3 star hotels ranging well within about 20-30USD. Some places we’ve heard good things about are:
Budget Traveller (2 - 3 Star)
Mid Range Traveller (3.5 - 4 Star)
Luxury Traveller (5 Star)