Non-tourist Petersburg: little-known places for recreation, excursions and photo shoots

Petersburg outside the usual routes

To look at the city in a new way, feel free to turn off the routes familiar from the guidebooks. Pay attention to the non-tourist places of St. Petersburg that are worth visiting — they will help you fall in love with St. Petersburg again. Stroll through the inconspicuous streets, look into little-known courtyards and cultural spaces — and you will discover the amazing diversity of St. Petersburg. Your new impression will be formed by the most unusual places in St. Petersburg, which remain outside the standard excursions, but retain a real charm.

Cozy courtyards and secret alleys

Unusual and interesting places in St. Petersburg are often located in places where tourists do not often visit. And they lose a lot, because it is in the courtyards and alleys that it is easiest to see the real face of non-tourist St. Petersburg, get acquainted with the architecture and feel the mood of the city.

Everyone should look at the sky in the famous courtyards-wells. Over the centuries, many of them have been overgrown with myths and legends, making them not only an interesting architectural solution, but also included in the list of unusual places worth visiting in St. Petersburg.

Mirrored courtyard (3-5 Pochtamtskaya St.). This unusual location can be found near St. Isaac's Square, at the entrance to the modern business center. The courtyard got its name due to the fact that the walls of the building in the courtyard are decorated with glass panels. Tourists can admire the unusual play of light created by the sun's rays when refracted from glass, and make interesting shots.

Mosaic Courtyard (Tchaikovsky St., 2) is a small open-air museum, the result of the work of the artist Vladimir Lubenko and his students. The location should definitely be included in the top unusual places in St. Petersburg. The courtyard is a real fabulous space. Everything around — curbs, benches, walls, sculptures — is decorated with multicolored mosaic glass, sparkling in the sun.

John Lennon Street (Pushkinskaya St., 10). The founder of this unusual place is Nikolai Vasin, the leader of the Russian Beatlemania movement. The history of the location's creation is very interesting. After a long struggle with the local authorities for the right to name a street in honor of the legendary musician, Nikolai simply took and manually corrected one of the signs, writing "John Lennon Street" on it. To avoid new claims from officials, he put a sign in the sky on the sign, which symbolizes that the street does not run along the ground, and therefore does not fall into the area of responsibility of local authorities. Later, on Lennon's birthday, the entrance arch was decorated with four plaster bas-reliefs of all the members of the legendary band by sculptor Stepan Mokrousov. Concerts and fan rituals are often held here. This unusual place to visit in St. Petersburg can be safely included in the list of the most famous art objects in the country.

The Yard of Spirits (4th line V. O., 5). This small courtyard-well on Vasilyevsky Island is considered truly magical - they say it grants wishes. To perform the "ritual", you need to stand in the center, raise your gaze to the sky and wholeheartedly make a cherished wish.

Courtyard of the St. Petersburg State University Faculty of Philology (nab. 11 Universitetskaya Street). This is not just a courtyard, but a real mini-park of modern sculpture. It all started with the statue "Reflections on the Little Prince", installed by the Dean of the Faculty of Philology Arsen Avetisyan. Over time, there have been more and more sculptures — now you can find dozens of unusual objects here: Gogol's nose, a one-and-a-half-meter dachshund, a snail the size of a man, a World Tree and a Fountain of Love. A great place for a walk, where literary and fabulous images come to life in stone and metal.

Non-obvious museums and exhibition spaces

Where to go in St. Petersburg to see the city from a new perspective? St. Petersburg holds not only classics, but also many unusual museums and cultural spaces. It is difficult to remain indifferent to the history of Russian art here, not to feel the spirit of creative search and rebellion, not to touch the centuries-old heritage. Be sure to include such places in your itinerary.

Museum of Urban Sculpture (ave. Nevsky Prospekt, 179). The unique museum, founded in 1932, has no analogues in Russia. Its main mission is the preservation, restoration and study of urban monuments. The museum's collection includes more than 200 sculptures and about 1,500 plaques, which have become an integral part of the image of St. Petersburg.

The museum has several divisions where exhibitions of graphics and sculpture are regularly held, from classics to modern art.

Architectural and educational tourist center "Mini-city" (Alexandrovsky Park). A unique site where the most famous sights of St. Petersburg are presented in miniature. This place allows you to "walk" around the city in one visit and examine details that are easy to miss in real life. The project is relatively new, but it has already managed to enter the top unusual places in St. Petersburg.

Karl Bulla Museum-photo salon (Nevsky Prospekt, 54). A historical photo salon founded in the 19th century. Today, you can see original photographs here, try a retro photo session in costumes from past eras and enjoy the view of the city center from the outdoor area on the fourth floor. The museum still has a photo salon offering modern services. From the fourth floor there is a beautiful panorama, against which you can take spectacular photos for memory.

Museum of the St. Petersburg Avant-garde (Matyushin House, Professor Popov St., 10). This is one of the most unusual places worth visiting in St. Petersburg. It seems to be imbued with a love of art and a spirit of innovation. The unique wooden mansion has preserved the atmosphere of the Russian avant-garde of the early 20th century. Great masters worked in this house: Vladimir Tatlin, Kazimir Malevich, Vladimir Mayakovsky, Velimir Khlebnikov, Vasily Kamensky, the Burliuki brothers and others. The interior with preserved books, paintings and household items allows you to feel the era. Today in the museum you can get acquainted with the history of the avant-garde and see exhibitions of contemporary artists inspired by that time.

The club-museum "Kotelnaya Kamchatka" (Blokhina Street, 15, in the courtyard). A legendary location for fans of Viktor Tsoi and Russian rock. It was here, in the former boiler room, that Tsoi worked as a fireman and organized his first concerts. Now it is both a museum and a club: live performances take place, and the exhibition contains personal belongings of the musician and artifacts of that era.

The Grand Layout Russia Show Museum (16 Tsvetochnaya St., Moskovskie Vorota metro station). To visit all corners of the country without leaving St. Petersburg? It is quite possible in this unusual museum! After all, the largest interactive miniature of the country is located here. In just an hour, you will "drive" through cities, factories, taiga and coasts, see the movement of trains and the alternation of day and night. Visitors can start the mini-mechanisms themselves: turn on the lights, move the machines, start production. Guided tours and workshops are available on site.

Lendok Open Film Studio (12 Kryukov Canal Embankment). Art space on the territory of the existing film studio. The 19th-century building hosts tours of the pavilions, exhibitions, concerts and film screenings. This unusual and interesting place in St. Petersburg is worth a visit to see the filming process, antique equipment and even take part in the creation of a movie.

Annenkirche (Kirochnaya St., 8B). A neo-Gothic church of the XVIII century, turned into an art space. Concerts, performances and excursions are held here. One of the most atmospheric events of the Annenkirche is considered to be a candlelit concert, during which hundreds of lights are lit throughout the hall, and guests are immersed in an amazing world thanks to the unusual interior and acoustics of the building.

Quiet parks and gardens off the hiking trails

If you are a lover of nature, peace and quiet, then go to the parks and gardens of the city. All of them are related to his story in one way or another.

Friendship Garden (Park of Culture and Recreation). A small corner of China is hidden among the noise of the city — you can get here by simply turning off Liteyny Prospekt. This place is often called the Chinese Garden: it was donated to St. Petersburg by the twin city of Shanghai. To create it, materials, plants and decoration elements from China were specially brought to the Northern Capital.

The atmosphere here is truly authentic: an artistic wall of nine dragons, a pond with fountains, cherry blossoms and a traditional pagoda where tea ceremonies and meditation practices are held. The garden is a miniature replica of the Shanghai "Garden of Joy". Be sure to check out here to get into the spirit of Chinese culture and take atmospheric photos.

Lopukhinsky garden and Gromov's cottage (13 Akademika Pavlova St.). This historical monument garden really goes beyond the well-trodden hiking trails, as not even all Petersburgers know about it. Here you can walk along the pond, feed the ducks and see Gromov's preserved two-story wooden cottage. It's a very atmospheric place.

San Galli Garden (Ligovsky Prospekt). The unusual name of this place came from the famous manufacturer Franz Karlovich San Galli. The historic mansion, which once housed a Russian industrialist, is now a key feature of this place. The garden is popularly called the Sangalsky garden. Why is it worth visiting this unusual place in St. Petersburg? One of the main attractions is the quaint fence, which is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful in St. Petersburg. Also in the garden you can see the sculpture of the fountain "The Birth of Aphrodite" and play in real towns.

Peter the Great Botanical Garden (Professora Popova str., 2, Petrogradskaya metro station). This corner of solitude with nature is located in the very center of St. Petersburg and is great for exploring non-tourist St. Petersburg. One of the oldest botanical gardens in Russia, a concentration of tranquility and beauty. Here you can get some fresh air and see a lot of amazing and rare plants. The rose garden alone includes more than 300 types of roses. The greenhouse of the garden is one of the largest collections of tropical and subtropical plants on the planet. Huge garden area (1030 sq. m. meters) is divided into three sections, each of which represents a separate ecosystem. For gardening tourists, workshops are organized here and they introduce the basics of plant care. Flower festivals are also held here.

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Ancient buildings and places with rich history

St. Petersburg is not only about museums and embankments, but also about luxurious palaces and ancient mansions that preserve the spirit of the times. Architecture here is an art in itself: the buildings amaze with style, details and an atmosphere that you want to experience. Be sure to visit these places to better understand the city and admire the talent of the architects.

Stone Island. A real treasure trove of the aristocratic past and one of the most unusual places for a photo shoot in St. Petersburg. Where many mansions and dachas are concentrated on a tiny plot of land, made in different architectural styles: from wooden Art Nouveau to neo-Gothic. Among them are Matilda Kshesinskaya's cottage, Gromov's cottage, Countess Kleinmichel's mansion, Benoit's cottage and the famous Kamennoostrovsky Theater.

Each building is unique: asymmetrical shapes, turrets, carved facades, balconies and an abundance of greenery create the atmosphere of a secluded old Petersburg.

Gunzechoinei Datsan (Primorsky ave., 91). The building is atypical for the architecture of the city, the first Buddhist temple in Europe. It can rightfully be included in the top unusual places in St. Petersburg that you need to see. Datsan is a real corner of Tibetan culture in the northern capital. Tourists can not only admire the carved dragons and stepped roofs, but also participate in the rituals held within the walls of the temple, taste traditional Mongolian tea.

Vitebsk railway station (52 Zagorodny ave., station). A sparsely populated, ancient and very beautiful train station, visiting which you seem to enter a fairy-tale world: frescoes and ornaments, towers and pilasters, moldings, stained glass windows and openwork awnings. This is a real architectural masterpiece in the Art Nouveau style. It's worth taking a walk here to admire the unusual interior and take beautiful photos. Moreover, it is also the oldest railway station in Russia.

Smolny Cathedral and belfry (1 Rastrelli Square). One of the most beautiful and peaceful places in the center of St. Petersburg. It is rarely crowded here, which allows you to enjoy the atmosphere of tranquility and grandeur of architecture. You should definitely climb the bell tower: it offers an impressive panorama of the city.

Kulich and Easter Church (235 Obukhovskaya Oborona Avenue). The Church of the Holy Trinity was named so because of the original shape of the temple and the bell tower. The buildings are made in the form of traditional Easter dishes — Easter cake and Easter eggs. Due to the unusual architectural design, this place rightfully belongs to the unusual places in St. Petersburg. The church was lucky not to be destroyed during the Soviet years. Now it has the status of an architectural monument and for more than two centuries it continues to amaze everyone who comes to walk around the church courtyard.

Original cafes and unusual gastronomic spots

St. Petersburg is famous for its author's and atmospheric cafes, which in themselves can become part of an excursion route. Here, a snack is not just a pause in a walk, but a full-fledged impression that is remembered no less than a visit to a museum or a walk through historical streets. What unusual and interesting places in St. Petersburg can be noted?

Cat cafe "Republic of cats" (Liteyny ave., 60). This cafe is notable for the fact that dozens of seals live here. They are all looking for a new home. Here you can drink tea or coffee in the company of four-legged animals, play with them and pet them. The desserts and drinks in the establishment also have unusual names — murrniki, tiramyau, cappuccino, cupcakes, etc. The atmosphere here is really unusual: tailed friends roam around, and the walls are painted with prints on a cat theme. In addition to cat souvenirs, you can get a real cat here and take it to your family.

Bars in the writers' quarter (near the metro station "Chernyshevskaya", "Vosstaniya Square"). This is not just an unusual place to visit in St. Petersburg, but a real bar center of the city. The location covers several streets: Liteyny Prospekt, Nekrasov, Belinsky and Zhukovsky streets. There are dozens of atmospheric bars, cafes and restaurants, and it's not easy to choose one - it's better to go on a gastronomic trip on a whim. Set aside a free evening and start walking: somewhere you will find a cup of coffee, somewhere a glass of wine, and somewhere a mug of beer. Many establishments combine a bar and a bookstore, and they are located in old houses where famous poets and writers once lived. The atmosphere in these places is a harmony of history, creativity and modern urban life. An evening here easily turns into a real cultural adventure.

Pyshechnaya on Bolshaya Konyushennaya (Bolshaya Konyushennaya str., 25). It's a real crime to miss this place. The legendary Pyshechnaya has been operating since 1958 and still retains the atmosphere of the Soviet past. It serves crumpets according to the classic recipe — hot, soft, with a crispy crust and powdered sugar.

Some tips before the visit:

• Get ready for the queue — the place is popular and it's always crowded;
• Grab cash: cashless payment may be disrupted;
• And most importantly, eat the crumpets right away while they're hot!

Guided tours in a different way: unusual formats

The variety of sightseeing programs in St. Petersburg does not end with a standard trip to the Hermitage or a trip to Peterhof. Your acquaintance with the city can be a real adventure. What unusual formats for excursions can you find to explore unusual and interesting places in St. Petersburg?

Rooftop walks. You can visit the roofs of the city to enjoy the beauty of St. Petersburg and view the ancient buildings and streets from a bird's-eye view. There are quite a lot of offers for such unusual excursions. Keep your safety in mind and trust professional guides who will show you the most unusual places in St. Petersburg without risking your life.

Motorcycle riding. This format will allow you to enjoy the views of the city in an informal and dynamic atmosphere. Motorcycle tourism is quite common in St. Petersburg. Imagine an evening city, engine noise, headlights and great company. Exploring unusual and interesting places in St. Petersburg on a motorcycle can be a real adventure that will be remembered for a long time.

Courtyards, front rooms, and communal apartments. Tours of ceremonial and communal apartments will help you see the most non-tourist places in St. Petersburg, which are definitely worth a visit. You will visit inside ancient buildings, mysterious courtyards and even visit interesting residents of the city.

Bars and clubs. There are whole streets with bars in St. Petersburg. The choice of places for fun and relaxation is huge. The most interesting places may be inaccessible to a simple passerby due to congestion or work in the "for your own" format. Not everyone can find some of them. Therefore, to see the real non-tourist Petersburg, you can go on a tour of the bars and establishments of the city.

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How to organize your route to non-tourist Petersburg

When you have already decided on the locations, carefully consider the route. Try not to overload your walking day with the number of places. This city can give you so many emotions that you will quickly get tired of an overly intense program and will not be able to truly enjoy it. Non-tourist Petersburg should be studied steadily, slowly, without fuss.

Choose the most convenient place to stay, because this will be the starting point for your adventures in unusual places to visit in St. Petersburg. As a rule, it is best and most convenient to stay in the city center. Here you can find accommodation options for any budget.

Another option in the historical city center is Novotel Saint Petersburg Center 4*. Conveniently located on 3A Mayakovsky St. next to Nevsky Prospekt, surrounded by shopping and entertainment venues and historical attractions. The hotel is perfect for those who plan to visit non-tourist St. Petersburg with a four-legged friend, as pets are allowed here.

If you want to get the most out of your stay at the hotel, more refined options are suitable. For example, the five-star designer hotel SO/St. Petersburg 5*. It is also centrally located at 6 Voznesensky Ave. near St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Admiralty. It offers stylish rooms with panoramic windows, the FRESA restaurant by Chef Antonio Fresa, a spa complex, a HI-SO terrace with city views and a stylish atmosphere in the spirit of the fashionable capitals of the world.

Conclusion: The Petersburg you didn't know yet

St. Petersburg knows how to surprise — even those who come here not for the first time. In addition to the classic routes, the city offers a lot of non-standard ways to get to know yourself: guided tours based on myths and legends, quests in historical locations, walks in the footsteps of literary heroes and, of course, photo walks. Explore the most unusual places of St. Petersburg boldly and with curiosity — and it will surely open up to you from a new angle.