St. Petersburg surroundings: what to see in the suburbs of the cultural capital

What to see in the suburbs of the Cultural Capital

The suburbs of St. Petersburg are rich in sights. These are small towns that people usually go to on weekends to take a break from the hustle and bustle, spend time in nature and visit atmospheric places. We have selected 7 of the most interesting ones for you: we will tell you all the subtleties of these locations, at what time it is better to go, how to get there and where to stay for an overnight stay or a few days.

Peterhof — parks, palaces and fountains

Peterhof is a city 30 km from St. Petersburg, famous for its architectural and park complex. According to Peter the Great's idea, European residences were supposed to pale before the beauty and luxury of his palaces and parks.

It will take a whole day just to run through all the parks and get to know Petrodvorets and other royal residences. And it's not enough for a couple of days for a thorough inspection with photographing and visiting museums that are interesting to you.

It is especially beautiful in Peterhof from May to October, when the fountains are turned on, and there are 176 of them here, if you do not take into account the four cascades. Everyone knows about the Large Cascade in front of the Palace of the same name, made in the Baroque style. This unique architectural masterpiece of 64 fountains is complemented by 225 beautiful sculptures: statues of ancient Greek heroes, copies of works by Renaissance masters, dolphins, lions, vases — a variety of bronze and marble decor.

When you have bypassed the popular attractions in Peterhof — the Grand Palace, Voronikhinsky Colonnades, the Monplaisir and Marly palaces, the Hermitage Pavilion — and appreciate the beauty of the Lower and Upper Gardens, go to the opposite side of St. Petersburg Avenue, to the landscape park Alexandria and Kolonistsky.

Alexandria is beautiful both in summer and winter. Unlike many parks with smooth paths and perfectly trimmed bushes, the illusion of naturalness is created here. And Kolonistsky looks like a cozy island of romance after the luxurious palaces and fountains. It is pleasant to walk along the shore of the pond and admire the picturesque landscapes or visit the islands with the Tsaritsyn and Olga pavilions, which Nicholas I built for his wife and daughter in the 19th century.

In the Tsaritsyn Pavilion, where colored stone and marble of various shades are used everywhere, you will be transported in your thoughts to the richest houses of ancient Pompeii, and in the Olga Pavilion you will enjoy architectural elegance bordering on asceticism, and admire the park and pond from Nicholas I's office.

If you come to Peterhof in winter, it doesn't matter. There is a lot to see in these neighborhoods of St. Petersburg even in the cold season. The Grand Cascade is not covered like many other fountains: sculptures shimmering with gold in the rays of the winter sun and dusted with snow are a fascinating sight. And winter is the best time to visit numerous museums: there are many times fewer tourists than in spring and summer.

How to get there

By bus

This is the most affordable option. Departure — from the metro station "Avtovo" and "Prospekt Veteranov". The journey will take from 40 to 90 minutes. You need to get off at the stops "Razvodnaya" or "Pravlenskaya", which are located next to the Upper Garden.

By car

The journey will take at least an hour, or even two. The exact time depends on where you're going from, traffic jams, and the route. Here are the possible options:

• Along the Peterhof highway. Maybe not so fast because of traffic jams. But in any case, you will be accompanied by picturesque views with architectural monuments along the highway.
• Along the ring road with access to the Western High-speed Diameter. The fastest way, but you will have to pay for a trip along the ZSD.
• Follow the ring road to the intersection with the Ropshinsky highway. This is an option for those who are not in a hurry. In addition, there is a high risk of getting stuck in traffic.

By train

The Swallows are coming from the Baltic Railway Station. Choose those that go to Lomonosov or Kalishche. The journey will take about 40 minutes. Exit to the station. New Peterhof, from where it is easy to get to the Upper Garden: it is possible to take a bus (10 min) or walk.

On the Meteor

This is the fastest option if you travel during the warm season when navigation is open. The Meteor high-speed motor ship will take you to the Lower Park in half an hour. Not only fast, but also fascinating — you will be able to see the Northern Capital from the water, enjoy the views of the Neva River and the historical city center.

Lomonosov — the atmosphere of antiquity and court intrigues

This city was called Oranienbaum until 1948, and unlike other suburbs of St. Petersburg, it was never occupied during the war. That is why the original interiors of the 18th century have been preserved here, which cannot be said about many other palaces in the suburbs of St. Petersburg.

The main attraction is the Grand Menshikov Palace. This is the first country residence of Peter the Great, built for Prince Alexander Menshikov. Unlike the lavish Baroque of Peterhof or Tsarskoye Selo, the architecture of the palace is austere, but this is its special charm.

A walk through the Lower Park will take you to the Stone Hall and the Sea Channel that connects the palace with the Gulf of Finland. Previously, ships could use it to approach the palace.

The ensemble of the Chinese Palace deserves special attention. This is the country residence of Catherine II, where you can see the rarest examples of original Chinese silk, Chinoiserie paintings and luxurious parquet floors created by Russian craftsmen without a single nail.

Another gem of Oranienbaum is the Roller Coaster Pavilion. Once it was one of the first roller coasters in Europe with rails and trolleys, but now there is only an elegant rotunda with columns.

And if you want to see the city from a different angle, go to the coast of the Gulf of Finland. On the Lomonosov embankment, you can stroll along the water, admire the sailboats and experience a completely different rhythm of life — unhurried and marine.

How to get there

By train

The most convenient way is to travel from the Baltic railway Station. It is located in the center, not far from M. "Baltiyskaya". Travel time is up to 1 hour. You need to get off at Oranienbaum I station, from which the Bolshoy Menshikov Palace is no more than a 20-minute walk away.

By bus

Buses usually run from the metro station Avtovo or Prospekt Veteranov. The journey time is about an hour, but depending on traffic jams it may be longer. They arrive at the station square or closer to the entrance to the park.

By car

The journey will take from 30 to 50 minutes, depending on the route. There is free parking next to the park.

To travel, you need to get to the ring road and choose one of two paths:

• Drive along the ring road to Oranienbaum Avenue (approximately 45 minutes).
• Faster — take the Peterhof highway through the cities of Strelna and Peterhof, then take the Oranienbaum highway and Morskaya Street all the way to Dvortsovy Prospekt (approximately 30 minutes).

Gatchina — Traces of the Order of Malta

Gatchina is famous for its palace and park ensemble, ancient streets and a calm atmosphere that is ideal for leisurely walks. If you want to change the rhythm of a big city to secluded views, go here.

One of the main attractions is the Great Gatchina Palace— the imperial residence. Built by order of Catherine II for the favorite Grigory Orlov, it looks more like a medieval castle than the architectural ensemble familiar to Russian estates. Inside you can see luxurious halls, grand staircases, suites of rooms, as well as look into the mysterious underground passages that lead to the Silver Lake.

Another interesting place is the Priory Palace. This is the only palace in Russia built using earthen construction technology, built for the Knights of Malta. Small but very atmospheric, it stands on the shore of a Black Lake, creating a picturesque view that is especially good in the foggy morning hours or during sunset.

Nature lovers will love Gatchina Park. Walking here is a pleasure. The landscaped park unites several zones, among which you can find both neatly trimmed alleys and wild forest paths. Pavilions, bridges, sculptures and grottoes are located on the territory. And on the shore of the White Lake, you can rent a boat and enjoy the views from the water.

How to get there

By train

Starting point is Baltiysky railway Station, ending point is Gatchina-Varshavskaya or Gatchina-Baltiyskaya stations. Travel time is 50-60 minutes.

By bus

From the metro station Moskovskaya or Prospekt Veteranov. You will drive for about 40-50 minutes.

By car

Take the Pulkovo highway south through the ring Road. After the intersection, drive along the Kiev highway. The journey will take about an hour.

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Pushkin — in the places of the poet and the tsars

The city is famous for the Tsarskoye Selo palaces and parks, Catherine and Alexander, and since 2003, the Amber Room. An attractive fact for fans: Alexander Pushkin spent his high school years here, Anna Akhmatova and Nikolai Gumilev studied.

The local museum-reserve is a monument of architecture and landscape art. A unique object in which classicism goes hand in hand with Baroque and Art Nouveau. The central figures of the ensemble are the Catherine Palace, built in the Baroque style, and the elegant Alexander Palace, considered one of the best examples of classicism.

There are more than a hundred architectural monuments in parks with an area of 300 hectares, made in different styles. Among them: pavilions, bridges and fountains.

Many tourists tend to end up in the Catherine Palace, where you can visit the Amber Room. But not everyone knows that there are still "Agate rooms" — a masterpiece of the 18th century, located in the pavilion "Cold Bath" and preserved to this day in its original form.

In bad weather, a huge number of people gather in the halls of the palaces, therefore, in order to preserve the unique "Agate Rooms", the caretakers close them when it rains.

If you still have the strength after visiting the palaces and parks of Tsarskoye Selo, go for a walk around the city. Go to the Lyceum Garden, where there is a monument to the Sun of Russian poetry; to the house museum of the artist Pavel Petrovich Chistyakov, who taught Vrubel, Repin, Vasnetsov; go to the Nikolaevsky Gymnasium, the House of the police, the St. Sophia Church.

And after Tsarskoye Selo, you can go to Pavlovsk, it is located a little further from Pushkin along the same railway line.

How to get there

By train

• From Vitebsk railway station (near Pushkinskaya metro station) or metro station. Kupchino (near Kupchino metro station) to Tsarskoye Selo station. The journey takes about 30-40 minutes.
• From Tsarskoye Selo station to Pushkin, you need to walk 3 km or take buses. It takes about 30-40 minutes to walk.

By bus

• From the metro stations "Moskovskaya", "Zvezdnaya" or "Kupchino". Travel time is approximately 45-60 minutes, depending on traffic jams and the route.

On the machine:

• Along Pulkovskoe highway or Vitebsk Avenue. Travel time is about 30-40 minutes.

Pavlovsk — 600 hectares of picturesque landscapes

The history of this city began in 1777, that year Catherine II presented her son Pavel with a land allotment as a gift. The Palace and Park complex has been under construction for fifty years. First, a noble manor was built and the largest park in Europe with an area of 600 hectares was laid out around it. But two decades after the construction began, the estate was demolished and a summer residence was built in its place.

Today, 45 halls of the Pavlovsk Palace are open to the public, and there are more than 47,000 works of art in the museum's storerooms and expositions.

The park itself, sprawled on the picturesque bank of the left tributary of the Neva River — the Slavyanka River — seems to be multi-tiered. It's all thanks to how harmoniously plants and architectural structures are intertwined, including the Apollo Colonnade, the Pink Pavilion, the Cold Bathhouse, the Rossi Pavilion, and sculptures.

Apart from the palace, the Rossi Pavilion and the Pink Pavilion are of the greatest interest to Pavlovsk guests. The first one still stands today, practically unchanged, although a century has passed from its design to its implementation: the gazebo with the sculpture of Maria Feodorovna was installed only in 1914.

The pink pavilion with a beautiful rose garden is one of the most popular places for declarations of love and spectacular photos.

How to get there

By train

• From Vitebsk railway station (at Pushkinskaya metro station) or from Kupchino station (at Kupchino metro station) to Pavlovsk station. Travel time is about 30-40 minutes.
• From Pavlovsk station, you need to walk 3 km or take buses. It takes about 30-40 minutes to walk.

By bus

Departure — from Moskovskaya metro station. The journey takes about 45-60 minutes, depending on traffic jams.

By bike

You can ride along bike paths and wide sidewalks that run from Pushkin to Pavlovsk. At the same time, admire the scenic views around. Travel time is about 30-40 minutes.

By car

• Along Pulkovskoe highway or Vitebsk Avenue through Pushkin. Travel time is approximately 30-40 minutes, depending on the traffic situation.
• Paid parking is located right next to Pavlovsk Train Station.

Strelna — modern history

Where to go in the suburbs of St. Petersburg to see the places where modern history took place? Go on an excursion to Strelna, to the Konstantinovsky Palace. You will see the current residence of the President of the Russian Federation, and you will be able to walk through the halls where the leaders of the G8 met.

The construction of this palace began before Petrodvorets, and it was Konstantinovsky that was supposed to become such a royal residence that would surpass Versailles itself in beauty. However, nature got in the way of Peter's ambitious plans, and Peterhof was chosen for the "water extravaganzas".

And the Konstantinovsky Palace was eventually completed and rebuilt several times. In the 19th century, receptions were held here; in Soviet times, a colony school operated within the palace walls, later a sanatorium, a Navy educational institution, and an Arctic school, but in the 90s, the building fell into disrepair.

And only in 2001, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation, the palace was restored, parks and architectural objects were restored according to drawings, and two years later this architectural monument on the shore of the Gulf of Finland received the first guests, becoming a symbol of the renaissance of Russia and the Congress Palace.

How to get there

By train

Take the train at Baltiysky railway Station (Baltiyskaya metro station) and go to Strelna station. Travel time is about 30-40 minutes. Then you can walk 3 km on foot or take buses.

By bus

Buses run from Avtovo metro station or Veterans Avenue to the Glinka Street stop. The journey takes 40-50 minutes.

By car

Drive along the Peterhof highway. There is free parking next to the letters "SEA". You'll be on the road for a total of 30-40 minutes.

Kronstadt — forts and naval glory

When planning to visit the sights in the vicinity of St. Petersburg, do not forget to include Kronstadt in your itinerary. In the 19th century, about 3,000 ships came to this unique port city every year, and during the Second World War, the Kronstadt forts held off the enemy on their way to Leningrad.

Kronstadt does not shine with the splendor of palaces and does not impress with the beauty of landscape compositions. He attracts the military spirit, evokes thoughts of freedom and strength. St. Nicholas Cathedral, the Obvodny Canal, Petrovsky Pier, dock and park — everything here breathes naval history.

But this city is rich not only in its military past. It was here that in 1900, after the successful experiments of A. Popov with radio communications, the first radiotelegraphic workshop was opened. There's also a footpath here, near the Blue Bridge. This is an important plaque that serves as a reference point for measuring heights and depths.

You can finish your walk around the city at the "Wishing Tree", a four-meter cast-iron sculpture. They say that to make a wish come true, you need to whisper it in the ear of a tree and throw a coin into the nest of a cast-iron owl. Surely you will wish to return, because there are many more things worth seeing in the suburbs of St. Petersburg.

How to get there

By bus

Departure — from the metro station "Begovaya", "Staraya Derevnya" or "Prospekt Prosveshcheniya". Travel time is about 1.5 hours, depending on the traffic density.

By car

Excluding traffic jams, the journey will take from 50 to 90 minutes. You need to choose a path along the ring road, passing through the southern or northern side of the dam. The allowed speed is 110 km/h .

If the northern section of the ring road is heavily loaded, you can choose the path through the southern dam. Along the road, the Gulf of Finland will be visible from both sides, as well as the silhouettes of the forts.

On the Meteor

In the warmer months, when navigation is open, you can get to the suburbs by water. This is a popular option among tourists. Meteor tickets can be purchased directly at the marina or in advance via the Internet.

In St. Petersburg, you can get on a boat at the Senate Pier or Winter Groove. In Kronstadt, the final destination is at the pier in the park "Island of Forts" or at the Winter Pier, next to the historical center.

By train

It will not be possible to get on and drive to the city without stopping, since there are no railway tracks in Kronstadt. The nearest railway station is Gorskaya.

It takes 45 minutes to get from Finlyandsky Railway Station to Gorskaya train station. Then you need to take a bus, and it will take you to the suburbs in 45 minutes.

In general, the trip will take at least an hour and a half.

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Where to stay

To appreciate the beauty of St. Petersburg, the splendor of palaces and parks in the suburbs, you need to stop in the very center of the metropolis: the contrast of modernity and antiquity makes the difference and continuity of eras better felt.

In modern budget hotels located in the center of St. Petersburg, the connection of the times is best felt: the windows of the rooms overlook the historical center of the northern capital, where pedestrians run and cars honk.

If you are going to take a pet on a trip to the St. Petersburg suburbs, we recommend booking a room at the Novotel St. Petersburg Center (Mayakovsky, 3A). Located 100 meters from Nevsky Prospekt, this hotel can accommodate a pet.

For those who are looking for a special atmosphere and designer comfort, the five-star SO/St. Petersburg Hotel will be a real find. It is located a step away from St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Hermitage Museum. The interiors, created by Italian architect Antonio Citterio, are inspired by the Faberge egg. The rooms are thought out to the smallest detail for the comfort of the guests. Access to the aqua zone and hammam are included in the price. And on the roof there is a restaurant-terrace with a panorama of the dome of St. Isaac.