Things to Do in Saint Petersburg
Discover 28 activities and experiences in Saint Petersburg, Russia — from outdoor adventures to cultural events. Curated from real traveler recommendations.
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Mariinsky Theater
The Mariinsky Theater (formerly the Kirov, which is the name the troupe still uses when touring abroad) is world-class for both opera and ballet. There are English supertitles for operas sung in Russian; operas in other languages have Russian supertitles. Performances are offered in two halls: the main theater, and the newly-built Mariinsky Concert Hall. Tickets can be purchased on the theater's website. Cavos rebuilt it as an opera and ballet house with the largest stage in the world. With a seating capacity of 1,625 and a U-shaped Italian-style auditorium, the theatre opened on 2 October 1860 with a performance of A Life for the Tsar. The new theatre was named Mariinsky after its imperial patroness, Empress Maria Alexandrovna.
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- Theater Square (Театральная площадь), 1
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Walk
Allow yourself the pleasure of enjoying unhurried the neoclassical and baroque wonders of architecture, landscaping and gardening of the Imperial Capital, of rare beauty at any time of any season. Read or reread the works of the great Russian writers - "White Nights" by Dostoevsky first, "The Overcoat" by Gogol in second, then Tolstoy, Chekhov, Brodsky, Pushkin, Mayakovsky, Nabokov and several others - they found so much inspiration in this pavement. In winter, use non-slip boots with thick socks to protect your ankles, and avoid the ice.
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Saint Petersburg Philharmonia Grand Hall
The orchestra established in 1802. The Bolshoi Zal (large hall) of this building is one of the best known music halls in Russia. The building currently housing the Philharmonia was completed 1839. Architect: P. Jacot; and Facade design: C. Rossi. - A world-class orchestra which records and tours abroad. The Small Hall (Maliy Saal) hosts excellent chamber music performances and recitals.
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- Mikhailovskaya Ul.(Михайловская улица) 2
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- Cash desks 11.00-15.00 & 16.00-20.00
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- RUB600-5,000
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Loft Project ETAGI
Culture centre located in five-storey former bakery building with several exhibition spaces (combined surface around 0.5ha). Contemporary art exhibitions, concerts, events (flea markets). Parts of Etagi loft are two art galleries, four exhibitions spaces, a cafe (with great interior and outside terrace), a hostel and a bookshop.
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- Ligovsky prospekt, 74
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Helicopter Tour from the Fortress helipad
It is possible to take a 15-minute aerial tour along the 10 km long portion of '''the Neva''', between the Blagoveshchensky and Alexander Nevsky Bridges, during weekends from May to October, starting from the helipad right outside the Peter and Paul Fortress' walls, but it is quite expensive and noisy.
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- Zayachy Island, from the Fortress helipad
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- 11.30-18.00
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- 3000 rubles as of 2012
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Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama Theater
Formerly known as Gorky Bolshoi Drama Theater (Russian: Большой Драматический Театр имени Горького) (1931–1992), often referred to as the Bolshoi Drama Theater and by the acronym BDT (Russian: БДТ), is a theater in Saint Petersburg, that is considered one of the best Russian theaters
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- Naberezhnaya Reki Fontanki (наб. реки Фонтанки), 65
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- Daily 11.00-15.00 & 16.00-19.00
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Conservatory Theater
While the hall itself is not lavish - quite sterile, really - a good option for seeing Russian and repertory operas cheaply, performed by faculty and students of the conservatory where Tchaikovsky (and many other famous figures from the Russian music world) studied.
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- Theater Square (Театральная площадь), 3
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- RUB300-1,500
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Mikhailovskiy Theater
- The exterior is not as recognizable as the Mariinsky, but the interior is nearly as grand, and the theater hosts both Russian and foreign headliners in opera and ballet. It was founded in 1833. It is named after Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich of Russia.
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- Ploshad Isskustv 1
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- RUB600-2700
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St. Petersburg Opera
An intimate theater (half-sized stage, and only about 150-200 audience seats) which puts on the major repertory operas at a lower price than the major theaters and has a fascinating foyer - one has to see it to believe it.
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- Galernaya Ul. (Галерная улица), 33
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- 12:00-15:00 & 16:00-19:00
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- RUB300-3,000
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Ice Palace
It was built for the 2000 Ice Hockey World Championships and opened in 2000 & cost USD 60 Million. It holds 12,300 people. One of several sports arenas that also serves as a concert hall for pop and rock concerts.
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- prospekt Pyatiletok (Проспект Пятилеток), 1
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- Cash desks: Daily 11:00-20:00
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- RUB800-10,000
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Circus Ciniselli
It was the first stone-built circus in Russia; it is situated beside the Fontanka.Opened on 26 December 1877, with a large stage (13m in diameter) and stables (housing 150 horses). The architect was Vasily Kenel.
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- Naberezhnaya Reki Fontanki ( Набережная реки Фонтанки), 3
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- Daily 11:00-15:00, 16:00-19:00
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- RUB600-2300
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Zazerkalie theatre
The theatre appeared in August 1987 and was named after the Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There". The Children’s experimental theatre “Zazerkalie” appeared in 1992.
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- Rubinstein Street (улице Рубинштейна), 13
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Lensoviet Academic Theatre
In the former Korssakov family mansion. The resident company was founded as the Young Theatre in 1929, then renamed the New Theatre in 1933, and finally the Leningrad Soviet Theatre in 1939.
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- Pr. Vladimirski (Владимирский пр.), 12
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- 11:00-19:00
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Komissarjevsky Theatre
The drama and comedy company was founded by actress Vera Komissarzhevskaya in 1901. In The Passage (магазин "Пассаж", Passazh), elite department store
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- Italyanskaya Street, 19
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- W-M 11:00-15:00 & 16:00-19:00
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St. Petersburg Philharmonic Grand Hall
A world-class orchestra which records and tours abroad. The Small Hall (Maliy Saal) hosts excellent chamber music performances and recitals.
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- Mikhailovskaya Ul. 2
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- Cash desks 11.00-15.00 & 16.00-20.00
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- RUB600-5,000
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Anglotourismo Boat Tours
Canal boat tours in English, departing from near the Anichkov Bridge (Nevksy Prospekt and Fontanka) in season (May 7 - Sept 30).
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- Naberezhnaya reki Fontanki, 21
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- Tours at 11.00, 13.00, 15.00, 17.00, 19.00, 21.00, 00.20
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- RUB600-750, Students: RUB500
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Yelagin Island
Inexpensive '''boats''' can be rented for the ponds. In the winter, '''skis, sleds, and ice skates''' can be also be rented.
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Liteiny Theatre
In 1993 the Liteinyi's theatre troupe toured America with a production of George Bernard Shaw's Great Catherine in Russian.
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- Liteinyi Prospect (Литейный проспект), 51
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Oktyabrskiy Big Concert Hall
For Pop and rock concerts and for performance of variety actors and also dancing and ballet collectives in an auditorium.
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- Ligovskiy Prospekt (Лиговский проспект), 6
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- M-F 11.00-20.00; Sa, Su 11.00-19.00
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- RUB600-12,000
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Vyborg's Palace of Culture
Big theater hall, small or concert hall, library, rentable Cafe «Zakulisnoe» (Кафе «Закулисное») for events
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- St. Commissioner Smirnova (ул. Комиссара Смирнова), 12
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- Cash desk 12:00-19:00
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St. Petersburg Philharmonic Small Hall
The Small Hall (Maliy Saal) of the Philharmonic hosts excellent chamber music performances and recitals.
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- Nevsky Prospekt (Невский проспект), 30
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- Cash desks 11.00-15.00 & 16.00-19.00
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Youth Theatre on the Fontanka
It plays Russian classic plays in the winter seasons and hosts a rock concert in the summer.
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- Naberezhnaya Reki Fontanki (Набережная реки Фонтанки), 114
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- Daily 12.00-15.00 & 15.40-20.00
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- RUB200-1200
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Oktyabrskiy Concert Hall
Pop and rock concerts in an auditorium close to the city center.
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- Ligovskiy Prospekt (Лиговский проспект), 6
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- M-F 11.00-20.00; Sa, Su 11.00-19.00
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- RUB600-12,000
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Jazz Philharmonic Hall
Offers a variety of jazz performances several times per week.
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- Zagorodnyy prospekt (Загородный пр.), 27
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- Cash desks: Daily 14.00-20.00
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- RUB800-1,200
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Dom Kino
Sometimes shows films in their original language.
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- Karavannaya Ulitsa (Караванная улица), 12
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- RUB100-250
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Ostrov Theatre
In the former Benois House.
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- Kamennoostrovskiy prospekt (Каменноостровский проспект), 26-28
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- Ticket office: W-Th 14.00-19.30, F-Su 14.00-19.00; All performances start at 19:00
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Exploring Saint Petersburg: A Traveler's Guide to Activities
Saint Petersburg rewards curious travelers with an exceptional range of experiences. Whether you have a weekend or several weeks, the city's 28 documented activities cover the full spectrum — architectural landmarks and world-class museums at one end, local neighborhood festivals and underground cultural scenes at the other. The activities listed on this page come from Wikivoyage contributors who have personally explored Saint Petersburg and written detailed, practical descriptions to help you plan your visit.
The most rewarding way to experience Saint Petersburg's activities is with company. Solo travelers who arrive without plans often find that meeting a fellow traveler at a hostel, cafe, or through the Nomax app opens up entirely new itineraries — a museum visit becomes a half-day exploration, a street food crawl turns into an evening of discovery, a day trip to a nearby site becomes an adventure. Saint Petersburg has an active traveler community, and the city is designed to reward those who explore it with open curiosity.
When planning what to do in Saint Petersburg, consider mixing well-known attractions with neighborhood-level experiences. The city's most photographed sights are popular for good reason, but Saint Petersburg's character lives in its quieter corners too — the local markets, the parks where residents spend their weekends, the small performance venues where the next generation of artists and musicians are finding their voice. The 28 activities on this page include both categories, ordered by the richness of their traveler-written descriptions.
How to Get the Most from Saint Petersburg's Activities
Timing matters in Saint Petersburg. Many of the city's best attractions have shorter queues and better atmospheres on weekday mornings. Major cultural sites — museums, galleries, historic monuments — often run free admission windows on certain days or evenings; check before booking. Outdoor activities and walking tours are best enjoyed in the morning before the city heats up or fills with tour groups.
Budget-conscious travelers will find that Saint Petersburg has a strong free-to-access layer. Public parks, open-air markets, architectural walking routes, and many community events cost nothing. The price information included with activities on this page (where available) helps you plan a realistic daily budget. A mix of free and paid activities across a week in Saint Petersburg is entirely feasible for most traveler budgets.
For travelers who want to do more than just sightseeing, Saint Petersburg offers organized activities through local guides, tour companies, and traveler apps like Nomax. Group activities — cooking classes, cycling tours, kayaking excursions, photography walks — are a natural way to meet people while experiencing the city. Many travelers who use Nomax in Saint Petersburg coordinate these types of group experiences together, splitting costs and building memories that last beyond the trip itself.
Activities for Different Travel Styles
Not every traveler wants the same experience. History enthusiasts will gravitate toward Saint Petersburg's museums, heritage sites, and guided historical walks that reveal the layers of the city's past. Outdoor and adventure travelers will focus on the parks, cycling routes, climbing areas, and day trips to surrounding natural areas. Food travelers will treat Saint Petersburg's markets, restaurants, and food tours as the primary activities of each day. Culture seekers will fill evenings with concerts, theater, gallery openings, and street performances.
The 28 activities documented on this page span all these categories. Use the numbered list above to browse in order of description quality — longer descriptions generally mean more detailed, firsthand traveler knowledge. For each activity, the address and opening hours (where available) give you everything you need to plan your visit without needing to search elsewhere.
Connecting with Travelers in Saint Petersburg
One of the best things about traveling to Saint Petersburg is the community of international travelers already there. Backpackers, digital nomads, long-term expats, and short-trip tourists all share the same city at any given moment. Nomax makes it easy to find who is in Saint Petersburg right now, see what activities they are joining, and coordinate plans. Whether you want a hiking companion, someone to split museum entry with, or a group for an evening out — the app connects you to people with the same itinerary in minutes.
Download Nomax before your trip to Saint Petersburg to set your travel dates and start discovering who else will be there at the same time. The app is free, requires no subscription, and works across all the major traveler destinations worldwide — meaning the community you build in Saint Petersburg often extends to your next destination too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in Saint Petersburg?
Saint Petersburg offers 28+ activities and experiences for travelers. Top highlights include Mariinsky Theater, Walk, Saint Petersburg Philharmonia Grand Hall, and much more. This page lists every documented activity in order of description quality, so you can find both the major attractions and the hidden gems.
Are there free things to do in Saint Petersburg?
Yes — Saint Petersburg has a strong selection of free activities. Public parks, open-air markets, walking routes through historic neighborhoods, and many cultural institutions offer free admission on specific days. Scroll through the list above and look for activities marked with free or no price information — these are often the city's most authentic experiences.
How do I meet other travelers while exploring Saint Petersburg?
Download Nomax — a free travel companion app that shows you other solo travelers currently in Saint Petersburg. You can join group activities, chat with travelers at the same spots, and plan outings together. Many travelers in Saint Petersburg use Nomax to find companions for day trips, museum visits, and evening activities.
What activities can I do with travel companions I meet in Saint Petersburg?
Saint Petersburg has activities for every interest — guided tours, food experiences, outdoor adventures, cultural events, and nightlife. Use Nomax to coordinate with other travelers: join a group for a walking tour, split a day-trip cost, or simply explore the city together. The app makes spontaneous plans easy.
Explore Saint Petersburg with fellow travelers
Download Nomax — find travel companions, join group activities, and chat with solo travelers in Saint Petersburg right now. Free forever.
Travel tips by Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 3.0). Content may have been updated since publication.
