Attractions

Whether your interest is in the white and gold legacy of imperial Russia, in classical church architecture, in the many examples of coherent town planning or simply in visiting a well-stocked caviar bar, a single trip to St Petersburg can never be long enough.

The soaring arch of Palace Square, close to the ill-fated Winter Palace of the Romanovs, is a monument to the Russian victory against Napoleon in 1812, while the Peter and Paul Fortress; another landmark, reminds visitors that back in 1703, it was the Swedish hordes, not the Communists, who were on the attack.

Another must-see is the beautiful 19th century St Isaac’s Cathedral, with its gold dome and sumptuous marble interior and if you have an appreciation of truly awe-inspiring bridges, look no further than the Alexander Nevsky. At more than 905 meters, it is certainly the longest in St. Petersburg, but then the city does boast 539 bridges in all; more than Venice, Stockholm or Amsterdam.

Oh and talking of outside spaces, don’t forget that in terms of its parks, St Petersburg is better served even than Paris ...