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Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 09 November, 2022
Expert travel writer: Jennifer Eremeeva

Nevsky Prospect is St. Petersburg’s main artery – a grand boulevard stretching for 4.5kms from the vast Palace Square to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery. Walking along it provides an ideal introduction to the city; the city’s story is written in its elegant facades, imposing buildings, basilicas, monuments and theatres. Between the sights, you’ll stumble upon some of the city’s best coffee houses and cafes for pit stops.

Set aside three or four hours to allow time to stop in to visit major landamrks. Highlights include the city’s most important cathedral, Kazan, The House of Books (a six-storey Art Nouveau building that is the city’s most famous bookstore), Gostiny Dvor (one of the first shopping arcades in the world) and the Anichkov Bridge, famous for the four ‘horse tamer’ sculptures that crown its four corners.

Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 18+
When: All year around
Duration: 2

Getting there & doing it

Begin at the Admiralty (opposite the Hermitage Museum) and finish at Alexander Nevsky Monastery. Set aside half a day to complete the walk. If you’re short on time, walk from the Admiralty to the Anichkov Bridge. Bring a detailed map of the historical center to help you recognize major landmarks – most hotels will be able to provide you with one, or there are downloadable apps which guide you along the route.

When to do it

This legendary walk is best done in fine, warm weather; in the winter months, the wind barrels across the broad street and it can be impossible to walk far without diving inside.

The street is busy all day, every day – this is part of the attraction – alongside the sights, there is just the sense of local people going about their everyday lives. It’s equally pleasant in the evening, when the cafes and restaurants spill out onto the street.

Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first

Grand Hotel Europe

St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia[1.7 miles]

St. Petersburg’s grand dame, a 5-star luxury hotel that harps back to more graceful, elegant age.

Official star rating:

Hotel Indigo Tchaikovskogo

St. Petersburg, Northwestern Region, Russia[1.8 miles]

Hip decor and stunning rooftop views are the hallmarks of this Indigo hotel, located minutes from the Summer Gardens.

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Kempinski Hotel Moika

St. Petersburg, Northwestern Region, Russia[2.5 miles]

Enjoy 5-star luxury accommodation just steps from the Hermitage, with incomparable views of the city’s major landmarks.

Official star rating:

Pushka Inn

St. Petersburg, Northwestern Region, Russia[2.5 miles]

Cosy, classic but affordable accommodation in a historic hotel, located just moments from the Hermitage.

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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

St Petersburg

Northwestern Region, Russia

On the shores of the Baltic, Russia’s dazzling cultural capital is a treasure trove of art, music, literature, and history.

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Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first

Faberge Museum

St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia[1 miles]

Discover the art of Peter Carl Faberge, creator of the Imperial Easter Eggs, in the museum dedicated to his craft.

Best for ages: 8+ | £5

Russian Museum

St. Petersburg, Northwestern Region, Russia[1.8 miles]

Russia’s rich tradition of visual arts is celebrated in the network of buildings and gardens of the State Russian Museum, housing 400,000 exhibits dating back to the 10th century.

Best for ages: 18+ | £5

Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..

Single bed in small room
Experience

Dostoevsky Museum

St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia[0.7 miles]

Dostoyevsky’s apartment/house museum, located in the Haymarket, is where much of ‘Crime and Punishment’ is set and offers fascinating insights into the writer’s life and work.

Best for ages: 18+ | £3

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Overview >
Stall with dried fruit in baskets
Experience

Kuznechny Food Market

St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia[0.8 miles]

Kuznechny Market offers a chance to step off the sightseeing trail and visit the city’s largest farmers’ market, with fresh produce, meat and fish. Open daily except Monday.

Best for ages: 13+ | Free

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Overview >
Large chandeliers in theatre
Experience

Philharmonic Hall

St. Petersburg, Northwestern Region, Russia[1.7 miles]

Enjoy a night of Russia’s outstanding classical music at the elegant Philharmonic Hall, right in the center of the city.

Best for ages: 18+ | £30 | 2+ hours

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Overview >
Cathedral with pillars and fountain
Experience

Kazan Cathedral

St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia[2 miles]

Looming over Nevsky Prospekt, the scale of Kazan is breathtaking. Modelled on St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the church took ten years to build between 1801-11 and is famous for its impressive stone colonnade.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

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Overview >