Bucket list experience:
Catherine Park
Built in the 18th century as a summer retreat for the Tsars, Tsarskoye Selo, the Tsars’ Village, is the ultimate display of the extraordinary extravagance of Russia’s imperial rulers. Today, this extraordinary mix of palaces, landscaped gardens and glittering architecture outstrips even Versailles.
Highlights include the extravagant Baroque Catherine Palace, built by Empress Elizabeth with its famous Amber Room. The more restrained Alexander Palace was the primary residence of the last tsar, Nicholas II and his family, and their place of house arrest after the revolution. Recent restoration has updated the rooms inhabited by the last Imperial Family with their own furniture and possessions
Between them, amid the pristine sprawling gardens of Catherine Park and Alexander Park, Palladian buildings rise up between the trees and dozens of follies giving a glimpse of British, Italian and French architectural styles of the time.
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Destination Guide >St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia
Built on the orders of Catherine the Great for her grandson, the future Alexander I, this extraordinary, neoclassical palace was also home to the last tsar, Nicholas II, and his family and is considered one of the greatest creations by the renowned architect Giacomo Quarenghi.
Best for ages: 13+ | £6
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia
Dotted with sculptures this 200-hectare park is wilder and more unkempt than Catherine Park, but deeply atmospheric; highlights include a ruined Chinese theatre and replica Chinese village alongside several Gothic follies.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia
Located in Alexander Park, and built in the early 19th century, this imposing pavilion was one of the first museums in the country, housing the Imperial Weapons, and remains a military museum today.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia
A traditional bath-house, based on the ruins of the Constantine Baths in Rome, the big draw here is the Agate Rooms – each covered in semi-precious stones, including malachite, lapas lazuli and alabaster. It also hosts temporary exhibitions.
Best for ages: Any | Free
The most efficient and cost-effective way to get to Tsarskoye Selo is via minibus (marshrutka) service running from Moskovskaya Metro Station on Moskovsky Prospekt. Numbers K-342 or K-545 go directly to the Catherine Palace and Park. Many sightseeing hop-on-hop-off services offer extension tours to Tsarskoye Selo.
Tickets can be bought online, although the palace’s website can be confusing; advance planning from May to September is essential. You best option is to book on an organised tour that will include transport and tickets. Plan on around 5 hours for a round trip from the city, including a tour of one of the palaces.
Cruise ships often begin their days with an early entrance to the Catherine Palace, so later afternoon visits in summer may help avoid crowds. Winter offers a far more leisurely experience but the risk of heavy snow.
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia[24.5 miles]
One of the city’s oldest and most elegant places to stay in the city, it offers luxury accommodation and an excellent location.
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St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia[24.6 miles]
St. Petersburg’s grand dame, a 5-star luxury hotel that harps back to more graceful, elegant age.
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St. Petersburg, Northwestern Region, Russia[24.7 miles]
A hip design hotel opposite St Isaac’s Cathedral, with a basement spa and rooftop bar and restaurant that’s one of the city’s premier party spots.
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St. Petersburg, Northwestern Region, Russia[24.7 miles]
Incomparable elegance, comfort, and service await at the Four Seasons Lion Palace, just steps from the Hermitage.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Northwestern Region, Russia
On the shores of the Baltic, Russia’s dazzling cultural capital is a treasure trove of art, music, literature, and history.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
St. Petersburg, Northwestern Region, Russia[0 miles]
The extraordinary summer retreat of the Russian tsars, home to exquisitely restored Baroque palaces and formal gardens, including the Catherine Palace.
Best for ages: 18+ | £6
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia[23.8 miles]
Enjoy an unforgettable evening of classical ballet or opera at the world-renowned Mariinsky Theatre. It was here that Tchaikovsky’s famous ballets, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake were first performed.
Best for ages: 18+ | £40 | 2+ hours
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia[23.9 miles]
Wander through history as you traverse St. Petersburg’s main thoroughfare, Nevsky Prospekt – a grand, 3-mile boulevard of elegant facades, imposing buildings, basilicas, monuments and theatres.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free | 2
St Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia[24.3 miles]
Ornate onion-bulb domes, glittering mosaics and buildings on a vast scale make St Petersburg’s churches and cathedrals some of the most impressive in the world.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia[15.9 miles]
Considered by some to be St. Petersburg’s most impressive single church, Chesme has a unique candystripe frontage, in pink and white, and an elegant, rose-hued interior.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia[22.7 miles]
Instantly recognisable by its bright blue domes, Trinity was a former regimental church of the Russian Imperial Army, and is famous for its icons, dating back to the 18th century.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia[23.5 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
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia[23.5 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
