Best places to stay:
St. Petersburg hotels don’t get much more hip and hedonistic than the SO Sofitel, which oozes contemporary style from every pore, with Fabergé egg-style lamps, and textiles woven with vibrant Russian folklore designs. Rooms are more minimalist than the common areas, but the odd flash of gilt, or deep purple, keeps the vibe going.
This is the place if you want to hang out with the city’s young, cool crowd; on the weekend, the roof-top bar is the place to be, with international DJ’s playing regular sets.
Its central location, opposite St. Isaac’s Cathedral and within walking distance of Nevsky Prospekt and the Hermitage, makes it as buzzy outside as in. If, and when, it all gets a bit too much, the basement Urban Wellness Zone Spa offers a quiet spot for rest and renewal.
The SO is one for party folk and those who love contemporary style; if you’re looking for a sense of historic St Petersburg, this isn’t the place to stay.
Want more recommendations in this destination?
Destination Guide >Please note - we hope to one day have live prices for you, but for now, here are some useful links for you to compare prices...
Bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia[0.2 miles]
Dominating the city’s skyline, St Isaacs is magnificently decorated with Orthodox icons and frescoes, and offers panoramic views from the alfresco colonnade.
Best for ages: 18+ | £3
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia[0.3 miles]
Discover St. Petersburg’s spectacular architecture from the water, with a slow-paced cruise through the city’s rivers, waterways and canals.
Best for ages: 4+ | £7 | 1-2 hours
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia[0.7 miles]
Once the premier royal residence of the Romanovs, today this vast complex – the second-largest art museum in the world – houses a jaw-dropping collection of Egyptian antiquities, European Renaissance Art, treasure galleries and Russian military history.
Best for ages: 13+ | £5
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia[1.2 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
Other worthwhile experiences in this destination if you have the time or the interest, closest first
St. Petersburg, Northwestern Region, Russia[0.6 miles]
St. Petersburg’s oldest eatery is a favourite of Russia’s famous writers and an excellent place to sample traditional Russian food.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
St. Petersburg, Northwestern Region, Russia[0.8 miles]
Founded by Peter the Great to house his collection of physical oddities and preserved ‘freaks’, this museum has a ghoulish lure; not for the faint-hearted, or children.
Best for ages: 16+ | £6
St. Petersburg, Northwestern Region, Russia[0.8 miles]
Visit the elegant mansion of the wealthy and colorful Yussupov family, the notorious site of the grisly murder of Grigory Rasputin in 1916.
Best for ages: 18+ | £8
St. Petersburg , Northwestern Region, Russia[0.9 miles]
One of the city’s oldest and most famous apartment blocks, home to scores of Russian Scientists since 1708; the facade of the building has nearly 30 memorial plaques honoring its past residents. You can g inside and visit the house-museum of its most famous resident, the great physiologist Ivan Pavlov.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Destination guides including or relevant to this place to stay
Northwestern Region, Russia
On the shores of the Baltic, Russia’s dazzling cultural capital is a treasure trove of art, music, literature, and history.
