tour de france auto 1985 results

1985 Tour de France: results and classification

General classification of the 1985 tour de france, jerseys of the 1985 tour de france, stages of the 1985 tour de france.

Prologue (Plumelec - Plumelec, 6.8 km in Individual Time Trial)

Stage 1 (Vannes - Lanester, 256 km)

Stage 2 (Lorient - Vitré, 242 km)

Stage 3 (Vitré - Fougères, 73 km in Team Time Trial)

Stage 4 (Fougères - Pont Audemer, 239 km)

Stage 5 (Neufchatel en Bray - Roubaix, 224 km)

Stage 6 (Roubaix - Reims, 221.5 km)

Stage 7 (Reims - Nancy, 217.5 km)

Stage 8 (Sarrebourg - Strasbourg, 75 km in Individual Time Trial)

Stage 9 (Strasbourg - Epinal, 173.5 km)

Stage 10 (Epinal - Pontarlier, 204.5 km)

Stage 11 (Pontarlier - Morzine Avoriaz, 195 km)

Stage 12 (Morzine - Lans en Vercors, 269 km)

Stage 13 (Villard de Lans - Villard de Lans, 38 km in Individual Time Trial)

Stage 14 (Autrans - St Etienne, 179 km)

Stage 15 (St Etienne - Aurillac, 237.5 km)

Stage 16 (Aurillac - Toulouse, 247 km)

Stage 17 (Toulouse - Luz Ardiden, 209.5 km)

Stage 18a (Luz St Sauveur - Col d'Aubisque, 52.5 km)

Stage 18b (Laruns - Pau, 83.5 km)

Stage 19 (Pau - Bordeaux, 203 km)

Stage 20 (Montpon Ménestrel - Limoges, 225 km)

Stage 21 (Limoges - Lac de Vassivière, 45.7 km in Individual Time Trial)

Stage 22 (Orléans - Paris/Champs Elysées, 196 km)

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Greg LeMond, Bernard Hinault and the 1985 Tour de France

By owen mulholland.

Les Woodland's book Tour de France: The Inside Story - Making the World's Greatest Bicycle Race is available as an audiobook here. For the print and Kindle eBook versions, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

In 1975 Owen Mulholland became the first American journalist accredited to the Tour de France. Here's his report of the 1985 Tour, written shortly after it finished.

Stage-by-stage results for the 1985 Tour de France

Greg LeMond is probably the nicest guy to ever win bike races. It's so simple. Somebody says, "Go!", you step on the pedals hard, and down the road you try to cross a line before everyone else. It's a game Greg plays very well and the last thing he expects is criticism for winning.

So why was Mr. Nice Guy shouting at his team director, Paul Koechli, at the finish of the seventeenth stage of this year's Tour de France. Hadn't Greg finished fifth that day, best of his team? What gives? Anyone who enjoys the Dallas TV show can appreciate the twists that make a simple story into  a soap. In this case the plot is extra sudsy.

Greg is hot property. Everyone recognizes that he has some of the fastest legs in the business. The problem for Greg is to find a situation that will allow him to use all that dynamite. When Bernard Hinault , the aging lion of European cycling, asked Greg to join his team for 1985 as co-leader, it seemed the perfect opportunity. Hinault publicly declared that he would like to devote his last two years to developing a young rider. The whole cycling world knew he was referring to Greg.

Hinault was probably as honest with the world as he was with himself. He appeared to have difficulty recovering from knee surgery and a supporting role would be a graceful way to bow out of the sport.

But the thirty year old Breton is a born winner, and when he nursed himself back into top form this year the unspokens were louder than the overtly expressed.

Bernard and Greg crashed the Tour of Italy garden party in May. Bernard kicked ass from one end of the Italian boot to the other, and while he took a breather Greg landed counter-punches. They rolled away from the race, first and third, like two western outlaws after a good barroom brawl.

Having been the perfect sideman in Italy, Greg arrived at the Tour de France half-hoping it was his turn to start the shoot-out. Half hopes became quarter hopes in exactly 8 minutes and 47 seconds, the time it took Hinault to fly around the opening 6.8 km prologue time trial. Greg could only manage fifth, at 21 seconds.

Bernard Hinault winning the prologue

In a race that takes over 100 hours, what's 21 seconds? Not much in time, but everything in pecking order. As the headline in L'Equipe said, Hinault's performance "showed he was still the master of the peloton…and his team." Of course being in yellow before his hometown fans didn't hurt le Blaireau's (he's known as the "Badger" for his tenacity) popularity. They knew this might be the last time they would see their hero leading the Tour, the last chance he have of equaling the record of five Tour victories.

Through the first week Bernard was only too happy to let others take the yellow jersey and its attendant responsibility of controlling the race. It's very tiring for a team to monitor attacks and Bernard knew his men would need to be as fresh as possible for later. But behind the mask of disinterest the Badger was carrying a big stick and could strike at any time. Fear paralyzed his opponents.

On these flat stages through northern France it was necessary to look elsewhere for subplots. North Americans could be especially proud to find Steve Bauer (Canadian) and Doug Shapiro (American) place first and second on the list of Tour neophytes. The list ran to over 80. All were employed as "domestiques", cannon fodder for the team generals. They do all the fetch and chase work so the generals can pedal along in relative serenity. That Steve and Doug could dutifully carry out their orders and still be placed well shows how quickly they were adapting to the Tour. Most newcomers soon slip to the back of the classification sheets, worn out by the incessant toil and extra distance pros are expected to handle.

Both Steve and Doug are graduates of the Olympic class of '84. Bauer had to settle for the silver medal while Shapiro had an even more traumatic time; on the eve of the race he was told he wouldn't be on the team. Someone else had been selected in his place. After the games both men turned pro and went to Europe.

Bauer was recruited by LeMond for his La Vie Claire team while Doug accepted an offer from the Dutch squad, Kwantum. Both knew what was expected of them, but wearing the white jersey of best rookie was an honor Shapiro coveted. "It's hard to tell how things will go, " he said hesitantly, "but sure, I'd like to have that jersey. Maybe in the mountains…"

Furthermore, just about anyone who might challenge Hinault knew French as a second language. Phil Anderson , the Australian with an American wife, had the nerve to challenge Hinault in the mountains during his first Tour. Every year he's near the top, but he always has a bad day, and loses too much time. Still, at 26 he was at the height of his maturity and experience, and his Dutch Panasonic team was one of the strongest in the race.

The rather small country of Ireland pulled off an genetic miracle by fielding two super riders, Sean Kelly and Stephan Roche . Kelly, at 29, is a tough country lad who speaks little and does everything well. In 1984 he was Europe's best overall rider. He's on the tall side though, which hampers his climbing. His younger compatriot is just loaded with talent, but the consistency necessary to be a Tour winner has always been missing. He hoped 1985 would be different.

Then there was Robert Millar, the slim Scot who climbs on two catapults. He had almost won the Tour of Spain in April when bad luck dropped him to second. He hoped for better in the Tour.

Hinault could read the tea leaves as well as anyone. He decided to bust up the place before anyone got the drop on him. The opportunity was clear enough; the eighth stage "race of truth", a 75 kilometer time trial in Alsace.

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This was the longest Tour time trial since 1960. Their length has been reduced over the years since it was felt long time trials tend to favor a certain type of rider, and normally the Tour route is so balanced that the winner must do well in all the varied challenges it presents. By reinstituting a big time trial critics felt the Tour was attempting to do Hinault a favor.

That said, it's the same course for everyone, and the way Hinault tackled it he left everyone in a daze. Two minutes and twenty seconds covered the distance between the finishers from second to twenty-fourth. That same time gap yawned between Hinault in first and Roche in second! Hinault was back in yellow, and with such a show of force the others wanted to give up on the spot. Kelly, in a sign of begrudging respect, admitted that, "I believe you have seen the man who can make the big differences, one who is capable of winning the Tour."

It was like a boxing match in which the first real blow scored a knockdown. Awesome to see, of course, but hey, we came to see a fight, not a massacre. If somebody of the class of Millar can lose 6 minutes, 38 seconds in a mere 75 kilometers, it hardly matter what he might pull off in the mountains. He could never hope to make up such losses.

Still, hope flickered. Maybe it was a sucker punch. In three days the race would enter the Alps. Maybe then we would see a little resistance from someone. But the Breton was of no mind to let anyone believe they had a chance. He almost spit out his challenge. "When you are the strongest, you make the law. Let the others suffer." Harsh words from a hard man, a man who had endured humiliations while on the comeback trail from surgery last year.

As soon as the field hit the first of three Alpine climbs Hinault floored it. The field went into shock. With 75 kilometers remaining in the stage no one dreamed he'd try a move so early. Shapiro remembered the surging attack. "After 120 kilometers of flat riding it takes a little time to get into a climbing rhythm. Of course I couldn't see what was going on up front, but we just started going faster and faster and faster. Gaps opened up and pretty soon I was in a dropped group."

It had been a pre-determined move. Greg was frustrated at not being in on it. "The plan was for Bernard to attack first and for me to come up to him with the first counter-attacks, but there weren't any!" he said with exasperation. Hinault had done it again. Another blow and another knockdown. Only the Colombian condor, Luis Herrera, could hold the pace of the master. On they romped, while behind desperation was rampant. Roche lost more than two minutes, Kelly and Anderson over three, and the Italian, Roberto Visentini, a supposed longshot, was out of the ring at over five minutes.

The next day, featuring no less than seven mountains, offered all sorts of possibilities to anyone with ambitions. But who dared be ambitious? Indeed, rolling along at the front, surrounded by the strongest team, Hinault gave fits to others without, it appeared, even trying.

Kelly threw up on himself, yet still found the courage and strength to stay with Hinault. Others were less fortunate. Anderson, for example, lost more than two minutes, and this on a stage where Hinault hadn't even attacked!

Another time trial on the following day allowed Hinault to gain yet more time on his principal adversaries. Journalists threw up their hands in despair. Such domination, however magnificent, is hard to write about day after day. They were reduced to such extremes as, "Hinault didn't win by as much as expected."

The coffin containing all the supposed pretenders appeared to be nailed firmly shut. With half the race still to go, the headstone reads: 2. Greg LeMond @ 5' 23" 3. Stephan Roche @ 6' 8" 4. Sean Kelly @ 6' 35" 5. Steve Bauer @ 8' 23" (!!) 6. Phil Anderson @ 8' 33" 7. Niki Ruttimann @ 10' 31" (another Hinault man) 8. Pascal Simon @ 11' 11" (first French challenger) 9. Joop Zoetemelk @ 11' 14" (A former Tour winner, but at age 39, being only 11 minutes down was a miracle) 10. Pierre Bazzo @ 12' 39"

The two Alpine stages had actually been won by the Colombian mountain goats, Luis Herrera and Fabio Parra. Unfortunately, like all Colombians, they had lost so much time on the flat stages that their climbing prowess, however brilliant, didn't mean much in the overall picture.

Stage 14: Herrera goes and stays gone.

Small matter to the folks back home. Cycling is Colombia's number one sport. They had more media people at the Tour than any other country except France. After the twin stage victories President Betancourt personally phoned to congratulate them.

It's difficult to appreciate the psychological impact of such stage victories, but it's comparable to the effect on Japan after the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05. In sinking the Russian fleet Japan was able to discard the sense of inferiority most non-Western nations have had after their first encounter with the white man's world.

Of course millions suffered as Japan fulfilled its juvenile notion of equality, but insofar as the Tour battleground can serve as a national catharsis we can be thankful for this two-wheeled refinement on the crudities of warfare.

Colombia has one of the highest homicide rates in the world. When out training the last rider carries a gun, and he is never dropped. (In Colombia good bicycles are as valuable as cars.) The RCN radio boys carry a device that bypasses a phone in the booth. Cut, cut, splice, and voila, direct transmission! Herrera, Parra and company have shown their countrymen that they can play by the rules and win. It will take some time, of course, but their example will have its effect.

Fears of the big Tour being a big snooze haunted the race. With Hinault astride his competitors, the closest of whom was his young American teammate, there appeared no cracks in his impregnable edifice.

The only hope lay in the Pyrenees. Just possibly all those big efforts by Hinault might have a cumulative effect, or so it was hoped by anyone who dared to have even dreams of challenging the maillot jaune . The three stages across central France promised to be a lull before the storm.

Two of them were, but the first one, to St. Etienne, almost upset everything. In the field sprint Bernard was caught up in a mass crash at over 30 mph. He lay inert on the pavement for minutes before finally remounting his bike and rolling across the finish line. His face was a mask of blood. All France held its breath. The verdict: a broken nose, but nothing terminal. To prove it he sprinted the next day, a risky and unnecessary thing to do, but impressive nevertheless. He claimed, "My form is as good as ever and I sleep like a baby," but it was hard to believe looking at his two black eyes and extensive cuts.

Mountains. For the Tour they are like the time trials, another form of truth serum. Sucking wheels doesn't help much under 10 mph.

Greg LeMond, the official team co-leader with Hinault, had hopes for an unlikely situation to develop. He was prohibited from attacking Hinault by their mutual non-aggression pact. But if, just if, a major rival got away on the climbs, and if, just if, Greg could go with the guy and Hinault couldn't, then Greg could conceivable be dragged into the race lead. On paper it was possible.

The seventeenth stage from Toulouse to the Pyrenean ski station of Luz-Ardiden had to be the promised land to anyone with pretentions. The 210 kilometer stage became progressively more difficult, culminating in an unholy trinity of the Aspin , Tourmalet and Luz-Ardiden.

Halfway up the Tourmalet, Stephan Roche zipped away accompanied by a couple of others, but not Hinault. Watchdog LeMond, just doing his job as chief defender, shot across the widening gap and became the caboose-in-residence. Roche had finally found his climbing legs just when the battered Hinault seemed to have lost his.

Over the top, down to the valley below, and then onto the final 13 kilometer killer. Fog closed in, television coverage went blank, and the pedaling robots, uninformed about the gaps to other groups, switched over to autopilot. LeMond believed he was on his way to the yellow jersey. He tested Roche with small attacks, but finding resistance Greg went back to tailgating. Suddenly, out of the drizzle emerged the Hinault group. and although it didn't contain Hinault, Greg knew he couldn't be far behind.

Greg's paranoia that the team was really rigged for Hinault appeared justified. Upon crossing the finish line LeMond openly accused Koechli of "making me lose the Tour." If he had been informed of the group approaching from behind Greg could have gone a lot harder. "This was a day when I cold have won!" He shouted as the full sense of betrayal sunk in.

Koechli claimed that conditions made it impossible to get any information to Greg. If nothing else the incident showed Greg had exalted ambitions and private fears. The sweet detente had been broken and the bubbling rivalry between the two great riders had been exposed.

Fortunately, Greg's parents had chosen this day to visit the race. He returned to the team hotel in their car and his father, Bob, we instrumental in reconciling Greg to his team. "If Bob hadn't been there," Mrs. LeMond said, "I think Greg might have quit the team and the race  right there."

The mountains were over and with them went Greg's last chance to win the 1985 Tour de France. There remained, however, one forum where Greg could clearly state his case, where his American notion of the-best-guy-wins could be given unequivocally.

It was the twenty-first stage, Saturday, July 20. 45.7 kilometers around Vassiviere lake in central France. Yes, another time trial, the last "race of truth". Its many corners and ups and down made most riders leave their disc wheels and aero bikes in the vans. No gimmicks this time, this "final exam" promised to reveal the most complete rider in the race.

One hour, two minutes and 837 milliseconds proved he was that man. Not panicked by the news that Hinault was slightly ahead at the first two time checks LeMond kicked in his turbo, just as the master, Bernard Hinault, had done so many times. Anything less than No. 1 just wouldn't do.

Bernard took his modest five second defeat with grace. "I couldn't be happier if I'd won, myself, " he avowed. "This is an historic day. The first stage win by an American in the Tour de France."

This reporter awaited Greg at his hotel, champagne at the ready. Greg arrived euphoric, the bitter thoughts of earlier days sweetened with the antidote of victory. "Yeah," he said purposefully, "I really wanted to win this one." The feeling was inescapable that the next win wouldn't be so long forthcoming.

It had been a little scary at time for the wounded lion, Bernard Hinault, but now nothing stood between him and the destiny all France wished to see. He arrived on the Champs Elysées like a king escorted by his court. There would be no more surprises. Bernard Hinault stepped into the record books, now equal with Jacques Anquetil and Eddy Merckx at five Tour wins each. And that's about as close to immortality man is ever likely to get.

© McGann Publishing

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13 Things To Do In Saint Petersburg | Russia’s Most Beautiful City

By Author Christian L.

Posted on Published: January 17, 2021  - Last updated: September 11, 2021

Categories Europe , Destinations , Russia

Once known as Leningrad and before that Petrograd, Saint Petersburg, Russia, is the country’s second-largest city. Set next to the Neva River, close to the Baltic Sea, this city is home to over 5 million people.

It’s the world’s northernmost city, founded by Peter the Great and named after Saint Peter the apostle. Once home to the Tsars of Russia, it is today known as the country’s cultural capital.

With iconic sights such as Hermitage Museum, Nevsky Prospect, Peterhof Palace, and so much more, it has a fascinating heritage ripe for exploration. Without further ado, let’s dive into the 13 best things to do in St. Petersburg. 

Top Things to do in St. Petersburg, Russia

St. Petersburg, Europe, has grown into one of the top tourist destinations on the continent. Although it might get very cold in winter, there are still plenty of things to do – and the summers are absolutely perfect! Saint Petersburg is one of the prettiest cities in all of Europe .

Keep reading for some of my favorite choices. 

1. Visit The World Famous Hermitage Museum

One of the city’s most popular attractions (with over 3 million items in its esteemed collection), State Hermitage Museum showcases everything from fine art to ancient artifacts. 

Even if you don’t plan on entering inside, the exterior is an architectural gem in itself. The columns are all in white with green/gold facades that can be viewed from the river or Palace Square.

If you’re visiting St. Petersburg, Russia, your trip would not be complete without stopping past this world-famous landmark. It’s also a great activity to do no matter what time of year you are visiting – and a perfect way to escape those cold Russian winter days. 

There are six buildings in the museum complex in total. Five of which – Winter Palace, Small Hermitage, Old Hermitage, New Hermitage, and Hermitage Theatre – can be accessed by the public.

Within, you’ll be treated to Egyptian collections, artifacts dating from ancient Mesopotamia, and classical Greek jewelry, pottery, and sculptures. This is any historical culture lover’s dream. 

Keep exploring, and you will find collections of prehistoric relics from the Palaeolithic era to the Iron Ages, European fine arts, Impressionist works, Catherine the Great’s personal collections, and so much more.

In fact, you’ll need an entire day or possibly longer to explore this incredible museum complex. If you only have limited time in St. Petersburg, be sure to add this museum to your itinerary! There are also guided tours available if you want a more educational experience. 

Did you know? The Hermitage Museum is the world’s second-largest art museum.

2. Take in a Performance at Mariinsky Theatre

The Neoclassical Mariinsky Theatre is home to Russia’s revered opera and ballet companies.

The theatre – named after the wife of Tsar Alexandra II, Empress Maria Alexandrovna – has been here since 1860 when it was known as the Kirov Theatre.

This magnificent building, since it opened, has hosted stage performances and premieres from Tchaikovsky and Mussorgsky and famous ballets such as Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. 

Today, in addition to hosting live performances, the theatre has its own record label, which focuses on releasing music by Russian composers Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninov.

If you enjoy the arts and are going to be in St. Petersburg for several days, book tickets to see a world-class performance – you won’t be disappointed.

3. See Jewelled Eggs at the Faberge Museum

The House of Faberge was founded in St. Petersburg in 1842 by Gustav Faberge. Originally a jeweler, he became famous for designing jewel-encrusted eggs for the Tsars of Russia and is arguably the most famous goldsmith of the modern era. 

Today, you can view these iconic collection pieces in the Faberge Museum. It showcases 4,000 items in total, including Faberge Easter eggs, jewelry, silverware, home decor, and fantasy-themed objects.

The incredible jeweled eggs are famous all over the world, and there are several museums dedicated to them. But if you want to learn about Gustav Faberge, his family, and how it all began, this is the museum to visit. You can purchase a ticket in person or online. 

4. Spend an Hour Canal Cruising

St. Petersburg is built on 42 islands, and once upon a time (before bridges were constructed), cruising was the only way to navigate the city.

On a Golden Ring boat tour, you’ll see some of St. Petersburg’s iconic sights along the Kryukov Canal, including St. Nicholas Cathedral, Saint Isaac’s Cathedral, and the Mariinsky theatre.

You’ll dip beneath the famous colored bridges on Neva River whilst enjoying views of Peter and Paul Fortress, Vasilyevsky Island, and the Summer Garden. This is truly one of the most breathtaking ways to take in all the beauty that St. Petersburg has to offer. 

This tour also only takes around an hour, so you’ll have plenty of time to revisit your favorite spots throughout the day!

5. Discover Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood

One of St. Petersburg’s architectural masterpieces is the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood.

This former Russian Orthodox Church was completed in 1907 and is built in Baroque, Neoclassical, and Russian Revival design. It is one of the city’s main attractions, with ornate domes, intricate frescoes, and 7,500 square meters of mosaics inside. 

If you don’t wish to enter, you can gain incredible views from Griboedov Canal. But if you do venture inside, you’ll be rewarded with interior frescoes and mosaic works depicting biblical scenes and figures created by celebrated Russian artists of the time.

The Church of the Saviour of Blood is built on the spot where Emperor Alexander 2 was assassinated in 1881 – hence the name. So, not only will you be able to appreciate the fine architectural designs, but also explore an important part of Russian history. 

6. Take a Rooftop Walk-in St. Petersburg

If you have viewed the city from canals and rivers, try it from the rooftops! You can take a guided rooftop walk in the city, seeing streets and skylines from an elevated perspective.

One particular tour to highlight is the Official Rooftops Excursion of St. Petersburg. Just a few minutes from Nevsky Prospect, these sites offer vistas of Fontanka River and Trinity Cathedral – and that’s just the first roof.

The second roof boasts views of St. Petersburg’s old center, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Kazan Cathedral, and the Church on Spilled Blood.

This is a truly incredible way to see the city in all its glory, plus the tour provides you with binoculars so you can see everything in great detail.

7. Admire Nevsky Prospect’s Magnificent Architecture

The main street of St. Petersburg is Nevsky Prospect. Begin at the intersection at Stroganov Palace before venturing to Kazan Cathedral. While you walk, take in the monuments dedicated to Catherine the Great and browse goods at The Passage – Nevsky Avenue’s premier department store.

This store was quite the trailblazer. It opened its doors in the late 1840s and was one of the first buildings in Russia to use gas for lighting. Then, in 1900, an electric station was installed on an underground floor.

Once you’ve finished shopping and enjoyed a fresh cup of coffee, continue to the Russian National Library – the oldest public library in Russia – and Alexandrinsky Theatre (which was built for the Imperial troupe of Petersburg).

8. Visit the Island of Peter and Paul Fortress

Set on an island connected by bridges, Peter and Paul Fortress is instantly recognizable from its needle spire, which dominates the skyline. The fortress was originally built to defend the maritime city from Swedish invaders.

However, Peter the Great defeated the opposition before it was even completed! It has since served as a military center and prison for political dissenters and, latterly, as a museum.

Inside the vast complex, you can see Peter and Paul Cathedral, visit the resting place of the Romanovs, and watch military processions or the firing of the noon-day gun.

It’s a great day trip for anyone interested in Russian, maritime or military history. There are also plenty of group walking tours available. 

9. Sample Russian Vodka in a Ryumochnye

A visit to Russia wouldn’t be complete without sampling the local drink – vodka, and the best place to do this is in a Ryumochnye. This is a specific style of 19th-century Russian drinking house that not only offers some of Russia’s best vodka but also a short history lesson.

You could call it a bar, but it’s more than that – most mainstream Ryumochnye have a definite Soviet vibe and are places for working men to kick back and enjoy vodka with their buddies.

Beverages come in bottles or shot form, and some places offer self-service and snacks.

If that sounds too hardcore for your taste, there are updated versions of Ryumochnye in the city, like Mayak in St. Petersburg, where you can gain a similar experience. 

10. Enjoy local Saint Petersburg Craft Beer

Although most people think of vodka when visiting Russia, you can also enjoy some of the best craft beer in Saint Petersburg . Russia’s second-largest city has an exciting, rapidly growing craft beer scene, in part due to its history and geography.

Historically, the Russian empire was influenced by Northern Europe, and the Dutch & English beer-drinking culture eventually made its way here. Today, Saint Petersburg is home to a growing number of modern microbreweries, cool taprooms, and stylish bars.

Saint Petersburg is also home to Stepan Razin Brewery, the oldest brewery in Russia (now, of course, owned by Heiniken). It opened in 1795, but today the building is known as the Saint Petersburg Beer Museum, showcasing the history of beer in Russia and the Soviet Union.

Russia’s largest and most popular brewery, Baltika, is also located in Saint Petersburg, and it’s possible to take a tour of their huge brewery.

11. See the Majestic Catherine Palace

A stately palace of blue and gold, Catherine’s Palace is located 26 kilometers south of St. Petersburg. Named after the wife of Peter the Great, this place was originally a two-story modest building commissioned in 1717.

The exterior, which stretches for one kilometer in circumference, is surrounded by woodlands, lawns, gilded balconies, and reliefs. However, the interiors are even more impressive.

With great halls, a white dining room, an amber room, and more. It’s the perfect place to step back into history and discover what life was like as a Russian aristocracy.

12. Explore Peterhof Palace

If you’re going to visit Catherine Palace, you should tour Peterhof too. It’s a 40-minute drive away, but you can even take a hydrofoil speed boat from right behind the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg center.

Sitting close to the Baltic Sea, Peterhof Palace was constructed by Peter the Great to be Russia’s version of Versailles. The opulent residence surrounded by sculptures, fountains, and tiered staircases leading to the grand entrance evokes mystery and the history of a bygone era.

Inside it is lavishly decorated with dazzling chandeliers, one-of-a-kind artworks and beautiful ceiling frescoes.

On a guided tour, you can learn more about the palace’s history. Discover the Throne Room, Portrait Hall and Peter the Great’s Oak Study. You’ll see dining rooms set for dinner, grand ballrooms where dancing and gatherings would take place, and décor which defies time.

The palace offers great insight into his life and legacy, and if you are interested in history, art and interior design, you’ll love it.

Want to know more about Peterhof?

13. Spend a Day by the Finnish Border at Vyborg

Just over an hour from central Saint Petersburg by train is the city of Vyborg. It sits on the Gulf of Finland and was first settled back in the 12th century. The city has been occupied by Finnish and German forces and suffered extensive damage during the Second World War. However, it has since been rebuilt. 

It’s a charming center to wander around, with narrow cobbled streets, a medieval castle, and Finnish art nouveau structures sprinkled throughout. An easy day trip from St. Petersburg, it can also serve as a stop-off point if you’re crossing into Finland to continue your adventure.

Want to know more about Saint Petersburg?

Where is St. Petersburg | Is St. Petersburg in Europe?

If you want to know “Where is Saint Petersburg?”, you’ve come to the right place. Beautiful St. Petersburg is located in northern Russia. Russia is a massive country, so it is no surprise that many people want to know “Is Saint Petersburg in Europe?”. The answer is yes. 

How to Get to Saint Petersburg

The maritime city is well linked to Europe by air, sea, rail and road. Depending on where you’re traveling from and the rest of your itinerary, you can use one of the following ways to arrive at St. Petersburg.

You can fly into Saint Petersburg through Pulkovo International Airport. There are around 1,100 international flights a week and 1,200 domestic flights operating in and out of the local airport.

Although many flights from European cities to Saint Petersburg are direct, you may have to change flights if flying from further afield.

It’s also possible to travel to St. Petersburg by train. The most popular (and most frequent) routes operate from Moscow, Helsinki, and Tallinn. However, there are options to travel from other areas in central Europe, central Asia, and eastern Europe by rail.

There is a central bus station in Saint Petersburg, with services to and from Moscow, Pskov, Novgorod, Vilnius, Riga , Tallinn and Helsinki. Some of these journeys can be long and arduous.

Therefore, thorough research and choosing the right bus company is important.

Baltic Sea Cruises also operate to St. Petersburg as part of a larger itinerary, and St. Peter Line Ferry sails from Helsinki in Finland and Tallinn in Estonia.

Exploring Saint Petersburg, Russia

Saint Petersburg is the 5th most populous city in Europe and also a leading tourist destination. Although people sometimes forget about Russia, this city is breathtakingly beautiful and provides plenty of cultural and historical attractions.

Now that you know where to go, I hope you have an amazing time in Russia’s most beautiful city.

Friday 19th of January 2018

Thank you! So great review about our St. Petersburg!

What to do in St. Petersburg in 1 day - Probe around the Globe

Thursday 11th of May 2017

[…] more about the beauty of St. Petersburg from the Unusual […]

Friday 17th of June 2016

Which hostel did you stay at? I am potentially thinking of going to Russia for World Cup 2018 after my World Cup trip to Brazil two years ago. Saint Petersburg is one of the host cities, and so I am very interested in learning more about this city and recommendations from fellow travellers who have been.

Christian L.

I stayed at Soul Kitchen Junior, and I will go so far and say its by far the best hostel I have ever stayed at!! Anywhere in the world, no other hostels even get close to it:)

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Sprint | Brioude (114 km)

Sprint | molompize (142.5 km), sprint | aurillac (229 km), points at finish, kom sprint (3) côte de gourgois (15.5 km), kom sprint (4) côte de saint-bonnet-le-château (29 km), kom sprint (3) côte de jaladif (96 km), kom sprint (4) côte de vernières (128 km), kom sprint (4) côte de brousse (133.5 km), kom sprint (3) col d'entremont (179 km), kom sprint (2) col du pas-de-peyrol / le puy-mary (194.5 km), race information.

• Date: 14 July 1985
• Start time: -
• Avg. speed winner: 33.24 km/h
• Classification: SPP
• Race category: ME - Men Elite
• Distance: 237.5 km
• Points scale: GT.A.Stage
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• ProfileScore: 264
• Vertical meters: 4000
• Departure: Saint-Etienne
• Arrival: Aurillac
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• Startlist quality score: 1470
• Won how: 103 km solo
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15 Top Tourist Attractions in Saint Petersburg, Russia

By Alex Schultz · Last updated on May 4, 2024

Renowned for its elegance and grandeur, Saint Petersburg is awash with stunning architecture, as majestic palaces and cathedrals jostle for space alongside its many canals and waterways. Located at the mouth of the Neva River on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, it is the second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, for centuries, it was the capital of the Russian Empire.

Everyone from artists and architects to composers, scientists, and writers were attracted to its shores. This turned the city into a cultural powerhouse, with fantastic art collections to be found alongside opulent opera houses hosting world-class ballet, classical music, and theater performances.

There are plenty of things to do in Saint Petersburg with it museums, historical tourist attractions, and palaces. Nicknamed ‘the City of White Nights’ due its endless summer days, this is a magical place to visit at any time of year.

15. Faberge Museum

Located in the stunning Shuvalov Palace, this wonderful museum hosts the most extensive collection of works by the famous Russian jeweler Peter Carl Faberge, after whom it is named.

Containing over 4,000 artworks, its refined rooms and sophisticated galleries showcase everything from porcelains and paintings to intricately carved and ornately designed bronze, silver, and gold objects.

The undoubted highlights are the museum’s nine Imperial Easter eggs that Faberge himself created for Alexander III and Nicolas II – the two last Russian Tsars. Bedecked in jewels, they shimmer and shine in the light and exhibit some exquisite and elaborate craftsmanship.

14. Alexander Nevsky Monastery

Sprawling over a vast site, the Alexander Nevsky Monastery is one of the most important spiritual centers of the Russian Orthodox Church and is still in use to this day. Founded by Peter the Great in 1710, it is located on the spot where Alexander Nevsky – a former prince and now patron saint of the city – is said to have defeated the Swedes in battle in 1240.

Encompassing two fine Baroque churches, the Neoclassical Holy Trinity Cathedral, and a host of ornate tombs of famous Russian figures, the monastery and its leafy grounds are certainly fascinating to explore.

13. State Russian Museum

Occupying one entire side of Arts Square in the center of Saint Petersburg, the State Russian Museum is a fabulous place to head to if you want to learn more about Russian art. Established in 1895, the museum is located in the enormous Mikhailovsky Palace, which itself is a work of art: the Neoclassical building is home to lots of exquisite rooms and galleries.

Beginning with artworks and Byzantine-inspired icons from the 12th century, the comprehensive collection takes you on an incredible journey through the ages, with socialist-realist works on show alongside portraits of princes and epic landscape paintings. Often overlooked in favor of the Hermitage, the State Russian Museum is well worth checking out if you are at all interested in art.

12. New Holland Island

Built in 1719, the artificial New Holland Island is so named because the waterways and canals all around it make it look as if it has just popped up out of Amsterdam. The triangular island came into being when Admiralty Canal and Kryukov Canal were dug to connect the Moika River to the Neva River – and by extension, the Gulf of Finland.

Once a shipyard and naval base, New Holland Island has been renovated in recent years and now boasts numerous art galleries, coffee shops, and restaurants.

11. Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art

If you’re interested in contemporary Russian art, then the Erarta Museum is the place to go; its extensive collection is set over five floors within a massive building on Vasilyevsky Island. Encompassing some 2,800 artworks, its sprawling galleries are home to graphics, installations, and sculptures, with a plethora of paintings also on display.

In addition to its fabulous permanent collection, the museum also regularly hosts temporary exhibitions, as well as shows and performances. Beautifully laid out and presented, its brilliant artworks and sleek design usher in a new ‘Era’ of ‘Art,’ and this is what lends the museum its name.

10. Mariinsky Theater

One of the most prestigious cultural institutions in the country, the Mariinsky Theater, has been dazzling opera and ballet goers since it was founded in 1859.

A fitting setting for all the world-class dancers, singers, and musicians that have performed on its stage over the decades, the lavishly decorated concert hall really is a delight to gaze upon.

Named after the wife of Tsar Alexander II, the Mariinsky Theater is one of the best places in Saint Petersburg to watch a show, along with the Mikhailovsky Theater.

9. Yusupov Palace

Also known as Moika Palace, due to its location on the banks of the river of the same name, Yusupov is one of the best places to visit if you want to see how aristocrats lived in Imperial Russia. While its exterior is quite plain, besides its pastel-yellow color, the interior is simply staggering to explore: its many halls are decorated with only the finest furniture, artworks, frescoes, and tapestries that money can buy.

Built in the 1770s and named after the wealthy Russian noble family that owned it, the colossal palace remarkably even boasts its own private theater. In addition to all its many riches, Yusupov Palace is famously where Grigori Rasputin, the Russian mystic who was believed to have influence over Tsar Nicolas II, was murdered in 1916.

8. General Staff Building

Gently curving its way around the south of Palace Square, the General Staff Building is one of the most famous architectural monuments in the city and faces both the State Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace. Designed by Carlo Rossi, the elegant Neoclassical building was built between 1819 and 1829, and its two wings are separated by a majestic triumphal arch.

This was erected to commemorate Russia’s victory over Napoleonic France in 1812 and has some marvelous statues perched atop of it. Once the headquarters of the general staff of the Russian armed forces, the eastern wing of the beautiful building is now part of the State Hermitage Museum and houses a stunning array of awe-inspiring art pieces.

7. Peter & Paul Fortress

Set in the exact spot where Saint Petersburg was first founded, the Peter & Paul Fortress was built all the way back in 1703. It is from its star-shaped defensive fortifications that the city slowly spread out around it.

Occupying a prominent position on the banks of the Neva River, the fortress has lots of fabulous buildings for you to explore, such as the Trubetskoy Bastion and the magnificent Peter and Paul Cathedral.

Besides its fascinating historical sights and interesting exhibitions that relate to the Russian revolution and Imperial Russia, the fortress also hosts a number of festivals, events, and concerts during the year. In addition to this, the sandy beach that lies at the foot of its wall makes for a popular sunbathing spot when the sun is shining.

6. St Isaac’s Cathedral

One of the largest cathedrals in the world of any denomination, St Isaac’s gargantuan size is certainly staggering to behold; its enormous gold-plated dome is visible from almost anywhere in Saint Petersburg. As it took 40 years to build, grander and more elaborate designs kept getting added to the original plans: over 100 massive columns were erected alongside several other smaller domes.

Inside is even more impressive as beautiful reliefs, mosaics, and iconostasis cover every imaginable surface. Although it still holds services, St Isaac’s Cathedral was turned into a museum in 1931 by the Soviet government and remains so to this day.

5. Kronstadt Naval Cathedral

Built between 1903 and 1913, the Kronstadt Naval Cathedral is quite unique and unusual in terms of its design: it combines Neo-Byzantine and Romanesque architecture with various Russian features.

Located on the small island of Kotlin that lies in the Gulf of Finland, the glimmering white cathedral was financed by the Russian navy and is dedicated to fallen seamen everywhere.

While its beautiful cupola and facade are delightful to gaze upon, its cavernous interior is no less impressive, as grand chandeliers and mosaics look down upon its marble floors and columns. As it is located just a short ferry ride away from Saint Petersburg, it is well worth spending half a day or so in Kronstadt to see the town and its gorgeous cathedral.

4. Catherine Palace & Park

Located some 30 kilometers to the south of the city, the breathtaking Catherine Palace is where the Russian tsars came to relax and unwind during the summer months. The grand and flamboyant style of the palace dates to 1752, when the architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli redesigned and redecorated the original building, plastering elaborate stuccoes all over it.

It is painted a bright bluish-green, with the white columns and gold statues and embellishments standing out delightfully; the Rococo palace really does make for a spectacular sight.

Inside are a number of lavish ballrooms for you to explore. The Golden Enfilade of staterooms are the undoubted highlight, while the Amber Room and Grand Hall are also must-sees. Named after Catherine I who commissioned it, the palace is set in some fantastically laid out and landscaped gardens; these are perfect for taking a relaxing stroll in after all the overwhelming splendor you’ve just taken in.

3. Peterhof Grand Palace

Commissioned by Peter the Great to outshine the Palace of Versailles with its opulence and grandeur, the Peterhof Grand Palace certainly makes a good go of it. Covering a considerable area, its series of palaces and gardens are simply spellbinding to wander around, with beauty, art, and nature on show wherever you look.

Built between 1709 and 1756, each new addition, palace, or building was grander than the last. Each architect added their own features, with the Throne Room and Chesme Hall being two of the most finely decorated of the lot. Located all around the palaces are a dazzling array of landscaped gardens complete with fountains, cascades, flowerbeds, and statues.

Not to be missed when in Saint Petersburg, the Peterhof Grand Palace fully earns its nickname of ‘the Russian Versailles’ and is equally splendid in terms of what it offers up.

2. Church of the Savior on Blood

Appearing as if out of a fairytale, Saint Petersburg’s Church of the Savior on Blood looks very much like the world-famous Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. This similar design sees five richly decorated onion domes tower above the main body of the church below.

Built between 1883 and 1907 at a colossal price, the gorgeous church was erected in the memory of Tsar Alexander II, who was fatally wounded by anarchists at the same site.

Inside is just as majestic as its fantastic exterior; every conceivable surface is coated in astonishing mosaics of saints and icons. After having been ransacked in the Russian revolution, used as a morgue in WWII and as a vegetable warehouse in Soviet times, the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ – to give it its official title – has thankfully been restored to its former glory.

1. State Hermitage Museum

The second-largest art museum in the world after the Louvre in Paris, the State Hermitage Museum’s vast collection is remarkably spread across five buildings and 360 rooms in the center of Saint Petersburg. Founded by Catherine the Great, an avid art collector, the huge number of paintings, sculptures, and antiquities were added to by various tsars, and it was Nicolas I who opened them to the public in 1852.

Following the Russian revolution, many extensive private collections were seized, which only further bolstered its numbers. Today, the State Hermitage Museum has around three million artworks in its collection. With such renowned names as Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Picasso, and van Gogh on show, wandering around its galleries really is a treat. One could spend days, if not weeks trying to see everything.

Whether it is prehistoric art, the Italian Renaissance, the Dutch Golden Age, or 19th-century Russian art that you are interested in, the State Hermitage Museum is simply a must when in Saint Petersburg.

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Top 20 St. Petersburg attractions and experiences

St. Petersburg has a true wealth of attractions and experiences to offer travelers, from spectacular Imperial palaces to quirky and absorbing museums, from boat trips along the city's majestic rivers and canals to walks in the footsteps of St. Petersburg's literary and artistic greats.

In fact, there's more than enough to see and do in St. Petersburg to keep visitors entertained for weeks or even months. One of the biggest challenges for independent travelers is to work out what they will actually have time to fit in to their itinerary, particularly as St. Petersburg is one of Europe's largest cities, with the historical centre alone covering several square kilometers and some of the most famous attractions located far out in the suburbs. To help you get the most out of your time in St. Petersburg, our travel writers have drawn on their own expertise and years of feedback from travelers to compile this Top 20 list of attractions and experiences.

The Hermitage (The Winter Palace)

Undoubtedly St. Petersburg's most famous visitor attraction, and universally acknowledged as one of the world's greatest treasuries of art and antiquities, the Hermitage is a name to be conjured with, and reason enough on its own for many travelers to book a trip to St. Petersburg.

The Hermitage Museum now spans several sites, but for most visitors it is the main collection in the Winter Palace that is an essential component of any St. Petersburg itinerary. Here you'll find not only centuries of European fine art and a rich collection of Greek and Roman antiquities , but also the astonishingly opulent 18th and 19th century state rooms of Russia's imperial family.

Since the summer of 2014, much of the Hermitage's renowned collection of impressionist and post-impressionist art (in terms of artistic quality, undoubtedly the highpoint of the collection) has been transferred across Palace Square to the General Staff Building , so if your main reason for visiting the Hermitage is to see the art, then you have to consider making time for the second location, possibly with a break for refreshments between the two.

Optimal: One day for the Winter Palace and General Staff Building collections.

Minimum: Two hours

Further reading

Explore the Hermitage: An introduction to St. Petersburg's greatest museum.

The Mariinsky Theatre

St. Petersburg's other internationally renowned cultural institution, and for some visitors an even greater draw than the Hermitage, the Mariinsky Theatre has profited in recent years from the financial and creative turmoils of Moscow's Bolshoi to become the undisputed preeminent musical theatre in modern Russia.

Renowned for the impeccable discipline and devotion to tradition of its ballet company, and blessed in Valery Gergiev with one of contemporary classical music's most exciting and exacting conductors, as well as international stars of ballet and opera including Ulyana Lopatkina, Diana Vishneva and Anna Netrebko, the Mariinsky Theatre is a world-class venue for ballet, opera and orchestral music.

Recent years have seen the Mariinsky spread beyond its historic home, the wedding-cake late-19th century opera house on Teatralnaya Ploshchad ("Theatre Square"), with the addition in 2006 of the Mariinsky Concert Hall, and in 2013 the long-awaited opening of the second opera and ballet stage, Mariinsky II. While most visitors will want to enjoy the rich atmosphere and ornate interiors of the main theatre, both new venues are beautifully designed inside, with state-of-the-art acoustics and stage technology, making them well worth exploring for music enthusiasts.

Optimal: As many performances as time and your budget will allow.

Minimum: At least one evening performance at the Mariinsky should be an essential component of any Petersburg itinerary.

Rivers and canals of St. Petersburg by boat

If you're visiting St. Petersburg from May to October, there are a number of ways to explore the city by boat, from taking the hydrofoil to the suburban palace and park at Peterhof to enjoying dinner and live jazz on an evening cruise along the Neva. When the weather's good, visitors should really take any opportunity to get out on the water, but even the shortest visit to St. Petersburg in summer should include one boat trip along the city's central rivers and canals.

There is a wide range of different offers available at the various quays on or near Nevsky Prospekt, with larger boats offering guided tours (some in English) and on-board refreshments, and smaller boats that you can rent by the hour, choose your own route, and bring your own food and drink. All routes through the centre take in some portion of the Fontanka and Moyka Rivers and the Griboedov and Kryukov Canals. Some also head out onto the River Neva, while around midnight most of the boats in the city offer the chance to watch the opening of the Neva's bascule bridges from the water. Whatever route you end up taking, a boat trip is a fantastic way to see St. Petersburg from a different angle, and perhaps the best possible means of getting an impression of the sheer scope of the city's architectural beauty and romance.

Optimal: If you're in the city for more than a few days, it's definitely worth taking two trips - one sightseeing tour through the centre and one to watch the bridges opening .

Minimum: A basic sightseeing tour along the rivers and canals of the centre will take just over an hour.

When it comes to visitor attractions, St. Petersburg is as famous for the Imperial palaces and parks in the suburbs as for the museums and palaces in the city centre. Among the former, Peterhof is the one we would class as absolutely unmissbale, especially in summer when the park's incredible collection of fountains is in operation.

It took Peter the Great over a decade and a few false starts before he found the right site for his summer residence. Modelled partly on Versailles, but with many features that reflected Peter's specific tastes and interests, the park was expanded under Peter's daughter, Empress Elizabeth, to greatly surpass its French antecedent in scope and grandeur. While the Grand Palace at Peterhof is less spectacular than the Catherine Palace at Tsarskoye Selo, Peterhof excels in the diversity and range of its attractions, from the charming baroque buildings of the Petrine era to the extraordinary gilded extravagance of the Grand Cascade to the catalog of gardening styles encompassed in the Upper and Lower Parks to the ever-growing number of museums housed in the various buildings on the estate.

Optimal: There is plenty at Peterhof to keep you occupied for a whole day, and the Lower Park is a great place to picnic in the summer.

Minimum: As the journey from the city centre takes at least 45 minutes, half a day is the minimum time necessary to visit Peterhof even for the briefest overview.

St. Isaac's Cathedral & Colonnade

The low-rise skyline of St. Petersburg's historic centre is dominated by the grand gold dome of St. Isaac's Cathedral, the life's work of French architect Auguste de Montferrand and the city's largest and most spectacular religious building.

Completed in 1858, St. Isaac's took over forty years to build and decorate. Its strictly European Empire-style facades and colonnades are made unique by the employment of red Karelian granite, while the interiors also meld Orthodox tradition with Catholic influence and extraordinary extravagance in the choice of materials. Different types of semiprecious stone from all over Russia form the interior walls and columns, while an abundance of original art and sculpture goes only a little way to filling the vast hall of the cathedral, designed to accommodate 14 000 standing worshipers. As well as visiting the Cathedral interiors, travelers can buy an extra ticket to climb the 300 steps up to the colonnade. From here, you can enjoy some of the best views of St. Petersburg available.

Optimal: A tour of the cathedral and colonnade should take around two hours. It's certainly worth getting an audio guide for the cathedral, and possibly for the colonnade if you are entirely unfamiliar with the lay-out of the city.

Minimum: While visiting the cathedral interiors is hardly essential if you have limited time to explore the city, the colonnade is just about the only accessible place in St. Petersburg where you can enjoy something like aerial views of the downtown, so it's well worth taking half an hour to visit.

The Peter & Paul Fortress

The place where the city of St. Petersburg began, the Peter and Paul Fortress never actually saw military action, but has fulfilled a variety of functions over its three-century history, from burial place for nearly all of the Romanov Emperors and Empresses to notorious political prison to the site of key experiments in the development of Soviet rocket technology. All of these aspects of the fortresses history are celebrated in diverse exhibitions across various buildings, and it is the ramshackle charms of these various museums and collections as much as the grandeur of the spectacular Ss. Petersburg and Paul Cathedral that make the fortress an essential visitor attraction.

Optimal: It's possible to spend the best part of a full day at the Peter and Paul Fortress, and if possible you should definitely take the time (around five hours) to visit the Peter and Paul Cathedral, explore the displays on the History of St. Petersburg in the Commandant's House and at the Museum of Cosmonautics and Rocket Techonolgy, and walk along the top of the curtain wall.

Minimum: If you're short of time, it's probably enough to pop inside the Cathedral and walk the ramparts (just over an hour).

Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood

While it lacks the authentic medieval charm of St. Basil's in Moscow, the Church on Spilled Blood is nonetheless one of St. Petersburg's most instantly recognizable landmarks, its riotously colorful Russian Revival architecture making a stark contrast to the elegant neoclassicism of the State Russian Museum next door. This is part of the church's charm, in that it serves to constantly remind the visitor to St. Petersburg that, despite the Italianate elegance of most of the "Golden Triangle", you are still definitely in Russia. It's extraordinary also that a monument to mark such a tragic event (the assassination of Alexander II) should be so exuberantly colorful.

Optimal: As gaudy and colorful on the inside as on the outside, the Church on Spilled Blood is worth going inside if you have time to listen through an audio guide with the story of the church's construction (just over an hour in total).

Minimum: If you're on a whistlestop tour, there's no need to set aside time for the Church on Spilled Blood, as you're bound to pass it more than once in even the shortest exploration of St. Petersburg.

Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin)

Home to not one but two vast 18th century palaces, surrounded by beautifully landscaped parkland with a rich variety of follies and monuments, Tsarskoye Selo is a testament to the immense wealth and lavishness of the Romanov Imperial family. The rococo Catherine Palace by Bartolomeo Rastrelli, a sister building to his Winter Palace in the city centre, is the most famous attraction, particularly thanks to the extraordinary Amber Room, but there are many other highlights to see, with almost every great St. Petersburg architect of the 18th and early-19th centuries contributing something to the ensemble.

Optimal: Like Peterhof, Tsarskoye Selo is best enjoyed at a leisurely pace over a full day, with a break for a picnic in the park or lunch at one of Pushkin's restaurants.

Minimum: There's no point in visiting Tsarskoye Selo unless have a full morning or afternoon free. It's all worth considering combining Tsarskoye Selo with the palace and park at Pavlovsk a few kilometers east. This also gives you the opportunity to dine at the excellent Podvorye restaurant.

Opening bridges

The Neva River connects Lake Ladoga to the Baltic Sea, and during the summer navigation season tens of cargo ships per day follow this important route, making it necessary to open the bascule bridges across the Neva in central St. Petersburg. This is done after midnight, and during the White Nights especially it has long been a tradition for crowds to gather along the embankments to watch the raising of the bridges. The raised arches of Palace Bridge make for one of St. Petersburg's most famous views, but its as much the atmosphere of lazy revelry and contentment inspired by the eternal twilight that makes this such an unmissable St. Petersburg experience.

Optimal: If you have the opportunity, then it's worth taking a midnight boat trip out to watch each bridge rise from the water.

Minimum: It is only really Palace Bridge and Trinity Bridge that gather big crowds, and they are undoubtedly the most beautiful. To watch the two adjacent bridges rising and walk the kilometer along the river between the two is a pleasant way to spend an hour before bed.

Nevsky Prospekt

"There's nothing finer than Nevsky Prospekt, at least not in St. Petersburg." So begins Nikolay Gogol's famous tale of St. Petersburg's central avenue. While that story may end in disillusion and despair, there's little doubt that Nevsky is one of the world's greatest streets. Running 4.5 kilometers from the Admiralty in the west to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery in the east, Nevsky Prospekt has a hardly single building dating from after 1917. Highlights include the magnificent Art Nouveau Singer Building , the baroque Stroganov Palace , Kazan Cathedral with its curved neoclassical colonnade, the Horse Tamers statues on Anichkov Bridge , and the 18th century shopping arcade Gostiny Dvor .

Nowadays, St. Petersburg's most exclusive shopping area is actually the eastern end of Nevsky, beyond Ploshchad Vosstaniya. As well as landmark buildings and up-market boutiques, however, Nevsky Prospekt also offers an electric atmosphere and energy. Especially in summer, Nevsky is bustling no what the hour, and an increasing number of bars and cafes without outdoor seating give you a better opportunity to enjoy the avenue's living theatre.

Optimal: It will take at least two hours to walk the full length of Nevsky Prospekt, allowing for brief contemplation of the major sights and attractions.

Minimum: The most famous landmarks on Nevsky are nearly all in the stretch that runs through St. Petersburg's "Golden Triangle" from the Fontanka River to the Admiralty. This section of the avenue can be explored in around 30 minutes.

Bronze Horseman

St. Petersburg's most famous public monument, this equestrian statue to Peter the Great is not only one of the most instantly recognizable symbols of St. Petersburg - like the Statue of Liberty for New York or the Eiffel Tower for Paris - it is also the subject of one of the greatest poems in the Russian language, Alexander Pushkin's The Bronze Horseman: A Petersburg Tale . Completed in 1782, the statue took 12 years of work by the French sculptor Étienne Maurice Falconet, recommended to Catherine the Great by Denis Diderot himself. The pedestal of the monument, the "Thunder Stone", is purportedly the largest ever moved by man.

The Bronze Horseman is easily combined with a visit to St. Isaac's Cathedral, so does not require a specific time on your itinerary.

State Russian Museum

While the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow is undoubtedly the finest collection of Russian art in the world thanks to its beautiful premises and rich collection of 20th century work, it is matched up to the October Revolution almost painting for painting by the State Russian Museum. Occupying the magnificent Mikhailovsky Palace, the Russian Museum's main collection is a treasury of Russian visual from throughout the ages, with highlights including medieval icons, atmospheric late-19th century genre paintings, and several modernist masterpieces.

Optimal: The main collection in the Mikhailovsky Palace will take 2-3 hours to do justice to, and it's also worth visiting the collections in the Marble Palace both to see this beautiful building and for the Peter Ludwig collection of international Pop Art.

Minimum: While the Russian Museum is definitely one of St. Petersburg's top visitor attractions, if you are on a first-time trip to Russia and visiting Moscow as well, it makes sense to choose either the Russian Museum or the Tretyakov Gallery, as the two have very similar content right down to different variations of the same work in some cases.

Dostoevsky's St. Petersburg

While nearly every great figure of Russian literature spent some time in St. Petersburg, and many wrote works with St. Petersburg as their setting, none is so inextricably linked with the geography and atmosphere of the city as Fyodor Dostoevsky. For many travelers, it is reading his works that sparks an initial desire to visit St. Petersburg, even though his descriptions often make the city monstrous and forbidding. As St. Petersburg's historic centre has been comparatively untouched by change in the 20th century, much of Dostoevsky's Petersburg is still there to explore, and the areas around Sennaya Ploshchad and Vladimirskaya Ploshchad are rich in sights connected to his life and works.

Optimal: Our Dostoevsky walking tour takes 3.5 hours, including a visit to the Dostoevsky Memorial Museum .

Minimum: To get an idea of where Dostoevsky lived, you can just visit the museum and the adjacent Church of the Vladimir Icon , as well as the Monument to Fyodor Dostoevsky , in about an hour.

A small promontory of land at the eastern end of Vasilevskiy Island , the Strelka ("Spit") is right in the middle of the Neva River Delta, with magnificent views on all sides, including the Winter Palace , Palace and Trinity Bridges , the Peter and Paul Fortress and St. Isaac's Cathedral . A perennially popular site for wedding parties and bus tours to stop and take photos, the Strelka also has landmarks of its own, specifically the magnificent Rostral Columns , with their gas beacons lit for public holidays and maritime anniversaries, and the elegant classical temple of the St. Petersburg Stock Exchange , all works of the French-born architect Thomas de Thomon.

The Strelka is an integral part of any exploration of Vasilevskiy Island, and does not require separate time on your itinerary.

Pushkinskaya 10

Established in 1989 as a squat for independent artists, alternative musicians, and other "underground" types, Pushkinskaya 10 is an arts and performance centre in an old apartment building a short walk from Nevsky Prospekt. A warren of studios and exhibition space haphazardly linked together as the Museum of Non-Comformist Art , Pushkinskaya 10 can be somewhat bewildering for visitors, and much of the space is often inexplicably closed (the two bars, both of which are also concert venues, are by far the most accessible parts of the complex), but it's well worth visiting for the increasingly rare chance to get a glimpse of the old Leningrad bohemia and its once revered dissident art scene.

Optimal: The best way to visit Pushkinskaya 10 is to come in the early evening and hope that the galleries are open, before heading to one of the two music venues for a concert.

Minimum: A 15-minute visit should suffice to get an overall impression of the center's atmosphere.

Carlo Rossi's Petersburg

Practically unknown outside Russia, this Italian-born architect was the major creative force behind great swathes of central St. Petersburg, particularly the city's grand formal squares, with their Empire-style columned facades and trademark yellow-and-white plasterwork. His most famous buildings include the General Staff Building on Palace Square, the Alexandrinsky Theatre , the Senate and Synod Building , and the Mikhailovsky Palace (the State Russian Museum ). In the "Golden Triangle" of St. Petersburg's historic centre, moreover, it's hard to take more than a few steps without finding more of Rossi's work.

Optimal: Our walking tour of Rossi's most famous buildings takes around 2.5 hours.

Minimum: You'll see Rossi's work when you visit the Hermitage, the State Russian Museum, the Bronze Horseman, and just about anywhere you walk in central St. Petersburg.

Kunstkammer (Museum of Anthropology and Ethnology)

The city's oldest museum, the Kunstkammer was founded in 1718 by Peter the Great himself, and is primarily of interest as a monument to the remarkable endeavours and enthusiasms of St. Petersburg's extraordinary founder. Housed in an elegant baroque building on Vasilevskiy Island, the museum has a rather pedestrian collection of ethnographic exhibits, and most visitors are drawn rather to Peter's own fascination, the huge number of deformed fetuses preserved in jars and other freaks of nature. Slightly less sensational but also of interest are the displays devoted to the great Russian polymath Mikhail Lomonosov.

A visit to the Kunstkammer will take around 1.5 hours.

Ploshchad Pobedy and Moskovsky Prospekt

St. Petersburg's historic centre is renowned for having undergone little architectural change during the 20th century. In fact, the Soviet authorities were inclined to abandon the centre, redolent of the imperial past, and develop a new city to the south, along Moskovsky Prospekt . Most visitors only see this part of town on their way to and from Pulkovo Airport, but its worth exploring for several fantastic examples of Stalin-era architecture, including the monumental House of Soviets , as well as the memorials to the Great Patriotic War in Park Pobedy ("Victory Park") and on Ploshchad Pobedy ("Victory Square"). The latter is home to a magnificent panoramic monument to the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad , which has a museum detailing the defense of the city beneath it.

Optimal: It is worth spending a couple of hours exploring Moskovsky Prospekt southwards from Park Pobedy Metro Station, as well as taking a tour of the museum beneath the Monument to the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad.

Minimum: If you're short of time, there's not reason to make an extra trip out to Moskovsky Prospekt as you'll be able to see the highlights on the way to/from the airport.

Mikhailovsky Theatre

While there's no questioning the Mariinsky Theatre's position as St. Petersburg's leading venue for opera and ballet performances, it is worth paying attention to this second historic theatre on Ploshchad Iskusstv, not only because of the last decade's largely successful financial and artistic renaissance, which has seen the Mikhailovsky engage top foreign talent and gain an international reputation, but also because it can often be a more affordable and accessible way to see ballet in St. Petersburg. This is especially true when tickets at the Mariinsky are scarce during the White Nights Festival.

Ballet enthusiasts should definitely consider taking in a show at the Mikhailovsky as an addition to, rather than a replacement for, performances at the Mariinsky.

Yelagin Island

Accessible from the city centre in around 20 minutes by metro, Yelagin Island (also known by its Soviet-era name as the "Kirov Central Park of Culture and Leisure") rarely finds a place on tourist itineraries. It really should be more popular, however, offering not only a (comparatively) small but very elegant Imperial palace by Carlo Rossi, but also attractive parkland, a boating lake in summer and outdoor skating in winter, and the surprisingly avant-garde wonders of the Museum of Glass Art . The lack of cars on the island and the small entrance fee make it a secluded a tranquil spot, and its probably the best of the green spaces within the city if you're looking for somewhere to enjoy a relaxing walk.

Yelagin is a great place to while away a summer afternoon, and also has a fairly active calendar of cultural events in the warmer months, including a couple of music festivals.

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