5 best things to do in St Petersburg
The essentials of St Petersburg with the booking notes that actually matter — which tickets sell out, which slots are quietest, which formats reward the advance purchase. Every booking happens with the provider you choose.
Browse all St Petersburg activities
Attractions, tours, day trips and transport passes from major providers — instant mobile tickets.
The St Petersburg shortlist
- Hermitage Museum (Winter Palace) — three million objects; buy the timed entry, plan the Jordan staircase and the Rembrandt wing.
- Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood — the mosaic-covered church on the Griboyedov canal; interiors are floor-to-ceiling mosaics.
- Peterhof Palace & fountains — the Grand Cascade fountains run May–October; the hydrofoil from the centre is the classic approach.
- Catherine Palace & Amber Room — the Tsarskoye Selo baroque palace in Pushkin; the amber-panelled room is the magnet, book the slot.
- Nevsky Prospekt & canal evening walk — the drawbridges rise over the Neva after midnight in summer — the White Nights ritual.
Flying in, Pulkovo Airport (LED) serves the city — attraction districts sit 30–60 minutes away at typical city speeds.
Compare St Petersburg activity providers
- Klook — St Petersburg activities — the widest catalogue, instant QR tickets, strong on transport passes and day trips.
- KKday — St Petersburg experiences — local-led formats and small-group tours.
- Tiqets — museums and landmarks with instant mobile entry.
Frequently asked questions
What is the number one thing to do in St Petersburg?
Hermitage Museum (Winter Palace) — three million objects; buy the timed entry, plan the Jordan staircase and the Rembrandt wing. Start there, then build the itinerary around it.
Do I need to book St Petersburg attractions in advance?
The headline attractions reward advance booking — timed-entry systems and quota tickets mean walk-up availability is worst exactly when you want to visit. Everything on this page links to providers showing live availability.
How many days do you need in St Petersburg?
Three to four days covers the shortlist above at a humane pace for a first visit; add days for the day-trip formats rather than compressing the city itself.
Is a city pass worth it in St Petersburg?
Run the arithmetic honestly: a pass wins when you would genuinely visit three-plus ticketed attractions in its window. Our provider links show pass options side by side with single tickets — compare before committing.