Choose from 78 Fun Things to Do in Russia
GUM
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Kremlin Armoury
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Monument to Catherine the Great
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Kazan Cathedral
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Nevsky Prospekt
Nevsky Prospekt (Не́вский проспе́кт) is the most famous street in Russia and main street of St. Petersberg, spanning from the Admiralty (Адмиралтейства) to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (Александро-Невской лавры).
As a major central street in the city, Nevsky Prospekt is oft the stomping grounds for many holiday, national, and other celebrations, such as Victory Day, and Day of the City, hosting events from festivals to parades.
The street is also home to many sculptures that captures both Russian heroes and historical figures including Nevsky himself, Catherine the Great, city hero of Leningrad Obelisk, Kutuzov, and one of Mikhail Barclay do Tolly, located in the Kazan area.
The main street stretches a total of 2.8 miles (4.5 km) and ranges from about 82-197 feet (25-60 m) wide. It crosses the river Sink (Мойка) Griboyedov Canal (канал Грибоедова) via the Kazansky Bridge (Зелёный мост) and also the Fontanka (Фонтанку), by the Anichkov Bridge (Фонтанку).
The street was named after the Nevsky Monastery in the late 18th-century and was described as the easiest path to the monastery, however runs into other major city landmarks too, including the Moscow Railway station, Rastrelliesque Stroganov Palace, the massive neoclassical Kazan Cathedral, Eliseyev Emporium, the Art Nouveau Bookhouse, and a plethora of 18th-century churches, making it one of the most convenient, as well as significant streets in the city.
Kolomenskoye Museum and Reserve
One of the highlights of the estate is the Church of the Ascension, built in 1532 and considered to be a masterpiece of both Russian and world architecture, built in white stone with an octagonal “tent” topped by a small dome at the top. Another highlight is the reconstructed Palace of the Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich. Originally built in the mid-17th century, the wooden palace consisted of 250 rooms and a complex maze of corridors – all constructed without using nails, saws or hooks! Empress Catherine the Great demolished the palace in 1768, but a model survived, forming the basis for the full-scale reconstruction in 2010.
Other buildings to note include the 16th-century George Bell Tower, the 17th-century Vodovzvodnaya Tower and the 19th-century Hunting Pavilion.
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Kubinka Tank Museum
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Red October Complex (Krasniy Oktyabr)
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Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics
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Revolution Square (Ploshchad Revolyutsii)
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Christ the Savior Cathedral
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Faberg e Museum
- The Fabergé Museum is ideal for art lovers and first-time visitors to Saint Petersburg.
- Audio guides are available in several different languages.
- The Fabergé Museum is accessible for wheelchair users.
Pushkin House Museum
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Pushkin Museum
The museum includes an impressive collection of Dutch and Flemish masterpieces from the 17th century, including several works by Rembrandt, as well as Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works by painters such as Van Gogh, Matisse, Gauguin and Picasso. The latter are now housed in a new Gallery of European & American Art of the 19th and 20th centuries next door to the main museum building. Many of the museum’s paintings were obtained in the 1920s and 1930s when private estates were nationalized; other works were taken from the History Museum, the Kremlin Museum, the Hermitage and other museums in St Petersburg.
The Pushkin Museum is also home to an Ancient Civilizations exhibit featuring ancient Egyptian artifacts and a Treasures of Troy collection that includes pieces dating back to 2500 BC.
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Hermitage Garden
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Red Square (Krasnaya Ploschad)
The main entrance to Red Square is through the Resurrection Gate, which was rebuilt in 1995 to copy the gate that was originally finished in 1680. At the center of the gateway stands a small chapel housing an icon known as the Iverian Virgin. It’s not uncommon to see crowds of people gathered around the chapel throughout the day.
Just inside the Resurrection Gate you will find the entrance to the State History Museum and Lenin’s Mausoleum, as well as the Kazan Cathedral and GUM – the State Department Store. The iconic St Basil’s Cathedral sits on the opposite end of the square. If you plan to visit Lenin’s Mausoleum, be sure to check your bag and camera at the State History Museum first, as you won’t be allowed to bring them inside.
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Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo)
The former residence of the imperial family Tsarskoye Selo (Ца́рское Село) or Tsar’s Village, is now one of Russia’s most significant cultural heritage sites. Comprising of the Alexander and Catherine Palaces and Parks, the site shares a historical value of over 300 years, and is widely considered one of the most beautiful sites in the region.
Catherine Palace (Большой Екатерининский дворец) has a fabulous façade built in Russian baroque and from the west is adjoined by the glamorous view from the front yard and the iron wrought iron fence.
Also in the area is the Hermitage Hall (Павильон Эрмитаж), which is now open after 70 years. It is studded in stucco décor, with azure walls, and beautiful white columns. You can also check out the Admiralty (Адмиралтейство) and Hall Groat (Павильон Грот).
The other major features of the converted village are the all important Alexander Palace and park. The park covers an area of over 120 hectacres, while the palace sprawls and elongate two-stories with double wings on either side, all while sporting a Corinthian colonnade through the center.
Not very far from St Petersburg, Tsarskoye Selo is located about 16 miles (26 km) away, in the town of Pushkin.
Tsarskoye Selo can be easily reached by many of St. Petersburg’s modes of transportation, including bus 187 from the Moscow metro station to Pushkin railway station, then buses 371, 382, or the minibus taxis 371,377, and 382 to Catherine Palace and Park. You can also reach Tsarskoye Selo can be easily reached by many of St. Petersburg’s modes of transportation, including bus 187 from the Moscow metro station to Pushkin railway station, then buses 371, 382, or the minibus taxis 371,377, and 382 to Catherine Palace and Park. You can also reach the village from Zvezdnaya and Kupchino metro stations, or from Vitebsky Railway terminal.
Kremlin
- The Kremlin is a must for history, politics, and architecture buffs, and first-time visitors to Moscow.
- Plan around two hours to visit the Kremlin; budget more time if you plan to visit the museums.
- Book a skip-the-line ticket for the church, as visitor numbers are limited and lines can be long, especially in peak season.
- Audio guides are available for the Armoury and the Diamond Fund in multiple languages.
- Some parts of the Kremlin are accessible to wheelchair users.