If you are wondering if it is worth going to St. Petersburg Russian, you definitely need to know something basic, which is that there are cities in the world that you need to visit at least once in your life, and if you do not, you will probably miss something important and special to know the diversity and wonderful man-made in various parts of the world.
The city of Saint Petersburg is the capital of the Russian North. It was founded by Peter I in 1703 on the banks of the Neva River to serve as a “window to Europe” for the Russian Empire, and for two centuries, until 1918, it remained its capital.
Its entire historical center is listed by the United Nations Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for World Heritage because it contains a reservoir of global culture, and it is one of the cities of the world that cannot be understood from the first time and which you will want to return to again and again to understand it from the inside, and to look into the treasury of history and see the architectural masterpieces, including canals and bridges, in addition to what the city broadcasts. Of vitality and amazement.
Because the city is located on 42 islands, it is separated by rivers and canals and has about 580 bridges, 20 of which are mobile bridges. Rarely can a large number of museums, architectural monuments and theaters be found anywhere, as in St. Petersburg.
Unique phenomena and places
Among the many amazing things that attract millions of tourists in this city are the white nights, which start from June 11 to July 2 of each year, when darkness is never complete, as the sun does not set until after ten o’clock in the evening, and continues. Twilight almost all night.
Because of the city’s geographical location – above a latitude of 60 degrees – the night time becomes much shorter than the day, hence the name “white nights”, as the length of the day reaches 20 hours, and the shortest night is on June 20 and 21, so it does not exceed four hours. .
On these white nights, many creative events and music festivals are held in the city, among which the “Crimson Sails” festival is one of the most famous and popular events, but it is not the only one. During this period you can also attend concerts with famous artists, open air exhibitions, creative evenings and themed parties.
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First step
Start your visit from the city center to explore daily life and learn about its rhythm, and enjoy viewing all the main architectural treasures, such as the famous shipyard, whose tower can be seen from different sides of Nevsky Avenue, which extends for 4.5 kilometers and is the city’s most famous street, bustling with life, restaurants and shops. .
Hermitage Museum
The museum is located in the heart of the city and is one of the largest and oldest museums in the world. It ranks second in the world in terms of the number of exhibits in the world, which number more than 3 million pieces. In addition to this world-famous museum, there are more than 170 museums in the city.
Kazan Cathedral
It is a majestic cathedral located in the center of the city, where you can admire the architecture and decoration, as well as enjoy the beauty of the green park that surrounds it. The cathedral gave birth to a whole generation of the best city planners and architects. It is one of the architectural symbols of the city located on the Neva River.
Peter and Paul Cathedral
It is a historic site in the center of the city, and it is the building from which its history began. The cathedral draws attention for the beauty of its design inside and out. It can be clearly seen in many areas of St. Petersburg, and often serves as a landmark for locals and tourists.
Peterhof Palace
A large palace located approximately 30 kilometers from the city. It is known for its wonderful fountains and includes a large group of parks. It is located in the city of the same name on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland in the Petrodvorets area. It is an architectural symbol of Russia’s victories in the Baltic Sea Wars during the reign of Emperor Peter. the first.
The palace was almost completely destroyed during World War II, before it was restored in 1952.
Saint Isaac’s Cathedral
It is the largest Orthodox church in the city, a masterpiece of international architecture, and one of the most beautiful and important domed structures not only in Russia, but in the entire world.
Catherine Palace
It is a palace known all over the world for its halls, and it was the first imperial residence, as Empress Catherine was the first ruler to live there. This palace amazes you with its huge size, the brilliance of its gilded facades, and its wonderful interior designs. Inside the palace, you feel as if you have been transported several centuries back, and that there is a party. Big is about to go off.
Palace Square
The famous and opulent former residence of the Russian emperors, a symbol of the tsarist power of the Russian Empire, it is almost twice the size of Moscow’s Red Square.
Palace Bridge
Built in 1916, with a width of 28 meters and a length of 255 meters, it is one of the largest bridges of this type in the world. It is raised using a modern hydraulic system to allow the passage of boats and ships, and is considered one of the most complex structures not only in Russia but also in the world.
Tsarskoye Selo Museum and Reserve
One of the most interesting sites in St. Petersburg, on an area of 300 hectares, lies a luxurious museum-reserve, which includes a former tsarist summer residence, gardens, pavilions, monuments and sculptures.
Winter Palace of Peter the Great
The Winter Palace is a majestic architectural monument and symbol of the Nordic capital. For more than a century it served as the winter residence of the Russian emperors, and is now part of the Hermitage Museum.
Boat trips
All the sights of St. Petersburg are best explored on the water, as traveling along rivers and canals, whether by day or night, allows you to see the monuments of the city’s main places in a different way and without a tour guide.
On this trip you can also see maritime museums, warships and shipyards, and hear stories about the events and people who created the beauty of St. Petersburg.
The trip takes place on a comfortable boat that is able to take its guests through the most secluded and hidden corners of St. Petersburg’s waterways, passing through the enclosed areas of the shipyards to view the ships and the amazing chains of bridges, cranes and huge piers.
The cost of a boat trip ticket is approximately $10.
The previously mentioned tourist destinations are only a sample of the hundreds of places that must leave you amazed in this city, which in itself is considered a true work of art, consisting of an incredible number of attractions such as theaters (such as the Mariinsky Theater), and amazing museums with unique exhibits. And wonderful parks and gardens.
Arab tourists
For Arab tourists, Saint Petersburg is one of the most important destinations to Russia, and according to statistics for the year 2023, about 600,000 foreign tourists visited it.
You will not find a problem with the diversity of restaurants and cuisine in this city, including halal restaurants and shops, and there are dozens of Arab restaurants.
Compared to major European cities, tourism in St. Petersburg and in Russia in general is considered quite acceptable and is lower than the world average in travel costs, as the average price per night in 3-star hotels is between 20 and 35 dollars, and for 4-star hotels it is between 50. 70, and for a 5-star category, the price is approximately $90 and above. While the average price of a meal per person ranges between 10 and 20 dollars.
