St Petersburg

St Petersburg is a vibrant and bustling Russian city of ideas which, has firmly established itself as one of the major cultural centres of the world. It was here the Russian Revolution was instigated and it was here that democracy was encouraged when change was required.

The City has a stunning array of neoclassical and baroque architectural delights in the form of its many stunningly designed palaces and museums, most of which were renovated for its 300th anniversary in 2003. The city has a different feel from that of Moscow; it takes on more of the Western perspective, allowing the feeling of a more European styled city.

Due to commendable building restrictions, there are still relatively few good hotels to choose from, which have traditionally resulted in St Petersburg being an expensive place to visit. In the last few years, however, the options have improved and a number of small private bed and breakfast hotels have emerged which are excellent and represent very good value in comparison. Alternatively, it is possible to rent very smart, fully renovated, flats for a few days.

St Petersburg offers a ‘window to the west’; its bohemian inspired atmosphere allows travellers to view a very different side of Russia.