Saint Petersburg Things to Do Tips by gussymons

Made famous by Pushkin in the poem of the same name in which Peter the Great comes to life and runs down an inhabitant. It is a monument of Peter the Great, founder of Petersburg in 1703, and significantly, Peter faces West.

Like most other famous places in Russia, it is traditional for newly weds to visit these places still in their wedding togs.

I saw a dancing bear here but didn't take a picture of it. Opposite the Bronze Horseman is a bar/club called 'Tribune' full of working girls and aged Westerners away from their wives and family.

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Its a statue of Lenin when he returned to Russia via Finland to kick off the revolution in 1917. The square has loads of benches, and it overlooks the Neva. Behind the statue is Finlandski train station which takes passengers to Helsinki via Viborg.

Picturesque and near the prison and a bania place. Also very close to the International Holiday Hostel. There are some great street-stalls for hot and inexpensive food.

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Directions: Directly opposite Finlandski train station in St.Petersburg

I went to the literary graveyard as a kind of impromptu romantic date with the brunette who skipped some classes that afternoon. It turned out to be closed but we managed to get in.

Everything was cool until a militsia turned up with a massive evil-looking dog ordering us to get out. The brunette charmed him (the militsia, not the dog) and we spent another 10 minutes wandering around.

Its in the south of the city and contains such stars as Goncharov, Belinksii and Dobroliubov. Other attractions include famous academicians, scientists (Prof. Pavlov), physicians and the poet Anna Akhmatova I believe.

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Directions: South St.Petersburg

Pushkin was 'shot' or murdered in a pistol duel by a no-good rake, D'Anthes.

On the morning of the duel Pushkin and his second had a coffee or something at the literary cafe. Obviously this is one place on the tourist trail for Pushkinites.

If you find the obelisk dedicated to his death on the banks where he 'fought' the duel, please let me know - thanks!

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Address: Literary Cafe on Nevski Prospekt
Directions: Admiralty building end of the Nevski Prospekt

Kazan Cathedral is quite magnificent and is right opposite Dom Knigi (House of Books) in the middle of Nevski Prospekt. It is difficult to miss this semi-circular monolith with all those columns.

The real thing to notice here is the large amount of vagrants and unemployed youths swigging back Baltika or something stronger likes its gone out of fashion.

I understand that one can actually go inside, but since I was usually waiting outside for a date I didn't actually go in.

Note: the photo is a scanned in postcard, hence the poor quality.

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Directions: Middle of Nevski Prospekt - you can't miss it.

The Avrora (Aurora) is harboured on the Neva and is famous for having signalled the start of the 1917 revolution. Even if you are not a revolution or naval buff, this is well worth a couple of hours of your time because you can go on two decks and inside its a museum of photographs, portraits and other bits and bobs.

The gift shop, or rather gift table, is basic, but you didn't come to Russia to get a cheesy naval matrushka now did you?! Admission is free and the walk from Finlandski Vogzal to the Avrora takes about 30-40 minutes along the embankment.

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If you live and breathe Russian politics from whatever century, or you are a student of Russian studies, then you must check out the Russian Political History Musuem.

Adult costs 60 rub., student 10 rub., but the biggest bargain is the English-speaking guide which costs 500 rub. Sure it sounds a lot, but this is a serious tour from a qualified curator of the museum who speaks very good English.

It lasted 3 hours and the personal guide answered in depth and in detail over every facet of Russian politics I could think of and which the exhibits prompted. Seriously good value for students of the subject.

The museum was actually the place where Lenin spoke to his fans from the balcony and had his office for a while.

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Address: 2/4 Ulitsa Kuibisheva
Directions: 10 minute walk from Metro Gorkovskaia.

Poor old Petersburg. It didn't have what the British call a 'good war'. It was under siege for almost 900 days in the Great Patriotic War by the NAZIs and this 'Museum of the Blockade of Leningrad' commemorates and shows the horrors experienced by the populace of which 2/3rds perished.

This is quite a good musuem, and knowledge of Russian is not mandatory at all. There are some good German Army artefacts such as a dagger with 'My honour remains true' written on the side.

To understand the indomitable spirit of Russia and St.Petersburg, one must understand their history of privation and invasion. Here is a good a place to start as any.

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Address: 9 Solianoi Pereulok
Directions: 10 minute walk from Summer Garden down an unassuming side-road.

Pushkin's tale of thwarted passion, destructive lust, and unrequited love in his greatest work, Eugene Onegin, might just as well have mirrored his own life and death.

It is well known that he was killed in a pistol duel (c.f. 'Die, Pushkin, Die' tip), but perhaps less well-known is that he lived in a grand house very close to the centre of St.Petersburg.

You have to be a fan of literature to come here, but presuming that you are, then marvel at Pushkin's collection of walking sticks, the actual pistols used in the duel and his library.

As with every Russian musuem, you will have to wear those weird over-slipper things which go over your shoes. The obligatory babushki will follow your every move once in.

Note: photo scanned from front of guidebook

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Directions: See your guidebook for details.

Christian philosopher, journalist, author of second-rate crime, or revolutionary visionary?

Whatever you think, its difficult to come to St.Petersburg and not to think of one of the greatest authors the world has ever seen. The museum, a 3-minute walk from Dostoevkaia Metro station, is small and can be navigated in 30 minutes in total, unless one wants to read everything and take down notes from the audio guide (recommended!).

I've been there a couple of times and am always fascinated with the massive map of Petersburg in the c.19th and with the locations relevant to Dost.'s life.

This is a small museum, smaller than Pushkin's, but this is where the great man lived himself. Surely that is worth the small cover charge itself!

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