Alright, let’s ditch the stuffy travel brochure vibe. Here’s the real scoop on St. Petersburg—the city’s so extra, it’s practically showing off. "Best Things to Do in St. Petersburg: Palaces, Canals & Culture"
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1. Get Lost in the Hermitage
Honestly, calling it a museum feels like an understatement. The Hermitage is ridiculous in the best way—Winter Palace, gold everywhere, and more art than your brain can handle. Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Van Gogh… yeah, they’re all just hanging out here. Don’t sleep on the Egyptian mummies or those OTT palace rooms either.
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2. Gawk at the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
You see this church and you’re like, “Did a fairy tale explode here?” Those domes are wild, and the inside. Mosaics everywhere, covering every inch. Also, it’s built where an emperor got assassinated, because drama is the Russian way.
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3. Pretend You’re Royal at Peterhof
Peterhof is basically Versailles with Russian flair—fountains spraying everywhere, gardens manicured within an inch of their lives. Peter the Great built it to flex, and boy, did he succeed. Summer is prime time for fountain Instagramming.
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Seattle in Winter: Best Things to Do, See & Experience
4. Score Tickets to the Mariinsky Theatre
Ballet, opera, velvet seats, chandeliers—this place is dripping with old-school glam. Even if you’re not an artsy type, catching a show here is peak St. Pete’s. If you’re nosy (who isn’t?), take a backstage tour.
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5. Hop on a Canal Boat
They call it “Venice of the North,” and yeah, it’s kind of true. Drifting past palaces and bridges at sunset? Total movie moment. If you’re around for White Nights, it gets extra magical—think 2 a.m. and it’s still bright out.
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6. Day Trip to Catherine Palace
Catherine Palace in Pushkin is pure drama—sky-blue walls, enough gold to blind you, and the Amber Room, which got stolen and then rebuilt. The gardens are chill if you need a breather from all the bling.
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7. Roam the Peter and Paul Fortress
The OG St. Pete’s stronghold. Tombs of the tsars are here, plus some surprisingly cool museums. Try climbing the bell tower for Neva River views—your legs will hate you, but your camera will love you.
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8. Dive into the Russian Museum
If you want to get past the Matryoshka dolls and see what Russian art is really about, this is your spot. Ancient icons, weird avant-garde stuff, the whole shebang. It’s all inside the fancy Mikhailovsky Palace.
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9. Wander Down Nevsky Prospekt
Main drag, baby! Shops, cafes, all the people-watching you could want. Check out Kazan Cathedral, Singer House, and a million other things. If you get bored here, that’s on you.
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10. Drool Over the Fabergé Museum
Eggs, but make it luxury. The Fabergé Museum is stuffed with sparkly, over-the-top treasures. In a palace, naturally. It’s like stepping into the world’s fanciest Easter basket.
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Look, St. Petersburg isn’t subtle. It’s old money, wild history, and endless art, all with a side of vodka if you want it. Whether you’re floating down a canal or ogling gold-leaf everything, you’ll leave with stories (and maybe a sore neck from all that staring up). "Best Things to Do in St. Petersburg: Palaces, Canals & Culture"
