Things to do in St. Petersburg

Created in 1703 by Peter the Great to be his “window on Europe,” St. Petersburg combines its fascinating Russian heritage with a distinctly European outlook. Considered the cultural heart of modern-day Russia, St. Petersburg is rapidly regaining its reputation as one of the great cities of Europe.

Peter the Great’s vision lives on today with new buildings designed to re-create the symmetry and classicism of the czar’s day. The sea-green Winter Palace, overlooking the Neva River, houses the Hermitage Museum’s stunning collection of over three million pieces of fine art, and sumptuous royal estates dot the surrounding forests. St. Petersburg’s reputation as Russia’s intellectual and cultural center has brought the city five-star hotel choices and a restaurant scene virtually as vibrant as Moscow’s.