St. Petersburg Neighbourhoods, Locations and Districts

(St. Petersburg, North-Western Federal District, Russia)

Grouped into a total of 18 different districts and many further neighbourhoods, St. Petersburg is both a large and complex city. However, tourists will find that many of these districts are either commercial or residential, while others are filled with interest, such as the Admiralteisky, the Kalininsky and the Petrogradskaya, perhaps better known as the 'Petrograd Side'.

Within St. Petersburg city centre itself, this district contains a number of important thoroughfares, such as the Nevsky Prospekt and also the Ulitsa Zodchego Rossi, which is close to the Academic Theatre of Drama and dominated by grand Russian architecture at its very best. Also worth a mention in St. Petersburg is the excellent shopping scene within the redeveloped districts of Primorsky and Vyborgsky, and the Kirovsk suburb, next to the Staroladozhsky Canal and Ladoga Lake. The most popular locations are explained in greater detail below.

Admiralteisky District

A large tourism district with plenty of entertainment options, the Admiralteisky district is where you will find the busy Planeta Neptune complex, always popular with visitors to St. Petersburg. Not only does the Planeta Neptune contain a huge array of shops, but it also boasts the biggest oceanarium in the whole of Russia, which was built at a cost of almost $40 million and is split into seven themed areas. With a total exceeding 5,000 different fish and plenty of big sharks, it is the penguinarium and its entertaining penguin inhabitants that is a particular favourite with children.

City Centre / Nevsky District

The Nevsky neighbourhood is an important part of central St. Petersburg and is very much centered around the Nevsky Prospekt. This major thoroughfare lies alongside a series of small canals and has become a leading shopping district. Lined with department stores, small shops and plenty of cafes, the Nevsky Prospekt stretches for literally miles and passes many imposing landmarks along the way, heading eastwards to the Alexander Nevskii Monastery (Aleksandro-Nevskaia Lavra).

Beyond the Fontanka Canal

The vast area beyond the Fontanka Canal has become an important commercial district and is an appealing mixture of old and new. On the south side of this neighbourhood, the Vladimirskaia is a particularly lively spot and a good place to spend an afternoon shopping.

Kalininsky District

The northerly district of Kalininsky is amongst the largest neighbourhoods in St. Petersburg and boasts a population of almost half a million. Kalininsky is an administrative area and is bordered by the Krasnogvardeysky and Vyborgsky areas, and to the south by the Neva River. Popular attractions here include the Zenith Sports Palace and also the famous Lenin Monument, which stands at the Finlyandsky train station.

Petrogradskaya Storona District

The Petrogradskaya Storona district is based around the Bolshoi Prospekt, a prominent commercial boulevard, which lies near to the Tuchkov Bridge. Often referred to by locals in St. Petersburg as simply 'Petrograd', or the 'Petrograd Side' of the city, Petrogradskaya is a good place for shopping, particularly along the Bolshoi Prospekt, and is also home to the waterfront Petrovskii Stadium, which has a capacity of around 20,000 spectators.

Vasilievskii Island

Vasilievskii Island comprises a sizable part of St. Petersburg and lies on the north-western side of the city centre. The island itself separates the River Neva in the neighbourhoods of 'Greater Neva' and 'Lesser Neva', and is a predominantly residential area. However, Vasilievskii Island is a good place to find some striking Soviet architecture and good museums, Many people come to this district to stay at the ever-popular Pribaltiiskaya Hotel, which overlooks the Gulf of Finland and contains the Waterville Aquapark, home to a total of six pools, many water slides, restaurants, play areas and saunas.