St. Petersburg Landmarks and Monuments

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



Photo showing the Winter Palace (Zimnyi Dvorets)Home to some of Russia's most famous landmarks and grandest monuments, St. Petersburg is a city for history lovers, although some of its most modern sights are also worth a look. Some of the most significant landmarks might not be the most imposing, such as Peter's Cabin (Domik Petra Pervogo), which may simply appear to be a small log cabin, but is actually the city's oldest remaining building and was once the home of the founder of St. Petersburg, Peter the Great.

Other landmarks quite simply take your breath away and are often found around the many public plazas, such as Palace Square (Dvortsovaya Ploshchad), where you will find both Alexander Palace (Aleksandrovskii Dvorets) and also the towering Alexander Column (Aleksandrovskaia Kolonna). One of the oldest remaining stone buildings in St. Petersburg and an important monument to the past is Menshikov Palace (Menshikovskii Dvorets), which was created by Aleksandr Danilovich Menshikov in 1710 and still enjoys an imposing waterfront setting on the island of Vasilevskii.


In total, there are more than 200 palaces and similar landmarks dotted around St. Petersburg, giving a clear indication of the grandeur of this important Russian city.

Further picture of the Winter Palace

Winter Palace (Zimnyi Dvorets)

Address: Dvortsovaia Naberezhnaia 34, St. Petersburg, RU-191186, Russia, RU
Constructed between 1754 and 1762, the beautiful Winter Palace is at its most breathtaking when viewed across the Neva River. The bright facade is a mixture of pale green and white, and presides over the Palace Square and the neighbouring Palace Embankment. Today, St. Petersburg's Winter Palace is owned by the State Hermitage Museum and contains an exceptional collection of paintings, with more than 300 different portraits of Russian leaders.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday - 10:30 to 18:00
Admission: charge, discounts available

View showing the Alexander Column

Alexander Column (Aleksandrovskaia Kolonna)

Address: Dvortsovaya Ploshchad, St. Petersburg, Russia, RU
Outside of the Winter Palace and dominating much of the Palace Square itself (Dvortsovaya Ploshchad), the breathtaking granite Alexander Column towers some 47 metres / 154 feet and commemorates the Russian victory against Napoleon. The Alexander Column was unveiled in the summer of 1834 and has been a much-loved monument ever since.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Alexander Palace picture

Alexander Palace (Aleksandrovskii Dvorets)

Address: Dvortsovaya Ulitsa 2, Pushkin, RU-196600, Russia, RU
Tel: +7 0812 466 6674
Over the years, Alexander Palace has led an extremely varied life, being a royal residence for Prince Alexander I and even Nazi headquarters during the Second World War. Today, the palace is used by both the military for their operations planning, and by the Russian emperors, who have private apartments within the actual palace complex.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday - 10:00 to 17:00, closed on the very last Wednesday each month
Admission: charge, discounts available

View of the Anichkov Palace

Anichkov Palace (Anichovskii Dvorets)

Address: Nevsky Prospekt 39, St. Petersburg, RU-190000, Russia, RU
Originally an imperial palace and dating back to the middle of the 18th century, Anichkov Palace occupies a central location in St. Petersburg, standing next to both the Nevsky Prospekt and the Fontanka River. The palace is easy to spot, since it features an endless line of stone columns, and is named after the nearby Anichkov Bridge (Anichkovskii Most). The Anichkov Palace is now also known as the 'Palace of Youth Creativity' and contains a small museum, which is often open to the public.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge, discounts available

Edmond J Safra Grand Choral Synagogue view

Edmond J Safra Grand Choral Synagogue

Address: Lermontovskii Prospekt 2, St. Petersburg, RU-190068, Russia, RU
The second-biggest synagogue in the whole of Europe, the Edmond J Safra Grand Choral Synagogue often goes by the name of the Grand Choral Synagogue of St. Petersburg. Built during the 1880s after Tsar Alexandre II relaxed the Jewish residency restrictions, this notable landmark towers at almost 50 metres / 164 feet in height and has a capacity of more than 1,000 worshippers.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 18:00
Admission: free, donations suggested

Menshikov Palace (Menshikovskii Dvorets) photo

Menshikov Palace (Menshikovskii Dvorets)

Address: Universitetskaia Naberezhnaia 15, St. Petersburg, RU-190000, Russia, RU
Tel: +7 0812 323 1112
Playing an important part in the city's history and standing on Vasilevskii Island, Menshikov Palace was actually one of the very first stone buildings and landmarks ever to be constructed in St. Petersburg. Outside, the yellow and white exterior is a major feature, while inside, the ballroom is simply spectacular and has hosted many of the city's premier events over the years since the palace's creation in the early 1700s.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 10:30 to 18:00, Sunday - 10:30 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Image of the Marble Palace (Mramornyi Dvorets)

Marble Palace (Mramornyi Dvorets)

Address: Millionaia Ulitisa 5/1, St. Petersburg, RU-191186, Russia, RU
Tel: +7 0812 312 9196
The Marble Palace is known throughout the city for its highly detailed craftsmanship and gained its name since more than 30 different types of marble were actually used within its sumptuous interior. Completed in the latter part of the 18th century, the Marble Palace features an extensive collection of exhibits about the former Soviet politician and leader, Vladimir Lenin.
Open hours: Monday - 10:00 to 17:00, Wednesday to Sunday - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge

Peter and Paul Fortress picture

Peter and Paul Fortress (Petropavlovskaia Krepost)

Address: Petropavlovskaia Krepost 3, St. Petersburg, RU-197046, Russia, RU
Tsar Peter the Great reclaimed much of the land alongside the city's famous Neva River and in the early part of the 18th century, decided that the Zaiachii area was the perfect spot to build a large fortress, to protect the city from a possible Swedish invasion.

In the very centre of the fortress, the Peter and Paul Cathedral boasts a towering gilded spire, which is more than 120 metres / 400 feet high.
Open hours: Thursday to Monday - 11:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge