Best views in Saint Petersburg

Best views in Saint Petersburg

1. SeeMuseumCenter

   Saint Isaac's Cathedral

   Isaakievskiy Sobor, Исаа́киевский Собо́р

   It was built in 1818, in the style of transition from classical to modern, and is a major attraction in the city. This is the most significant creation of Auguste Montferrand. The plan is a huge square building with a four-columned portico crowned by a large dome and four small bell towers at the corners. Three sculptures, depicting each of the 12 apostles, stand on the pediment portico. The building is interesting in technical terms too - it was the first use of a metal dome unit, and also the first time electroplating was applied to sculptures. Some scientists believe that the dome of St. Isaac's Cathedral was the archetype of the dome of the White House in Washington, D.C. St. Isaac's Cathedral is a now museum-monument, open to visitors daily, except Wednesdays (ticket office closes at 18:00). For an additional fee you can visit the colonnade of the central dome (ticket office closes at 17:00). Photos and videos are charged separately. The view from the colonnade (observation deck) is one of the best views of the city, for those who are willing to climb 400 steps.

   Thu-Tue 11:00-19:00·RUB 450 · Limited wheelchair access

2. BuyCenter

   The Passage

   Passazh, Универмаг «Пассаж»

   This is an elite department store that opened in 1848. The Passage premises have long been associated with the entertainment industry and remains home to the Komissarzhevskaya Theatre.The name came from a vast gallery between Nevsky Avenue and Italianskaya Street which provided the main passage through the mall. The gallery was covered over by an arching glass and steel roof, thus giving it a claim to being one of the world's first shopping malls. The three-storey building opened on May 9, 1848. It was one of the first structures in Russia to employ gas for lighting. Another innovation was an underground floor, where an electric station would be installed in 1900. Although the store specialized in jewellery, expensive clothes and other luxury goods, crowds of common people flocked to see the most fashionable shop of the Russian Empire. Count Essen-Stenbock-Fermor - the developer - conceived of the Passage as more than a mere shopping mall, but also as a cultural and social centre for the people of St Petersburg. The edifice contained coffee-houses, confectioneries, panorama installations, an anatomical museum, a wax museum, and even a small zoo. To draw even more consumers to the store, the Soleille, one of the largest cinemas in the Russian capital, was opened in the complex in 1908. In 1933, the municipal authorities declared the Passage a "model department store", the only one in Leningrad (former St Petersburg) and one of only three such stores in the Soviet Union. The renovated "palace of Soviet trade" (as the media touted it) opened in 1934 and offered about 30,000 types of goods, all manufactured in the USSR. The Children's World section became especially popular with the inhabitants of Leningrad. - Now privately owned by employees and shareholders.

   Mon-Sat 10:00-21:00, Sun 11:00-21:00

3. BuyCenter

   Eliseyev Emporium

   Elisseevskiy Store, Елисеевский магазин, Дом торгового товарищества «Братья Елисеевы»

   Built in 1902-1903 by the architect Gabriel Baranovsky in the style of early modern to colonial goods store Eliseev Brothers. Building facades are adorned with four statues of "Industry", "Trade", "Art" and "Science" by Estonian sculptor Amandus Adamson (who also worked on the sculptural decoration of Dom Knigi and Baron Stieglitz School). No less interesting design trade halls, located on the first floor. The second floor housed Comedy Theatre. Passage established relations with new trade and business partners, such as Escada, and other international department stores. One of the first upscale food markets in Russia, with a wide variety of international produce, opened in the basement. New restaurant opened on the upper level with the panoramic view of the Nevsky Prospect.

4. SeeCenter

   Saint Petersburg City Duma & Observation Deck

   Здание Думы

   Established in 1785. The Neoclassical headquarters of the Duma were erected on the main city avenue, Nevsky Prospekt, between 1784 and 1787. The famous Italianate tower was added in 1799–1804. In 1847–52, the edifice was rebuilt in the Neo-Renaissance style. Two more floors were added to the building in 1913–14. A spacious central hall of the City Duma was frequently let to host high-profile social events. Its distinctive tower can still be seen the whole length of Nevsky Prospekt after the crossing with Fontanka River. Observation deck at 47 m height.

   Observation deck: RUB 300-500, depending on time

5. SeeObservatoryNorth

   Voeikova Geophysical Observatory

   Главная геофизическая обсерватория им. А.И.Воейкова

   Founded by Emperor Nicholas I in 1849. Located here since 1942.

6. SeeViewpoint

   Spit of the Vasilievsky Island

   The Old Saint Petersburg Stock Exchange (also Bourse) and Rostral Columns, located in Saint Petersburg in the Russian Federation, are significant examples of Greek Revival architecture. Designed by French architect Thomas de Thomon, and inspired by the Greek Temple of Hera at Paestum, the stock exchange was constructed between 1805 and 1810. The rostral columns erected on either side of the Stock Exchange were completed in 1811.

   Limited wheelchair access

7. SeeViewpoint

   Думская башня

   Думская улица 1-3

   Closed · opens 10 am tomorrow

8. SeeViewpoint

   Вид на дом Капустина

   набережная Реки Фонтанки 159

9. SeeViewpoint

   Roof

   Open now · closes 11 pm

10. SeeViewpoint

    Palace Bridge

11. SeeViewpoint

    Seven Bridges

12. SeeViewpoint

    Арка Новой Голландии

13. SeeViewpoint

    Балкон музея Карла Буллы

14. SeeViewpoint

    Бартизан Государева бастиона

15. SeeViewpoint

    Вид с Дворцового моста на Зимний Дворец

16. SeeViewpoint

    Невская панорама

17. SeeViewpoint

    Обзор ангела

18. SeeViewpoint

    вид на Кресты

19. SeeViewpoint

    мост Бетанкура

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Saint Petersburg (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps. Some descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).