Saint Petersburg

Mariinsky Theater

Мариинский театр

The Mariinsky Theater (formerly the Kirov, which is the name the troupe still uses when touring abroad) is world-class for both opera and ballet. There are English supertitles for operas sung in Russian; operas in other languages have Russian supertitles. Performances are offered in three halls: the main theater located in the historical building, Mariinsky-2 (the new scene that is located in a futuristic building across Kryukov canal) and the newly-built Mariinsky Concert Hall. Tickets can be purchased on the theater's website. Cavos rebuilt it as an opera and ballet house with the largest stage in the world. With a seating capacity of 1,625 and a U-shaped Italian-style auditorium, the theatre opened on 2 October 1860 with a performance of A Life for the Tsar. The new theatre was named Mariinsky after its imperial patroness, Empress Maria Alexandrovna.

Closed · opens 11 am tomorrow·price=RUB 600-15000

Mikhailovskiy Theater

Михайловский театр

Designed by Alexander Brullov to match the existing ensemble of then Mikhailovsky Square, now Arts Square, its curtain rose on 8 November 1833 for the first time. Officially, it's the St Petersburg Mussorgsky State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre — Mikhailovsky Theatre. The exterior is not as recognizable as the Mariinsky, but the interior is nearly as grand, and the theater hosts both Russian and foreign headliners in opera and ballet.

RUB 600-15000

Alexandrinsky Theatre or Russian State Pushkin Academy Drama Theater

Александринский театр, Российский государственный академический театр драмы им. А. С. Пушкина

The Alexandrinsky Theatre (Russian: Александринский театр) or National Drama Theatre of Russia is a theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The Alexandrinsky Theatre was built for the Imperial troupe of Petersburg (Imperial troupe was founded in 1756). Since 1832, the theatre has occupied an Empire-style building that Carlo Rossi designed.

12:00-14:00 & 15:00-19:00·Limited wheelchair access

Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama Theater

Большой драматический театр имени Г. А. Товстоногова

Formerly known as Gorky Bolshoi Drama Theater (Russian: Большой Драматический Театр имени Горького) (1931–1992), often referred to as the Bolshoi Drama Theater and by the acronym BDT (Russian: БДТ), it is considered one of the best Russian theaters.

Daily 11.00-15.00 & 16.00-19.00·Limited wheelchair access

Komissarjevsky Theatre

Академический драматический театр имени В. Ф. Комиссаржевской

The drama and comedy company was founded by actress Vera Komissarzhevskaya in 1901. In The Passage (магазин "Пассаж", Passazh), elite department store

Wed-Mon 11:00-15:00 & 16:00-19:00

Baltic House Festival Theatre

Балтийский дом former Ленинградский Государственный театр им. Ленинского Комсомола

The Baltic House Festival Theatre (Балтийский дом) is a theatre located in Alexander Park, Saint Petersburg, Russia, on Petrogradsky Island. It was founded in 1936 as the Lenin's Komsomol Theatre, and renamed Baltic House in 1991. From 1936 to 1939 it was located at 12 Vladimirsky Avenue, then moved to its current location in 1939.

Closed · opens 11 am tomorrow

Youth Theatre on the Fontanka

Saint Petersburg State Youth Theatre on the Fontanka, Санкт-Петербургский государственный молодёжный театр на Фонтанке

It plays Russian classic plays in the winter seasons and hosts a rock concert in the summer.

Daily 12.00-15.00 & 15.40-20.00·RUB 200-1200

Liteiny Theatre

State Dramatic Theatre on Liteinyi Prospect, Государственный драматический Театр на Литейном

In 1993, the Liteinyi's theatre troupe toured America with a production of George Bernard Shaw's Great Catherine in Russian.

Closed · opens 11 am tomorrow

Theatre of Musical comedy

Санкт-Петербургский театр музыкальной комедии, Дом Лазаревых

On 17 September 1929, two united operetta companies – Theatres of Musical comedy from Kharkov and Leningrad presented on its stage one of the first Soviet operetta. This building was constructed in 1799–1801, by E.Sokolov. A prominent St. Petersburg merchant I. Lazarev, gave one of numerous houses for Theatre. In 1842–1896 an Italian architect L. Vendramini the house was rebuilt. In 1896 Grand duke Nikolay Nikolaevich, grandson of Nikolay I, had bought the house and afterwards presented it to his favourite - well-known actress of Alexandrinsky Theatre M. Pototzkaya. In all probability in this period at will of Grand duke interiors of first floor were anew trimmed, and became splendid palace apartments. In 1910 year building was passed to treasury, and then was bought by private entrepreneur I. Piltzov, the inner apartments of the building were reconstructed for presenting theatre productions. Interiors of theatre, cozy and elegant, bear marks of very different architecture styles, that is why they are eclectic in astonishing way. Well-known in whole city three-flights stairs, reception-rooms, lobbies with quaint patterns of modelling, dissemination of painting and bronze are evidence of refinement of rococo style. In decoration of lobby placed over entrance to the theatre could be seen influence of style of Italian Renaissance. One lobby was specially rebuilt as a grotto, which was stylish tendency in the beginning of 20th century. Walls of this hall were faced with raw masonry, in which cracks were hidden electric light bulbs; and in small ponds placed in the corners of grotto water flowed. Sometimes in theatre came people who were not interested in theatre at all, they were just curious – they wanted to see the luxurious stairs and to visit grotto. In architecture of the hall – one of the most early and few in number Petersburg interiors of public purpose of the 1900s – it’s possible to see the influence of Russian late classicism, «streamlined neoclassicism». Hal

Closed · opens 11 am tomorrow

Oktyabrskiy Concert Hall

БКЗ Октябрьский, Большой концертный зал «Октя́брьский»

Pop and rock concerts in an auditorium.

Mon-Fri 11:00-20:00, Sat Sun 11:00-19:00·RUB 600-12000 · Wheelchair accessible

Jazz Philharmonic Hall

Джаз-филармоник холле, Эллингтон холле

Offers a variety of jazz performances several times per week.

Cash desks: daily 14:00-20:00·RUB 800-1200

Loft Project ETAGI

Culture centre in five-storey former bakery building with several exhibition spaces (combined surface around 0.5 ha). Contemporary art exhibitions, concerts, events (flea markets). Parts of Etagi loft are two art galleries, four exhibitions spaces, a cafe (with great interior and outside terrace), a hostel and a bookshop.

Komedianty Theatre

Saint Petersburg State Dramatic Theatre 'The Comedians', Санкт-Петербургский государственный драматический театр «Комедианты»

Founded in 1989

Closed · opens noon tomorrow

Hermitage Theater

Эрмитажный театр

The Hermitage Theater, built as a private home theater of Russian Emperor, used to be Imperial Theatre during more than a century, nowadays is used for almost daily ballet performances, especially during the high-season.

Closed · opens 6:30 pm tomorrow·RUB 3,500-8,500

St. Petersburg Philharmonic Small Hall

Malii Zal, Санкт-Петербургская государственная филармония им. Д. Д. Шостаковича, Малый зал

The Small Hall (Maliy Saal) of the Philharmonic hosts excellent chamber music performances and recitals.

Cash desks 11:00-15:00 & 16:00-19:00

St. Petersburg Philharmonic Grand Hall

Bolshoi Zal, Санкт-Петербургская государственная филармония им. Д. Д. Шостаковича, Большой зал

The orchestra was established in 1802. The Bolshoi Zal (large hall) of this building is one of the best known music halls in Russia. The building that houses the Philharmonia was completed 1839. Architect: P. Jacot; and Facade design: C. Rossi. A world-class orchestra which records and tours abroad. The Small Hall (Maliy Saal) hosts excellent chamber music performances and recitals.

Cash desks 11:00-15:00 & 16:00-20:00·RUB 600-5000

Neva Garden

сад Нева со статуей Охтенки

The garden's nice and the statue pictures a Finnish girl from Okhta, which is pretty fitting because the Right Bank was always a Finnish and Swedish area.

Conservatory Theater

Санкт-Петербургская государственная консерватория имени Н. А. Римского-Корсакова

While the hall is not lavish – quite sterile, really – a good option for seeing Russian and repertory operas cheaply, performed by faculty and students of the conservatory where Tchaikovsky (and many other famous figures from the Russian music world) studied.

RUB 300-3500

New Holland Island

An area with green space, outdoor theatre, yoga workshops, and small cafes. Very popular hangout on evenings and weekends.

St. Petersburg Opera

Санкт-Петербург Опера

An intimate theater (half-sized stage, and only about 150-200 audience seats) which puts on the major repertory operas at a lower price than the major theaters and has a fascinating foyer - one has to see it to believe it.

RUB 300-3000

Park "Malinovka"

парк «Малиновка»

Main park inside Porokhovye, small but nice. It has trees, ponds, a small area for kids and Ladozhskaya metro in 5 minutes

Circus Ciniselli

Цирк Чинизелли, Большой Санкт-Петербургский государственный цирк

It was the first stone-built circus in Russia; it is situated beside the Fontanka. Opened on 26 December 1877, with a large stage (13m in diameter) and stables (housing 150 horses). The architect was Vasily Kenel.

Daily 11:00-15:00, 16:00-19:00·RUB 600-2300

Helicopter Tour

It is possible to take a 15-minute aerial tour along the 10 km long portion of the Neva, between the Blagoveshchensky and Alexander Nevsky Bridges, during weekends from May to October, starting from the helipad right outside the Peter and Paul Fortress' walls, but it is quite expensive and noisy.

Closed · opens 11:30 am tomorrow·From RUB 40,000

Ice Palace

Ledoviy Dvorets, Ледовый Дворец

It was built for the 2000 Ice Hockey World Championships and opened in 2000 and cost US$60 million. It holds 12,300 people. One of several sports arenas that also serves as a concert hall for pop and rock concerts.

Cash desks: Daily 11:00-20:00·RUB 800-10000

Lensoviet Academic Theatre

Санкт-Петербургский академический театр имении Ленсовета

In the former Korssakov family mansion. The resident company was founded as the Young Theatre in 1929, then renamed the New Theatre in 1933, and finally the Leningrad Soviet Theatre in 1939.

Closed · opens 11 am tomorrow

Zazerkalie theatre

"Looking Glass" Children's Musical Theatre, Детский музыкальный театр «Зазеркалье»

The theatre appeared in August 1987 and was named after the Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There". The Children’s experimental theatre “Zazerkalie” appeared in 1992.

Ostrov Theatre

Драматический театр «Остров»

In the former Benois House.

Ticket office: Wed-Thu 14.00-19.30, Fri-Sun 14.00-19.00; All performances start at 19:00

Alexander Garden

This park should not be confused with Alexander Park in St. Petersburg and Alexander Garden in Moscow. The Alexander Garden (Александровский сад) lies along the south and west façades of the Russian Admiralty in St.

Vyborg's Palace of Culture

Дворец культуры Выборгский

Big theater hall, small or concert hall, library, rentable Cafe «Zakulisnoe» (Кафе «Закулисное») for events

Cash desk 12:00-19:00

Na Neve Theatre

Children's Theatre "Na Neve", Детский драматический театр «На Неве»

Opened in 1987.