St. Petersburg, Russia

Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood), St. Petersburg, Russia
Credit: Andrew Quested

St. Petersburg, Russia, was called “Leningrad” for the 67 years preceding the name change to “St. Petersburg” in 1991.

Today, St. Petersburg is a bustling metropolis of just under 5 million residents. Its rich modern culture combined with is significant historical and cultural heritage makes this city a popular tourist destination.

Second in population to Moscow, St. Petersburg (or more commonly just “Petersburg”) has a very large number of cultural sites, including more than 220 museums, 2000 libraries, over 80 theaters, 100 concert organizations, and 45 galleries / exhibition halls.

Some of the more famous tourist stops are the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (aka Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood), Catherine Palace, Peterhof Palace and Garden, the Smolny Convent, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the State Hermitage Museum and Winter Palace, and Mariinsky Theater, among many others.

Peterhof, St. Petersburg, Russia
Credit: NN
Neva, St. Petersburg, Russia
Credit: Jan Erik Forss
Ceiling of Peterhof, St. Petersburg, Russia
Credit: ISIK MATER
St. Petersburg, Russia
Credit: Russia without borders
St. Isaac's Cathedral, St. Petersburg, Russia
Credit: Ville Miettinen
St. Petersburg, Russia
Credit: Sisse Brimberg of National Geographic