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About the City
St Petersburg is Russia's second-largest city and one of the world's most beautiful metropolitan centres. It is often described as the country's northern or cultural capital. Built across 42 islands, it is renowned for its canals and drawbridges. No wonder it is frequently compared to Venice. St Petersburg remains a defining symbol of Russian history and a thriving, modern city all at once.
History
St Petersburg was founded in 1703, when Peter the Great established a fortress on Zayachy Island at the mouth of the Neva River. It is now known as the Peter and Paul Fortress. In 1712, the city became the new capital of the Tsardom of Russia and subsequently of the Russian Empire. By order of Peter the Great, the imperial court moved there, and palaces and cathedrals began to rise along the banks of the Neva.
The city changed its name three times during its history. In 1914, St Petersburg was renamed Petrograd. In 1924, following Lenin's death, it became Leningrad. Its historical name, St Petersburg, was restored in 1991. Today, the city boasts palaces, cathedrals, and architectural ensembles from the imperial era.
Geographic Location
St Petersburg is situated in north-western European Russia, in the Neva River delta where it flows into the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea, approximately 700 km from Moscow. The city is built across 42 islands connected by numerous bridges, a geographical feature that has shaped its distinctive architecture.
St Petersburg is the administrative centre of the North-Western Federal District and the world's northernmost city with a population exceeding one million.
Landmarks and Attractions
The State Hermitage Museum, one of the world's largest museums, is the city's principal cultural treasure. Nearby is Palace Square and the Winter Palace. The Spit of Vasilyevsky Island offers one of St Petersburg's most recognisable views, looking towards the Peter and Paul Fortress, where the city's history began. A traditional walk through the centre follows Nevsky Prospekt past Kazan Cathedral, the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood, and the Summer Garden, before reaching the embankments of the Moika, Fontanka, and Neva Rivers.
St Petersburg is known as the city of white nights and drawbridges. In the evenings, the Palace, Trinity, Liteyny, and other bridges across the Neva are raised. This spectacle draws visitors from around the world. A river cruise provides some of the best views of the Admiralty, the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, and the cruiser Aurora.
Average Cost of Living
Cost of a minimum food basket: RUB 8,500
Subsistence minimum per capita: RUB 19,500
Average monthly salary: RUB 121,500
Figures are for 2025
Time Zone
UTC+3:00
Transport Links
Airport:
Pulkovo International Airport
Public transport:
metro, regarded as the deepest in the world, trams, trolleybuses, and buses
Climate
Overview:
temperate, very humid climate with changeable weather
Temperature:
approximately −5 to −10 °C on average in winter, although high humidity makes the cold feel more severe, and +20 to +25 °C in summer
Precipitation:
regular throughout the year; the city has relatively little sunshine, with approximately 60–65 sunny days annually
Interesting Facts
St Petersburg has an exceptionally rich cultural life, with numerous museums, including the internationally renowned Hermitage, theatres such as the Mariinsky Theatre, creative spaces, and attractive places to walk.
Its social infrastructure includes modern medical centres, leading universities, world-famous museums, sports complexes, and a wide variety of leisure facilities.
According to the Numbeo Safety Index, St Petersburg ranks among the world's 120 safest cities.