Saint Petersburg/Center: Difference between revisions

The Center of St Petersburg is the area of main interest to the traveller, home to most attractions of the metropolis. It's bound by the Neva river and the Obvodny Canal, on a set of islands formed by numerous rivers and channels.

The Moscow and Vitebsk railway stations are in the center; if you arrive by train, you can begin your touristic activities directly from the station. Baltic Railway Station is located just outside the center, but it makes sense to take the metro or shuttle bus to the more interesting places (e.g. Palace Square). Finland Station is within walking distance from the Liteiny Bridge, to other parts of the center it's better to get into Ploschad Lenina metro station. From Ladozhsky station it's better to take the subway, because it is farther from the center, and the frequent traffic jams on Zanevsky Avenue.

All five branches of the St. Petersburg metro pass through the center, forming several hubs.

The most central stations are:

• Admiralteyskaya - a new and most central station with access to Malaya Morskaya Street (Station "Admiralteskaya-2", and their connection, are still under construction), the nearest station to the Winter Palace, St. Isaac Square, and the Admiralty.
• Nevsky Prospekt/Gostiny Dvor - at the intersection of Nevsky Prospekt and Sadovaya Street, next to the Kazan Cathedral, the Ostrovsky and Arts Squares, Gostiny Dvor and Apraksin Dvor. They can be particularly crowded.
• Sennaya Ploschad/Spasskaya/Sadovaya - the only site where three subway stations meet in St. Petersburg, located near the Sennaya Square. One of the most convenient place from where you can explore some less fashionable, but no less interesting places, such as St. Nicholas Cathedral, the Mariinsky Theater and the channels nearby;

The stations in the outer part of the Center, beyond the Fontanka:

• Ploschad Vosstanya/Mayakovskaya - ​​Uprising Square, on the intersection of Nevsky and Ligovsky prospects, adjacent to the Moscow Station. Major transport hub in St. Petersburg.
• Vladimirskaya/Dostoevskaya - at the Vladimirskaya Square, where Vladimirsky and Zagorodny Prospekts converge. Close to the Five Corners and Dostoevsky Museum;
• Chernyshevskaya - located in a quiet and pleasant area near the Tauride Gardens, the closest station to Smolny (about 2 km).
• Ploschad Aleksandra Nevskogo - at the end of Nevsky Prospekt near the Alexander Nevsky Monastery and the Alexander Nevsky bridge across the river;
• Pushkinskaya and Zvenigorodskaya - in the middle of Zagorodny Prospekt at Vitebsk Station;
• Ligovsky Prospekt - at the Ligovsky Avenue;
• Tekhnologichesky Institut 1 and 2 - in the area of ​​Technology Institut;

Just outside the sity center to the south of the Obvodny Canal:

• Frunzenskaya - at the intersection of Moskovsky Prospekt and Obvodny Canal - directly adjacent to the city center;
• Baltiyskaya - at the Baltiysky Station, on the border of the city center.
• Obvodny Canal - at the intersection of Obvodny Canal and Ligovsky Prospekt;

• <see name="Hermitage State Museum" alt="Государственный Эрмита́ж, gosudarstvenny ermitazh" address="Dvortsovaya Ploschad" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.hermitagemuseum.org" hours="" price="100 rubles for Russians and 400 rubles for foreigners. Students of all nationalities get in for free"> The Hermitage is Saint Petersburg's prime attraction, a massive palace-museum showing the highlights of a collection of over 3,000,000 pieces spanning the globe. Hosted in the Winter Palace, the former main residence of the Russian tsars, and several other historic buildings nearby, the Hermitage is truly one of the world's great museums, with an imposing setting displaying priceless works by Rembrandt, Raphael, Rubens, Velázquez, Michelangelo, van Dyck, Matisse and many more. It is possible, though not required, to get a tour guide. They can charge as much as $100 but they can tell you more about the building and the items and take you directly to the items you want to see. However, for many finding their own way through the opulent interiors, huge and intricate enough to get some people lost, and exploring corners off the beaten path (and the complex is huge enough to have some) may be an attraction in itself.</see>

A popular story describes a foreign diplomat insisting to be guided, blindfolded, directly to the Rembrandts, so not to be distracted by the tremendous glittery.

Entrance is free on the first Thursday of every month. Large bags aren't allowed in the museum, a massive cloakroom downstairs exists to assist with jackets and bags. Sometimes the museum can limit the admission rate because of the numbers already in the museum.

You can buy tickets on-line, and have a confirmation emailed to you. It is the same price as the local ticket ($18 including photos), you just walk straight to the front of the queue. Hand your booking confirmation and passport to information desk. Your details will be checked and your tickets will be issued. The queues at the ticket office can be long, and purchasing your ticket online can help you bypass this queue first thing in the morning. The museum has a cafe and large shop near the entrance, and numerous small shops throughout the galleries. Audio guides are available in English, and most signs in the gallery are in English and Russian. Guide books are available for around 300 rubles.

• <see name="The General Staff building" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">One of the best works of Carlo Rossi. This structure was built in the years 1819-1829, and enclosed Palace Square. The building consists of two blocks, forming a 580-meter arc. There is a triumphal arch, dedicated to the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812, decorated with a sculptural composition in the form of a chariot drawn by six horses. In the chariot is the winged goddess of Fame, holding a standard in his left hand, and a laurel branch in the right. The composition is made by sculptors Stepan Pimenov and Vasily Demuth-Malinovsky.</see>
• <see name="Alexander Column" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Dedicated to the Russian victory over Napoleonic France in the Patriotic War of 1812. This work holds second place, in importance, on the biography of architect Auguste Montferrand, after the construction of St. Isaac's Cathedral. The Angel sculpture was executed by talented sculptor Boris Orlovsky. The Column was inaugurated in 1834. A distinctive feature of the Alexander Column is that it's a granite monolith height 25.6 meters, standing only by gravity. The total height of the monument is 47.5 meters, taller than similar monuments: the Vendome column in Paris (in honor of the victories of Napoleon), the ancient Trajan's column in Rome and Pompaeus Magnus's one in Alexandria. Alexander Column is the tallest solid granite monument in the world, and the third highest after the Grand Army Column in Boulogne-sur-Mer and Trafalgar column (Nelson's Column) in London.</see>
• <see name="The Admiralty" alt="" address="North end of Nevsky Prospekt" directions="Next to the Hermitage" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Not open to visitors, but worth seeing from the outside. One of the oldest buildings in St. Petersburg, it was laid down November 5, 1704 and was built as a shipyard for ships of war and as a fortress to protect the nascent city. The shape of the Admiralty spread-eagled like the letter "U" facing the Neva. The central building is cut by a large arch, crowned by a monumental tower and spire, which ends with the famous ship, one of the symbols of St. Petersburg. The side wings of the building, facing the Neva, are decorated with statues of dolphins flagpoles. In its present form, it was constructed in 1806-1823 by the architect Andreyanov Zakharov, who fit perfectly, in the restructuring, the spire tower by Ivan Korobov from the former Admiralty building. Around the building there is the little Alexander Garden. The Admiralty building is an important dominant center of St. Petersburg. It is included in ensembles of three central areas of the city: the Palace, Senate and St. Isaac's. The three city-"rays" depart from the tower of the Admiralty : northern - Nevsky Prospekt, the central - Gorkhovaya Street, and south - Voznesensky Prospekt.</see>

• <see name="Saint Isaac's Cathedral" alt="" address="St. Isaac's Square, 4" directions="" phone="+7 (812) 315-97-32" url="http://www.cathedral.ru" hours="11h to 19h daily except Wed" price="Foreigners 300 RUB, Russians 120 RUB" lat="" long="" email="" fax=""> 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. Currently, St. Isaac's Cathedral is a 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.</see>
• <see name="The Bronze Horseman" alt="Медный всадник, mednii vsadnik" address="Senatskaya Ploschad" directions="beside St. Isaacs Cathedral" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Statuesque symbol of the city, homage to Peter the Great, opened in 1782, the theme and title of one of the most important poems of the Russian language, written by Alexander Pushkin. Its pedestal is reputed to be the largest stone ever moved by human effort.</see>

• <see name="Our-Lady-of-Kazan Cathedral" alt="Казанский собор, Kazansky Sobor" address="Nevsky Prospekt and Canal Griboedova" directions="Metro: Nevsky Prospekt" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="Free entry">One of the largest cathedrals in St. Petersburg. Impressive neoclassical exterior, richly decorated interior. The temple was built by Andrew Voronikhin in the years 1801-1811 and is the best of his creations. Paul I has set the task of the architect to build a cathedral, like the Vatican's St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. This is what the prototype he owes his great colonnade facing the Nevsky As planned Voronikhin same Colonnade was to be on the other side, but it was never implemented. By fate just built in 1811, the cathedral became a monument of Russian victories over Napoleonic France in the Patriotic War of 1812. Includes the tomb of Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov, hero of the war of 1812. And in 1837, statues of Kutuzov and Barclay de Tolly, by Boris Orlovsky, were installed on the square in front of the temple. It is also interesting to note that on the north side of the cathedral (leaving on Nevsky) there is a bronze copy of the "Gate of Paradise" by Lorenzo Ghiberti in the Florentine Baptistery. A copy was made by caster Basil Ekimov. In 1930 the cathedral was closed, and in 1932 a unique museum of the history of religion and atheism was set up here. Now the museum moved into the building on Post Office Street, and once again this is a cathedral church.</see>
• <see name="Ostrovsky Square" alt="Katkin garden" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price=""> On the south side of the Nevsky Prospekt. Its centerpiece is a famous monument to Catherine II, designed by the famous sculptor Michael Mikeshin. At the feet of the Empress shows nine sculptural portraits of nobles: generals Pyotr Rumyantsev, Grigory Potemkin, Alexander Suvorov, dignitaries Alexander Bezborodko, Ivan Betskoy, naval Basil Chichagov, Alexei Orlov and artists Gabriel Derzhavin Dashkova. The monument is made of 600 blocks Serdobol granite, brought from the island of Valaam archipelago. The monument was dedicated in 1873. </see>
• <see name="The National Library" alt="" address="Nevsky Prospekt, 37/18" directions="on the corner of Nevsky Prospekt and Sadovaya Street" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://" hours="" price="">Founded in 1795. Built by architect Yegor Sokolov specifically to be the Imperial Public Library. The library was opened in 1814 and since 1810 received a specimen copy of all domestic publications. It did not close even during the Leningrad blockade. Currently, the library is one of the largest in the world, its pool of more than 33 million books and documents. It has the largest collection of books in Russian in the world. There are such masterpieces as Ostrom Gospel XI century (the oldest surviving book in Old English), fragments of the Codex Sinaiticus IV century (in ancient Greek), Petersburg Code XI century (in Hebrew). More information about the library can be found on the official website. </see>
• <see name="Eliseev Store" alt="" address="Nevsky Prospekt, 56/8" directions="on the corner of Nevsky Prospekt and Malaya Sadovaya str" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price=""> 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.</see>

• <see name="Ploschad Vosstanya" alt="Площади Восстания, Uprising Square" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Another central area of ​​the city, formed by the intersection of Nevsky and Ligovsky prospects. Here stand the Soviet-era Hero-City of Leningrad obelisk, which hosts the Veterans Parade on every Victory Day (9 May), when the square is decorated with banners; the Moscow railway station (Московский вокзал, Moskovskii vokzal), erected in 1847-1851 under the project of architect Konstantin Ton, a "twin" of the Leningrad station built in Moscow; Ploschad Vosstanya subway station, made by architects Boris Zhuravlev, Ivan Fomin and VV Gankevich, built in 1955; and the historic building of the hotel "Oktyabrskaya". Built in the years 1845-1857 by the architect AP Gemilian, the four-storey "Znamenskaya hotel", was subsequently called the "North", "Great Northern", and after the revolution was "October." It was reconstructed several times.</see>

• <see name="Statue of Alexander Pushkin" alt="" address="centerpiece of the square" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">The great poet soliloquizes eternally.</see>
• <see name="Russian Museum" alt="Mikhailovskiy Palace" address="Inzhenernaya Ul. 4" directions="at Pushkin's back" phone="595 42 48" email="info@rusmuseum.ru" fax="" url="http://www.rusmuseum.ru/eng" hours="10AM to 6PM daily ex. Tuesday" price="Foreigners 350 RR, Russians 150 RR">An extensive collection of Russian paintings and sculpture, works by Andrei Rublev, Dionisius, Fedot Shubin, Dmitry Levitsky, Vladimir Borovikovsky, Karl Brullov, Fidelio Bruni, Orest Kiprensky, Alexander Ivanov, Ilya Repin, Arkhip Kuindzhi, Ivan Shishkin, Valentin Serov, Mikhail Vrubel, Pavel Antokolsky, Boris Kustodiev, Kazimir Malevich, Wassily Kandinsky, Pavel Filonov, Marc Chagall, Kuzma Petrov — Vodkin and many other artists. The main building, the Mikhailovskiy Palace houses the main exhibits, and the Russian Museum also oversees the permanent and temporary exhibits at the Stroganov Palace, Marble Palace and Mikhailovskiy Castle. Tickets to each can be purchased separately or as a universal pass.</see>
• <see name="Ethnographic Museum" alt="" address="4/1, Inzhenernaya Ulitsa" directions="Next to the Russian Museum" phone="" url="http://eng.ethnomuseum.ru/" hours="10h-18h" price="Foreigners 350 RR, Russians 100 RR" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">An interesting and educational display of the traditions and costumes of various ethnic groups found in the lands of the former Russian Empire, the vast territory between the Baltic Sea in the West and the Pacific Ocean in the East. The collection provides some marvelous insights into the history, culture and lifestyles of all those peoples, Russians, Ukrainians, Belorussians, peoples and tribes of the Caucasus, Central Asia and Siberia. Impressive collections of ancient Afghan armours and Chinese and Japanese traditional clothes and crafts.</see>
• <see name="Mikhailovsky Theater" alt="" address="Ploschad Iskusstv" directions="at Pushkin's right" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.mikhailovsky.ru/en/" hours="" price="">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. </see>
• <see name="Grand Hotel Europe building" alt="" address="Mikhailovskaya Ulitsa 1/7" directions="at Pushkin's front" lat="" long="" phone="" tollfree="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.grandhoteleurope.com/web/stpetersburg/grand_hotel_europe.jsp" hours="" price="">Very historic and picturesque, one of great hotels of the 19th-century Europe, it opened its doors to the public on January 28, 1875. If these walls could only speak - Ivan Turgenev, Claude Debussy, H.G. Wells, Igor Stravinsky, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton and many others have already stayed here. The curious honeymoon of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, a favorite theme to his biographers, also took place here.</see>

• <see name="Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood" alt="Церковь Спаса на Крови, Tserkovʹ Spasa na Krovi" address="Canal Griboedova, 2a" directions="Between Nevsky Prospekt and the Neva" phone="(812)

315-16-36" email="" fax="" url="" hours="10am to 8pm daily ex. Wed "price="250 RR both for foreigners and russians">A traditional style Russian church built on the spot where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. The interior is elaborately decorated with over 6000 m² of mosaics.</see>

• <see name="Mikhailovski Garden" alt="" address="Mikhailovsky Palace" directions="adjacent to Church of Spilled Blood" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price=""> It's more or less automatic to come here after visiting the Spilled Blood church. This garden is a combination of two landscape styles, geometric French on the edges, and naturalistic English in the center. In late spring and summer, classical music concerts are often held here.</see>
• <see name="Field of Mars" alt="Ма́рсово по́лe, Marsovo Polye" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="Free">Beautiful Baroque garden with several military monuments. Adjacent to the beautiful and historic Marble Palace.</see>
• <see name="St. Michael's Castle" alt="Mikhailovsky Castle or the Engineers' Castle" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Each one of its façades is different. Surrounded by a moat with drawbridge, built by Paul I who feared for his life - in fact he was murdered here inside, in his bedroom. Nowadays a branch of the Russian Museum, its Portrait Gallery, is housed here.</see>

• <see name="Smolny Complex" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">There is the Smolny Convent (with a gorgeous blue and white main church, considered to be one of the architectural masterpieces of architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli) and the Smolny Institute, a yellow low building that was Russia's first educational establishment for women, created by decree under the personal patronage of Empress Catherine II, and and continued to function until just before the 1917 revolution. A nice garden and iron-work grille around the institute date from the early 19th century. In 1917, the building was chosen by Vladimir Lenin as Bolshevik headquarters during the October Revolution. It was Lenin's residence for several months, until the national government was moved to the Moscow Kremlin. After 1991, the Smolny was used as the seat of the city mayor (governor after 1996) and city administration. Vladimir Putin worked there from 1991 to 1997. </see>
• <see name="Tauride Palace" alt="Tavrichesky dvorets, Таврический дворец" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Firstly comissioned by Prince Grigory Potemkin of Tauridia to his favourite architect, Ivan Starov. Empress Catherine the Great gave Potemkin the land and the title of Prince of Tauridia for his services in conquering ancient Tauridia (now the Crimean Peninsula). Catherine II later bought the Palace, to be used as her summer townhouse. Much later yet (1906), it was transformed into the seat of the first Russian parliament, the Imperial State Duma. Immediately after the February Revolution of 1917, Tauride Palace housed the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet. The abortive Russian Constituent Assembly held its meetings there in 1918. Since the 1990s, Tauride Palace has been home to the Interparliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States (IPA CIS).

The adjacent Tauride Garden was laid out in 1783-1789 on the estate of the Palace from which it took its name. The Tauride Garden was landscaped in English Romantic style, with landscape, ponds and canals designed to imitate nature. Trees and shrubs were brought in especially from England. In 1866 the Tauride Garden was opened to the public, and has remained a favorite spot with city dwellers for walks ever since.</see>

• <see name="Suvorov Museum" alt="" address="ul. Kirochnaya, 43" directions="metro Chernyshevskaya" phone="+7 (812) 579-39-14" email="suvorovmuseum@mail.ru" fax="+7 (812) 274-28-50" url="http://www.suvorovmuseum.spb.ru/" hours="10h-18h, closes Wed" price=""> Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov (1730-1800) was one of Russia's most outstanding generals, a military strategist and army commander during the reign of Empress Catherine the Great and Emporer Paul I. The museum features military memorabilia from Suvorov's times: weapons, banners, uniforms, models and large graphic recreatons of historic battlefields. Two large mosaics decorate its façade. Both are based on historical events; the left-hand one features "Suvorov Crossing the Alps" and the right-hand one illustrates "Suvorov leaving home for the campaign of 1799". </see>
• <see name="Cathedral of the Lord's Transfiguration of all the Guards" alt="собор Преображения Господня всей гвардии" address="off Liteiny Prospekt" directions="metro Chernyshevskaya" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Ordered to be built by empress Elizabeth. Construction lasted from 1743 to 1754; designed by architect Mikhail Zemtsov. After the death of Mikhail Zemtsov, Pietro Antonio Trezzini headed construction. Trezzini slightly changed the project, changing the style to Baroque. Façades and the interior were restored between 1946 and 1948. From 1832-1833, a fence, formed by the barrels of Turkish cannons taken from Turkish fortresses, was built around the cathedral, commemorating the victory in the Russo-Turkish War of 1828-1829. Preserved on the barrels is the engraved coat of arms of the Ottoman Empire, and on some of the barrels can be seen the names given to the cannons. </see>
• <see name="Alexander Nevsky Monastery" alt="Lavra Aleksandra Nevskogo" address="1 Monastyrka River Embankment" directions="metro Ploschad Aleksandra Nevskogo" phone="+7 812 274-17-02, +7 812 274-24-33" email="" fax="" url="http://lavra.spb.ru/" hours="" price=""> Located at the Eastern end of Nevskiy Prospekt, next to the River Neva; Peter I founded it in 1710, supposing that that was the site of the Neva Battle in 1240, where Prince Alexander Nevsky defeated the Swedes (however, the battle actually took place about 12 miles away from that site). The purpose of the foundation was to house the relics of St. Alexander Nevsky, patron of the newly-founded Russian capital; however, the massive silver sarcophagus of St. Alexander was relocated during Soviet times to the Hermitage, where it remains (without the relics) today. In 1797, the monastery was raised to the rank of lavra, making it only the third lavra in the Russian Church, along with Kiev Monastery of the Caves and the Trinity Monastery of Sergeyev Posad. Here is also the site of the Tikhvin Cemetery which houses the tombs of some very famous Russians: Mikhail Lomonosov, Alexander Suvorov, Nikolay Karamzin, Modest Mussorgsky, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Mikhail Glinka, Natalia Goncharova and Alexander Borodin, along with others not so famous.</see>

• The bridges open 2 times per night to allow boats to pass.

• <do name="Walk" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Allow yourself the pleasure of enjoying unhurried the neoclassical and baroque wonders of architecture, landscaping and gardening of the Imperial Capital, of rare beauty at any time of any season. Read or reread the works of the great Russian writers - "White Nights" by Dostoevsky first, "The Overcoat" by Gogol in second, then Tolstoy, Chekhov, Brodsky, Pushkin, Mayakovsky, Nabokov and several others - they found so much inspiration in this pavement. In winter, use non-slip boots with thick socks to protect your ankles, and avoid the ice.</do>

No trip to St. Petersburg is complete without seeing an opera or ballet performance. The Mariinsky is perhaps the most well-known institution, but it is by no means the only theater in the city. Tickets are sold throughout the city at kiosks and shops called Teatralnaya Kassa, which charge a nominal (usually about 20 RR) fee for "insurance," which is theoretically optional. The theater box offices themselves sell tickets directly, too, and usually for the same price. Sometimes blocks of tickets sell out at the kiosks but tickets are still available at the theater, or vice versa, so it is worth checking both places if you have your heart set on a particular performance. It is possible to take not-so-small children into some performances if you take a private box, although you will need to ask when you buy your tickets.

• <do name="Mariinsky Theater" alt="" address="Theater Square 1" directions="" phone="326 41 41" url="http://www.mariinsky.ru/" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">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 two halls: the main theater, and the newly-built Mariinsky Concert Hall. Tickets can be purchased on the theater's website.</do>

• <do name="Mikhailovskiy Theater" alt="" address="Ploshad Isskustv 1" directions="Between the Russian Museum and the Grand Hotel Europe" phone="595 43 05" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">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.</do>

• <do name="St. Petersburg Opera" alt="" address="Galernaya Ul. 33" directions="West of the Bronze Horseman" phone="(812) 312 3982" email="spbopera@comlink.spb.ru" fax="" url="http://www.spbopera.ru" hours="" price="">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.</do>

• <do name="Conservatory Theater" alt="" address="Theater Square 3" directions="Across the street from the Mariinsky Theater" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">While the hall itself 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.</do>

The music scene in St. Petersburg is diverse, with several classical, jazz, and pop concerts to choose from each week. Tickets are available at the same Teatralnaya Kassa locations as ballet and opera tickets, although tickets to pop concerts - especially US and European stars on tour - sometimes use exclusive distributors. For pop and rock concerts, unless you buy tickets for the dance floor (tanzpol), you are expected to sit quietly in your seat as if you were at a ballet - ushers are vigilant about keeping the audience from standing up, dancing, or cheering (polite applause is allowed, but that's about all).

Several of the ballet and opera theaters above also offer orchestral and recital performances, so those are not repeated below. Also, don't forget the many small clubs where up and coming bands play.

• <do name="St. Petersburg Philharmonic Grand Hall" alt="" address="Mikhailovskaya Ul. 2" directions="Entrance across from the Grand Hotel Europe" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">A world-class orchestra which records and tours abroad. The Small Hall (Maliy Saal) hosts excellent chamber music performances and recitals.</do>

• <do name="St. Petersburg Philharmonic Small Hall" alt="" address="Nevsky Prospekt 30" directions="Next to the Metro station on Nevsky Prospekt" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">The Small Hall (Maliy Saal) of the Philharmonic hosts excellent chamber music performances and recitals.</do>

• <do name="Jazz Philharmonic Hall" alt="" address="Zagorodny Pr. 27" directions="South of Nevsky Prospekt, use Vladimirskaya Metro Station" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Offers a variety of jazz performances several times per week.</do>

• <do name="Oktyabrskiy Concert Hall" alt="" address="Ligovskiy Prospekt 6" directions="Near Ploshad Vosstaniya" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Pop and rock concerts in an auditorium close to the city center.</do>

Most cinemas in St. Petersburg show Hollywood films dubbed in Russian. Art cinemas like Dom Kino often show independent American or British movies subtitled in Russian. DVDs of American/European films are also often dubbed. There have been crackdowns on sellers of bootleg DVDs, so it may be difficult or expensive to find DVDs in English these days. There are several DVD stores in the city - often near Metro stations - and it is worth asking about films in English.

Annual Message to Man [1] international documentary, short, and animated films festival takes place in June or July, screening many films in English.

• <do name="Dom Kino" alt="" address="12 Karavannaya Ulitsa" directions="Near Gostiniy Dvor Metro Station" phone="314 56 14" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Sometimes shows films in their original language.</do>

• <do name="Avrora Cinema" alt="" address="Nevksy Prospekt 60" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price=""></do>

A tour of the canals by boat is a great way to see the city in the summer. The typical tour is through the Moika, out to the Neva to see the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Cruiser Aurora, then in through the Fontanka (sometimes as far as the Mariinsky Theater). Tours start at many points along the route and return to their starting point - hawkers for different boat companies abound - and the boats may or may not have a cafe and toilet on board. Almost all tours are in Russian. 400-600 Rubles seems to be the average price.

• <do name="Anglotourismo Boat Tours" alt="" address="Fontanka Embankment 21" directions="" phone="+7 921 989 47 22" url="http://anglotourismo.com/" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">Canal boat tours in English, departing from near the Anichkov Bridge (Nevksy Prospekt and Fontanka) in season (May 2 - Sept 30).</do>

The alternative way to explore St Petersburg is to know it from inside walking and talking with locals and trying local activities. Those people who have lived here for years would like to tell you a plenty of stories, open some secret places (as roofs or courtyards etc.) and treat you as a friend. Most of tours are for 1 to 5 people. As some tours are free you are welcome to try it. The other ones are pretty cheap (about USD 12$-35$).

You can book their such unusual tours like roof tours, or Russian food cooking classes or Russian language tours etc. Check sptn!k [2].

• <see name="Loft Project ETAGI" alt="" address="Ligovsky prospekt, 74" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://loftprojectetagi.ru/en" hours="" price="">Culture centre located in five-storey former bakery building with several exhibition spaces (combined surface around 5000 square metres). 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.</see>

There are plenty of ATMs and legit currency exchange booths. ATM and big shops accepts usually following kind of card: Visa, Visa Electron, MasterCard, MasterCard Electronic and Maestro. Other card (e.g. American Express) accepted rarely. Do not exchange money on the street: the rate won't be any better, and you run a high risk of encountering any of numerous scams.

• Apraksin Dvor (Апраксин двор) — The Apraksin Market (Apraksin Dvor) is perfect for people watching, but keep your purse and camera close since it is a favorite of both shoppers and pickpockets. You can find almost anything here.
• Dom Knigi («Дом книги», House of Books)— Nevsky Prospekt 48, corner with Griboedov Canal. A six-story building, built in 1902-1904 on the project of Paul Suzor to be the Russian headquarters of Singer sewing machines American company. Art Nouveau is not typical of the Nevsky Prospect, however it blended well into the face of St. Petersburg. It is believed that the company wanted to build a multi-story building, like its skyscraper in New York City. However, the height regulations prohibit building structures up more than 23.5 meters. The architect thus decided to build a graceful tower, crowned with a glass globe, which creates the illusion of elevation, while not overshadowing either the Kazan Cathedral or the Savior on Spilled Blood church. The sculptural decoration of the tower and the facade were created by Estonian sculptor Amandus Adamson, also worked on the design of the shop and school Eliseevsky Baron Stieglitz. Today it is the city's biggest and most important bookstore, a tourist attraction on its own right. A cafe operates on the second floor.
• Gostiny Dvor (Гостиный двор) — The city's oldest and largest shopping centre, dating to the mid-18th century. The name means "Merchant Yard", as its old role was to provide both shops and housing to merchants from far away. It sells almost everything from PlayStations to Saint Petersburg Vodka. The prices of goods are the highest in St.Petersburg.
• Nevsky Prospekt (Невский проспект) — Saint Petersburg's Champs-Élysées, lined with department stores and fancy shops. A recommended shop for souvenir hunters is Nevsky Gifts on the corner of the road entering Palace Square.
• Passazh (Пассаж) — The Harrods of Saint Petersburg, a smaller and very beautiful shopping center for the elite.
• Souvenirs Market sells a huge variety of cheap souvenirs from Matroyshka (матрёшка) dolls to Soviet Memorabilia. It can be found behind the Church of the Saviour next to the Griboedova Canal. There are also some souvenir stalls in the square across from St. Isaacs Cathedral.

• <eat name="Chainaya Lozhka (Чайная ложка)" alt="" address="Has around 50 restaurants all over city" directions="Nevsky Pr. 44 is one of the most centrally located" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.teaspoon.ru/" hours="" price="Starts from 29 rubles for a blin, soup, salad or drink">These fast-food restaurants serve blini (Russian crepes) with a variety of fillings - you choose your own at the counter. They also have a wide selection of teas. Some restaurants have wifi.</eat>

• <eat name="Yolki-Palki Traktir (Ёлки-Палки Трактир)" alt="" address="Nevsky Pr. 88" directions="Has 6 restaurants in the city, mainly in the centre" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.elki-palki.ru/" hours="Some open until late, some open 24h" price="">. Decent food with very affordable prices, smoking and non-smoking sections. Staff in some restaurants may actually serve you in English.</eat>

• <eat name="Kroshka Kartoshka (Крошка Картошка)" alt="" address="Has over 25 restaurants all over city" directions="" phone="" url="http://www.kartoshka.com/" hours="" price="99 rubles for a meal. From 29 rubles for a salad or soup" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">It a big chain of fast food restaurants that offers baked potatoes with your choice of topping but also has salads, soups and deserts.</eat>

• <eat name="Teremok (Теремок)" alt="" address="Several locations" directions="" phone="" url="http://www.teremok.ru/" hours="" price="100-300 rubles for a filling meal" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">This blini chain began with street-corner kiosks throughout the city (many are quite easy to find), and they have expanded to include counter-service restaurants serving not only blini, but also kasha, salads, and other quick, inexpensive fare. Some central locations are Bolshaya Morskaya Ul. 11, Nevsky Pr. 60, and Nevsky Pr. 106. The restaurants have menus in English if you ask.</eat>

• <eat name="Samovar (Самовар)" address="Ulitsa Gorokhovaya 27" phone="314-39-45" fax="" hours="" price="20 rubles for a blin" url="">This neighborhood blini shop makes blini as good as homemade (so says a native Russian blini-maker). Choose from a wide range of fillings and have your tasty blini made fresh; also has a decent selection of tea. Better lunch than any of the chains. No English; but you can just point at the fillings on the counter if you don't want to bother translating the menu with your guide book.</eat>

• <eat name="U Tyoshi Na Blinakh (У тёщи на блинах)" alt="" address="Several locations" directions="One location is near Sennaya Ploshad." phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Cafeteria-style Russian and Ukrainian food for a reasonable price with faux-rustic decor, not like a Soviet-era stolovaya. Has more than blini: soups, salads, meat dishes, desserts, etc. Those who know the Mu-Mu chain in Moscow will recognize this, although on a smaller scale. </eat>

• <eat name="St. Petersburg" alt="" address="kan. Griboyedova 7 or 9" directions="next to Church of Spilled Blood" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="45 rubels for a Borsch soup, 140-200 rubels for a main dish, side dishes 35 rubels">Good and cheap food in the very centre . Pay attention, there are two restaurants called St. Petersburg next to each other and the second one is more expensive.</eat>

• <eat name="Pirogi (ПирО.Г.И.)" alt="" address="Nab. reki Fontanki, 40 (наб. реки Фонтанки, 40)" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="Open 24/7" price="traditional Russian pies filled with meat, chicken, fish, mushrooms or cabbage served with three different salads (big enough to be a main course), 130 rub. Beef Stroganoff with mashed potatoes: 240 rub. Soups: 130 rub. Average bill per person: 450 rub (two courses + beer or wine)."> cafe-restaurant ambience during the day, turning into bar in the evening as well as music venue at night. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Good and moderately priced food served 24 hours a day. The menu comes in both English and Russian. Friendly and helpful English-speaking staff. Free Wi-Fi. Separated smoking/non-smoking sections. </eat>
• <eat name="McDonald's" alt="Макдоналдс" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.mcdonalds.ru" hours="" price="">Several units.</eat>
• <eat name="Pizza Hut" alt="Пицца Хат " address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.pizzahut.spb.ru" hours="" price="">Several units.</eat>

• <eat name="La Baguette" address="Grazhdanskaya ul 27" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="Mains approx. 300 rubles">Very nice, cosy little tea and cake shop near Griboedova canal with a sweet faux-French atmosphere. You can also have tasty meals there.</eat>

• <eat name="Kavaleria" address="Kavalergardskaya ul 20" directions="" phone="" email="info@kavaleria.ru" fax="" url="http://www.kavaleria.ru" hours="" price="Mains approx. 300-400 rubles">A great family-run place just a block away from the spectacular must-see Smolniy Monastery and Tavricheskiy garden. Fresh local and foreign beers, great cuisine (huge portions), English menus and English-speaking staff. Great for watching sport events too.</eat>

• <eat name="1,001 Nights" alt="Тысяча и одна ночь" address="ул. Миллионная, 21" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="noon-23:00 daily, live music & belly dancing F-Su 20:00-23:00" price="300-500 rubles">This would be but an ordinary undistinguished Uzbek restaurant, were it not within one block of the Winter Palace. Given location, the place is spectacular in that it maintains decent service and very good food.</eat>

• <eat name="Acquarel" alt="" address="" directions="next to the Birzhevoy bridge" phone="+7 (812) 320-8600" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Right on the water, this restaurant offers Italian food alongside a French/Asian fusion menu. Friendly people, delightful atmosphere, and a wonderful view, Acquarel is a wonderful and delicious dinner option or even a great place to relax and get a drink in their lounge chairs.</eat>

• <eat name="Caravan-Sarai" alt="Караван-Сарай" address="ул. Некрасова, 1" directions="" phone="+7 (812) 272-7153" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="400-600 rubles">In a city with plenty of Uzbek food, this may outshine the competition. Not for the service or the decor, but for the very long menu of top-notch Uzbek cooking.</eat>

• <eat name="Clean Plate Society" alt="Общество чистых тарелок" address="Гороховая ул., 13" phone="+7 (812) 934 97 64" menu="http://bit.ly/JfaTGu" email="gorohovaya13@gmail.com" url="http://cleanplates.ru/">After the enormous success of opening bar "Mishka" last year, avant-garde musician/heartthrob Kirill Ivanov and budding chef-mogul Alexander Berkovksy have ventured into the restaurant, or more precisely "cafe-club," business. "Obschestvo Chistykh Tarelok", or "Clean Plates Society" in English, is named after a children's fairy tale alleging that Lenin told children that those who finish all the food on their plate would become members of the Clean Plates Society. Quality burgers, cream soups and vegetarian dishes with worldwide influences. Almost everything is under 300 rubles. Recommended for hipster-watching in St. Petersburg.</eat>

• <eat name="Gin-no Taki" alt="Гин-но Таки" address="пр. Чернышевского, 17" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="11:00-06:00 daily" price="150-400 rubles">A very reasonably priced Japanese chain restaurant just across the street from the Chernyshevskaya metro station. The interior is very stylish, even if the fashion shows on the TVs are a bit much, and you can control your service with the aid of a call button. The food is good, but the sodas might be even better—free refills! It's also a very solid choice for a place to unwind late-night after a wild night.</eat>

• <eat name="Gastronom" alt="ресторан Гастроном" address="наб. реки Мойки, д. 7" directions="close to Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood; вход с Марсового поля" phone="(812) 314-3849" email="info@gastronom.su" fax="" url="http://www.gastronom.su" hours="Sun-Thu: 12PM-12AM; Fri, Sat: 12PM-3AM" price="Simple salads average at 200, sophisticated salads 300-400. Most soups are at 200. Pasta 300-400. Mains average at 350-400.">Excellent desserts (tiramisù is really great); good reviews for dinner. Wide selection of international fare: Thai, Italian, Russian, steaks. Rare place with 5 varieties of Caesar salad. Outdoor terrace is comfortable for a baby stroller, but closes before late Sept.</eat>

• <eat name="Jean Jacques" alt="Жан-Жак Руссо" address="Ул. Марата д.10" directions="very close to Moskovsky vokzal" phone="+7(812)315-49-03 " email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Decent lower-end French cuisine. Nothing-special breakfasts: either omlet or croissant or porridge.</eat>

• <eat name="Kafe Ket" alt="" address="22 Ul. Stremyannaya" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">Kafe Kat is a tucked into a rather unassuming location, just off Nevsky. This little restaurant serves what might be the best Georgian food in St. Petersburg. There is an English menu and the staff is friendly. 1500 rubles for 2, 3 courses + beer </eat>

• <eat name="Kafe Tbilisi" alt="" address="Sytninskaya ul, 10" directions="Metro Gorkovskaya behind the market" phone="+7 (812) 232-9391" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Georgian food. The dishes prepared in pots are excellent.</eat>

• <eat name="The Idiot" alt="Идиот" address="82, Moika Emb" directions="" phone="+7 (812) 315-1675" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Named after the Dostoevsky novel, and offering a wide variety of very tasty vegan, vegetarian, and seafood dishes at prices higher than what you'd expect. All served in a very cozy and attractive cellar stocked with books, expats, and intellectuals.</eat>

• <eat name="Montana Saloon" alt="" address="20, Kirochnaya str. or 19, Izmailovsky pr" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">American cuisine, steaks, good wine and pleasant atmosphere. A bit expensive (the best steak costs 850 rubles), but it is worth it.</eat>

• <eat name="Fasol na Gorokhovoy" alt="Фасоль на Гороховой" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="Until 1am; kitchen closes at 11:30pm" price="Avg bill: 1000 rubles per person (3 courses)">Artictic minimalism interior; creative fusion cuisine.</eat>

• <eat name="Harbin" alt="" address="ул. Жуковского, 34/2" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="12:30-23:30 daily" price="800 rubles">Chinese in Saint Petersburg is often better than in most parts of Europe. This restaurant is cozy and overcrowded (show up early or late if you want to ensure that you get a table), and has an extraordinarily long and complex menu. If you have no native speaker with you, bring a food dictionary, or you will have no idea what you are ordering.</eat>

• <eat name="Giuseppe Park" alt="Парк Джузеппе" address="2B Canal Griboyedova" directions="just next to Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood and Russian Museum" phone="(812) 571-7309; (812) 973-0943" email="" fax="" url="http://www.park-restaurant.ru/" hours="11am-1am" price="Average bill per person: 1500 rubles (3 courses, no alcohol)">Excellent Italian food in a white nearly-luxury setting. In peak hours, choose easier-to-cook dishes to minimize risk of mistake. Great gaspacho, "quatro formagio" pizza. Good for a late breakfast as well (although no breakfast-time menu: only omlets, 170 rubles). Heated outdoor terrace open until at least end of Sep. No wifi, for a reason: it's a place to eat.</eat>

• <eat name="Mama Roma" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="http://www.mamaroma.ru" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">A chain of Italian restaurants; free wifi. Malaya Konyushennaya, 4/2: outdoor terrace is open heated until at least end of Sep; terrace perfect with toddler: spacious enough for baby strollers; has children-safe wide couches.</eat>

• <eat name="Oliva" alt="Олива" address="31 Bolshaya Morskaya ul." directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="Kitchen closes at 11:30pm" price="">Greek restaurant with a genuine Greek chef; popular with expats.</eat>

• <eat name="Oriental Express (restaurant/buffet)" alt="Восточный Экспресс" address="ul. Marata 21" directions="close to Moskovsky train station" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://orient-express.spb.ru/" hours="" price="Restaurant: salads 220..310; soups 210..340; mains: 310-540. Buffet: salads 80, soups 80-130, mains 130-190">Tourists-oriented and doesn't hide it, the place has a good selection of traditional Russian dishes. Buffet and restaurant share the same building and kitchen and have few common dishes, but are otherwise very distant from each other (at least in prices). Free wifi (ask waiter for instructions).</eat>

• <eat name="Tepló" alt="Тепло" address="B. Morskaya, 45" directions="close to Isaakiyevsky cathedral" phone="(812) 570 19 74" email="" fax="" url="http://v-teple.ru/" hours="Mon-Thu, Sun 9am-12am, Fri-Sat 1pm-1am" price="Dinner: average bill per person: 1000 rubles (three courses, no alcohol). Breakfasts: omlet 110, porridges 80, tea 90"> currently loosing its charm and excellent service. Still, quite charming good value for money, although drinks are quite expensive. Fireplace in winter and courtyard with umbrellas and flowers in summer. Most staff speak English, those who don't are still helpful at navigating the English menu. Lunch set menu from 1pm. Equally good for breakfast (from 9am, Mon-Fri only) with omlets, pancakes, a weekly rotation of porridges and fritters. Free wifi (ask waiter for instructions); children's playroom; separate non/smokers; outdoor terrace open until at least 5ths of Oct (but no gas heaters). Same owners as a nearby Zoom Cafe.</eat>

• <eat name="Traveling Sack for a Pregnant Spy" alt="Саквояж для беременной шпионки" address="ул. Б. Конюшенная, 17" directions="close to Kazansky cathedral" phone="+7 (812) 570-06-37" email="" fax="" url="" hours="M-F 11am-01am, kitchen closes at 11:30pm; Sa-Su noon-02am" price="Average bill per person, no alcohol: 800 rubles">A very fun Russian restaurant, that would be worth visiting as a gallery of weird spy-kitsch, but the food is also decent. No wifi.</eat>

• <eat name="Vostochny Ugolok" alt="Восточный уголок" address="Гороховая ул., 52" directions="close to Isaakievsky cathedral" phone="(812) 713-57-47" email="ooo-dvit@mail.ru" fax="" url="" hours="24 hours" price="Average bill per person (3 courses): 1000 rub">Good-quality Caucasian cuisine in a vivid interior. Excellent shahlyki and manty.</eat>

• <eat name="Zazhigalka" alt="Зажигалка" address="Невский проспект, дом 74 (Nevsky Prospekt 74)" directions="Opposite McDonald's (Rubinshteyna Street), next to Red Tower Chinese Restaurant. Walking distance from Anichkov Bridge over Fontanka River" phone="(812) 272-24057" email="" fax="" url="http://zazhigalka.net" hours="24 hours" price="Business lunch - 250 RUB"> open 24 hours a day. They serve business lunch from 12-5 PM with 3 options. The 250 rubles one includes salad, soup, main meal, garnish (a.k.a side dish), berry drink, and bread. The 200 rubles option include no soup and the 150 rubles includes no course/garnish. Menus have English translation and several staffs can speak English.</eat>

• <eat name="Zoom" alt="" address="Gorohovaja str. 22" directions="close to Isaakiyevsky cathedral" phone="(812)448-5001" email="" fax="" url="http://www.cafezoom.ru/" hours="Until 24; last order until 22:30" price="About 1000 rubles per person (three courses, no alcohol)">Same owners as Tepló, but much more intimate;not a victim of top TripAdvisor positions.</eat>

• <eat name="Baku" alt="Баку" address="" directions="" phone="+7 812 941-37-56" email="" fax="" url="http://www.baku-spb.ru" hours="12PM-2AM" price="Prices from 1300 rubles">One of the city's more impressive interiors, modeled after the palaces of the Shirvan Shahs (imagine eating in Sheki's Khan-Saray). Opened in 2006, has received rave reviews from all quarters since,offering some of the best dishes you can taste in Saint Petersburg. A great place to try out Azeri cuisine with great meat dishes.</eat>

• Grand Hotel Europe Restaurant. The Sunday Jazz Brunch here is a "Not to Miss" if you are looking for a real splurge. About $90 USD per person includes a full caviar spread and sushi bar in addition to the normal brunch fare (carving station, omelette station, salads, fruit, baked goods, desserts, the options are nearly endless). There is also bottomless champagne glasses (and the champagne is quite good) and a huge frozen ice sculpture that is tapped where you can refill your glass with iced vodka as many times as you'd like. The jazz is very good and the pace is relaxed and enjoyable. The only caveat: As with most Russian eateries, there is no non-smoking section, so if you are not a smoker, ask for table away from the majority or risk having to inhale cigarette smoke while you dine.

• <eat name="Kalinka-Malinka" alt="Калинка-Малинка" address="Ital'yanskaya ulitsa, 5" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="1400 rubles">Overdone and overpriced Russian-kitsch tourist trap for foreigners (Russians wouldn't be caught dead here). But if you're staying nearby, they'll treat you fine and you can eat some bear meat.</eat>

• <eat name="Sunduk" alt="Сундук" address="ул. Фурштатская, 42" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="M-F 10:00-24:00 Sa-Su 11:00-24:00" price="850 rubles">A great, small, cozy, and very stylish brick-walled Russian restaurant, with excellent food, and good enough service. Live entertainment comes often, and is often surprisingly good—imagine sitting down and only then seeing a solo jazz guitarist sit down to play some beautiful music. It's been open for more than a decade, and there's a reason why it's a fixture of the local restaurant scene around Furshtatskaya.</eat>

• <eat name="Terrassa" alt="Терасса" address="Kazanskaya, 3" directions="Highest floor of shopping center behind Kazansky cathedral" phone="" url="http://www.terrassa.ru" hours="" price="Averages: soups 330-380 rub; salads 400-700 rub; pizza 500 rubles; mains 1000 rubles; tiramisù 320 rubles" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">Offers magnificent view to Kazansky cathedral from terrace. Pastries are well worth the price. </eat>

• <eat name="miX in St. Petersburg" alt="miX in St. Petersburg" address="Voznesensky prospekt 6" directions="Located at W St. Petersburg Hotel" phone="+7812606166" url="http://www.mixinstpetersburg.com" hours="7:00am-10:30am;12:00pm-6:00pm; 7:00pm- 12:00pm " price="" lat="" long="" email="mix@whotels.com" fax="">The only restaurant of Michelin starred chef alain Ducasse in Russia. Offers dishes prepared by local product with French know how as well as Alain Ducasse classics. </eat>

• <eat name="Bristol Pub" alt="" address="ul. Marata, 36/38" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Very home-atmosphere and friendly.</eat>
• <drink name="Dickens Pub" alt="" address="108 Fontanka Canal" directions="Near Sadovaya & Technologichesky Institute metro stations, just off Moskovsky-Fontanka bridge" phone="+7-812-380-7888" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Dickens Pub offers good service, great food, and a wide range of English and other international beers, with over 15 on tap. There are also many superior whiskeys too! Dickens Pub is a good place to eat. Be prepared for a party - especially on Fridays & Saturdays!</drink>
• <drink name="Tower Pub" alt="" address="Ul. Bolshaya Konyushenaya 14" directions="Very close to the metro station Nevkij Prospekt" phone="+7 (812) 315 14 31" email="" fax="" url="" hours="Open 24 hours" price="">The Tower Pub is a great place to rest, have a quick drink or stay for the whole evening. The bartenders are really nice, do speak English and are in for a chat (on a quiet night). It's located in the basement of a large building but the atmosphere is really nice. No live music.</drink>
• <drink name="Gordon & MacPhail's Whisky Bar" alt="" address="Nekrasova St 9" directions="" phone="+7 812 579 4059" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Lovely place where you can have a couple of whiskeys and a pint in the evening. Lots of brands and a cosy atmosphere.</drink>
• <drink name="Hemingway Bar" alt="Хемингуэй-бар" address="ул. Ломоносова, 3" directions="" phone="+7 (812) 310-7007" email="" fax="" url="http://www.hembar.ru/" hours="12:00-05:00" price="~1400 rubles to eat">A comfortable, big bar with upscale drinks and cooking. The biggest draw is the cool clientele and live performances: blues, jazz, R&B. One tip though, if you open the door to a DJ blaring Russkaya popsa—leave because you won't be able to hear yourself think.</drink>

• Dumskaya ulitsa several small, very, very crowded venues (Datscha, BarBarA, Fidel, Belgrad, also near liquor store seems to be part of the complex)), cheap beer, crazy dances, Balkan, ska, punk, disco or whatever the DJ has on his mind. The underground place. Slightly similar to Hamburg St. Pauli area.

• Griboedov (Грибоедов), Voronezskaya Ul. 2 (Metro: Ligovsky), [3]. A suitably spaced out place for a club whose name can also be interpreted as "the mushroom eater" or a famous Russian's poet surname, the acts here are famously offbeat, especially on weekdays when you're as likely to find a poetry reading as live reggae or a DJ spinning psychedelic trance. This club is hidden in an underground bomb shelter with a new performance space/bar/restaurant atop the bunker's hill. Open daily except Tuesday.

• Metro Club (Метроклуб), 174 Ligovsky Pr (Metro: Ligovsky), [4]. Saint Petersburgs biggest club. Mostly for people from age 16 to 30. Entry prices vary from 180-400 rubles depending on the time of arrival. The club is open between 10:00 p.m-6:00 a.m.ry day. The club boosts 3 floors and 6 bars. The preferred music is techno, trance and house.

• Mishka, Fontanka, 40 (in the basement) (Metro: Nevsky Prospect; Mayakovskaya; Ploshchad Vosstaniya), [5]. A popular DJ bar/cafe for local scenesters, as well as 20something tourists and ex-pats, located on the most central intersection (Nevsky prospekt and Fontanka). Opened by St. Petersburg avant-garde musician and heartthrob Kirill Ivanov and friends in the beginning of 2011, at the end of 2011 Mishka has already achieved the title of St. Petersburg's Best Bar according to TimeOut magazine. During daytime, Mishka more of a cafe (with free wi-fi), where you can relax, read and/or chat and enjoy a selection of sandwiches and fresh salads. In fact, it's one of the few places that serves in line with the Western understanding of "salad" - a huge bowl of fresh greens with a choice of other fresh ingredients to add, rather than the traditional Russian understanding of salad which is usually a lot of mayonnaise with other ingredients and often without any greens at all. There are two spaces - the entrance space is the "club" side, generally the rowdier side and the place to get boozed up and drunkenly dance the night away, and the second space is more relaxed, more brightly lit, non-smoking, and a comfortable place to grab a bite to eat (even at 4am!) and sit and chat with your friends without shouting over the music from the entrance space. At night there is usually a DJ playing (even on weeknights!) whatever hipsters are listening to these days (rather than typical Russian clubs that only play worn-out house and 90s pop) and the bar can get very crowded on weekend nights. Try one of the dozens of specialty shots to get your night started in the right spirit... or to end your night, if you're on a bender.

• Mod Club (Мод), Kanal Griboedova, dom 7 (in the courtyard) (Metro: Nevski Prospect), [6]. Cult club in the St. Petersburg center, next to Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood. Cavernous live music hall with old brick walls and loft bar, separate room with wrap-around bar and small DJ stand, chill-out room with small concerts and a terrace bar for dancing under the White Nights skies. Very diverse music program: from reggae to punk/metal, but mostly rock. Friendly atmosphere. The crowd is made up of students, musicians, artists and expats. The space also includes MOD Gallery with local art on display. Design of the club is worth checking out as well. Menus in English, English-speaking bartenders, inexpensive beer. The entry is 150 rubles on Fridays and Saturdays, with free entry all other days.

• Morrison (МореСон), Lomonosova 2, [7] a DJ bar with a friendly atmosphere, a summer terrace, & an attractive menu including the world's best cocktails and traditional Russian drinks for as low as 100 rubles. Evening coffee breaks near Nevskiy Prospekt, free wi-fi, & all-night dancing (until 6 am). Photo reports from all weekends are posted on Facebook. Music: Funk, Disco, Boogie, Hits, Funky house.

• Produkty, Fontanka, 17 (Metro: Nevsky Prospect; Mayakovskaya; Ploshchad Vosstaniya), [8]. Cafe-bar "Produkty" (Russian for "groceries", don't bother trying to google this bar) was opened in the fall of 2011 by Lisa Izvozchikova, a St. Petersburg-born designer and best known as the former bosslady of another very popular DJ cafe-bar "Stirka" on Kazanskaya ulitsa. The space is modest in size, but being one of the rare cafe-bars in St. Petersburg located above basement-level, boasts views of the Fontanka and features local DJs as well as more "amateur" music lovers spinning their favorite tunes, sipping cocktails and occasionally dancing and even singing along if the mood strikes them. "Produkty" features a carefully thought-out range of alcohol - all the makings of any classic cocktail as well as a delicious and dry cider "St. Anton", grog, milkshakes with berries, a homemade hot ginger tea, as well as freshly squeezed orange juice. The food is mainly vegetarian, and the offerings include couscous and sandwiches. The design concept of the bar was conceived by the proprietor, who is also a designer. All the furniture was brought from Berlin: the leatherette-upholstered bar, massive leather armchairs, round bar stools from the 1970s, chairs taken from GDR kindergartens and schools, typewriters and a Wurlitzer jukebox that only accepts Deutschmark (don't worry! you can buy the necessary Deutschmark tokens at the bar). It has been written that Produkty is a bar straight out of the GDR, but this is hard to confirm, since there were no bars in the GDR. In any case, the classic hipster-reference to East Germany is not completely lost when it comes to describing the style and clientele of Produkty.

• <sleep name="Friends hostels" alt="" address="4 locations: Griboedov channel, Nevsky prospect, Bankovsky pereulok and Vosstania street " phone="+7 812 331 77 99" directions= email="booking@friendsplace.ru" url="http://en.friendsplace.ru" price="From 400 rubles per person" skype="friends-booking">Named after the famous TV show, the hostel chain “Friends” was reviewed by Lonely planet city guide and considered to have spotless dorms, great location and extremely helpful staff.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Cubahostel" alt="" address="Kazanskaya 5, 4th floor" directions="" phone="+7 (812) 921 71 15" url="http://www.cubahostel.ru" checkin="" checkout="" price="650 RUB" lat="59.933254" long="30.322073" email="cubahostel@gmail.com" fax="">A nice hostel, with modern and inventive decoration, just off Nevsky Prospekt, near the Church of Our Lady of Kazan. Although it's advertised as a party hostel and situated over an English pub, noise isn't a problem.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Location Hostel" alt="" address="Admiralteijskij prospekt 8 top floor" directions="" phone="+7 (812) 979-22-33" url="http://en.location-hostel.ru/" checkin="" checkout="" price="600 rubles dorm and 700 rubles for a twin room (1 available)" lat="" long="" email="info@location-hostel.ru" fax="">Good and new hostel in the city centre almost in front of the Hermitage. Great staff and good and clean rooms. Free towel. The showers are ok, worked all the time, but the ceiling in showers is not too high! Free WiFi for all customers and an internet computer to use. Microwave, fridge and washing machine available but no cooking plate available. 24h reception.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Nordhostel" alt="" address="10 Bolshaya Morskaya street" directions="" phone="+7 (812) 571-03-42" email="info@nordhostel.com" fax="" url="http://www.nordhostel.com/" checkin="" checkout="" price="888 rubles per night">Located in the very center of the city — a stone's throw from the Hermitage. Free internet access and continental breakfast. A grungy place, but it has an good location and is relatively cheap.</sleep>

• <sleep name="RedMedved Hostel" alt="" address="57 Zhukovskogo str." directions="" phone="+7 (812) 272 21 82" email="booking@redmedved.com" fax="" url="http://www.redmedved.com/" checkin="" checkout="" price="From €12 per night">Party style hostel. Located only 5 min from the main train station. Free towels and bedlinen. Light and spacious rooms.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Sleep Cheap" alt="" address="Mohovaya Street" directions="" phone="" url="" checkin="" checkout="" price="700 rubles per night" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">Very hard to find (go to number 18, and through the dark tunnel), no internet access or hot water (for a couple of weeks during the summer).</sleep>

• <sleep name="Soul Kitchen hostel" alt="" address="1-st Sovietskaya 12 app 1" directions= email="soulkitchenhostel@gmail.com" url="http://www.soulkitchenhostel.com/" price="From 450 rubles per person" skype="soul-kitchen-hostel">2 min from metro, free breakfast, free laundry, free WiFi, free international calls, big kitchen, fridge, microwave, activities. Located in the historical centre, 2 min walk from main "Moskovsky" train station.</sleep>

• <sleep name="B&B swissSTAR" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="+7 (911) 929 2793,"email="info@swiss-star.ru" url="http://www.swiss-star.ru" checkin="14.00" checkout="11.00" price="From 1600 rubles per night" lat="" long="">A Swiss managed Bed&Breakfast in the historical centre of the city. Stylish, safe and very clean. 8 Rooms (5 with attached bath) and a big, fully equipped kitchen. Free breakfast and tea/coffee. Free Wifi and local phone calls. Non-smoking. English speaking staff.</sleep>

• <sleep name="5th Corner Hotel" alt="Отель Пятый Угол" address="Zagorodniy avenue 13" directions="metro: Vladimirskaya or Dostoevskaya, trainterminal: Moskovskiy Vokzal" lat="59.92613" long="30.34198" phone="+7 812 380 81 81" fax="+7 812 380 81 81" email="booking@5ugol.ru" checkin="2PM" checkout="noon" price="" url="http://www.5ugol.ru">

Business hotel in a restored building from the 19th century. Al the rooms are decorated in warm autumn tones and equipped with AC, sat TV, free wireless Wi-Fi, safe and mini-bar.</sleep>

• <sleep name="5th Sovetskaya 21" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="+7(921)957 24 40, cell: 8(921)957 24 40," email="info@rentroom.ru" url="http://www.rentroom.ru" checkin="12.00" checkout="12.00" price="From 1600 rubles per night" lat="" long="">A cozy Swiss managed Bed & Breakfast in a nice neighborhood off the main drag. Rooms come including breakfast, with TV-sets with satellite channels, tea/coffee free, WiFi, Non-smoking.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Acme on Malaya Morskaya Str" alt="" address="Malaya Morskaya str, 7-8" directions="" email="info@acme-hotel.com" phone="+7 (812)600 20 80, cell +(911)127 09 99, fax +7 (812)312 95 42" url="http://www.acme-hotel.com" checkin="14.00" checkout="12.00" price="from 1500 rubles" lat="" long="">Stylish, modern design. Rooms come with a fridge, TV-set, tea/coffee makers, and WiFi. Non-smoking.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Acme on Rubinsteina str" alt="" address="Rubinsteina str 23-81" directions="" phone="+7(812)575 82 33, cell: 8(911)008 00 99, fax: +7(812)575 86 53" url="http://www.acme-hotel.com, info@acme-hotel.com" checkin="14.00" checkout="12.00" price="from 1500 rubles per night" lat="" long="">An elegant, small, luxury hotel in a nice neighborhood off the main drag. Rooms come with LCD TV-sets with satellite channels, tea/coffee makers, WiFi, DVD players. Non-smoking.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Bed & Breakfast Sabrina" alt="" address="Bolshaya Morskaya st.21" directions="" phone="+7(812)314-76-02" email="reception@sabrina-hotel.ru" fax="+7(812)314-76-02" url="http://www.sabrina-hotel.ru/" price="€40 - 100">A family-run bed & breakfast 1 block from Nevsky Prospect and the Hermitage. Basic, but very clean and comfortable. A bit difficult to find as it is on the fourth floor of an apartment building. Code for building entrance: 2230#.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Comfort Hotel" alt="" address="25 Bolshaya Morskaya Ul." directions="2 blocks off Nevsky Prospekt between the Moika and Admiralty" phone="+7 (812) 570 67 00" email="info@comfort-hotel.org" fax="" url="http://www.comfort-hotel.org/" checkin="" checkout="" price="3200 to 7500 rubles, depending on room and season">Small hotel (18 rooms) with attentive service. Central to public transportation and walking distance to St. Isaacs Square and Palace Square. Rate includes breakfast buffet and internet. They have English-speaking staff, above-average security and credit cards are accepted.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Dom Dostoevskogo" alt="" address="61/1 Griboedov channel" directions="3 underground stations are within 2 minutes walk: Sennaya, Sadovaya, and Spasskaya." phone="+7(921)947-76-56, fax: +7(812)314 82 31" url="http://english.ddspb.ru" email="info@ddspb.ru" checkin="14.00" checkout="12.00" price="From 2000 rubles per night" lat="" long="">A small and comfortable mini-hotel in the centre, in the same building where the famous Russian writer Dostoevsky used to live. 10 cozy rooms with plasma TV sets, safe, and free wireless internet.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Ermitage Hotel" alt="" address="Millionnaya st.11" directions="" phone="+7(812)571-54-97" email="info@ermitage.spb.ru" fax="" url="http://www.ermitage-hotel.ru/" checkin="14:00" checkout="12:00" price="The price is from 4300 rubles">A small hotel with genuine St. Petersburg spirit. Located in the historical centre. Offers 4 double rooms that allow usage of a fully equipped study and a magnificent hall with fireplace - and with the whole staff of the hotel at your disposal.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Herzen House" alt="" address="Bolshaya Morskaya st.25" directions="" phone="+7(812)315-55-50" url="http://www.herzen-hotel.com/index.php?language_id=2" checkin="14:00" checkout="12:00" price="From 3100 rubles" lat="" long="" email="info@herzen-hotel.com" fax="">A newly opened hotel right at the historical center. 20 rooms of different types, TV, bathroom,phone, wi-fi, air-condition in each room. 24-hours English speaking reception. Excellent breakfast (buffet) is included in the price, free internet access for guests.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Kamerdiner Hotel" alt="" address="6 Ozernoi Pereulok" directions="Metro: Ploschad Vosstaniya" phone="+7(812) 273-0113, 272-5027" url="http://www.kamerdiner.com/" checkin="14:00" checkout="12:00" price="Price: 5200 rubles, seasonal discounts" lat="" long="" email="info@kamerdiner.com" fax="">Small cosy hotel located in a quiet, leafy lane a short walk from the Moscow Railway Station. Walk along Ulitsa Vosstaniya from Nevsky and take first right after small park. Seven rooms in lavishly restored former mansion looking onto monastery, very friendly service and attentive staff. Continental breakfast, Wifi, satellite TV, fridge, safe, air-conditioning, 24-hour security, visa support, theatre bookings, guided tours, airport transfer.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Matisov Domik" alt="" address="Matisov Island" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.matisov.spb.ru/" checkin="" checkout="" price="">A small, cosy hotel located a short walk away from the Mariinsky Theatre. The hotel has excellent service with large, clean rooms and satellite television (all but one news channels, Russia Today, are in Russian). The hotel is a jewel in an otherwise poorer area of the city, however this should not put potential visitors off as it is the perfect way to see both perspectives of the city.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Mini-hotel Krupskiy" alt="" address="ul. Marata, 33" directions="" phone="+7 (812) 928-08-12" email="info@krupskiy.ru" url="http://www.krupskiy.ru/" checkin="" checkout="" price="">Located in the very center of the city</sleep>

• <sleep name="Moskva Hotel" alt="" address="2 Alexander Nevsky pl" directions="Metro Ploschad' Alexandra Nevskogo" phone="+7(812)274-4001" email="" fax="" url="http://www.hotel-moscow.ru/english/home.htm" checkin="" checkout="" price="">Incredibly gargantuan concrete monolith that continues to carry forward the Soviet traditions of former monopoly operator Intourist. Ugly and user-hostile, but the location right above a subway station is excellent and the price can be right, especially if booked in a package.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Nevsky Express Hotel" alt="" address="93 Nevsky pr." directions="" phone="+7(812) 717-18-88" email="info@nevskyexpresshotel.com" fax="" url="http://www.nevskyexpresshotel.com" checkin="" checkout="" price="">3 star hotel near the central station and the Ploschad Vosstania underground station.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Nevsky Forum Hotel" alt="" address="Nevsky pr., 69" directions="800 m from Moscow Railway Station" phone="+7(812)333-0-222" url="http://www.nevskyforum.com/" checkin="14:00" checkout="12:00" price="From 5000 rubles per night" lat="" long="" email="office@forumhotel.com" fax="+7(812)571-64-43">5 minutes walk from Moscow railway station. The hotel offers 29 rooms different categories. All rooms are equipped with: bathroom with bathtub or shower, satellite TV, telephone, air conditioning, mini-bar, Internet (LAN/Wi-Fi), electronic safe-box, hair-drier. 24-hours receptions & room-service, business & conference facilities, transport & excursion service, visa support & registration service, laundry.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Nevsky Grand Hotel" alt="" address="10 Bolshaya Konyushennaya St" directions="" phone="+7(812)703-38-60" url="http://www.nevskygrandhotel.com/" checkin="" checkout="" price="From €80 for double; frequent special offers" lat="" long="" email="" fax="+7(812)703-38-60">Just around the corner from Nevsky Prospect, 5 minutes from the subway and a 10 minute walk from the Hermitage Museum. Free and very reliable wi-fi access in all rooms (very speedy: 5Mbit/s), and air conditioning in every room. Rooms are very small, but functional. Staff speak English well, and breakfast is included in the room rate (available from 7AM til 11AM). Shortcomings: no fridges in rooms; steep staircase at the entrance is difficult for a stroller.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Nevsky Hotel Moyka 5" alt="" address="5, Moyka" directions="" phone="+7 812.6010636" email="info@nevskymoyka5hotel.com" fax="" url="http://www.nevskymoyka5hotel.com/" checkin="" checkout="" price="">3 star hotel located in the center near to the Hermitage Museum and Palace Square. Free internet. Buffet breakfest.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Northern Lights" alt="" address="Bolshaya Morskaya st.50/6" directions="" phone="+7(812)571-91-99" url="http://www.nlightsrussia.com/" checkin="13:00" checkout="12:00" price="" lat="" long="" email="info@nlightsrussia.com" fax="+7(812)570-64-09">A small, beautifully designed hotel located in the historical centre. The hotel is Western owned and managed, ensuring that services are up to the highest international standard. Continental breakfast, free internet access, visa support, airport transfers.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Old Vienna, mini hotel" alt="" address="Malaya Morskaya13/ Gorohovaya 8" directions="" phone="+7 (812) 314 35 14" url="http://www.vena.old-spb.ru" checkin="13" checkout="12" price="" lat="" long="" email="vena@old-spb.ru">A both stylish and "home-cozy" mini-hotel of business class level, located in the centre. 400 m. to Hermitage. All 14 rooms of the hotel are equipped with: air conditioning, Internet (Wi-Fi), bathroom, satellite TV, telephone, mini-bar, hair-drier, DVD. Breakfast(buffet) and Internet are included in the price.

</sleep>

• <sleep name="Petro Palace" alt="" address="14 Malaya Morskaya" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.petropalacehotel.com/" checkin="" checkout="" price="">A clean, very efficient, and ideally located hotel. It has a spa, swimming pool and gym (but only free for guests before 11AM) and the rooms maids are very efficient - appearing to clean rooms several times a day. It is within a few seconds of several excellent restaurants, coffee bars and a small shop.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Hotel Safari" alt="" address="Uliza Babushkaya" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" checkin="" checkout="" price="2200 RUB double (includes an extra bed)">Good service and you might be able to negotiate a better price. Looks bad from outside, but from the inside is fairly new and clean.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Sonya Radisson" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" checkin="" checkout="" price="">Free wireless broadband internet (20MBps). Difficult to find a place to eat nearby if you arrive after midnight on weekday.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Hotel Vera" alt="" address="Suvorovsky prosp. 25/16, 5th floor (close to Grand Hotel Emerald)" directions="" phone="+7(812)702-72-06" email="" fax="+7(812)271-28-93" url="http://hotelvera.ru" checkin="2pm" checkout="" price="">Up-to-date and cozy rooms; 4th to 6th floors of an old building. Staff speak English by default, not Russian--which is quite rare. 6th floor features mansard windows. Some rooms have poor sound isolation from the corridor (eg. 514, 604). Free internet over wire, cable supplied. Breakfast: No-frills; no hot plates but fresh fruits; no espresso, only American coffee.</sleep>

• <sleep name="Hotel Astoria" alt="" address="39 Bolshaya Morskaya" directions=Saint Isaac's Square"" phone="+7 812 494 5757" email="reservations.astoria@roccofortecollection.com" fax="+7 812 494 5059" url="http://www.thehotelastoria.com/" checkin="" checkout="" price="">Hotel Astoria is a five-star hotel. It is located on Saint Isaac's Square, next to Saint Isaac's Cathedral and across from the historic Imperial German Embassy.</sleep>
• <sleep name="Grand Hotel Emerald" alt="" address="18 Suvorovsky pr." directions="" phone="+7-812-740-50-00" email="res@grandhotelemerald.com" fax="+7-812-740-50-06" url="http://www.grandhotelemerald.com" checkin="" checkout="" price="">Luxurious five-star hotel. Located within few-minute walk from Moskovsky Railway Station and Nevsky Prospekt. Hosts several restaurants, SPA, Top Gym fitness centre and conference facilities.</sleep>
• <sleep name="Grand Hotel Europe" alt="" address="1/7 Mikhailovskaya st." directions="" phone="+7(812)329-60-00" email="res@grandhoteleurope.com" fax="+7(812)329-60-01" url="http://www.grand-hotel-europe.com/" checkin="" checkout="" price="">A five-star hotel in the centre of town on Nevsky Prospekt and one of the most famous icons of the city. Hosts balls and has several restaurants. Many rooms have great views over the city.</sleep>
• <sleep name="Alexander House Boutique Hotel" alt="" address="27 Kryukova kanala emb." directions="" phone="+7(812)334-3540" url="http://www.a-house.ru/" checkin="after 14:00" checkout="before 12:00" price="From €116 per room per night" lat="59.9189" long="30.2996" email="" fax="">A 4 star boutique hotel close to the Mariinsky (Kirov) Theatre on the embankments of the Kryukov Canal . Designer interiors and a homey atmosphere. Each of the 19 rooms is individually furnished and designed. </sleep>
• <sleep name="Radisson SAS" alt="" address="49/2 Nevskiy pr." directions="" phone="+7(812)322-50-00" email="reservations.led@RadissonSAS.com" fax="+7(812)322-50-01" url="http://www.stpetersburg.radissonsas.com/" checkin="" checkout="" price="">A five-star hotel located on Nevsky Prospekt. The hotel boasts a fitness centre, sauna and massage parlour.</sleep>
• <sleep name="W St. Petersburg" alt="" address="6 Voznesensky pr." directions="" phone="+7(812)610-61-61" email="wstpetersburg@whotels.com" fax="+7(812)610-61-60" url="http://www.wstpetersburg.com" checkin="" checkout="" price="">Ultramodern and chic hotel, located next to St. Isaac's Cathedral. Hosts Bliss Spa and mix restaurant by Alain Ducasse.</sleep>

The following internet cafes offer computers with internet, gaming, and WiFi as noted.

• <listing name="CafeMax" alt="" address="Nevsky Prospekt 90" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="24 hours" price="120 Rubles/hour for internet computer. Free WiFi with food purchase." lat="" long="" tags="">Large, well-lighted, and clean. Also offers copying, scanning and faxing services.</listing>

• <listing name="Shangri La" alt="" address="Nevsky Prospekt 98" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="24 hours" price="90 Rubles/hour for internet computer. 100 Rubles/hour for WiFi." lat="" long="" tags=""></listing>

• <listing name="Players" alt="" address="26/27 Kazanskaya Ulitsa" directions="A few blocks behind Kazan Cathedral in the direction of Sennaya Ploshad" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="24 hours" price="60 Rubles/hour for internet computer." lat="" long="" tags="">No WiFi service.</listing>

• <listing name="Tvoyo" alt="TBOE" address="Liteyniy Prospekt 63" directions="Northeast corner of Nevsky Pr. and Liteyniy Pr., entry off Liteyniy" phone="" url="http://www.tvoecafe.ru" hours="24 hours" price="70 Rubles/hour for internet and WiFi." lat="" long="" email="" fax="" tags="">Also serves drinks & snacks for only a few rubles. This cybercafe used to be known as "Quo Vadis."</listing>

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