Design Your Own Map of St. Petersburg Russia

Russia Exploration Starts Now

After arriving in St. Petersburg it was time for me to design my own map of St. Petersburg Russia. This would allow me to see as much as possible as quickly as possible. St. Petersburg Russia started off with a bang, to say the least. It took me over 40 mins to get through passport check due to the stamps I had on my passport. It is important to remember that certain passport stamps could keep you from entering Russia. I did the necessary research and verified that I did not have any of those stamps on my passport before entering but still they had to make sure. To be honest, I expected this when entering Russia so this came as no surprise. After leaving the airport the surrounding area resembled many other cities that I had visited before. Once I reached the downtown area all of that changed. Downtown St. Petersburg Russia was absolutely stunning. The following are the 5 activities I think everyone should do and or see. 

Joshua’s Personal Map of St. Petersburg Russia

1) Savior on the Spilled Blood

As I arrived in St. Petersburg Russia, I was super excited to see the “Savior on the Spilled Blood Church.” I had seen so many incredible pictures and I could not wait to see it for myself. It did not disappoint, the former Russian Orthodox Church was stunning and seemed like it should be something out of the board game Candyland. The globes on top were colorful and looked like ice cream scoops. You definitely have to walk around the building a few times to find the right spot for pictures. It is difficult because the canal runs next to it and there are pop up stands to sell stuff all around it. I had to ask where the name came from, “Savior on the Spilled Blood,” and the answer was rather comical because it is exactly what it sounds like. The church was built where political nihilists fatally wounded Emperor Alexander II. The church was built to honor Alexander II and the name referring to his assassination.

2) St. Isaac’s Cathedral

St. Isaac’s Cathedral was my favorite site I saw in St. Petersburg. The cathedral is absolutely stunning in more ways than I can even describe. The golden globe shines bright and the grass and flowers in front are manicured perfectly. The outside is only the beginning though. Once you go inside it gets even better. I have been lucky enough to see a lot of churches, cathedrals, & mosque, and St. Isaac’s Cathedral is definitely without a doubt in the top 5 worldwide. Honestly, you have to just look at the pictures to understand because the colors were just incredible inside. The architecture is done so perfectly. Every detail can be seen when you look close to the walls, ledges, stairs, and ceilings. St. Isaac’s is a must-see when you visit St. Petersburg Russia.

3) Griboyedov Canal

I know some people might not agree with a canal being on a top 5 list, but I disagree. There is something about just walking down a canal and taking in the sites that really complete a city for me. The canal has small stores and shops that run parallel with it as well as street performers. The entire canal is a rather lively place. The canal was actually called “Catherine Canal,” up until the 1920s when it was renamed by communist authorities.

4) Kazan Cathedral

I enjoyed this area not necessarily for the cathedral although it was beautiful but for the surrounding entertainment. This entire area has venders, tourists, locals, food, and street performers. What is funny is how a majority of the pictures of the cathedral make this area seem like it is on acres of land or something but, in reality, it is on the main strip. There are cars passing by right in front and a Burger King is across the street. Yes, I had Burger King while in Russia. 😆 

5) Peter and Paul Fortress

Peter and Paul’s Fortress was one of my favorite locations because of the amount of open space there was. There were a lot of tourists, but it did not seem packed because of the way it was set up. Peter and Paul’s Fortress is the original citadel of St. Petersburg going back to the 1700s. However, in the 1920s the grounds were actually used as a prison and an execution grounds by the Bolshevik government. Talk about a twist.  

St. Petersburg Wrap Up

St. Petersburg Russia was an amazing place to see and I would encourage anyone that has the opportunity to visit. I would furtherly encourage them to visit St. Petersburg the way I did and utilize the 72-hour free visa and taking the cruise over from Helsinki Finland or Tallinn Estonia. The cruise made for such a cool story to add to the adventure. Remember, do your research and make sure you have no passport stamps that could cause inconveniences.  

Next, Check Out” Helsinki to St Petersburg by Ferry.”