While St. Petersburg itself has more than enough to keep visitors entertained and absorbed for countless days of sightseeing, the city's surroundings are also rich in places of interest, from spectacular Imperial Estates that showcase the extravagance and opulent tastes of the Romanov Tsars to relics of Northern Russia's medieval principalities, which provide a charming contrast to the more ornate treasures of St. Petersburg. Our out-of-town sightseeing guide provides full travel information as well as in-depth descriptions of the history and architecture of the finest day-trip destinations from St. Petersburg.
Peterhof (Petrodvorets)
One of St. Petersburg's most famous and popular visitor attractions, the palace and park at Peterhof (also known as Petrodvorets) are often referred to as "the Russian Versailles", although many visitors conclude that the comparison does a disservice to the grandeur and scope of this majestic estate.
Tsarskoe Selo (Pushkin)
The Catherine (until 1910 Great Tsarskoye Selo) Palace is a historical and compositional center of the palace-and-park ensemble. It is a remarkable edifice in the Russian Baroque style, with richly decorated interiors including the world-famous Amber Room, which was restored by the Tercentenary of St. Petersburg in 2003
Pavlovsk
The Great Palace at Pavlovsk is somewhat staid in comparison to its near neighbour at Tsarskoe Selo, forgoing that building's opulent ornamentation for classical elegance and harmony, painted in the deep yellow and white colour scheme typical of St. Petersburg neo-classicism. Take some time to visit the beautiful Pavlovsk Palace, perhaps the most resplendent of the Russian imperial family's residences, once the home of Emperor Paul I. Step back in time to a period of fascinating history and opulent living.
Kronstadt
Kronstadt was founded by Emperor Peter the Great in 1704 as a maritime fortress and naval base on Kotlin Island. The name "Kronstadt" was invented by Peter the Great, and in German means "Crown City".
Gatchina
Perhaps the most neglected of St. Petersburg's suburban palaces in the post-war period, Gatchina is also probably the most lived-in, with four Tsars considering it their family home. First appearing in records in 1499, Khotchino - the old name for Gatchina - was a Russian village under the rule of Novgorod the Great. Won and lost by the Livonians and then the Swedes in the course of the 17th century, it was regained for Russia by Peter the Great during the Northern Wars. Peter founded an Imperial Hospital and Apothecary there, but it was not until 1765, when Catherine the Great bought the village and surrounding lands for her favourite, Count Grigoriy Orlov, that work began on the palace and park.