From here St. Petersburg started in 1703. This fortress later on got the ill-famous name of the 'Russian Bastille'. Even nowadays St.Peter and Paul Cathedral with its gold spire is the tallest building in the city. They say Peter the Great himself watched the first stone of the fortress being laid, and at that moment an eagle was flying in circles above the place.

Duration: from a quick look of 30min up to 1.5 - 2 hours

If I say this is the biggest museum of fine arts in Russia and one of the biggest in the world I will say nothing. Have you ever been to a forest? Have you ever tried to look at each tree there? Here, at the Hermitage, you will find yourself in a magnificent immense forest of arts wandering hours and hours charmed by its harmony, delighted, enchanted, happy�

Duration of the tour: from a quick look of 1.5 hours up to 5 - 6 hours; on average 2 - 3 hours.

Here you will know more about history of St. Petersburg and enjoy splendid architecture of XIX century. You will know why the architect who designed this masterpiece worked and died in Russia but was buried in France. The cathedral is sinking into the ground at about 1 cm per year. Hurry up to see it or it will be late!

Duration: from a quick look of 15 min to 1 hour

The Church of the Resurrection of the Savior is the official name, but there is another informal and much more romantic title - 'the Savior on the Spilt Blood'. Visit this place to hear the tragic story about 'the tsar - martyr the tsar-liberator'. Visiting the place you will know why the church has another unofficial name - 'the Savior on the Potatoes'

Duration: from a quick look of 10 min to 45 min

Even if you enter this museum feeling very tired and sleepy you will wake up inside and will be excited discovering for yourself at last the Russian art and reflecting how it could happen that you have not heard of this place before. Never mind! Better late then never.

Duration of the tour: from 1.5 to 4 hours,

on average 2 -3 hours.

One hour drive from the city - and you are in a magnificent place. Russian tsars enjoyed their staying here in summer, that is why the place used to be called 'the Summer Capital of Russia'. 'The Eighth Wonder of the World' is here - the famous Amber Chamber which still keeps its secrets and delights everybody with its rare perfection.

Duration of the tour: 4 - 5 hours.

Another charming suburban estate which used to belong to Catherine the Great's son Paul and his wife Maria. Maria, person of many talents, created this cosy home for her ten children, put her heart into the palace and vast elaborate garden. This place will be able to touch your heart.

Duration of the tour: 4 - 5 hours; or, if combined with a tour to Pushkin, 2 hours (after visiting the town of Pushkin)

Peter the Great's enthusiastic mind bore the happy idea to create the see residence, which later on gained the proud names of the 'Russian Versailles' and the 'Water Symphony'. A canal connected the see and the Grand Palace so that boats could come up right to the main staircase. Everything is luxurious here, even the Russian coat-of-arms on the roof, double-headed eagle, has three heads�

Duration of the tour: 4 - 6 hours.

You will discover in St. Petersburg many other museums, monuments and places of interest. Among them the Usupov Palace, the Kunstkamera (or the Chamber of Curiosities), the suburban estates of Gatchina and Oranienbaum are worth to be mentioned as well as a great number of others, which have not been described here but deserve this.