Downtown St. Petersburg

Are you looking for what to do in St. Petersburg city center? Find out below!

Visiting downtown St. Petersburg Russia is a magical experience. The city was originally constructed in 1703 by Peter the Great and remained the nation’s capital until 1918 when it shifted to Moscow. Saint Petersburg downtown has been known by several names since its founding. In 1914 it was renamed to Petrograd and then to Leningrad in 1924 after Vladimir Lenin. In 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, St. Petersburg city center once again received its original title.

St. Petersburg Russia downtown is the nation’s second most populated city with five million citizens (Moscow being the largest). There have been three revolutions involving downtown Saint Petersburg – 1825, 1905 and 1917 – giving city center St. Petersburg the nickname “City of Three Revolutions.”

Downtown St. Pete sits majestically on the banks of the Neva River and Baltic Sea where it serves as an important port for military, trade and tourism. Besides its natural beauty, visitors to downtown Petersburg also enjoy a wide selection of fascinating architecture. Various structures can be found throughout St. Petersburg downtown built in such styles as traditional Russian, Baroque, Neoclassical, Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau.

As you wander around St. Pete downtown, you will find attractive monuments erected to honor important people such as Peter the Great, Empress Catherine the Great, Emperor Nicholas I, Alexander I, II and II, Vladimir Lenin and others. Numerous key events which occurred in city center St. Petersburg are also immortalized by monuments, including the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad, the Moscow Gate, the Narva Gate, the Victims of Political Repression, and the Fallen Fighters of the Revolution.

There are plenty of splendid museums to browse through in downtown Saint Petersburg. You will definitely want to visit the Hermitage Museum, that houses several million displays, many of which are world-renowned, and the Russian Museum where nearly a half million Soviet treasures can be found. You might also enjoy the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, the Russian Army Museum, and the Museum of Theater and Music. If you’re traveling with children to downtown St Petersburg Russia, the Zoological Museum and the Museum of Cosmonautics and Rocket Technology are sure to mesmerize them.

Art galleries also abound in St. Petersburg city center. The Pushkinskaya 10 Art Center is a joy to behold with its hodgepodge display of modern art, concert venue, bar and café. Upon finishing a busy day, stop by Lumiere-Hall and gaze on masterpieces while reclining on an ottoman and wrapped in surround sound. You can enjoy a taste of the performing arts at the Leningrad Center in downtown Petersburg where shows, concerts, plays and other performances are offered every week.

Regardless of your particular tastes, downtown St. Petersburg offers an abundant selection of sights, sounds and activities that are sure to make your visit a memorable one.