Tourists from both near and far abroad flock to St. Petersburg for the weekend
To ensure your eyes see something new every day, and to avoid fatigue from gazing only at the Baroque and classical facades of the historic center or, for example, exclusively the green-ensconced palaces of the suburbs, it makes sense to divide your trip into two stages: suburban and urban.
You should start with choosing a place to stay (or rather, a place to sleep). Fortunately, hotels in St. Petersburg are relatively evenly distributed across the city: expensive hotels in the center and private guesthouses (though there are exceptions) closer to the city limits. Ideally, you should choose something in between, near one of the central thoroughfares, but not in the historic center.
The first day should be devoted to the city. That includes, of course, Senate Square, the Hermitage, the Peter and Paul Fortress, and Nevsky Prospect. From the Hermitage, you can head across one of the bridges, either directly or taking a detour, to Vasilyevsky Island, where museums are literally crowded near the Rostral Columns. By the way, many old hotels in St. Petersburg, located on Nevsky Prospect or on the way from the Peter and Paul Fortress to the Black River, are themselves architectural monuments – some have adorned the city for a century or more.
Day two: after resting in the comfort of a room in one of St. Petersburg's hotels, you can head out of town.
Your route will largely depend on where you are staying. In other words, which direction from the city is most convenient and fastest for you to get to. Fortunately, wherever you go, there will be no shortage of attractions. These include Peterhof, Tsarskoye Selo, and dozens of palaces and parks that encircle the city like a necklace.
If you decide to devote your entire vacation to the city, then you should choose a hotel in St. Petersburg closer to the center – either one of the tiny guesthouses or a respectable hotel. It is most convenient to move from the hotel in a circle, gradually expanding it.
Hunger in the middle of the day will not be a problem – if any city can boast an abundance of cafes and restaurants, it is St. Petersburg. You can devote the first day to independently exploring the center, and on the second day, plan several group excursions to museums selected during your walk.
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