Winter Trips to surrounding Saint-Petersburg

St.Petersburg is surrounded by many charming parks. In summer they attract millions of tourists. In winter the atmosthere changes and they become even more romantic. Discover the famous surrounding and enjoy the White Days time walking along the snowy paths.

Tsarskoe Selo

This elegant, baroque style palace with its famous Amber Room and surrounding parks, pavilions, ponds and lakes is an absolute must for any tourist who visits Saint-Petersburg. Come winter, come summer the parks are beautiful to stroll in as once did the tsars of Russia, however, it must be noted that the Baroque palace with its blue colour and gold embellishments, built by Italian architect Rastrelli, is particularly impressive in winter, standing out from the surrounding white, snow-covered palace grounds. If the cold Russian winter freezes your fingertips, the palace gold covered interiors are sure to warm you right up!

Peterhof

Peter the Great’s world famous summer residence Peterhof amazes all who visit. The scope, ingenuity and sheer quantity of the fountains in Peterhof are breathtaking and rival those in Versailles, especially with the Peterhof Palace and the Finish Gulf as backdrops. The park and palace are still open to visitors in the winter. Start your visit at the Grand Palace, overly crowded during the summer, in winter you feel as though you are alone to walk the halls as Catherine the Great did. The smaller pavilions of Peterhof are also open in winter allowing you to truly discover the life of Russian Tsars. Gazing across the frozen Finish Gulf simply adds to the already beautiful gardens and palace, not to mention, in winter the entrance to the park is free!

Gatchina

This other royal residence is an equally beautiful day trip from Saint-Petersburg. Although rarely visited by foreign tourists due to it being slightly further away than Peterhof or Pushkin it is still a must see. Catherine the Great gifted Gatchina to her favorite Count Orlov but her son Pavel I later inherited it. The place is simply mesmerizing – magnificent park with remarkable and unusual pavilions and ice-free lakes surround an English looking castle. Straight out of a fairy tale, Gatchina is unlike any other palace in or around Saint-Petersburg. Did you know that the BBC’s latest version of “War and Peace” was filmed here?

Pavlovsk

 

Breathtaking regardless of the time of year or weather, the Pavlovsk parks are world famous and rightfully so. Although most of the countryside surrounding Saint Petersburg is flat, the Pavlovsk Palace towers above its park on a small hill. In the palace, splendid examples of 17-18th-century furniture, paintings and interior decorations as well as antique statues belonging to the imperial family or even gifts from the likes of Marie Antoinette. Pavlovsk park is so big that you can not only walk but in winter even ski, toboggan or sled from the top of the hills. It’s a wonderful day out come winter or summer, come sun or snow and if you are lucky the red squirrels, masters of the park, might even pay you a visit and will gladly eat nuts out of the palm of your hand.

Monrepos Park

Monrepos Park is, although a little way from Saint-Petersburg, a wonderful trip through time. Situated in the medieval, sea town of Vyborg 150km away from Saint-Petersburg with its ancient 13th-century castle, it is a lovely change from the baroque palaces of the city center. This unique region where Swedish, Finnish and Russian descendants all lived together tells of a time before Saint-Petersburg was built when Russia was still at war with Sweden. Monrepos Park is a wonderful, calm, peaceful and romantic break from city life.

Korela Fortress

In the North West of Russia, one may find many antique monuments dating back to Old Russia and differing much from Saint-Petersburg. Among them is the fortress of Korela, built in the 13th century on the site of the grave of Rurik, the founder of the first royal Russian dynasty. The fortress is also built on the site of an ancient trade route “from the Varangians to the Greeks”, today inside the fortress is a fascinating museum recounting the life of Slavic people as well as ancient Russia.

Alexandria Park

This park, adjacent to the Peterhof Gardens, was named after Empress Alexandra, wife of Nicholas I. It was gifted to her by her husband and later, the royal family retired there during Russian summers, away from the hustle and bustle of court. The stunning landscaped parks and numerous palace-cottages built in the Gothic style make for a beautiful stroll, as once did the Russian royal family. There is even a Gothic chapel, adding yet again to the diversity of Saint-Petersburg architecture!

Oranienbaum Museum-Reserve

The word “Oranienbaum” is translated from German and means “orange tree”. So beloved by the lands first owner Alexander Menshikov, friend and companion to Peter the Great, these fruit trees were planted in a pavilion in great numbers and gave their name to the estate. Later, Catherine the Great lived here before becoming empress and Oranienbaum remains the only royal residence to have survived WWII. Come and walk the grounds, pavilions and palace that truly, have not changed for near 300 years.

Ski Resorts

If you prefer an active holiday in the Saint-Petersburg countryside then there is much to choose from. Although the city itself is located on a coastal plain, to the North the city is surrounded by hills, many equipped with modern ski resorts. Renting skis and other equipment is easily done ready to enjoy a frosty action-packed winter escape. The resorts are all equipped with hotels and spas, so relax and rest up, no need to rush back to the city center!

Coast of the Gulf of Finland

One of the most popular Saint-Petersburg districts is Kurortny. Greatly appreciated by the locals and mostly unknown to tourists, it is a wonderful break from the hubbub of the city. Even in winter, take long walks along the frozen bay and admire the icy desert and frozen sea or swim in pools overlooking the snow-covered trees, book a day at the spa and enjoy a taste of the local cuisine; grill cooked dishes of meat or fresh trout, only just fished from holes in the ice by specially equipped fishermen!