St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg
What makes it Russian at heart is the overwhelming scale and opulence of its palaces. With 3 million items on exhibit you couldnt get through the Hermitage in a year! You may also explore more dazzling palaces like Petrovorets, Pushkin and Pavlovsk, shop in the newly opened designer stores along busy Nevsky Prospekt, shiver at the looming fortress of Peter and Paul and wonder at immense quantities of gold, polished marbles and precious gems lavished on St. Isaacs Cathedral.
Attractions
While you're in St. Petersburg, take time to explore the Hermitage Museum. This museum is one of the world's greatest treasures and features more than 3 million exhibits. And that doesn't include the impressive building itself or its beautiful furnishings.
Activities
Explore the sights of St. Petersburg, including Peter and Paul Fortress, birthplace of modern St. Petersburg; St. Isaac Cathedral, the world's largest domed cathedral; and Palace Square, the rallying point of the 1917 Russian Revolution Visit Peterhof, the summer home of Peter the Great. Built under the supervision of the French architect Alexandre Le Blond, this town of palaces, fountains and parks rivals the great palaces of Versailles
Shopping
There are plenty of opportunities for souvenir shopping around St. Isaac's Square; the market near the Spilled Blood Cathedral offers everything from matrioshka dolls to hand-painted lacquer boxes in a wide range of quality and prices.Food
Typical Russian dishes include borscht, a beetroot soup; beef stroganoff, thin slices of beef braised with mushrooms, onions and sour cream; and the famous chicken kiev, chicken breasts wrapped around garlic butter, usually breaded and sauteed. The Russians are also famous for their caviar, often served with finely chopped hard-boiled egg and onion on blinis (miniature pancakes).Currency
The unit of currency in Russia is the ruble (RUR). It is a controlled currency, so it is illegal to bring it in to or remove it from the country. In the past, the U.S. dollar was widely accepted, but recent laws restrict the use of foreign currencies. For this reason, we recommend returning your unused rubles to the same exchange office where you purchased them.
