St Petersburg is a city that is full of important monuments and buildings that reflect Russia’s cultural achievements and will impress any visitor. It’s unique cultural attractions and famous icons, such as the Alexander Nevsky Monastery; the Cathedral of St Peter and Paul; and the Summer Palace as well as it’s plethora of fascinating museums is enough to entertain visitors for a number of days.

Academy of Fine Arts Museum 
The Academy of Fine Arts Museum is based in the former building of the Russian Academy of Fine Arts, from where many prominent Russian artists graduated. Graduation and study projects completed by the academy's famous graduates form the basis of many of the museum's displays and exhibits and offer an interesting insight into the artistic education offered by St Petersburg in the past. Prominent local artists also get to exhibit their works in the Titian Hall, making this museum a must for anyone interested in Russian art from the past and the present.

Alexander Nevsky Monastery 
Comprising a complex containing some of the city's oldest buildings, the Alexander Nevsky Monastery is a must for anyone interested in Russian history. The monastery itself dates back to 1712, when a wooden church was first erected on the site; the monastery's construction began shortly after. One of the greatest attractions of the complex is its graveyards, which are home to the remains of many famous names from Russian history. In the Tikhvin Cemetery, visitors can check out the graves of Tchaikovsky, Rubinshtein, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Dostoevsky and Glinka, while in the Lazarus Cemetery are the graves of Starov, Quarenghi, Rossi and other famous architects who shaped the city.

Cathedral of St Peter and Paul 
As the oldest church in the city and also its second tallest building, the Cathedral of St Peter and Paul is one of the St Petersburg's most notable landmarks and attractions. The building is closely associated with both the city's history and the Romanov Dynasty, and it offers visitors both aesthetic and culturally valuable sights both inside and out. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the cathedral is its graveyard, which contains the remains of the majority of Russia's Romanov rulers, from Peter the Great onward. Peter's grave is a popular attraction and it still attracts flowers from visitors. Other famous Romanov characters buried here include all three Alexanders, both Catherines, both Nicholases, Elizabeth, Paul, Peter III and Anne.

Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood 
Of both religious and historic interest, the Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood is so named on account of being the scene at which Alexander II was fatally wounded during the successful attempt on his life in 1881. The church is outstanding on account of its 16th and 17th century Russian architectural style, which stands in stark contrast to the Baroque, classical and modernist buildings that surround it. The interior is magnificent and it features thousands of square feet of mosaics and an altar made entirely from precious stones.

Hermitage Museum 
The Hermitage Museum is hailed as one of the world's oldest and biggest combined art and history facilities, with a hefty six buildings dedicated to displaying its vast collections. The Hermitage collection is the museum's finest collection of artistic works, with pieces by famous artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Michelangelo, Gauguin, Picasso and Matisse. Among the museum's other collections are those featuring Russian imperial regalia and ancient gold from Western Asia and Eastern Europe. Visit this site for for further information about The Hermitage.

Russian Museum 
Dating back to 1898, the Russian Museum is based in the magnificent Mikhaylovsky Palace and is hailed as the world's largest museum of Russian art. The facility is home to some 400,000 works, which feature sculpture, paintings by artists such as Rublev, Levitan, Shubin, Fedotov, Repin and Kiprensky, and graphic works in a variety of other media. Furthermore, at any one time there can be up to 50 temporary exhibitions on show, with the talents of modern Russian artists commonly showcased.

Steam and Stalin 
Hidden behind the decaying, disused Varshavsky Station is the outdoor museum known as Steam and Stalin, a popular attraction with locomotive and local history enthusiasts. Featuring one of the finest collections of Soviet stream trains in the country, the museum offers an insight into the development of Russia from an angle not offered elsewhere. Highlights of the museum include a SO-2413 locomotive featuring the slogan ‘Onwards towards communism!’ and an L-2298 locomotive with Lenin and Stalin painted on its nose. The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 17:00.

Summer Palace of Tsar Peter the Great 
Peter the Great is such a prominent and integral part of the city's history that many of the city's attractions are in some way associated with him. The Summer Palace, which was the emperor's private residence, was constructed between 1710 and 1712 by Domenico Trezzini, St Petersburg's most celebrated architect. The property is relatively small and features just 14 rooms, with each telling a different story about its previous occupants, Peter and his wife Catherine. Guided tours of the palace are available, or alternatively visitors are free to peruse the property at their own leisure.

Vladimirsky Cathedral 
Situated on Vladimirsky prospect, Vladimirsky Cathedral is a striking piece of architecture that lists among the city's most notable buildings. The church's interior features some truly breathtaking décor, while on the second floor, the Icons are certainly worth checking out. The church is still an active religious facility, so visitors should avoid entering for sightseeing during services and show reverence at all times.

Browse the city's extensive selection of museums and art galleries, where history and culture await in a variety of media. Included among the most notable is the State Russian Museum, where some 400,000 exhibits from a variety of eras are on show in the magnificent Mikhailovsky Palace building. Among other highlights, the Aleksander Suvorov Memorial Museum offers exhibits devoted to the prolific Russian generalissimo, Alexander Suvorov, while the St Petersburg Zoological Museum offers an impressive collection of over 40,000 exhibits of animal life from every part of the world.

Boat trips along the Neva River are pleasant way to spend a few hours in the morning or evening and to get a different perspective on the city. Trips can also be made along the Gulf of Finland and the city’s canals, providing the visitors with the opportunity to see some sights otherwise unavailable.

St Petersburg has many pleasant parks and gardens at which you can head to escape the chaos of the city. Park Pobedy is a popular spot in the winter months on account of its frozen lake, which is ideal for ice skating; the same lake lends itself to boating and water skiing during the summer months. Meanwhile, Primorsky Victory Park offers ice skating, biking and the Dino Ostrov amusement park which features a range of attractions aimed at thrill seekers. Yelagin Park, Summer Garden and Palace and Tavricheskiy Garden are among other popular St Petersburg greenbelt areas.

In an evening, head for one of the city's theatres, where world famous opera and ballet companies displays their skills. The Mariinsky Theatre is perhaps the best place to catch a ballet, with classics such as Swan Lake airing regularly; operas such as Mazepa and Eugene Onegin can also be seen at the same venue. The Akimov State Academic Comedy Theatre is the best place to head to catch some of the city's top satirical performances.

Eating out in the city is a must and fine restaurants in the centre include Demidov, Udachny Vystrel, and the Astoria Casino Club Restaurant. Take the time to explore and you'll find cheaper options where the service might not be so good, but the atmosphere and the evening entertainment will be a whole lot livelier.

Head out of the city and check out some of the attractions in neighbouring regions. Among notable spots, Peterhof features Peter's Palace, which is commonly touted as Russia's answer to Versailles, while Gatchina Palace, Kronshtadt Naval Base and Pavlovsk Palace and Gardens are also worthy of mention.