Friends, just a couple of weeks ago, I published an article in my blog about the newest observation deck in our city, located on the bell tower of the Vladimir Cathedral. While the warm summer is still here, I decided to visit another similar attraction: the observation deck of the Kazan Cathedral on Nevsky Prospekt. This site was added to the list of interesting places in the city on the Neva in May of this year.
How to Get There by Metro
The address of Kazan Cathedral is Kazanskaya Square, 2. Nearby, you'll find the Nevsky Prospekt – Gostiny Dvor metro interchange station and the Admiralteyskaya station.
According to the cathedral’s website, the observation deck is open daily from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The admission fee is 250 rubles (as of August 2022). You can only ascend as part of a group, with guided tours scheduled at specific times. For instance, we waited about an hour for our tour. Guests gather near the representative desk of the excursion bureau, located inside the cathedral building to the left of the entrance.
Ascending to the Observation Deck
Magnificent Kazan Cathedral stands on a site where an older church once stood. The current structure was designed by architect Andrey Voronikhin and built between 1801 and 1811.
The observation deck is located on the eastern wing of the cathedral’s colonnade. From here, you can enjoy a splendid view of Nevsky Prospekt, the Singer House, a small section of the Griboyedov Canal, and some prominent landmarks of the city center, such as the Duma Tower, the Church of St. Catherine, and the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. However, only the domes of the latter two are visible. This vantage point also provides an excellent opportunity to examine the dome and facade details of Kazan Cathedral itself.
Unlike many other observation decks in the city, access to the colonnade of Kazan Cathedral is only allowed in the company of a guide. The tour is divided into several parts. First, visitors ascend to the evening children’s schoolroom, where the guide shares the history of the cathedral. For instance, I found it fascinating to learn that during the time when the Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism was housed in the cathedral, the relics of Alexander Nevsky were stored in its attic.
The second part of the tour takes place directly on the observation deck. Here, the guide continues their narrative before allowing time for everyone to take photographs. The deck itself is quite small, occupying only a modest section above the colonnade.
After exploring the surroundings from above, visitors return to the evening schoolroom, where the guide concludes the story. The group then heads back to the starting point of the tour. As for the climb itself, I found it to be the easiest among similar ascents I’ve done elsewhere in the city—the observation deck is relatively low compared to others.
If you’re interested in other observation decks along Nevsky Prospekt, I recommend climbing the Duma Tower or visiting the Karl Bulla Historical Photography Fund. Both offer excellent views of the landmarks along Saint Petersburg’s main thoroughfare.
Have a nice trip!
