During the tourist season, St. Petersburg is filled with entertainers in various costumes: from great emperors to cartoon horses. On Nevsky Prospect, at almost every step, you can encounter promoters inviting people to visit tours of magnificent suburban palaces or take a cruise on the rivers and canals of St. Petersburg.
I’m sure many locals have long since stopped paying attention to these advertising slogans, as some are rushing to their business, others are picking up their children from school, and some are tiredly heading home after a long workday. Recently, my friends from another region of Russia visited St. Petersburg, and I decided to join them on a river cruise. I’m excited to share with you a story about this tour.
There are many points in the city where tourist boats depart. I’m sure many of them offer guests various routes and price levels. We started our journey from the pier near Peter and Paul Fortress. The cost of a one-hour cruise was 700 rubles (summer 2020). Payment could be made in cash or by bank card. Tickets are cheaper for pensioners and children.
The route passes many famous St. Petersburg landmarks: Trinity Square, the Aurora Cruiser, the Summer Garden and its palace, Mikhailovsky Castle, the "Chizhik-Pyzhik" statue, the Winter Canal embankment, the spit of Vasilyevsky Island, the Admiralty, and the Winter Palace. The trip ends at the walls of Peter and Paul Fortress.
It must be said that the city looks completely different from the water. You can’t get as close to the "Chizhik-Pyzhik" statue from the shore. And the unusual view from beneath the St. Petersburg bridges is inaccessible to pedestrians. During the cruise, we passed under a dozen bridges over the Neva and Moyka rivers.
I must also highlight the work of the tour guide. Although this business is highly commercialized, we had an excellent guide. Newcomers to the city will learn a lot of new things, while regular visitors and locals will have a great time listening to fascinating stories about familiar St. Petersburg landmarks. At the end of the trip, the guide recited beautiful poems about the Northern capital. You can also take great photos from the upper deck of the boat. If it starts to rain, the staff will provide you with a large umbrella.
In conclusion, I can say that this trip is an interesting alternative to bus or walking tours of the city. You can continue exploring St. Petersburg at the Peter and Paul Fortress, as mentioned earlier.
In summary:
- Fascinating trip with unique views of St. Petersburg;
- Excellent alternative to bus and walking tours;
- There are plenty of departure points in the city, so you can start from any convenient location.
