Like all tourists or just travel enthusiasts, we started our visit to Peterhof with the Upper Garden. We were greeted by a riot of tulips of various shapes and colors. The well-kept lawns, shady alleys, and neatly trimmed trees were impressive. There were two small fountains in the Upper Garden, the first of many. The weather was beautiful, and against the blue sky, the Peterhof Palace looked magnificent.
How to get there:
- From Avtovo Metro Station: Minibuses T-224, T-300, T-424; Buses No. 200, No. 210;
- From Leninsky Prospekt Metro Station: Minibuses T-103, T-420;
- From Prospekt Veteranov Metro Station: Minibuses T-343, T-639B;
- From Baltiysky Railway Station: Train to Novy Peterhof or Oranienbaum Station; from Novy Peterhof Station, 10 minutes by buses No. 344, No. 348, No. 350, No. 351, No. 352, No. 355, No. 356.
After circling the Peterhof Palace, we headed to the ticket offices to visit the Lower Garden—the main jewel of the entire complex. Note that the entrance to the Lower Garden is paid, and each tour is charged separately.
First, we entered the territory of the Lower Park, particularly the balustrade of the Peterhof Palace. The first thing that caught our eye was the crowds of tourists admiring the Grand Cascade and the statue of Samson from above. Don't be alarmed—there is always a free spot to take great photos. To jump ahead, the main crowd is on the balustrade and around Samson, but as you continue walking through the park, you will appreciate its size and realize that it is not too crowded.
Ticket Prices and Opening Hours:
- Grand Peterhof Palace
- Hours: Tue-Fri, Sun: 10:30 AM - 7:00 PM; Saturday: 10:30 AM - 9:00 PM
- Full ticket: 2000 rubles
- Lower Park
- Hours: Tue-Fri, Sun: 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM; Saturday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
- Full ticket: 1500 rubles
You can check the opening hours and ticket prices on the official website of the complex.
Visiting the park will take you all day, at least. Food in the park is quite expensive, so it's worth bringing sandwiches and water (which runs out quickly). Two of us had burgers using our last cash (cards are not accepted)—which explains why we took the bus home. If you plan to make purchases (souvenirs, etc.), bring cash.
Continuing on, after admiring the "Samson Tearing Open the Jaws of the Lion" fountain from above, we decided to go down directly to the fountain. We were intrigued by an invitation to the "Grand Cascade Grottoes" tour. The tour is very unusual—definitely worth taking. But that’s another story, read about it in our separate article.
Next, we went down to "Samson." "Samson" is mesmerizing. The statue symbolizes the power of Russia, victory over both Sweden and Nazi Germany. During the war with the Nazis, "Samson" was destroyed and later restored. The fountain's jets rise proudly. It is extraordinarily beautiful. And if you are at the fountain in good weather, look closely—you will see a rainbow. We would have continued admiring it, but it was time for the tour.
After the tour, we went diagonally to the right (if facing the Gulf of Finland from Samson, to the left) and ended up on a shady alley where we met a charming little squirrel focused on gnawing a nut, barely paying attention to the children attacking it from all sides. We quickly reached the Chess Mountain Cascade Square. There are two beautiful fountains on this square. Toilets and numerous fast-food kiosks are also located here.
After a short break, we moved on. Our path led to the trick fountains. It turns out that Peter had a certain sense of humor and liked to douse his guests with water unexpectedly. The fountains include a "water road," the "Oak" fountain, and the "Umbrella" fountain. The whole trick is that while walking along the road, admiring the oak, or sitting on the "Umbrella" bench, you risk getting soaked from head to toe at the most inopportune moment. Kids love it. We know how these fountains work, but we won’t reveal the secret to you. The most curious will figure it out by looking around.
Walking along the park's alleys, we naturally decided to head towards the Gulf of Finland. On the way, we encountered the "Sun" fountain. There were many fountains; we simply cannot describe them all. Each fountain is notable in its own way. The "Sun" is so named because at the top of the fountain is a sphere from which water jets are thrown out, creating rays. The sphere slowly rotates.
Our path to the Gulf of Finland was interrupted by a sign for the "Labyrinth." Since none of us had been there, we decided to see this engineering marvel. On the way, we had a chance to admire swans and ducks in a closed aviary. As for the labyrinth, it is the least labyrinth-like of all. There is nothing to do there. Don’t waste your time.
And finally, the Gulf of Finland. It immediately became cooler. The Gulf of Finland is always cold, so a swimsuit is not a must-have in Peterhof in the summer. But it offers a wonderful view of the city and the cable-stayed bridge (on a clear day). We walked along the road by the Gulf of Finland, occasionally dodging ubiquitous electric cars with tourists, and took pictures on all the lawns and by all the streams.
Gradually, we reached the "Dutch Courtyard." Peter, as you know, loved Holland and recreated a tiny corner of it here. The small courtyard is planted with stunningly beautiful scarlet tulips. In the center, naturally, is a fountain. In the courtyard corner, there is some entertainment for children, where they are sprinkled with water. But we did not go there. Those who go with children—try it, but take a raincoat for the child.
Tired, with worn-out shoes, and experiencing incredible pleasure from the walk, we decided to head home. We took the same route back. Our tireless photographer continued to take pictures. As we mentioned earlier, we took the bus home, which we do not recommend—use the minibus.
Finally, I want to say this: no matter how many times you visit St. Petersburg, you will always go to Peterhof. To admire the majestic jets of the fountains, enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the park, walk along its shady alleys, see the beautiful flower meadows, stand by the Gulf of Finland, or just feed a little fluffy squirrel.
