You have 72 hours to see the capital of the Russian Empire. This 3 day Saint Petersburg itinerary prioritizes the heavy hitters without burning you out. You will cover the State Hermitage Museum, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, and the Peterhof Grand Palace. Most of the city center is walkable, though the metro remains the most efficient way to cross the Neva River. Wear comfortable shoes. Saint Petersburg is a city of granite and water, built for grandeur and long walks. This guide cuts the fluff and gets you to the best views, history, and food.
Day 1: Empires and Canals
Morning
Start your first day at the State Hermitage Museum. It opens at 11:00 AM (closed Mondays). Buy tickets online in advance to skip the main queue. The museum contains over three million items, but prioritize the State Rooms in the Winter Palace and the Italian Renaissance galleries. Walk through the Jordan Staircase for the best photo op. Exit into Palace Square, the city’s geographic center, where the Alexander Column stands. It is nearly twice the height of Nelson's Column in London and stays in place by its own weight alone.
Afternoon
Walk ten minutes to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. Its multi-colored onion domes are an architectural outlier in a city of Neoclassical stone. The interior is covered in 7,500 square meters of intricate mosaics. After the church, walk along the Griboyedov Canal toward Nevsky Prospekt. Grab lunch at Marketplace or Singer Cafe. The latter is located in the Dom Knigi (House of Books) building. It offers a direct view of Kazan Cathedral across the street. Spend an hour browsing the bookstore; it is the most famous in Russia.
Evening
Finish the day at Kazan Cathedral, an active place of worship modeled after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It is free to enter, but remain quiet and respectful of the service. For dinner, head to Rubinshteyna Street. This is the city's primary dining strip with dozens of bars and restaurants packed into one square kilometer. Try Duo Gastropub for modern Russian cuisine. If the weather is clear, book a Late Night Canal Cruise. The perspective from the water at dusk is the best way to understand the city's "Venice of the North" moniker.
Day 2: The Foundations of the City
Morning
Cross the Troitsky Bridge to the Peter and Paul Fortress. This is where the city began in 1703. Enter the Peter and Paul Cathedral to see the tombs of the Romanov monarchs, from Peter the Great to Nicholas II. The fortress opens at 9:00 AM, but the cathedral opens at 10:00 AM. After the cathedral, walk the fortress walls for a panoramic view of the Neva River and the Winter Palace across the water. It is a 20-minute walk from the Gorkovskaya metro station.
Afternoon
Take the metro or a taxi to St. Isaac’s Cathedral. This is one of the largest domed structures in the world. The interior is heavy with malachite, lapis lazuli, and gold leaf. Do not skip the Colonnade. You must climb 262 steps, but the 360-degree view of the city center is unmatched. From here, walk to the Bronze Horseman statue in Senate Square. It is the city's most famous monument, commissioned by Catherine the Great to honor Peter the Great.
Evening
Spend your second evening at the Mariinsky Theatre. This is the spiritual home of Russian ballet. Book tickets months in advance for the "Old Stage" (Mariinsky I) to experience the 19th-century imperial atmosphere. If ballet isn't your speed, head to New Holland Island. This former naval shipyard is now a renovated public park with galleries, boutiques, and an ice rink in winter. Eat at The Bottle House, a circular building filled with specialized food stalls and craft beer bars.
Day 3: The Russian Versailles
Morning
Dedicated your final morning to Peterhof, located about 30 kilometers outside the city. The most efficient way to get there is the Hydrofoil, which departs from the pier behind the Hermitage. It takes 40 minutes and drops you directly at the Lower Park. Focus on the Grand Cascade, a massive system of 64 fountains that operate without pumps using natural spring pressure. Aim to be there by 11:00 AM when the fountains are turned on to the sound of classical music.
Afternoon
After exploring the Peterhof gardens, take a local bus or "marshrutka" (minibus) to the nearby Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin). If you are short on time, choose one or the other, but an ambitious 3 day Saint Petersburg itinerary can fit both if you start at 8:00 AM. The Catherine Palace is famous for the Amber Room, a chamber decorated in amber panels backed with gold leaf. The gardens surrounding the palace are vast and offer a quieter alternative to the crowds in the palace.
Evening
Return to the city via the Saint Petersburg Metro. It is an attraction in its own right. Visit the Avtovo and Kirovsky Zavod stations on the Red Line (Line 1). These look like underground palaces with marble columns and chandeliers. For your final dinner, visit Yusupov Palace on the Moika River. While you can tour the palace earlier in the day to see where Rasputin was assassinated, the surrounding neighborhood is perfect for a quiet final meal. Try Palkin for a high-end, traditional Russian experience to close out your trip.
Where to stay for this itinerary
Stay in the Tsentralny District near Nevsky Prospekt or the Fontanka River. Specifically, look for hotels between the Hermitage and the Mayakovskaya metro station. This puts you within walking distance of 70% of this itinerary and ensures easy access to the Green and Red metro lines for trips to the outskirts. It is the most practical base for a short stay.
Add a day if you have time
If you have a fourth day, visit the Fabergé Museum in the Shuvalov Palace. It houses the world's largest collection of works by Carl Fabergé, including nine of the famous Imperial Easter Eggs. Spend the afternoon at the Russian Museum, which focuses exclusively on Russian art from icons to the 20th-century avant-garde. It is less crowded than the Hermitage and provides a deeper look into the national identity through painting and sculpture.