Anichkov Palace
With an expansive façade facing the Fontanka River, this former Imperial palace was designed for the 18th-century Empress Elizabeth. The Bolsheviks turned it into first a museum, then a massive home for after-school clubs. Now, it’s officially the Saint Petersburg Palace of Youth Creativity, hosting activities from art to music and sports.
The basics
While Anichkov Palace is not generally open to the public, it’s a beautiful place to walk by as you explore the surrounding neighborhood. Since it’s an important landmark with fascinating history, the exterior is an included stop on many tours of the city, from short guided excursions to multi-day itineraries. The interior remains richly decorated, and some private guides may be able to arrange for special tours on request.
Things to know before you go
- This is a great destination for architecture buffs. Spot styles from baroque to neoclassical here.
- Photographers hoping to capture the broad facade should pack a wide-angle lens.
- Don’t miss the gardens here, which include tulips blooming every spring.
How to get there
The palace is located at 39 Nevsky Avenue, where the street intersects with the Fontanka River. A nearby transit stop on Nevsky Avenue, Dvorets Tvorchestva Yunykh, has service from many buses (#3, #7, #22, #24, #27, #181, and #191) and trolley buses (#1, #5, #7, #10, #11, and #22). Taxis are also plentiful in the area.
Trip ideas
When to get there
With warm weather and long days, the months of June through September are a popular time to visit Saint Petersburg. In the summer, the city celebrates a White Nights Festival, with music, arts, and performances. Winter can be very cold, but the shoulder seasons of spring and fall are great for mild temperatures and fewer crowds.
- Nevsky Prospekt
- Fabergé Museum
- Alexandrinsky Theatre
- Monument to Catherine II (Pamyatnik Ekaterina II)
- The Anna Akhmatova Museum
- Yusupov Palace (Yusupovsky Dvorets)
- Russian Museum of Ethnography
- Mikhailovsky Castle (St. Michael's Castle)
- Dostoevsky Museum
- State Russian Museum (Russkiy Muzey)
- Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan (Kazansky Sobor)
- Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
- Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines
- State Memorial Museum of Leningrad Defense and Siege
- Stroganov Palace (Stroganovsky Dvorets)