In which quarter house in St. Petersburg?

Are you going to Russia soon to visit St. Petersburg? Discover the best areas to stay in St. Petersburg.

Formerly known as Petrograd (1914-1924), then Leningrad (1924-1991), St. Petersburg is the second largest and most populous city (5,281,579 inhabitants) of the Russian Federation after Moscow. So much to tell you that staying in St. Petersburg is expensive, you will have to book your accommodation well in advance.

It is also the second largest city in Europe, with great architectural richness for a colorful visit. Capital of the Russian Empire from 1712 to 1917, St. Petersburg – nicknamed the “North Venice” – has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990. Built at the bottom of the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea, the city of St. Petersburg is gigantic, but it is recommended to stay in the historic centre. Here are the neighborhoods to sleep in St. Petersburg.

The historic centre

The central district consists of all sights and activities of interest and everything is accessible within a 20-minute walk. This is the neighborhood where to sleep in St. Petersburg if your wallet is at the height of the place, because of course, like any central position, it is there that the prices of the apartments and hotels reach their maximum ceiling.

The famous Nevsky Avenue, on both sides of the Neva, is the main artery of the city. With a length of 4.5 kilometers, it is very lively, and is close to historical monuments – including the Palace Square and its obelisk, the Stroganov Palace, the Winter Palace, etc. –, trendy bars and restaurants, public gardens – Parc Aleksandrovskiy Sad, Champ de Mars, Jardin d’été, Jardin Mikhaïlovski, Jardin de Tauride -, museums and luxury boutiques. On the other side of the northern shore – Kalinine district – stop at the train station in Finland, where Lenin came to launch the Bolshevik Revolution of October 1917. It is also the neuralgic heart of nightlife: stay here if you love festive and commercial neighborhoods.

Rubinshteyna Street

This street is one of the most famous in the city, it offers a central position to sleep in St. Petersburg. Numerous restaurants, cafes and bars, or other karaokes play the street in an atmosphere that can be noisy at night. This is the party district in St. Petersburg. Accessible on foot, the Hermitage Museum and the Cathedral of Saint-Sauveur-sur-le-Sang-Versé will complement your urban walks. To stay in this neighborhood, rent a room in a youth hostel, or a apartment on Airbnb because there are few hotels. Discover the Fontanka docks and the Griboïedov canal, to dive into the authentic St. Petersburg.

The district of Amirauté

Here's a more excited neighborhood, but also quieter. The district is bordered by the Néva, coated by the canals and houses many theatres – Mariinsky theatre, Young Spectators theatre, Fontanka theatre, etc. - it is a historical and cultural district. The district has several interesting sites to visit, such as the Amirauté shipyards or the Great Choral Synagogue. In the area, many bars, restaurants, shops and shopping malls are located along Sadovaïa Street.

Petrogradsky district

Composed of several islands in the north of the city centre and the delta of the Néva, you will find tourist activities for the big and small as well as for the fairytales of History: the Divo Ostrov amusement park, recipient of the title of best amusement park in Russia, the zoo of Leningrad, the fortress Pierre-et-Paul, or the botanical garden of St. Petersburg. It’s a neighborhood where to sleep if you’re looking to escape the swelling and vacarma of the city centre.

Main photo credit : Flickr – whereisemil