Best Churches and Religious Sites, Saint Petersburg: 9 Places to See

This guide to the Best Churches and Religious Sites in Saint Petersburg has nine entries, for visitors who want to see the city’s great cathedrals and some of its less expected places of worship. Many are among the most photographed buildings in Russia, but they are also working churches, so it helps to know what is open and when.

The list covers imperial cathedrals, a lavra, a baroque naval church, the Smolny Cathedral, a synagogue and the first Buddhist temple in Europe. Each entry says what to look for, which part of the city it is in and one practical fact, so you can group them into a walk instead of a scattered list.

At a Glance

#	Place	Best for	Good to know
1	Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, Saint Petersburg	Best for mosaics	Griboyedov Canal embankment; Nevsky Prospekt or Gostiny Dvor metro, then a walk; paid; reported closed Wednesdays, so confirm on the official site.
2	Saint Isaac's Cathedral, Saint Petersburg	Best for views	Saint Isaac's Square; Admiralteyskaya metro; paid, with a separate ticket for the colonnade; closed Wednesdays; the evening colonnade opens in season.
3	Kazan Cathedral, Saint Petersburg	Best working cathedral	Nevsky Prospekt 25; Nevsky Prospekt or Gostiny Dvor metro; free to enter; open daily, check the service times.
4	Peter and Paul Fortress, Saint Petersburg	Best for imperial tombs	Hare Island; Gorkovskaya or Petrogradskaya metro, then a walk; the grounds are free, the cathedral is paid; check the official site for hours.
5	Alexander Nevsky Lavra, Saint Petersburg	Best for pilgrimage	Ploshchad Aleksandra Nevskogo metro; the grounds are free, the cemeteries are paid; check the official site for hours.
6	Smolny Cathedral, Saint Petersburg	Best baroque exterior	Smolny Square; check the nearest metro on the official site; paid for the interior and the platform; hours vary.
7	Saint Nicholas Naval Cathedral, Saint Petersburg	Best for a quieter visit	Nikolskaya Square, near the Mariinsky Theatre; Sadovaya or Spasskaya metro, then a walk; free to enter; check the service times.
8	Grand Choral Synagogue	Best for Jewish heritage	Lermontovsky Prospekt; Sadovaya or Spasskaya metro, then a walk; visits by arrangement; check the official site for tours.
9	Datsan Gunzechoinei	Best for a Buddhist temple	Primorsky District, north of the centre; check the nearest metro and hours on the official site; free to enter, donations welcome.

How We Chose

The entries come from official information and reliable references, not from personal visits. The list is a selection, not a ranking.

• Open to visitors: every place can be visited by tourists; opening days and service times change, so confirm them on the official site before you go.
• Something specific to see: mosaics, colonnades, tombs, views or a distinctive faith and architecture.
• Range: Orthodox cathedrals, a monastery, and a synagogue and Buddhist temple that show the city’s other communities.
• Location: most are in the centre and close to a metro station, so they combine easily with other sights.

1. Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, Saint Petersburg – Best for mosaics

The church was built between 1883 and 1907 on the spot by the Griboyedov Canal where Alexander II was mortally wounded in 1881. Its coloured domes and patterned facades look like a church from medieval Moscow, and inside, mosaics cover almost every surface.

It is run as a museum and memorial, not as a parish, which is why it is a ticketed visit.

Good to know: Griboyedov Canal embankment; Nevsky Prospekt or Gostiny Dvor metro, then a walk; paid; reported closed Wednesdays, so confirm on the official site.

Tip: See it from the Kazan Bridge on Nevsky Prospekt for the best view of the domes.

2. Saint Isaac's Cathedral, Saint Petersburg – Best for views

Saint Isaac's was designed by Auguste de Montferrand, opened in 1858 and stands on Saint Isaac's Square under a large gilded dome. Inside, the walls and columns are covered in marble and paintings by well-known Russian artists.

The colonnade around the dome has views over the Admiralty and the rooftops of the centre, and it is a separate visit from the interior.

Good to know: Saint Isaac's Square; Admiralteyskaya metro; paid, with a separate ticket for the colonnade; closed Wednesdays; the evening colonnade opens in season.

Tip: If you have only time for one, go up the colonnade on a clear day.

3. Kazan Cathedral, Saint Petersburg – Best working cathedral

The Kazan Cathedral was built between 1801 and 1811 to a design by Andrey Voronikhin, with a great curved colonnade that opens onto Nevsky Prospekt. It holds the Kazan icon of the Mother of God, and it is a working cathedral with daily services.

It is free to enter and often the easiest place in the centre to see a service.

Good to know: Nevsky Prospekt 25; Nevsky Prospekt or Gostiny Dvor metro; free to enter; open daily, check the service times.

Tip: Walk through the colonnade and into the small garden behind it for a calmer view of the building.

4. Peter and Paul Fortress, Saint Petersburg – Best for imperial tombs

The Peter and Paul Cathedral stands in the centre of the fortress and is the first stone church in the city. It is built in the Petrine baroque style, with a gilded spire topped by an angel that is a landmark across the river.

Inside are the tombs of most of the Russian emperors from Peter the Great onwards.

Good to know: Hare Island; Gorkovskaya or Petrogradskaya metro, then a walk; the grounds are free, the cathedral is paid; check the official site for hours.

Tip: Allow time for the walk across the bridge from the Petrogradskaya side, which gives a good first view.

5. Alexander Nevsky Lavra, Saint Petersburg – Best for pilgrimage

The lavra is a large monastery complex at the end of Nevsky Prospekt, founded in the early eighteenth century. The Trinity Cathedral holds the relics of Saint Alexander Nevsky, and pilgrims come to venerate them.

The grounds include old cemeteries where many famous Russians are buried, which are visited separately from the churches.

Good to know: Ploshchad Aleksandra Nevskogo metro; the grounds are free, the cemeteries are paid; check the official site for hours.

Tip: Go in the morning, when the churches are quieter and the services are on.

6. Smolny Cathedral, Saint Petersburg – Best baroque exterior

The Smolny Cathedral was designed by Rastrelli for Empress Elizabeth and completed later under Nicholas I, with the work finished by Stasov. Its white and blue facade and five domes stand over the Neva, and it is one of the most graceful buildings in the city.

It is used as a concert and exhibition space, and visitors can climb to an observation platform.

Good to know: Smolny Square; check the nearest metro on the official site; paid for the interior and the platform; hours vary.

Tip: Take the climb to the platform for the view over the cathedral's domes and the river.

7. Saint Nicholas Naval Cathedral, Saint Petersburg – Best for a quieter visit

The cathedral was built for the sailors of the Russian navy and is known for its blue and white baroque facade and a separate bell tower. It is a working parish church, dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the patron of sailors.

Inside, the upper and lower churches have a warm and intimate feel, with far fewer visitors than the big sights.

Good to know: Nikolskaya Square, near the Mariinsky Theatre; Sadovaya or Spasskaya metro, then a walk; free to enter; check the service times.

Tip: Combine it with an evening at the Mariinsky Theatre, which is close by.

8. Grand Choral Synagogue – Best for Jewish heritage

The synagogue dates from 1893 and is the centre of the city's Jewish community. It is an architectural monument as well as a place of worship, with a large prayer hall and a richly decorated interior.

Visits are usually arranged as tours, so check the arrangements before you go.

Good to know: Lermontovsky Prospekt; Sadovaya or Spasskaya metro, then a walk; visits by arrangement; check the official site for tours.

Tip: Contact the synagogue or its official site in advance, since visiting times are limited.

9. Datsan Gunzechoinei – Best for a Buddhist temple

The datsan, built in 1915, is described as the first Buddhist temple in Europe. It stands on the north side of the city, with a distinctive Tibetan-style design that looks very different from the Orthodox churches of the centre.

It is an active temple, and visitors are welcome to look around quietly.

Good to know: Primorsky District, north of the centre; check the nearest metro and hours on the official site; free to enter, donations welcome.

Tip: Allow a separate trip, since it is far from the main sights.

Russia Vibes Tips

• Dress for the building. In working churches, such as the Kazan Cathedral, the Naval Cathedral and the Lavra, cover your shoulders and knees, and women usually cover their heads.
• Look for service times. A church during a service is atmospheric but not suited to walking around, so come at another time if you want to look at the interior.
• Group by area: Savior on Spilled Blood and the Kazan Cathedral are minutes apart on Nevsky Prospekt, while Saint Isaac's is near the Admiralty and the Naval Cathedral is by the Mariinsky Theatre.
• Photography rules differ. Some churches ban photos inside or during services, so ask before you take out a camera.
• Use the colonnades and platforms for views. Saint Isaac's and the Smolny Cathedral give two very different panoramas of the city.
• Keep one half-day for the Lavra and Smolny Cathedral, which are in the east of the centre and are best seen together.

Explore Nearby Best Churches and Religious Sites, Saint Petersburg

Sights near Best Churches and Religious Sites, Saint Petersburg

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  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Nevsky Prospekt, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: 2–4 hours for the main stretch; a full day with stops
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  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Palace Square, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: 30–60 minutes, more with the Hermitage
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  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Mariinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: An evening: about 3 hours for a performance
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  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Summer Garden, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: 1–2 hours
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  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Bronze Horseman, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: 20–40 minutes
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  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Saint Michael's Castle, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: 1.5–2 hours

Browse more: All Culture Lists · All Guides · All Guides in Saint Petersburg · All Saint Petersburg

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FAQ

Which church should I see first in Saint Petersburg?

The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is the most photographed and the most striking inside. If you only have time for one working cathedral, the Kazan Cathedral is free and right on Nevsky Prospekt.

Is the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood the same as the Kazan Cathedral?

No. They are separate buildings, a short walk apart. The Savior on Spilled Blood has coloured domes and mosaics, and the Kazan Cathedral has a curved colonnade on Nevsky Prospekt.

Can I enter a church during a service?

In working churches you can usually come in, but stand quietly at the back and do not walk around. Services are the best time to hear the choir, but not the best time to look at the interior.

Which churches are free to enter?

The Kazan Cathedral and many working churches are free. The Savior on Spilled Blood, Saint Isaac's and the fortress cathedral are paid. Check the official sites for the current rules.

Is the Saint Isaac's colonnade included in the entrance?

No, the colonnade is a separate visit from the interior. You can do one or both, so decide which matters more to you, and check the official site for hours.

Can I visit the synagogue and the Buddhist temple?

Yes, both can be visited, but arrangements differ. The synagogue usually needs a prearranged visit, and the datsan is an active temple that welcomes quiet visitors. Check their official sites.

Do I need a guide for the churches?

Not strictly. Audio guides and apps work in the larger sights, and a guide helps with the stories behind the mosaics and the imperial tombs, especially at the Savior on Spilled Blood and the fortress.

Can I pay with a foreign bank card?

This varies, and the sanctions rules of your own country may restrict the use of Russian payment services, so check this yourself before you travel. Plan an alternative way to pay for tickets.

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