This Five-Day Itinerary, Saint Petersburg, is for visitors who want the centre and two imperial palaces without rushing. Three days cover the city on foot, and two days go out of town, one to the sea palace and one to the interiors.
The pace is steady, with one main visit a day and short walks between stops. By the end you will have seen the great museum, the main churches, the fortress, the fountains of Peterhof and the amber-lined halls of Tsarskoye Selo.
At a glance: Days one to three cover the centre, the churches and the fortress. Day four goes to Peterhof and day five to Tsarskoye Selo, each with a calm return in the evening.
Day 1: Palace Square and the Hermitage
A loop along the Neva with the museum in the middle of the day.
- Palace Square, Saint Petersburg – Start by the Alexander Column (20 minutes)
- State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg – Choose a focused route; see How to Buy Hermitage Museum Tickets, Saint Petersburg (3 hours)
- Bronze Horseman, Saint Petersburg – Walk through the Alexander Garden (20 minutes)
- Saint Isaac's Cathedral, Saint Petersburg – The interior and the colonnade (1.5 hours)
Tip: Check closing days; the museum and the cathedral close on different days.
Day 2: Nevsky Prospekt and the Russian Museum
The main avenue, two churches, a garden and a great museum.
- Kazan Cathedral, Saint Petersburg – The curved colonnade (30 minutes)
- Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, Saint Petersburg – The colourful church on the canal (45 minutes)
- Summer Garden, Saint Petersburg – A calm walk; check opening days (45 minutes)
- Saint Michael's Castle, Saint Petersburg – The imperial residence (45 minutes)
- State Russian Museum, Saint Petersburg – Russian art; check closing days (2 hours)
Tip: End at the Russian Museum and check its closing day first.
Day 3: The Fortress and Vasilyevsky Island
A longer walking day across the river, with the fortress, the cruiser and the Spit.
- Peter and Paul Fortress, Saint Petersburg – The city's birthplace (2 hours)
- Cruiser Aurora, Saint Petersburg – The museum ship (45 minutes)
- Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, Saint Petersburg – The Rostral Columns (45 minutes)
- Kunstkamera, Saint Petersburg – Peter the Great's museum (1 hour)
- Central Naval Museum, Saint Petersburg – The naval collection near the Spit (1 hour)
Tip: Use the metro for the bridge crossings.
Day 4: Peterhof
A full day at the sea palace, mostly outdoors.
- How to Get to Peterhof, Saint Petersburg – Choose train, bus or boat (1 hour each way)
- Peterhof Day Trip, Saint Petersburg – The Grand Cascade, the Lower Park and the palace (5 hours)
- Baltiysky Railway Station, Saint Petersburg – Return by train (30 minutes)
Tip: Go on a weekday and leave early.
Day 5: Tsarskoye Selo
A day among interiors and a park, with an early start to avoid queues.
- How to Get to Tsarskoye Selo, Saint Petersburg – Train and bus options (1 hour each way)
- Tsarskoye Selo Day Trip, Saint Petersburg – The Catherine Palace and the park (5 hours)
- Vitebsky Railway Station, Saint Petersburg – The return by train (30 minutes)
Tip: Book the palace in advance and check its closing day.
Russia Vibes Tips
- Keep days four and five on weekdays and flexible for the weather.
- Eat a proper lunch in town before each day trip; the palaces have limited choice.
- Do not put both palace trips on consecutive days if you tire easily; swap day five with a free day.
- On day three, check the Naval Museum's opening days before you go.
- For a Mariinsky evening, see How to Buy Mariinsky Theatre Tickets, Saint Petersburg.
Explore Nearby Five-Day Itinerary, Saint Petersburg
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Tsarskoye Selo Day Trip, Saint Petersburg: Amber Room, Palaces and ParkMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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Browse more: All First-Time Itineraries · All Itineraries · All Itineraries in Saint Petersburg · All Saint Petersburg
FAQ
Is five days a good length for Saint Petersburg?
Yes, for the centre and two palace trips at an easy pace.
Which palace first?
Peterhof if the weather is good, Tsarskoye Selo if it is not.
Can I swap the days?
Yes, but keep each trip on a day when its palace is open.
How long are the day trips?
About five hours on site plus travel. See the day-trip pages.
Do I need to book?
Yes for the Hermitage and the Catherine Palace in busy months.
Is this plan for families?
Yes, with shorter museum visits.
What about Pavlovsk?
It can replace Tsarskoye Selo or be added to it; see Pavlovsk Day Trip, Saint Petersburg.
What if I have a week?
See the One-Week Itinerary, Saint Petersburg.
Russia Vibes is a one-person project. A coffee keeps it going
Last updated: October 17, 2026.
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