The Lions’ Descent Pier, known in Russian as Spusk so Lvami, is a broad granite staircase that runs down from the Admiralty Embankment to the Neva, at the foot of the Palace Bridge. It was built between 1820 and 1824 to a design by Carlo Rossi, the architect of Palace Square, and it is guarded by stone-plinthed lions that are among the best-known in the city.
Today it works as a landing for sightseeing boats and, in the navigation season, for the fast Meteor boats to Peterhof. The nearest metro is Admiralteyskaya on Line 5, about ten minutes’ walk away. First-time visitors often confuse it with the Palace Pier on the Palace Embankment and with the neighbouring Senate Pier.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Пристань «Спуск со львами» |
|---|---|
| Type | River pier / station |
| Built / opened | 1824 |
| Architect(s) | Carlo Rossi |
| Address | Санкт-Петербург, Адмиралтейская набережная, 2 |
| District | Admiralteysky District |
| Metro | Admiralteyskaya (Line 5, about a 10 minute walk (around 600 metres) across Palace Square or along the Admiralty) Nevsky Prospekt (Line 2 and Line 3, longer walk through Palace Square; check a map for the best route) |
| Opening hours | The granite descent is always open to walk down; boats leave in the river navigation season, usually through the daytime and, on some days, in the evening for bridge-raising trips (as of October 2026 – check the boat operator's timetable). |
| Admission | Free to walk down to the water; you pay only for your boat trip, from a moderate level (₽₽) for a Neva trip to a higher level (₽₽₽) for the fast boat to Peterhof. |
| Best time to visit | The piers work from spring to autumn, with the most boats from late spring to early autumn. For a quieter visit, choose a weekday morning. Midday and summer weekends are the busiest, and the evening trips are best on a clear night. Off season, boats run only on a reduced schedule or not at all. |
| Recommended duration | 10 minutes to look, plus your boat trip |
| Last updated | October 16, 2026 |
How to Get to and from Lions' Descent Pier, Saint Petersburg
| Option | Duration | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk from Admiralteyskaya metro | About 10 minutes | Free | Recommended. Leave Admiralteyskaya on Line 5, walk past the Admiralty or across Palace Square to the Palace Bridge, and go down the steps by the lions. |
| Meteor boat to Peterhof | About 40 minutes each way | ₽₽₽ | Runs in the navigation season through the daytime. Check the timetable and the pier on the day; entry to the Peterhof Lower Park is separate. |
| Boat excursion on the Neva and canals | About 1 hour | ₽₽ | Boats leave in season from the descent and the neighbouring piers. Check the route, the operator and the pier on your ticket. |
| Walk to Nevsky Prospekt | About 15 to 20 minutes | Free | Walk through Palace Square to Nevsky Prospekt, or ride the metro from Admiralteyskaya to Nevsky Prospekt and Gostiny Dvor. |
₽ budget · ₽₽ moderate · ₽₽₽ upscale · ₽₽₽₽ splurge. Price levels are estimates compared with typical prices for visitors.
Why Visit Lions' Descent Pier, Saint Petersburg?
The descent is one of the few historic landings in the centre that is also a monument in its own right. The lions, the granite steps and the view across the river to the spit of Vasilyevsky Island make it worth a stop even if you are not boarding a boat.
It is also the usual starting point for the fast boat to Peterhof, which takes about forty minutes and is more comfortable than a bus on a hot summer day. Knowing which pier to use saves time, because the Palace Embankment and the English Embankment piers are not the same.
Highlights of Lions' Descent Pier, Saint Petersburg
The granite staircase by Rossi
The descent was built in 1820 to 1824 to a design by Carlo Rossi, as a ceremonial staircase to the water. It is a wide flight of granite steps that opens like a stage onto the Neva, with a parapet on either side.
Its position, at the entrance of the Palace Bridge and opposite Palace Square, makes it one of the most photographed landings on the river.
Tip: Walk down to the lowest step for the view of the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Strelka across the river.
The lions
Two sculpted lions stand on granite pedestals on either side of the stairs, turned towards each other. They were set up in 1832, by order of Nicholas I, and are among the most famous lions in the city.
They are a favourite photograph, and the steps below them are a popular place to sit.
Tip: Photograph the lions in the morning or at sunset; at midday the crowds fill the steps.
Meteor boats to Peterhof
In the navigation season, fast Meteor boats leave from the descent for Peterhof, a trip of about forty minutes each way to the pier in the Lower Park. The boats run through the daytime on most days.
The Lower Park has its own entrance ticket, separate from the boat, so check the Peterhof official site.
Tip: Buy your return trip before you leave Peterhof; the last boats in the evening fill up.
Trips to Kronstadt and the Gulf of Finland
Besides Peterhof, boats from the descent go to Kronstadt and on sea trips into the Gulf of Finland. The sea trips run only in good weather and in season.
Check the route and the duration on your ticket, because the trips differ in length and in what they include.
Tip: Take a warm layer; the wind on the open water is much colder than on the embankment.
Evening trips to see the bridges raised
In summer, boats from the descent also run the late-evening trips to see the bascule bridges rise over the Neva. The Palace Bridge, which rises directly beside the descent, is the best-known of them.
The programme depends on the operator and on the season.
Tip: Reserve a seat on the side facing the bridge; the best spots go first.
Neighbouring piers that are easy to mix up
The Palace Pier on the Palace Embankment, the Senate Pier and the Bronze Horseman pier on the English Embankment are all within a short walk. Some sources use the names Dvortsovaya for more than one of them.
The Lions' Descent is the one at the foot of the Palace Bridge, in front of the east side of the Admiralty.
Tip: Use the address Admiralty Embankment 2 for a taxi, and look for the lions.
Atmosphere
The descent is a wide, light-coloured stairway that falls away from the embankment to the dark water of the Neva, with the two stone lions looking at each other across the steps. Behind it the Palace Bridge rises and the long yellow front of the Admiralty stretches to the west.
In season the steps are crowded with visitors, ticket sellers and photographers, and the boats come and go with a rumble of engines. In the evening the light on the water and the fortress spire across the river turns warm and the mood is calmer. Off season the stairs are quiet and often wet or icy.
History of Lions' Descent Pier, Saint Petersburg
The Palace Descent, as the staircase was first called, was built between 1820 and 1824 to a design by Carlo Rossi, the architect of the ensemble around Palace Square. It was a ceremonial landing, a broad granite staircase to the Neva in front of the Admiralty and the Winter Palace.
According to one account, the landing originally stood upstream, where the entrance to the Palace Bridge is now, and was moved when the bridge was built. Another historic landing, the Admiralty pier, stood nearby, and the Petrovsky Descent was set up after a canal was filled in, with some of the decoration moved there.
The lions, sculpted figures on granite pedestals, were installed in September 1832 by order of Emperor Nicholas I. They are among the best-known lions in the city, and they gave the landing its popular name, the Lions’ Descent.
The staircase remained a symbol of imperial ceremony in the nineteenth century and later became an ornament of the city. Today it works as a landing for sightseeing boats and for the Meteor boats to Peterhof.
Details of the moves and the later history of the landing differ between sources, so editors should confirm the sequence before adding more.
Tickets and Payment at Lions' Descent Pier, Saint Petersburg
You buy a ticket for the boat, not for the pier. Tickets are sold by the boat operators, by ticket sellers on the quay and online. A Neva trip is at a moderate level (₽₽), and the fast boat to Peterhof is at a higher level (₽₽₽). Check the operator, the route, the duration and the departure pier before you pay.
- On the quay: ticket sellers sell tickets for the next boat; compare the route and the pier on the ticket with the sign at the descent.
- Online: many operators sell tickets on their own sites; choose a pier and a time, and keep the voucher. Peterhof Lower Park has its own ticket, sold separately.
- Payment: whether a foreign bank card works varies, and the sanctions rules of your own country may restrict the use of Russian payment services, so check this yourself before you travel.
- Taxis: use an official service or app; give the address Admiralty Embankment 2 and the landmark “the Lions’ Descent”.
Prices differ by operator and by passenger category. Check the operator’s own page for all categories.
Flights, Transfers and Planning
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How to Get to Lions' Descent Pier, Saint Petersburg
By metro: take Line 5 to Admiralteyskaya and walk to the Palace Bridge, about 10 minutes, then go down the granite steps by the lions on the Admiralty Embankment. Nevsky Prospekt and Gostiny Dvor stations are further, about 20 to 25 minutes on foot.
On foot: the descent is at the foot of the Palace Bridge, in front of the east side of the Admiralty and across the road from Palace Square.
By road: there is no parking next to the piers on the embankment, so a taxi or the metro is the practical choice. Check a map for the drop-off point.
Accessibility
Specific details on ramps and boarding for passengers with reduced mobility were not confirmed for this article. The descent is a wide granite staircase, so reaching the water level involves steps, and boats are boarded across a gangway; ask the operator about assistance when you book. The walk from Admiralteyskaya is on level pavement, but the metro station is deep.
Food Nearby
The embankment and Palace Square have kiosks and cafes in season, but the names and tenants change, so look at the signs on the day. For more choice, walk to Nevsky Prospekt, where cafes and restaurants are within a few minutes.
What to Bring
A warm layer and a rain layer even in summer, because the Neva is windy, sunglasses for the day trips, a camera and your voucher. For Peterhof, bring comfortable shoes and water for the park.
Photography Rules
Photography is allowed on the steps and on the boats. Drones are not permitted over the centre, and tripods on a crowded staircase are discouraged. Do not photograph security staff or restricted installations along the river.
Family Suitability
Good for families. Boat trips are short and easy for children, and the lions are a favourite with them. The wide steps need care with strollers and small children, and children should stay close on the staircase and in the boat. Life jackets are not always provided, so ask the operator.
Russia Vibes Tips
- Use the address Admiralty Embankment 2 for a taxi, and look for the lions; the Palace Pier is on a different embankment.
- Take the fast boat to Peterhof in the morning and return by an afternoon boat; the last boats fill up.
- Walk down to the lowest step for the view across the river; the fortress spire is clearest in the evening.
- Do not confuse the Lions' Descent with the Palace Pier at number 36 on the Palace Embankment, which is further east.
- Take a warm layer; the wind at the water's edge is cold even in summer.
- Check the Peterhof Lower Park ticket separately; the boat ticket does not cover it.
Explore Nearby Lions' Descent Pier, Saint Petersburg
Metro stations near Lions' Descent Pier, Saint Petersburg
Admiralteyskaya Metro Station, Saint PetersburgMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sights near Lions' Descent Pier, Saint Petersburg
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Train stations and river piers near Lions' Descent Pier, Saint Petersburg
Senate Pier, Saint PetersburgMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Lions' Descent Pier, Saint Petersburg
Where is the Lions' Descent Pier?
At the foot of the Palace Bridge, on the Admiralty Embankment at number 2, in front of the Admiralty. The nearest metro is Admiralteyskaya on Line 5.
Who built it?
It was built between 1820 and 1824 to a design by Carlo Rossi, and the lions were added in 1832.
Do boats to Peterhof leave from here?
Yes, in the navigation season. The Meteor boats take about forty minutes each way. Check the timetable and the pier on the day.
Is it the same as the Palace Pier?
No. The Palace Pier is a separate landing on the Palace Embankment at number 36, beside the Hermitage. Some sources use similar names for both.
Is it free to visit?
Yes. Walking down the steps is free; you pay only for your boat trip.
Can I see the bridges raised from here?
Yes, in season boats leave in the evening on selected days. Check the operator's timetable; see the booking section for tickets.
Does the pier work in winter?
The staircase is always open, but no regular excursion boats run when the river freezes. The navigation season runs from spring to autumn.
Is it worth a special visit?
Yes, for the lions and the view, and if you want the boat to Peterhof. It takes only a few minutes to see.
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Last updated: October 16, 2026. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.
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