Palace Pier is a landing on the Palace Embankment, the granite quay that runs along the south bank of the Neva in front of the Hermitage. The entrance is opposite number 36, and from here sightseeing boats leave for trips on the Neva, the Fontanka and the city canals.
It is one of the busiest piers in the centre, but not the only one called “Palace”. Piers at numbers 10, 18, 32 and 38 on the same embankment, and the Lions’ Descent at the Admiralty, which is also known as the Palace Descent, are close by, so first-time visitors often go to the wrong one. The nearest metro station is Admiralteyskaya on Line 5.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Причал «Дворцовая пристань» |
|---|---|
| Type | River pier / station |
| Address | Санкт-Петербург, Дворцовая набережная, 36 |
| District | Tsentralny District |
| Metro | Admiralteyskaya (Line 5, about a 10 to 15 minute walk past Palace Square and the Hermitage) Nevsky Prospekt (Line 2, longer walk through the centre; check a map for the best route) |
| Opening hours | Excursion boats run in the river navigation season, from spring to autumn, with frequent departures through the day and, in summer, evening trips to see the bridges raised; the pier has no ticket office of its own and no fixed visitor hours (as of October 2026 – check the boat operator's timetable). |
| Admission | Free to walk onto the pier; you pay only for your boat trip, which is at a moderate level (₽₽). |
| Best time to visit | The piers work from spring to autumn, with the most boats from late spring to early autumn. For the calmest conditions, choose a weekday morning. Midday and summer weekends are the busiest, and the evening bridge 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 find your boat, plus the trip |
| Last updated | October 16, 2026 |
How to Get to and from Palace Pier, Saint Petersburg
| Option | Duration | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk from Admiralteyskaya metro | About 10 to 15 minutes | Free | Recommended. Leave Admiralteyskaya on Line 5, walk past Palace Square and along the Palace Embankment to the piers. Check a map for the best route. |
| Boat excursion on the Neva and canals | About 1 hour | ₽₽ | Boats leave frequently in season from the piers on the Palace Embankment. Check the route, the operator and the departure pier on your ticket. |
| Meteor boat to Peterhof | About 30 to 40 minutes | ₽₽₽ | Runs in season, most reliably from the Lions' Descent at the Admiralty, a short walk from Palace Pier. Some listings also name the Palace Pier and the Senate Pier as stops; check the timetable and the pier on the day. |
| Walk or ride to Nevsky Prospekt | About 15 to 25 minutes | ₽ | Walk through Palace Square to Nevsky Prospekt, or take 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 Palace Pier, Saint Petersburg?
For a first visit, a boat is one of the easiest ways to see the city as it was designed to be seen: from the water, with the Winter Palace, the Admiralty and the spire of the Peter and Paul Fortress in one sweep. The pier is a few steps from the Hermitage, so you can combine a museum visit with an hour on the river.
It also helps to know that the piers on the Palace Embankment are interchangeable for a basic Neva trip, but not always for a trip to Peterhof or a night trip to see the bridges raised. Always check the departure pier on your ticket.
Highlights of Palace Pier, Saint Petersburg
A landing in front of the Hermitage
The pier is on the Palace Embankment, close to the Winter Palace and the Hermitage, in the middle of the main tourist route. Almost every visitor passes this stretch of the quay, which is why the pier is one of the busiest in the centre.
From the water level, the long green and white facade of the palace stretches along the embankment.
Tip: Look for the boats and the ticket sellers on the granite quay in front of number 36.
Boats on the Neva and the canals
Fast sightseeing boats moor at the pier, with departures every 15 to 30 minutes in season, according to local descriptions. Trips go along the Neva and into the Fontanka, the Moika and the canals, past palaces, bridges and embankments.
A typical trip lasts about an hour.
Tip: Check the route on your ticket; some trips go to the Gulf of Finland, others only to the canals.
Evening trips to see the bridges raised
In summer, some boats leave late in the evening for the bridge-raising trips, which show the bascule bridges opening over the Neva at night. The night trips run on selected days, and their times depend on the operator and the season.
It is one of the best-known evening experiences in the city.
Tip: Dress warmly; the Neva is cold even in summer after midnight.
The view across the river
From the pier you can see the Peter and Paul Fortress on Hare Island and the Strelka of Vasilyevsky Island across the water. On a clear day, the golden spire of the fortress cathedral stands out above the river.
The Palace Bridge is a short walk to the west.
Tip: Take a photograph from the quay before boarding; the light on the facade is best in the evening.
Neighbouring piers with similar names
Several piers on the same stretch of embankment are used by sightseeing boats: number 10 and number 18 towards the Trinity Bridge, the pier at the Winter Canal at number 32, and the Vodokhod pier at number 38, directly opposite the Hermitage. The Lions' Descent at the Admiralty is a separate landing on Admiralty Embankment, and it is also known as the Palace Descent.
They look alike, but the boats and the operators differ, and some sources use the name Dvortsovaya for more than one of them.
Tip: Read the pier name and number on your ticket before you walk to the quay.
Trips to Peterhof and Kronstadt
Fast Meteor boats run in season from the central piers to Peterhof and Kronstadt. The Lions' Descent at the Admiralty is the best-known departure point, and some listings also name the Senate Pier and this Palace Pier among the Meteor stops, while others place the Peterhof boats only at the Lions' Descent and the Vodokhod pier.
Sources disagree, so check the departure pier and the timetable before you go.
Tip: If your aim is Peterhof, confirm the pier with the operator when you book.
Atmosphere
The quay is wide and open, with the long facade of the palace on one side and the broad Neva on the other. In season the granite landing is full of ticket sellers, small boats pulling in and out, and groups of visitors waiting in the sun or the wind.
The noise is engines, loudspeakers and the gulls. It is busiest in the middle of the day and again in the evening, when the boats leave for the bridges. Off season, the piers are quiet and the water is often grey or frozen.
History of Palace Pier, Saint Petersburg
The Palace Embankment runs along the left bank of the Neva, from the Laundry Quay to the Palace Bridge, and it is lined with the great buildings of the imperial court, including the Winter Palace, which is now part of the Hermitage. It is one of the most photographed stretches of the city.
The granite embankment is built with descents to the water, and some of them have long served as landings for boats. Today the landing at number 36 is used by sightseeing boats and, like the other piers on the embankment, it is tied to the tourist season on the Neva, which runs from spring to autumn.
The area has no regular public river transport. The boats here are excursion boats run by private operators, and the piers on the Palace Embankment are an easy place to start a trip because they are in the middle of the main sights.
The name Dvortsovaya Pristan, Palace Pier, is also used for the Lions’ Descent at the Admiralty, a ceremonial granite staircase built between 1820 and 1824 to a design by Carlo Rossi. The landing at Palace Embankment 36 is a different place, and details of when it was built and who designed it were not confirmed for this article, so editors should check them before adding.
Tickets and Payment at Palace 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, and prices are at a moderate 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 departure pier on the ticket with the sign at the pier.
- Online: many operators sell tickets on their own sites; choose a departure pier and time, and keep the voucher.
- 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; the quay has no taxi stand, and drivers who approach you are not official.
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 Palace Pier, Saint Petersburg
By metro: take Line 5 to Admiralteyskaya, and walk past Palace Square along the Palace Embankment to number 36, about 10 to 15 minutes. Nevsky Prospekt and Gostiny Dvor stations are further, about 20 minutes on foot.
On foot: the pier is on the Palace Embankment, next to the Hermitage. The entrance is opposite number 36; the Palace Bridge is to the west and the Summer Garden to the east.
By road: there is no parking next to the piers on the Palace 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 granite descent to the pier has steps, and boats are boarded across a gangway, so 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 has kiosks and cafes in season, but the names and tenants change, so look at the signs on the day. For more choice, walk to Palace Square and 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. Carry a small bag; bags are usually allowed on board, but large luggage is not.
Photography Rules
Photography is allowed on the quay and on the boats. Drones are not permitted over the centre, and tripods on a crowded pier 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 quay is flat. The steps to the water and the gangway need care with strollers, and children should stay close on the quay and in the boat. Life jackets are not always provided, so ask the operator.
Russia Vibes Tips
- Read the pier name and number on your ticket; several piers on the Palace Embankment sound alike.
- For Peterhof, confirm the departure pier with the operator; the Lions' Descent at the Admiralty is the best-known stop.
- Take a warm layer; the wind on the Neva is cold even in summer, especially on the night trips.
- Combine the pier with a Hermitage visit; the boat is a good way to rest your feet afterwards.
- Compare tickets on the quay with the operator's signs; ticket sellers may represent different boats.
- Do not look for a taxi stand on the embankment; there is none, and parking is not possible.
Explore Nearby Palace Pier, Saint Petersburg
Metro stations near Palace Pier, Saint Petersburg
Admiralteyskaya Metro Station, Saint PetersburgMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sights near Palace Pier, Saint Petersburg
State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: 3-5 hours for the main highlightsMain 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 HermitageMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Palace Bridge, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: 30–45 minutes; allow 1.5–2 hours if you wait for the night raisingMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Summer Garden, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: 1–2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Palace Pier, Saint Petersburg
Lions' Descent Pier, Saint PetersburgMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Palace Pier, Saint Petersburg
Where is Palace Pier?
On the Palace Embankment, opposite number 36, beside the Hermitage in Tsentralny District. The nearest metro is Admiralteyskaya on Line 5.
Is it the same as the pier at number 38?
No. The Vodokhod pier at number 38 is next door, directly opposite the Hermitage, and it is run by a different operator.
Is it the same as the Lions' Descent?
No. The Lions' Descent is a separate granite staircase at the Admiralty, and it is also known as the Palace Descent. Both names are used, so check the address on your ticket.
Do boats to Peterhof leave from here?
Sources disagree. Some listings name this pier among the Meteor stops, while others place the Peterhof boats at the Lions' Descent and the Vodokhod pier. Check the departure pier and the timetable on the day.
Can I see the bridges raised from here?
Yes, in season some boats leave in the late evening on selected days. Check the operator's timetable; see the booking section for tickets.
How long is a typical boat trip?
About an hour for a Neva and canal trip. Longer trips go to the Gulf of Finland.
Does the pier work in winter?
No regular excursion boats run when the river freezes. The navigation season runs from spring to autumn.
Is it worth a special visit?
Yes, if you want a boat trip in the centre; it is a few steps from the Hermitage. Otherwise it is only a place to board.
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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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