The Petrograd Side, Saint Petersburg, is the group of islands north of the Neva where the city began in 1703. Peter and Paul Fortress is here, along with the cruiser Aurora, a cathedral mosque, some of the best Art Nouveau houses in town and a calmer, more residential mood than the centre.
It is easy to reach from the centre: the Blue Line stops at Gorkovskaya and Petrogradskaya, and the fortress is a short walk across the Neva from the Admiralty. This page explains how the district is laid out, which sights belong to it, and how to combine the fortress with a walk through the quieter streets.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Петроградская сторона |
|---|---|
| Address | Petrograd Side, Saint Petersburg (Петроградская сторона, Санкт-Петербург) |
| District | Petrogradsky |
| Metro | Gorkovskaya (Line 2 (Blue), Closest stop to Peter and Paul Fortress; walk across the park) Petrogradskaya (Line 2 (Blue), For Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt and the quieter streets) Sportivnaya (Line 5 (Purple), For the southern side of the district and the river) Chkalovskaya (Line 5 (Purple), For the eastern streets of the district) |
| Opening hours | The streets, parks and embankments are open all day. The fortress, the ship museum, the mosque and the other museums keep their own hours and weekly closing days, so check each one before you plan. (as of October 2026 – check the official sites) |
| Admission | Walking the district is free. The fortress grounds are generally free to enter, while some exhibitions and the ship museum sell their own tickets, mostly at ₽ to ₽₽. |
| Best time to visit | Late spring to early autumn is best for walking and the park. Mornings are quiet at the fortress, and evenings are pleasant on the embankment. In winter the days are short and cold, so plan indoor stops. |
| Recommended duration | Half a day, or a full day with the fortress |
| Last updated | October 17, 2026 |
What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to Petrograd Side, Saint Petersburg?
| Part | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Streets, parks and embankments of the Petrograd Side | Included in the standard ticket | Open and free to walk. |
| Peter and Paul Fortress grounds | Included in the standard ticket | In the district; the grounds are generally free to walk. |
| Cathedral and fortress exhibitions | Separate ticket or institution | Inside the fortress, but with their own tickets and hours. |
| Cruiser Aurora | Separate ticket or institution | A naval museum ship with its own opening days. |
| Peter the Great's Cabin | Separate ticket or institution | A small museum with its own ticket. |
| Winter Palace and Palace Square | Outside / not part of it | On the opposite bank, in the Admiralteysky District. |
| Vasilyevsky Island and the Spit | Outside / not part of it | Across the river to the west, in a different district. |
Why Visit Petrograd Side, Saint Petersburg?
- The birthplace of the city: Peter and Paul Fortress stands on the island where the city was founded in 1703.
- A famous ship: the cruiser Aurora is moored on the embankment nearby.
- Art Nouveau streets: Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt has some of the best early 20th-century facades in the city.
- Green space: parks and the botanical garden give a break from the stone centre.
- A calmer side: the district feels residential and unhurried.
How Petrograd Side, Saint Petersburg Is Laid Out
The district is a cluster of islands. The fortress sits on Hare Island at the southern tip, opposite the Winter Palace across the river. North of it, Kronverksky Park spreads out, and the Peter the Great’s Cabin and the cathedral mosque stand close to the fortress.
From Gorkovskaya, Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt runs north through the district and is lined with Art Nouveau houses. The Aurora is moored on the Petrovskaya Embankment to the east of the fortress, and the Botanical Garden lies on Aptekarsky Island in the north.
A sensible order is to start at Gorkovskaya, walk across the park to the fortress, visit the Aurora, then return along Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt or take the metro to Petrogradskaya.
Highlights of Petrograd Side, Saint Petersburg
Peter and Paul Fortress
The fortress was founded in 1703 on Hare Island and is the oldest structure in the city. Its main sight is Peter and Paul Cathedral, whose gold spire is a landmark across the river. The thick stone walls and bastions give long views of the Neva.
The grounds can be walked freely, but the cathedral, the prison museum and other exhibitions have their own tickets and hours.
Tip: Walk the bastion walls for the view across the river to the Winter Palace.
Cruiser Aurora
The cruiser Aurora, built in the early 1900s, is moored on the Petrovskaya Embankment and is a naval museum. It is associated with the events of 1917 and is one of the best-known ships in Russia. You can see the deck and the outside from the embankment.
It is a museum with its own opening days and entry rules.
Tip: View it from the opposite side of the river for the full length of the ship.
Peter the Great's Cabin
The small wooden cabin on the Petrovskaya Embankment was built in 1703 as Peter's first dwelling in the new city. It is now protected inside a stone shell. Inside there are a few rooms with period furnishings.
It is a small museum with its own ticket and hours.
Tip: Visit it outside peak hours, as the rooms are very small.
Cathedral Mosque
The cathedral mosque near Gorkovskaya was completed in the early 20th century and is one of the largest in Europe of its time. Its turquoise dome and minarets are inspired by Central Asian architecture. It remains a working place of worship.
Check visiting rules before you go, and dress modestly.
Tip: Look at the dome from the street for the best view of the tilework.
Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt
The avenue runs north from Gorkovskaya and is lined with Art Nouveau apartment buildings from the early 20th century, with towers, bay windows and carved details. It is a good place to look up rather than into shop windows.
Walking the avenue is free and open at all hours.
Tip: Walk the northern stretch away from the metro for quieter views of the facades.
Peter the Great Botanical Garden
The botanical garden on Aptekarsky Island was founded in the early 18th century and is among the oldest in Russia. It has glasshouses and outdoor plantings. It is a calm place away from the tourist centre.
It has its own hours and ticket rules.
Tip: Plan a visit in spring or summer, when the outdoor beds are in bloom.
Atmosphere
The Petrograd Side is calmer than the central districts. Around the fortress the mood is open and breezy, with wide skies, the river wind and school groups on the walls. On Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt the scale shrinks to a residential street, with cafes, small shops and tall Art Nouveau facades.
Mornings are quiet, with joggers in Kronverksky Park and few visitors at the fortress gates. In the evening the cafes near Petrogradskaya fill with locals. In winter the snow settles on the fortress walls, and the gold spire stands out against the grey sky.
History of Petrograd Side, Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg began here. In May 1703, Peter the Great founded a fortress on Hare Island, on the north bank of the Neva, to protect the new settlement during the war with Sweden. The earth-and-timber fort was soon rebuilt in stone, and the wooden cabin that Peter used in those years still stands on the nearby embankment.
Peter and Paul Cathedral, designed by Domenico Trezzini, was built inside the fortress in the first half of the 18th century and became the burial place of the Russian emperors. Its gilded spire was the tallest in the city for a long time. The fortress itself later served as a prison for political detainees.
The surrounding islands developed more slowly. In the 18th century they were used as military and trading areas, and the Botanical Garden was founded on Aptekarsky Island in the early 1700s. In the 19th century the district grew into a residential area, with the Leningrad Zoo opening in 1865.
The early 20th century brought a building boom, and Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt filled with Art Nouveau apartment buildings. The cathedral mosque, built between the 1900s and the 1910s, reflected the city’s Muslim community.
In 1917 the cruiser Aurora became a symbol of the October Revolution, and the district took part in the events of that year. During the Second World War, the siege of Leningrad affected the district, and many buildings were damaged.
After the war, the fortress was turned into a museum complex, and the Aurora was set up as a museum ship in the 1950s. Today the district combines historic landmarks with a quiet residential life.
Legends and Myths about Petrograd Side, Saint Petersburg
The fortress angel and the spire
Legend – historically unreliable. A popular story says that the angel on top of the cathedral spire protects the city, and that its fall would bring disaster. The angel has been repaired several times; the belief is a folk tale with no historical basis.
The shot of the Aurora
Disputed by historians. The cruiser Aurora is popularly said to have fired the signal shot that began the storming of the Winter Palace in 1917. Historians note that the shot was a blank and that the exact role of the ship is told differently in different accounts.
Tickets and Booking for Petrograd Side, Saint Petersburg
The district itself is free to walk, so there is no single ticket. The fortress exhibitions, the ship museum and the botanical garden sell their own tickets, and each has its own booking rules and hours. Check the official site of each institution before you plan.
- ID: carry your passport, as some sites ask for it.
- Payment: the sanctions rules of your own country may limit the use of some Russian payment services, so check this yourself.
Rates for Russian citizens and concessions differ from those for foreign visitors; the official site of each place lists all categories.
Plan and Book
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Suggested itineraries Petrograd Side, Saint Petersburg
2 hours
Take the metro to Gorkovskaya, walk across the park to the fortress, then climb onto the bastion walls for the river view and a look at the cathedral spire.
Half day
Fortress grounds and cathedral, then Peter the Great's Cabin and the Aurora on the embankment. Finish with a walk back through the park to Gorkovskaya.
Full day
Morning at the fortress, midday at the Aurora and the cabin, afternoon along Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt to Petrogradskaya, with a stop at the cathedral mosque or the botanical garden.
How to Get to Petrograd Side, Saint Petersburg
The district is easy to reach by metro.
- Gorkovskaya (Line 2): the closest stop to the fortress; walk across Alexander Park.
- Petrogradskaya (Line 2): for Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt and the quieter streets.
- Sportivnaya and Chkalovskaya (Line 5): for the southern and eastern sides.
From the Admiralty, you can also walk across the Neva by the Trinity or Palace bridges, which takes about twenty to thirty minutes. See How to Use the Metro, Saint Petersburg.
Food Nearby
Cafes and restaurants cluster around Gorkovskaya and along Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt. For sit-down meals see Best Restaurants, Saint Petersburg.
What to Bring
Comfortable shoes and a rain layer. The fortress is open to the wind, so bring a warm layer even in spring. Museums may check bags.
Best Views and Photo Spots of Petrograd Side, Saint Petersburg
Fortress walls facing the Neva
The river, the Winter Palace and the Admiralty across the water.
Best time: Late afternoon
The cathedral spire from the main gate
The gold spire above the pale walls.
Best time: Morning
Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt
A line of Art Nouveau facades with towers and bay windows.
Best time: Overcast day, soft light
The Aurora from the opposite bank
The full length of the ship against the river.
Best time: Evening
Photography Rules
Photography is free in the fortress grounds and on the embankments. Rules inside exhibitions and the mosque vary and flash is often banned. Drones are not allowed in the centre.
Family Suitability
Suitable for families: the fortress grounds and the park give children room to move, and the Aurora interests many children. Strollers work on the main paths, though cobbles and some steps slow them down.
Russia Vibes Tips
- Start at the fortress in the morning and leave the quieter streets for the afternoon.
- Do not confuse the fortress grounds with the exhibitions; walking in is free but exhibitions need tickets.
- Combine the district with the Vasilyevsky Island Walking Itinerary for a full day on the northern bank.
- Use Petrogradskaya to start a walk along Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt, then end at Gorkovskaya.
- Look up on the avenue; the best details are above the first floor.
Explore Nearby Petrograd Side, Saint Petersburg
Sights near Petrograd Side, Saint Petersburg
Peter and Paul Fortress, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: 2–4 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Cruiser Aurora, Saint Petersburg · typical visit: 1–1.5 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near Petrograd Side, Saint Petersburg
Gorkovskaya Metro Station, Saint PetersburgMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Petrogradskaya Metro Station, Saint PetersburgMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: Petrograd Side, Saint Petersburg
Is Peter and Paul Fortress on the Petrograd Side?
Yes, on Hare Island at the southern tip of the district.
Is the Aurora part of the fortress?
No, it is a separate museum ship moored on the embankment.
Which metro station is best for the fortress?
Gorkovskaya on the Blue Line.
Is the fortress free?
The grounds are generally free, but the cathedral and exhibitions have their own tickets.
How long should I plan?
About half a day for the fortress and the Aurora, a full day with the avenue.
Is it worth walking Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt?
Yes, for the Art Nouveau houses and a calmer mood.
Can I walk from the centre?
Yes, across a bridge over the Neva; it takes twenty to thirty minutes from the Admiralty.
Is the mosque open to visitors?
Check the current visiting rules before going, and dress modestly.
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Last updated: October 17, 2026.
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