The Yelagin Island Pier is a landing in the Kirov Central Park of Culture and Recreation, on Yelagin Island in Petrogradsky District. It stands close to the Second Yelagin Bridge, beside the main park entrance, and in the navigation season small excursion boats stop here for trips on the rivers and canals of the city and, on some routes, out into the Gulf of Finland.
It is a landing for visitors to the park rather than a transport hub, and it is not on any regular public route. Most people arrive on foot from Krestovsky Ostrov metro station, about fifteen to twenty minutes away, or from Staraya Derevnya across the Third Yelagin Bridge.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Причал «Елагин остров» (ЦПКиО им. С. М. Кирова) |
|---|---|
| Type | River pier / station |
| Address | Санкт-Петербург, Елагин остров, 4 (ЦПКиО им. С. М. Кирова) |
| District | Petrogradsky District |
| Metro | Krestovsky Ostrov (Line 5, about 15 to 20 minutes on foot to the park entrance at the Second Yelagin Bridge, then a walk through the park) Staraya Derevnya (Line 2, walk along Lipovaya Alley to Primorsky Prospekt and the Third Yelagin Bridge) Zenit (Line 5, longer walk or a bus to the park; check a map for the best route) |
| Opening hours | The landing works in the river navigation season, usually through the daytime from about 10:00 until the evening, with boats for trips on the rivers, canals and the Gulf of Finland; the park itself is open all year (as of October 2026 – check the boat operator's timetable and the park's official site). |
| Admission | Free to walk onto the landing and to enter the park; you pay only for your boat trip, which is at a moderate level (₽₽), and for any museum or attraction with its own ticket. |
| Best time to visit | The landing works from spring to autumn, with the most boats from late spring to early autumn. For a quiet visit, choose a weekday morning. Summer weekends and evenings are busy with families and park visitors. Off season, boats run only on a reduced schedule or not at all, but the park stays open all year. |
| Recommended duration | 10 minutes for the landing, or half a day with the park |
| Last updated | October 16, 2026 |
How to Get to and from Yelagin Island Pier, Saint Petersburg
| Option | Duration | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk from Krestovsky Ostrov metro | About 15 to 20 minutes | Free | Recommended. Leave Krestovsky Ostrov on Line 5, follow Ryukhina Street to the Martynov Embankment and the park entrance at the Second Yelagin Bridge, then continue to the landing. |
| Boat excursion from the landing | About 1 hour or more | ₽₽ | Boats stop here in season for trips on the rivers, canals and the Gulf of Finland. Check the route, the operator and the return pier on your ticket. |
| Walk from Staraya Derevnya metro | About 20 to 30 minutes | Free | Leave Staraya Derevnya on Line 2, walk along Lipovaya Alley to Primorsky Prospekt and cross the Third Yelagin Bridge into the park. Check a map for the route. |
| Tram, bus or minibus | Varies | ₽ | Several routes stop near the park entrances, including trams and buses that serve the park; check a map for the line and stop that suit your hotel. |
₽ budget · ₽₽ moderate · ₽₽₽ upscale · ₽₽₽₽ splurge. Price levels are estimates compared with typical prices for visitors.
Why Visit Yelagin Island Pier, Saint Petersburg?
Yelagin Island is one of the greenest places in the city, a park of lawns, ponds, old trees and an imperial palace, and the landing at the park entrance is a quiet place to start or end a boat trip. A boat from here gives a different view of the north of the city from the one you get at the piers in the centre.
It also suits a half-day plan: walk through the park, visit the palace, and return by boat instead of by metro. It is much calmer than the Palace Embankment, and in the evening the light on the water and the old trees is very pleasant.
Highlights of Yelagin Island Pier, Saint Petersburg
The landing by the Second Yelagin Bridge
The pier stands beside the Second Yelagin Bridge, close to the main entrance of the Kirov park. The water here is about five metres deep, and small excursion boats of different types moor in the navigation season.
There is no large terminal building, just a landing at the edge of the park.
Tip: Look for the landing beside the bridge at the park entrance, not on the open Gulf shore.
Boats on the Neva, the canals and the Gulf
From the landing, boats go on trips along the rivers and canals of the city, and some routes continue out into the Gulf of Finland. Trips differ in length, so check the route and the departure time on your ticket.
The boats are small and open, which makes them pleasant on a warm day.
Tip: Ask which pier your return boat uses before you board; some trips do not return to Yelagin Island.
Yelagin Island park
The whole island is occupied by the Kirov Central Park of Culture and Recreation, a large landscape park with wide lawns, ponds, avenues and views over the water. Entry to the park is free.
The official park site gives the address as Yelagin Island 4 and lists the entrances from both bridges.
Tip: Plan at least an hour for the park; the landing is only the start.
Yelagin Palace
The island is known for its palace, an imperial country house designed by Carlo Rossi in the early nineteenth century. It is a separate attraction with its own ticket and hours, not part of the park or the boat trip.
Check the palace's official site before you plan a visit.
Tip: Do not assume that a park walk includes the palace; the palace has a separate entrance.
Two bridges, two ways in
The park has entrances at the Second Yelagin Bridge, which is the one nearest the landing, and at the Third Yelagin Bridge, reached from Staraya Derevnya along Primorsky Prospekt. From Krestovsky Ostrov the walk crosses the water and passes through the park.
The two routes are different in length, so choose according to the metro station you use.
Tip: From Krestovsky Ostrov, follow Ryukhina Street to the Martynov Embankment and the park gate.
A calmer alternative to the centre
Compared with the busy piers on the Palace Embankment, the landing is quiet, with few ticket sellers and many dog walkers, cyclists and families. Boats here are fewer and the timetable is thinner.
Check the operator's timetable before you come, because the landing is served by fewer boats than the central piers.
Tip: Book the boat in advance on a weekend; there are fewer departures here.
Atmosphere
The landing sits at the edge of a green island, with old trees along the water, a low bridge beside it and a path that leads into the park. The noise is birdsong, bicycle bells and the soft rumble of a small boat engine.
On summer weekends, families, runners and couples fill the paths, and the landing is a place to sit and watch the water. In the evening the light on the water and the long shadows of the trees make it one of the calmest spots in the city. Off season, the landing is empty and often wet or frozen, and the park is quiet and grey.
History of Yelagin Island Pier, Saint Petersburg
Yelagin Island lies in the delta of the Neva, in the north of the city, and it is occupied entirely by the park that carries the name of Kirov, the Central Park of Culture and Recreation. The island is known for the imperial palace designed by Carlo Rossi in the early nineteenth century, and it has long been a place for walks and outings.
The park is reached by bridges, and the landing beside the Second Yelagin Bridge serves visitors who arrive or leave by water. In the navigation season, which runs from spring to autumn, small excursion boats stop at the landing for trips on the rivers and canals of the city and, on some routes, into the Gulf of Finland.
Details of when the landing was built and who runs it were not confirmed for this article, so editors should check them before adding.
Tickets and Payment at Yelagin Island Pier, Saint Petersburg
You buy a ticket for the boat, not for the landing. Tickets are sold by the boat operators and online, and prices are at a moderate level (₽₽). Check the operator, the route, the duration and the departure pier before you pay.
- Online: many operators sell tickets on their own sites; choose a departure pier and a time, and keep the voucher. Fewer boats run from this landing than from the central piers, so book ahead.
- Park entry: entering the park is free; the palace and some attractions on the island have their own tickets.
- 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; parking near the park entrance is limited.
Prices differ by operator and by passenger category. Check the operator’s own page, and the official site of the park, for all categories.
Flights, Transfers and Planning
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How to Get to Yelagin Island Pier, Saint Petersburg
By metro: take Line 5 to Krestovsky Ostrov and walk about 15 to 20 minutes to the park entrance at the Second Yelagin Bridge, then to the landing. From Staraya Derevnya on Line 2, walk along Lipovaya Alley to the Third Yelagin Bridge. Zenit on Line 5 is a longer walk.
By road: trams and buses serve the park, and taxis can drop you at the entrance from Primorsky Prospekt. Parking is limited.
On foot or by bicycle: the park paths lead from both bridges to the landing; check a map for the best route.
Accessibility
Specific details on ramps and boarding for passengers with reduced mobility were not confirmed for this article. The park paths are generally flat, but the walk from the metro is long, so a taxi or a bus may be easier. Ask the boat operator about assistance when you book, and check the park's official site for accessible routes.
Food Nearby
The park has kiosks and cafes in season, but the names and tenants change, so look at the signs on the day. The streets around Krestovsky Ostrov metro and Primorsky Prospekt have more options. The landing itself has no cafe.
What to Bring
A warm layer and a rain layer even in summer, because the water is breezy, comfortable shoes for the park paths, sunglasses, a camera and your voucher. Carry a small bag; large luggage is not suited to the small boats.
Photography Rules
Photography is allowed in the park and on the boats. Drones are generally not permitted over the city and the park, and tripods on busy paths are discouraged. Do not photograph security staff or restricted installations along the shore.
Family Suitability
Very good for families. The park is flat and spacious, with lawns and paths, and the boat trips are short and easy for children. The steps to the landing and the gangway need care with strollers, and children should stay close on the landing and in the boat. Life jackets are not always provided, so ask the operator.
Russia Vibes Tips
- Use the park entrance at the Second Yelagin Bridge; the landing is beside it, not on the open Gulf shore.
- Combine the landing with a walk through the park; the boat is the shorter part of the visit.
- Check which pier your return boat uses before you board; some trips do not come back to Yelagin Island.
- Take a warm layer; the evening trips on the water are cold even in summer.
- Do not assume the palace is included in a park walk; it has its own ticket and hours.
- Book the boat ahead on a summer weekend; there are fewer departures here than in the centre.
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FAQ: Yelagin Island Pier, Saint Petersburg
Where is the Yelagin Island Pier?
In the Kirov park on Yelagin Island, beside the Second Yelagin Bridge, close to the main park entrance, in Petrogradsky District.
Which metro station is nearest?
Krestovsky Ostrov on Line 5, about 15 to 20 minutes on foot. Staraya Derevnya on Line 2 is another way in, via the Third Yelagin Bridge.
Is the park free to enter?
Yes. Entering the park and walking onto the landing is free; you pay only for your boat trip and for attractions such as the palace.
Is the Yelagin Palace included in the boat or park?
No. The palace is a separate attraction with its own ticket and hours. Check its official site before you plan a visit.
What boat trips leave from here?
Small sightseeing boats on the rivers and canals, with some routes into the Gulf of Finland. Check the operator's timetable; see the booking section for tickets.
Does the landing work in winter?
No regular excursion boats run when the river freezes. The navigation season runs from spring to autumn, though the park stays open.
Is it far from the centre?
It is about 15 to 20 minutes from Krestovsky Ostrov metro on foot, and a short metro ride from the centre.
Is it worth a special visit?
Yes, as part of a day in the park. 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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