Volleyball World Cup cities. Guide to St. Petersburg: the imperial capital and European style

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The Men’s Volleyball World Championship in Russia will be unique. It will cover 10 cities of our country, so that everyone could immerse into the incredible sports atmosphere. The start is on August 26, in Saint Petersburg. In the Ice Palace, where the SKA Hockey Club has settled for a long time already, Tuomas Sammelvuo’s team will begin the fight for the gold of the tournament in a match against Tunisia.

The Russians will play remaining matches against Serbia and Puerto Rico in Moscow, to return to the city on the Neva River on September 2 and take part in the second round of the championship. If you come to support the national team in the Northern capital, this guide is a perfect choice for you.

Hermitage and the Palace Square

Any tourist is always welcome in the city’s key places. After a walk along the cobblestones, be sure to visit the Museum to feel the splendour of the downtown (the entrance fee to the main museum complex is 500 rubles; if you don’t want to wait in line, you’d better buy a ticket online).

You will not be able to meet the cats that are freelance employees of the museum, but you can pet the furry ones in the Soulmate Cafe on the Fontanka River Embankment or in the Republic of Cats Café in Yakubovich Street. In these cafes, the food is good as well.

St. Isaac’s Cathedral

After a walk around the center of Saint Petersburg, visit the St. Isaac’s Square to sit on a bench near the famous cathedral. Do not forget to explore the museum (350 rubles) and ascend the colonnade (200 rubles) that offers a wonderful view of the city.

Peter and Paul Fortress

The third point of the mini-tour is the place where the birth of Saint Petersburg started. You can walk to Petropavlovka via the Troitsky (Trinity) Bridge, but we advise using the Dvortsovy (Palace) Bridge to admire the Spit of the Vasilievsky Island and the Kunstkamera, since you’re here. On the territory of the fortress you can go to the beach, visit museums, and at noon, there is a chance to hear the midday cannon shot. On the bridge to the fortress, right in the water, you will be greeted by a figurine of hare, a symbol of the Peter and Paul Fortress. It’s like an alternative to the Chizhik-Pyzhik statue on the Fontanka River: do not forget to throw a coin to the hare and make a wish.

Unusual Places of Saint Petersburg

Lutheran Church of St. Anna (Annenkirche)

There is a unique place at Kirochnaya Street, 8b, not all the tourists know about. For several centuries, St. Anna’s Church has been a German-speaking parish, a cinema theater, and a rock club. Even some scenes for Brother with Sergei Bodrov were filmed inside. In 2002, the church was almost destroyed by fire. Restoration of the interiors is still going on, but, surprisingly, the visitors like everything even without repair. Now no services are held here, but there’s plenty of exhibitions, fairs, and concerts.

Vasileostrovsky Market

On the Vasilievsky Island you can find quite an unconventional market, which has already become the city’s landmark. Usually, people go there on weekends to buy something in rows of shopping stalls, taste dishes of different world cuisines, and pay a visit to the Bo corner, where one can take almost a liter of Vietnamese soup Pho Bo. In summer, it is particularly nice there, because you can spend time eating in the fresh air.

New Holland Island

The artificial island on the embankment of the Admiralty Canal has been inaccessible for residents of the city for many years, but now you can get there without problems. Exhibitions, festivals, lectures, and concerts are regularly held there. For fans of lazy relaxation the island offers green lawns and comfortable chairs where one can sit with a book. In winter, New Holland turns into one of the favorite skating rinks for Saint Petersburg residents and guests. If you are hungry or want to go shopping, you will not have to go anywhere: there is absolutely everything in New Holland.

Suburban Treasures of Saint Petersburg

The city cannot surprise you with anything anymore? Then you definitely need to go beyond its limits. Commuter trains will help you. You can also take a taxi if you can afford it.

In Pushkin, in addition to the Catherine Palace with its famous Amber Room, you need to breathe fresh air in the park: the city is considered the greenest suburb of Saint Petersburg.

In Pavlovsk, all roads lead to the famous park founded during the lifetime of Emperor Paul I. It’s where you can both look at rich buildings and feed the squirrels.

Visiting the Capital of Fountains is always a great idea. In Peterhof everything is filled with the royal life spirit. The majestic palace and park ensemble is Saint Petersburg’s response to French Versailles. And, people say, it is much more interesting. Be careful not to be caught by some funny fountain! If you decide to look at the fountains, you can combine it with a trip on board of the Meteor river tram. You can go on an unusual journey directly from the center of Saint Petersburg (or just take a tour around the city listening to the guide’s stories about rivers and canals).

To get to Kronstadt you can also travel by water, not by railway. In the city of sailors there is the Yakornaya (Anchor) Square, the St. Nicolaus’ Marine Cathedral, and a beautiful coastal park. Twelve forts of great historical value are located around the fortress city.

Small Europe within Russia is easily found in Vyborg. Walk along Vodnoi Zastavy Street and Progonnaya Street, as well as along the Rynochnaya (Market) Square, and buy famous pretzels on your way — it’s nice to eat outside. In the Vyborg Castle, if you’re lucky, you can see a real joust and in the Monrepos park — stone ridges brought by the glacier. Watch out: the majestic landscape of rocks and water can inspire sudden philosophical thoughts.

Alvar Aalto Library

This library is located in Vyborg at Suvorovsky Prospect, 4. Built as early as in 1933–1935, it is considered one of the main landmarks in the Leningrad Region.

The library is named after Alvar Aalto, a Finnish architect who designed it. It includes more than 150,000 books, magazines, and documents. Also, various exhibitions, presentations, lectures, and creative evenings are held here.

To explore other places to visit, check out the guide from the fashion blogger:

The Krestovsky Island is a volleyball center of the city. It is where the Dynamo Stadium built back in 1929 is located. It’s where you can play volleyball both on outdoor and indoor grounds.

There is also the Vyacheslav Platonov Sports Complex not far from the stadium. The famous coach’s Academy appeared in Saint Petersburg in 2005 with the specialist’s direct participation. The house of volleyball hosts not only Super League and Platonov Memorial matches, but also various tournaments among amateur teams: it never stays quiet and deserted. There is also a small museum on the territory of the Sports Complex where a collection of exhibits is presented to tell the story of Platonov’s achievements.

The countdown clock can be found in Bolshaya Morskaya Street. It reminds residents and guests of the city how much time is left until the start of the 2022 Volleyball World Championship while being an art object of Saint Petersburg.

Singer

A cafe at Nevsky Prospekt, 28, offers a great view of the noisy prospect and the Kazan Cathedral. If it’s not a rush hour, you can take a seat at the window. When you finish your coffee and eat the Sacher cake, don’t forget to take a walk through the halls of the bookstore to buy something. The average bill: 1,000 rubles. The bookstore, like its café, has long been the hallmark of Saint Petersburg: lately, talks about its closure have become increasingly louder. Have time to visit a symbol of intelligent Saint Petersburg before this sad event and buy unique postcards sold only in the Singer House.

Pyshechnaya (Doughnut Shop) in Bolshaya Konyushennaya Street

It is always a great idea to have a delicious breakfast or snack. Particularly if it is about a legendary pyshechnaya, which has existed since 1958. There’s almost always a queue, because everyone wants to try doughnuts cooked as per a special recipe, wrapped in an oiled piece of paper, and drink that very Soviet coffee with milk poured from the aluminum tank. If you are not going to overeat, all in all it will cost you about 50 rubles.

Smelt

The Peter and Paul Fortress is not only about history, but also about famous smelt. Small fish is cooked all year round near the place where the city construction once started. Fried, tempura, pickled, or smoked fish — there are all kinds. You will definitely keep within 2,000 rubles.

PITA’S

To get delicious street food you need to go to Pitas. It’s where you will be treated with unusual shawarma, for example, with lingonberry sauce and mint, and also offered burritos, falafel, salads, soups, snacks, and various drinks. You can have lunch at any of the 7 cafés for 300–400 rubles.

My Zhe Na Ty (We Are On a First Name Basis) Restaurant

You won’t find anything like this in any other city. In the My Zhe Na Ty Restaurant, there is the most photographed door of Saint Petersburg, a lot of books, mail, Gosha the cat, and a secret ribs room with no limit. You can also eat substantially: the prices are average. The restaurant offers delicious cocoa with marshmallows, pasta, and a signature dessert «My Zhe Na Ty s Evoy» (We Are On a First Name Basis with Eve).

Boucher, F. Volchek’s Bakery, People Like…

St. Petersburg’s feature is bakeries and pastry shops. Petersburgers adore sweet pastries, so the latter can be found in a huge assortment in the city, for every taste and purse. Boucher is pricey sometimes, but you will not try such venzels (a flaky pastry in the shape of a circle) with raspberries or cherries anywhere else (and be sure to take orange raf coffee with them), and in the F. Volchek Bakery (there are more than 40 of them in the city!) you can buy wafer rolls filled with condensed milk for only 30 rubles. We guarantee: this is the food of gods!