Where to stay

St. Petersburg has some of the richest cultural heritage in the world and is filled with museums and galleries. Many of the most famous are in the neighborhood of Tsentralny, where you can reserve a room steps from the majestic Mikhailovsky Theatre or the intriguing Fabergé Museum. Hotels closest to Palace Square-Hermitage are the best high-end choices and ideally located for visiting the Winter Palace, now home to the State Hermitage Museum. Its galleries and state rooms house more than a million artworks, making it one of the largest museums in the world. Nearby must-see religious monuments include the enormous Kazan Cathedral and the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, distinguished by its ornate onion domes.

St. Petersburg's long and turbulent history is reflected in the grandeur of its monuments, although not all are in the city center. Stay in the southern suburb of Pushkin to visit the astonishingly ornate Catherine Palace, a Baroque wonder built by Rastrelli under Empress Elizabeth in the 1700s. It rivals Versailles in both scale and lavishness. The Amber Room is sometimes said to be the eighth wonder of the world. Explore palaces on a more manageable scale by reserving a hotel in the upscale neighborhood of Admiralteyskiy, just west of Palace Square. Visit Yusupov Palace, the one-time home of aristocrat Prince Felix Yusupov, and Nikolaevsky Palace, now used to host folk music concerts.

St. Petersburg's café culture is best discovered by staying in one of Petrogradskaya District's affordable hotels. Spanning seven islands, this historic quarter was where the city was first founded. Today it holds everything from traditional restaurants serving caviar and pelmeni to new-wave coffee shops and Soviet-style сafés. Fine dining is generally concentrated around the super luxury scene in Tsentralny and Admiralteyskiy. For easy access to the panoramic views from the city's highest restaurant, consider booking a hotel in Moskovskiy. Generally quiet and residential, this neighborhood is just south of the city center.