Nevsky Prospekt
Russia’s most famous street—the Champs-Élysées of St. Petersburg—runs for 3 miles (5 kilometers) through the city’s historic center from the Admiralty Building to Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Some of the city’s most impressive buildings line the street, including the Kazan Cathedral, Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, and the Grand Europe Hotel.
The Basics
A stroll down Nevsky Prospekt has become a quintessential St. Petersburg experience, and it would be hard to spend time in the city without encountering the boulevard at least a couple of times. Nearly every city sightseeing tour will include the street. For a closer look, opt for a walking food tour along the street, where you can sample typical Russian dishes like pierogi, borsch, and beef stroganoff, or a night tour to see the street beautifully illuminated.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Nevsky Prospekt is a must-visit for all first time visitors.
- Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to do a fair amount of walking, particularly if you plan to walk the street from end to end.
- Nevsky Prospekt is largely accessible to wheelchairs, though some areas of the sidewalk are cobbled.
How to Get There
Nevsky Prospekt runs through the heart of the city, and most directions use the street as a landmark. The easiest way to get there by public transportation is to take the St. Petersburg Metro to Nevsky Prospekt Station.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
Nevsky Prospekt remains lively throughout the year, though it can feel crowded during the high season (mid-June to September). Try to visit the street during the day and at night for a complete experience.
The Street of Religious Tolerance
French writer Alexander Dumas once called Nevsky Prospekt “the street of religious tolerance” for the many different denominations of churches that line it. Prominent churches include the Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria, Petrikirche (Lutheran Church of St. Peter), and the Kazan Cathedral.
- Anichkov Palace
- Fabergé Museum
- Alexandrinsky Theatre
- Monument to Catherine II (Pamyatnik Ekaterina II)
- The Anna Akhmatova Museum
- Yusupov Palace (Yusupovsky Dvorets)
- Russian Museum of Ethnography
- Mikhailovsky Castle (St. Michael's Castle)
- State Russian Museum (Russkiy Muzey)
- Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan (Kazansky Sobor)
- Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
- Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines
- Dostoevsky Museum
- State Memorial Museum of Leningrad Defense and Siege
- Stroganov Palace (Stroganovsky Dvorets)