The Seven Bridges
A place that is in many ways a symbol of this city sliced every which way by rivers and canals. Standing at the center of Pikalov Bridge with St. Nicholas Cathedral to your left, turn slowly around clockwise and you’ll be able from one point to see seven different bridges.
Address: 133A, Naberezhnaya Kanala Griboedova.

The Petersburg Angel
This unobtrusive statue by the sculptor Roman Shustov is the embodiment of St. Petersburg’s intelligentsia. An umbrella, an old overcoat, a tattered scarf, an open book, and two wings protruding behind – the figure is the symbolic representation of a citizen who has had a hard life, but has managed to retain a spirit of tenderness, optimism, and love.
Address: Izmaylovsky Garden, 114, Naberezhnaya Reki Fontanki.

Rasputin’s House
This building, with its unusual architecture, has always attracted those with an interest in the occult. Thanks to the notoriety of Rasputin, this is a soughtafter destination for those who believes in mysticism.
Address: 57, Gorokhovaya Ulitsa.

Russia in Miniature
Ever wanted to see all of Russia in one go? In St. Petersburg, there’s a place where you can visit Moscow, Sochi, Vladivostok, and Murmansk. Moreover, this scale model bubbles with life – the time of year and the time of day are
constantly changing, the highways blaze with light, trains race along rails, and the tiny inhabitants are all busily occupied.
Address: 16, Tsvetochnaya Ulitsa

Museum of Street Art
Situated on the territory of an industrial facility, this museum encompasses a wide variety of street art, including a permanent graffiti collection, by the best Russian and international street artists. The museum also hosts a
wide range of festivals, concerts, and screenings.
Address: 84, Shosse Revolyutsii.

Five Corners
This unique road junction has become a Petersburg attraction, thanks to the unusual form and attractive architecture of the main building located there. The location is also notable as the end of Ulitsa Rubinshteina, which
has a reputation as one of St.Petersburg’s main party streets.
Address: 11, Zagorodny Prospekt.

Eliseev Store
A “gastronomic paradise”, to which a visit in Soviet times was like a sightseeing tour to view the culinary delights on sale. The Eliseev family’s store was opened in 1903, and boasts a stunning Art Nouveau building, where the
sumptuous decorations blend seamlessly into the luxury goodies on display.
Address: 56/8, Nevsky Prospekt.

The street that doesn’t exist
You won’t find John Lennon Street on any map of St. Petersburg, but it does exist in the Pushkinskaya 10 Art Center. If you’re looking for a little taste of Beatlemania, it’s worth a visit to see the murals featuring the members of the group, a yellow submarine, and much more.
Address: 10, Pushkinskaya Ulitsa (entrance from 53, Ligovsky Prospekt)

TEXT: VLADIMIR SERGACHEV

Stars of the White Nights
The Stars of the White Nights, an international festival of the Mariinsky Theater, is one of the top ten festivals in the world. From May through June, the festival hosts over 160 performances and concerts featuring world-renowned
opera and ballet stars.

Singing Bridges
One of St. Petersburg’s most impressive spectacles, the opening of the city’s moving bridges, is enhanced even further by the enchanting and memorable show “Singing Bridges”. From June to September, everybody can enjoy popular classic music while watching the raising of Palace Bridge—one of the most recognizable landmarks of the city on the Neva.

Navy Day
On the last Sunday of July each year, St.Petersburg becomes the capital of Russia’s Navy Day celebration. The waters of the Neva and Kronshtadt Port are home to a grand parade of Navy ships and Naval aviation. Anyone who wishes to can climb aboard a real combat vessel!
In the evening, Palace Square hosts a grand celebratory concert, culminating in a massive firework display over the Neva.

Opera for Everyone
Th e international festival “Opera for Everyone” acquaints the public with masterpieces of international and Russian opera in the open air. Th roughout July, the city’s residents and visitors have the opportunity to watch the world’s most popular operas absolutely free. The festival’s organizers bring in the fi nest orchestras, choirs, and soloists from St. Petersburg, Moscow and throughout Europe.

Maritime Assembly
Th e St. Petersburg Maritime Assembly brings together a range of sea and river events in a single week in June. Th e Assembly’s program includes the Waltz of Tugboats, a parade of sail boats and yachts on the Neva, a parade of passenger boats, a SUP-surfi ng festival, a colorful water show called “the Ballet of Sails”, exhibitions and interactive programs on famous sail boats.

St. Petersburg Harley® Days
Part of Harley-Davidson’s offi cial calendar of events, St. Petersburg Harley Days is Russia’s biggest bike festival. Each year, the event draws about 90,000 visitors from 25 countries to the heart of the city. Th e festival program includes a grand motorcycle parade on Palace Square, a night-time illuminated bike parade, an entertainment and music programme, test rides, a custom-bike competition, a stunt-riding show, and the Miss St. Petersburg Harley Days beauty contest. Other events and attractions include the CRAZY WHEELS parade of unusual vehicles, a major trade fair, a children’s playground, and a fi tness zone.

St. Petersburg International
Cultural Forum

The St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum is an international cultural event and forum for discussion that attracts thousands of experts from around the world each year. Among them are stars of dramatic theatre, opera and ballet, outstanding directors and musicians, community leaders, government and business representatives, and members of the academic community. The forum’s many cultural events are complemented by an extensive business program.

Text By Ivan Demidov

Dear Friends,
In May, St. Petersburg celebrated its 315th anniversary. Relatively young by historical standards, this megapolis continues to develop and become more beautiful.
The city has done a tremendous job preparing for the much-anticipated 2018 FIFA World Cup— building a state-ofthe-art 68 000-seat stadium, as well as a new pedestrian access bridge to it across the Neva river. Two new metro stations have been constructed, comfortable buses and subway trains have been purchased, parks and squares have been renovated, and new hotels have been built.
A modern sea port capable of receiving ocean liners facilitates cruise tourism and strengthens St. Petersburg’s position as one of the most visited cities of the Baltic.
We are delighted to see the number of visitors to our city increase each year. It is not a coincidence that three years in a row St. Petersburg has been awarded prestigious international World Travel Awards in various categories.
St. Petersburg is a leading venue for open international dialogue. Each year the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum gathers the elite of international politics and business, and in 2019, the UN General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will take place for the first time in our city. Then, in 2020, the Northern capital will host the congress of the World Association of Chefs’ Societies.
I wish all our guests the most pleasant and memorable experiences in our wonderful city!

Georgy Poltavchenko,
Governor of St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia, with a population of about 5.3 million people, and the administrative centre of the NorthWest Federal District and the Leningrad Region. Tsar Peter I founded St. Petersburg in 1703 in the delta of the Neva River, and from 1712 to 1918 the city was the capital of Russia. One of the most beautiful cities in the world, it has many historical monuments and attractions, and it was the cauldron of three revolutions: in 1905-1907, then in February and October 1917. The unofficial names of the city are Russia’s “Cultural Capital” and “The Northern Capital”. During the Second World War, residents and defenders of Leningrad withstood a historical blockade by Nazi troops, which lasted 872 days, during which according to various estimates between 650,000 and two million people died. The restoration of some monuments destroyed by the war continues to this day. The historical centre of St. Petersburg and its associated sites are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. St. Petersburg is connected with many other regions of Russia and a number of countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America, by air, water and railway routes: it has the modern international “Pulkovo” airport, as well as five railway stations, and sea and river passenger ports. The distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg along the federal highway is 707 km.

Schedule of matches

St. Petersburg will host seven world championship matches: four group games – with first stage matches with the participation of teams from groups A, B, D and E, an 1/8, a semi-final and a semifinal. The group games will be held on 15, 19, 22 and 26 June. The 1/8 play-off is on July 3, the semi-final on July 10, with the play-off for third place on 14 July. The teams will play at the new “St. Petersburg” stadium, which was specially built for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 and the 2018 World Cup.

The stadium

The new “St. Petersburg” football stadium is located on the site of the former Kirov stadium. The only stadium in Russia with a roll-out field, the project was designed by the Japanese architect Kisyo Kurokawa. The most expensive arena of the 2018 World Cup, its construction took a total of 10 years. It can accommodate from 69,000 fans for football matches and up to 80,000 people for concerts. In 2017, four matches of the FIFA Confederations Cup were held at the stadium, and at the end of the World Cup it will be transferred to the “Zenith” football club. In 2020, matches of the European Football Championship will be played there. Address: Krestovsky Island, South Road, 25.

How to get to the stadium

There are several ways to reach the arena, including by metro to the “Krestovsky Island” station, from where temporary buses will be organized. During the competition, shuttles will also directly link the stadium to Pulkovo airport and railway stations. By the start of the 2018 World Cup, the government of St. Petersburg will have opened the new “Novokrestovskaya” metro station near the stadium. Fans with match tickets can travel free. A new foot bridge will also link the stadium with Vasilievsky Island.

Fan zone

The fan zone will be located on Konushen-naya Square, which proved a success during the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017. 15,000 fans can be accommodated there.

DURING WHITE NIGHTS DON’T MISS A BOAT TRIP ALONG THE NEVA AND THROUGH THE CANALS UNDER THE DRAWBRIDGES: IN 2017, AN ADULT TICKETS COST AROUND $13.

Where to stay

The centre of St. Petersburg has many hostels with room prices starting from $15 (including breakfast). There are small budget hotels like “Academic” (next to the Hermitage), “Rus” (near the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral), and many others. For international hotel chains, prices start from $70 for a standard room (with breakfast). A spacious elite apartment on Nevsky Prospekt or Krestovsky Island will cost around $8,000. There are also good options for accommodation in hotels and resorts, such as that on the northern shore of the Gulf of Finland, 25-50 kilometers from the stadium and the city centre. Especially for the World Cup St. Petersburg will have as many as 10 floating hotels, expected to be three-star with 40 rooms and a restaurant. The hotels will be moored on the Sinop-skaya and Vyborgskaya Embankments and around the Krestovsky Island.

Where to eat

Budget tourists will enjoy the “Kopeika” or “Tarelka” chains of cafeterias that are scattered around the city, as well as a Finnish canteen on Bolshaya Konyushennaya Street, with an average bill of $3-5. In the city there are many international franchise fast food restaurants. Fans of the Soviet past can visit the legendary “Pyshechnaya” on Bolshaya Konyushennaya or the “Sovetskaya Kafe Kvartira” on Nevsky Prospekt to try pastries with powdered sugar and coffee with milk from an
aluminium kettle, or buckwheat porridge with meat and dried fruit compote. Gourmets are advised to try “Trattoria Little Italy”, a small restaurant on Millionnaya Street, the cafe “Beautiful Green” on Mokhovaya, or a Belgian waffle from “Gofre” on Ligovsky Prospekt.

What to see

During White Nights don’t miss a boat trip along the Neva and through the canals under the drawbridges: in 2017, an adult tickets cost around $13. A water excursion to Peterhof on the “Meteor” with a walk in the lower park, a visit to palaces and fountains will cost from $17. Some of the most famous museums and historical buildings include the Hermitage, the Kunstkamera, the “Aurora” cruiser, the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Vorontsovsky and Mariinsky palaces, and the St. Isaac’s and Kazan cathedrals. We recommend a walk through the shady Summer and Tauride Gardens, and a visit to the Water Museum. But to walk the roofs of old Petersburg, you need a special guide: volunteers can be contacted through social networks.

SITUATED IN THE CENTRE OF ST. PETERSBURG, THE ICONIC BELMOND GRAND HOTEL EUROPE IS A SHORT WALK FROM THE CITY’S MOST FAMOUS SIGHTS. THE HOTEL’S HISTORICAL HERITAGE, MODERN COMFORT OF ROOMS, AND EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE MAKES IT A PERFECT PLACE TO STAY WHILE VISITING THE CITY.

Grand Hotel Europe was designed in conjunction with Italian architect Rossi, and opened in 1875. It is famous not only for being the first Russian five-star hotel, but also for hosting members of royal dynasties and famous people, such as the famous Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Bernard Shaw. This distinguished hotel constantly honours the traditions of the past, making it the destination of choice for luxury travellers.

For those seeking privacy and comfort, the hotel offers 10 magnificent luxury apartments that overlook the Arts Square. It was a true challenge for Michele Jouannet, a French designer, to restore each room to its former glory. But the results speak for themselves.

The apartments reflect the distinctive historic character of the building, and each room, given its own unique name, features elements of a certain historical era. Materials used in decoration vary from Italian marble to Karelian birch. Every detail is infused with the essence of elegance and comfort. Guests not only feel welcomed, but also develop a holistic appreciation of the connection between their suite’s name, decor and grand epochs of the city’s history.

At the “top” of the historic wing of Belmond Grand Hotel Europe is a 350 sq.m Presidential suite that overlooks Nevsky Prospect. The largest and most spacious suite boasts the sparkling luxury of Chinoiserie decorative elements, a music room featuring an antique Carl Schroder grand piano, a private study, library, fitness center, sauna and a separate room for staff. These elements are seamlessly melded together, making the Presidential suite a highly desirable option for the most discerning of clients.

In 2014, the Belmond Grand Hotel Europe surprised its guests by moving away from the Art Nouveau heritage for the first time in its 140-year history, redecorating an entire wing in the Russian avant-garde style. Under the supervision of Adam Tihany, 19 rooms of the Historic floor were turned into six luxury suites equipped with a smart home intelligent control system. Each of the avant-garde suites is one of a kind: The Malevich suite features angular shapes and straight lines. The Archipenko suite distinguishes itself through warm tones and rounded lines. The largest of the Grand Hotel Europe avant-garde suites (170 sq.m), named after Wassily Kandinsky, amazes with its range of colours and interaction between lines and shapes.

It goes without saying that the hotel’s culinary symphony has always been just as delightful as everything else. If restaurants, cafes and bars can be compared to a great orchestra, then Europa restaurant is its star soloist. It can be compared to the exclusive grand piano Steinway & Sons, and is impeccable in both style and quality. Everywhere you look, you see genuine artworks, which lends a certain prestige to the restaurant. It is not just a place to quell hunger, but to satisfy the soul, feel the music of notes, interiors and cuisine…

Named after one of Russia’s most famous products, the “Caviar Bar” stands out among other restaurants with its splendid interiors, where one can have a royal meal with iced vodka and pancakes with caviar. The wine menu includes 50 kinds of vodka, but what makes this bar truly different is its signature dish “Egg in Egg” – truffle-infused scrambled egg, topped with sturgeon caviar enclosed in a shell, and served with a shot glass elegantly filled with sea salt.

Can you feel your mouth watering? It’s no wonder that those who have tried this delicacy ask to have it served in an ostrich egg.

After extensive renovation, the Bel-mond Grand Hotel Europe opened its iconic Krysha ballroom. It was first designed by Fyodor Lidval in 1909 and renovated by Robert Angell Design International, the London-based design studio, with a great regard to the historical legacy of the hotel. As if soaring over St. Petersburg, the Ballroom remains a site of pilgrimage for high society.

For those seeking privacy and comfort, the hotel offers 10 magnificent luxury apartments that overlook the Arts Square. It was a true challenge for Michele Jouannet, a French designer, to restore each room to its former glory. But the results speak for themselves.

TEXT: VLADIMIR SERGACHEV