The small building on the corner of Marata and Kuznechny streets which was once hidden in scaffolding is know a gleaming and quirky palace-converted-museum. It is filled to the brim with maps of Arctic and Antarctic expeditions, ship models, photos, stuffed models of animals and artifacts. Above th [...]

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No human society can function without the exchange of information. Named after the Russian scientist and inventor Aleksander Stepanovich Popov, the Museum aims to inform about the history of innovations and inventions in the field of technology.  It is one of the oldest museums of science and technology in the world but is distinctly contemporary in outlook, documenting for example, new achievements in the fields of telecommunications. Its archives contain more than 8 million items. At the museum's work hours the following services are avaliable: Post office, research library, cafeteria, internet-cafe, souvenir shop.
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The battle ship, anchored off the banks of Petrograd Side, has become somewhat a Soviet shrine. This is because blank shots fired from the Aurora are said to have been the trigger for the revolution of 1917. The ship was sunk during WWII, to protect it from German bombing, and, in 1958, it was made into a museum. It is operated by the Central Naval Museum. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, mysterious rumours have been spreading that it is, in fact, a replica. But who knows? Why not find out for yourself! [...]

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Moscow may have the embalmed body of Lenin, but St. Petersburg has the Grigory Rasputin’s genitalia. The what?!? Yes, you heard us right. The penis of Rasputin, 24 cm long and two fists thick (and it’s not even erect). Rasputin, a mysterious monk, was one of the most influential men in [...]

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Rasputin, Raskolnikov, the Queen of Spades and even Gogol’s Nose makes an appearance at the Uzhasi (horrors) of St. Petersburg theme tour. Actors dressed as hunchbacks and prisoners lead you around the labyrinth of around twelve horrifying exhibits as you learn about each of St. Petersburg’s ghoulish episodes… The show is very hi-tech, very entertaining (no English though…) but not all that scary. [...]

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The Krasin (built in 1916) was the world’s first icebreaker and although it’s now simply a museum, back in the day it was highly respected around the world for taking part in a number of rescue missions in and around the arctic region as well as leading several wartime convoys through t [...]

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Right opposite the Peter and Paul Fortress is Russia's first zoo, opened in 1865. It's not a big place but there is a fair range of animals including the cutest polar bears ever, two giraffes and a range of impossibly energetic monkeys. There's also an indoor aquarium and a giftshop. [...]

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Peter the Great built this palace for the first Governor-General of St. Petersburg Alexander Menshikov. It's now a branch of the Hermitage, and the beautifully decorated rooms display early 18th century art, as well as some of Peter's work-tools. [...]

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The palace, with its canals and secret underground passageway, was built to protect Tsar Paul I, who was petrified of being murdered. Ironically, 40 days after he moved in, he was assassinated in a military plot. A few years later, it became a school for engineers, and today, it's a branch of [...]

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The director of the Hermitage once said, “I can't say that the Hermitage is the number one museum in the world, but it's certainly not the second.” And with over three million works of art and treasures housed in five connected buildings along the Neva, the museum can't fail to impress. [...]

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Situated a brisk walk or marshrutka ride from Vasileostrovskaya metro, this small museum has the feel of a community place. Privately operated, there are several displays showing dolls from throughout Russia as well as different puppets. The museums hosts regular exhibits handiworks of local artist [...]

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This enchanting little museum contains several rooms of various antique and modern toys.  There are dolls and teddy bears from the 1800s, miniature tea sets, figurines, Russian dolls and dolls’ houses. A more modern room takes a innovative approach to the mundane, containing metallic cra [...]

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This palace was purchased by the wealthy Yusupov family in 1830 to house their art collection and retains an aristocratic atmosphere. It also was the scene of the grisly murder of the sleazy Siberian peasant Rasputin, who was exercising too much influence over the royal family for Felix Y [...]

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