Peterhof tours

One of the most breathtaking places of Russia, which you definitely need to visit to see all the glory and brightness of the past of Russian Empire, enjoy a nice walk through the parks where trees are cut with symmetrical accuracy and fountains, lots of fountains. Peterhof is the place where you should to go if you don’t have enough money or time to explore Hermitage in Saint Petersburg but still want enjoy the masters of the past architectural geniality. Which, in fact, was restored from ruins left after bombing in WW II.
Peterhof was founded in 1710 and was a suburban residence of the emperors of Russia, just like Versailles in France. Peter, I constantly appeared here. Due to the high demand for this place, it was decided to conduct large-scale construction works and various procedures for improvement.

There are few ways to get to this beautiful city, from cheapest, fastest and least view worthy ending with luxury, slow and followed with an amazing view along.

You can get to Peterhof from St.Petersburg by metro to station “Avtovo”. After that, you need to take a bus or minibus with a tablet “Peterhof”. Usually, chances getting into traffic jam are minimal, however, better go to Peterhof in the morning.

You can take a fare, the ticket price is from 80 to 100 RUB, the trip takes around 40 minutes. It is necessary to leave at the stop “Fountains” (Razvodnaya street) – it’s right next to the Upper Garden.

If you have more money to spare, you always can take a taxi or hire a private driver from St. Petersburg to Peterhof you can get on by St. Petersburg Highway.

You can get to Peterhof by train. For this purpose all trains of the Baltic direction, moving to the stations “Kalishche”, “Orienbaum” or “Krasnoflotsk” are suitable. Departure from the Baltic station (city centre, metro station “Baltiyskaya”), arrival at the station “New Peterhof”. In this case, an acquaintance with the sights will begin immediately: the station of Peterhof itself is an architectural monument. From the station to the museum complex, you can take a bus or walk – 3 km along the rail trail.

The most expensive and at the same time most spectacular option of getting to Peterhof is by water high-speed steamship “Meteor”. The route of “Meteor” runs along central water area of Neva river, this provides you with great opportunity to enjoy the view of Hermitage, Peter and Paul Fortress the Birzhevaya and Tuchkov bridges from the water. If you get lucky and the weather is good and the sky is clear you might see Kronstadt and Strelna. The trip takes around half an hour.

Peterhof Palace and Park Ensemble

The palace and park ensemble of Peterhof was established under Peter I in the first quarter of the XVIII century. Historians call Peterhof a kind of monument in honour of Russia’s victories over the Swedes for access to the Baltic Sea. For 200 years the park was the summer residence of the emperors. Currently, the Park Ensemble has 4 cascades and 176 fountains. The main feature of the entire fountain system is quite intriguing as there is a complete absence of pressure and pumping elements. The movement of water is due to the fact that fountains and water storage are located at different levels, the entire system operates on the principle of communicating vessels.

The Upper Garden has always served as a front entrance to the imperial residence. Historians argue if this part of the park was planned by Peter I. In addition to the visual pleasure provider, during the Emperor’s lifetime, the Upper Garden served also for growing vegetables, fruits, various herbs and medicinal plants, and in fish ponds. Later this part of the park was repeatedly redesigned. The peculiarity of the Upper Park as well as of the Lower Garden is that all fountains, ponds, alleys, rosaries, sculptures are arranged in perfectly symmetrical order. In the centre of is the main fountain of the Upper Garden – “Neptune”.

The Great Peterhof Palace is perhaps the most important building of the park. It connects the Upper and Lower Gardens, the main avenues of the park diverge from it, it is at the foot of the palace that the main fountain group – the Grand Cascade and the Samson fountain – is located. At the entrance to the Lower Park guests immediately get on the 300-meter terrace of the Palace, from which a panoramic view of the whole park is opened. That magnificent palace, which tourists see now, changed its appearance for a century and a half. Initially, it was a small two-story building, the width of which did not exceed the width of the Grand Cascade and served for receptions and celebrations. Under Empress Elizabeth, the palace was completely rebuilt after the model of Versailles. During the Second World War, the palace was almost completely destroyed. However, already in 1944, the process of restoration started, and in 1945 was opened in the Lower Park.

The Grand Cascade is the main fountain of Peterhof and one of the most famous in the world. The Grand Cascade unites 64 fountains, central of which is the fountain “Samson tearing the jaws of a lion”. According to the idea of Peter, I the Great Cascade symbolized Russia’s victory over Sweden and served as a ceremonial completion of the sea entrance to the residence. In the sculpture “Samson, tearing the jaws of a lion”, Leo personifies Sweden, because it is this animal that is depicted on the arms of the country. Most of the Grand Cascade was destroyed during World War II, however, architects managed to return its primary appearance.

The park Alexandria, named after Nicholas I wife Alexandra Feodorovna who belongs the idea of the park establishment. Park Alexandria served as a place of permanent summer holidays for four generations of the Romanov dynasty. The children of royal family were surrounded with particular attention and care, there were created a variety of children’s facilities on the territory of the park: a playground, a children’s fortress, a children’s village house, a pigeon house, a children’s farm on the shore of the bay and a water mill. Some of the buildings have now been restored and became a place of various interactive games, knight tournaments, classes.

The Peter and Paul Cathedral in Peterhof is one of the most beautiful Temples in the Saint Petersburg region. Its facade resembles both the Savior on Blood and the St. Isaac’s Cathedral of St. Petersburg, and the height reaches 70 meters. The history of the origin of the Temple is connected with the fact that at the end of the 19th century there were 13 churches in Peterhof, but all of them were in a palace or belonged to the military and were not allowed to be visited by ordinary citizens. So the simple locals needed a place where to pray. In 1892, Father John (Janishev) wrote to Alexander III to help build a new church for the citizens. So in Peterhof, a new Temple appeared, which subsequently for 30 years was the main Cathedral of the city.

Across the road from the entrance to the Upper Park, in the Samson Hotel, there is a restaurant of the same name, which dates back to 1839 – Alexander Dumas himself was flattered about cuisine in that era. The institution offers to the connoisseurs of Russian dishes the royal menu at royal prices – marinated mushrooms, drake’s breast, ruffles, pancakes with caviar.

Guests can dine with a view of the Gulf of Finland at the “Standard” restaurant, which is located not far from the place of mooring of Meteors. They offer a tourist menu of traditional Russian dishes.

Draft beer and democratic serving can be found in the gastronomic Duck & Drake at Colonist Park. Pizzeria “Americano” treats its guests with different types of pizza on a traditional and lush pastry. Cafe “Brynza & Shashlik”, located in a couple of blocks from the Great Palace, is famous for its adequate prices and delicious fried pies called “chebureki”.

Peterhof itself is a historical place, and therefore people come here with a strictly defined goal – cognitive. Search in a beautiful historical town for noisy entertainment is not worth it, but you can enjoy typical Russian fun here. In the winter season, you can ski on the territory of beautiful parks or in one of the surrounding forests. In the immediate vicinity of Peterhof, there is a well-known ski resort “Snezhny”, where you can rent all the necessary equipment and work out under the guidance of coaches.

Residents of Peterhof with great pleasure visit this resort, where you can ride not only on skis but also on snowboarding. There are seven slopes of the most varied lengths and six ski lifts, two of which are children’s.

Excursion to the cultural sights of Peterhof is another activity in this place. The main symbol of Peterhof is a beautiful palace complex, famous for its extraordinary fountains.

In summer, the main entertainment for the guests of Peterhof is walking tours of picturesque parks, where you can spend a whole day in comfort. For those who do not like walking on foot, cycling routes are available. Walking through the territory of Peterhof, it is worth paying attention not only to architectural and natural beauty but also to numerous shops. Souvenir shops prevail here, the choice of original products in which simply huge. Another typical fun that can not be ignored is fishing. Since ancient times noble persons who visited Peterhof went to local ponds to spend several hours in secluded surroundings and fish. Today this “aristocratic” entertainment is available to everyone, it is worth considering that all the artificial ponds of Peterhof are rich in fish, which were actively cultivated several centuries ago.

First, Peterhof is better to visit when the weather is sunny and clear. Secondly, plan a trip for the whole day.

If you came to Peterhof for the first time, you can not waste your time waiting in the queue for the Great Palace. Just walk in the park, you will get a lot of fun!

If you do not agree to pay quite a lot of money for food and drinks in the local restaurants, take care of the “lunch of the tourist” in advance – take sandwiches and water with you.