This hotel, formerly knew as Nevsky 22, is comfortable, if you desire to spend your stay in the city centre of Petersburg.

In fact, it takes just a few minutes to get to the Hermitage (what a museum!). What is more, Nevsky Prospect is amazing: this boulevard was built in the 18th century and it is full of Italian and French influence: Saint Petersburg is really the union of two different cultures!

10 Bolshaya Konyushennaya St, 191186 St. Petersburg.
Tel: +7 812 3123131
Fax: +7 812 7033861
Website: www.nevskygrandhotel.com

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This cathedral rarely gets a mention, but because it is often overlooked it is fantastic to visit. You don't have to jostle with other tourists and its cool blue walls look absolutely fantastic in the snow. It's a few minutes south of the Yusupov Palace.

Prospekt Rimskogo-Korsakova or just follow the Griboedova Canal west from Nevsky Prospekt for about 15 minutes

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This is the most Russian in style of the St Petersburg churches and is one of those sights that it’s hard to walk away from. It’s likened to St Basil’s in Moscow, mainly because of the stripy domes, but in reality it’s much smaller and doesn’t bear much closer architectural comparison. It stands next to the Griboyedova canal, which makes the setting even more picturesque, but it’s worth seeing from all angles, so have a good walk around.

Naberezhnaia kanala Griboyedova
www.saint-petersburg.com/virtual-tour/church-of-savior.asp

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Also known as the Catherine Palace, this is the most spectacular of the former royal palaces in the environs of St Petersburg.

The first sight of it will linger always in the memory; the dominant blue, decorated with gold and white trimmings is overwhelming given the scale of the building. It contains the famous amber room, which is panelled entirely with amber taken from the Russian forests. The original is said to have been destroyed or stolen during the second world war, no one knows the truth, but they've just finished restoring it using the same original methods and materials.

Apparently Elton John played in the lavish ballroom not long ago - I'm surprised he hasn't put in an offer yet.

Pushkin, 25 km south of St Petersburg - there's plenty of organised tours; www.alexanderpalace.org/tsarskoe/

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Whether or not you want to see what’s in it, the palace is more than worth visiting in its own right. First walk around it, from Palace Square to the embankment to get a feeling of the grandeur and splendour – if you have time, go up onto the Dvortsovy bridge and admire the view with the Neva in the foreground. Then return to the entrance and go inside. The golden staircase is very decadent, but still gorgeous, and then there’s just room after room of opulence. No wonder the peasants revolted.

Palace Square - main entrance Dvortsovaya Nab (on the embankment)

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This is the smallest of the three ‘out of town’ royal palaces and, from the outside, the least ostentatious. It was built for Catherine’s son Paul and is situated in the middle of a large, wooded park that seems very popular with the locals nowadays. Inside it’s decorated as lavishly as any of the others and includes a Grecian Hall, an Italian Hall and a Hall of War.

From St Petersburg Vitebsk station to Pavlovsk station. Then a 30 minute walk through the park or buses 370 or 383. Guided tours also available.

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On the banks of the Moyka canal, not far from the Mariinsky Theatre, is the yellow palace once owned by the Yusupov family. It’s rather subdued and conventional exterior belies some quite startling secrets within, not least that this was the place where Rasputin was murdered by Prince Felix Yusupov and his cohorts.

Besides an exhibition on the mad monk, you can view most of the rooms, which include one in a fabulous Moorish style and a superb miniature Rococo theatre that's hard to tear yourself away from.

The staff are used to coach parties, so seem a little surprised if you turn up on your own, but with a bit of sign language they're quite amenable.

Naberezhnaya Reki Moyki 94;
www.saint-petersburg.com/museums/yusupov-palace.asp

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