There are plenty of short-trip riverboats that ply the Neva near the Hermitage, but there are also ones that go much further afield, heading up the Neva River and across Lake Ladoga in the summer. Valaam monastery is a popular and stunning destination and can be visited on a one day/two night excursion. There are lots of other destinations and options.

River Terminal, near Proletarskaya metro station; tel: 262 02 39;
petersburgcity.com/city/transport/watercommunication/watercommunications/

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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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