Sankt Petersburg is a great city, and I have been to two times: as 3-days visit of a friend in 1999, and a conference trip for a week in 2008. Besides, we went also to Peterhof, which is (as many other places) the part of this WHS. Well, St. Petersburg is built in European classicist style, but it has rather non-European size: even walking along the Nevsky Avenue takes quite a long time. Thus, one day visit is really not enough, and a week would be a minimum. Another aspect is the setting of St. Petersburg, where river Neva, its canals and bridges are the added value and make the city really outstanding. We joined the boat trip, which was pleasant but rather chilly experience. I would recommend going to St. Petersburg in June during so called white nights (PHOTO taken at midnight!).

As regards the monuments, I enjoyed my visit to Hermitage museum, but I cannot say it is related to the OUV of the site. Peterhof is also very nice and worth of visit, but I had a feeling that it is a tourist trap! It is possible to go there by train or by ferry from the city center.

I grew up in communists times of former Czechoslovakia, and I put it into the context during my visits of St. Petersburg. First, all the style and decorations in the hotel I was accommodated in 2008 - it remind me my childhood! Further, I realize how strong and awful communist propaganda was. The role of Leningrad (St. Petersburg) in bolshevik revolution in 1917, the attack to the Winter Palace, the Cruiser Aurora, all this was the crucial topic of my education from basic school! In contrast, this part of Russian history was not emphasized or it was almost ignored by tourist industry in 2008. However, I prefer Dostoevsky to Lenin, thus I refused visiting the Cruiser Aurora, and headed to Sennaya Sq. instead! The place had the important role in the relationship between Raskolnikov and Sonya in the novel Crime and Punishment. Obviously, there is nothing special there...

All in all, St Petersburg is really outstanding site, besides the monuments, I enjoyed simple walking in its never-ending streets, bridges, and islands exploring both stealthy yards and opulent exteriors.