The Petrograd Side is a borough in Saint Petersburg consisting of the islands of the northern part of the Neva delta.

Mostly residential, it is also home to several smaller universities, stadiums of FC Zenit and the tallest structure of the city, a 326-m-high TV tower. It includes the Peter and Paul Fortress and the site where Saint Petersburg was founded. In the beginning the city grew around Troitskaya Square, but within a few decades the city center shifted to the opposite bank of the Neva, and until the 1890s this borough, dominated by the fortifications of the Peter and Paul Fortress, remained peripheral. In the late 19th and early 20th century it was quickly built over, centring along Bolshoy Prospekt and Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt. The architecture of that period has remained mostly intact. The islands in the northwestern part of the borough, across the Malaya Nevka, have been a recreational area covered mostly by parks, mansions and sports facilities.

Get in

The Rozenshtein-Belogrud House on Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt

By metro

The borough is served by five Metro (subway) stations:

: Gorkovskaya (Горьковская). Transfer to : № 2M, 2Mб, 46, 46а, 180. : № 6, 40. : № К-30, К-46, К-76, К-183, К-223.

: Petrogradskaya (Петроградская). Transfer to : № 1, 2М, 2Мб, 10, 25, 46, 128, 191. : № 40. : № К-10, К-46, К-76, К-120, К-127, К-131, К-136, К-141, К-149, К-160, К-175А, К-183, К-209, К-223, К-252, К-298, К-346, К-369, К-690. : № 31, 34

:Chkalovskaya (Чкаловская). Transfer to : № 1, 5М, 5Ма, 14, 25, 191, 180. : № К-98, К-120, К-131, К-321.

:Krestovsky Ostrov (Крестовский остров). Transfer to : № 10, 25, 25А

:Sportivnaya (Спортивная). Transfer to : № 1, 5М, 5Ма, 10, 128, 135а, 191, 492. : № К-10, К-30, К-32, К-120, К-127, К-141, К-149, К-175, К-183, К-209, К-252, К-298, К-346, К-690. : № 6, 40. : № 1, 7, 9, 31.

By bus

Buses (), trolleybuses (), trams () and marshrutkas () cover the main streets, though they can be crowded and caught in traffic jams during peak hours, as these streets are major commuting routes linking the North to the Vasilievsky Island and Center. Note that Bolshoy Prospekt is a one-way street (southbound) for most of its length, the traffic in the opposite direction follows Bolshaya Pushkarskaya Street.

Get around

Don't confuse Bolshoy Prospekt and Maly Prospekt with the streets of the same name on Vasilievsky Island.

See

Zayachy Island

• 1 Peter and Paul Fortress (Петропа́вловская кре́пость, Petropavlovskaya Krepost), Zayachi Island (: Gorkovskaya (Горьковская)), ☏ +7 812 230-6431. 10:00-18:00. The Fortress, occupying the entire island, is the original citadel of Saint Petersburg, built during the first half of the 18th century, now a museum. It is dominated by the Peter and Paul Cathedral (1712-1732) with its 123 m (404 ft) high spire. Regular guided tours to the belltower and the viewing platform are provided from May to September. You can go to the complex for free, but to enter the church and exhibitions you need tickets. Combo ticket costs 1000 руб; Tickets to individual attractions cost 200 руб-700 руб each.  

Petrogradsky Island

By far the largest island, served by four of the five metro stations.

Quarters of well-preserved and often beautiful houses from the 1890s-1910s along Bolshoy Prospekt and Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt are off the beaten path and worth exploring.

• 2 Military-Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineer and Signal Corps (Артиллерийский музей, Кронверк), Aleksandrovskiy Park 7 (: Gorkovskaya (Горьковская)). Open W-Su, closed the last Thursday of the month. Housed in the crownwork (an external fortification) of the Peter and Paul Fortress and surrounded by a moat, it shows a huge collection of weapons of various ages and countries, from missiles to knives. Labels in Russian only.  

• 3 1911 memorial to the crew of the torpedo boat Steregushchy (In the park right next to the : Gorkovskaya (Горьковская), facing Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt). Believed to have been scuttled by the remaining sailors after the lost battle with the Japanese off Port Arthur in March 1904 to avoid her capture by the enemy. 

• 4 Leningrad Zoo (Зоопарк), Aleksandrovsky Park (Александровский парк), 1 (: Gorkovskaya (Горьковская), : 6 or 40 to stop 'Сытный рынок'), ☏ +7 812 232-8260, fax: +7 (812) 232-8250. 10:00—19:00 (winter until 18:00). A rather mediocre one due to chronic underfunding. Visitors may be disappointed by the conditions in which the animals are held. 350 руб.  

Saint Petersburg Mosque interior

The Mosque

• 5 Saint Petersburg Mosque (Главная Санкт-Петербургская Соборная мечеть, المنزل مسجد سانت بطرسبرغ), Kronverkskiy prospekt (Кронверкский пр.), 7 (Less than 300 m from : Gorkovskaya (Горьковская), not far from the Peter and Paul Fortress. - : 6 or 40 to stop 'Станция метро Горьковская'), ☏ +7 812 233-9819. Opened in 1913, huge and ornate. The interiors are unavailable to non-Muslims, except for guided visits arranged through the State Museum of the History of Religion, but it is worth seeing from the outside. Three storey building, for 3000 pilgrims.  

• 6 State Museum of the Political History of Russia (Gosudarstvennyy Muzey Politicheskoy Istorii Rossii,), Kuibysheva St (ул. Куйбышева), 2-4 (Right next to the mosque, near the : Gorkovskaya (Горьковская), From metro Petrogradskaya : 46, 76, From metro Sportivnaya : 183, From Finlyandsky Railway Station (: 49 or : 183, 30), ☏ +7 812 233-7052, polithistmuseum@mail.ru. Closed every Thursday and last Monday of each month. Hosted in two remarkable former mansions built in the beginning of the 20th century, the museum exhibits various items related to the Russian politics since the 18th century.  

• 7 Troitsky Bridge (Троицкий мост), Kamennoostrovskiy prospekt (: Gorkovskaya (Горьковская)). 24/7. The third permanent bridge across the Neva and the first connecting this borough with the opposite bank. It opened in 1903. One of the most beautiful bridges in the city, it is a particularly spectacular sight during the white nights when it is drawn up to allow ships to pass. Free.  

• 8 The Cabin of Peter the Great (Домик Петра I), Petrovskaya naberezhnaya (Петровская наб.), 6 (: Gorkovskaya (Горьковская)), ☏ +7 812 314-0374. W-M 10:00–18:00, closed last Monday of each month. The wooden summer house of the Russian tsar dating from 1703. Enclosed within a more recent protective brick pavilion (so what one sees from the outside is not the original construction), it is the oldest building in the city, hosting a small museum. The quay in front of the cabin is decorated with two authentic Chinese stone lions brought from Jilin City in 1907.  

The Aurora Cruiser Museum

• 9 Russian cruiser Aurora (Крейсер «Аврора»), Petrogradskaya Embankment (Петроградская наб.) 2 (1.5 km (1 mi) from : Gorkovskaya (Горьковская), you can also use : 6 and bus 46 or 49), ☏ +7 812 230-8440. M-F 10:30-16:00 only for groups. Early 20th-century protected cruiser (extensively repaired after WWII and in the 1980s), most famous for her symbolic role in the Russian Revolution of November 1917. It took part in the Russo-Japanese war in 1905. It has long been a museum ship open to the public, moored in front of the Nakhimov Naval School. Adults – 300 руб, Students – 100 руб, Photo 50 руб, Video filming 100 руб.  

• 10 Kirov Museum, Benua House (Музей С. М. Кирова, дом Бенуа), Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt (Каменноостровский пр.), 26/28 (Between : Gorkovskaya (Горьковская) and : Petrogradskaya (Петроградская), Bus 46, : К30, К46, К76, К183, К223), ☏ +7 812 346-0217. Th-Tu 11:00-18:00. Features the apartment of the city's communist boss from 1926-1934. 100 руб. 

• 11 Tuchkov Buyan (Near the Tuchkov Bridge, :Sportivnaya (Спортивная) station. - : К10, К30, К32, К120, К175A, К183, К346, К690). Palace-like warehouses built on the bank of the Malaya Neva by Antonio Rinaldi in 1763-1772. It is better viewed from the opposite bank, i.e. from the Vasilievsky Island.  

• 12 St Vladimir's Cathedral (Князь-Владимирский собор), Blokhina St (ул. Блохина,) 26 (:Sportivnaya (Спортивная) station, Troliley 1, 9, 31 or : К10, К30, К32, К127, К149, К175A, К183, К209, К252, К298, К346), ☏ +7 812 233-6865, fax: +7 812 372-54-39. Russian orthodox cathedral built in 1766-1789  

Aptekarsky Island

Home to the Botanical Garden, TV tower (inaccessible), the Electrotechnical University and medical research institutes

• 13 Botanical Garden (Ботанический сад), Aptekarsky Prospekt 1 (in summer) or Professora Popova St (ул. Профессора Попова) 2 (in winter) (: Petrogradskaya (Петроградская) station, bus 28 to stop Уральская улица/ Наличная улица), ☏ +7 812 372-5443, fax: +7 812 372-5439. The greenhouses are open all year round, but are closed on Mondays. The park is open daily from May to October. With an arboretum, flower garden, botanical museum and a large complex of greenhouses (greenhouses can only be accessed with a guided tour).  

Kamenny Island

Its remarkable early 20th-century villas as well as some earlier buildings are well worth seeing.

Yelagin Island

Villas on Kamenny Island

The island is accessible through footbridges from three sides (Krestovsky Island, Kamenny Island and the mainland to the north). The nearest metro stations are : 'Krestovsky Ostrov', and Staraya Derevnya. Inexpensive boats can be rented for the ponds. In the winter, skis, sleds, and ice skates can be also be rented.

• 14 Yelagin Palace (Елагинский дворец), Yelagin Island (Елагин остров), 4 (: 21, 48 to stop 'ЦПКиО'), ☏ +7 812 430-0911. Tu,Th-Su 10:00-18:30, W 12:00-20:00, M closed. The Yelagin Palace (1785-1790), hosting a museum and surrounded by a landscape park with a network of interconnected ponds, which occupies the entire island. It is possible to rent a boat there. 150 руб, 100 руб reduced. (updated Aug 2024)

Krestovsky Island

Home to the stadium of FC Zenit (a host stadium during the 2018 FIFA World Cup), an amusement park, and modern residential blocks. It's served to the east by the Krestovsky Ostrov metro station (line M5, purple, towards Komendantskiy Prospect) and to the west, closer to the stadium, by Novokrestovskaya (line M3, green, towards Begovaya).

• 15 Krestovsky Stadium (стадион «Крестовский»), Futbol'naya Alleya 1. One of the most expensive stadiums ever built.  

Petrovsky Island

• 16 Petrovsky Stadium. Former Stadium of FC Zenit. Now used by several teams that compete in lower professional leagues. 

Do

• 1 Helicopter Tour, Zayachy Island, from the Fortress helipad (: Gorkovskaya (Горьковская)). 11:30-18:00. It is possible to take a 15-minute aerial tour along the 10 km long portion of the Neva, between the Blagoveshchensky and Alexander Nevsky Bridges, during weekends from May to October, starting from the helipad right outside the Peter and Paul Fortress' walls, but it is quite expensive and noisy. From 40,000 руб. 

Theater

• 2 Baltic House Festival Theatre (Балтийский дом former Ленинградский Государственный театр им. Ленинского Комсомола), Alexandrovsky Park, 4 ( Gorkovskaya (Горьковская)), ☏ +7 812 232-3539, fc@baltichouse.spb.ru. 11:00-19:00. 
• 3 Ostrov Theatre (Драматический театр «Остров»), Kamennoostrovskiy prospekt (Каменноостровский проспект), 26-28 ( Gorkovskaya «Горьковская». : 46, 76), ☏ +7 812 346-3810, fax: +7 812 346-43-43, info@ostrov-teatr.ru. Ticket office: W-Th 14.00-19.30, F-Su 14.00-19.00; All performances start at 19:00. In the former Benois House. 

Buy

Groceries, Supermarkets

Perekrestok (Перекрёсток) Supermarket and Pyatyorochka Grocery have many locations.

Bookstores

• 1 Knizhny Klub na Avstriyskoy Ploshchadi (Книжный клуб на Австрийской площади), Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt 13/2 (Avstriyskaya Square). 

Eat

Budget

• Balagan, Malyy Prospekt P.s., 54-56, ☏ +7 921 963-54-56. 08:00-23:30. An upscale food court. (updated Aug 2024)
• 1 Barvinok (Барвинок), Ulitsa Mira, 7, ☏ +7 812 237 14 94. Ukrainian food in a homey setting. You can have borscht or mazzuriki meatballs, among other things. 
• 2 Snezhinka (Снежинка), Malyy Prospekt P.s., 57, ☏ +7 812 644 77 40. Corner cafe with Jewish and Russian food including potato pancakes and blini. 
• 3 Chaykhana Vostok (Чайхана Восток), Ulitsa Lizy Chaykinoy, 18, ☏ +7 911 166 66 64. Uzbeki cuisine option, have some kebabs or meat pie things. 
• 4 Bollywood Nights, Bol'shaya Pushkarskaya Ulitsa, 15, ☏ +7 812 383 93 83. If you are feeling cold, you can have some chicken biryani to spice you up or otherwise just enjoy some Indian food along with occasional belly dancing and music. 

Mid-range

• 5 Tbiliso (Тбилисо), Sytninskaya ul, 10 ( Gorkovskaya (Горьковская) behind the market), ☏ +7 812 23293 91. Georgian food. The dishes prepared in pots are excellent. 
• 6 Chekhov (Чеховъ), Petropavlovskaya Ulitsa, 4, ☏ +7 812 234 45 11. Russian cuisine in a 19th-century building. 

Drink

• Gringo Bar, Prospekt Dobrolyubova (проспект Добролюбова) 7/2, ☏ +7 812 997-00-07. F-Su 12:00-02:00. Tex-Mex theme. 150 craft wines. Bar food: 800 руб. (updated Aug 2024)

Sleep

Although most travellers choose to stay at the Center, there are good options in Petrogradsky.

• Aristocrat Boutique Hotel, Bol'shaya Monetnaya Ulitsa, 14А (Sennaya Ploschad), ☏ +7 812 313-82-32. Large rooms, helpful staff. Breakfast included. 5,800 руб. 

Stay safe

Don't wander anywhere near the stadium after matches of FC Zenit.