St. Petersburg Theatre Tour

Welcome to St. Petersburg! After being welcomed in the Pulkovo Airport, you’ll have a quick 34-minute trip into the city center where your adventures in travel will begin. Enjoy the lovely summer weather with days that begin at 4 a.m. and nights that don’t fall until 10 p.m.!

 Take in the coastal and city views on your ride in and get ready to experience a magical ballet & opera festival. Once you’re in your hotel, tour Nevsky Prospekt street along the Griboedov canal, offering great views of the Church of our Savior on the Spilled Blood and the Winter Palace.

Modeled after Versailles, the Peterhof Palace will take you on a magical journey of colorful flowers, breathtaking views, and intricate architecture. Your tour will begin here and go into the wee hours of the night when museums like the Gallery of Modern Art, St Isaac’s Cathedral where you can get a taste of classical music, and unusual spots like the Doll Museum and the Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines will be open until 6 a.m. the next day!

 Don’t forget to take in the street performances and grab a drink or two while you dance and tour the night away.

After the fire that destroyed the set workshops and Hall of the Board of Imperial Theatres, this beautiful concert hall was built on its remains. The building is a mixture of classic and modern architecture and home to some of the most impressive musical performances in the world, partly due to it being built explicitly for concert programs.

The festival truly kicks off with the concert programs under world-renowned director Valery Gergiev. Come listen to talented musicians, including the year’s winner of the International Tchaikovsky Competition. Take in the sounds of pianos, wind instruments, and violins as they play music from the likes of Mozart, Brahms, and Debussy.

 Take time before the show to enjoy the world of Dostoevsky! Visit the places where he lived or where his beloved Raskolnikov strolled and anguished in “Crime and Punishment.”

The Mariinsky Theatre has honed great talents such as Fyodor Chaliapin, Anna Pavlova, and Alexander Golovin for more than two centuries! Once known as the Bolshoi Stone Theatre, it has been transformed physically and artistically throughout the years. Mariinsky II was created as a contemporary space for music, ballet, and theatre. They even broadcast their performances to share local talents.

 While Russia gave us many great writers and composers in the past, it continues to be home to the most celebrated ballet in the world. No trip to this festival can be complete without enjoying a night of classic dance. Take in Swan Lake or experience the final graduation performance of the Vaganova Ballet Academy. Or perhaps mix the best of two worlds and watch a ballet based on Tolstoy’s novel “Anna Karenina” to see as two art pieces become one.

 Before the night’s performance, stop by the Annekirche, the remains of a Lutheran church. The church’s architect, Yuri Felten, also designed the Palace Square and the Great Hermitage.

Nothing beats a night at the opera or a good play! It’s crucial that you experience at least one show during the festival. The Mariinsky II is offering the well-known Tosca, Don Carlo and “La Bohème” operas. Perhaps if you’d prefer to continue mixing art forms, catch a performance of “Don Quichotte,” an opera based on Cervantes’ seminal work.

The playbill also has options for younger audiences or those young at heart! Watch Russian fairy tales at the concert hall, a great opportunity to learn about music tricks used by composers.

As you’ve been enjoying performances throughout the week, take a moment before enjoying an opera or ballet to have a chat with volunteers with the organization “Coming Out.” Learn about the struggles the LGBTQ community is facing in Russia and how you can help.

Based on a Soviet story by Alexander Grin, the ship bearing the scarlet sails took her along the Neva River of St. Petersburg. While the original story is of a girl sailing away to see the world, the modern event is to mark a passage from childhood to adulthood and a celebration of high school graduates. But the night is a celebration for all!

 Free fireworks, music, and performances happen throughout the festival, offering the perfect way to close off your time at the festival. So drop by the Palace Square and celebrate along with tourists and locals from all over! Make sure to stop by during the day as well to explore the Peter and Paul Fortress, a small island where the city was originally founded.

Stop by a local café for your last bite of Russia before heading back and give the square one last stroll as you take in the sights and sounds of the festival. Taking with you the memories of the brilliant performances, grab your bags and head back to the Pulkovo airport for your return home.