Peterhof or Catherine's Palace

Doing private tour in SPB and want an afternoon exploring the town with our guide ie. Nevsky Prospekt, markets, bars etc. This will cut down the time we will have to visit Peterhof and Catherines Palace. Which should we choose and if it is Peterhof is it worth going inside palace or just gardens or should we try to do inside Catherines and Peterhof gardens.

Also is it worth going into General Staff Building to see impressionists if so how long for or is it better to go to Peter and Paul fortress.

Thank you in advance, hope this not all too confusing.

Doing private tour in SPB and want an afternoon exploring the town with our guide ie. Nevsky Prospekt, markets, bars etc. This will cut down the time we will have to visit Peterhof and Catherines Palace. Which should we choose and if it is Peterhof is it worth going inside palace or just gardens or should we try to do inside Catherines and Peterhof gardens. Also is it worth going into General Staff Building to see impressionists if so how long for or is it better to go to Peter and Paul fortress. Thank you in advance, hope this not all too confusing.

YES!! Super high priorities to see BOTH Catherine's Palace interiors and the outdoor gardens of the Peterhof. Don't worry about taking the time to do the interiors at the Palace at the Peterhof. You can see markets and bars in many, many cities in the world. BUT, both Catherine's Palace and the Peterhof are world-class, must-see highlights in this amazing city. We have been to 22 different countries in Europe and these two stops are not to be missed.

Need proof? Below are a few of my visual to prove why seeing these location are so important. Other questions and info needs?

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 109,644 views for this posting.

As we entered Catherine's Palace in St. Petersburg, here was the welcoming band. This Rococo summer residence of the Russian Czars is located in the town of Pushkin, 15 miles SE of St. Petersburg. The residence originated in 1717, when Catherine I engaged a German architect to construct a summer palace for her pleasure. In 1752, Empress Anna found her mother's residence outdated and had her court architect demolish the old structure and replace it with a much grander edifice in a flamboyant Rococo style. Construction lasted for four years and in 1756 the new 325-meter-long palace amazed courtiers, foreign ambassadors and other visitors. During Elizabeth's lifetime, the palace was famed for its lavish exterior, including more than 100 kilograms of gold used to gild the sophisticated stucco façade and numerous statues erected on the roof.:

Inside Catherine's Palace in St. Petersburg with our personal guide from Anastasia, we view this spectacular reception “ballroom”, painted ceiling, gold, etc., at our pace and timing schedule, getting our personal questions answered, etc. This majestic setting requires a little time to “soak it up”.:

At Catherine's Palace, here is the spectacular Amber Room when my camera accidentally went off and captured this view.:

Here is a unique angle for the spectacular fountains and water from the spectacular Peterhof outside of St. Petersburg. The greatest technological achievement of Peterhof is that all of the fountains operate without the use of pumps. Water is supplied from natural springs and collects in reservoirs in the Upper Gardens. This elevation difference creates the pressure driving most of the fountains for the Lower Gardens, including the Grand Cascade.:

One of the many fountains on the grounds of the Peterhof is the Orangery Fountain, depicting Triton fighting a sea monster. There is a cafe there with outdoor seating and super views where we ate outside and had our lunch.:

Looking up from the Gulf of Finland along the water canal towards the Palace at the Peterhof:

Of course, I agree, both places are really worth seeing!

However, if you have to choose between the 2, I would say Peterhoff, especially if you are also going to see the Winter Palace, the Yusupov Palace, or some other. Unlike the residences I just mentioned, Peterhoff is famous for its unique park, where the fountains work with the natural gravity of water. There are also some awesome private houses of the former royal family there - something you won't see anywhere else.

As for the General Staff building, it's really worth it!The collection of the impressionists and port-impressionists is amazing -from Manet to Picasso, some very important and beautiful pieces. Don't throuw away your ticket to the main Hermitage building - you can use it to enter the General Staff for free!

If you can make your choice late, you might want to consider the weather.

Wet? Catherine Palace, and especially the Amber Room.

Dry - and hopefully sunny? Peterhof's gardens and fountains.

JB :)

Ps Terry, you really need to fix the shutter on your camera. It keeps accidentally shooting in places where photos are banned :D

Doing private tour in SPB and want an afternoon exploring the town with our guide ie. Nevsky Prospekt, markets, bars etc. This will cut down the time we will have to visit Peterhof and Catherines Palace. Which should we choose and if it is Peterhof is it worth going inside palace or just gardens or should we try to do inside Catherines and Peterhof gardens.

Also is it worth going into General Staff Building to see impressionists if so how long for or is it better to go to Peter and Paul fortress.

Thank you in advance, hope this not all too confusing.

I recommend seeing all of Peterhof, Catherine's Palace, Peter and Paul fortress. You probably don't have time for the Hermitage, but Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is one you should try to see.

Unless you are there on a Wed when it is closed... We did outside photo shoot and Hermitage, Peter and Pauls, Catherine's Palace, Peterhof gardens

And Grand Choral Synagogue plus subway.

Wish my camera misfunctioned...

After a lot of research we decided Catherine's was off the list. With only 2 days spending that much time commuting was not something we wanted to do

Doing private tour in SPB and want an afternoon exploring the town with our guide ie. Nevsky Prospekt, markets, bars etc. This will cut down the time we will have to visit Peterhof and Catherines Palace. Which should we choose and if it is Peterhof is it worth going inside palace or just gardens or should we try to do inside Catherines and Peterhof gardens.

Also is it worth going into General Staff Building to see impressionists if so how long for or is it better to go to Peter and Paul fortress.

Thank you in advance, hope this not all too confusing.

Based on the information here and having just returned from our 5 th trip to St. Petersburg , we would offer our opinion . We tend to agree with Olga Eagle who lives in St. Petersburg . If you would like to skip one - we would skip Catherine's Palace . Consider : It's a saving of 4 hours of precious time - the single largest amount of time expended while in St. Petersburg ! . The main draw there is the Amber Room which you have already seen a picture of . The architect of Catherine's Palace , Rastrelli , was also the architect of the Winter Palace , considered to be his masterpiece in the city . You will see many similarities there , in addition to all of the art of the Hermitage .

The Jordan Staircase

The Throne Room

With the 4 hours saved , you may consider visiting the following places in the city :

The Peter and Paul Cathedral , the oldest landmark in St. Petersburg .

It's also where Peter the Great and the last Czar , Nicholas II and his family are buried .

The Russian Museum

Rarely crowded by tourists , unlike Catherine's , it's filled with masterpiece's from Russian artists .

And the new Superstar in town - The Fabrege' Museum . Here you can see a vast collection of Fabrege' art and jewelry including 9 of the priceless Imperial Eggs .

These can all be seen in less than the time required to make the trip to Pushkin .

Based on the information here and having just returned from our 5 th trip to St. Petersburg , we would offer our opinion . We tend to agree with Olga Eagle who lives in St. Petersburg . If you would like to skip one - we would skip Catherine's Palace . Consider : It's a saving of 4 hours of precious time - the single largest amount of time expended while in St. Petersburg ! . The main draw there is the Amber Room which you have already seen a picture of . The architect of Catherine's Palace , Rastrelli , was also the architect of the Winter Palace , considered to be his masterpiece in the city . You will see many similarities there , in addition to all of the art of the Hermitage.

Appreciate the excellent pictures and thoughts above from our friend in South Florida. Just to clarify, will our original-posting Aussie indicated whether you will have two days or just one day in St. Petersburg. I am a little confused on that "detail".

Yes, the Hermitage is amazing with its many and varied visual treats, historic aspects, etc. Below are a few of my pictures from this location.

Also, tell us more on your personal priorities, past Europe travel experience, desired experiences for your Russian visit, etc.

KEY HERMITAGE BACKGROUND: YES, the Hermitage is enormous, like their vast empire. The Tzar ruled this space of 1057 rooms, 117 stairs and 1945 windows. The number of sculptures on the roof of the Winter Palace is 176, including its many vases. This main palace was built by more than 4000 builders, marble and sculpture specialists, parquet makers and artists. The palace was built in the period from 1754 to 1762. At that time it was the tallest dwelling house in St Petersburg. The Winter Palace was repainted several times in different colors. It was red, pink, and a few other colors. It acquired its green color in 1946. The Winter Palace was made to represent the power and glory of the Russian Empire, especially to impress those in western Europe. The length of the main facade is 492 feet, the height is 98 feet.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Did a June 7-19, 2011, cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Dozens of nice visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc. We are now at 200,304 views for this live/blog re-cap, including much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

Private, personal tours can be worth it, especially in St. Petersburg. Here our group of four, with our guide, Jane or Zhenya from Anastasia, we are viewing and learning more about one of the two da Vinci masterpieces (Madonna Litta or Madonna and Child) at the Hermitage after an early admission. There are only 14 such paintings by this artist existing in the whole world. We did an early admission at the Hermitage, lessening the crowd battles and adding to the enjoyment in this spectacular place/set of five palaces AND museum. It is both! This Madonna and Child was probably painted in Milan, where the artist moved in 1482. The Madonna's tender gaze as she looks at her son, and the tranquillity of the distant mountainous landscape, reflect humanist dreams of Ideal Man and a Harmonious Life. Experts says the painting reveals great beauty in its coloring and composition. The painting came to the Czar's collection and museum in 1865 from the collection of Count Antonio Litta in Milan.:

Examining closely one of the highly-detailed tables in the vast Hermitage collection that includes much more than just paintings and sculptures. The Russian skills and craftsmanship for such details is amazing and must be seen “up close and personal”. You cannot just walk by quickly and appreciate fully the expert workmanship!:

At St. Petersburg’s Hermitage, here is just one of the many, many great galleries with so many different and great architecture details, soaring ceilings, dramatic floors, etc., in areas where the Czars entertained and impressed other Royals and nobility. Even without the art items, these five palaces are so spectacular! This room is adorned with 19th-century Russian lapidary works and feature Italian and Spanish canvases of the 16th-18th centuries, including Veronese, Tintoretto, Velázquez and Murillo.:

Another example of Hermitage galleries with lots of room and special architecture. The display rooms are all different in their design and style:

We asked our guide in the Hermitage why the museum has so many great works of art.

We were told that the Bolsheviks confiscated it from the owners.

We asked our guide in the Hermitage why the museum has so many great works of art.

We were told that the Bolsheviks confiscated it from the owners.

As did the Russian Army during the World Wars.

If I had to choose, it would be Peterhof Gardens hands down. It was my favorite place of all.

It is important to remember when you visit SPB that much (or most) of what you see is reconstructed. The history of the reconstruction of Catherine Palace is fascinating - all that was really left after the war was basically a shell of the building. A good part of the building remains unrestored. What you see has been recreated. In fact, the mystery of some of the treasures is still very much alive.

http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2014/11/the-mystery-of-the-lost-amber-room/

http://www.chron.com/news/nation-world/world/article/****-stolen-Amber-Room-of-gold-may-finally-be-foun-6112457.php

In our visits to St. Petersburg , we have visited the Hermitage 5 times , Peterhof 5 times and Catherine's only 2 times . At Peterhof there are many fountains , not just the Grand Cascade .

Because of the vastness of the ground and being outdoors - It never feels crowded . Unlike the long lines and crowds in Catherine's Palace . You may want to ask you guide to arrive there , as they turn on the fountains . You can see it here in this recent video clip that I shot :

Another benefit of Peterhof is riding past your cruise ship , in port , while on the way to Peterhof , in the hydrofoil .

If you happen to be in St. Petersburg on a Saturday , Sunday or a holiday , you can ride in a helicopter that leaves from the Peter and Paul Fortress , in the city .

There you will be treated to breathtaking views of the entire city , like this one of Smolny Cathedral .

In our visits to St. Petersburg , we have visited the Hermitage 5 times , Peterhof 5 times and Catherine's only 2 times . At Peterhof there are many fountains , not just the Grand Cascade. Because of the vastness of the ground and being outdoors - It never feels crowded . Unlike the long lines and crowds in Catherine's Palace . You may want to ask you guide to arrive there , as they turn on the fountains . Another benefit of Peterhof is riding past your cruise ship , in port , while on the way to Peterhof , in the hydrofoil .

Appreciate the great, additional St. Petersburg pictures from our friend in South Florida. Plus, the wise, added thoughts to consider in this post. Yes, the Peterhof has a wide range and variety of fountains, gardens, art work, etc. Below are some of my added visual samples to verify the variety there at the Peterhof.

Love the "look" and style of the hydrofoil. It is fun to ride that "ship" and enter main St. Petersburg via that method of time travel.

My personal view is that seeing BOTH would be ideal, but agree that the unique experience in sampling the Peterhof gardens is very special.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 179,133 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

One of the gold-covered towers of the Palace at the Peterhof that is seen as you walk towards the spectacular gardens and fountains.:

A carved stone statute in these historic and great gardens at the Peterhof:

Another fountain and statue area for strolling and enjoying on these park grounds:

These are the surprise fountains that go off on the hour to the delight of kids and others who enjoy such fun at the Peterhof:

This shows a fountain in front of the Mon Plaisir (from French for "my pleasure") Palace that Peter the Great located on the shore of the gulf and which had a terrace for this single-story brick building. This smaller palace on the grounds of the Peterhof was Peter’s favorite place to be and for being with his family and closest associates. Notice the small rainbow at the base of the fountain?:

From the dock at the Peterhof, here is the hydrofoil approaching before we started our trip into St. Petersburg. It is a little like boarding a "space ship". Cool and interesting ride!:

Awesome posts and pictures everyone! Thanks so much for posting! We are just beginning our planning process and this kind of information is much appreciated!

Awesome posts and pictures everyone! Thanks so much for posting! We are just beginning our planning process and this kind of information is much appreciated!

We did the "1-day Wednesday (group) tour" with TJ Travel 2 weeks ago.

For us the most impressive sights were Hermitage and Peterhof (fountains and gardens). Also Church of the Spilled Blood, which I believe is not too far from Peter and Paul Fortress.

We didn't visit the impressionist paintings, but according to Rick Steve's book they have a good collection.

Catherine's Palace is magnificent, but it will take a big chunk out of your time. And out of all places we visited, it was the most crowded and warm (we were there around 15.30PM so maybe it was 'peak hour').

You didn't say how many days your are spending in Saint Petersburg, so it's hard to give good advice.

Awesome posts and pictures everyone! Thanks so much for posting! We are just beginning our planning process and this kind of information is much appreciated!

YES!! Keep doing your good research and planning. With so many wonderful options in and around St. Petersburg, you need to think hard for which of these many, many good potentials best fit YOUR personal interests and desires. Another factor/impacts would be about how different places you have previously traveled and visited in Europe. We have visited 22 different countries in Europe. What you have or have not done previously in Europe can be important as you rank your priorities for St. Petersburg.

As an example, one of our questions with our limited time there was whether or not visit The Peter and Paul Cathedral inside the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg. Both the cathedral and the fortress were originally built under Peter the Great. The cathedral houses the remains of almost all the Russian Emperors and Empresses from Peter the Great to Nicholas II. Sounds great, right? Most love seeing it. BUT, we had previously visited places in Vienna, Spain and England where the old Royals were placed after their deaths. We had seen lots of wonderful cathedral around Europe. Nice, but we decided to visit Yusupov Palace that is overlooking the Moyka Canal. It was once the residence of the wealthy and powerful Yusupov family. It was the site for one of the most dramatic episodes in Russia's history, Grigory Rasputin’s murder. For our needs and interest, this visit to this location versus the P&P Cathedral added some variety and another "dimension" to the history we were going to be sampling in St. Petersburg. Lots to consider for what is best to fit your personal desires.

Here's more to consider:

Be sure to use the "SEARCH" function on these boards for each of the various cities/ports you are going to visit. There have been lots of different posts, photos, etc., posted earlier that can help you get a sense of your many options in these ports. Don't be shy! Ask questions. Lots to share and learn from previous travels to these great cities of the Baltics. Also grab, maybe from your library or a book transfer they can do for you, such good visual books such as Eyewitness, Insight, etc. Rick Steves, Fodors, Frommers, Lonely Planet, etc., can work well, too. No one travel book has it "ALL", perfectly and completely. These resources, especially the visuals one, can you help better figure out your priorities, in advance, for what you want to do and see.

From our previous travels to many great cities/ports of Europe, here are some of my book and research tips. You might grab, maybe from your public libraries or ask for them to do a book transfer they can process for you, such super excellent visual books such as Eyewitness, Insight, etc. Rick Steves, Fodors, Frommers, Lonely Planet, etc., can work well, too. In my opinion, no one travel book has it "ALL", perfectly and completely for all of your needs. Last year for our early 2014 Australia-New Zealand cruise, I have a big stack of all of the major travel books from the library for these two countries.

These resources, especially the visual ones, can help you better figure out your priorities, in advance, for what you want to do and see. That early research is very important. Don't wait until you get on the ship to "GUESS" what might be of interest. I always build a "file" on my laptop computer for each port stop with highlights from that reading and then pulling up stories/articles from the travels sections of the New York Times, Telegraph of London, Wikipedia, etc. All of those help to consider your many great options. Amazon can be very good in providing such books at reduced prices, plus some used books websites. Lots of great options!!! Especially in these days of the Internet, it makes things easier to research and plan ahead. You can use Google.com for great access to various text items, plus a wide variety of visuals and maps. One option for some private tour and other local options is to contract the tourism office in each of your ports. You can use Google.com and put in the search term such as "city/port name tourism office". Then follow-up to each of those office by e-mail, ask your questions, get their suggestions, options to consider, etc.

As you pull together this info, it easier to go back to read, re-read items, pull out key highlights using the cut and paste computer features, etc. For our New Zealand and Australia early 2014 "adventure", I had pulled together over 600 pages of info, news clips, options, etc. Then, there are my photo files. I will search Google.com or Bing.com in the images section to look at visual examples for these key places we are going to visit for the first time. The visuals in both travel books and from the Internet really help get a "picture" for what you want to do and visit. On such cruises, our port time is limited and you need to consider the many good options.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 117,937 views for this posting.

The Peter and Paul Cathedral is a Russian Orthodox cathedral located inside the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg. It is the first and oldest landmark, built between 1712 and 1733 on Zayachy Island along the Neva River. Both the cathedral and the fortress were originally built under Peter the Great. The cathedral's bell tower is the world's tallest Orthodox bell tower and is an integral part of the main building. This cathedral is sometimes considered the highest Orthodox Church in the world. Its golden spire reaches a height of 404 feet and features at its top an angel holding a cross. The cathedral was closed in 1919 and turned into a museum in 1924. It is still officially a museum, but religious services resumed in 2000. The cathedral houses the remains of almost all the Russian Emperors and Empresses from Peter the Great to Nicholas II:

Lots of beautiful church towers and buildings are located all over in historic St. Petersburg. Some “riding around time” allows an opportunity to see the variety of buildings in this historic capital. Sampling the great architecture and history in St. Petersburg are two of the big, BIG joys from being there in this charming city.:

Along a quiet stretch of the Moika River stands a long yellow building. It was once the residence of the wealthy and powerful Yusupov family. It was the site for one of the most dramatic episodes in Russia's history, Grigory Rasputin’s murder. In 1916, some of the city's noble elite, including one of the Grand Dukes and the prominent Prince Felix Yusupov, conspired to kill a royal advisor who they believed threatening the stability of the war-torn Russian Empire. Here is one picture from the Blue Room of the Yusupov Palace. Is this just like one of your bedrooms at home?:

This is the lower-level room where they have displays reflecting what was done as they were preparing to kill Rasputin at Yusupov Palace.:

This Palace had its own Opera Hall. Don't most homes have this feature?:

Here is an example of the many buildings and bridges you will see on the canal boat tour in St. Petersburg. This one-hour canal boat tour worked well for seeing St. Petersburg and its amazing architecture/history from a different angle and vantage point. It was also relaxing, too! No added walking or standing!:

I agree with Terry's initial response that both Peterhof and Catherine's Palace should be on your list. In our two day tour if I had to delete something, it would be the Yusupov Palace. It was very nice and interesting, but after seeing the other palaces..... Not saying that it wasn't worth the time but if I was customizing a tour and had to swap something out, this is what it would have been.

On my first visit we saw both sights but on my second time we returned only to Peterhof. It doesn’t mean I don’t like the Catherin palace. It’s just fantastic. It has so much gold! At the end of the tour when we came to the first room without gold I felt like- thanks God, no more gold. You won’t believe me but I was really tiered of gold. I know it sounds strange....

I think Nia Gara Buff is absolutely right - there’s little wonder that they had the revolution :D.

The only one thing against it – it was quite crowded. Not too much, but I just don’t like to be in a crowd.

Jess :)