The ship responsible for warning the city of the oncoming siege of the Winter Palace in 1917 is today docked in front of the Naval Academy. The ship was purposefully sunk until after the end of World War II in order to protect it, and has since existed as a museum of the revolution.

Set within the park of the Catherine Palace are a series of buildings created by the Scottish architect Charles Cameron for Catherine the Great. The exquisite rooms, which include the famous Cameron Gallery and the Agate Rooms, are currently closed and undergoing restoration. Indagare members can contact the Bookings team to arrange a special visit.

Officially named the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, but better known as the Church of Spilled Blood, this instantly recognizable attraction sits by the Griboyedova Canal on the spot where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. The Russian Revival–style architecture and bright candy-colored rooftops stand out against the mainly Baroque and Neo-Classical buildings of St. Petersburg and make it (understandably) one of the city’s most popular sights. However, this wasn’t always the case and the building spent half a century as a warehouse and, under Bolshevik rule, as the Museum of People’s Will in celebration of the assassination. There have been arguments over the past century in favor of tearing the building down, as some find the building “too Russian” in style.

For many visitors, photographing the building from the outside is the main event (there is a good vantage point from the small bridge over Griboyedova Canal), but inside are extravagant mosaics based on popular 19^th-century art that were painstakingly restored in the 1990s.

The largest private museum of contemporary art in Russia is located in a former 1960s Communist headquarters on St. Petersburg’s St. Basil's Island. The museum, whose name refers to the multiple eras of art, displays works chronologically, with each floor having its own theme, such as Turn of the Century or Soviet era. With offshoots in New York City, Zurich, London and soon Hong Kong, the goal is to support Russian art and artists, both well-established and emerging.

History enthusiasts may want to visit the main naval base of Imperial Russia from the 18^th to the 20^th century. You can tour the military museum as well as take a boat to tour the fort from the water and visit the D-2 submarine, which was used in World War II as well as a Russian battleship that was used in World War I and the October Revolution. Indagare members can contact our Bookings Ream to arrange.

Paul I, Catherine the Great’s son, had this majestic cathedral built in the early 1800s. Today it sits at a busy section of the city's main thoroughfare, Nevsky Prospect. Book a table at Terrassa to dine overlooking majestic views of the cathedral and its colonnade. Fun (ironic) fact: during the Communist era, the cathedral was turned into the Museum of Atheism.

Home to Mathilde Kschessinska, the ballerina who was Nicholas II’s mistress, this stunning palace is another example of how the city’s history is layered—Lenin famously made many speeches from the balcony and today the building houses the Museum of Russian Political History.

This multi-purpose arts center, in a renovated industrial space near St. Petersburg’s train station is an example of the city’s contemporary art scene.

Located directly next door to the original Mariinsky (and connected by an elevated walkway) this new theater opened in 2013. Boasting 2,000 seats, the technologically advance space was designed in a distinctly contemporary style. Locals have varying opinions on the institution's aesthetics, but the excellent acoustics cannot be argued with. The Mariinsky (I) puts on a different show each night so the second space allows for double the amount of performances, which is a good thing in a city that emphasizes the importance of the performing arts.

The author Vladimir Nabokov was born in this grand home, and often described it in his writings, particularly Speak, Memory. Today the stately building near St. Isaac’s Cathedral houses a museum honoring the writer and displays personal effects like his typewriter and a beautiful butterfly collection.

Like many European cities, the river in St. Petersburg features prominently in the life of the city and its residents. The wide, cold Neva separates districts, flows into the city's multiple canals and makes use of its hundreds of beautiful bridges such as the Lantern Bridge, Kissing Bridge and Postal Bridge. The banks of the river are also home to many of the city's palaces, statues (such as Egyptian sphinxes and Statue of Bronze Horseman). In summer, take a boat tour at night to watch the bridges brought up and down for bigger ships to pass through. Indagare members can contact our bookings team to arrange for a private boat cruise.

Located on Zayachiy island on the northern side of the Neva River, the Peter and Paul Fortress is the city’s original citadel built in 1701 to defend the city from attack by Swedish forces (that never materialized). Today it is better known for its gilded cathedral, the final resting place of many Tsars including Nicholas II and his family. The extravagant tombs within the stunning Peter and Paul Cathedral are a highlight of a visit, but you should arrive early to avoid the daily crowds that make a close look or good photograph impossible.

The fortresses’ other great attraction is the controversial contemporary statue of Peter the Great by Mikhail Chemiakin, which depicts the Tsar’s “alter-ego” with a comically small head and long sinister fingers–said to be good luck when rubbed. There is also a strip of beach, which becomes packed with locals during the summer months. It is a great place for a picnic lunch with views across the Neva. The Ginza Project restaurant Koryushka, located within walking distance to the cathedral, is an excellent lunch spot before or after visiting the area.

This state-sponsored photography museum celebrates and displays works from the past as well as those of contemporary and emerging artists. The collection features photographers from around the world but most visitors find the works of Russia painted by Russians, the most impactful.

The 80-foot tall, pure-gold dome of St. Isaac’s Cathedral is a glinting landmark visible from most points in St. Petersburg. Originally built by Peter the Great in 1710 in honor of the saint whose birthday he shared, it was promptly destroyed in a flood, then rebuilt by three later tsars, each wanting it just a bit larger than the last. In its current state, dating to 1858, the cathedral displays such dizzying opulence that during my visit, even the swarms of school kids grew quiet.

Before entering, take time to admire the porticos crowned with sculptures depicting different religious scenes (ironically, the Cathedral was used as the Museum of Atheism under Soviet rule). Look out, too, for the imposing red-granite columns and the enormous cast bronze doors at the south entrance. Once inside the vast space you will quickly appreciate how it can easily fit up to 14,000 people. The interior is filled with endless frescoes, semi-precious stone mosaics (which are hardier against freezing temperatures than oil paintings), malachite columns and the truly breathtaking “Virgin in Majesty” fresco by Karl Briullov that adorns the inside of the cupola. A silver dove hanging at the center of the cupola was removed by Soviet forces in 1931 and restored after perestroika as a symbol of peace. If it is open, be sure to ascend to the viewing tower of the dome for beautiful views of the city.

This sprawling museum set in Mikhailovsky Palace was founded by Nicholas II in 1898 to display Russian art. Today it holds works—many of which were taken from private homes and churches during the Revolution—that range from icons through to 20^th-century modern works.