Golden fountains, regal palaces, and perfectly manicured gardens, this is called the Russian Versailles for a reason. Commissioned by Peter the Great, it's a non-negotiable highlight for me as a history buff and geography geek. If you're a solo traveler craving a mix of culture, nature, and architecture for a day tour, you're in for a treat. Without further ado, here's what you need to do when planning a day tour to Peterhof from Saint Petersburg. Let's go!
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What is in Peterhof? When is the best time to visit?
A popular day tour from Saint Petersburg, Peterhof was once the summer residence of the Russian Royal Family. Today, it’s a grand museum complex and park open to visitors. The main palace, its impressive fountains, and beautifully landscaped gardens have been carefully restored despite the damage it suffered in the past, so you can experience its former glory as if it were untouched by time.
To witness Peterhof in all its splendor, visit between late spring and early autumn (May to September) when the fountains are in full operation. If you're visiting in the summer, you can also take the hydrofoil boat — the fastest and most scenic way to travel from Saint Petersburg.
How to go to Peterhof from Saint Petersburg?
Despite being located 32 kilometres away from the city center, Peterhof is well-connected to Saint Petersburg thanks to the efficient public transportation operating in the city. There are plenty of routes and connections to choose from, and you can refer to THIS GUIDE by St. Petersburg Travel Guide. I used it as a reference—but beware, the options were quite overwhelming though!
To make your life a little bit easier, let me share the options I chose and took, which you can easily follow. I took two different options each way to explore which option is better:
🚍 Option 1: By Public Transportation (Metro & Bus) — Budget Friendly
To reach Peterhof, I decided to take a combination of the metro and bus from Saint Petersburg while I'm still full of energy. Despite my limited Russian, I was also able to interact with locals when asking for directions and instructions, which made the whole experience better.
- Metro Route: Sennaya Ploshchad (I'm staying at Friends in Sennoy Hostel) to Avtovo
- Bus Route: Bus 204э to Peterhof
- Cost: Around 175 RUB for both metro and bus fare
- Travel time: 45–60 minutes
Tip: All the bus signs are in Cyrillic. If you can't read Cyrillic, ask "Peterhof?" or "Fountains?" before boarding the bus to double-check. The bus will stop past the Upper Garden entrance. Just walk back a few meters.
⛴ Option 2: By Boat (Hydrofoil) — Fast + Scenic, but Pricey
After walking almost the whole park and the museums inside, I opted to take the hydrofoil back to the city center. While I wasn't in a hurry to go back, I was too tired and hungry from all the walking. And taking the convenient way felt like a reward rather than an expense. It's worth the splurge in the end!
- From: Peterhof Pier to Neva River dock behind the Hermitage
- Cost: 1,500 RUB one-way (price as of September 2024)
- Travel time: 30–40 minutes
- Highlight: Short sailing experience on the Gulf of Finland and nice view of the city
- Downside: Only runs May to October and often doesn’t run during bad weather
If you're a backpacker like me who wants to tour Peterhof from Saint Petersburg, the combination of both options will surely work for you. Having taken both routes, it's like getting the best of both worlds. Not only will you save a thousand rubles, but you'll also enjoy some sightseeing on both legs of the trip. So it's a win-win!
Day Tour Costs:
As a solo traveler, I explored the palace on my own. Booking a tour or hiring a tour guide is not mandatory, and tickets are available directly at the palace's ticket counters.
While entry to the Upper Garden is free, there is an entrance fee to access the Lower Park and the Grand Peterhof Palace. I heard that there are combo tickets for both, but I wasn't offered this option during my visit, so I paid separately.
During my visit in September 2024, here's what I paid:
- Lower Garden - 1,500 RUB per person
- Grand Peterhof Palace - 2,000 RUB per person
Note: Entrance fees for foreigners are usually a bit higher, not only in Peterhof but almost everywhere in Russia.
Highlights & What To Expect in Peterhof:
Divided into different sections, Peterhof includes the Upper Garden, Lower Park, and the Grand Peterhof Palace, where the Cascade and Fountain are located.
Not including the Alexandria Park on the right (unfortunately, I was too tired to explore it), here's what to expect in each section:
🌸The Upper Garden
Typically called a French parterre, the Upper Garden is right behind the entrance gates if you took the bus, like me.
With a few small fountains and well-maintained garden beds, the upper garden is a free teaser of the Russian Versailles without the crowd. It's the perfect backdrop for a landscape photo if you want to capture the palace ensemble.
🌿The Lower Park & Extended Pavilions
The heart of the estate, the Lower Park, is the biggest part of the whole complex. Spread across the park are different fountains with varying sizes, colorful gardens and blooming flowers, and pavilions tucked away from the main complex waiting to be explored.
Along the promenade, there are several pavilions open to the public. Most of them have a nice view of the Gulf of Finland, and require a separate entrance fee to enter. If you have enough time, make sure to visit the Monplaisir Palace, Marly Palace, Hermitage Pavilion, and Catherine Wing.
The Morskoy Canal and its tree-lined avenue are also part of the Lower Park. If you want to take the hydrofoil at the end of your tour, follow the avenue—at the end is the pier where you can buy your ticket and board the boat.
🪞The Grand Peterhof Palace and the Grand Cascade & Fountains
Right at the heart of Peterhof, the Grand Peterhof Palace is the showstopper of the entire estate. It stands on a terrace above the Grand Cascade—a monumental fountain complex that features over 60 fountains, statues of gilded gods and goddesses, and a central Samson Fountain tearing apart a lion’s jaws.
Inside the palace, I joined a guided tour that led us through lavishly decorated rooms filled with Baroque interiors, period furniture, and some surviving relics of Russia’s royal family. I was not able to get my hands on the audio guides available, but even without it, the experience was already rich and unforgettable.
From what I heard, around 30 rooms are open to the public—but I lost count of them along the way. Each one seemed more opulent than the last, with probably thousands of silk drapes, intricately painted ceilings, gilded doors, and dazzling crystal chandeliers. Everyone moved quietly in awe, room after room.
One of the most striking rooms we visited was the White Dining Room, designed for imperial banquets. It was grand yet serene, with white stucco walls, subtle gilding, and a long table elegantly set with fine china and polished silverware. Another unforgettable stop was the Picture Hall, where hundreds of portraits of young ladies—each in traditional dress from different regions—lined the walls in perfect symmetry. The effect was both overwhelming and mesmerizing.
We also stepped into some of the palace’s most elegant study and reception rooms. The Empress’s Study, with its rich wood paneling and porcelain details, offered a more intimate glimpse of royal life. Meanwhile, the Blue Reception Room stood out for its soft blue silk walls and refined gold accents—a dreamy setting that seemed made for quiet conversations in court gowns. I couldn’t help but imagine the lives once lived in these spaces, full of formality, elegance, and the echoes of imperial grandeur.
Travel Tips when Visiting Peterhof on a Day Tour:
- Wear comfortable sneakers - The whole complex is huge, you will be walking a lot and taking some stairs. Wearing the wrong shoes will ruin your experience.
- Bring snacks and drinks - Food and drinks inside the complex are expensive. You can bring your own and enjoy them anywhere in the park, just not inside the Grand Palace.
- Expect the crowd - Visiting early may or may not help. Instead of giving you false hopes, I’ll say: expect tour groups and plan accordingly, especially when taking photos.
- Bring sweaters or a light jacket - Regardless of the season, it can get chilly. The weather can be unpredictable, and it’s better to be warm than to cut your trip short.
- Don't rush your tour - Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to explore every pavilion, which I regret. I wish I had slowed down more and rested a bit so I could see more.
Final Thoughts on my Day Tour to Peterhof from Saint Petersburg
As a first-timer in Europe, and in visiting palaces, a day tour to Peterhof from Saint Petersburg couldn’t have been more perfect. It was exactly the kind of “European tour” I had always pictured in my head. Experiencing the grandeur and opulence of this historic palace at just a fraction of the cost (especially compared to similar palaces in other, more expensive countries) felt like an absolute steal.
From catching a glimpse of past luxury to learning bits of its rich history, despite the language barrier, and wandering through the nearby, chilly but peaceful parks, it was a truly memorable day. My tour took longer than expected, and I only wish I had more energy left to walk around even more.
With limited time in Saint Petersburg, I’m glad I chose to visit Peterhof for a tour. Unless you've already been to all the grand palaces across Europe, I genuinely recommend not skipping this one. It's a beautiful escape from the city center, and even with the big tour groups, I promise, it’s worth it.
