Must-see entertainment in St Petersburg

  • Russia, St Petersburg, Mariinsky Theatre, facade of historic theatre of opera and ballet

    Mariinsky Theatre

    St Petersburg

    St Petersburg's most spectacular venue for ballet and opera, the Mariinsky Theatre is an attraction in its own right. Tickets can be bought online or in…

  • Rear of Alexandrinsky Theatre.

    Alexandrinsky Theatre

    St Petersburg

    This magnificent venue is just one part of an immaculate architectural ensemble designed by Carlo Rossi. The theatre’s interior oozes 19th-century…

  • Mikhailovsky Theatre

    St Petersburg

    This illustrious stage delivers the Russian ballet or operatic experience, complete with multitiered theatre, frescoed ceiling and elaborate productions…

  • Street view of Mariinsky II opera and ballet venue in St Petersburg.

    Mariinsky II

    St Petersburg

    Finally opening its doors in 2013 after more than a decade of construction, legal wrangles, scandal and rumour, the Mariinsky II is a showpiece for St…

  • The entrance to Glinka Capella House in St Petersburg.

    Glinka Capella House

    St Petersburg

    This historic hall was constructed for Russia’s oldest professional choir, the Emperor Court Choir Capella, founded in 1473. Originally based in Moscow,…

  • Musicians on stage at JFC jazz club.

    JFC Jazz Club

    St Petersburg

    Very small and very New York, this cool club is the best place in the city to hear modern, innovative jazz music, as well as blues, bluegrass and various…

  • Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory

    St Petersburg

    This illustrious music school was the first public music school in Russia. The Bolshoy Zal (Big Hall) on the 3rd floor is an excellent place to see…

  • Roof Cinema

    St Petersburg

    During the summer months attend atmospheric outdoor screenings on the city's rooftops via the Roof Cinema, which hosts shows at Mod Club and the New Stage…

  • Hermitage Theatre

    St Petersburg

    Designed by Giacomo Quarenghi, this intimate neoclassical auditorium was once the private theatre of the imperial family, and stands on the site of the…

  • Dom Kino

    St Petersburg

    One of the handful of cinemas in the city where you can see foreign films and some higher-brow Hollywood productions with subtitles, as well as arty…

  • Fish Fabrique

    St Petersburg

    There are St Petersburg institutions and then there’s Fish Fabrique, the museum of local boho life that has been going for over two decades. Here, in the…

  • Mariinsky Concert Hall

    St Petersburg

    Opened in 2007, this concert hall is a magnificent multifaceted creation. It manages to preserve the historic brick facade of the set and scenery…

  • Avrora

    St Petersburg

    Opening in 1913 as the Piccadilly Picture House, this was the city’s most fashionable cinema in the early years of Russian film, and it has retained its…

  • New Stage

    St Petersburg

    The New Stage at Alexandrinsky, which opened in 2013, is a strikingly modern building for the historic city center but one that keeps a low profile due to…

  • Yusupov Palace Theatre

    St Petersburg

    Housed inside the outrageously ornate Yusupov Palace, this elaborate yet intimate venue was the home entertainment centre for one of the city’s foremost…

  • Hi-Hat

    St Petersburg

    On the rooftop of an art cluster near the Botanical Gardens, Hi-Hat hosts nights of live music, DJs and open-air film screenings. The creative line-up and…

  • Maly Drama Theatre

    St Petersburg

    Also called the Theatre of Europe, the Maly is St Petersburg’s most internationally celebrated theatre. Its director Lev Dodin is famed for his long…

  • Jazz Philharmonic Hall

    St Petersburg

    Founded by legendary jazz violinist and composer David Goloshchokin, this venue represents the more traditional side of jazz. Two resident bands perform…

  • Shostakovich Philharmonia

    St Petersburg

    Under the artistic direction of world-famous conductor Yury Temirkanov, the Philharmonia represents the finest in orchestral music. The Bolshoy Zal is the…

  • Kamchatka

    St Petersburg

    A shrine to Viktor Tsoy, the late Soviet-era rocker who worked as caretaker of this former boilerhouse bunker with band mates from Kino. Music lovers…

  • St Petersburg Opera

    St Petersburg

    Housed in the sumptuous (and dare we say, rather bizarre) former home of Baron von Derviz, the St Petersburg Opera performs regular operas in its intimate…

  • Lendok

    St Petersburg

    Occupying a grand former mansion, this cinema and working film studio specialises mainly in documentary films, including international ones, although they…

  • Red Fox Jazz Café

    St Petersburg

    The fun and friendly Red Fox Jazz Café is a subterranean space that showcases various jazz styles in the old-fashioned 1920s to '50s sense: big band,…

  • Cabaret

    St Petersburg

    This latest incarnation of a gay club that has been going in various forms for over a decade is a great place for a campy, old-school experience, complete…

  • Upsala Circus

    St Petersburg

    Set up in 2000, this circus teaches performing skills to children with disabilities or from environments where they are at social risk. Unlike other…

  • Cosmonaut

    St Petersburg

    This fantastic conversion of a Soviet-era cinema in a rather nondescript part of town is a great venue for medium-sized concerts and a good place to see…

  • Feel Yourself Russian Folkshow

    St Petersburg

    Terrible title, but not a bad show of traditional Russian folk dancing and music. The pricey two-hour performance features four different folk groups,…

  • A2

    St Petersburg

    With an outstanding sound system and an eclectic line-up of live music and DJs, A2 is one of the best venues for contemporary sounds in the city. It…

  • Kino&Teatr Angleter

    St Petersburg

    This cinema inside the Angleterre Hotel is one of the best places in the city to see movies in their original language, with subtitles rather than dubbing…

  • St Petersburg Theatre of Musical Comedy

    St Petersburg

    Dating back to 1929, this theatre, as its name implies, specialises in musical and comedic plays and performances. Over the White Nights tourist season…

  • Bolshoy Drama Theatre

    St Petersburg

    The BDT, which will celebrate its centenary in 2019, has a reputable repertoire and is a good place to see Russian drama. Recently renovated, it is one of…

  • Krestovsky Stadium

    St Petersburg

    Named after the island on which it stands, this huge arena seats 68,000 spectators at sporting events, and up to 80,000 at concerts. All eyes will be on…

  • Ice Palace

    St Petersburg

    This huge arena is the home stadium for the city's top ice hockey team SKA and is also used for major pop concerts by local and international stars, such…

  • Rodina

    St Petersburg

    Art-house movie theatre that shares a grand building (a former concert hall) with Dom Kino. There are two screens and they often show films in their…

  • Bolshoi St Petersburg State Circus

    St Petersburg

    Russia's oldest permanent circus complex (built in 1877) is looking splendid since a recent major renovation. Circus troupes and artists from other cities…

  • Demmeni Marionette Theatre

    St Petersburg

    Since 1917, this venue under the arches on central Nevsky is the city’s oldest professional puppet theatre. Mainly for children, the shows are well…

  • Bolshoy Puppet Theatre

    St Petersburg

    This ‘big’ puppet theatre is indeed the biggest in the city, and has been active since 1931. The repertoire includes a wide range of shows for children…

  • Baltic House

    St Petersburg

    This large venue hosts an annual festival of plays from the Baltic countries, as well as Russian and European plays and a growing repertoire of…

  • Dom 7

    St Petersburg

    This low-key Russian restaurant and bar has very popular live jazz sets at 9.30pm and 11.30pm on Friday and Saturday, when it's practically standing room…

  • Aurora Palace Theatre

    St Petersburg

    Named after the famed naval ship docked nearby, this place stages a mixed bag of ballets, rock and metal concerts and musical theatre.