Near the town of Repino, this long stretch of sand backed by pine forest makes a great setting for a day out of the city. The water is generally calm and perfect for a dip on those rare hot summer days. Seaside vendors dole out kvas (fermented rye water) and other cold drinks, as well as snacks, and there are a few sit-down restaurants overlooking the sea.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
21.52 MILES
The Hermitage fully lives up to its sterling reputation. You can be absorbed by its treasures for days and still come out wanting more. The enormous…
19.23 MILES
The Grand Palace is an imposing building, although with just 30-something rooms, it is not nearly as large as your typical tsarist palace. From the start…
21.74 MILES
The east wing of this magnificent building, wrapping around the south of Dvortsovaya pl and designed by Carlo Rossi in the 1820s, marries restored…
18.97 MILES
One of the greatest attractions outside of St Petersburg is the jaw-dropping collection of gilded fountains, statue-lined lanes and picturesque canals…
21.74 MILES
This spectacular palace on the Moyka River has some of the best 19th-century interiors in the city, in addition to a fascinating and gruesome history. The…
21.88 MILES
The Mariinsky Theatre has played a pivotal role in Russian ballet ever since it was built in 1859 and remains one of Russia's most loved and respected…
22.08 MILES
Focusing solely on Russian art, from ancient church icons to 20th-century paintings, the Russian Museum's collection is magnificent and can easily be…
21.52 MILES
This triangular island was closed for the most part of the last three centuries, and has opened to the public in dazzling fashion. There's plenty going on…
Nearby Around St Petersburg attractions
0.59 MILES
The home of Ilya Repin in his later years is now a museum and park, and it's a pleasant day trip any time of year. You can also visit the nearby beach and…
12.17 MILES
Kronshtadt’s key sight is the unusual and beautiful Naval Cathedral. Built between 1903 and 1913 to honour Russian naval muscle, this neo-Byzantine wonder…
17.52 MILES
Menshikov’s impressive palace underwent a full restoration and reopened its state rooms in 2014. Most of the interiors are restorations of the 19th…
17.73 MILES
Spared Nazi occupation and, after WWII, ruined by Soviet neglect, Oranienbaum and the surrounding town were renamed after the scientist-poet Mikhail…
17.75 MILES
This Rinaldi-designed building, created for the young Peter III, is the only remaining part of Peterstadt. It's a boxy miniature palace with rich,…
17.93 MILES
Built for Catherine the Great as her private residence at Oranienbaum, this over-the-top Rococo palace, designed by Antonio Rinaldi, is distinctly un…
17.94 MILES
Guided tours of the Hermitage’s state-of-the-art restoration and storage facility are highly recommended. This is not a formal exhibition as such, but the…
18.04 MILES
Another in the city's collection of grand religious buildings is this beautiful functioning datsan (temple) where respectful visitors are welcome. The…