Things to Do at Peterhof Palace

Peterhof Palace tends to be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of imperial grandeur outside Saint Petersburg. You approach through avenues of linden trees, the crunch of gravel underfoot, before the gilded cascade of the Grand Cascade fountain system erupts into view, its water roaring and misting the air with a cool, mineral scent. The palace itself, a long, baroque confection of yellow stucco and white columns, gleams against the often moody Baltic sky. Inside, the parquet floors creak with the weight of centuries, and you'll catch the faint, waxy smell of polished wood mixing with the light filtering through enormous windows. It's the kind of place where you can almost hear the rustle of silk gowns and sense the calculated spectacle meant to impress visiting dignitaries. Interestingly, for all its formality, the Lower Park at Peterhof Palace has a different, more relaxed atmosphere, with the salty tang of the Gulf of Finland on the breeze and the simple, green smell of freshly cut grass in the expansive French-style gardens.

The most memorable way to reach Peterhof Palace is by hydrofoil from the Winter Palace embankment in central Saint Petersburg. The 40-minute ride across the Gulf of Finland gives you a fantastic approaching view and lets you feel the sea breeze. It's more expensive than the land options. Alternatively, a suburban train from the Baltiysky Rail Station to Novy Peterhof station is much cheaper, followed by a local bus or a decent walk through the town to the palace gates. Marshrutka minibuses also run frequently from the Avtovo metro station and drop you quite close.