Compiled by FatPassport's travel experts

Few cities in the world can match the fascinating history, air of mystery, and stunning sights of St. Petersburg. Visitors flock here to see amazing sights such as the world-renowned Hermitage art museum, palaces such as Petrodvorets (Petergov) and Catherine Palace, and the stunning Church of The Savior On Spilled Blood. In all the world, there are few places such as these.

Unfortunately, the amazing sights of St. Petersburg don’t come as conveniently as you might prefer. Pickpockets are plentiful, cops are known for shaking-down visitors, there have been disturbing violent attacks against people of color, and the locals certainly won’t win any hospitality awards.

It’s expensive here, so budget travelers will want to limit their stay. Solo females, as well as anyone else who’s understandably uncomfortable with the issues above, may not find St. Petersburg to their liking, or may be best served by visiting as part of a tour group. As with Russia in general, St. Petersburg is problematic for the disabled.

St. Petersburg merits a minimum of three full days, including a day at the Hermitage. If you are an art buff, then you can easily spend another day or two to further explore the Hermitage.

There are several possibilities on when to visit St. Petersburg. June and September are ideal, with pleasant weather and smaller crowds. As with the rest of Europe, July and August are warm, but draw the biggest crowds, and also tend to have some rain. Winter is frigid, but as Russia is so vividly identified with winter, this can be a good time to visit if you can handle the cold. Avoid the transition periods of April and late October.