St. Petersburg

Majestic Saint Petersburg, the "City of Three Revolutions," reclines on the banks of the mighty Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea. This city has changed hands, and names, several times throughout its tumultuous history.

The former Swedish fortress town Nyen was claimed by Tsar Peter the Great back in 1703, and renamed Saint Petersburg. Since then it changed names to Petrograd, then Leningrad, before returning to the original Saint Petersburg.

Beyond the electrical wires, the lead pipes and the grime, this city is truly resplendent with its wide prospekts (avenues) and grandiose edifices. The vestiges of communism are still in evidence; in downtown Saint Petersburg, the majority of locals still live in kommunalkas, or shared apartments. These are slowly being replaced by low-cost housing on the outskirts.

Expats moving here may be put off by the run-down condition of many of the buildings’ facades. Don’t be discouraged; on the interior, apartments are often spacious and many have been renovated to western standards.

While you can find most western creature comforts here (try out the Kalinka Stockmann supermarket), you’ll probably find it easier to grab your groceries at the local produkti (convenience store). In the warmer months, the babushkas (elderly Russian women) sell some of the best summer produce on the street. Not only is this a great way to shop, but you will also be supporting the locals. Saint Petersburg also boasts some fantastic farmers' markets, such as Kuznechny Rynok.

The city is famed for its Winter Palace, and more prosaically, for its bitterly cold winters. Temperatures regularly plunge below minus 20 degrees, leaving buildings adorned with stalactites. The odd stalactite has been known to plummet to the streets below and, for this reason alone, it is worth investing in a generously fluffy hat.

Saint Petersburg abounds with such shops. Some may be tempted to purchase fox, sable or mink fur hats, but don’t feel pressured; rabbit and sheepskin alternatives are plentiful. The cultural experience that awaits you in Saint Petersburg is second-to-none; the city is crammed with enchanting secrets and hidden surprises that never cease to enthrall, from your arrival until your departure.