St Petersburg is a city of canals. Rightly known as the ‘Venice of the North’, the city was built on the delta of the Neva River and there are over 180 miles of canals, and 800 bridges interlacing the city. To really understand the full beauty of St Petersburg, taking to the water to get a riverine view of the richly hued buildings as you drift past is the only way to truly appreciate the elegance of the city.
The majesty of St Petersburg
Just 10 minutes’ walk from Hotel Astoria, the Neva is the aquatic artery that flows through the heart of the city, and lining its banks are St Petersburg’s most important buildings. Starting seaward of the opening Liteynyy bridge run the unassuming but original St Petersburg palace, the Summer Palace of Peter the Great; the original citadel that was the modern foundation of the city, the Peter and Paul Fortress; and the world’s greatest museum founded by Catherine the Great, the Hermitage; down to the Dvortsoyy bridge.
Discovering the glorious canals
Leaving the main waterway and making use of the canal system the city opens up in a series of intimate vistas. The Moika river, which is overlooked by Hotel Astoria and the impressive golden dome of St Isaac’s Cathedral, runs past the neo-classical facades that line the riverbank towards New Holland Island, Dasha Zhukova’s artistic project, towards the sea. While in the other is found the former imperial residence of the Mariinsky Palace, and the verdant expanse of the Mikhailovsky Garden before meeting the Fontanka river. The Fontanka canal is home to the Bolshoi, the Faberge Museum and ties into the Neva at the great 18th century Summer Garden of Peter the Great.
Speak to our Concierge at Hotel Astoria to organise a trip with one of our partners to take an hour-long tour of St Petersburg’s beautiful canals. Contact reservations.astoria@roccofortehotels.com or call +7 812 494 5757 for more information.
What began as a single neoclassical building grew into a collection of five world-class museums, set on an island in the heart of the city. Today, Berlin’s Museum Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe’s most celebrated cultural destinations, home to masterpieces ranging from the 3,000-year-old Bust of Nefertiti to the Romantic canvases by German icon Caspar David Friedrich.
In an era where the pace of life seems to accelerate daily, the simple act of walking offers a grounding counterpoint. For families, it’s a way to explore without pressure - to notice what might otherwise be missed: a beautiful view over rooftops or the calm of a sun-dappled path.
From London’s storied streets to the comic-daubed corners of Brussels, Rocco Forte Hotels offers a collection of suites created with families in mind. Each space is deeply connected to its surroundings, seamlessly integrating custom furnishings, local materials, and subtle references to the culture beyond its walls.
