As summer approaches, usually towards the end of April, a boat trip is an essential part of any excursion holiday in St Petersburg. There is a huge choice of boats and operators, from small private launches to multi-level river cruisers, so you can join a planned excursions along the canals of St. Petersburg or organize your own tour if you are traveling in a small group. However, almost all boats follow one of a few tried and tested routes along the rivers and canals of St. Petersburg, as well as some longer routes to the city's attractions. City tours start at around 400 rubles for adults (half price for children under 12, and free for passengers under seven).
It’s best to book a boat trip in advance, especially in high season during the White Nights, so check the yacht charter website to find a day and time of your choice at one of the city centre piers and join a day or night excursion. After midnight, almost all boats offer access to the Neva River to watch the bridges open. Most trips will be guided or have a recorded audio guide. If you require a guide in English, many companies offer this service along with several other foreign languages, but you’ll need to book in advance.
The most popular routes along the rivers and canals of St. Petersburg are circular excursions around the historic center and longer boat trips to the islands of the Neva delta and the suburban imperial palaces. Visitors to St. Petersburg are offered a huge choice of boat trips and river excursions, but most choose one of five or six popular routes, each of which reveals a different aspect of the city's history and architecture:
- A circular tour of the historical center, along the Fontanka River, the Kryukov Canal, the Moika River, the Winter Canal and a short section of the Neva River.
- Travel along the banks of the Neva, visiting almost all the most popular sights of St. Petersburg, including the Winter Palace, the Peter and Paul Fortress and Vasilievsky Island.
- A night tour, especially popular during the White Nights, which gives visitors the opportunity to see the main bridges across the Neva River as they emerge from the water.
- A journey from the centre of St Petersburg to the Imperial Palace in Peterhof with its famous fountains and fascinating collection of palaces.
- A tour of the northern section of the Neva Delta, getting to know the sights and green parks of the Kirov Islands, Petrogradskaya and Vyborgskaya Sides.
To become a participant in a river tour during the high season in St. Petersburg, you need to book a place in advance.
