The Bank Bridge is a chain pedestrian bridge across the Griboedov Canal, opposite the former Assignation Bank (now the University of Finance). Four gold-winged griffins by Pavel Sokolov, 1826, hold the bridge's chains. One of the city's most photographed objects.
🦁 The legend
Local lore says the griffins "guard wealth": rub a paw and your money follows. The paws are polished to a shine. Locals shrug; tourists keep rubbing.
🗺 Finding it
Griboedov Canal, between Kazan Cathedral and the Lion Bridge. Five minutes on foot from Kazan along the canal (even-numbered side).
📅 When to go
Morning or evening — best light for photos. Midday brings crowds. Winter looks beautiful with the lamps on.
🚕 Routing
Pair the Bank Bridge with the Lion Bridge (ten minutes south along the canal) and the Savior on Spilled Blood (three minutes north). All walkable from the centre, no RideClu needed.
🛏 Where to stay
Apartments along the Griboedov Canal are bookable on Tutkakdoma.
If this is your first time in St Petersburg, bear two things in mind. Distances between the main sights are short, but autumn daylight is brief and rain arrives on no schedule. Plan your route around the lit half of the day, allow half an hour of buffer between stops, and bring a thermos and gloves for the evening. Dress in layers and wear non-slip soles — the embankments and bridges are windy, and courtyards stay wet after rain.
On the ground, walking is easiest between adjacent blocks, with short taxi hops when it gets dark or wet. If you are travelling as a group or with children, arrange the evening transfer back to your flat ahead of time — late-night fares spike. Flats in the centre go fast at weekends: book a week ahead for Nevsky, the Petrograd Side or Vasilievsky.
St Petersburg rewards half-day visits rather than one long marathon. Pick a theme — a single museum, a district, a walk — and give it time. After the active part, a warm cafe, a bookshop or a swimming pool is as much part of the ritual as the sights themselves, especially in November.
Verified on 22 October 2026.
Cover photo: Kora27, CC BY-SA 4.0, Викисклад
