St Petersburg changes dramatically across the school calendar. Each holiday period — autumn, winter, spring, summer — brings different weather, different prices and different things to do.

Autumn break (late October)

Around 24 October to 1 November. Temperatures hover between +3 and +10 °C, rain is likely on most days, and Peterhof fountains are already off for the season. The upside: hotel rates are at their lowest, museum queues are short, and children's theatres put on special holiday programmes. Book accommodation two weeks ahead. Bring waterproof shoes and a warm jacket — the wind off the Neva makes it feel colder than the forecast says.

Winter break (late December – early January)

Two weeks, −5 to −15 °C, very short days. The city is decorated, ice rinks open, Nutcracker at the Mariinsky. Book a month ahead for New Year dates.

Spring break (late March)

One week, 0–8 °C, slush. Fewest tourists of the year. Good for museum marathons.

Summer holidays (June–August)

White nights, Peterhof fountains, riverboat tours. Everything is open but everything is crowded. Book six weeks out for June and July.

To find accommodation for your dates, you can browse stays.

Any season

The Hermitage, Russian Museum, Peter and Paul Fortress and Kunstkamera are open year-round. Theatres run September to June. For rainy or freezing days, head indoors: Novaya Gollandiya has shops and cafés under one roof, Sevkabel Port hosts exhibitions and food markets, and the Oceanarium keeps children entertained for a couple of hours. Public transport works well — the metro covers the centre, and suburban trains reach Pushkin, Pavlovsk and Peterhof from Vitebsky Station.

Good to know

Whatever the season, a few habits make the trip easier. Buy Hermitage and Russian Museum tickets online for a specific time, because holiday weeks bring families and organised groups in large numbers. Reserve theatre seats as soon as the programme is announced, especially for ballet. Carry a compact umbrella and a power bank all year, and allow extra time for the metro during the evening rush hour, roughly from five to seven. With children, pack snacks, since cafes near major sights are busy at midday.

Verified 23 October 2026

Cover photo: Nikolai Bulykin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Викисклад