Peterhof, St Petersburg: Upper Garden to Lower Park Route
Explore Peterhof, the Russian Versailles located 23 km southwest of St. Petersburg's city center on the Gulf of Finland coast. This 26.8 km route covers the grand imperial summer residence with its meticulously designed Upper Garden and expansive Lower Park featuring 150 fountains.
- Distance
- 26.8 km
- Mode
- route
- Start
- Entrance to the Upper Garden
- End
- "Samson" Fountain
- Stops
- 4
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Entrance to the Upper Garden — Formal baroque garden entrance featuring geometric parterres and ornamental fountains designed as Peter the Great's private retreat.
- Trellis Pavilion — Delicate lattice structure serving as a shaded garden pavilion, exemplifying 18th-century Russian baroque architectural elegance.
- Sea Channel — Excavated waterway connecting the Lower Park to the Gulf of Finland, forming a central axis in the ensemble design and demonstrating 18th-century engineering innovations.
- "Samson" Fountain — Monumental centerpiece depicting Samson wrestling a lion, symbolizing Russian victory over Swedish forces at the Great Northern War.
Useful for your trip
- Tip
- Peterhof is located about 23 km southwest of St. Petersburg city center on the coast of the Gulf of Finland.
- Save money
- Upper Garden entrance is free. Lower Park has an entrance fee.
- Timing
- Visit in June for warm weather (+24°C/75°F) and pleasant conditions for exploring the parks.
- Tip
- Upper Garden features five fountains, geometric layout with straight alleys of trimmed lindens, and is beautiful year-round (blooming spring, autumn colors, winter forest).
- Tip
- Lower Park has 150 fountains across 102.5 hectares. Fountains operate without pumps using gravity from water sources 65 meters above sea level, activated each spring.
- Tip
- Peterhof was included in UNESCO World Heritage list in 1990 and recognized as one of Seven Wonders of Russia in 2008.
- Tip
- Grand opening occurred August 15, 1723. Layout based on Peter the Great's sketches, compared to Palace of Versailles.
- Tip
- Key landmarks include Grand Peterhof Palace, Sea Channel, Samson Fountain, Grand Cascade, Marly Palace, and viewing platform overlooking Gulf of Finland.
- Tip
- Enable subtitles in the video for more detailed information about specific fountains, pavilions, and architectural features.
Video on this route
The Russian Versailles! PETERHOF, St Petersburg, Russia. Upper Garden and Lower Park [4K]