Vasilyevsky Island walking route: Rostral Columns to

Distance

73.7 km

Duration

13 h 33 min

Mode

route

Start

Vasilyevsky Island

End

St. Petersburg Academy of Arts

Stops

33

Video author

travmap

Updated

August 27, 2026

Stops on this route

1. Vasilyevsky Island — One of the largest islands in the Neva River delta, occupying the greater part of the Vasileostrovsky District, part of St. Petersburg's historic centre.
2. Palace Bridge across the Neva River — Historic bascule bridge connecting the Winter Palace to Vasilyevsky Island, famous for its dramatic nighttime opening ceremony that defines St. Petersburg's summer nights.
3. Rostral Columns — Two famous symbols of the Spit, built between 1805 and 1810 by French architect Jean-François Thomas de Thomon, with sculptures representing Russia's major rivers.
4. Neva River and Peter and Paul Fortress — Vital waterway flanked by the imposing fortress where Peter the Great incarcerated political prisoners and which guards the city's founding origins.
5. Kunstkamera — The first public museum in Russia, founded in 1714 by decree of Emperor Peter the Great.
6. St. Petersburg State University — City's oldest and principal university founded by Emperor Peter the Great, with main building on Universitetskaya Embankment, originally the Twelve Collegia (1722–1742).
7. Neva River (view from Tuchkov Bridge) — Major waterway offering picturesque perspectives of St. Petersburg's neoclassical embankments, bridges, and palaces from this strategic viewing point.
8. "Sportivnaya" metro station — Soviet-era underground station serving Vasilyevsky Island, notable for its utilitarian design reflecting 1960s modernist transportation architecture.
9. Menshikov Palace — Baroque palace of Peter the Great's closest associate, now a museum showcasing early 18th-century aristocratic life and Russian decorative arts.
10. Peter the Great Fountain — Monumental sculptural fountain honoring the city's founder with dynamic water features and artistic bronze elements symbolizing St. Petersburg's grandeur.
11. St. Isaac's Cathedral — Monumental neoclassical cathedral with massive golden dome dominating the skyline, serving as one of St. Petersburg's most recognizable architectural landmarks.
12. Rumyantsev Garden — Small, cosy park in the heart of Vasilyevsky Island, described as a true corner of old St. Petersburg.
13. Sphinxes on Universitetskaya Embankment — Ancient Egyptian granite sphinxes imported to St. Petersburg, symbolizing wisdom and mystery while anchoring the embankment's historical prestige.
14. View of Angliskaya Embankment — Picturesque waterfront promenade featuring elegant neoclassical mansions and palaces that exemplify St. Petersburg's refined architectural character.
15. Domenico Trezzini — Italian-Swiss architect who designed the Peter and Paul Fortress and shaped St. Petersburg's foundational baroque aesthetic during the early 18th century.
16. Vasileostrovsky Market
17. Andreevsky Cathedral — Cathedral of St. Andrew the First-Called, built between 1764 and 1780, beginning point of the pedestrian section of the 6th and 7th Lines.
18. 6th and 7th Lines of Vasilyevsky Island — Parallel streets forming the island's urban grid, lined with residential buildings that preserve authentic 19th-century architectural charm.
19. "Vasileostrovskaya" metro station — Underground transit hub serving Vasilyevsky Island with Art Deco design elements reflecting mid-20th-century Soviet aesthetic principles.
20. Annunciation Church — Orthodox church with traditional Russian ecclesiastical architecture, serving as a spiritual center for the Vasilyevsky Island community.
21. Smolensk Orthodox Cemetery — Founded in 1738, named in honour of workers from the city of Smolensk who died building St. Petersburg; contains Smolensk Church and Chapel of Xenia of St. Petersburg.
22. Chapel of Xenia of St. Petersburg — Small religious shrine dedicated to the venerated saint known for miracles and charitable works, attracting pilgrims seeking intercession.
23. Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art — Contemporary art museum showcasing Russian and international artists from the 1950s onward, featuring rotating exhibitions and installations.
24. Sergei Kirov Palace of Culture
25. "Vasileostrovets" Garden — Historic public garden offering green spaces, walking paths, and views along the Neva River's northern embankment.
26. Lieutenant Schmidt Embankment — Scenic riverside promenade named after a Revolutionary-era commander, lined with grand buildings and offering Neva views.
27. Ivan Kruzenshtern — Four-masted sailing ship museum that once served as a research vessel and training ship, now preserved as maritime heritage.
28. Submarine S-189 — Soviet-era diesel-electric submarine converted into a museum, allowing visitors to experience Cold War submarine warfare conditions.
29. Mining Institute (St. Petersburg Mining University) — Neoclassical building serving as Russia's premier mining academy, notable for its sculpture of a golden Hercules.
30. Icebreaker "Krasin" — Historic polar icebreaker museum ship that participated in Arctic rescue missions and polar expeditions during the Soviet era.
31. Egyptian Sphinx Sculptures
32. Russian Academy of Sciences — Historic institution located on Vasilyevsky Island, part of the cradle of Russian science.
33. St. Petersburg Academy of Arts — Historic academy named after Ilya Repin, positioned as successor to the Imperial Academy of Arts, with Egyptian sphinx sculptures opposite.

Useful for your trip

Video on this route

Charming VASILYEVSKY ISLAND of St Petersburg, Russia [4K]

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