1.  Peter and Paul Fortress - This fortress, built to deflect Swedish raids, was the city’s very first structure. While the view from the fortress ramparts is fantastic, the main attraction is Trezzini's Peter and Paul Cathedral, built in 1712. Almost all Romanov tsars including Nicholas II, are buried here. There are several other museums scattered around the fortress grounds and you can buy a special day ticket which enables access to all.

2. St. Petersburg’s metro - Although it may not be as impressive as its Moscow counterpart, but some stations offer enough communist glamour to justify a short joyride. Conveniently, the most impressive stops are on the “red” line (line 1) where Avtovo, Narvskaya and Kirovsky Zavod metro stops each have their fill of communist images, statues and symbols. Ploschad Vosstaniya also has the city’s last public images of Stalin. When you come down the escalators, there are pillars on both sides of you. Stalin is shown on the second pillar to your left, and then again a bit further down, to your right.

3. Lenin at Finlyandsky Station - There’s quite a bit of Soviet legend attached to this station. It was here that Lenin returned from exile in April, 1917, in a sealed carriage drawn by a train that was a gift from Finland. The train is displayed here in a glass pavilion. Out front, a majestic statue of Lenin points the way to a radiant future, and at the entrance to the adjacent metro stop there is an impressive mosaic of Lenin. Ploschad Lenina (Square of Lenin) is also home to the new singing fountains Poyushie Fontanie. These romantic fountains leap and dance in time with classical music played on speakers around the square. It is dreamy to walk through here eating sweet blini (Russian pancakes) on a sunny morning!

4. Aleksander Nevsky Monastary - Founded by Peter the Great, in 1710, this orthodox monastery is the most important in St. Petersburg. The St. Trinity cathedral is worth a visit and so is the cemetery, where you can visit the graves of Russia's greatest composers and writers, including Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Glinka and Dostoevsky. You can buy fresh holy bread in the monastery's bakery in the afternoon (on your left as you approach the Trinity cathedral from the entrance). Daily services at the Trinity Cathedral 07:00, 10:00 and 17:00.

5. State Hermitage Museum - The director of the Hermitage once said, “I can't say that the Hermitage is the number one museum in the world, but it's certainly not the second.” And with over three million works of art and treasures housed in five connected buildings along the Neva, the museum can't fail to impress. If works by Picasso, Van Gogh or Rembrandt don't make you gasp, then the interiors of the Winter Palace will. Give yourself plenty of time and try to go on a weekday to avoid the crowds.

6. Strelna (Konstantinoysky Palace) - Better known as the ‘Palace of Putin,’ this presidential residence was only finished last year, in time for the city's 300th anniversary. At great cost and with the help of 5,000 workers, the entire Strelna estate was reconstructed in just 12 months. The original palace was built in the 18th century for the Romanov family, but it was never quite finished. After WWII, locals used the dilapidated estate for walks and barbeques. These days, the palace and gardens are open to the public. Call before you visit the palace, to make sure it’s not closed for an official function.

7. Moskovsky Park Pobedy - Moscow Victory Park is full of life. On the southern side, there is a small cafe which has drinks and hot snacks. Park Pobedy is a beautiful, quiet, large park, where students drink beer, families walk and pensioners sit on benches. Besides a childrens play park it has a Walk of Fame, where you can find statues of Russian WWII heroes. There are also some water attractions available, with water bikes and boats in the summer. The lakes are small though and the equipment doesn't always look trustworthy, but if you can swim... in summer terraces, beer and shasliki are available.

8. Dostoevsky Museum - You will find Dostoevsky’s weathered corner-apartment two minutes walk from the metro. The museum is divided into two sections: literary (which we believe to be the most interesting, especially if you have read any of his books!) and memorial (his apartment and belongings). We recommend the audio-guide to make your experience richer and less confusing. Displays include newspaper articles that inspired the social foresight behind The Devils and photographs of the house where The Brothers Karamazov story is set. Also gives fascinating biographical details, i.e. his arrest and exile. Whether you are interested in Dostoevsky’s brave character, turbulent life, or amazing work, this museum is certainly the premium place to go.

9. Smolny Cathdral - The view over the city from this blue baroque cathedral is worth the climb, to the top of one of the bell-towers. Smolny, once the centre-piece of a convent founded to educate young nobleman, is nowadays a concert and exhibition hall with an exhibition on Smolny’s history on display. From the nearby neo-classical Smolny Institute, Lenin orchestrated the October Revolution in 1917.