St. Petersburg isn't just the Hermitage and St. Isaac's Cathedral. The real soul of the city hides in its courtyards, abandoned factories, and creative spaces. Here's a route that shows you a completely different St. Petersburg — the one where locals live and hang out.

Photos courtesy of the subject

John Lennon Street (Ligovsky Prospekt, 53)

Start your day at the Pushkinskaya-10 art center — a legendary squat where artists have been living and working since the late 80s. Everything here smells like freedom. What's more, there is also a photo booth where you can take 4 photos with your loved ones!

The main gem is John Lennon Street. A local Beatles fan named Kolya Vasin hung the sign himself when he got tired of waiting for the official renaming. In the courtyard, look for the graffiti of The Fab Four and the Yellow Submarine.

If you're lucky, peek into The Beatles Museum (Vasin's apartment, packed with records) and the Museum of Nonconformist Art. I am sure you will enjoy it!

New Holland Island

This is St. Petersburg's only man-made island that used to be a timber warehouse. Now it's the trendiest public space in the city. Red brick architecture, a pond with ducks, and lawns where you can actually lie down.

Where to grab a bite:

• AVA Bistro is a project by restaurateur Anton Pinsky. They have their own wood-fired oven, fresh croissants in the morning, great salads, and risotto. Stylish but friendly.
• Ronny — if you're craving Asian food. Try the sushiroll (a roll in the shape of a rice burrito) and tom yum.
• Markva — a coffee shop with signature drinks made from fruit purees, right at the entrance to the island.

And, of course, that is not all! You can find other restaurants near to the island or even on it, just check the maps!

Sevkabel Port (Kozhevennaya Liniya, 40)

The main creative cluster of the city, built on the grounds of the oldest cable factory in Russia. Here, rusty workshops meet contemporary art. And this is my favorite place, by the way! I like to spend late evenings there with a cup of coffee and wonderful sunsets, especially in the spring or summer.

The main attraction is the embankment. This is where people come to watch the sunset. Just imagine the sun going down over the Gulf of Finland, ships passing by, and the cable-stayed bridge glinting in the distance. You can rent binoculars and zoom in on all the details.

The Main Workshop constantly hosts major exhibitions (recently there was a legendary show about Viktor Tsoi). And on the Bar Line, you'll find over 400 places to eat and drink.

Brusnitsyn Cultural Quarter (Kozhevennaya Liniya, 30)

Sevkabel's more intimate and cozy neighbor, built on the site of a former tannery.

The main feature here is the sun loungers by the water. You can just lie there, watch the sunset, and think about nothing. The atmosphere is calmer than at Sevkabel, with fewer people.

What else to see:

• Open-air street art gallery — graffiti from street artists who won a competition to leave their mark on the walls!
• Sports ground — pétanque and ping-pong. Equipment is quite affordable, keep in mind that you'll also need a deposit"
• Annenkirche art residence — a cultural center with exhibitions and events by the legendary Lutheran church, very atmospheric.

This route is the perfect snapshot of modern St. Petersburg: from the nonconformist art of the 90s to trendy spaces by the water. This is the city that locals love!