Bell Tower of the Vladimir Cathedral
- Location: Vladimirsky Pr. 20
- Entry fee: 300 rubles
Don't rush home right after your day of classes on the Lomonosova campus. Instead, pay a visit to the nearby Vladimir Cathedral. Following its renovation in 2022, the bell tower has been transformed into an observation deck. To find out how great this decision was, buy a ticket at the cathedral's chapels or candle shops and take the stairs to 40 meters above the ground. You’ll be rewarded with stunning bird's-eye views of the freshly gilded domes of the cathedral, as well as other key cathedrals and the city’s signature courtyards and rooftops. Don’t worry if you can’t recognize a landmark – there’s a free audio guide (in Russian) to provide historical commentary.
If you arrive at 5:50 PM sharp, you’ll have the opportunity to see and hear the grand bell ringing up close – it’s a bell tower, after all!
Jaani Kirik Bell Tower
- Location: Dekabristov St. 54
- Entry fee: 500 rubles
The quaint district of Kolomna houses places of worship of several religions. One of them is the Lutheran Jaani Kirik. A symbol of Estonian independence, it was closed in the Soviet times and restored and reopened in the early 2000s. You can learn more about the history of the church by taking a guided tour held there every Saturday. In addition to a thrilling narration, the hour-long tour includes an organ concert and a visit to the bell tower. Small and modest at first glance, it offers an exquisite overview of the cozy neighborhood and the cranes of the Admiralty Shipyards.
Karl Bulla Photo Gallery
- Location: Nevsky Pr. 54
- Entry fee: 150 rubles
Another two-for-one deal – catch a rare view while visiting a photography museum! The Karl Bulla Photo Gallery covers the history of photography in many forms like cameras, tools, documents, as well as a panoramic photo of St. Petersburg taken from the same point 150 years ago. Many visitors note that they come here not only for the exhibits, but also to take a peek from the gallery’s balcony, which overlooks Nevsky Prospect, the National Library of Russia, the Alexandrinsky Theater, and Catherine's Garden.
Credit: krol666.84@yandex.ru on photogenica.ru
Divo Ostrov observation wheel
- Location: Kemskaya St. 11
- Entry fee: 400 rubles
Fancy some modern landscapes? Head to the Divo Ostrov amusement park to ride the largest Ferris wheel in St. Petersburg. In just seven minutes, you’ll experience breathtaking views of the cable-stayed bridge of the Western High-Speed Diameter, the Gazprom Arena, the Lakhta Center, the parks of Krestovsky Island itself, and yachts in the harbor of Petrovsky Island. Once you descend, be sure to explore the other attractions in the park!
Solaris Lab coffee shop
- Location: Kurlyandskaya St. 49
- Entry fee: Free
This observation point is so secret that you might need a video to find it. However, the journey is worth it! The adventurous ones who complete the test will discover Kolomna from above on one side and a historic industrial area on the other. All of that from a coffee shop situated on the rooftop of one such industrial building! While the menu isn’t anything extraordinary, you can enjoy a cup of tea and wrap yourself in cozy plaid blankets.
