White nights

In St. Petersburg, it never really gets dark for most of the summer: cue the long nightly walks, when you can fully enjoy the city under the everlasting dawn-like sky. And despite anything we’ve already said about the weather, it’s still warm enough not to catch a chill at night. Thanks to white nights, summer can truly compete for the title of the most romantic season in St. Petersburg.

Can still enjoy hot drinks

Yes, it’s not 30 degrees out there (hopefully, yet), so this means you can still comfortably engage with the city’s flourishing coffee culture without any need to ice your favorite drink. If coffee is not your thing, there are plenty of alternatives to explore, too! Naturally, every respectable coffee place and cafe will still offer summery drink options: iced coffee, craft lemonade, and more.

Drawbridges

Remember to check the drawbridge schedule before your nightly walks, though! You don’t want to be stranded on the wrong island and waiting until a bridge closes or the metro opens. But you absolutely do want to see the bridges drawing over the Neva, all aglow, with dozens of boats gathered underneath. You can choose to enjoy the view with a boat tour or from an embankment – both options are great!

Festivals

Whatever you love, you will probably find a festival dedicated to it in St. Pete in the summer. There is PetShop Days for our furry friends, Stereoleto, VK Fest, and roof concerts for pop music lovers, Summer Music Park and all kinds of Palace Square concerts for those who prefer classics, Scarlet Sails for all the romantics out there, flower festivals at the Botanical Garden… the list can go on and on. And the nearest festival on our ITMO radar is ITMO Family Day: a graduation party and a celebration of ITMO Family wrapped in one, with lots of fun activities, from yoga to academic speed dating and more. Learn how to sign up yourself and bring your friends and family here.

No need for AC

St. Petersburg’s unique summer climate means you don’t have to worry about catching a cold when entering an indoor space – it’s unlikely that the AC will be set to a temperature much colder than the outside. On a more practical note, just opening a window is usually enough to air out and cool a room in the summer – something that doesn’t really work in 30+ degrees.

Wild weather

Let’s look at it from a glass-half-full perspective, shall we? First, the weather changes so frequently – chilly rain one day and hot sunshine the next – that you get to wear the entire contents of your wardrobe within one week, sweaters, swimsuits, and all. Next, as the weather can also shift within a single day, you get to polish your layering skills to a T; by fall, you’ll know precisely how to dress to look stylish, feel warm, and have the chance to shed a layer or two if it gets uncomfortable. Bonus: weather is your trusty conversation starter, anywhere and with anyone.

Suburbs to explore

With all the royal residences, resort towns, and eco-paths around it, there are countless day trips you can – and should! – take in summer. You can start with our most recent guide and build from there. If you are craving a more ITMO-esque summer getaway, join a trip to the Yagodnoe sports and leisure camp for a guaranteed dose of fun and new connections.

Title image credit: ВикторияКириллова / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0