Fall in love with snow. Remember all those people who asked you about the Russian winter? Well, now you can certainly share your expert opinion! For a proper taste, you can just take the metro to Ozerki and slide down the hills on giant inflated tubes. If you’re into sports and active outdoor activities, you can take the slopes of Igora or Okhta Park. You can also just pick a snowball fight with your friends (make sure to make your own snowballs out of fluffy snow and not toss the hardened chunks). Like snow better in theory? Check out the Snow Show by the famous Russian clown Slava Polunin – it’s pure magic.
Get your doughnut fix. There’s no shortage of places in St. Petersburg to get sugared up, but there’s nothing like the hot, greasy and delicious pyshki – or simply doughnuts – at the famous joint Pyshechnaya on Konyushennaya (Konyushennaya St. 25). Established in 1958, it has stayed true to its original recipe and Soviet vibes. Most people order about five or six and eat them while they’re hot, dusting their overcoats with powdered sugar and licking their fingers. The beverage of choice here is a brownish-white liquid with “coffee” in its name. Don’t try to order a latte. Credit cards are not accepted.
Go treasure hunting. Rare art albums, vintage clothing and retired sweaters in excellent condition, dishes with a character, gifts for friends who hate mass-market stuff, as well as things only you can identify as your future family heirlooms – thrift stores in St. Petersburg are a bonanza of delightful finds. Oftentimes they have a unique atmosphere and help various charity organizations through donations and financial support from sales. Some of our favorites are Artefact Market on Komsomola 2-A (don’t miss their “everything for 100 roubles days”) and BlagoDarya on Pestelya St. 17/25, as well as the many flea markets. They’ll also pick up your donations and help you declutter.
Hibernate. When’s the next time you’ll have a chance to stay on the couch for all day with a festive beverage in hand? You could binge-watch all the movies on your list, dive deep into the virtual worlds of video games or get your brain a boost with masterpieces of Russian literature. Once you do come up for air, how about walking in the steps of the literary characters to work off all that Olivier salad?
Credit: Olga Kononenko on Unsplash
Attend a Christmas service. You don’t have to be a Russian Orthodox to attend a service on Christmas Eve (January 6) or on Christmas Day (January 7) at the many churches and cathedrals in St. Petersburg. At the Kazan Cathedral on Nevsky Prospect, for example, the Eve service starts at 11 pm and there’re also two services at 7 and 8 on Christmas morning. It is customary for men to remove their hats and for women to cover their heads with scarves or hats when inside the church. You can just stand in the back and enjoy the service, the singing, and the magic of the moment.
