Morning
Starting off with the most important meal of the day, according to popular belief – breakfast. I tend to opt for something hearty that will keep me fueled until mid-afternoon, like an avocado toast or some peanut butter oatmeal. Ideally, half the plate should be full of fruit or veggies, so I’d go for something seasonal in the first case and frozen berries in the second.
Breakfast inspiration: Quick Fix: Breakfast Ideas for All Kinds of Mornings
Tips for purchasing groceries smartly: How to Shop Like a Local in St. Petersburg
Now full of energy, it’s high time to head to the library for a quality study session. My top choice here is always the National Library of Russia on Gostiny Dvor (I hear that the Park Pobedy branch is also very inspiring!). However, they say studying is better after a workout, so I make a series of smart decisions: first, get off at the Mayakovskaya metro station to accommodate a little walk (aka a free workout) to the library; second, drop by Pitcher coffee bar for a coffee – there, your sixth cup is free. A day that starts with free coffee just cannot be a bad one – you’ve already been blessed by the universe, so it can only get better from here.
Alternatives for study places and coffee shops:
Midday
One of nature’s paradoxes is that, unfortunately, while you fulfill your hunger for knowledge, the one for food and sustenance only keeps growing. Having wrapped up my study tasks for the day, I practically fly out of the library to get a proper meal. On this special no-spending day, my choice of an eatery is guided solely by those with loyalty programs. In close proximity to the NLR, these are Surf Coffee (sandwiches, wraps, and syrniki are on the menu), Teremok, and Dodo Pizza. There, for each meal you purchase, you get points that you can later use to pay for your next order. By the way, if you are one for spicy meals, Ramen Shifu, a ramen bar from our spicy list, also has this kind of loyalty program. I always feel so posh and bougie when I know I have enough points for a free meal!
Now, how do we fill our time after lunch? Actually, it would be hard not to get choice fatigue! With a student ID, you can visit the General Staff Building of the Hermitage for free — and this alone can make your day; but then there’s also the Art of Foto gallery with free exhibitions; ArtMuza with works of local artists; Borey Art Center with something unusual always on display; and many more. Also on this list should be Erarta Museum with modern art exhibitions, solely because you get one ticket that lasts a whole year: so if you already have yours, you can visit the museum on any day without additional expenses.
More affordable art places: Where To Enjoy Art in St. Petersburg on a Dime
Evening
If you want to save money, evening activities might require some planning in advance.
For music lovers, for instance, it would be smart to look into seasonal tickets or абонементы at St. Petersburg Philharmonia: essentially, you reserve a seat at several concerts of a series united by a common theme. A series can feature concerts every month, so by buying one абонемент, you basically secure your dose of music for a year. And on the day itself, it would feel like you are going to a concert for free!
Other choices might come in the shape of free yoga or dance workshops, public talks, speaking clubs, markets, or other events. They are all, of course, announced in different sources and platforms – you might think, “Where do I even look for those?” Luckily, you don’t have to go very far: just follow the tag This Week on ITMO.NEWS or follow us on social media (VK and Telegram) to get a weekly guide with the best free or affordable events in the city.
Now, where do you get dinner on a free day, when you’ve already used up all the perks and loyalty points? My idea would be to invite a friend over and cook together. Yes, this might require some additional ingredients apart from the groceries you already have. However, if you take into account all the laughs and good time gained, it would be worth every ruble spent.
This concludes my imagined “free” day in the city, hopefully proving to anyone still in doubt that you don’t need a fortune to enjoy all the cultural and culinary gifts of our Northern Capital.
If you want to experience other perfect days, inspired by the lifestyle and culture of different countries, explore this tag.
