Spring in St. Petersburg: Things to Do, Eat, and Learn

New season, new beginning

Trite as it may sound, the turn of the season is the perfect time for a fresh start for your home – and mind! This means getting rid of the old and not-needed, treating yourself to something new (if that’s your wish), reviewing your recent accomplishments, and hyping yourself up for the new season.

To keep things fun, here’s how to get your spring reset mission accomplished: 

• easy – deep-clean your entire home; 
• normal – declutter your space and mind – and look for some inspo for the year ahead;
• hard – organize and cozy up your home;
• hardcore – and finally… declutter your digital space. 

Speaking of the new, spring is also a great time for trying new things, as well-proven by our team. Whether that be a new personal challenge, hobby, go-to lunch spot, or even an after-class activity.

Now you’re all set and ready – to put some spring in your steps!

Taste & sip spring

Aside from warmer weather and longer, sunnier days, spring also manifests itself through the meals and beverages we start to see more of. Though there might be some variations, there are three key food pillars that cannot be missed this time of the year: we’re talking blini (traditional Maslenitsa dish; late February – early March), kulich and eggs (traditional Easter dishes; April-May), and shashlik (late spring – summer). An extra one for those in St. Pete is koryushka, a tiny fish that fills the streets with its peculiar scent between April and May.

In terms of drinks, this continues to be a season of hot or comfortably-warm coffee and non-coffee beverages, which you may later swap for some summery fun as the weather warms up: these can be your favorite drink but iced or more traditional-style soda like kvas or even birch tree juice. 

Get your energy pumping

When else is the best time to pick up a new active hobby if not in spring, as nature awakens from its winter lethargy? You might object by saying that it may be spring on the calendar, but the weather isn’t yet exactly accommodating – and we won’t object! If only because we already have a handy list of Russian spring essentials that will keep you protected from every tantrum of the unpredictable spring months to come. Now that you are fully equipped, it’s time to explore all the options at your disposal: 

• Level 1: explore the city by foot. Start with the many parks located all around St. Petersburg and continue on to other gems that await you in the city’s streets.
• Level 2: if walking is not for you, how about running or cycling? Check out the linked articles to learn from experienced runners and cyclists how best to practice these sports in the city – and what you need to start. 
• Level 3: join a sports club. At ITMO’s KronBars sports club, you can choose out of 50 sports, including exotic ones like fencing or sailing, even if you are a total beginner. What’s more, you can join all sorts of competitions and tournaments throughout the year if you are looking to test your prowess.

If you are worried the active lifestyle won’t stick, take a look at this trove of collected wisdom from KronBars athletes – they know all about keeping your spirits high throughout your fitness journey. And for an extra ounce of motivation, grab yourself some neat workout gear!

Dive into the culture

Like any other season, spring, too, is rich with cultural connotations. And the roots go deep; for instance, in this article you can find out why – and how – the ancient Slavic people used to celebrate the New Year on March 1. 

Going on a birdwatching trip to mark the new season? Remember to read up on birds in Russian folklore and learn a few useful superstitions. You can even whip up some traditional bird buns as a snack! Speaking of birds (and nature): do you know what chicken blindness and cuckoo’s tears have to do with the spring blossom? If you don’t, you should check out this overview of the most unusual Russian names for flowers – quite handy for that trip to the park!

Of course, in a nation as diverse as modern-day Russia, it’s not just Slavic traditions that are worth learning about. For instance, on March 20 of this year, members of many cultures and ethnicities will celebrate Nowruz, the day of the spring equinox and the Persian New Year. This, too, includes many students and staff of ITMO University – read about what this holiday means to them in this article.