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Palace Bridge, St Petersburg

Palace Bridge raised over the Neva at night, its two leaves up against the floodlit Spit of Vasilyevsky Island
Photo: Florstein (Telegram:WikiPhoto.Space), CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free from the embankment
Hours
Navigation season (April–November), nightly 1:10–2:50 and 3:10–4:55 per the Mostotrest timetable on 29.10.2026; not raised in winter
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
45 min
With kids
Better without small kids
Watching from the shore
Free, no ticket
Palace Bridge raised
1:10–2:50 and 3:10–4:55 (timetable on 29.10.2026)
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Gap between openings
2:50–3:10 — bridge down, you can cross
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Blagoveshchensky Bridge
1:25–2:45 and 3:10–5:00
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Trinity (Troitsky) Bridge
1:20–4:50
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Season
2026: 10 April – 30 November; side channels 20 April – 15 November
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Metro
Stations close around midnight and reopen around 5:30
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Nearest metro
Admiralteyskaya (Line 5, purple) — about 10 min on foot
Night boat tours
1.5–3 hours; prices vary by operator
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Paying
Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards don’t work in Russia
Coordinates
59.94111, 30.30848YesGo MapGoogleAppleYandex

Key facts

1:10 amPalace Bridge is the first Neva bridge to go up on the nightly timetable
2 sourcesOfficial website of SPb GBU Mostotrest, raising timetable, 29.10.2026Tonkosti travel guide
April–Novemberthe raising season: in winter the Neva freezes and shipping stops
2 sourcesTonkosti and travelto.ru travel guidesDelovoy Peterburg
23 Dec 1916the bridge opened to traffic
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia, “Palace Bridge”
9 bridgesover the Neva and Bolshaya Neva are raised on a timetable; three more open on request
3 sourcesOfficial website of SPb GBU MostotrestTonkosti travel guideDelovoy Peterburg (12 crossings)
5 spansthe middle one is the two-leaf bascule span
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia, “Palace Bridge”
≈ 260 mlong and about 28 m wide
2 sourcesEnglish Wikipedia (260.1 m, 27.8 m)Russian Wikipedia (260 m, 27.7 m)
Andrey Pshenitskythe engineer who designed the bridge
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia, “Palace Bridge”
≈ 5 minto raise the leaves — and the same to lower them
2 sourcesMostotrest quoted by Delovoy PeterburgTonkosti travel guide
1944the name Palace Bridge returned; in Soviet years it was the Republican Bridge
2 sourcesRussian Wikipedia, “Palace Bridge”Znanie encyclopedia
Since 2016on some summer weekends the bridge is raised to music — the Singing Bridges show
2 sourcesPeterburgsky DnevnikKudaSpb

What time does Palace Bridge open?

On the official Mostotrest timetable for 29.10.2026, Palace Bridge goes up twice a night: 1:10–2:50 and 3:10–4:55. In between there’s a 20-minute window when the bridge is down and you can walk or drive across. The pattern has barely changed in years, but times shift for holidays, repairs and ship traffic, so check the Mostotrest site or app on the day.

The lift itself takes about five minutes. First the police clear the deck, the bridge goes empty and quiet — then both leaves tilt up until they stand almost vertical. Get to the railing by 0:45; on a July night the best spots go early.

The second opening is sometimes cancelled, and the bridge can come down early if the ships pass quickly. Don’t bank on the 2:50 window as your only way home.

When is the bridge-raising season?

Bridges open only while the Neva is navigable — roughly April to November. Travel guides give 10 April – 30 November for 2026, and 20 April – 15 November for bridges over the side channels. From December to March the river is iced over and nothing is raised.

The classic time is the white nights, late May to mid-July: it’s still light at 1 am and half the city is out on the embankments. On some summer weekends Palace Bridge is raised to classical music in the Singing Bridges show. The catch: big crowds and pricey taxis.

September and October are quieter, and the floodlit bridge against a black sky is arguably more dramatic. November is cold and windy — 45 minutes by the water is a test — but you’ll have the railing to yourself.

Best places to watch the bridges open

  • Palace Embankment by the Hermitage — the postcard view: the bridge right in front of you, the Spit and the Peter and Paul spire behind. The busiest spot.
  • The Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, by the Rostral Columns — Palace Bridge against the Winter Palace, Trinity Bridge in the distance. Ideal if you’re staying on Vasilyevsky.
  • Admiralteyskaya Embankment, towards the Bronze Horseman — the raised leaves in profile and Blagoveshchensky Bridge further downstream. Fewer people.
  • The beach under the Peter and Paul Fortress walls — Palace and Trinity bridges from Hare Island. Good if your hotel is on the Petrograd Side.
  • From the water — a night boat shows you four or five bridges going up in one trip.

Is a night boat tour worth it?

A night cruise is the easiest way to see several bridges at once: in 1.5–3 hours the boat works its way along the Neva from Blagoveshchensky to Liteyny, and you watch each one lift from the water. Most leave around 0:30–1:00 from piers on the Admiralteyskaya and Palace embankments, the Fontanka and near Nevsky.

Prices depend on the boat, guide, season and day, and go up in the white nights. Book big July sailings a few days ahead. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards have not worked in Russia since March 2022, so sort out how you’ll pay — roubles in cash or a booking service that accepts your card — before you go.

Worth it? If you have one night in town and want the full show — yes. If Palace Bridge alone is enough, YesGo’s pick is the embankment: free, closer and no timetable to follow. Bear in mind you’ll be dropped back at the pier at 3–4 am, on one side of the river.

How to get to Palace Bridge

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On foot

More tips

  1. Take the metro to Admiralteyskaya (Line 5, purple) by 23:30 at the latest — stations close around midnight.
  2. Walk along Malaya Morskaya to Nevsky Prospekt and the Admiralty, then down Palace Passage between the Winter Palace and the Admiralty to the river — about 10 minutes.
  3. From Nevsky Prospekt (Line 2, blue) or Gostiny Dvor (Line 3, green), walk west along Nevsky Prospect past Palace Square to the Neva — 15–20 minutes.
  4. On Vasilyevsky Island, from Vasileostrovskaya (Line 3) walk along Birzhevaya Liniya to the Spit — 15–20 minutes, then 5 more to the bridge.
  5. Getting back: no metro until about 5:30. Walk on your own bank, or take a taxi — with all bridges up it has to detour over the non-opening Cable-Stayed Bridge or the WHSD toll road, which is long and expensive.

Bridge night checklist

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Embankment, the Spit or a boat?

Palace Embankmentyou are herePalace Bridge up closeFreeThe busiestYes, if you sleep on the islands45 min
Spit of VasilyevskyPalace Bridge with the Winter Palace, Trinity Bridge far offFreeLighterYes, if you sleep in the centre45 min
Night boat4–5 bridges in one nightTicket, varies by operatorYour own spot on deckBack at the pier at 3–4 am1.5–3 h

For a single night, YesGo suggests watching from your own bank: Palace Embankment if you sleep in the centre, the Spit if you sleep on Vasilyevsky. Take the boat if you want several bridges and no jostling.

St Petersburg at night: compare and choose

St Petersburg places that are at their best after dark, with their YesGo score. Tap a column header to sort.

Bronze Horseman7220 minFree11 min walk
Palace Square7130 minFree8 min walk
Nevsky Prospekt651 h 30 minFree11 min walk
Palace Bridge and the bridge openingsyou are here5345 minFree—
Mariinsky Theatre463 hPrice depends on the show32 min walk
Sevkabel Port381 hFree4.2 km

An evening ending at the bridge

Walk Nevsky in the evening, come out onto Palace Square, reach the Bronze Horseman by midnight and claim a spot at Palace Bridge by 0:45. YesGo works out the timings and walks.

  1. Nevsky Prospekt1 h 30 min · Free
  2. 5 min walk from the previous stopPalace Square30 min · Free
  3. 14 min walk from the previous stopBronze Horseman20 min · Free
  4. 11 min walk from the previous stopPalace Bridge and the bridge openingsyou are here45 min · Free from the embankment

4 places · about 3 h 35 min with walks · 30 min on foot in total

Go · my route

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Palace Square

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How to do it right

  • Sleeping in the centre — watch from Palace Embankment; on Vasilyevsky — from the Spit; on the Petrograd Side — from the Peter and Paul Fortress. Then you never need to cross.
  • Two bridges in one night on foot: Palace Bridge at 1:10, then a 10-minute walk down Admiralteyskaya Embankment and Blagoveshchensky is already up.
  • Film the lift rather than photograph it — five minutes go fast and moving leaves blur. A tripod helps, but the railing gets crowded.
  • Grab food and warm up on Nevsky Prospect before 1 am — there’s next to nothing open on the embankment.
  • Visit the Peter and Paul Fortress by day — at night you’ll be looking at it across the water.
  • Going for the Singing Bridges show? Check this season’s dates — it runs on summer weekends, but the schedule changes.

Questions

What time do the bridges open in St Petersburg?

Between about 1 am and 5 am. On the Mostotrest timetable for 29.10.2026 Palace Bridge is up 1:10–2:50 and 3:10–4:55, Trinity Bridge 1:20–4:50, Blagoveshchensky 1:25–2:45 and 3:10–5:00. Check the official timetable on the day.

When is the bridge-raising season?

Roughly April to November, while the Neva is free of ice. For 2026 travel guides give 10 April – 30 November. In winter the bridges stay down.

Is it free to watch the bridges open?

Yes — from the embankments it costs nothing and needs no ticket. You pay only for a night boat tour.

Where is the best place to watch Palace Bridge open?

Palace Embankment by the Hermitage for the classic view, the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island for the bridge against the Winter Palace, or Admiralteyskaya Embankment for fewer people. Pick the bank your hotel is on.

How long does the bridge opening take?

The leaves rise in about five minutes. Allow 45 minutes in all: arrive by 0:45, find a spot and watch the lift at 1:10.

Is a bridge-opening boat tour worth it?

Yes if you want four or five bridges in one night. If Palace Bridge is enough, the embankment is free and closer. Bring a jacket — it’s cold on the water even in summer.

What if I get stuck on the wrong side?

Wait for the 2:50–3:10 gap when Palace Bridge is down, or until the bridges close at about 5 am and the metro reopens around 5:30. A taxi can detour over the Cable-Stayed Bridge, but it’s a long, costly ride.

Which metro station is closest to Palace Bridge?

Admiralteyskaya on Line 5 (purple), about 10 minutes on foot. Remember the metro closes around midnight, before the bridges go up.

Is it worth seeing the bridges in October or November?

Yes — there are far fewer people and the floodlit bridge looks great against a dark sky. Dress for wind and cold; the season ends in late November.

When was Palace Bridge built?

Between 1911–12 and 1916 to a design by engineer Andrey Pshenitsky; it opened on 23 December 1916. In Soviet times it was called the Republican Bridge until 1944.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Official website of SPb GBU Mostotrest: bridge-raising timetable and the notice for the night of 30.10.2026
  • English and Russian Wikipedia: “Palace Bridge”; Wikidata Q148970
  • Znanie encyclopedia: “Palace Bridge”
  • Delovoy Peterburg: facts about St Petersburg’s drawbridges, 2025
  • Tonkosti and travelto.ru travel guides: bridge-raising times and the 2026 season
  • Peterburgsky Dnevnik and KudaSpb: the Singing Bridges show, 2026 season
  • Visa and Mastercard statements on suspending operations in Russia, March 2022
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 29.10.2026 ·
How we checkedRaising times come from the official Mostotrest timetable on 29.10.2026; it changes for holidays and repairs, so we show it with a date. The 2026 season dates (10 April – 30 November) appear only in travel guides, not in an official document, so that row is marked “verifying”. Guides give metro closing times from 0:00 to 0:45 depending on the station, so we say “around midnight” and mark it “verifying”. Sources disagree on the bridge’s length (250, 255, 260 and 267.5 m) — we give 260 m, as in English Wikipedia and the Russian infobox. Construction began in 1911 (Russian Wikipedia) or 1912 (English Wikipedia), hence “1911–12”. The year it became the Republican Bridge differs (1917 or 1918); both encyclopedias agree the old name returned in 1944. Sources disagree on the days of the Singing Bridges show for 2026, so we give no timetable. We list no boat prices: they vary by operator and season. Walking times are our estimate from the map.

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