# Palace Bridge, St Petersburg > Palace Bridge is the star of St Petersburg’s night bridge openings, spanning the Neva between the Hermitage and Vasilyevsky Island. From about April to November it rises nightly: 1:10–2:50 and 3:10–4:55 on the official Mostotrest timetable. Watching from the embankment is free and the lift takes five minutes. Arrive by 0:45 and allow 45 minutes — the metro is already closed. Web page: https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/palace-bridge - City: [St Petersburg](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg), Russia - YesGo score: 53/100 (Yes, go) - Time on site: 45 min - Entry: Free from the embankment - Opening 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 - 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) - Gap between openings: 2:50–3:10 — bridge down, you can cross - Blagoveshchensky Bridge: 1:25–2:45 and 3:10–5:00 - Trinity (Troitsky) Bridge: 1:20–4:50 - Season: 2026: 10 April – 30 November; side channels 20 April – 15 November - Metro: Stations close around midnight and reopen around 5:30 - Nearest metro: Admiralteyskaya (Line 5, purple) — about 10 min on foot - Night boat tours: 1.5–3 hours; prices vary by operator - Paying: Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards don’t work in Russia - Coordinates: 59.94111, 30.30848 - Facts checked: 29.10.2026 ## Key facts - **1:10 am** — Palace Bridge is the first Neva bridge to go up on the nightly timetable (source: Official website of SPb GBU Mostotrest, raising timetable, 29.10.2026; Tonkosti travel guide) - **April–November** — the raising season: in winter the Neva freezes and shipping stops (source: Tonkosti and travelto.ru travel guides; Delovoy Peterburg) - **23 Dec 1916** — the bridge opened to traffic (source: English and Russian Wikipedia, “Palace Bridge”) - **9 bridges** — over the Neva and Bolshaya Neva are raised on a timetable; three more open on request (source: Official website of SPb GBU Mostotrest; Tonkosti travel guide; Delovoy Peterburg (12 crossings)) - **5 spans** — the middle one is the two-leaf bascule span (source: English and Russian Wikipedia, “Palace Bridge”) - **≈ 260 m** — long and about 28 m wide (source: English Wikipedia (260.1 m, 27.8 m); Russian Wikipedia (260 m, 27.7 m)) - **Andrey Pshenitsky** — the engineer who designed the bridge (source: English and Russian Wikipedia, “Palace Bridge”) - **≈ 5 min** — to raise the leaves — and the same to lower them (source: Mostotrest quoted by Delovoy Peterburg; Tonkosti travel guide) - **1944** — the name Palace Bridge returned; in Soviet years it was the Republican Bridge (source: Russian Wikipedia, “Palace Bridge”; Znanie encyclopedia) - **Since 2016** — on some summer weekends the bridge is raised to music — the Singing Bridges show (source: Peterburgsky Dnevnik; KudaSpb) > **After 1 am you can’t cross the river** Traffic on Palace Bridge stops about 10 minutes before it rises, and the metro closes around midnight. If your hotel is on Vasilyevsky Island or the Petrograd Side and you watch from the Hermitage side, you’re stuck until 2:50 or until about 5 am. Pick your viewpoint on the same bank as your bed. ## 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](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/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 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](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/nevsky-prospect) past [Palace Square](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/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 - [ ] Checked today’s Mostotrest timetable — is Palace Bridge opening, and when - [ ] Watching from the same bank as my hotel - [ ] In the centre before the metro closes - [ ] Warm jacket — the river is windy at night, even in July - [ ] Charged phone for photos and a taxi - [ ] I know the 2:50–3:10 gap if I need to cross back - [ ] Boat ticket booked ahead for white nights ## Embankment, the Spit or a boat? | | Palace Embankment | Spit of Vasilyevsky | Night boat | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What you see | Palace Bridge up close | Palace Bridge with the Winter Palace, Trinity Bridge far off | 4–5 bridges in one night | | Cost | Free | Free | Ticket, varies by operator | | Crowds | The busiest | Lighter | Your own spot on deck | | Risk of getting stuck | Yes, if you sleep on the islands | Yes, if you sleep in the centre | Back at the pier at 3–4 am | | Time | 45 min | 45 min | 1.5–3 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. - [Bronze Horseman](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/bronze-horseman) — YesGo score 72/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free - [Palace Square](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/palace-square) — YesGo score 71/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free - [Nevsky Prospekt](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/nevsky-prospect) — YesGo score 65/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Free - [Palace Bridge and the bridge openings](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/palace-bridge) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 45 min · Free from the embankment - [Mariinsky Theatre](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/mariinsky-theatre) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · Price depends on the show - [Sevkabel Port](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/sevkabel-port) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free ## 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 Prospekt](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/nevsky-prospect) — YesGo score 65/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Free 2. [Palace Square](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/palace-square) — YesGo score 71/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Free 3. [Bronze Horseman](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/bronze-horseman) — YesGo score 72/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free 4. [Palace Bridge and the bridge openings](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/palace-bridge) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 45 min · Free from the embankment > **Walk across it by day too** Crossing Palace Bridge on foot takes about five minutes, and from the middle you get the whole river: the Winter Palace, the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Spit. After the [Hermitage](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/hermitage), cross to Vasilyevsky — the [Kunstkamera](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/kunstkamera) is right at the far end. ## Good to know Palace Bridge doesn’t start on Palace Square itself but just behind the Winter Palace, on Palace Embankment. The little Singers’ Bridge over the Moika by the square is a different bridge and isn’t raised. ## Tips - 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](https://yesgo.io/russia/saint-petersburg/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. ## How we checked Raising 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. ## Sources - 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 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.