Zoological Museum
St Petersburg, Russia
Peter and Paul Fortress, St Petersburg
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Photo: Godot13, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Ticket desks
- Ioannovsky Ravelin 10:00–17:00, Boat House 10:00–17:30; closed Wed
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Hours
- Grounds daily: island 6:00–20:30, inside the walls 9:50–19:30; cathedral and prison from 10:00 to 18:00, exhibitions 11:00–18:00, an hour shorter on Tuesdays; museums closed on Wednesdays
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 2 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Grounds
- Free for everyone
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Hare Island
- Entry daily 6:00–20:30, fully closed at 21:00
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Inside the fortress walls
- Entry daily 9:50–19:30, fully closed at 20:00
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Peter and Paul Cathedral
- Mon, Thu, Fri 10:00–18:00, Sat 10:00–17:45, Sun 11:00–18:00, Tue 10:00–17:00, closed Wed; may change on service days
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Trubetskoy Bastion prison
- 10:00–18:00, Tue 10:00–17:00, closed Wed; last entry 30 min before closing
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Exhibitions & space museum
- 11:00–18:00, Tue 11:00–17:00, closed Wed
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Combined ticket
- 1,500 ₽ — valid 3 days, includes a 1.5-hour guided tour, excludes the bell tower
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Cathedral & Grand Ducal Burial Vault
- 1,000 ₽
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Trubetskoy Bastion prison
- 500 ₽
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Bell tower
- 500 ₽, guided tour only
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Neva Panorama wall walk
- 400 ₽ on the price list, but the Neva walls are closed for restoration — ask at the ticket desk
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Free
- Children up to 7
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Audio guide
- 750 ₽ plus a 3,000 ₽ deposit
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Metro
- Gorkovskaya, ≈ 10 min walk to the Ioannovsky Bridge
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Not allowed
- Pets of any size (guide dogs excepted)
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
27 May 1703the fortress was founded — counted as St Petersburg’s birthday
2 sourcesi
English and Russian Wikipedia, “Peter and Paul Fortress”Wikidata Q38646122.5 mheight of the cathedral bell tower with its spire and angel
2 sourcesi
English Wikipedia, “Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral”Tonkosti travel guideThe tsarsalmost every emperor from Peter the Great to Alexander III, plus Nicholas II — not Peter II or Ivan VI
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English Wikipedia, “Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral”Sputnik8 guideDomenico Trezzinithe Swiss-Italian architect of the fortress and cathedral
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Official website of the State Museum of the History of St PetersburgEnglish and Russian Wikipedia6 bastionsnamed after Peter the Great and five of his closest men
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Russian Wikipedia, “Peter and Paul Fortress”Advantour guideCalend.ru1873the noon cannon has fired from the fortress since this year
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English and Russian Wikipedia, “Peter and Paul Fortress”1872–1921the Trubetskoy Bastion prison held inmates; 69 solitary cells
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Official website of the State Museum of the History of St PetersburgRussian Wikipedia1924the fortress became a museum
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English and Russian Wikipedia, “Peter and Paul Fortress”1998Nicholas II and his family were buried in the cathedral
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English Wikipedia, “Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral”Russian Wikipedia1991Mikhail Shemyakin’s seated Peter the Great was unveiled
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English Wikipedia, “Monument to Peter I (Peter and Paul Fortress)”Russian Wikipedia28 hathe area of Hare Island
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Russian Wikipedia, “Peter and Paul Fortress”Travelto guidePeter and Paul Fortress tickets and prices
Walking around the fortress is free. You only pay for the museums inside. The combined ticket costs 1,500 ₽ and covers the cathedral and Grand Ducal Burial Vault, the Trubetskoy Bastion prison, the Museum of Cosmonautics and Rocket Technology, four exhibitions and a casemate, plus a 1.5-hour guided tour. It is valid for three calendar days, one visit per sight.
Single tickets: cathedral 1,000 ₽, prison 500 ₽, the city history exhibition 450 ₽, the space museum 400 ₽, other exhibitions 350 ₽ each. The bell tower is guided-tour only, 500 ₽, and isn’t in the combined ticket. Student and pensioner discounts apply to Russian citizens; children up to 7 go free.
Buy at the ticket desks in the Ioannovsky Ravelin and the Boat House or on the website of the State Museum of the History of St Petersburg. E-tickets work on your phone screen; same-day online sales stop at 16:00. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards don’t work in Russia (since March 2022), and the fortress has a card-only desk on Cathedral Square — bring roubles in cash or buy with a Russian card or Mir.
Which to pick: on a first visit with more than two hours, the combined ticket pays off with the cathedral and prison alone and gives you the tour. Short on time? Just do the cathedral.
Opening hours
The grounds open every day, all year. Hare Island lets people in from 6:00 to 20:30 and closes at 21:00; the area inside the walls is open 9:50–19:30 and closes at 20:00.
The cathedral opens Monday, Thursday and Friday 10:00–18:00, Saturday 10:00–17:45, Sunday 11:00–18:00 and Tuesday 10:00–17:00. The prison runs 10:00–18:00, Tuesday to 17:00, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. Exhibitions and the space museum open 11:00–18:00.
Every museum in the fortress is closed on Wednesdays. You can still walk the grounds, but nothing inside is open — plan your fortress day for any other day of the week.
Is the Peter and Paul Fortress worth visiting?
Yes. This is where St Petersburg was born, and it ranks with the Hermitage and St Isaac’s Cathedral on any first visit. The free walk alone gets you the golden spire up close, the gates, the odd Peter the Great statue and river views from the Commandant’s Pier.
The cathedral is the reason to pay: it is the burial place of the Romanov emperors, with a bright, Baroque interior unlike any church in Moscow. The prison is the most memorable hour for anyone into Russian history.
To be honest about now: with the river walls and beach closed, the fortress has lost its best viewpoints. Don’t come only for the panorama — the classic view of the fortress is from the Palace Embankment or the Palace Bridge anyway.
What to see inside the fortress
- Peter and Paul Cathedral — the tombs of the tsars, the carved gilded iconostasis and the 122.5 m spire.
- Grand Ducal Burial Vault next door, built in the early 20th century for members of the imperial family (same ticket).
- Trubetskoy Bastion prison — solitary cells that held Kropotkin, Gorky and Trotsky.
- Shemyakin’s Peter the Great — a seated tsar with a tiny head and long fingers, opposite the guardhouse.
- St Peter’s Gate with the double-headed eagle, the fortress’s ceremonial entrance.
- The Mint — a late-18th-century building that still strikes coins, so you only see it from outside.
- The Boat House, built for Peter’s little boat, the “grandfather of the Russian navy”.
- Museum of Cosmonautics and Rocket Technology in the Ioannovsky Ravelin — good with kids.
- The hares — small hare sculptures near the bridges, a nod to Hare Island’s name.
Who is buried in Peter and Paul Cathedral?
Almost every Russian emperor and empress from Peter the Great to Alexander III. The two exceptions: Peter II, buried in the Moscow Kremlin, and Ivan VI, whose grave is unknown.
In July 1998 the remains of Nicholas II, his wife and children were buried in a side chapel.
What time is the noon cannon fired?
Every day at exactly 12:00. A blank shot marks midday — locals once set their watches by it — and it has fired from the fortress since 1873.
The guns normally stand on the Naryshkin Bastion, but during the facade restoration they were moved to the Sovereign’s Bastion. Both bastions are currently off-limits, so listen from Cathedral Square or the embankment across the river — you’ll hear it clearly.
How to get to the Peter and Paul Fortress
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Zoological Museum is about 25 min away on foot.
- Palace Bridge and the bridge openings is about 25 min away on foot.
More tips
- Take the metro to Gorkovskaya (blue Line 2), walk through Alexandrovsky Park to the wooden Ioannovsky Bridge — about 10 minutes. From Nevsky Prospekt station it is one stop.
- On foot from Palace Square: follow the Palace Embankment east to the Trinity Bridge (Troitsky most), cross the Neva and turn left to the Ioannovsky Bridge — 25–30 minutes, with the fortress in view the whole way.
- From Sportivnaya (purple Line 5) take tram 6 or 40; from Petrogradskaya take bus 46.
- Enter by the Ioannovsky Bridge and St John’s Gate. The Kronverksky Bridge is closed for repairs; a temporary bridge takes its place.
- In summer, river boats call at the Commandant’s Pier — it stays open during the restoration.
- Don’t drive: there is nowhere to park by the island, and tour coaches are banned from the Kronverksky Bridge.
How long do you need?
One hour for a free loop of the grounds. Add 30–40 minutes for the cathedral and about an hour for the prison. With the combined ticket and the guided tour, give it half a day.
Time it for 11:30: you’ll see the cathedral first and be on Cathedral Square for the noon shot.
Before you go: checklist
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Peter and Paul Fortress vs St Isaac’s Cathedral vs Kronstadt
| Peter and Paul Fortressyou are here | The city’s first fortress, tsars’ tombs, a prison | Grounds free, museums 350–1,500 ₽ | Centre, Gorkovskaya metro | Wednesday | 1–3 h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Isaac’s Cathedral | The city’s biggest cathedral with a rooftop colonnade | Paid | Centre, by the Admiralty | Own schedule | 1–1.5 h |
| Kronstadt | Island naval town in the Gulf of Finland | Town free, museums and forts extra | Out of town, about an hour away | Varies by museum | Half a day to a day |
Do the fortress first — the city starts here. For the view from above, climb the colonnade of St Isaac’s. Kronstadt is a day trip once the centre is done.
St Petersburg’s historic sights compared
Every historic place in St Petersburg rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| State Hermitage Museum | 76 | 3 h | 500–1,200 ₽ | 18 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood | 75 | 45 min | 700 ₽, under 7 free | 22 min walk |
| Peter and Paul Fortressyou are here | 74 | 2 h | Grounds free, cathedral 1,000 ₽ | — |
| Kazan Cathedral | 72 | 30 min | Free | 31 min walk |
| Bronze Horseman | 72 | 20 min | Free | 29 min walk |
| Palace Square | 71 | 30 min | Free | 21 min walk |
| St Isaac's Cathedral | 69 | 1 h | 700 ₽, colonnade 700 ₽ | 32 min walk |
| Cruiser Aurora | 67 | 1 h | 1,000 ₽ for foreign visitors | 23 min walk |
| Nevsky Prospekt | 65 | 1 h 30 min | Free | 26 min walk |
| Mikhailovsky Castle | 54 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ 700 ₽ | 27 min walk |
| Kunstkamera | 50 | 1 h 30 min | 500 ₽ | 20 min walk |
| Peterhof | 50 | 4 h | Lower Park from 2,000 ₽ for foreign visitors | 23.8 km |
| Kronstadt | 49 | 4 h | Free | 30.3 km |
| New Holland Island | 48 | 1 h | Free | 2.8 km |
| Alexander Nevsky Lavra | 48 | 1 h | Free | 5.1 km |
| Griboyedov Canal | 48 | 30 min | Free | 34 min walk |
| Yusupov Palace on the Moika | 47 | 1 h 30 min | from 950 ₽ | 43 min walk |
| Mariinsky Theatre | 46 | 3 h | Price depends on the show | 2.9 km |
| Summer Garden | 46 | 1 h | Free | 21 min walk |
| State Russian Museum | 44 | 2 h 30 min | from 700 ₽ | 27 min walk |
| Catherine Palace | 37 | 3 h | 2,200 ₽ for foreign visitors | 26.4 km |
| Fabergé Museum | 36 | 1 h 30 min | 700 ₽ | 39 min walk |
| Zoological Museum | 36 | 1 h 30 min | 700 ₽ | 18 min walk |
| Oranienbaum | 28 | 3 h | Park 1,100 ₽, palace 1,800 ₽ | 31.7 km |
| Pavlovsk Palace and Park | 20 | 3 h | Palace 800 ₽, park 300 ₽ | 30.4 km |
Petrograd Side and the Spit in a day
Start at the cruiser Aurora, walk the embankment to the fortress for the noon shot, cross the Birzhevoy Bridge to the Kunstkamera on Vasilyevsky Island, then the Palace Bridge to the Hermitage. Add them to your route in one tap — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Cruiser Aurora1 h · 1,000 ₽ for foreign visitors
- 23 min walk from the previous stopPeter and Paul Fortressyou are here2 h · Grounds free, cathedral 1,000 ₽
- 20 min walk from the previous stopKunstkamera1 h 30 min · 500 ₽
- 4 min walk from the previous stopPalace Bridge and the bridge openings45 min · Free from the embankment
- 5 min walk from the previous stopState Hermitage Museum3 h · 500–1,200 ₽
5 places · about 9 h 7 min with walks · 52 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
State Hermitage Museum
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Palace Bridge and the bridge openings
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Kunstkamera
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How to do it right
- Free in an hour: Ioannovsky Bridge → St John’s and St Peter’s gates → the cathedral from outside → Shemyakin’s Peter → the Mint → the Commandant’s Pier for the river view.
- In 2–3 hours: add the cathedral and the prison — or take the combined ticket and get the guided tour thrown in.
- Wednesday is a bad fortress day: spend it at the Hermitage or the Russian Museum instead.
- Afterwards, walk 15 minutes along the embankment to the cruiser Aurora or cross the Birzhevoy Bridge to the Kunstkamera.
- With kids: the space museum and a hare hunt around the island; children up to 7 get into museums free.
Questions
Is the Peter and Paul Fortress free?
Yes, the grounds are free. You pay for the sights inside: the cathedral is 1,000 ₽, the prison 500 ₽, and the combined ticket 1,500 ₽ for three days.
What are the opening hours?
The grounds open daily — the island 6:00–20:30, inside the walls 9:50–19:30. The cathedral and prison open at 10:00, exhibitions at 11:00, and close at 18:00 (17:00 on Tuesdays).
Is the Peter and Paul Fortress open on Wednesday?
The grounds are, but every museum inside, including the cathedral and the prison, is closed on Wednesdays.
How do I get to the Peter and Paul Fortress by metro?
Take the blue line to Gorkovskaya and walk through Alexandrovsky Park to the Ioannovsky Bridge, about 10 minutes. It is one stop from Nevsky Prospekt.
How long should I spend at the Peter and Paul Fortress?
An hour for the grounds, 2–3 hours with the cathedral and the prison, half a day with the combined ticket and guided tour.
Who is buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral?
Nearly all Russian emperors from Peter the Great to Alexander III, and since 1998 Nicholas II and his family. Peter II and Ivan VI are the exceptions.
What time does the cannon fire?
Every day at 12:00. During the restoration the guns fire from the Sovereign’s Bastion instead of the Naryshkin Bastion.
Can I pay by card?
Only with a Russian bank card or Mir: foreign Visa and Mastercard have not worked in Russia since March 2022. Bring roubles in cash.
Is the beach at the fortress open?
Not now. The Hare Island beach and the Neva-side walls are closed for restoration. Swimming in the Neva there isn’t allowed in any case.
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 the State Museum of the History of St Petersburg: opening hours, ticket prices, concessions, getting there, FAQ, Neva Panorama route, cathedral and Trubetskoy Bastion prison exhibition pages, 29.10.2026
- English and Russian Wikipedia: Peter and Paul Fortress, Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, Monument to Peter I (Peter and Paul Fortress); Wikidata Q38646
- Delovoy Peterburg: temporary move of the noon cannon to the Sovereign’s Bastion, 2025
- Tonkosti and Sputnik8 travel guides: Peter and Paul Cathedral
- Visa and Mastercard statements on suspending operations in Russia, March 2022
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