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Summer Garden, St Petersburg

The main avenue of the Summer Garden in St Petersburg, lined with marble statues and old trees
Photo: Игорь Гордеев, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Hours
Oct–Mar 10:00–20:00, May–Sep 10:00–22:00; closed Tuesdays and all of April; last entry 30 min before closing
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
1 h
With kids
Fine with kids
Winter hours
October–March: 10:00–20:00, closed Tuesdays
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Summer hours
May–September: 10:00–22:00, closed Tuesdays
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Tuesday
Closed every week for garden and fountain maintenance
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
April
Closed all month while the paths dry out; reopens 1 May (as in 2024–2026; 2027 dates not yet announced)
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Last entry
30 minutes before closing
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
High winds
The garden closes to visitors
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Summer Palace of Peter I
Closed 1 October 2026 – 30 April 2027; in season, paid entry by timed session
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Metro
Nevsky Prospekt, Gostiny Dvor or Chernyshevskaya — 15–25 min on foot
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Not allowed
Smoking, bikes and scooters; no pets or roller skates
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Coordinates
59.94472, 30.33556YesGo MapGoogleAppleYandex

Key facts

1704Peter the Great founded the garden by his summer residence — the city’s oldest
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian Wikipedia, “Summer Garden”Encyclopedia of Saint Petersburg
90 copiesof the marble statues and busts stand outdoors; the originals are in St Michael’s Castle
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian Wikipedia, “Summer Garden”Fontanka, 2025
Tuesdaysclosed every week — and for the whole of April
2 sourcesOfficial Russian Museum websiteGardens of Saint Petersburg website
Domenico Trezzinidesigned the stone Summer Palace of Peter I, built in the 1710s
2 sourcesRussian Wikipedia, “Summer Garden”Peterburg2 guide
1771–1784the Neva railing was built; the design is attributed to Yury Felten
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaEnglish Wikipedia, “Summer Garden”
1777a flood destroyed the original fountains and many of the trees
2 sourcesRussian Wikipedia, “Summer Garden”Peterburg2 guide
1826Carlo Rossi built the Coffee House on the site of the Grotto
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaEnglish Wikipedia (Grotto rebuilt in the 1820s)
1839the Porphyry Vase, a gift from King Charles XIV John of Sweden, was placed by the Carp Pond
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia, “Summer Garden”
1855Pyotr Klodt’s monument to the fabulist Ivan Krylov was unveiled
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia, “Summer Garden”
2012the garden reopened after the 2009–2011 restoration, with its fountains rebuilt
2 sourcesRussian Wikipedia, “Summer Garden”Fontanka, 2025

Is the Summer Garden free?

Yes — the garden itself is free, every day it’s open, with no ticket or booking. You only pay for the Summer Palace of Peter the Great inside the grounds and for guided walks run by the Russian Museum.

Palace tickets are sold at the palace box office and on the Russian Museum’s official website, for timed sessions in small groups. If you buy them, bring roubles or a Russian card: Visa and Mastercard cards issued abroad have not worked in Russia since March 2022. For the garden itself you don’t need to pay anything.

Summer Garden opening hours

From October to March the garden is open 10:00–20:00; from May to September, 10:00–22:00. It is closed every Tuesday and for all of April. The gates stop letting people in 30 minutes before closing — so 19:30 in winter, 21:30 in summer.

The Summer Palace keeps its own season: for 2026/27 it is closed from 1 October 2026 to 30 April 2027. During that time you can walk round it but not go inside.

Is the Summer Garden worth visiting?

Yes, if you’re in the centre anyway — it costs nothing, takes under an hour and gives you a break between big museums. The garden is formal and calm rather than grand: neat avenues, clipped hedges, white statues of gods and emperors, and the Fontanka on one side.

It is not a destination worth crossing the city for in winter. From mid-October the statues disappear into wooden boxes and the fountains are off. If you want fountains on a big scale, give half a day to Peterhof instead; the Summer Garden is the quiet, central alternative.

What to see in the Summer Garden

  • The main avenue running north to the Neva, lined on both sides with marble statues and busts — mythological figures, allegories and Roman emperors.
  • The Neva railing — granite columns topped with urns and a wrought-iron grille; see it from the embankment side.
  • The Summer Palace of Peter the Great — a small two-storey house by Trezzini in the north-east corner, one of the oldest buildings in the city.
  • Peace and Victory, the sculpture group between the palace and the river, celebrating the 1721 peace with Sweden — one of the few originals still outdoors.
  • The fountains — eight rebuilt in Peter’s style, hidden in hedged garden rooms, running from May to September.
  • The Krylov monument by Klodt, with animals from his fables around the base — a hit with children.
  • The Carp Pond and the Porphyry Vase by the south gate, with Rossi’s Coffee House and the Tea House nearby.

How to get to the Summer Garden

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On foot

More tips

  1. From Palace Square, walk 15–20 minutes east along Millionnaya Street or the Neva embankment to the north gate by the railing.
  2. By metro: Nevsky Prospekt (line 2) or Gostiny Dvor (line 3), then walk up Sadovaya Street past St Michael’s Castle to the south gate — 15–20 minutes.
  3. From Chernyshevskaya (line 1) it’s about 20–25 minutes on foot via Liteyny Prospekt and the Fontanka.
  4. From the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood it’s 7–10 minutes across the Field of Mars.
  5. Don’t drive: parking in the centre is paid and scarce, and the metro is quicker.

How long do you need?

Forty minutes to an hour is enough to walk the main avenue, find the fountains and see the palace from outside. Add about an hour in summer if you go inside the Summer Palace.

Mornings on weekdays are the quietest. Summer evenings are lovely during the White Nights, when it stays light almost until the 22:00 closing — but weekends get busy around the fountains.

The Summer Garden in autumn and winter

Late September and early October are the most photogenic weeks: the limes and maples turn yellow while the statues are still uncovered. Usually in the second half of October staff wrap the marble in cloth and wooden cases, which stay on until spring.

In winter the garden is open but stripped back — rows of boxes, snowy paths and dark by about 16:00. Fine for a quiet walk to the Fontanka, not for the statues.

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Summer Garden vs Mikhailovsky Garden vs Peterhof’s Lower Park

Summer Gardenyou are herePeter the Great’s formal garden with statues and his palaceCentre, on the NevaFreeClosed40–60 min
Mikhailovsky GardenLandscape garden behind the Russian MuseumCentre, next doorFreeClosed20–30 min
Peterhof Lower ParkFountain park on the Gulf of FinlandOut of town, ≈ 1 h awayPaidFountains offHalf a day

The Summer Garden is a short free walk between the big central museums. For fountains on a grand scale, spend half a day at Peterhof.

St Petersburg’s historic sights compared

Every historic place in St Petersburg rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

State Hermitage Museum763 h500–1,200 ₽23 min walk
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood7545 min700 ₽, under 7 free11 min walk
Peter and Paul Fortress742 hGrounds free, cathedral 1,000 ₽21 min walk
Kazan Cathedral7230 minFree23 min walk
Bronze Horseman7220 minFree36 min walk
Palace Square7130 minFree22 min walk
St Isaac's Cathedral691 h700 ₽, colonnade 700 ₽35 min walk
Cruiser Aurora671 h1,000 ₽ for foreign visitors21 min walk
Nevsky Prospekt651 h 30 minFree25 min walk
Mikhailovsky Castle541 h 30 min≈ 700 ₽9 min walk
Kunstkamera501 h 30 min500 ₽31 min walk
Peterhof504 hLower Park from 2,000 ₽ for foreign visitors24.6 km
Kronstadt494 hFree31.5 km
New Holland Island481 hFree3.1 km
Alexander Nevsky Lavra481 hFree4.0 km
Griboyedov Canal4830 minFree25 min walk
Yusupov Palace on the Moika471 h 30 minfrom 950 ₽2.7 km
Summer Gardenyou are here461 hFree—
Mariinsky Theatre463 hPrice depends on the show3.1 km
State Russian Museum442 h 30 minfrom 700 ₽12 min walk
Catherine Palace373 h2,200 ₽ for foreign visitors25.7 km
Fabergé Museum361 h 30 min700 ₽21 min walk
Zoological Museum361 h 30 min700 ₽29 min walk
Oranienbaum283 hPark 1,100 ₽, palace 1,800 ₽32.7 km
Pavlovsk Palace and Park203 hPalace 800 ₽, park 300 ₽29.5 km

The Summer Garden and the centre in half a day

Start at the Russian Museum, walk to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood and St Michael’s Castle, stroll through the Summer Garden from the south gate to the Neva, then cross Trinity Bridge to the Peter and Paul Fortress. Add them to your route in one tap — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. State Russian Museum2 h 30 min · from 700 ₽
  2. 4 min walk from the previous stopChurch of the Savior on Spilled Blood45 min · 700 ₽, under 7 free
  3. 9 min walk from the previous stopMikhailovsky Castle1 h 30 min · ≈ 700 ₽
  4. 9 min walk from the previous stopSummer Gardenyou are here1 h · Free
  5. 21 min walk from the previous stopPeter and Paul Fortress2 h · Grounds free, cathedral 1,000 ₽

5 places · about 8 h 28 min with walks · 43 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Mikhailovsky Castle

St Petersburg, Russia

1 h 30 min · ≈ 700 ₽ · 9 min walk

State Russian Museum

St Petersburg, Russia

2 h 30 min · from 700 ₽ · 12 min walk

Fabergé Museum

St Petersburg, Russia

1 h 30 min · 700 ₽ · 21 min walk

How to do it right

  • In 40 minutes: south gate → Carp Pond and Porphyry Vase → main avenue → fountains → Summer Palace from outside → the Neva railing.
  • Weekday mornings are best for photos of the statues without crowds.
  • With kids, head for the Krylov monument and spot the animals from the fables on its base.
  • From the garden, cross the Field of Mars to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood or take Trinity Bridge to the Peter and Paul Fortress.
  • Want to know who the statues are? Take a guided walk — without the stories they’re just pretty white figures.
  • If it’s stormy, swap the garden for a museum: it closes in high winds.

Questions

Is the Summer Garden in St Petersburg free?

Yes, entry to the garden is free. Only the Summer Palace of Peter the Great and guided tours cost extra.

What are the Summer Garden opening hours?

10:00–20:00 from October to March and 10:00–22:00 from May to September, every day except Tuesday. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing.

Is the Summer Garden open in April?

No. It closes every April while the paths dry out and reopens on 1 May, when the fountains start.

Is the Summer Garden open on Tuesday?

No, Tuesday is the weekly closing day for maintenance.

How do I get to the Summer Garden by metro?

Get off at Nevsky Prospekt or Gostiny Dvor and walk 15–20 minutes up Sadovaya Street to the south gate, or from Chernyshevskaya in about 20–25 minutes.

Are the statues in the Summer Garden original?

Mostly not: the originals were moved into St Michael’s Castle and copies stand outdoors. The Peace and Victory group by the palace is one of the originals still in the garden.

Can you go inside the Summer Palace of Peter the Great?

Yes, in season, with a paid timed ticket. It is closed from 1 October 2026 to 30 April 2027.

Is the Summer Garden worth visiting in winter?

Only for a quiet walk. From mid-October the statues are boxed up and the fountains are off until May.

How long should I spend in the Summer Garden?

About 40–60 minutes for a walk, or around an hour and a half in summer if you add the Summer Palace.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Official Russian Museum website: Summer Garden and Summer Palace of Peter I pages, tickets and visitor information, 29.10.2026
  • Gardens of Saint Petersburg website: Summer Garden opening times, 29.10.2026
  • Russian Museum press service via KudaGo and Delovoy Peterburg: spring closure 1 April – 1 May, 2024
  • Peterburg2: Summer Garden and Summer Palace reopen after winter, 03.05.2026; Summer Garden guide page
  • English and Russian Wikipedia: Summer Garden; Wikidata Q1229234
  • Encyclopedia of Saint Petersburg: Summer Garden
  • Fontanka: winter covering of the Summer Garden statues, 2024 and 2025
  • Visa and Mastercard statements on suspending operations in Russia, March 2022
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 29.10.2026 ·
How we checkedWinter hours, the Tuesday closure, last entry, rules and metro stations come from the official Russian Museum website. Summer hours (10:00–22:00) and the April closure come from the Gardens of Saint Petersburg website and the museum’s press releases from previous years; 2027 dates aren’t announced yet, so those rows are marked “verifying”. The museum site lists no fee for the garden and every guide we checked says entry is free — that row is marked “verifying” as well. The Summer Palace closure from 1 October 2026 to 30 April 2027 is on the museum’s site; palace prices for the new season aren’t published, so we don’t quote them. Sources disagree on when the stone palace was finished (1712, 1714 or 1716), so we say “1710s”. The railing’s authorship is disputed, so we say it is attributed to Felten. Walking times are our estimate from the map.

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State Hermitage Museum

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3 h · 500–1,200 ₽

Peter and Paul Fortress

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2 h · Grounds free, cathedral 1,000 ₽

Kazan Cathedral

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30 min · Free

Bronze Horseman

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Palace Square

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St Isaac's Cathedral

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