St Petersburg with kids: an itinerary for the day
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 2 of 4 free; paid: Peter and Paul Fortress, Zoological Museum
- Duration
- 6 h 50 min · 09:30–16:20
- Start and finish
- Peter and Paul Fortress → New Holland Island
- On foot
- ≈ 30 min in total
- Transport
- 1 ride, ≈ 20 min
- Lunch
- around 13:18
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- May to September. On Wednesdays the fortress museums are closed — the grounds are open, but not the cathedral.
The plan, stop by stop
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
St Petersburg09:30–16:20 · 4 places · 6 h 50 min
Peter and Paul Fortress
· 2 h · Grounds free, cathedral 1,000 ₽
- 18 min on foot
Zoological Museum
· 1 h 30 min · 700 ₽
- Lunch · 1 h
- 12 min on foot
Palace Square
· 30 min · Free
- 20 min · transport or taxi
New Holland Island
· 1 h · Free
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
2 of 4 are free; 2 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Peter and Paul Fortress | 74 | 2 h | Grounds free, cathedral 1,000 ₽ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Zoological Museum | 36 | 1 h 30 min | 700 ₽ |
| 3 | Palace Square | 71 | 30 min | Free |
| 4 | New Holland Island | 48 | 1 h | Free |
| Total | 5 h | 2 of 4 free |
Tips for each stop
- 1
Peter and Paul Fortress. Start at the fortress: the grounds are free, inside the walls from 9:50. The cathedral is free under 7; museums closed on Wednesdays.
- 2
Zoological Museum. A blue-whale skeleton, baby mammoths and the Berezovka mammoth. 700 ₽, schoolchildren 400 ₽; opens at 11:00, closed on Tuesdays.
- 3
Palace Square. Open space between the Winter Palace and the General Staff arch, with the Alexander Column in the middle. Half an hour.
- 4
New Holland Island. Lawns, playgrounds and cafés on the island — free. A good place to end the day.
Who this route is for
- Families with children aged 4–5 and up
- One day in St Petersburg
- On foot and by transport
- Tuesday — the Zoological Museum is closed
- The long Hermitage visit suits older children; it is not in this plan
May to September. On Wednesdays the fortress museums are closed — the grounds are open, but not the cathedral.
Things to do in St Petersburg with kids
We picked places where children do not get bored: a fortress with walls to walk and the Neva to watch, a museum of skeletons and stuffed animals, a big square and an island park. No long picture galleries.
From the fortress to the Zoological Museum is about 20 minutes on foot over the Birzhevoy Bridge, then over the Palace Bridge to Palace Square. To New Holland take a taxi or bus.
More family activities in St Petersburg
The Kunstkamera is next to the Zoological Museum but suits older children. The museum ship Aurora, with guns on deck, is open Wednesday to Sunday and free under 7.
With a toddler
Palace Square, New Holland and the fortress grounds are easiest with a buggy. Museums have stairs — keep the Zoological Museum to the main hall with the whale.
St Petersburg with kids in winter
In winter the Zoological Museum is the warm heart of the day, and New Holland floods an ice rink. It is windy on the Neva — dress warmly for the fortress.
How to do it right
- The Zoological Museum is closed on Tuesdays, and from September to May also on the second Wednesday of the month.
- Under-7s visit the fortress cathedral free.
- No pets in the fortress except guide dogs.
- The Hermitage is free for under-14s — add it for older children.
- New Holland is open until 22:00, at weekends until 23:00.
Questions
What to do in St Petersburg with kids?
The Peter and Paul Fortress, the Zoological Museum, Palace Square and New Holland.
Is St Petersburg good for families?
Yes: a fortress by the river, a museum of skeletons, open squares and free island parks.
How much is the Zoological Museum?
700 ₽, schoolchildren 400 ₽; closed on Tuesdays.
Is the Peter and Paul Fortress free?
The grounds are; the cathedral is free under 7.
Is the Hermitage free for children?
Yes, every day for under-14s.
Can I use a buggy?
On Palace Square, in New Holland and on the fortress grounds, yes.
Can kids visit the Aurora?
Yes, Wednesday to Sunday; free under 7.
What to do with kids in winter?
The Zoological Museum and the ice rink in New Holland.
Is New Holland free?
Yes, with lawns, playgrounds and cafés.
How do I pay in Russia?
Russia uses the rouble (₽). Bank cards issued abroad usually do not work in Russia — plan how you will pay before the trip; for the metro, buy a Troika card at the ticket office.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- State Hermitage Museum: hours, tickets, sessions
- Peterhof State Museum-Reserve: Lower Park, Grand Palace, Oranienbaum — hours and prices
- Tsarskoye Selo and Pavlovsk State Museum-Reserves: hours and tickets
- Museum of the History of St Petersburg: Peter and Paul Fortress
- St Petersburg Metro; suburban trains from the Baltiysky and Vitebsky stations
- Zoological Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences: hours and tickets
