Quick answerSaint Petersburg is a city in Russia, with 5,601,911 people inside the city limits in 2021. The wider metropolitan area had about 6.4 million people in 2021. It is best known for the Hermitage Museum, the Winter Palace and the White Nights. Its official language is Russian, and its currency is the Russian ruble.
Saint Petersburg is Russia's second-largest city, with 5,601,911 people (2021 Census) and about 6.4 million in the wider agglomeration. Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, it stands on the Neva River delta and is home to the Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace.
Key facts
| Country | Russia |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 5,601,911 (2021) |
| Population (metro) | 6,421,000 (2021) · Saint Petersburg urban agglomeration (Institute of Urban Economics) |
| Elevation | 5 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Europe/Moscow |
| Language | Russian |
| Currency | Russian ruble (RUB, ₽) |
| Coordinates | 59.9375° N, 30.3086° E |
Overview
Saint Petersburg is Russia's second-largest city, with 5,601,911 people in the 2021 Census and about 6.4 million in the wider urban agglomeration. It stands on the delta of the Neva River where it meets the Gulf of Finland, in north-western Russia near the border with Finland. The city was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great and was the capital of the Russian Empire from 1713 until 1918.
Saint Petersburg is known for its grand avenues, canals and pale-coloured palaces, which have earned it the nickname 'Venice of the North'. Its best-known sights are the Winter Palace, home to the Hermitage Museum, the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood, St Isaac's Cathedral and the Peter and Paul Fortress. In summer the city is famous for its White Nights, when the sun barely sets.
Today Saint Petersburg is a major port, a centre of shipbuilding and industry, and Russia's cultural capital after Moscow, with the Mariinsky Theatre and many museums. The historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the palace and fountains of Peterhof stand just outside the city.
What Saint Petersburg is known for
- Hermitage Museum
- Winter Palace
- White Nights
- Canals
- Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood
- Peterhof
Landmarks
- Hermitage Museum and Winter Palace
- Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood
- Peter and Paul Fortress
- St Isaac's Cathedral
- Nevsky Prospekt
- Mariinsky Theatre
- Peterhof (nearby)
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Saint Petersburg?
About 5.6 million people live in Saint Petersburg (5,601,911 in the 2021 Census). The wider urban agglomeration had about 6.4 million people, according to the Institute of Urban Economics. That makes Saint Petersburg Russia's second-largest city, after Moscow. The city is about 700 kilometres north-west of Moscow.
Where is Saint Petersburg and what is it known for?
Saint Petersburg is in north-western Russia, on the Neva River delta where it meets the Gulf of Finland. It is famous for the Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace, its canals and palaces, the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood, and the White Nights of summer.
Quick quiz
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Keep exploring
- Russia — the country Saint Petersburg is in
- Moscow — another city in Russia
- Novosibirsk — another city in Russia
- Yekaterinburg — another city in Russia
- All cities in Russia
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.