St Petersburg Midnight Boat Cruise

St Petersburg: Raised Drawbridges Midnight Boat Cruise

Our tour will begin in the central Palace Square, next to the Alexander Column. From this emblematic monument, we'll head down to the banks of the Neva River for our boat trip under the open drawbridges of St Petersburg.

After boarding our boat, we'll set sail down the Neva, ready for two hours enjoying the beauty of the Russian city at night. One of the city's greatest engineering works is the Trinity Bridge, a viaduct that was built as a symbol of the friendship between Tsar Nicholas II's Russian Empire and an important European nation. Can you guess which one? At night, like the other drawbridges of St Petersburg, the platform opens up to allow merchant ships to pass through. Seeing the enormous bridge being lifted is quite the spectacle!

This midnight boat cruise of St Petersburg will allow us to approach one of the city's most iconic riverside buildings: the Imperial Academy of Arts. Guarding its imposing façade are two 3000-year-old sphinxes from Egypt. How do you think these sculptures got to Russia?

Continuing the boat trip along the Neva River, we'll sail towards the Fontanka and Moyka Rivers, from which we'll have a perfect view of St Petersburg in the splendour of its nighttime illuminations: the ideal place to learn all about the stories, mysteries and legends that surround the city. 

You'll enjoy your midnight cruise in total comfort: the boat has bathrooms, a cafeteria and blankets available for all passengers. In case of rain, you can take shelter on the upper deck, from which you will also enjoy excellent views of St. Petersburg and its bridges.

At the end of our two hour boat trip, we'll disembark on the banks of the Neva and we'll help you call a taxi for the return journey to your hotel.

Important information

This midnight boat cruise takes place between May and October at midnight because the drawbridges of St Petersburg only open at night during the summer. The rest of the day, they serve as bridges for cars, trains, trams, cyclists and pedestrians. It's therefore well worth going to bed a little later than usual on the day of the tour to enjoy the unique experience of watching the opening of the city's bridges, which are also beautifully lit.

Return Taxi Journey

During the opening of the bridges, it is not possible to cross the river. It's therefore very important that you tell us which hotel you're staying in in St Petersburg. Depending on its location, we'll tailor the route so that at the end of the tour you can return to your accommodation directly. The guide will help you call the taxi back after your cruise, and the cost is between 500 and 1,000 rubles.