The Right Bank of Saint Petersburg, Russia, refers to the northern bank of the Neva River and its delta, encompassing several key districts and islands that form the historic and cultural heart of the city. In contrast to the Left Bank (south of the Neva, including areas like the Admiralteysky District and Nevsky District), the Right Bank includes the Petrogradsky District, Vyborgsky District, Primorsky District, and parts of the Central District, along with islands such as Petrogradsky, Vasilievsky, Krestovsky, Yelagin, and Zayachy. This area is central to Saint Petersburg’s identity as Russia’s “Venice of the North,” featuring iconic landmarks like the Peter and Paul Fortress, Kunstkamera, Yelagin Palace, and the Aurora Cruiser, as well as industrial and residential zones like parts of the Vyborgsky District. The Right Bank’s history, architecture, and cultural significance reflect Saint Petersburg’s founding by Peter the Great in 1703, its imperial grandeur, revolutionary legacy, and modern vibrancy.
Metro
There are four metro stations in the area:
4
(Pravoberezhnaya) line Novocherkasskaya (under Zanevskaya square, formed
by the intersection of Zanevsky and Novocherkassky pr.); Be careful - at
the exit from the station, you can get confused, because it does not
have an elevated vestibule, but there are as many as 12 stairs leading
from underground in different directions from Zanevskaya Square.
4
(Pravoberezhnaya) line Ladozhskaya (near the Ladoga railway station on
Carl Faberge Square, formed by the intersection of Zanevsky and
Energetikov pr.);
4 (Pravoberezhnaya) line Prospekt Bolshevikov (at
the corner of Kollontai St. and Pyatiletok Ave.);
4 (Pravoberezhnaya)
line Dybenko Street (on the corner of Bolshevikov Ave. and Dybenko
Street).
By tram
Trams follow from the left bank: No. 7, No.
27, No. 23, No. 39 and No. 65
Through the Volodarsky bridge: No.
7, No. 27 and No. 39, and the final stops of both routes are Solidarity
Avenue, however, tram No. 7 goes across Dybenko Street with a stop at
the corresponding metro station, and tram No. 27 goes along Far East
Avenue to Kollontai Street, to which turns off, making a stop at 4
(Pravoberezhnaya) line Prospekt Bolshevikov. Tram number 39 continues
along Dalnevostochny Prospekt, passing into Novocherkassky and further
to Sredneokhtinsky, where it makes the final stop in front of the
Central Regional Library named after. N.V. Gogol.
Through the
Alexander Nevsky Bridge: No. 23 and No. 65. Their routes are also very
similar, however, tram No. 65 stops at 4 (Pravoberezhnaya) line
Prospekt Bolshevikov, and tram No. 65 stops at 4 (Pravoberezhnaya) line
Dybenko Street. The Coluo of both routes is on Solidarity Avenue.
By trolleybus
From the Finland Station to the corner of
Tovarishchesky Prospekt and Dybenko Street - No. 43
From Petrovsky
Island, through the city center to Malaya Okhta, with the final stop at
the corner of Stakhanovtsev and Tallinn streets - No. 7
From
Alexander Nevsky Square, across the Volodarsky Bridge to 4 (Right Bank)
Line Dybenko Street - No. 14
From Moscow Square, across the
Volodarsky bridge to 4 (Pravoberezhnaya) line Dybenko Street - No. 27
From Petrogradsky Island, through the city center and 4
(Pravoberezhnaya) line Ladozhskaya, with the final stop on Khasanskaya
street - No. 1
The route of trolley bus No. 22 is almost identical,
the only difference is that No. 22 leaves from Truda Square
Malaya Okhta
Historical area between the Neva, Okhta and Okkervil.
It was here during the Swedish rule that the city of Nyen, the fortress
of Nyenschanz, was located. Malaya Okhta is distinguished by a large
number of Stalinist buildings in the neoclassical style.
1 Memorial "Nyenschanz Fortress". Granite memorial in the form of a
bastion of a fortress with six cannons, which are directed towards the
Neva. There is also a memorial sign telling about the history of this
area.
2 Memorial sign to Joseph Brodsky, st. Stakhanovtsev, 19. A
small memorial sign with an engraved quote from the poem "From the
outskirts to the center" by Joseph Brodsky.
3 Utkina Dacha, Utkin
Prospekt, 2. A manor built in the style of classicism and located at the
floodplain of Okhta and Okkervili. The current main building of the
estate was built in the 1790s, the service building - in the 1820s. Over
its long history, the dacha has changed many owners: even before the
founding of St. Petersburg, it was owned by Colonel Okkervil, and Utkina
Dacha itself was called the Okkervil manor, then - the steward of Peter
I Neledinsky-Meletskaya, then - the head of the Secret Chancellery
Ushakov. As of 2022, under restoration; It is planned to use the estate
as a museum.
Due to the fact that a significant part of the
workers who originally lived in this area were Pomors-Old Believers by
origin, the first Old Believer cemetery in St. Petersburg was formed
here. Nowadays, an urn burial is allowed at the Malookhtinsky cemetery
(Novocherkassky pr., 8), but its historical part is in a state of
disrepair and is notorious - there are legends that footsteps, gnashing
and groans are periodically heard on it, and in the fifties grave
diggers were operating here. The cemetery has preserved ancient
tombstones and crypts.
Ilinskaya Sloboda
Historical area,
between the highway of the Revolution and the river Luppa. Its name
comes from the church of St. Elijah, which was built in the XVIII
century. Even in the era of Peter the Great, the settlement was
inhabited by workers from the Okhta gunpowder factories. The settlement
was located between the modern Revolution Highway, Kommuny Street,
Irinovsky Prospekt and Potapov Street.
4 Church of St. Elijah the
Prophet, Revolution Highway, 75 (Ilyinskaya Sloboda, 4). ☎
+7(812)527-38-37. The current temple, made in the style of classicism,
built and consecrated in 1785. However, initially, on the site of the
temple, there was a wooden church of the Prophet Elijah, built back in
1722 for workers in gunpowder factories. The church has a Sunday school.
Oktyabrskaya embankment
5 Kinovia, Oktyabrskaya emb. 18.
"Buff" theater, 22 Shaumyan ave. Mon: 13:00 - 18:00, Tue-Sun: 12:00 -
20:00. Music and Drama Theatre. The repertoire includes comedies,
musicals, children's performances on the "Buffik" stage. Positive
feedback and reviews.
Parks
This area of St. Petersburg is
rich in picturesque parks, squares and gardens.
Rzhevsky
(Porohovsky) forest park , Lesoparkovaya street. The forest park has a
huge area and is a popular place for walking among locals.
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to maintain such a huge area in
proper condition - many trails are not well maintained and the ditches
are not cleared. However, this does not prevent the park from attracting
travelers who want to find peace and unity with nature.
If you want to make purchases in the store - you will not have
problems finding the store. The area abounds with a large number of
so-called "yard shops", however, there are also enough hypermarkets with
supermarkets. Below is a list of hypermarkets:
1 Auchan, 12 km
Murmansk highway (delivery from the metro station "Ulitsa Dybenko"). ☎
+7 (812) 448-60-24, 448-46-85. 8:30-22:00. Hypermarket located in TK
MEGA Ikea. A wide selection of goods, 3 kilometers from the station.
metro station "Ulitsa Dybenko"
✦ Carousel. Two large hypermarkets:
2 , st. Kollontai, 3 (metro station "Prospect Bolsheviks"). ☎ + 7 (812)
448-43-20. around the clock.
3 , Bolshevikov Ave., 32 (metro station
"Ulitsa Dybenko"). ☎ + 7 (812) 449-81-20. around the clock.
✦
Ribbon. ☎ +7 (800) 700-41-11. Two large hypermarkets:
4 , st.
Khasanskaya, 17, bldg. 1 (metro station "Ladoga"). ☎ +7 (812) 363-25-97.
around the clock.
5 , Far East pr., 16, bldg. 1 (metro station
"Prospect Bolsheviks"). ☎ +7 (812) 448-02-82. around the clock.
✦ OK. Three large hypermarkets:
Zanevsky pr., 65, bldg. 1, lit. A
(metro station "Ladoga"). ☎ +7 (812) 703-70-05. around the clock.
,
corner of Bolshevik Ave. and st. Podvoisky (metro station "Dybenko
Street" and "Prospect Bolsheviks"). ☎ +7 (812) 703-70-07.
12 ,
Industrialny Ave., 25 (corner from Entuziastov Ave.). ☎ +7 (812)
703-70-13. 09:00-23:00.
Pyaterochka, Bolshevik Ave., 24 (metro
station "Ulitsa Dybenko").
Crossroads, Zanevsky pr., 67 (TC "Zanevsky
Cascade", metro station "Ladoga"). ☎ +7 (812) 336-39-00. around the
clock
McDonald's, 22 Industrialny Ave. ☎ +7 (812) 8 (812) 406-77-37.
10:00-22:00. Chain of fast food restaurants.
Pizza Hut, Bolshevik
Ave., 9, bldg. 1, lit. A. ☎ +7 (812) 589-58-38. International network of
pizzerias in St. Petersburg.
Marmalade, Nastavnikov Ave., 38. ☎ +7 (812) 605-71-39. 17:00 - 6:00. Karaoke bar with a dance floor and original design of the hall. A large number of promotions dedicated to the days of the week. Reviews are mixed.
Okhtinskaya, Bolsheokhtinsky pr., 4. ✉ ☎ +7 (812) 227-44-38,
227-37-67, 227-86-02, fax: +7 (812) 227-26-18, 227-23- 85. 3***
Hotel
"Pillow", st. Kollontai, 31, bldg. 2. ✉ ☎ +7(812)574-72-27. 2500 - 4500
rub/night. Three star hotel. Minimalistic design, positive reviews,
Wi-Fi
The Right Bank’s history is inseparable from Saint Petersburg’s
founding and development as Russia’s imperial capital. The Neva River,
flowing from Lake Ladoga to the Gulf of Finland, was a strategic
waterway during the Great Northern War (1700–1721), when Peter the Great
sought to secure Russia’s Baltic access from Sweden. The Right Bank,
particularly its islands, became the nucleus of Peter’s new capital,
chosen for their defensible position and maritime potential.
Petrine Era (1703–1725): In 1703, Peter captured the Neva delta,
founding the Peter and Paul Fortress on Zayachy Island, marking Saint
Petersburg’s birth on May 27, 1703. The Right Bank’s
islands—Petrogradsky, Vasilievsky, and Yelagin—were prioritized for
development, with Peter envisioning Vasilievsky as the city’s
administrative and commercial hub. The Peter the Great’s Cottage (1703)
on the Petrograd Side, the city’s first residence, and the Kunstkamera
(1714) on Vasilievsky Island reflect his Europeanizing reforms, blending
Russian and Dutch influences. The Vyborg Side, part of the Right Bank,
was a Swedish stronghold (Nyenschantz) before 1703, later becoming an
industrial and military zone.
Imperial Development (1725–1917): Under
Peter’s successors, the Right Bank grew as the city’s cultural and
political core. The Petrogradsky District housed aristocratic estates
and the Summer Garden, while Vasilievsky Island hosted academic
institutions like the Twelve Colleges (1722–1744) and Academy of
Sciences. The Yelagin Palace (1818–1822) on Yelagin Island, built for
Maria Fyodorovna, marked the area’s role as a royal retreat. The Right
Bank’s islands were connected by pontoon bridges until permanent
structures like the Trinity Bridge (1903) linked them to the Left Bank.
The Vyborgsky District, with its industrial growth, supported the city’s
economy, producing armaments at factories like the Arsenal.
Revolutionary and Soviet Era (1917–1991): The Right Bank was a focal
point during the 1917 Russian Revolution, with the Aurora Cruiser firing
a blank shot from the Petrograd Side to signal the storming of the
Winter Palace, and the Finland Station (Vyborg Side) hosting Lenin’s
return from exile. The Petrogradsky District, then Petrograd, was
renamed Leningrad (1924–1991), reflecting its revolutionary
significance. During the Siege of Leningrad (1941–1944), the Right Bank
endured heavy bombardment, with the fortress and Yelagin Palace
suffering damage, yet its resilience mirrored the city’s spirit, as seen
in the St. Nicholas’ Naval Cathedral’s wartime role. Soviet urban
planning expanded the Vyborgsky and Primorsky Districts with
khrushchyovkas (1950s–1960s housing blocks), shifting the Right Bank’s
northern areas toward residential use.
Post-Soviet Era
(1991–Present): Since the Soviet collapse, the Right Bank has balanced
preservation with modernization. The Petrogradsky District gentrified,
with cafes and galleries revitalizing areas like Kamenny Island, while
Vasilievsky Island’s Strelka remains a cultural hub, home to the Rostral
Columns and Kunstkamera. The Primorsky District saw growth with sports
facilities like the Gazprom Arena (2017), and Krestovsky Island became a
recreational hotspot. The Right Bank’s historical sites, like the
Yelagin Palace’s museum, contribute to Saint Petersburg’s UNESCO World
Heritage status, though industrial zones in Vyborgsky retain a gritty,
working-class ethos, akin to Obukhovo’s steel plant legacy.
The Right Bank encompasses the northern side of the Neva River and
its delta, covering a diverse array of islands and mainland areas within
Saint Petersburg’s administrative framework. Key districts and islands
include:
Petrogradsky District: The historic core, including
Petrogradsky Island, Zayachy Island (Peter and Paul Fortress),
Aptekarsky Island, and Petrovsky Island. It houses landmarks like the
Peter the Great’s Cottage, Aurora Cruiser, and Mosque of Saint
Petersburg, blending aristocratic heritage with revolutionary history.
Its canals and early 20th-century tenements evoke a “mini-Venice” charm.
Vasilievsky Island: A cultural and academic hub, featuring the Strelka
(Spit) with the Rostral Columns, Kunstkamera, Menshikov’s Palace, and
Twelve Colleges. Once Peter’s planned city center, it retains a mix of
Petrine Baroque, neoclassical, and Soviet architecture, with the Academy
of Arts and Zoological Museum anchoring its intellectual legacy.
Yelagin Island: A pastoral oasis, home to the Yelagin Palace and Central
Park of Culture and Leisure (TsPKiO). Its English-style park and
neoclassical villa offer a serene contrast to the urban Petrogradsky
District, accessible via footbridges from Kamenny Island.
Krestovsky
Island: A recreational and elite residential area, with Maritime Victory
Park, Divo Ostrov amusement park, and the Gazprom Arena. Its modern
amenities and green spaces make it a family-friendly destination, unlike
the historical focus of Vasilievsky.
Vyborgsky District: A sprawling,
industrial-residential area on the mainland Right Bank, stretching north
to the city’s outskirts. It includes the Finland Station,
Sampsoniyevskiy Cathedral, and factories like the Arsenal, reflecting
its proletarian roots, similar to Obukhovo’s industrial heritage.
Primorsky District: A northern, rapidly developing area with Soviet-era
housing, modern high-rises, and recreational zones like Primorsky
Victory Park. Its coastal location along the Gulf of Finland adds
maritime significance, though less historical than Petrogradsky.
The
Right Bank’s geography, with its islands and riverfront, shapes Saint
Petersburg’s identity as a city of waterways, contrasting with the Left
Bank’s denser urban core (e.g., Nevsky Prospekt). The Neva’s
branches—Bolshaya Neva, Malaya Neva, and Kronverksky Strait—create a
fragmented yet interconnected landscape, linked by bridges like the
Palace Bridge and Trinity Bridge, enhancing its “Venice of the North”
moniker, as noted in UNESCO’s designation.