St. Isaac's Cathedral image

St. Isaac's Cathedral

Tourist attraction Museum Cathedral Attraction Russian orthodox church

One of the Best Places To Visits in Saint Petersburg


Address

St Isaac's Square, 4, St Petersburg, Russia, 190000

Website

cathedral.ru

Contact

+7 812 315-97-32

Rating on Google Maps

4.90 (48.4K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Monday: 10:30 AM to 6 PM
  • Tuesday: 10:30 AM to 6 PM
  • Wednesday: Closed
  • Thursday: 10:30 AM to 6 PM
  • Friday: (International Women's Day), 10:30 AM to 6 PM, Hours might differ
  • Saturday: 10:30 AM to 6 PM
  • Sunday: 10:30 AM to 6 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: cathedral (19) city (16) visit (15) view (12) Petersburg (11) church (11) museum (11) beautiful (10) dome (9) architecture (8)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 ERMIONI M. 2 years ago on Google • 662 reviews
    One of the best cathedrals I've ever been to. Remarkable architecture. Amazing exterior and interior. The panoramic view from the top of the cathedral is indeed remarkable and It offers a magnificent view over the Neva River, the St. Isaac’s and the Palace Squares as well as the Peter and Paul Fortress. Make sure that you take into account the fact there is no elevator that could take you up there and will have to mount 262 steps of the spiral staircase by foot. You will be 43 meters above the ground and it could get windy. Saint Isaac’s Cathedral is an absolute must-see tourist attraction in Saint Petersburg. I strongly recommend that you go and see this masterpiece with your own eyes. St. Isaac's Cathedral was originally the city's main church and the largest cathedral in Russia. It was built between 1818 and 1858, by the French-born architect Auguste Montferrand, who was building it for 40 years. Monferrand passed away a month after he finished the creation to which he dedicated all his life..It was one of the most impressive landmarks of the Russian Imperial capital. To decorate the interior it was necessary 882 lbs of gold, 16 tonnes of malachite and a thousand tonnes of bronze. The mosaic area took 7108 square yards. The exterior strikes with its imposing appearance, the effect is created by the massive columns and the huge dome (it later influenced the design of the Capitol in Washington, DC). The dome is gilded with 100 kilograms of gold. The golden dome can be seen from any part of the city, and in clear weather, even from the outskirts. Currently functions as a museum with occasional church services . It is dedicated to Saint Isaac of Dalmatia, a patron saint of Peter the Great, who had been born on the feast day of that saint .
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dejan B. 2 years ago on Google • 1060 reviews
    St. Isaac's is still the world's largest Orthodox Shrine (the bigger future one in Bucharest is not yet finished) and the fourth largest Cathedral in the world. It was built in 1858 by aristocracy funding in honor of Isaac the Dalmatian who was a patron saint of city founder Peter the Great. They didn't spare which is visible from outside and specially inside. The exterior is adorned with a huge golden dome (which later inspired the US Capitol) and a total of 112 single hewn pink granite columns (you can see a movie and a model of building inside). The interior is simply amazing, so lavish and rich it's hard to say what's more beautiful. As all others in Russia it was banned for religion during the Communist regime and converted into a museum. Interesting fact is that St. Pet citizens refused being a Church again on a referendum, so it's still a museum (an outstanding one) with only occasional Church services. As in any museum there's an entry fee, with a separate fee if you want to climb the dome, which I strongly suggest for great views.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 CK C. 2 months ago on Google • 1064 reviews New
    Large and grand landmark building in St Peterburg. It took 40 years to construct this cathedral, under Montferrand's direction, from 1818 to 1858. It is the largest church in St Peterburg and renowned for its lavish interiors, as well as superb views of the city from its colonnade.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ksenia 2 years ago on Google
    Great outstanding church in Saint Petersburg. You can as well go on top of it’s not super cold outside. Must visit!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Caleb C. 4 years ago on Google
    This is worth a visit. Honestly spending time in the church isn’t much worth it. Some of the art is beautiful, but the dome is where to spend your time. The sights that you can see from up top are great. Beware, it can be quite windy and many people lost hats as soon as the made it to the top.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Preechavut K. 9 months ago on Google • 326 reviews
    This sanctuary is the must place you've to visit in Russia. Then you'll like the most beautiful architecture both outside and many hundred years of history inside this place. Let the pictures tell you more.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Samil Y. 8 months ago on Google
    One of the must see places when you visit St.Petersburg. Especially when you go upstairs of the done there is perfect to see the whole city from there.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Zakauddin A. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful crafted designed and amazing structure which engulfed you with its arts and design. Painting and pictures engraved on walls of church and now used as museum also.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Yolanda K. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful Cathedral. Did not get the chance to go inside but the majestic pillars and architecture is remarkable. The Cinderella style horse drawn carriages outside the cathedral are gorgeous. Would have loved to go to the top to get a view of the city.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 parag s. 4 years ago on Google
    It is considered as one the most sumptuous and grandiose of the churches of St. Petersburg. Completed in 1858, it is one of the most important neoclassical monuments of Russian architecture of the nineteenth century. It is located in the centre of the city, in the square of the same name, near Nevsky Avenue and the Hermitage Museum. It has one of the largest domes in the world and is the second highest Orthodox church in the world, 101.5 meters high, behind the Cathedral of Christ the Savior of Moscow that reaches 103 meters. Bring on the most beautiful location it gave me lots of photographs. Way too beautiful from inside. You are allowed to visit it from inside with a ticket of 400 rubles. If you are willing to watch city from its dome, yes you can but again it will cost you 400 rubles.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lincoln I. 3 months ago on Google • 183 reviews New
    This place is a mind blowing architecture! From top of the building you can actually see the whole St P. Amazing view - I went in summer and few times in winter and it did not disappoint. I would go back again
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 ZeusThunder G. 2 years ago on Google
    Awesome place to Visit everything is at it’s best . Must visit place when you visit Saint Petersburg
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ahmet İhsan K. 2 years ago on Google
    One of the best cathedrals I've ever been to. Both exterior and interior of the cathedral are amazing. The interior paintings and engravings are unrivaled while you can enjoy the picturesque view of St. Petersburg from the top of the building. The price of the museum is 350 ruble and you have to pay additional 200 rub for audio guide and further 200 rub to climb to the top of the cathedral.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 V 8. 2 years ago on Google
    One of my favourite and all time heart touching location in Russia - st Petersburg is st Isaac cathedral . Met lovely and amazing Russian friends and family over here , very helping n supportive always and this was the time I visited here for 2 times in day & night also . One of best architect design and heart touching view in whole st Petersburg . Thank you so much Russia and russian buddies . Love you all n soon will visit again for one month . Lots of love from India 🇮🇳♥️🇷🇺 spasiba Russia 🥂
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jaqueline Sousa B. 3 years ago on Google
    St. Isaac's Cathedral is a church that has a terrace that allows you to see the city of St. Petersburg, but it fills a little more than a detour, but it is a good place and with a beautiful view. The cathedral also has a museum that does not have the opportunity to visit, but whoever wants to go there, learns that there is a museum. Although it has architecture similar to European churches, it is the Cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church. Very opulent and iconostacio covered in gold, as well as the central dome. External columns in granite, with a large terrace and very detailed and sumptuous internal ornaments. It is worth the visit although you have to compete in space with many tourists.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 tejas k. 2 years ago on Google
    Very nice view of the city from the top. Ticket price was 200rub (Sept 2021) per person only for going to the top.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 z-shan v. 5 years ago on Google
    This is an amazing cathedral. The murals are breathtaking and the architecture is captivating. I really loved wandering around in this beautiful building. I must have spent couple of hours in here. Make sure to go downstairs and upstairs. You have to see both. And also don’t forget to look up- that’s where all the action happens. Finally the lighting in this building is amazing. If you go at the right time of day, you can catch rays of light shinning though the dome into the building. I tried capturing that with my phone.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Romeo N. 5 years ago on Google • 267 reviews
    Amazing human’s made architecture . beautiful paintings on the walls & roof. every paintings had some interesting stories. lots of peoples all the time. Models describe how to build the cathedral. should spend more than 1 hour inside. suitable for everyone. should be quiet and don’t use flash when take a picture.

  • 5/5 Andrew L. 1 month ago on Google • 90 reviews New
    Amazing experience, loved it. Found little bird outside which I have never seen. See photo. We have not booked any guided tours inside, but another group let us joined them while we were inside. Yes, imagine this in England. No pay no service. Anyway. When you go in you get surrounded what you call "no phone era" when people did amazing things. Pay attention to every detail, some of the mosaic icons took 10 years to build. 10 years Karl!!!

  • 5/5 Aleks M. 6 months ago on Google • 7 reviews
    This cathedral is an active church where you can go to the service, the time and days need to be specified. The cathedral itself is an architectural structure built in 1818-1858, the cathedral survived the years of the war of 1941-1945, near which potatoes were grown. You can get to the museum part inside the cathedral with a ticket at the entrance at the box office or online on the website, and there is also an additional opportunity to enjoy the view of the entire central part of the city by climbing the colonnade - an observation deck and take cool shots against the backdrop of the city.

  • 5/5 Danielle I. 4 years ago on Google
    The climb to the top gives the most gorgeous panoramic views of the city and the museum inside houses incredible works of art that simply take your breath away! The history of the cathedral is so interesting to read on the information board along with pictures from throughout time

  • 4/5 Vineet M. 9 months ago on Google
    To describe as per usual parameters: 1. Accessibility : Accessible as its in the St. Isaac's Square in the heart of the city. 2. Content: Although it's a Cathedral, it's not much compared to other monuments. It included models of the church prior to the Cathedral's construction, Biblical paintings and the famed historical doors. Panels showing the history of the church were explained in both Russian and English. There's a colonnade, about 300 steps, from where you can see the panorama of St. Petersburg's city square and the bellfry. 3. Wheelchair friendly? For the cathedral only. 4. Audio guides? Present. I got the English guide for free apparently. 5. Timings: 10:30 to 17:30 hours. Worth the visit? Yes, as it's a gem of St. Petersburg.

  • 5/5 Razvan 2 years ago on Google
    One of the most beautiful cathedrals ever. You can visit the museum which is the interior of the cathedral or simply climb up the stairs to the top and enjoy a 360 view of Peter. We did both and we loved it. A must if you visit the city

  • 5/5 Alexander H. 2 years ago on Google
    Beautiful interior and a lovely panoramic view from the Colonnade platform, highly recommended and the best thing to do in the city on a quick visit

  • 5/5 Annie M. 2 years ago on Google
    Amazing, very beautiful cathedral! Place must visit!

  • 5/5 Ghanim Fajish V. 2 years ago on Google
    Amazing structure. Go inside and on top to get a full view of St Petersburg.

  • 5/5 Adward A. 2 years ago on Google
    Wonderful cathedral!! Fine monumental artwork inside.


Call +7 812 315-97-32 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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