In this week’s “Live Like a Local” we are featuring Melissa from St. Petersburg, Russia. A travel blogger from the states who packed up her life and moved to Russia. Today she is sharing some of her favorite spots and amazing tips with us. So, sit back, relax, and learn how to live like a local with New Girl on the Bloc, Melissa.
Meet Melissa of St. Petersburg Russia
Привет, my name is Melissa and I am a Southern California native who is obsessed with all things Russian! In my journey to refine my Russian language skills and explore all fifteen former Soviet Union countries, I have created a blog called New Girl on the Bloc. Here you’ll find travel guides for post-Soviet countries, language guides for learning how to speak Russian, and various blog posts about living in Russia and traveling the former Eastern Bloc.
Where are you from?
I am originally from a town just forty-five minutes outside of Los Angeles, but last year I picked up everything and moved across the world to the “Venice of the North” – St. Petersburg, Russia. I’d dreamt of moving to St. Petersburg for several years before taking the plunge, and it has exceeded my expectations in nearly every way.
Where is a must see where you are from?
Without a doubt, you must visit the Hermitage Museum at the Palace Square. Once the Winter Palace of Catherine the Great, the Hermitage is now one of the most famous museums in the world. The Hermitage houses over three million pieces of art, and if you were to spend one minute admiring each art piece, you would be there for over six years!
Is there anything that people could maybe skip when they visit?
I struggle to name a spot in the city that isn’t worth seeing, but I would definitely discourage people from taking a hop-on-hop-off bus in St. Petersburg. All the information you’re given is prerecorded and it is so much better to see the city by walking down the main street Nevsky Prospect, taking the famously deep and decorated metros, or by taking a boat ride on a canal tour!
What is your favorite local restaurant and food?
One of the most pleasant surprises I’ve encountered in St. Petersburg is definitely the quality of food in the city’s plentiful and diverse restaurants. Traditional Russian cuisine consists of many acquired tastes like beets, caviar, and cabbage – none of which I was particularly looking forward to eating before moving to Russia. But due to the sheer variety of restaurants and cafes in the Russian metropolis, I can honestly say that I have enjoyed every single meal I’ve eaten at a restaurant in St. Petersburg.
Here are a few standouts of restaurants and cafes to visit:
- New Holland – a small island just a five minute drive from the famous Mariinsky Theatre – has a round, brick building with a series of incredible restaurants to choose from as you wander from door to door.
- Trendy cafes with incredible food selections – Bonch, Orangerie
- For the most authentic Russian eating experience, be sure to visit Stolovaya which means “Cafeteria” in Russian.
Any Advise To People Who May Want To Visit St. Petersburg, Russia?
No trip to Saint Petersburg is complete without watching the bridges raise at night. Out of the 800 bridges in St. Petersburg, twelve are raised nightly to allow commercial ships to enter the city. Just be sure to watch the bridges rise from whichever island you are staying on as you don’t want to get stuck and have to wait until morning when they lower! If you do find yourself stuck after the bridges are raised and the metros stop running, head over to Rubenstein street or Golitsyn Loft for restaurants and bars that entertain well into the night!
Where is one spot in you city where people may not know about if planning a trip to where you live?
The Grandmaket Russia is such a fun way to “see” the entire country in just one afternoon! With over 800 m2 worth of models that represent and connect all the major destinations in Russia, Grandmaket Russia is the second largest miniature museum in the world.
What is one interesting fact that people might not know about where you are from?
Saint Petersburg is situated so far north that in the summer the city experiences “White Nights,” in which the sun never completely sets! The city puts on celebratory events over the summer, such as the Winter Nights Festival in which several museums stay open all night long, to thoroughly soak in the bright summer nights after experiencing the city’s long, dark winters.
Any last advice for travelers?
Don’t be scared to add Russia to your travel bucket list! When I tell people I’ve moved to Russia, they often become confused and concerned because the image they have in their head of Russia is much more intimidating than reality. The country is filled with many wonderful, hospitable people who are eager to show you their picturesque country. So pack your bags, and I’ll see you #onthebloc!
A Big Thank You To Melissa And Sharing About St. Petersburg, Russia
If you want to learn more about Russia, please head over to New Girl on the Bloc. Melissa has some awesome posts and brilliant pictures that will make anyone want to visit St. Petersburg. And follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram in the links below. Thanks again Melissa for helping us to live like a local. And don’t miss next weeks “Live Like a Local” when we head to Brooklyn with Stephanie. See you soon and happy travels.
Follow Melissa and New Girl on the Bloc on social media.
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[…] And check out last week’s “Live Like A Local”, where we visit St. Petersburg, Russia, with Melissa. You can read all about it HERE. […]