St Petersburg was founded by Tsar Peter the Great on May 27, 1703 and was the capital of the Russian Empire for more than two hundred years between 1713 and 1728 and between 1732 and 1918.

Located on the Neva River at the east end of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea, St Petersburg is Russia's second largest and Europe's fourth largest city (by city limit) after Moscow, London and Paris.

Since the collapse of Communism and the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, St Petersburg has been quickly making up for lost time and is by far the most cosmopolitan of Russia's cities.

The country in general has seen an explosion of new wealth, which its young, well-heeled residents have no qualms about flashing. This has also led to a growth in consumerism, so those who like to spend had better book a last minute holiday to this exciting city.

Traditions and culture in St Petersburg

St Petersburg has always been well-known as a centre for high-quality culture. The city is home to over 50 theatres, most notably the world-renowned Mariinsky Theater, home to the Mariinsky Ballet company and opera.

Leading ballet dancers such as Vaslav Nijinsky, Anna Pavlova, Rudolph Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Galina Ulanova and Natalia Makarova were all principal performers of the Mariinsky ballet.

St Petersburg has also been at the forefront of contemporary musical culture in Russia. The first jazz band in the Soviet Union was founded here by Leonid Utyosov in the 1920s, while in the 1950s, the first jazz club in the Soviet Union opened in the city and was later named jazz club Kvadrat.

The cuisine that can be sampled in St Petersburg is varied in character and has a vast amount of influences. Its foundations were laid by the peasant food of the rural population in who lived in harsh climes, with a combination of fish, poultry, game, mushrooms, berries, and honey.

Russia's proximity to the Caucasus, Persia and what used to be the Ottoman Empire has lent an eastern character to many of its cooking methods.

Recommended in St Petersburg

During the last ten days of June, the longest days of the year, St Petersburg celebrates the White Nights in a spectacular cultural extravaganza. Be warned however, that early booking is essential, as accommodation is in high demand at this time.

Also recommended is the annual Message to Man international documentary, short and animated films festival, which takes place around June and July.

Weather in St Petersburg

Summers in St Petersburg are typically cool, humid and quite short, while winters are long and cold, but with frequent warm spells.

The average daily temperature in July is 22 degrees C (72 degrees Fahrenheit); summer's maximum is about 34 degrees C (94 degrees Fahrenheit), while the winter minimum is a bitingly freezing -27 degrees C (-17 degrees Fahrenheit).

Destination checklist for St Petersburg

Buying a holiday guide with basic stock phrases would not go amiss when planning a holiday to St Petersburg, as the official language is Russian.

The official currency in the Russin rouble. There are some decent value hotels in around the city - the price of a room in a cheap hotel is typically between 40 and 100 roubles, which is fairly reasonable.