St Isaac's Cathedral

Where it is & how to get there

• Metro: Admiralteyskaya station, then a 5-minute walk.
• Tickets: Separate tickets for the interior and the colonnade.
• Colonnade: About 260 steps up a spiral staircase; no lift.

The story of St Isaac's

French architect Auguste de Montferrand spent 40 years building the cathedral, from 1818 to 1858. Thousands of workers sank wooden piles into the marshy ground, and the dome was covered with about 100 kg of gold.

Inside are malachite and lapis lazuli columns, mosaics and a huge iconostasis. During the Second World War the dome was painted grey so it would not be a target. Today the colonnade around the dome is one of the best viewpoints in the city.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• Climb the colonnade for city views.
• Climb the colonnade for a 360° view of the Neva, the Hermitage and the Admiralty.
• Look up inside at the dove sculpture under the dome.
• Wear good shoes for the narrow stairs.

What's around St Isaac's

• Bronze HorsemanStatue of Peter the Great on Senate Square.
• AdmiraltyGolden spire on the Neva.
• Hermitage10-minute walk.
• New Holland IslandPark and cafés on a canal island.

Questions travellers ask