Perfect off-the-beaten path for Saturday

There is no better day for relaxing in Russia than Saturday. Wild Friday is over, and pre-Monday lazy Sunday has not come yet, so it’s a best time to undertake a real walk through the city. In St Petersburg Saturday can provide you with maximum of impressions and city experiences. Let’s explore how a perfect Saturday for the SPb traveller looks like.

This Perfect Saturday plan is for those brave globetrotters who’d like to know about all sides of the city: historical, current, cultural, social and off-the-beaten path as well as save money on souvenirs and communicate with locals as much as it is possible.

9am - 10am

First of all, get a breakfast in a nice cafe close to Kazansky Cathedral. “Marketplace” was opened in summer 2012. The combination of diverse and affordable food gives a better chance of a getting an ideal breakfast. Russian specialties are also available.

Lunch for 400 rub

10am-12am

Start your day with some shopping at the local open-air flea market. Udelnaya flea market is only open on weekends in the morning. So, the time before afternoon is ideal to visit. Books, dishes, furniture, garments, shoes, budges, coins, suitcases and other vintage stuff from the old times will tell you about the country even more than museums, churches and palaces. Even if you don’t feel like spending your cash there you’ll have fun observing different epochs together in one area. But beware, even those who were not into shopping, often leave with a handful of cheap and unusual souvenirs.

12am-3pm

Lunchtime! It is easy to make your lunchtime not only tasty but also informative, as St Petersburg is rich on historically important eateries. By the way, not all of them are expensive. Check out a splendid restaurant where Pushkin used to dine, or Soviet style donut bar open since the 1960s, or grab a bite in the cafe where Russian Silver epoch poets used to gather. For the dessert have a cup of coffee and a cookie in the sweet-shop that has been around from the early XX-th century. Historical bars and restaurants walk will fill your stomach with delicious food and your head with useful knowledge.

3pm-5pm

Next point for off-the-beaten path of St. Petersburg is a central district called Kolomna. Despite it’s close to the city center, Kolomna is very different from the rest of the downtown. It was one of the first districts to be built in a new-born city of Saint Petersburg. Historic buildings, splendid churches, the Admiralty shipyard, channels, bridges, narrow quiet streets is what you will find there. To the delight of travellers and embarrassment of locals, there are no subway stations or busy avenues around, so this place will take you into atmosphere of an old city centre so different from Nevsky prospect.

5pm-7pm

By that time you’d probably get tired of walking, so have some rest. A perfect Saturday takes in a perfect hanging out experience in some perfect local places. Ryumochnaya is the best place for long conversations and soul-to-soul talks. It’s actually, a “vodka bar”. Back in USSR locals went there because of cozy and simple atmosphere, cheap alcohol and spirit of eternal communication. We recommend you go there with someone you know or a native guide. Normally staff does not speak English. However, there is always a possibility that after a couple of shots the language would not be a problem any more.

Rich of history a day is about to come to its end. Restless and still seeking for adventures? Then go for it!

Take a shower, change your clothes and... Go to a night club!

11pm-...

Saturday still remains perfect. Sunday (with a plenty of time to relax) is ahead, and it’ time to go out. So, if you feel like having fun in a jolly crowd, get ready for the night! There are a lot of bars and nightclubs to hang out. The best way to choose the one you’ll like is to read reviews on 4sq or ask an experienced native resident.