A city route that sounds entirely different depending on where you turn.
Sunday morning in St. Petersburg usually begins with a choice between a quiet garden and a strong broth. Today, the city splits right down the middle, offering two completely different scenarios for the next twenty-four hours. On one side, brass bands play from open windows and drawbridges light up the Neva. On the other, the Sea Terminal shakes from hip-hop bass, and electronic musicians fly in from London for secret afterparties.
We would suggest mixing these two worlds. You can start the day with a proper hangover lunch, then wander into a courtyard where Korean drums compete with K-pop, and by evening, find yourself listening to jazz among old trees. It’s a strange combination, but it works flawlessly once you take the first step.
The main rule for this weekend is not to rush. Whether you choose handmade jewelry by the water or a late-night light show over the river, the city dictates its own rhythm. Here is what we found for a long summer day that smoothly transitions into Monday.
The best way to slow down is among the stands of local projects. Over sixty artisans have brought their handmade jewelry and decor here. We would set aside at least an hour for these rows—leaving without a random but very necessary item will be difficult.
Next, the route turns towards Asia. Two eras collide in one space: loud modern K-POP sits next to traditional samulnori drums and taekwondo demonstrations. It's a great chance to see a completely different culture without leaving the bay area.
Vasilievsky Island offers its own version of escapism. Live music plays in an old garden between the lines, returning the city to a nineteenth-century rhythm. An ideal pause before a busy evening.
The morning after a wild Saturday calls for radical measures. They suggest saving the day with a classic triad: rich pickle soup, half a chicken with potatoes, and a glass of beer. To us, this is the most honest way to start a day off.
The best way to end this contrasting day is by the water, watching the main city spectacle. Raised bridge spans to the music from 'The Bronze Horseman' ballet and a light show are a classic that never gets old. Perhaps it's worth postponing sleep for a couple of hours just for this.
If you don't need pickle soup, you can turn to noble traditions. Exactly at noon, a window facing the square will open, and musicians will play a short concert. This detail turns an ordinary walk through the center into a historical attraction.
For those looking for a light end to the day, they are showing a movie right by the water. The plot about searching for a sister in the scenery of white nights rhymes perfectly with the St. Petersburg summer. Watching a rom-com outdoors is a special kind of urban pleasure.
The evening program kicks off among the trees of an old garden. Ten different projects play jazz in all its manifestations. The festival is being held for the twelfth time, and this stability is the main mark of quality.
If you bought a weekend pass, it's worth staying until the very end. British jazz-funk in an electronic rework by Henry Wu sounds exactly how a proper afterparty should sound. You'll have to dance for a long time.
A logical continuation of the festival madness. Henry Wu, also known as Kamaal Williams, will take to the decks alongside unannounced guests. The main rule of the night is to keep your wristbands on if you want to get in with your tickets from previous days.
The festival's Sunday lineup holds the bar high: Saint City Lovers, Hoopa with Timofey, and a British headliner are on the bill. We are always won over by the presence of secret artists in the program—it adds intrigue.
And here begins a completely different St. Petersburg. Representatives of the new hip-hop school gather under one roof to deliver maximum bass and recitative. The contrast with jazz and classics is as stark as it gets.
