New Year in St. Petersburg 2026 – is it worth going? Weather and reviews, air temperature, how to dress, prices in hotels and excursions. What to do and what to see in St. Petersburg during the New Year holidays, where to go with children and travel nearby, how the metro works – says Eurotraveler.
It is unlikely that anyone will argue with the statement that an impressive number of Russians would like to celebrate the New Year in St. Petersburg, and then spend at least part of the holidays there.
Moreover, it is not difficult to do this. And the costs of such a vacation (if you are not going to book a table for December 31st in one of the pretentious restaurants) don’t look stunning.
Therefore, we will not be surprised that people from all over Russia come with pleasure to celebrate the New Year in the “Northern Capital”. Hoping to see wonderfully decorated for the holiday an already extremely beautiful city, immerse yourself in an atmosphere of fun and non-stop “movement”.
In terms of fun, however, in recent years in St. Petersburg even on New Year’s it’s somehow not very good. However, still go you can go many places. Yes, all the architectural beauty, of course, has not gone away.
View of the brightly decorated Nevsky, shimmering with lights giant spruce on Palace Squarecrowds of people in search of a festive mood – all this will inevitably give you an emotional boost. And also unforgettable impressions and hope that next year life will definitely get better.
By the way, recently more and more Moscow residents are coming to celebrate the New Year in St. Petersburg. Which is quite reasonable – you can cover the distance between the capitals by car in just 7 hours.
And the prices for the New Year’s entertainment program and St. Petersburg restaurants still lower. As, indeed, with almost everything else…
Weather in St. Petersburg for the New Year
Doesn’t promise anything to anyone. If he wants: there will be rain and slush, a cloudy sky and the same cloudy mood for “everyone present.”
If he decides to please, the whole city will be covered with a snow-white blanket, and a slight minus will be established.
And on a festive night you will squeak joyfully while walking along the snowy streets
Well, the next morning the sun will shine benevolently from the blue sky. And the frost will quite blush the cheeks of those who dared to go for a walk on January 1st.
It happens that the weather in St. Petersburg at the end of the New Year holidays seems to be angry, driving the street thermometers below -20 degrees Celsius by Orthodox Christmas. At night it happens even less, in the Leningrad region they register frosts down to -25-30 °C.
On such days, imprudent citizens and frivolous tourists regret not wearing mittens instead of thin leather gloves, And UGG boots – instead of stylish suede boots.
They cancel their plans to walk a lot around the city center. And vice versa – take a long walk around the Hermitage and the Russian Museumlooking with pleasure through the huge windows at the frozen and silent city.
To be fair, we note that in other years the weather in St. Petersburg in early January still gravitates more towards slightly sub-zero temperatures. AND ice on sidewalks and other surfaces (keep this in mind for fans of rooftop excursions!) is a direct and obvious threat.
Precipitation
during this period they don’t get on your nerves too much. As if realizing that the townspeople are already depressed, after all in January the days are critically shortand there is literally not enough light.
In reviews, however, you will hardly find any mention of this (an obvious inconvenience).
Mainly because tourists in St. Petersburg have places to go. And not just in the evening, but even on a frosty night…
On January 1, the sun rises in St. Petersburg at 10 am, and darkness descends on the city around 4 p.m.. By the 10th, the length of the day increases by 20 minutes.
Snowfalls and blizzards happen – not without it. But in most cases, such disasters only happen once or twice over the entire long weekend.
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How to dress and what to pack
It is worth remembering that St. Petersburg is located at 59 degrees North latitude, that is, in an area suggesting a harsh winter. And sometimes there are also huge snowdrifts.
So truly winter clothes, in the form of toe-length down jackets and sheepskin coats, welcome
Moreover, it should be worn not on thin T-shirts or shirts, but on sweaters and pullovers. So that in conditions of constantly high humidity and sharp northern winds don’t chill to the bones.
In case of long walks, as well as trips from St. Petersburg to the suburbs: Pavlovsk and Pushkin, Gatchina, Peterhof and Kronstadt, Vyborg, a set of thermal underwear will be useful.
You should be very careful when choosing shoes! Something insulated, but at the same time waterproof and even with a thick rubber sole – the optimal choice.
In any case, you won’t have to wander through the slush in wet boots. And feel like you can’t feel your fingers in the cold.
Prices 2026
The sooner you start planning a trip to St. Petersburg for the New Year holidays, the better! And travel agencies should not be trusted with this matter. absolutely no reason: You can book a hotel yourself, buy excursions and tickets without ever leaving your computer.
In exactly the same way you can create a program of entertainment events. For example, we recommend that you see non-tourist interesting places in St. Petersburg, and not just the main attractions.
Prices for apartment rentals are tempting to call them high
But looking around and reading one or two news stories about “galloping inflation”, you will calm down.
And stop thinking that 4-5 thousand rubles a day for renting an apartment or entire apartments for 2-4 people is expensive. If, of course, you manage to book something at this price within a 15-20 minute metro ride from the city center.
For good and centrally located places to stay, we recommend the Pastel guest house on Goncharnaya Street. Nevsky Prospekt is nearby. From the Moskovsky station, where, in particular, the high-speed Sapsan trains Moscow-St. Petersburg arrive, you can walk in about 15 minutes.
As for excursions, their range in St. Petersburg is very wide and is constantly updated interesting and inexpensive offers. So you can walk around the city in the company of a competent and erudite guide for a fee of 1,000-1,200 rubles.
Due to the abundance of supply, even on holidays you can get a discount. At times their size reaches 20-40%.
Things to do
For an unprecedented and even simply extensive entertainment program of events in St. Petersburg during the New Year holidays don’t even count on it. In any case, in recent years it has almost disappeared – people entertain themselves more.
Even the night itself from December 31 to January 1 is not replete with events. Yes, there are a lot of people on Nevsky Prospekt and something like folk festivalsand firecrackers and fireworks roar in residential areas.
But overall it’s all happens spontaneouslywithout any pre-developed plan.
Yes, and fireworks were not given at the scrapping of 2024/2025 – for obvious reasons
The St. Petersburg metro will operate without interruption on New Year’s Eve from December 31 to January 1. Except perhaps for a number of stations. In any case, this was the case in 2024 – tvspb.ru/peterburgskoe-metro-zakroet-14-vestibyulej-v-novogodnyuyu-noch.
For children
during the holidays and even before them they organize festive performances with a specific entertainment program and gifts. Equally New Year’s and Christmas assortment prevails in performances and shows given in theaters and the city Circus on Fontanka.
However, all this is not scary – you can perfectly organize your own leisure time. Go to museums, to the famous aristocratic palaces of St. Petersburg, St. Isaac’s Cathedral and the Savior on Spilled Blood, still not given to the church and therefore retained a staff of wonderful tour guides.
As mentioned above, you can join in excursions around the city itself – if the weather permits
For example, take part in an exciting private tour of Vasilyevsky Island. Walk along Nevsky and adjacent streets with a person well versed in history and architecture. Explore Petrograd sideits spirit and atmosphere are so different from other areas of the city.
Do you like ice skating? The most central skating rink in the city back in December poured in New Holland. A separate island, specially reconstructed for a fun pastime.
By the way, New Holland is located very advantageously – not far from Yusupov Palace on the Moika. A perfectly preserved aristocratic residence, which at one time hosted the cream of society at balls, receptions and theatrical performances.
In the luxurious palace theater today give performances and concerts. Including, of course, during the New Year holidays!
Also, if you are not too afraid of frosty and simply chilly weather, visit the suburbs of St. Petersburg.
Where to visit
For example, go to Pavlovsk, where they ride sleighs in the former imperial park in winter. Or visit the incredibly beautiful turquoise Great Catherine Palace in Pushkin against the backdrop of snow.
It is quite possible to spend a day looking at Vyborg. On frosty and clear days, flaunting some special, refined, Scandinavian beauty.
We’ll invite you on vacation visit Gatchina! After all, his unusual Grand Palace in the middle of a frozen white and black park looks especially sophisticated. And even, let’s not be afraid of this word, chivalrously.
Peterhof? Its parks and palace are beautiful even in winter! The restored palaces in Lomonosov, the former Oranienbaum, are equally exquisitely beautiful.
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© Eurotraveler
