St. Petersburg in March

St. Petersburg in March 2026 – is it worth going? Weather and reviews, air temperature, how to dress, prices in hotels and excursions. What to see in St. Petersburg on March 8 and closer to April, where to go with children and trips in the surrounding area – says Eurotraveler.

St. Petersburg is no longer a competitor to Moscow in the fight for the title the most tourist attractive cities of Russia. Despite the obviously smaller amount of money poured into infrastructure and advertising, the “Northern Capital” has long been ahead of its counterpart in this race.

And it’s completely to the point – interesting places in St. Petersburg are so numerous that no one even thinks of counting how many there actually are. And other entertainment in the city is in perfect order.

Of course, tourists often have another question – when is the best time to come to St. Petersburg? After all, “Venice of the North” is known throughout the world not only for its palaces and museums, but also for its cloudy, often very chilly weather.

And although the correct answer to such a question is obvious – it is best to do this during the “white nights” – and in other months of the year, the northern metropolis is able to pleasantly surprise even a person who has been there before. In particular, in March St. Petersburg has qualities that can lead truly delighted romantic nature.

Cold-blooded citizens, however, will not be disappointed either. After all, they will have plenty of opportunities to fully implement the planned action plan!

Weather in St. Petersburg in March

Traditionally, it does not spoil the townspeople and (let’s be honest – not many) tourists too much. If on March 8, St. Petersburg usually receives a supportive, sunny and warm smile from Mother Nature, then on the remaining days of the month the weather doesn’t give too much reasons for optimism.

However, those who, say, visited St. Petersburg in January – basically in winter – will not agree with such a statement. Because there is an order of magnitude more light in the (mostly gloomy) northern city at the beginning of spring.

And the sun is much more often in the sky compared to February

And it does this for a reason – on a clear day, St. Petersburg sidewalks and roads are immediately cleared of ice formed at night. And by noon, not only Nevsky Prospekt, but also less busy highways in other areas of the city flaunt dry asphalt.

So, walking around the city and taking part in long walking excursions at this time is absolutely the right thing to do. You just need to remember that in the morning and evenings it’s still (maybe) very slippery.

About this interesting the dangerous aspect is rarely mentioned in reviews. Mainly, apparently, because the morning ice on Nevsky and adjacent streets already by 10-11 am, that is, the time of the first pedestrian promenades of tourists, melts, as if it had never happened…

At the beginning of March, the air temperature in St. Petersburg during the day ranges from -3-5 to +2-4 degrees Celsius. Although at night in the city and surrounding areas there are sometimes registered winter level frosts – once or twice it can reach -15-17 °C.

Local motorists are not surprised by such weather “performances” – they are used to driving on studded tires even on snow-free roads.

But tourists coming from the south of Russia sometimes get into trouble. Because they simply cannot understand why on a visually clear road the car drives like it’s on skates.

But

by mid-March, daytime temperatures in St. Petersburg reach the following levels, trying to conquer the mark +5 and even +7 degrees Celsius. Which, against the backdrop of often sunny weather, gives rise to hope for a (moderately) early spring in many hearts.

On the threshold of April, the weather can either maintain this relatively warm character or bring in a wave of cold weather, with temperatures around 0 °C.

Therefore, it is worth remembering that the arrival of real warmth in the St. Petersburg latitude is not guaranteed until mid-May!

St. Petersburg sees a roughly similar picture almost every March. Of course, with variations – in some years, street thermometers even in the shade show +8-10 °C.

The length of daylight, however, is frankly pleasing – on March 1, the sun in St. Petersburg rises before 8 am, and sets at about 7 pm. At the end of the month there is much more light.

At the end of April, the star rises above the horizon of “Grad Petrov” at 6.25, and goes to bed at 19.40.

Precipitation and humidity

Heavy rains and snowfalls are rare in St. Petersburg in March. And according to long-term meteorological statistics: the first month of spring here is driest of the year.

Because of this, the humidity is not too high, and long walks in the fresh air will not cause discomfort (if you dress correctly). The snow is melting, but not too willingly – only in April is St. Petersburg mostly freed from dirty snowdrifts.

So in March, underfoot both in parks and on some streets slurry slurps. There can be a lot of dirt – unlike Moscow, St. Petersburg is covered with ordinary technical salt and sand in winter.

Which in April, for example, leads to real dust storms in residential areas.

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How to dress

What do people wear in St. Petersburg in March? You won’t believe it, but often in exactly the same way as in a warm winter: in insulated quilted jacketsthick-soled boots and knee-high boots. There is no rush to send hats, scarves and gloves back into the closets.

Of course, it’s always tempting to finally expose yourself and leave thick jackets and down jackets hanging on the hanger. But this should only be done by those who intend not to get out of the car.

Because otherwise, you will feel from your own experience that the St. Petersburg winter finally goes away only in May.

We recommend special attention pay attention to shoes. Because the sidewalks are – once again – often very slippery in the morning.

In the evenings, on the contrary, you can easily get your feet wet just when you are about to cross the street. Moreover, including in the city center.

For those planning to take a country excursion to Pushkin or Pavlovsk, we recommend taking with you gloves and hats. If you are traveling with small children, then this is a must!

Prices 2026

If you do not intend to waste money and have figured out the St. Petersburg metro system, we recommend staying in private apartments rather than hotels. Since renting apartments often costs much cheaperthan numbers.

In particular, near the Lesnaya metro station you can rent well-equipped apartments for 3-4 people. And get from there to Gostiny Dvor in about 20 minutes.

As for the city center, earlier booking can solve the problem of overnight accommodation without “all the money in the world.” For example, for a stay at the Marel 3 hotel on Nevsky 102, which is a couple of minutes walk from Vosstaniya Square, a couple of travelers will pay about 6 thousand rubles per day in early March.

And in a little worse, but still well located Demuth on Poltavskaya Street they will charge 4 thousand per night. And note that this hotel is also located very close to the Moskovsky railway station, just on the other side of Vosstaniya Square!

Here – which train is best to get to St. Petersburg from Moscow.

As for excursions, spending on them will not ruin citizens working in the public sector. For example, for an amount of around 800 – 1,000 rubles per person, they will give you an “amazing” tour of the city center.

And for a fee of about 2 – 2.5 thousand, a tourist will be able to see three suburban residences at once. In the summer season, exactly the same thing costs at least 1.5 times more.

Things to do

Such a gift (a trip in the first place, but flowers too), given to your beloved, will probably forever remain in her, and your, memory

However, if you visit St. Petersburg a little later, in the middle and end of March (during school holidays, for example), you can get a bonus in the form of warmer weather. And also several dropped prices!

What is worth seeing in St. Petersburg in spring? Mostly about the same as other months.

With perhaps the only exception – walks in parks and squares better to reduce it to a minimum. Well, or go to them in insulated rubber boots.

We advise you (once again?) to go to the State Hermitage Museum. Whose halls, as well as the paintings, seem to draw energy from the greatly increased length of the day, and in comparison with the winter months look much more optimistic.

The right step would be to visit the Russian Museum. Where you can easily go in the evening of the same day, having previously had a bite to eat at a cafe or pizzeria on Nevsky Prospekt.

It is better to make visits to both the State Hermitage and the Russian Museum on weekdaysto have the opportunity not to be in the crowd and carefully examine the immortal masterpieces. And then walk along Nevsky, carefully storing the impressions received in your memory…

It’s better to spend the weekend, for example, going to other St. Petersburg palaces. Well, or to museums – whichever is more in your heart!

For family travelers, we recommend interesting places in the center of St. Petersburg where you can go with children. Well, that is, those where they will probably like it.

Where to go

And for those who want to see something unusual, we recommend visiting Vyborg in 1 day. The most Swedish city in Russia, where houses much older than St. Petersburg itself have been preserved.

In the suburban parks of the Grand Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo or Gatchina in March it is almost certain there will still be snowtrying to melt and then freeze again. Which, in principle, should not discourage you from visiting.

After all, the main buildings of the former imperial residences are still interesting!

If not in a park full of melting snow and puddles, then you will probably enjoy it in the palace in Pavlovsk, which is not visited by many tourists. But we would advise leaving Peterhof until warmer times, when the local fountains begin their song!

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© Eurotraveler