Indulge your passion for Art Nouveau on this 4-hour private tour of Saint Petersburg. Your expert guide will illuminate why this artistic style, known as Modern Style in Russia, holds a special place in the city’s history, offering a unique blend of variations and distinctive features.
We have designed this 4-hour private tour because we want to accompany you on the discovery of the beautiful art nouveau available in the city of St Petersburg.
This journey will take you through the “Venice of the North” in comfort, with stops to admire its architectural gems. We’ll begin at the magnificent Vitebsk Train Station, an Art Nouveau masterpiece originally redesigned in 1904 to accommodate travel westward from Saint Petersburg. The station is a showcase of Jugendstil elegance, with its floral decorative reliefs, stained glass, sweeping staircases, and soaring arches.
Driving through the city center, you’ll see highlights such as the iconic Eliseev’s grocery store, a stunning example of Art Nouveau inside and out. If you’d like, we can pause here to enjoy coffee and cakes in its charming café. You’ll also catch a glimpse of the House of Books, Saint Petersburg’s tallest building in 1904, embodying the modernist spirit of its time.
Next, we’ll explore Petrograd Island, historically a prestigious district of the city where affluent residents built luxurious Art Nouveau mansions and dachas. Here, you’ll discover architectural treasures like the Kshesinskiy Mansion, designed in 1904 by court architect Alexander von Hohen. This elegant building, now home to the Museum of Political History of Russia, is a striking example of Art Nouveau, with its asymmetrical design, octagonal tower, and intricate use of contrasting materials such as pink and grey granite, cream bricks, iron railings, and majolica tiles. Although we won’t enter the mansion, the exterior is sure to captivate.
We’ll also pass by the Lidval House, a true Art Nouveau masterpiece, as well as other beautiful examples of the style on the island.
After this enriching journey, we’ll return you to your hotel or any central location of your choice.
A private car or minivan with a professional driver will be at your service for the entire tour.