- Amusement parks in St. Petersburg
- The best family parks in St. Petersburg
- Excursions in St. Petersburg for children and parents
- Water activities and water parks for children
- Sports: bicycles, roller skates, skates, skis
- Beaches of St. Petersburg
- Fun for the whole family in St. Petersburg
- Aquariums of St. Petersburg
- Petersburg planetariums
- Circus in St. Petersburg
- Zoos in St. Petersburg
- Where to take a walk with a child on vacation in St. Petersburg
- Museums for children
- Children's theaters in St. Petersburg
- New Year's holidays for children
- Shops and shopping centers
- Where to eat: canteens, restaurants, cafes
- Where to go for free
The northern capital of Russia is hardly inferior to Moscow in terms of the variety of opportunities for active and educational recreation. A huge number of museums, theaters, amusement parks and shopping centers open their doors every day for little guests and their parents. The answers to the question of where to go with your child in St. Petersburg can be found in a variety of city guides that are offered at the receptionists of most St. Petersburg hotels and in travel agencies. The northern capital warmly welcomes guests both in summer, when various events are held in the city as part of the White Nights holiday program, and in winter during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Amusement parks in St. Petersburg
A vacation or a day off is a great reason for a small family trip. The destination does not have to be exotic countries. There are dozens of amusement parks in St. Petersburg, where time flies even faster than a plane to a distant resort.
- Dozens of entertaining locations await 154 visitors in the Magic Mile at the Grand Canyon shopping mall on Engels Avenue. The play areas will be interesting for children from 1, 5 to 14 years old: trampolines and labyrinths, pools with balls and quests, slides and animators with a variety of entertainment programs - a day in the park flies by unnoticed, and a lot of impressions remain. In "Magic Mile" it is pleasant to celebrate a baby's birthday or to gather with friends for any other occasion.
- The intriguing name GorillaPark in the 5 Ozero shopping and entertainment complex at 14 Dolgoozernaya Street, bldg. 2, speaks for itself: in this entertainment complex of the northern capital, the guys feel like real discoverers in the wild jungle. The park has an obstacle course, climbing wall, trampoline town, bungee cages, labyrinths, electronic shooters and a cafe with cute dishes on the menu.
- The favorite of most young St. Petersburg residents and guests of the city is often called "Kidburg" - a city for children with its own currency, laws, shops and other attributes and institutions necessary for modern life. It is easy to choose a future profession in Kidburg: master classes and exciting game activities are held in the amusement park, where children get acquainted with adult realities. Two branches of the popular project have been opened in St. Petersburg - in the Piter Raduga shopping and entertainment center at 14 Kosmonavtov Street and at the Grand Canyon shopping and entertainment center at 154 Engels Avenue.
The best family parks in St. Petersburg
It is especially easy to come up with an interesting outdoor entertainment program for a child in the northern capital: the city is known for an abundance of green areas, many of which also have historical and cultural value.
The Central Park of Culture and Leisure on Elagin Island is a place loved by both the residents of St. Petersburg and its guests. The park is open all year round and is famous for its picturesque natural landscapes. Fans of excursions on historical and architectural themes will be happy to get acquainted with the complex of the Elaginoostrovsky Palace, which is protected as part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. Entertainment infrastructure of the Central Park of Culture and Leisure named after CM. Kirov includes a Norwegian rope park, a mini-zoo, boat and catamaran rental in summer, and two skating rinks in winter. The park hosts dozens of different festivals and social and cultural events.
The Polytechnic University Park is ideal for family walks in the fresh air at any time of the year. Its paths are asphalted, playgrounds are installed in several corners, bike paths are equipped, and in winter a cross-country ski track is laid in the park (the entrance is near the Polytechnicheskaya metro station).
In the park of the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg on Primorsky Prospekt, they thought thoroughly about family vacations. There are sports grounds, bike paths, alleys, which are convenient for rollerblading and skateboarding. The playgrounds are equipped with slides, climbing frames, sandpits and swings, and in winter skating rinks and slides for sledging and ice sledding are flooded. In summer, water lovers rush to the park: they sunbathe and have picnics on the beach on the bay.
The magical land of attractions Divo Islands on Kemskaya Street is another useful address for caring parents. The territory of the park is well-groomed and carefully equipped. On Divo Ostrov you will find a lake with a boat station, shady alleys with comfortable benches, a lot of greenery, but most importantly - a huge selection of attractions for young visitors of all ages. Swings and merry-go-rounds, racetracks and a Ferris wheel, slides and wheelchairs, as well as an interactive attraction "Star Wars" with laser and audio effects - you can spend the whole day in the Divo Ostrova park, especially in summer.
Gagarin Park is a modern playground where it is pleasant to take a walk with your parents. Children are happy to master rides and swings, jump on trampolines, examine the surroundings from the height of a Ferris wheel, enjoy ice cream and ride down slides. In winter, an ice rink with skate rental is flooded in the park, and in summer they offer canoeing on an artificial river. Kids have their own entertainments: chain carousels, and "The Sun", and teenagers will love the attractions "Giant steps" and the free fall tower. A wonderful play town awaits guests on the territory of the Moscow Victory Park.
The town of attractions in the South Primorsky Park of St. Petersburg on the Peterhof highway is another useful address in a parent's notebook. On the playgrounds of the Planet Leta there are several dozen attractions for children of different ages, including Chains and Pirate Ship, UFO and Autodrom. It's nice to just walk in the park and admire the complex of fountains, equipped with a three-color lighting system. A boat station and bike rental are available by the central pond.
Drowning in gadgets and electronic toys, our children are not too willing to tear themselves away from the virtual world, and therefore family walks in the park or square in the fresh air are always of special value.
Excursions in St. Petersburg for children and parents
Recently, private guides have been in great demand. Individual and group excursions are conducted by journalists, historians, architects and other interesting people - city connoisseurs who know how to captivate with their knowledge. Tourists are offered excursions to ordinary and little-known places, non-standard presentation of material and an individual approach. It is reliable, profitable and convenient.
Popular excursions for children in St. Petersburg
| Excursion name | Age | Excursion type |
|---|---|---|
| Peter and Paul Fortress for children | 5-16 years old | pedestrian |
| Hermitage for children and adults | 3-16 years old | pedestrian |
| Walks on Vasilievsky Island | 6-10 years old | pedestrian |
| Notable courtyards of St. Petersburg | pupils | pedestrian |
| Excursion-quest in the Summer Garden | pupils | pedestrian |
| Petersburg - the city of floods | pupils | pedestrian |
| Maritime history of St. Petersburg | pupils | pedestrian |
| Rooftop walks | pupils | pedestrian |
| To Tsarskoe Selo | pupils | pedestrian |
| Fountains of Peterhof | pupils | pedestrian |
| Sightseeing in St. Petersburg | any | bus |
Water activities and water parks for children
The St. Petersburg climate can hardly be classified as favorable for entertainment by the water. But children are children, and not a single child will refuse to splash in the pool or slide down the water slide with a squeal and laughter, even if it's freezing outside and winter is in full swing. For such purposes, water parks are being built in big cities. In St. Petersburg, they are often the leaders in the lists of the most favorite entertainment of the younger generation.
In the largest in the city "Piterland" on Primorsky Avenue, fun reigns in any weather. On an area of 25 thousand square meters. m. there are dozens of attractions and water slides, pools and artificial rivers, panoramic glazing and a dome of the water park designed according to the latest technology allow you to admire the most beautiful views of the Gulf of Finland. In "Piterland" there are several types of slides designed for kids, teenagers, and very extreme attractions. The lazy river is a favorite place for contemplators floating on "cheesecakes". It can be difficult to choose from a dozen different saunas and baths, but in any of them it is pleasant to warm up on a winter and frosty St. Petersburg day.
Rodeo Drive is located in the shopping center on Kultury Avenue. It is pleasant to relax here with the whole family, choosing from the sea of attractions suitable for your children. Seniors will appreciate the slides, which can be classified as extreme entertainment. The park's central pool is the perfect place for everyone to have fun, and the ocean wave pool is a real find for storm diving. The sauna complex with massage geysers and a jacuzzi is more popular with parents, and the smallest visitors enjoy spending time on the mini-slides "Rainbow" and "Snake".
Another useful address for lovers of water entertainment in St. Petersburg is the AquaComplex mini-water park at the Central Research Institute. Ak. Krylova on the Moscow highway. It is small and very cozy. There are rarely crowds of people in it, and therefore even its three water slides are enough for amateurs of entertainment. The plus of this water park is systematic aqua-shaping classes that you can go to with your children. The complex also has a 25-meter swimming pool, gym and karate section.
In the water and entertainment part of the St. Petersburg Voda complex on Primorskoye Highway, you can relax as in a traditional water park - ride with children from the water slides, admire the water and light shows and bask in the hammam. Voda hosts aqua aerobics a couple of times a week, while the Japanese restaurant offers the finest fish and seafood oriental dishes.
It is quite possible to imagine yourself on the crest of the Hawaiian wave amidst the St. Petersburg bad weather. To do this, just drive to the Sunpark water complex on Nikolskaya Street. In the wakeboard park, you will find an artificial surfing wave on which you can learn the basics of the popular tropical sport and hone your existing skills. At Sunpark they celebrate birthdays, celebrate the New Year in the company of like-minded people, and kids are happy to attend the children's wake club.
Sports: bicycles, roller skates, skates, skis
Children are perpetual motion machines and the best leisure activity for them is active entertainment. For example, cycling, during which you can get acquainted with the sights of St. Petersburg and quench your thirst for movement. You don't have to bring your own bike to St. Petersburg. There are several two-wheeled car rental networks in the northern capital.
- Velogorod offers its services in rental centers near all major metro stations and in the busiest city points. To get a bike, you will have to register in the system and make an advance payment.
- Bicycles are also rented by a chain of stores that sells them. It is called "Velodrive", and the rental points of this company are open even in the sleeping areas of the city.
- At the bike rental point on Gorokhovaya 43, you can rent a retro bike. It is pleasant to ride on these with children in the historical center of St. Petersburg and get acquainted with the sights that were found on the pages of school textbooks.
- At VeloStanciya in Uchebny Pereulok, 2, a child seat will be provided for any bike free of charge. So you can take walks even with the smallest family members. The lease can last for several days and even for a whole month - convenient if you came to St. Petersburg on vacation.
- The closest to the parks popular with parents with children are the rental points of the Pokatushkin chain. Taking a bicycle in one of them, you will find yourself in the immediate vicinity of Sosnovka, Udelny Park or Murinsky Stream.
In recent years, roller skating has been gaining momentum, and this type of active recreation is being mastered by girls and boys in various cities of the world. The popular roller club "Knees Dorogo" has several branches in St. Petersburg, and its rollerdromes are comfortably decorated, conveniently located and offer visitors the opportunity to park their cars for free. The instructors of the club are proud of their high qualifications and give skill lessons to young athletes. In the club you can learn the skills of skateboarding, roller skating and balance bikes, rent equipment and spend time actively, useful and in good company.
Skating rinks in the northern capital are flooded in every district of the city. Among them there are both winter and year-round ones, so young skaters will be able to spend time with their favorite pastime regardless of the weather forecast.
- The skating rink on the embankment of the Admiralty Canal on New Holland Island awaits guests every winter and offers equipment rental and a pretty interior.
- At the Laplandia Park skating rink on Krestovsky Island, visitors can go ice skating, feed deer, buy souvenirs at the New Year's fair, and watch entertainment performances on weekends.
- In the village of Mistolovo in Okhta Park, the skating rink is unusual, and its icy paths among the trees are effectively illuminated in the evenings.
- On the popular skating rink overlooking the Lakhta Center on the banks of the Neva Bay of Vasilyevsky Island, you can take skating lessons from professional instructors or demonstrate your skills to friends and family.
- On Elagin Island, after ice skating, it is pleasant to feed the squirrels who are waiting for visitors with nuts right on the park paths.
Skiing is another popular pastime in winter, and you can go skiing in St. Petersburg with your children. Ski resorts in the vicinity of the city are developing more and more actively every year and offer guests European service and high quality slopes and ski tracks.
- From ten slopes of the Okhta Park ski resort, it is not difficult to choose a suitable one for both a beginner and an experienced athlete, experienced instructors teach beginners here the basics of mastery, and a real snow park was built for fans of snowboarding.
- The all-season resort of Igora is no less popular in winter than in summer: ski slopes and snowboard slopes are laid on the slopes of its steep hills every year, and cozy cottages offer a comfortable and pleasant rest after an active day.
- On the slopes of Puhtolovaya Gora you can go downhill skiing and ride a snowmobile, go down the slope on a "cheesecake" and learn snowboarding under the supervision of a professional instructor.
- If you prefer cross-country skiing and are going to spend time outdoors with your children, go for a walk to the park of the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg, to the Tavrichesky Garden, the Rzhevsky forest park or to Elagin Island, where an excellent flat track is laid in winter.
Beaches of St. Petersburg
The long-awaited school holidays begin in the summer. With the arrival of heat, more and more people want to be in the fresh air, and especially near the water. In the vicinity of St. Petersburg there are several beaches where it is comfortable to sunbathe and swim with the whole family.
Ushkovo beach in the village of the same name north-west of Sestroretsk is the leader among those suitable for families. The beach is covered with clean fine sand, the water warms up here already in the first half of June, lifeguards are working on the shore, and the infrastructure includes changing rooms, showers, and toilets.
The beaches of the Suzdal Lakes in the village. Pargolovo to the north of St. Petersburg is very popular with water lovers. The shores of Lake Superior are equipped with changing cabins, the swimming area in the water is marked with buoys, and fine sand is poured on the beach.
Sestroretsk beach is no less comfortable place for a summer family vacation. The water near the shores of the Gulf of Finland near Sestroretsk warms up ideally closer to July, and then the high season begins on the Sestroretsk beach. The recreation area is equipped with everything you need - umbrellas, sun loungers, toilets and changing rooms. The beach is sandy, the entrance to the water is shallow, and the depth begins at a sufficient distance from the shore for safe swimming.
Fun for the whole family in St. Petersburg
Quests for children
Numerous companies organizing quests in St. Petersburg offer to train the family team spirit and spend time with children. The quest, which has become especially popular in recent years, as a type of active leisure, presupposes the full involvement of each of the participants in the game. In St. Petersburg there are quests for the smallest and teenagers. They are based on favorite fairy tales and adventure films. There are quests scary and funny, fabulous and detective, mystical and realistic.
Razoomgames has only positive reviews and offers its customers exciting quests about pirates, Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes and the world of Walt Disney. In the world of Razoomgames quests, you can celebrate a child's birthday by inviting his best friends, or hold any memorable family holiday by choosing one of the many scenarios offered.
In "Questrum" your children will find themselves at home, go on a polar expedition, catch a superhero and get out of the trap of a crazy professor. The company offers to go through the school of detectives Sherlock Holmes and find stolen inventions, moreover, all locations are equipped with unusually realistic special effects.
The smallest visitors to the ZaSov quests in Levashovsky Proyezd are delighted to master the locations "The Jungle is Calling" and "Sofa Battles". Teenagers will appreciate the realistic quests "The Secret of the Golden Owl" and "The Perfect Robbery", and history buffs will be interested in taking part in the game "In August 44". ZaSov is known for its special creative approach to the implementation of its projects, and the decorators, directors and actors working in this project are true masters of their craft.
Rope parks
Spending time actively, and even with parents, is the dream of any child who spends too much time reading textbooks. Rope parks can help with this. In St. Petersburg, such attractions work both in shopping and entertainment centers and in the open air.
Koshkino Park is the largest among those located "in nature". It is located on the shores of Lake Ladoga in the village of Koshkino. Its tracks are marked with different colors, depending on the level of difficulty. The routes are laid in a coniferous forest right along the branches of trees and each of them is controlled by instructors. There are nine trails in total, and the “yellow” one is optimal for a family hike. After an active holiday in Koshkino, you can have a picnic in the fresh air and even spend the night in the camping area.
The network of rope parks "TriTuTri" has branches in Ozerki and Repino. Their runs are ideal for beginners and have a minimum height of 120cm. Instructors teach guests the basics of a popular outdoor activity and monitor the safe passage of the trails.
The Rope Park “Energy of Heights” on Sofiyskaya Street occupies a worthy place in the list of the largest similar projects in the country. The park is covered and has 11 tracks, laid at five different heights. Four-year-olds can start practicing in the club, but even for advanced "ropemen" in "Energy of Height" there is a route that is suitable in terms of difficulty.
The Norway Park rope park network is represented in St. Petersburg by four branches. Outside the city - at the recreation center "Okunevaya" and in the village. Orekhovo, and in St. Petersburg itself - in the London Mall on Kollontai street and in the Mega Dybenko shopping and entertainment complex on the Murmansk highway. All sites of the network are distinguished by a special variety of routes, covering all age categories - from the smallest children to their parents.
The popularity of rope parks is not accidentally gaining momentum: at the time of the craze for electronic toys, the younger generation is increasingly trapped in physical inactivity with all the unpleasant consequences that follow from a sedentary lifestyle.
Trampoline centers
Trampoline jumping is another great way to get cheerful and fun. Moreover, this type of active recreation is so firmly included in the life of townspeople that many of them switch from one-time entertainment to regular activities. Jumping on a trampoline can help relieve stress, improve blood circulation, strengthen your psyche, and even allow you to make new friends. New trampoline centers in St. Petersburg are opening with enviable constancy, and it becomes quite easy to choose the most convenient one for yourself.
Guests of the Piterland trampoline park in the shopping center of the same name on Primorsky Prospekt, 72, are waiting for a dozen trampolines, foam pits and towers and special devices for practicing tricks by "flying skiers". The basics of mastery of visitors are taught by professional trainers.
In Skylife on Moskovskoe shosse, 7, children who are six years old and older, and their parents are waiting. The park has equipment for both beginners and experienced jumpers - trampolines of various heights and degrees of rigidity, pits and towers for practicing tricks, as well as a basketball court.
Even the name of the Space Park trampoline center at 27 Dunaysky Avenue has a cosmic note. The equipment of this active recreation center is really the most modern, and the number of trampolines is more than two dozen. In the park, you can play dodgeball and just have some carefree fun. The park organizers expect visitors from 5 years old and older.
When planning family activities in the trampoline center, study the visiting rules on the companies' websites and, in particular, the requirements for clothing in which it is convenient and safe to practice jumping.
Karting for children in St. Petersburg
Modern man cannot imagine his life without a car. It is not surprising that boys and girls from an early age strive to learn to drive a car in order to be like the most authoritative adults for them - their parents. Karting grounds offer you to try your hand at motor sports.
The PitStop karting club network in St. Petersburg is one of the best. The points are located in different districts of the northern capital and are in service with the club - modern maps with an increased level of security. Visitors are offered trails of varying degrees of difficulty and length, and in children's schools you can take a series of training sessions. The PitStop network prides itself on the high safety of its kart circuits: the tracks are provided with plastic bumpers, the equipment meets international certification standards, and the employees strictly enforce the rules. Such conditions are a guarantee of a comfortable rest while driving a kart, especially if you came to study with a child.
The Primo-karting club on Magnitogorskaya street also provides an opportunity to train young riders. There are adults and children cars on the karting track. The karts for young athletes are distinguished by a special degree of safety and low speed, which the car can develop to the maximum. The club employs professional instructors who train young riders in such important qualities as attentiveness, endurance, quick reaction and the ability to make informed decisions.
In the "Joker Kart" karting club on Gakkelevskaya street, even five-year plans can become pilots. The karting course for young athletes lasts two months. During this time, children learn not only to drive a car, but also to calculate their strengths, to fight honestly and to race in compliance with safety rules.
Wind tunnel for children
Children often fly in their dreams, but in reality such flights have so far been possible only by airplanes. Fortunately, technology does not stand still, and the entertainment industry is often the field of application of the latest advances in engineering. The wind tunnel is one of the popular family entertainment today, and you can now fly on weekends in a nearby shopping center or park.
In the shopping and entertainment complex "Peter Raduga" on Kosmonavtov Avenue, 14, lovers of the air element are waiting for the AeroDream wind tunnel every day. Free flight in the simulator is carried out with the help of a powerful air flow, and even four-year-olds can soar above the surrounding reality. The attraction is accompanied by video and photography, so that its participants, upon returning to the ground, could remember vivid emotions during the flight. The safety of the guests is monitored by a team of instructors who are ready to fly with beginners for the first time for moral and physical support.
The FlyStation wind tunnel on the 7th km of the Toksovskoye Highway in St. Petersburg does not want to yield to others the palm in popularity. Children can fly in the simulator together with adults or an instructor, and experienced athletes can hone their high-skill figures. The air speed in FlyStation can reach 300 km / h, while the maximum lifting height is 17 m.
Only excellent reviews and "Aerotube on Krestovsky" on the Northern road. The attraction was developed for training parachutists, and today it is successfully used for outdoor activities and even strengthening the vestibular apparatus in children and adults. The company offers lessons with professional trainers and family sessions. Children from the age of four are allowed to participate.
When planning flights with younger family members, consider equipment that meets safety requirements. You can always get advice by calling the numbers indicated on the sites of the Aerotube amusement rides.
Aquariums of St. Petersburg
As in any museum, the aquarium has its own exhibits, but, unlike museum exhibits, they are alive and it is interesting to watch them. More than 4, 5 thousand different representatives of the fauna of the World Ocean live in the St. Petersburg Oceanarium on Marata Street. During the excursion, visitors will get acquainted with the inhabitants of fresh and salt waters, coral reefs and the polar seas - a real circumnavigation, if you turn your imagination on at full power. In the Oceanarium of the northern capital, you can also watch a daily shark show, during which professional divers-trainers communicate with representatives of the family of the most predatory marine life.
Passions are also simmering at the performances in the St. Petersburg Dolphinarium on Konstantinovsky Prospekt: not only dolphins, but also white whales with sea lions participate in the performances. All animals have special artistic talents. They jump into the ring, dance, sing and even paint in front of the amazed audience. In recent years, dolphin therapy has taken a large place in the rehabilitation programs for young patients, but just as a way to raise the mood, a visit to the dolphinarium is quite suitable.
Petersburg planetariums
The northern capital has always had a reputation as a city of science and educated people. For more than half a century, its oldest planetarium has been revealing to curious visitors the essence of the secrets of the universe. There are several halls in it: "Horizon", "Star", "Space travel", "Entertaining illusions" and "Entertaining experiences". Lectures on the topic "The Evolutionary Universe" are more suitable for older students, and for young visitors the employees of the St. Petersburg Planetarium in Alexandrovsky Park have prepared a fascinating theatrical performance based on the fairy tale "The Little Prince". Sand shows "Eugene Onegin" and "Alchemist" are also popular with viewers of all ages.
The second St. Petersburg planetarium is a world record holder. The diameter of its dome is 37 meters, and the equipment of the main hall uses four dozen powerful projectors participating in a unified multimedia broadcasting system. In the Planetarium 1 program at 74 Obvodny Canal Embankment, you will find full-dome films about space exploration and the structure of our universe. For young viewers, the movie "Myshata and the Moon" is of particular interest. In a playful way, the film tells about important scientific knowledge and the laws of the universe - a real masterpiece of planetary content for little astronomers.
Circus in St. Petersburg
The circus has been and remains one of the favorite family vacation spots. Having taken their seats in the hall, the kids with bated breath wait for their favorite clowns to enter the arena, rejoice at the sight of magicians and equilibrists, and trapeze artists make the audience gasp with delight and close their eyes with their palms. There are several stationary circuses in St. Petersburg, and during the holidays you can watch everyone's program with pleasure.
The main arena of the northern capital was opened in 1877. Since then, the Bolshoi St. Petersburg State Circus on the Fontanka River Embankment tirelessly gives good mood to both young spectators and their dads and mothers. The circus building itself occupies a worthy place in the list of city attractions, and its interior is decorated with royal luxury. The technical capabilities of the modern St. Petersburg circus are amazing. Each performance here is a real triumph of creative thought, intertwined with the modern achievements of advanced science.
The circus in Avtovo opened in 1995. Its building was designed by the French, and it is unique in its own way: the structure is a metal frame, covered with a fabric awning. The circus program of the arena in Avtovo always includes traditional circus acts - performances of clowns and jugglers, trained animals and clowns, magicians and aerial acrobats.
The Uppsala Circus on the Sverdlovskaya Embankment in St. Petersburg is a unique project. Street children undergo social rehabilitation there, and professional trainers conduct classes at the School of Circus Pedagogy. Guests are invited to dive into the wonderful world of circus performances given by former hooligans, as the artists call themselves. The circus for hooligans is a place permeated with a special atmosphere of kindness, and young spectators are always comfortable and cozy here.
Zoos in St. Petersburg
One of the oldest in the country and the northernmost in the world, the Leningrad Zoo in Alexander Park first received visitors back in 1865. Today, there are dozens of pavilions on its territory, where animals, birds, insects and reptiles from all over the world are kept. The Leningrad Zoo is home to lions and primates, giraffes and kangaroos, small carnivores and African elephant giants. For the smallest visitors, a contact area is open, where children enthusiastically feed and pet chickens, rabbits and lambs. For curious young naturalists, the Path of the Pathfinder works, following which you can get answers to many questions about biology and natural science. The park holds monthly themed quizzes, excursions and game libraries, and also invites visitors to have fun on the amusement site.
You can visit animals not only in the Alexander Garden. Several contact zoos have been opened in St. Petersburg, where children get great pleasure from communicating with our younger brothers.
- Representatives of the Forest Republic live in the Forest Embassy in the Montpensier shopping center (59 Planernaya Street), and the visiting kids happily feed them and walk along with the inhabitants of the animal state.
- Funny monkeys and colorful parrots, fluffy raccoons and cute rabbits are waiting for the little ones in the Contact Zoo on Nevsky. You can stroke and hold absolutely everyone - even a kangaroo arriving from Australia (Bolshaya Morskaya, 5).
- An excursion-walk through the interactive museum of nature "Zhivoi Klyuch", which presents the inhabitants of the most different climatic zones of our planet, is an excellent plan for a family weekend (Rubinshteina 2-45).
- In the shopping center "RIO" (st. Fucika, 2) there is also an exotic zoo, where a hot tropical forest with exotic birds and animals has been recreated.
Where to take a walk with a child on vacation in St. Petersburg
And also in the lists of popular places where you can go with the whole family in St. Samoilova "Red October" on English passage. An excursion to the production site, where famous delicacies are made, does not leave indifferent any little sweet tooth. Moreover, at the end of the walk through the sweet shops, delicious gifts await visitors. Accordingly, the reviews are only enthusiastic.
Walking in the Botanical Garden of St. Petersburg on Professor Popov Street is especially pleasant in spring and summer, when every tree, bush or flower bed is green and blooming. But even in winter, the greenhouses of the garden resemble a tropical fairy tale, because more than 7 thousand exotic plants from different parts of the world are planted in them. In addition to excursions, the Botanical Garden offers visitors a place for family photo shoots and children's play programs.
An excellent place for family walks is the ecological and biological center on Krestovsky Island. All excursions and activities in the center are dedicated to wildlife. Visitors will find thematic interactive compositions: “Around the World in Shops” - about the products that a person gets in nature; "In the Footsteps of Cyrus Smith" - about devices that allow you to study the world around you; "Museum of the Sea" with an exposition telling about the life and life of the Pomors and the inhabitants of the northern White Sea. The eco-center also has aquariums, an arboretum, a greenhouse with exotic plants and a mini-zoo.
Museums for children
The northern capital of Russia is often called an open-air museum: its architectural monuments and entire streets are real masterpieces of a global scale. It is not surprising that the St. Petersburg museum expositions are especially valuable and interesting for both adult visitors and young curious guests.
Museum "Grand Model Russia" on Tsvetochnaya Street makes a real sensation for children of absolutely any age. It presents a model of our country: from the westernmost point of the Kaliningrad region to the distant Kamchatka volcanoes. The relief of the model is absolutely realistic - with mountains, valleys, rivers and lakes, cities and villages, and the "live" structure of the exposition allows you to observe not only the change of day and night, but also trains running along the railways, working factories and even people vacationing at resorts.
Another realistic, but already historical museum exposition is the Petrovskaya water area on Malaya Morskaya street in the Admiral shopping and entertainment complex. It is dedicated to the emergence of St. Petersburg and the birth of the Russian fleet. The model is a real body of water - a small copy of the water area of the Gulf of Finland and the Neva. Replicas of ships of the Petrine era walk on the water, people on the streets are dressed in real costumes of those years, and the light and sound effects faithfully imitate the living conditions of the city and even the changing weather.
Excursions to all the significant architectural sights of St. Petersburg may seem tiresome to the little traveler, but he certainly will not refuse to see all their miniature copies at once. In the Alexander Garden there is a museum "Petersburg in miniature", where the small St. Isaac and Kazan Cathedrals, the Winter Palace, the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Mikhailovsky Castle and many other famous St. Petersburg buildings are collected right in the open air.
Every child has heard about the flea-shod craftsman, but you can see the works of the same skilled craftsmen in the Russian Levsha Museum on Italyanskaya Street. The exposition is based on a collection of masterpieces by Siberian Vladimir Aniskin. The most popular exhibit, of course, is the legendary flea, but the camel in the eye of the needle and the chessboard that fits on the match head are also worthy of attention.
Curious visitors to the LabyrinthUm Museum on Leo Tolstoy Street are always pleased with the excursion. In the halls of the museum, explanations of the complex laws of physics and nature of various phenomena from our lives are presented, moreover, active participation in the process of the guests themselves in the LabyrinthUm is not only possible, but also desirable.
The history of the emergence and development of communications in Russia - from the postal service to modern satellites - is presented in the Central Museum of Communications. AS Popov in Pochtamtsky lane. The exposition demonstrates the principle of operation of old telephone lines, the first television receivers, civil satellites and, of course, the radio invented by Popov.
The Wax Museum is always a success wherever it is located in the world. St. Petersburg is no exception, and at the exhibition in Gostiny Dvor you can always hear children's voices. Taking pictures with the heroes of your favorite cartoons or popular film actors, taking a closer look at famous politicians and musicians - you can spend an exciting whole day in the Museum of Wax Figures in St. Petersburg.
The Museum of Dolls in St. Petersburg on Kamskaya Street is a must-see not only for girls. His collection tells about the role of dolls in the holidays and the everyday life of our ancestors, about the history of puppet theaters, about toys and their evolution. The collection of the museum also includes items of decorative and applied art, theatrical masks and souvenir dolls showing costumes from different eras.
For fans of Russian literature, the acquaintance with Pushkin's places, which are collected in a single museum complex called the All-Russian Museum of A. S. Pushkin (six locations in St. Petersburg), is of particular value.
An excursion to the Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineering Troops and Communications in Aleksandrovsky Park will surely appeal to boys and girls who dream of an officer career and are interested in weapons and the history of their development.
If it is customary in your family to play board games, go all together to Nevsky Prospekt. The exposition of the Museum of Board Games "Igroved" is interactive. You can touch all the exhibits, play everything, and discounts are provided for the currency received for correct answers to the guide's questions in the store selling popular "board games".
Children's theaters in St. Petersburg
Going to the theater has always been and remains a great event for those in love with the stage, and in St. Petersburg there are several venues where performances that are interesting for a young audience are staged.
A world-renowned puppet theater, the Bolshoi Puppet Theater on Nekrasov Street in St. Petersburg has been opening its doors to little guests for over 80 years. The audience is greeted by a collection of dolls "living" in the foyer, and chairs of a special design are installed in the auditorium, allowing visitors of any age and height to see the stage perfectly. One of the most popular performances of the troupe is "The Little Prince".
At the St. Petersburg Comedy Theater named afterN. P. Akimov on Nevsky Prospekt arrange performances not only for adults. One of the troupe's favorite performances is the fairy tale "Cinderella", staged in the genre of musical comedy. The costumes of the heroes and stage decorations are worthy of special attention. The St. Petersburg theater successfully combines the latest technologies with age-old traditions, re-opening old plots for young spectators.
The stage of the Young Spectators' Theater, which is popular among young viewers. Bryantseva on Pionerskaya Square always has in its repertoire classical and modern performances for children and adolescents. Particularly well-known are the productions of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn based on Twain and Deniskin's Tales by Dragunsky, and for preschool audiences the troupe offers the performances The Wizard of the Emerald City, The Little Humpbacked Horse and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
The plot about Tom Sawyer is also reflected in the repertoire of the St. Petersburg Musical Comedy Theater on Italyanskaya Street. In addition to Twain's works, the troupe's repertoire for schoolchildren includes the performances "Bris!" and "Mysterious Garden".
In the St. Petersburg Museum-Theater "Skazkin Dom", the site of which is located on Gorkovskaya Street, performances are staged in a modern now interactive manner, and in the Children's Musical Theater "Zazerkalye" will especially appeal to fans of musical performances - musicals, operettas and mysteries.
New Year's holidays for children
New Year is not for nothing considered a favorite family holiday. This time full of wonders and magic coincides with long school holidays, and parents have the opportunity to spend more time with their children. A trip to St. Petersburg during the winter school holidays is a great way to get acquainted with the northern capital and its sights, especially since many festive events take place on the New Year that are interesting for tourists and city residents.
- A fair is held on Manezhnaya Square in the northern capital during the winter school holidays. In addition to shopping pavilions with souvenirs, sweets, festive pastries and hot drinks, the fair also has an amusement town and a manor house of the main New Year's wizard, Father Frost.
- Carnival performances and New Year's entertainment programs are held in most of St. Petersburg's parks and city shopping and entertainment centers. Water parks, a zoo, city museums and circus grounds are preparing their own New Year's program.
- Interesting performances dedicated to Christmas and New Year's traditions are presented to young spectators by the theater companies of St. Petersburg - the Karlsson Haus puppet theater, the Youth Theater and the Bolshoi Puppet Theater.
Shops and shopping centers
Weekends and vacations are a great excuse to update your wardrobe or buy essential supplies and teaching aids for your student. But modern stores are not just an assortment of goods with counters and cashiers. In shopping centers of St. Petersburg, you can have fun in playrooms, children's cafes, amusement parks and amusement parks.
The Galereya shopping and entertainment center on Ligovsky prospect is one of the largest in the city. It is located in the historical center of the northern capital. Under its roof, there are more than 300 retail outlets, a dozen cinemas, and on the food court there are many cafes and restaurants.
In the shopping center "MEGA Dybenko" on the 12th km of the Murmansk highway, parents with children are not only provided with a playground with swings and slides. There is a children's club in MEGA Dybenko, where you can take part in master classes, watch a performance or have fun at an animation show. The shopping center has more than a dozen specialized children's stores and a hairdresser for young visitors.
"Wonderful City" with a children's food court, educational and development studios and a variety of attractions in the Grand Canyon shopping mall on Engels Avenue is a place of attraction for the surrounding children. The shopping center also houses an interactive museum, a mini-zoo, a trampoline center, a rope park and a fear room for the bravest.
The whole family invites guests to the Pearl Plaza shopping and entertainment center on the Peterhof highway to spend the weekend. This shopping complex has a cinema and amusement park with attractions, a quest center and an active family park. Visitors will be able to refresh themselves at the food court, where restaurants and cafes with cuisine from different countries of the world are presented, and the stores offer a wide range of goods for both children and adults for all occasions.
Active visitors of a young age are invariably delighted with the offer to spend time in the Leto shopping and entertainment center on Pulkovskoye Shosse. In addition to a cinema with nine halls, a trampoline center and a karting area, a quest studio and a segway are waiting for little visitors with their parents. The mall has playgrounds with traditional attractions and an indoor skating rink open all year round.
In shopping centers of St. Petersburg, festive events, sales and various promotions are often held, the details of the organization of which can be found on the sites of the objects.
Where to eat: canteens, restaurants, cafes
Any walk in a big city requires a lot of effort from both adults and kids. It never hurts to recuperate and refresh yourself on the way, and in St. Petersburg there are no problems with this. Where to eat with a child so that the little tourist is satisfied? In the northern capital, there are many catering establishments of all price categories with a "children's" bias.
- Pyshechnaya on Bolshaya Konyushennaya, 25 is a real urban legend with fragrant crispy pastries, delicious refreshing lemonade from the Soviet past and a fluffy ginger cat, which is fed by both visitors and staff - what is needed for a good mood and recuperation.
- Coming down from the colonnade of St. Isaac's Cathedral, it is most convenient to have a meal in the Teplo restaurant-living room at 45 Bolshaya Morskaya Street, with free afternoon snacks for kids on weekdays and a playground with slides and swings.
- If your student loves books, dine at the Art Cafe-Club "Books and Coffee" on Gagarinskaya, 20, where, in addition to homemade desserts and delicious soups, they serve books that you can read and even buy your favorite.
- After sunbathing, it is pleasant to spend time at dinner at the Smelt restaurant on the beach of Hare Island, admiring the Neva River and enjoying the suggestions of a special menu with children's favorite dishes such as french fries and sausages on a stick baked in dough.
- The zest of the cat café Respublika Kotov at 60 Liteiny and Respublika Kots at 10 Yakubovich is not in the exquisite menu (all dishes are simple and inexpensive), but in the special atmosphere created by the fluffy inhabitants, each of whom will be happy to be adopted.
- The contact mini-zoo at the Karl and Friedrich Brewery on the South Road of Krestovsky Island reconciles adult and children's interests in catering.
Where to go for free
Many entertainment events in the northern capital are absolutely free, and you can go with your child to Shrovetide festivities in the park of the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg, for example, or to the winter fire festival "Christmas Star".
Most of St. Petersburg's museums regularly hold open days when there is no need to buy tickets. Information about such promotions is published on the websites of museums in advance. For example, every third Thursday of the month is the day of free excursions to the Zoological Museum, where a collection of both modern and prehistoric animals is presented.
On May 9, at the walls of the Peter and Paul Fortress, you can admire the festive fireworks in honor of the Victory Day, and at the end of summer - become a spectator or even a participant in the “It's Easy to Fly” kite festival on the shore of the Gulf of Finland.
