Neva River and Canal Boat Tour

Private boat tours of St. Petersburg rivers and canals offer quite a different - and very popular! - way to experience St. Petersburg.

The city of St. Petersburg is situated on over 40 islands with more than 70 rivers and canals running through its territory. In the early years of St. Petersburg the city dwellers were making their way around the city by these waterways, as indeed was planned by the city's founder Peter the Great. The first stone mansions of the Russian nobility appeared along the waterways which still offer a unique glimpse at the history of Russia's naval capital.

St. Petersburg is often called the "Venice of the North," as it is very reminiscent of the city of Venice in Italy and Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Every embankment in St. Petersburg has a unique pattern of the grill-work decorating it. Similarly, every bridge comes with its own grill-work design which is not repeated anywhere else. Over 400 bridges of St. Petersburg are considered to be among the most beautiful in the world with some lavishly decorated with gold-leaf and others sporting intricate architectural designs.

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We welcome you to explore the beauty of St. Petersburg with one of our guides during a private boat tour. Unlike larger tour ships that cannot navigate smaller rivers and canals, chartering a small boat is definitely advantageous and will allow you to explore some hidden areas of St. Petersburg. During the tour you will travel the waters of the Neva River, Kanal Griboedova, Moika River, and Fontanka River.

Although we can arrange a boat tour of any duration, a 1.5-hour tour is usually sufficient to show our guests all major places of interest along the St. Petersburg waterways. During the tour your guide will tell you about the buildings and monuments you are passing by, as well as will provide a historic outlook of the visited area. After all, the city originated on the water and so its history is best explained from the waters of its rivers and canals.

Please let us know if you are interested and we will arrange for a private boat ride for you and your group members.

Tour availability: from mid-May until late September.

Official capital of Russia

2008 Optima Ltd., 35A Bolshoi Prospect, Suite 3-H, The Basil Island, St. Petersburg, Russia
Russian Federal Registry MBT 002189 | ASTA Member Number 900149383