Peterhof is perhaps St Petersburg's most famous and spectacular Imperial estate. The Grand Palace, filled with fascinating and elaborate interiors, sits on top of a high seashore ridge overlooking the vast Lower Park. The palace at Peterhof sits amidst an enormous park, adorned with fountains, statues and pavilions. Numbers are limited to 6 people on this small-group tour, ensuring you'll receive personalized attention from your guide.
The Upper Garden, located between the St Petersburg highway and the Grand Palace, is a typical French-style formal garden with five fountains including one depicting Neptune, the God of the Sea. The estate's Lower Park lies between the Grand Palace and the seashore and boasts the world's largest system of fountains, earning it the title the "Russian Versaille". The park's unique fountain system was designed in the 18th century and doesn't require the use of any pumps to operate the fountains.
There are three major cascades and over 140 fountains in the park. The most impressive is the Grand Cascade, located directly below the Grand Palace, which features an impressive golden statue of Samson grasping the mighty jaws of the lion. The park's other cascades feature black and white chess board designs, Chinese dragons and numerous other features definitely worth seeing!
The guide was knowledgeable. The palace was nice. The tour was a bit rushed, probably because there are a lot of tourists. I wished there was more time to roam around the garden and the fountain area. The garden would be nice during autumn/winter.
Review by: Leslie T, March 2018
Great tour and must see. Mita great guide!
Review by: rosa e, November 2017
This tour was amazing!
Review by: John R, October 2017
Everything went according to plan. Our guide Dasha, was highly knowledgeable and an altogether enjoyable person. Peterhof is a rare treasure and we are glad we made the trip.
Review by: Toppo P, August 2017
Very good. We booked the tour to go there on a Monday then we learnt later that the palace is usually closed on Monday. We wrote an enquiry to the tour operator, who responded well and reassured that the tour would go on. Then we could really enter the palace on that day ! Along with a number of other guided tours
Review by: Raquel J, July 2017
It was a great experience!
Review by: Ariela z, June 2017
best trip everrrr!!!!
Review by: David U, June 2017
We had a very enjoyable day at the Peterhof. The car that collected us from our hotel was in good condition and the driver drove very safely both to and from the venue. _br/_ Our guide spoke very good English and was very knowledgeable about the both Peterhof and St Petersburg in general. The Peterhof itself was very impressive and even better than it looks in the photos. There is plenty to see and a half day makes for a bit of a rushed visit, perhaps more so in our case as the trip was cut short as the driver had to be back by a certain time. Apart from this slight disappointment we had a very good day. We booked this very last minute and this maybe why the driver had a deadline. A tour of the Peterhof should definitely be on your agenda during a visit to St Petersburg.
Review by: David U, June 2017
We had a very enjoyable day at the Peterhof. The car that collected us from our hotel was in good condition and the driver drove very safely both to and from the venue. _br/_ Our guide spoke very good English and was very knowledgeable about the both Peterhof and St Petersburg in general. The Peterhof itself was very impressive and even better than it looks in the photos. There is plenty to see and a half day makes for a bit of a rushed visit, perhaps more so in our case as the trip was cut short as the driver had to be back by a certain time. Apart from this slight disappointment we had a very good day. We booked this very last minute and this maybe why the driver had a deadline. A tour of the Peterhof should definitely be on your agenda during a visit to St Petersburg.
Review by: Hwa-Young C, June 2017
It was a beautiful day and we really enjoyed it! The tour was very well organized and our guide gave us very helpful and interesting historical information. It has nothing to do with the tour company, but I really wished we had more time. We had one hour in the palace and one hour in the garden. I wish we had time to visit other buildings - chapel and smaller mansion. Our tour did not include the visits to those. Since it took two hours, both ways for our round trip from the city center, I think it would have been more fun to stay there longer, to spend more time in the garden, especially, and visit the chapel. If I could do it next time, I would find a tour that gives more time, or even do it on our own. Nonetheless it was a good tour. I learned a lot about St. Petersburg that I would not have known if I did it alone.
Review by: Beth A, June 2017
On the half day tour you get to go thru the palace and the lower gardens. While these are spectacular, on busy days you will be rushed thru the palace. If possible try to see the lower garden first and then the palace later in the day. _br/_ Our guide was very good the the transportation back and forth from the hotel was also very good. The only bad experience was having to wait in two entrance lines because they were giving our guide the run around on which entrance to use. This easily wasted a half an hour of our time there._br/_ If you want to see more than those areas then look at a longer tour because there is lots to see.
Review by: tomzirk, June 2017
Very crowded during tour and little time to view each room.
Review by: Igor Chernyega, June 2017
Out of all the tours, the Midnight St Petersburg Cruise: Drawbridges and Canals and this one took the cake for me and my family. Petrodvorets is ABSOLUTELY STUNNING. The best manicured lawns, and prettiest fountains I have ever seen. And also... HAND-FED SQUIRRELS! Bring some nuts with you to feed these cute little animals. It's quite an experience. I can't recommend this tour enough.
Review by: Sarah M, April 2017
Lovely guide, I would highly recommend.
Review by: MEI MEI C, November 2016
very nice trip, will recommended to all my friends.
Review by: Hanspeter W, September 2016
an unforgettable experience! Excellent car and driver. Our personal guide Ms Daria Yakovleva can be highly recommended. She is very knowledgable and very polite and goes out of her way to show us the most possible in the short time available. Thank you for all - VIATOR and Ms. Daria Yakovleva
Review by: Michele d, August 2016
Too expensive
Review by: val.keirl, August 2016
Anastasia was our English speaking guide, very informed, eagerly answered questions and kept us to time and schedule. Her sense of humour fitted well with our party of 4 and whilst sharing all relevant information did not take the lecture pose but more of a relaxed conversation. Thank you for your warm welcome Anastasia!
Review by: patriciac, August 2016
We ejoyed Peterhof a lot and our local guide was nice
Review by: Giancarlo M, June 2016
Great tour.
Review by: Hanneke C, June 2016
Building and parc of amazing beauty!_br/_ But..._br/_ Too many people! No time to look at things or to read the explanations. _br/_ The quide was ok but the guards in the museum chased us throug the building like cattle.
Review by: Marco P, April 2016
Lida was an excellent tour guide for both the drive to Peterhof, Russian history as well as the interior of Peterhof room by room, the Russian Royal Family and of course the grounds of Peterhof. Wow!
Review by: Esin K, February 2016
I know the highlight of this tour is the garden and fountains. Winter does not allow to see this. However, we were lucky that the statues in the garden were not covered. This, I do believe that it is still well worth to see the palace and garden. It is also well worth the trip while we were informed about history and surrounding by our guide Lida.
Review by: Julie E, October 2015
We visited on a day that Peterhof was closed. Since we had tickets, we were permitted entry. WOW!!! No tourists and the palace almost to ourselves. I could not have requested a better guide. The day was perfect. Highly Recommend!!
Review by: TERENCE T, September 2015
The Guide was very helpful and showed us lots of intersting sites._br/_ She also helped by knowing where to access the venue and ensure that we did not have to queue for a long time, we also managed to view special events when they happened rather than miss them.
Review by: Milt B, August 2015
One of the most impressive places to visit in the world. _br/_ Don't miss it.
Review by: Michelle S, June 2015
Friendly and informative guide- would highly recommend this tour!
Review by: Lorenext, May 2015
Excellent Tour!! Lidia our tour guide was very kind and knowledgeable, so we learnt a lot during this trip!! additionally, it was amazing being able to see the fountains!! it is really something worth to see!!
Review by: KERRY R, May 2015
This trip was all I had hoped for. I missed the Peterhoff in 2010 when I was here. Our tour guide, Lyda, was incredible, sharing her knowledge and patiently answering questions.This was the highlight of my stay.
Review by: JOHN KURIAN P, September 2014
This tour was amazing!
Review by: ROSA MARIA D, June 2014
Beautiful
Review by: William B, June 2014
LIda, our guide again, took us to Peterhof which is a fascinating and beautiful compound. She highlighted the key elements of the estate, providing sufficient time to walk around the gardens. Lida has a good command of English._br/_
FYI -- When available, go by hydrofoil instead of car because it is a shorter ride and allows additional time at Peterhof: the highlight of St. Petersburg.
Review by: Richard C, March 2014
Excellent tour. Guide very informative, efficient and personable.
Review by: Myra C, December 2013
Guide, Margarita, was superb.
Review by: John D, August 2013
This interpreter was very good, but we had to ride with a large group to the location and then had to wait for the large group to go in and only then, we had our small group._br/_
I was disappointed on that the whole ride to Peterhof the tour guide spoke in Russian only.
Review by: ARTA O, August 2013
Always could be better, but it was good. I liked this trip and our gid Katya.
Review by: Sharon F, July 2013
I gave this one more star than our Catherine's Palace tour because the management mistake was not as severe. On this tour, again the guide was excellent but we (5 of us) paid extra to be picked up at our hotel and dropped off at our river cruise ship. Our guide had not been told by his management office to take us to our ship. He had no idea where the shipped was docked and we got lost twice trying to find it. He was very angry with his office for not giving him this information. Again, the tour was great, management was not.
Review by: Linda G, June 2013
This was a great opportunity to see a spectacular piece of St Petersburg's history. The tour group was small (just the six of us) and the guide and driver were very friendly and helpful. Lida was well informed so gave us lots of good information. The only downside was it was a bit short. The others on the tour were from a cruise ship and there was a delay in them getting clearance to leave the ship. This had the unfortunate effect of cutting short our time at Peterhof as they needed to head back to complete the rest of their schedule in the afternoon and we had only booked Peterhof. An extra 30-40 minutes at the gardens would have been appreciated.
Review by: Maurice R, June 2013
The palace and the grounds, particularly the cascades, were spectacular! Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the tour guide, whose communication skills were sadly lacking.
Review by: BStein30, June 2013
Tour operator sent small vehicle. Luckily we were first pick-up and sat in regular seats. Additional couple picked up at another hotel were crammed into the trunk seats. We rode for 1hr 15 minutes before reaching Peterhof. Tour was short (2 hours). Rather than be crammed into trunk for another 1hr 15 min ride back to hotel we opted to stay at Peterhof another 5 hours and return to St. Petersburg by hydrofoil which was a much better option. Tours onsite were more reasonable, informative and fun.
Review by: Lillian H, November 2012
This was great! Their was only three of us and the tour guide took his time with us. However, I am not sure he had a lot of knowledge about Peter's the great's house because he didn't really have a lot to talk about as far as history of the place
Review by: Nancy C, September 2012
I was a bit disappointed with this tour. There were a few folks and the girl gravitated to Russia tourist and ignored the others. I think she was too young for our tour. There were times that I would have appreciated a break to buy a book or post card. It was a bit rushed.
Review by: Carl H, September 2012
Fantastic palace. Lovely knowledgeable guide, Leta.
Review by: Lilia J P, September 2012
The guide spoke Portuguese and was very nice. I liked very much this tour, although it could be a little longer.
Review by: Michelle B, August 2012
Vladimir the guide was really informative - length of time of tour is not long enough to fully absorb the sights
Review by: Maree T, July 2012
Happy with the tour. We had time to go through the palace and to tour the gardens though it might have been nice to have a lttle longer to spend wandering in the grounds. The small tour group was good.
Review by: Frances S, June 2012
We had a tour guide for just the two of us, Marina from Marie Rose tours spoke very good English and was very knowledgable about the history of the Peterhof. We really enjoyed it
Review by: arnolds324, June 2012
My family of 4 (2 adults, 2 small children) truly enjoyed the 5-hour tour of Peterhof Palace. Thank you very much to Lida, our tour guide! Even the kids enjoyed her stories of the history while inside the Peterhof Palace museum. We all liked the Peterhof Palace gardens and fountains.
Review by: john g, June 2012
A really enjoyable tour with a great guide. Pick up from hotel right on time however tour didn't go for the 5hrs which was stated. It also includes travel time. We only had 2 hrs at the location and we were a little rushed. Very disappointed that we didn't organise this on our own which is very easy to do. Suggest catching a boat and staying for as long as necessary to see everything.
Review by: john and sonja, June 2012
A really enjoyable tour with a great guide. Pick up from hotel right on time however tour didn't go for the 5hrs which was stated. It also includes travel time. We only had 2 hrs at the location and we were a little rushed. Very disappointed that we didn't organise this on our own which is very easy to do. Suggest catching a boat and staying for as long as necessary to see everything.
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