Tour along rivers and canals of Saint Petersburg

During this one of the best private guided tour in Saint-Petersburg, Russia you will find out that in the world there are many cities that were built near the sea, but there are only a few cities in the world where rivers and canals are as equal part of the city as buildings made of bricks and stones. The total length of rivers and canals that crisscross Saint-Petersburg is about 300 km. The tour along rivers and canals includes sailing along rivers and canals in the center of the city described below:

The Neva is the main river of our beautiful city that is located along the embankments of this river and also across many islands of the river’s delta. As it is only 72 km long it is one of the shortest rivers in Russia though it has a lot of water. The Neva goes out from Lake Ladoga and flows into the Gulf of Finland. To develop the country Peter the Great needed to develop the trade. For that, he was looking for the exit to the sea for Russia. This way Northern War with Sweden began. In the beginning of this war somehow he managed to capture some land in the mouth of the Neva where he decided to make a fortress. It became the beginning for Saint-Petersburg that was founded in 1703.

The Moika is a small whimsical river, that runs via the center of our city, became the border of Saint-Petersburg in the beginning of the 18th century. The neighborhood was being developed in 1720s – wooden embankments were made and Court Stables were constructed in 1723 by Nickolai Gerbel that still remain one of the biggest buildings along the Moika.

Comparing to the Neva with many canals the Fontanka has the embankment that goes for seven kilometers. This river was the southern border of our city until the middle of the 18th century. Later it became the boundary of beautiful buildings of Saint-Petersburg. When the city expanded there were a lot of buildings left along the Fountain embankment that are considered now to be the main sights of the city. The Fontanka got its name from Summer Gardens as its water was used for feeding the fountains in them.

Griboyedov Canal is artificial, narrow and stretches through the center of Saint-Petersburg for five km. For the most of its length this canal is parallel to the Fontanka and to the Moika. Though it is quite short it is crossed by 21 bridges. Most of these bridges are pedestrian.

Kryukov Canal is not as famous as the Moika, the Fontanka and Griboyedov Canal but it runs perpendicular to them and is the connection for all three of them. Granite embankments and bridges of it are stunning and such beautiful buildings as Mariinsky Theatre, St. Nicholas’s Navy Cathedral and the buildings of New Holland Complex are located along this canal.

Swan Canal (Lebyazhya Kanavka) goes in between Mars Field and Summer Gardens. This canal was made in 1719 thus became one of the oldest canals of our city. In those days the area around Mars Field and Summer Garden was swampy. It was decided to make a system of canals to drain it. Swan Canal was one of those canals appeared within the drain system. It connected the Moyka with the Neva, this way a small island appeared that is occupied now by Summer Garden.

Please do not miss the opportunity to have a private tour of rivers and canals with one of the best guides in St Petersburg, Russia.

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The price is given for a private boat.  Book more than one tour with us to get a great discount!

The price includes a professional English-speaking guide and a private boat for one hour.

Transportation is not included. If needed for three hours it is 85USD.

Group size (number of people). Price per person.