Summer is politely packing its bags elsewhere in the world, but in Dubai it only means that the thermometer has decided to take a tiny step down from 45 to 38 degrees. A relief, yes, but still a shade too tropical for comfort. If you are craving actual weather — the kind where one can own jumpers without irony — it is time to look north. Enter Saint Petersburg, Russia’s former imperial capital and still one of the most unique cities on the planet. Think candy-coloured palaces, canals that put Venice into perspective, museums that will make you believe in monarchy all over again, and food that has nothing to do with beetroot stereotypes. Grab your best mate, and prepare for a trip that is bound to become one of your “remember when…” stories.

Direct flights are available with Emirates and flydubai, both of which will deposit you in Saint Petersburg after a civilised six hours. Return fares start at about 3,000 AED (closer to 3,500 AED if you want Emirates, with 30 kg baggage allowance).

If you are a citizen of the United Arab Emirates, rejoice: since February 2019 you don't need a visa to enter Russia for tourism, family visits, or general wandering about. You may stay for up to 90 days within each 180-day period without filling in a single form (provided you don't intend to work, study, or move in permanently).

If you are not a UAE citizen, all isn't lost. Nationals of 64 countries — including most of Europe and parts of Asia — can apply for a Russian E-Visa. The process is refreshingly straightforward: submit an application online at least four days before your trip, upload a photo and passport scan, and pay $40 (around 150 AED). Children under six travel free. The visa is valid for a stay of up to 60 days.

The official website for applications is here. There is also a mobile app if you wish to feel particularly modern.

Prepare your wardrobe for a dramatic downgrade from “desert chic” to “romantic drizzle”. Expect 15–20°C in the daytime and around 10°C at night. The city has been known to deliver four different moods in the span of an afternoon, so layers are your new best friend.

Saint Petersburg is nicknamed the Northern Venice, which sounds charming until you realise the bridges over the Neva open at night, leaving entire banks cut off from one another. Unless you enjoy being stranded at 3 am (or take 40-minute beltway with an incredibly overpriced taxi), it is best to stay central.

Nevsky District is the sweet spot. Not directly on Nevsky Prospekt (tourist mayhem lives there), but within walking distance. Think hotels near St Isaac’s Cathedral — the Four Seasons, Astoria — or the Grand Hotel Moika 22, practically neighbours with the Hermitage. The Grand Hotel Europe has also been at it for 150 years and still manages to keep the bar high.

For something more poetic, book Kvartira №34, perched above Joseph Brodsky’s museum. It sleeps four, but more importantly, it lets you casually tell people you are neighbours with a Nobel laureate.

Sightseeing

Saint Petersburg isn't a city you “do” in one trip, but you can certainly tick the beginner’s checklist. The Winter Palace, St Isaac’s Cathedral, Kazan Cathedral, the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood, Peter and Paul Fortress, and Nevsky Prospekt are essential. At night, watch the drawbridges — an oddly romantic feat of engineering.

If you wish to feel imperial, take the trip to Peterhof Palace (around 1.5 hour). It is Versailles, at least no less impressive.

Art

The State Hermitage is not merely a museum, it is a lifestyle. It has five buildings, three million works, and a casual Michelangelo or two lying about. Located inside the Winter Palace, it will have you imagining yourself as a tsar before you reach the cloakroom. Highlights include Raphael’s Madonna Conestabile, the Malachite Room (which looks like it was decorated by someone who won the lottery and bought only emeralds), and endless galleries of European masters.

The State Russian Museum is equally formidable, dedicated to Russian art from medieval icons to edgy video installations. It is housed in the Mikhailovsky Palace, with a few more buildings around (all palaces and one castle, to be precise).

For something temporary, check Central Exhibition Hall also known as The Manege — until October 2025 it is hosting a show charting the history of photography from daguerreotype to AI-generated nightmares.

And then there is Sevkabel Port: a reclaimed industrial space on the Gulf of Finland turned into a cultural cluster. Think exhibitions, coffee shops, and a brathtakingly nordic sea view.

Finally, a night at Mariinsky Theatre is non-negotiable. Opera, ballet, history. The building has been around since 1783, so the chandeliers know what they are doing.

Saint Petersburg’s food scene is as eclectic as its architecture. It requires at least a week of solid commitment (three meals a day, no excuses) to sample the highlights. I strongly recommend consulting the GreatList Guide, but will definitely highlight my favourites:

If you are after luxury labels, head straight to DLT department store. Babochka Concept Store is another fashionable address.

For local design talent, look to Gate31 for sleek minimalism, Homies Footwear for shoes that feel like socks but chic, and Jenëk Bags for handcrafted statement pieces (complete with serial numbers, because exclusivity is everything).

Saint Petersburg is the sort of city that refuses to be done in one visit. It is moody, beautiful, eccentric, and endlessly surprising. It looks nothing like Dubai — except when it comes to the food scene, which, let's be honest, makes them distant cousins. Pack your layers, sharpen your appetite, and get ready to exchange “It is too hot” for “Is that rain again?”

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