The Best Things To See And Do In Moskovsky District St Petersburg

Up until recently, the Moskovsky district was mainly a residential area that people would leave in the morning and return to only in the late evening. The situation is now gradually changing, and the Moskovsky district offers more attractions and restaurants to make it worth a daytime visit. Here are popular attractions that even some locals may not know about.

Visit the museum of the Siege of Leningrad

Among the first things you see when coming into the city from the airport is a large monument at the very start of Mosckovsky Prospekt. The Monument to the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad was erected in the 1970s to commemorate the residents of Leningrad that refused to give up the city during a 900-day siege by Nazi soldiers. Although the monument is very visible, what is not so obvious is the exhibition hidden underground. The permanent exhibition displays wartime objects, maps and documents describing the fight for Leningrad during the Second World War.

The Monument of the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad, St Petersburg, Russia

A close up of the Monument to the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad

Moskovsky district is a great location for a view. Since it is just outside the city centre, and the buildings are significantly higher there. You can get a great panoramic view from the location. If this all sounds appealing, then Floor 41 is the place to go. This restaurant is the highest in the city, located 145 metres above ground. You can see as far as the Gulf of Finland on one side and the airport on the other. On top of that, the menu here is creative as is the drinks card.

Floor 41, 3/2 Ploshchad’ Konstitutsii, St Petersburg, Russia, +7 (812) 937-41-41

Explore the country from above at Grand Maket Russia

An expensive and extensive project to re-create Russia in a miniature has enjoyed great success. The whole country is displayed on a surface of 800 square metres at a scale of 1:87. Here you can see all the ports, airports, factories and main landmarks right at your fingertips. The model is also equipped with operational roads and railway lines bringing the map to life.

Grand Maket Russia, 16 Tsvetochnaya Street, St Petersburg, Russia, +7 (812) 495-54-65

Get active at the Zhest Sports Centre

The only place in St Petersburg to combine this selection of sports. At the Zhest sports centre, you can do rock climbing, skateboarding, play tennis, practice parkour – basically all the main semi-extreme sports. The centre is a fairly recent addition to the city, so the equipment is modern and up-to-date. A perfect place to take even the most unenthusiastic teenager for a family day out.

Zhest Sports Centre, 38 Prospekt Kosmonavtov, St Petersburg, Russia

Gaze at the stars from the Pulkovo Observatory

Not to be confused with the St Petersburg planetarium, which only serves as a museum and education centre. The Pulkovo Observatory is an actual research centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Naturally, you can’t freely roam around, so visits are only organised in groups with a guide. During the tour, visitors explore all sorts of technology, look at the telescopes in use and learn about the history of astrology in Russia.

Pulkovo Observatory, 65 Pulkovskoe Shosse, St Petersburg, Russia, +7 (812) 363-72-07

Step into the shoes of a pilot

The museum of civil aviation is located inside the academy of aviation and has been operating as an initiative of the institute since 1975. Not the same scale as Star City in Moscow, but still an attraction for aviation junkies. Here you can find original cabins of places, aviation uniforms, engines, aeroplane parts and more. What’s more, entrance to the museum is free, although it only opens twice a week: on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Civil Aviation Museum, 38 Pilotov Street, St Petersburg, Russia, +7 (812) 704-15-20

Admire the grandeur of Soviet architecture

The Moskovsky district began to take shape as the city expanded. Up until the mid-19th century, the city border was only at the very beginning of Moskovsky Prospekt, the main street of the neighbourhood. After the revolution, the borderline was pushed further and further south. And given that the government was now Soviet, so were the new buildings there. Don’t confuse them with the cheap Soviet housing of the era. These also exist in St Petersburg, but not elsewhere. Moskovsky was meant to show the grandeur and splendour of the Soviet era.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.