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Exploring Peterhof's Lower Park in St. Petersburg

2016-10-10 · Updated: 2026-08-11 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Read the original Korean post →
Information board with prohibited items in the Upper Gardens of Peterhof written in Russian
Information board with admission fees and operating hours for the Lower Park of Peterhof written in Russian

There's an admission fee starting from the Lower Park of the Summer Palace. It had gone up to 700 rubles when I visited, and I expect it will probably rise again before long. Russia's current economic situation isn't great, after all. Because it's such an important cultural heritage site, there are a ton of restrictions. Smoking is obviously prohibited, and you can't lie on the grass either. It's rare to find a place this strict in Russia, which only builds up the anticipation of how incredible it must be.

Fountain in the center of a wide lawn and geometric flower beds
Golden statues, fountains, and a canal leading to the sea, looking down from a terrace with a checkerboard floor

This is the Grand Cascade of the Summer Palace, the absolute must-see that makes the 700 rubles worth it. Every fountain statue sparkles with gold, making it a shame that the cloudy weather today kept the photos from coming out vibrant. Because St. Petersburg acted as a defensive shield for all of Russia during World War II, the Summer Palace and other cultural sites were completely bombed. What you see today is the result of about 30 years of restoration. So while it lacks an ancient feel, it's a place where you can immediately sense how the tsars of the past used to play. Who builds a summer home this massive and covers it entirely in gold? If they had just shared a little bit of this wealth, they probably wouldn't have been so hated.

Golden warrior statue holding a severed head and a sword
The statues are far from beautiful. Since this place was built for victory, they all depict scenes of cutting, stabbing, and conquering.
Cascading waterfall in front of a yellow palace building and the golden statue fountain of Samson tearing open a lion's jaws
Fountain with water spouting from the golden statue of Samson prying open a lion's jaws
Side view of the golden statue fountain of Samson tearing open a lion's jaws
The Samson Fountain. All the water in the Summer Palace flows from that lion's mouth and its surroundings. The lion represents Sweden, and the fountain was built to commemorate Russia's victory over them.
Ornate fountains and a canal stretch out in front of a grand yellow and white palace.
Cool fountain streams spout around golden statues at the cascading waterfall in front of the palace.
An ornate palace building is seen behind a high-spouting fountain from the golden statue tearing open a lion's jaws.
The building up there is the Grand Palace.
Trees and small fountains line both sides of a canal stretching straight toward the sea, and people are crossing a bridge.
All the water flows down and eventually empties into the North Sea.
A cozy yellow and white building with a flag stands behind a star-shaped flower bed.
A stone monument decorated with an anchor and chains stands on a seaside embankment.
There is also a monument honoring the navy.
A calm sea and a distant city skyline stretch out under a cloudy sky beyond a white railing.
You can see the city of St. Petersburg in the distance. It feels strange to think that I'll be leaving that city soon.
A fountain spouts water from a round basin beyond a well-kept lawn and patterned flower beds.
Information board displaying black-and-white photos of the palace when it was destroyed in the past
Information board displaying black-and-white photos showing the palace restoration process
Orange and pink mixed tulips blooming against a green lawn background
Fountain spouting water in the middle of a pond and golden statues decorating its surroundings
The Whale Fountain.
White sightseeing cart carrying several tourists moving along a park promenade
Walking around yourself is best, but there are carts available for those who want to travel comfortably. However, that's a luxury for backpackers.

Speaking of prices, since this is a tourist spot, things are incredibly expensive. A cola is 80 rubles, and a beer is 180 to 250 rubles. It's 1.5 to 2.5 times more expensive than in the city, so I didn't even dare to buy anything to eat. Plus, I'm currently surviving on the last bit of money I scraped together, so I only have about 500 rubles left in my pocket. Since I can't exchange any more money here, I just decided to starve and push through. I highly recommend that everyone bring some tasty bread and drinks from the city when coming here.

Fountain spouting water below a lawn in front of an ornate palace building with a golden dome roof
Cascading waterfall and statues seen beyond a pink tulip flower bed
Golden sculptural decoration in the shape of a man's face with an open mouth attached to a marble wall
Cascading waterfall decorated with a checkerboard pattern and statues next to it
Russian warning sign telling people to beware of pickpockets
Looks like there are a lot of thieves.
People enjoying getting hit by water on a park promenade
Fountain with water spouting from a tree-shaped metal sculpture
This fountain, straightforwardly named the "Fake fountain," looks dry until water suddenly shoots out. Both kids and adults can have a blast running around in it.
People and children reaching out their hands while looking up from under a bronze statue
Bronze statue of a man wearing a uniform and a hat
I remember this being a statue of Peter the Great, though I'm not entirely sure. But everyone was tossing coins, trying hard to land one on top of that hat. The lady dressed all in red, in particular, was having a great time and threw even more than the kids did.
Landscape with a tulip flower bed and a fountain behind a female statue
Pavilion with a round roof and a fountain seen beyond a tulip flower bed
Fountain with a golden statue in the middle of a garden full of red tulips
Stone-decorated fountain spouting water against the background of a red-roofed palace building
Golden statue fountain in the center of a garden where red tulip beds and green grass blend together
The gardens are so well-maintained that no further explanation is needed. My mom would have really loved it if she had come.
Fountain with water spouting in all directions from a white bench-shaped structure
This is also a Fake Fountain. But this one isn't popular at all.
Golden crown and initial pattern decorated in the center of a black iron railing
White statue fountain spouting streams of water in front of a building with white pillars
Guide map showing the overall layout of Peterhof Park, the sea, and building locations

It would be a lie to say I wasn't deeply moved just because it was newly built. Even though it was rebuilt from ruins, it's incredibly well-managed, and they clearly tried to make it as identical to the original as possible. For one, I've never been to a garden of this scale, so I couldn't help but be amazed. The most famous spot, the Grand Cascade, is packed with tourists, but if you walk just a little bit away, you can enjoy the gardens in such peace that it feels like you're walking alone. The unfortunate part is that because I was carrying a large 75-liter backpack, they wouldn't let me into the Grand Palace. I argued a bit, but since they said it was for the protection of cultural assets, I couldn't really say anything. When you go to the Summer Palace, you have to leave your suitcase or large backpack behind. In other words, don't go at the very end of your trip like I did. Another tip: it's better to take the bus there and ride the high-speed boat back to the city. The bus stop is quite far from the garden, making the walk exhausting, and it's hard to even spot where the bus stop is.

Expenses

Total Expenses 941 RUB, €18

Total Trip Expenses 525,936 KRW + 47,499 RUB + $312.26 + €58