5 Ways To Beat The Winter Blues In St. Petersburg
I guess I caught the winter blues the moment I stepped into St. Petersburg. Oddly enough I had witnessed temperatures that ranged below minus 5 degrees Celsius. In fact I got acclimatized to the cold when Moscow hit -23 degrees Celsius on my first day in Russia. Murmansk was up in the Arctic and was as white and cold as I wanted it to be. The winter blues in St. Petersburg literally caught me by surprise.
A Sudden Change In Perspective
Can you blame me for feeling a tad bit blue?
How could I go from loving snow at one instant to literally cursing it the next? It is a question that has plagued me through the past few days. It wasn’t the cold nor was it the lack of the sun. I know this because I’ve had cloudy snowy days in both Murmansk and in Moscow. Why in Murmansk I even got caught in a snow storm!
The difference was that temperature got warmer. Odd… A tropical girl should love the extra warmth that the climate offered but that wasn’t the case. With the temperatures hovering between -2 to +2 I quickly realized that snow turned to slush. What were once nice white beautiful snowflakes failed to capture my attention because I was too busy making sure that the cold rain didn’t touch skin.
I think learning that it could rain when the temperature is so cold was one of the biggest realizations that I had. The added humidity level makes the cold creep in trough every available crevice. I was finally seeing the downside to living in a country that receives the white flakes from the sky.
5 Ways To Beat The Winter Blues In St. Petersburg
The difference is rather obvious. When the sun peaks out from behind the clouds people are happy. There is a small lift in their walk. When it is gloomy they drag their feet as they walk along. Luckily there are plenty of opportunities to shed the winter blues. Here are 5 ways to beat the winter blues in St. Petersburg.
1. HEAD TO THE MUSEUMS
The State Hermitage museum had some really interesting artwork.
St. Petersburg has plenty of museums that are really beautiful. It isn’t just the art work that captures the eye but even the details in the walls and the ceilings. Shedding the winter blues in St. Petersburg could be as simple as heading out to the Hermitage museum. It is so large that you can actually spend a whole day and more wandering in its midst.
Once you are in the museum you are bound to be warm and dry. The outside weather fades into the background and you get engulfed in the world around you.
Note: The Hermitage museum offers free access to everyone on the first Thursday of every month!
2. VISIT ST. PETERSBURG’S CHURCHES
One of the many churches. The inside often looks way better!
They say that you can find a church at every turn in St. Petersburg. I’m not sure if that is true but you will definitely find plenty of them if you wander the city. Some are famous, others are not so much. They are all beautiful none the less. The colorful walls and decorations always serve as a soothing balm in those grey gloomy dates.
3. GET OUT AT NIGHT
The city definitely has a different vibe at night!
I found this a bit odd at first but I really loved the city once the sun had set. It is because the whole city lights up. It gives you a different perspective of the landscape. The monuments are especially pretty and if it isn’t too cold you can get some great photographs. It is probably one of my favorite options in the list of 5 ways to beat the winter blues in St. Petersburg that I compiled.
4. SAVOR THE LOCAL CUISINE
Nothing like alcohol to make you feel better unless it is warm alcohol!
One of the best ways to beat the winter blues in St. Petersburg is with food. There are numerous restaurants and cafes that dot every road. The prices range from cheap eats to expensive restaurants but they have never failed to deliver. I loved the time I spent learning about the Russian cuisine. I may have gained a few pounds too! Oh well… I think it was worth it!
5. SNUGGLE AT HOME
Sometimes running around may not be the best way to g about your vacation. When the winter blues really got us down we decide to spend the day at home and warm our toes. Life is all about doing what you want to do and we were content watching the world go by from our overlarge window.
Getting the winter blues in St. Petersburg was a first for me. Don’t get me wrong. I still love the cold weather. I get all excited when I see snow floating down to earth. I guess combating the winter blues requires a bit of experience and a tad bit of ingenuity.
I visited Russia in October. VERY CHILLY! These are all great ways to stay happy in the winter though! I have to say, I experienced all of them 🙂
I haven't been to Russia yet but these suggestions sound amazing. I love visiting beautiful architecture, so I'd certainly love to check out the churches!
Looks cold but some practical ways to beat the winter in St. Petersburg and at the same time touring around having fun.
I'm planning St Petersburg for this summer, your post was really useful 🙂
I'm so glad to know that it helped. There are some more posts in the Russia archives if that helps too.
Slush is the WORST ever, it makes everything just a bit more gloomy. I would love to explore St Petersburg and the churches... maybe in the summer!
I have got to agree with you. There is nothing worse than slush. If it gets into your shoes that however makes situations even more icky.
I've never considered Russia, not sure why... Maybe it's because I'm a Summer person and always looking for 40degrees, but after reading your post I quote enjoyed it and yeah it's true once you're there it's a god way to keep walking around and visit places and go in Museums to warm up! It does look amazing, the pics really showcase what I imagine Russia to be like!
Might want to enjoy a good Winter now!
It was my first winter and I guess I was over enthusiastic. Well seeing snow for the first time was an experience. One I probably will never forget.
The winter blues can be a tough nut to crack. Great tips and ideas on how to make the best of a city despite the cold.
St. Petersburg is one of my favourite cities that I've visited. 🙂 That shot of the horse carriage looks so magical. It would be a romantic winter experience to take a ride in one!
Totally agree but after the long long day in the museum my feet couldn't spend a moment outside. We never did get a chance to go back. I guess that was my only regret.
I'd love to visit Russua. The Church in your picture looks wonderful! I'm very intrigued to see what the inside looks like with the colourful walls you mentioned, I'll bet it's beautiful!
The inside of the church is even more beautiful than the outside. You can read more about the church here. Hope that helps.
I haven't visited St. Petersbug but I have heard about the chill of the place. Enjoyed the post; these are all nice ways to have a great time during the winter. 🙂
Hey there! All your tips are awesome, though personally I hate moving out at night if the weather is too cold as the temperature tends to drop even more during the night so I prefer dining at a cozy, warm place and avoid the night promenade😉
Well the temperature was at the crucial place. It was neither warm nor cold. I hated the slush and the grey skies. The little color that the nights offered were enough to cheer me up. That being said I did scurry to find a nice warm place to dine in.