Nearest metro: Gorkovskaya, Petrogradskaya
The Eurasia Hotel is located on the Petrograd Side, a historic neighborhood that was the heart of St. Petersburg when the city was founded, and had a renaissance at the beginning of the 20th century, hence the wealth of beautiful Art Nouveau architecture in the area. The area consists of four islands (Aptekarsky, Petrovsky, Zayachy, and Petrogradsky, where the hotel is located), making it one of the most interesting parts of the city to explore on foot. You can reach St. Petersburg's main street, Nevsky Prospekt, by walking along Bolshoi Prospekt and then across the Spit of Vasilevsky Island. Along the way you can enjoy some of the finest views of the Neva River and the historic buildings that line its banks.Finland Station is closest to the hotel, about 20 minutes way, but now serves only local trains. Other stations (Moscow, Vitebsk, Baltic, Ladoga) are all under half an hour away by car. To get to either Pulkovo-1 or Pulkovo-2 airport, allow about an hour at least. The nearest metro stations, about 10-15 minutes' walk away, are Chkalovskaya, Petrogradskaya, and Sportivnaya.
Local Sightseeing
Hare Island, just 15 minutes' walk from the hotel, is the location of the Peter and Paul Fortress, which was founded by Peter the Great himself as the first building in his new city. Although studies have shown that it would actually have been militarily ineffective, the fortress played a role in symbolizing the expansion of Russia and the defense of its new borders. The Peter and Paul Cathedral, designed by the Italian architect Domenico Trezzini, houses the tombs of the Russian Emperors from Peter the Great onwards. At various times the fortress was used as a jail for political prisoners.The Leningrad Zoo is located 5 minutes' walk from the hotel, next to the fortress. The Zoo has kept the name Leningrad even though the city changed back to being St. Petersburg in 1991 as a mark of respect to the workers who looked after its animals during the Second World War, when the city was besieged by the Nazis. The zoo is one of the most northerly in the world and one of Russia's smallest, with about 400 different species of animal.
Not far from the zoo are two theaters, Baltiisky Dom and the Music Hall. The theaters frequently host shows staged by renowned directors, and the troupes often go on tours abroad.
