Smolny Cathedral
Smolny Cathedral
4.5
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
About
This dazzling blue and white Baroque-style cathedral, never fully completed by Winter Palace architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli, is now used for concerts and exhibits.
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Neighborhood: Smolny
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
616 reviews
Excellent
389
Very good
168
Average
53
Poor
3
Terrible
3
Vicky Silve
Abbadia Lariana, Italy674 contributions
Sep 2022
You can easily recognize Bartolomeo Rastrelli’s rococo style in this beautiful light blue cathedral, known as Smolny Cathedral as well as Resurrection Cathedral. It’s a bit uncomfortable to reach by metro but you can go there by bus. It’s considered the masterpiece of Rastrelli, apart from the palaces.
Written September 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sea Dweller
Dubai, United Arab Emirates6,966 contributions
Jul 2022
Cathedral of the Resurrection of the Word of all educational institutions, the Resurrection of Christ Smolny Cathedral or Smolny Cathedral is part of the architectural ensemble of the Smolny Monastery, which is located on the Smolny Embankment.
In the 1740s, Elizaveta Petrovna wanted to build a majestic monastery on the site of the Smolny House (the palace in which she lived her childhood), where she would end her days in peace and quiet. The monastery complex was to include a cathedral with house churches and a bell tower and an institute for girls from noble families. The project was entrusted to the court chief architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli. The solemn ceremony of laying the foundation of the cathedral took place on October 30, 1748. After the death of Elizabeth Petrovna, work gradually stopped. At the end of the 1820s, at the direction of Nicholas I, work began on the completion of the cathedral according to the revised project of the architect V.P. Stasov. As a result, the cathedral was completed in 1835. On July 20, 1835, Metropolitan Seraphim of Novgorod and St. Petersburg consecrated the temple in the name of the Resurrection of Christ.
Unfortunately, on October 7, 1922, the Petrosoviet decided to close the cathedral, and in 1990 a concert and exhibition hall was even opened in the cathedral. And only on January 25, 2016, on the day of the holy martyr Tatiana, the Smolny Cathedral was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church and re-consecrated.
Today, restoration work continues in the cathedral, despite the fact that it is open for divine service.
In the 1740s, Elizaveta Petrovna wanted to build a majestic monastery on the site of the Smolny House (the palace in which she lived her childhood), where she would end her days in peace and quiet. The monastery complex was to include a cathedral with house churches and a bell tower and an institute for girls from noble families. The project was entrusted to the court chief architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli. The solemn ceremony of laying the foundation of the cathedral took place on October 30, 1748. After the death of Elizabeth Petrovna, work gradually stopped. At the end of the 1820s, at the direction of Nicholas I, work began on the completion of the cathedral according to the revised project of the architect V.P. Stasov. As a result, the cathedral was completed in 1835. On July 20, 1835, Metropolitan Seraphim of Novgorod and St. Petersburg consecrated the temple in the name of the Resurrection of Christ.
Unfortunately, on October 7, 1922, the Petrosoviet decided to close the cathedral, and in 1990 a concert and exhibition hall was even opened in the cathedral. And only on January 25, 2016, on the day of the holy martyr Tatiana, the Smolny Cathedral was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church and re-consecrated.
Today, restoration work continues in the cathedral, despite the fact that it is open for divine service.
Written August 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Valentin
St. Petersburg, Russia1,450 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
This place is magnificent and very romantic ☑️ ♾
You can see 👀astonishing views on Neva river from the bell tower 🔔 🏰
There are some Sakura trees in the park nearby 🌸
Recommended for those who are in love 😍 to climb to the highest point in Saint-Petersburg 💕⬆️💍
You can see 👀astonishing views on Neva river from the bell tower 🔔 🏰
There are some Sakura trees in the park nearby 🌸
Recommended for those who are in love 😍 to climb to the highest point in Saint-Petersburg 💕⬆️💍
Written May 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alexander_Kudrin
Samara, Russia13,727 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
Smolny Voskresensky is very elegant, painted in pleasant white-blue colors, which gives it additional airiness.
The inside of the cathedral turned out to be very bright - the interior is still being renovated. Large icons are installed along the walls in white frames, the iconostasis is also in the process of restoration. It stands out beautifully in gold against the white background of the walls.
We decided to climb the bell tower - 200 rubles. The ascent seemed more convenient than the colonnade of St. Isaac's Cathedral, although the height of the ascent is the same - 50 m. First, the steps are wide and stone, then you move on to a narrower and steeper metal staircase. The moment of transition over the dome of the bell tower along the shaky thundering coating is very interesting. You can study the interior of the cathedral.
The observation deck offers a beautiful view of the city. The audio guide tells which buildings we can see.
A free binocular is installed here and it is easy to see most of the sights from a bird's eye view.
The inside of the cathedral turned out to be very bright - the interior is still being renovated. Large icons are installed along the walls in white frames, the iconostasis is also in the process of restoration. It stands out beautifully in gold against the white background of the walls.
We decided to climb the bell tower - 200 rubles. The ascent seemed more convenient than the colonnade of St. Isaac's Cathedral, although the height of the ascent is the same - 50 m. First, the steps are wide and stone, then you move on to a narrower and steeper metal staircase. The moment of transition over the dome of the bell tower along the shaky thundering coating is very interesting. You can study the interior of the cathedral.
The observation deck offers a beautiful view of the city. The audio guide tells which buildings we can see.
A free binocular is installed here and it is easy to see most of the sights from a bird's eye view.
Written July 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Philip_Herring
Washington DC, DC188 contributions
Jan 2014 • Friends
Smolney is out of the way and not easy to get to without taking a taxi. It is not built up like the other museums but I love the architecture and the style and color are unique. worth a visit if you are staying MORE than a week or if one of their frequent concerts are bring offered.
Written July 20, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ander-Laurie
Henderson, North Carolina47 contributions
May 2014 • Friends
Smolny Cathedral is not one of the regular stops on most tours of St. Petersburg. In Soviet times it was converted into a concert hall because of the incredibly fine acoustics. It continues to function as such to this day. However, a side chapel has been restored as a place of worship for the Orthodox Church. The church is part of an ensemble of buildings built in what is sometimes called Russian Baroque. While the interior is very plain the exterior is veritable riot of decoration. It you cannot attend a concert or worship service so as to hear the magnificent acoustic it is worth buying a recording of music done in the building. As a bonus prize, there are often exhibitions of the work of significant, living Russian artists. My visit was an unexpected highlight of my time in St. Petersburg.
Written June 12, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jurgen B
Brussels, Belgium2,868 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
Actually I should put "average" up there, but I want to lower the rating because this is really overrated. First of all, it's difficult to get there, 2,6 km from the nearest metro station in a city where taking a cab is not easy. Secondly: it's not more beautiful and completely in the same style as the perfectly centrally located st nicholas / naval cathedral and the interior is as plain. Thirdly: the view from the top doesn't come close to the one from the - again - perfectly centrally located st isaac's.
A typical exemple of the tendency of lonely planet to "need" a highlight in every part of the city, i.e. chapter in the book
A typical exemple of the tendency of lonely planet to "need" a highlight in every part of the city, i.e. chapter in the book
Written August 21, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Belaya Beryoza
Jakarta, Indonesia19 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
Found historical place worth to visit while in St. Petersburg. Magnificent and enchanting place, especially when the snow covered all of this area. Beautiful in white.
Written January 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CAPerth
Perth228 contributions
Jun 2019
A very dramatic and photogenic cathedral from the outside but a lot plainer on the inside than most of the Orthodox Churches we visited. It is only a little bit out of the centre but due to traffic can still take quite a while to get there. Can climb the stairs to the bell tower (not terribly strenuous) for a nice viewpoint over St Petersburg but the view is not as impressive as that from St Isaac’s.
Written May 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hilmar Horst D
Woodvale, Australia233 contributions
Aug 2019
This lovely building has just had a fresh paint lift, and it looked magnificent from the outside. The inside was very nice, smelling of paint and candles, with some nice views and icons to look at. No photographs was the message as it is a working church and we respected that as we gazed in awe at the roof and altar.
Outside it was a popular day for wedding photos, as no less than three sets of couples were having photos taken with this church as a backdrop.
Outside it was a popular day for wedding photos, as no less than three sets of couples were having photos taken with this church as a backdrop.
Written September 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Работает ли смотровая площадка? И как на неё попасть?
Written July 11, 2020
Hola Si estoy por ejemplo en el Hermitage, como llego a Smolny
Gracias
Written April 8, 2017
Hola! Puedes cojer el tranvia (se llama Trolleybus) Numero 7 en la parada Dvortzoviy proezd oder Nevskiy prospekt, la parada al Lado de Smolniy se llama "Tulskaya uliza".
Written April 12, 2017
poppy_coloured
Moscow, Russia
Как попасть на смотровую площадку? Какие у нее часы работы, сколько это стоит?
Written August 21, 2016
Не знаю, что со смотровой площадкой, но собор сейчас на реконструкции и в лесах.
Written August 21, 2016
По состоянию на июль 2016 года - закончена ли реставрация, сняты ли леса??
Written July 11, 2016
Реставрация не завершена, планируют завершить осенью, а леса снимать еще месяца 3, так что во всей красе увидим только к зиме.
Written July 13, 2016
when will the scaffolding come down on the outside??
Thanks
Written January 21, 2016
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