There are two ways to discover St. Petersburg. You either learn Russian and then request an individual visa to explore the city on your own; or you participate in any of the organized shore excursions that are offered by the cruise line. Overpriced and over-commercialized, it is unfortunately the only way to get a feel of St. Petersburg for most visitors. Photo © Bart de Boer

The Palace Square is perhaps the best known of all of St. Petersburg's streets and squares. The giant square with the huge Alexander Pillar, with the bright green Hermitage on one side has to be seen to be believed. Photo © Bart de Boer

A must on any visit to St. Petersburg is the vast Hermitage, the state museum housed in the czar's former winter palace on the banks of the Neva. Pictured above is the main entrance to the museum, a fine appetizer to the splendor of the rest of the museum. Photo © Bart de Boer

At the Hermitage, prepare for room after room of priceless paintings, sculptures and art objects. If you have the chance, don't miss out on visiting the Golden Room. But even without seeing the bling, you will be stunned by the Hermitage's collections. Pictured above is a painting by Rembrandt. Photo © Bart de Boer

It would days to properly take in all the treasures that are displayed at the Hermitage as the museum is HUGE. Photo © Bart de Boer 

The St. Peter and Paul fortress was established by Peter the Great in 1703, with the beautiful gold-topped cathedral added 13 years later. It was here that the city of St. Petersburg was founded. Photo © Bart de Boer

A typical street scene in downtown St. Petersburg. Photo © Bart de Boer

Another must-see is the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. Done in a typical Russian romantic nationalist style, the church is as interesting on the outside as it is on the inside. After 27 years (!) of restoration the church was reopened in August 1997. Photo © Bart de Boer

The mosaic-filled interior is simply breathtaking. Photo © Bart de Boer

On October 25, 1917, the crew of the Russian cruiser Aurora disobeyed orders to steam out to sea. By firing a single blank shot the attack and consequent Russian Revolution was started. The cruiser Aurora is currently a museum ship. Photo © Bart de Boer

Sell, sell, sell! The Russian merchant is everywhere and everyone in St. Petersburg has dollar signs in their eyes - tourism is BIG business here. And I've never seen so many people buying so much overpriced junk. Photo © Bart de Boer

Located 25 km (17 m) southwest of St. Petersburg on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, the opulent Catherine Palace is Russia's answer to Versailles. As the name implies Catherine used this baroque palace as her summer home. If you travel by coach to the Catherine Palace, watch out for Vladimir Putin's not-so-humble summer residence along the way. Photo © Bart de Boer

Stunning gardens at the Catherina Palace. Photo © Bart de Boer

Most cruise ships spend at least two days and one night in St. Petersburg, which gives you the opportunity to visit a ballet performance or, as we did, spend a decadent evening at the Yusupov Palace, enjoying a black-tie opera performance. Photo © Bart de Boer