Despite all that history has thrown at it, St Petersburg still feels every bit an imperial capital today it s a dazzling metropolis whose sheer grandeur never fails to amaze. Tom Masters, Lonely Planet Writer Our Promise You can trust our travel information because Lonely Planet authors visit the places we write about, each and every edition. We never accept freebies for positive coverage so you can rely on us to tell it like it is. Inside This Book 342 canal and river bridges 120 rooms of Hermitage art 45 bars, pubs and clubs reviewed 28 palaces and castles 4 new galleries and arts spaces Comprehensive map section Feature coverage of top sights Range of planning tools In-depth background on St Petersburg s art and music history