Asia Russia St. Petersburg St. Petersburg Guide Moscow St. Petersburg More to Explore All St. Petersburg Peterhof - Peter the Great's Palace St. Petersburg, Russia By Linda Garrison Linda Garrison Linda Paull Garrison is a travel writer who has taken over 150 cruises and spent over 1,100 days at sea. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 06/06/19 Share Pin Email TripSavvy / Christopher Larson The magnificence of Peterhof, Peter the Great's summer imperial palace on the Gulf of Finland on Baltic Sea, is somewhat reminiscent of Versailles near Paris. Peter the Great visited Versailles in 1717 and he returned to Saint Petersburg with many ideas for enhancing his own summer palace and grounds, which were already under construction. Peterhof Palace sits in 1500-acres of formal gardens and park 18 miles from Saint Petersburg, and its 173 glorious fountains are fed by underground springs that are 14 miles away. Like the Catherine summer palace, Peterhof was almost in ruins following World War II. However, many photos of Peterhof allowed reconstruction of the magnificent palace and park.Most visitors to Peterhof come with an organized group or guide for a half-day tour, riding a hydrofoil for 45 minutes along the Neva River one way and a tour bus the other. As shown in these photos, Peterhof and its park are well worth the visit. Most visitors to Peterhof travel the 18 miles to the Grand Palace and Park with an organized group. The groups use a hydrofoil such as this one to zip down the Neva River to Peterhof's setting on the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. The hydrofoil trip takes about 30-45 minutes. Seeing the Peterhof Grand Palace, fountains, and park from the water is breathtaking. 01 of 23 Peterhof Park and Formal Gardens at Peterhof Palace Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison The grounds of Peterhof are filled with statuary and fountains. Continue to 2 of 23 below. 02 of 23 Peterhof Grand Palace Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison Much of Peterhof was designed by Rastrelli, the architect of the Winter Palace (Hermitage Museum) in St. Petersburg, so the style is similar. Continue to 3 of 23 below. 03 of 23 Main Staircase at Peterhof Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison Walking up the staircase in Peterhof's Grand Palace brings thoughts to mind of the thousands of imperial guests and royals who also entered the same palace. Continue to 4 of 23 below. 04 of 23 Throne Room of Peterhof Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison Every palace must have a throne room! Continue to 5 of 23 below. 05 of 23 Imperial Dining Room at Peterhof Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison One of the many elaborate dining rooms in the Grand Palace at Peterhof. Continue to 6 of 23 below. 06 of 23 Peterhof - Drawing Room with Ornate Wallcovering in the Grand Palace at Peterhof Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison Can you imagine what this wall covering might cost today? Continue to 7 of 23 below. 07 of 23 Entryway and Main Staircase of Peterhof Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison Every grand palace must have a grand entry, and Peterhof certainly has its share of gold leaf. Continue to 8 of 23 below. 08 of 23 Peterhof Breakfront Cabinet and Ceramic Stove in the Peterhof Grand Palace Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison These ceramic stoves were very popular in imperial Russia and are seen in many grand palaces such as Peterhof, the Catherine Palace, and even in Uglich. Continue to 9 of 23 below. 09 of 23 Peterhof Portrait Hall Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison The walls of this room are covered with paintings of famous Russians and friends and relatives of Peter the Great. Continue to 10 of 23 below. 10 of 23 View of the Marine Canal at Peterhof Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison The Grand Palace at Peterhof is connected to the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea by the Marine Canal. Continue to 11 of 23 below. 11 of 23 Peterhof - Sitting Room in the Grand Palace of Peterhof Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 12 of 23 below. 12 of 23 Tea Setting in the Grand Palace at Peterhof Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 13 of 23 below. 13 of 23 The Grand Cascade Fountains at Peterhof Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison A view from the Peterhof Grand Palace, looking down the Main Canal over the Grand Cascade to the Gulf of Finland Continue to 14 of 23 below. 14 of 23 Peter the Great's Oak Study in the Grand Palace at Peterhof Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 15 of 23 below. 15 of 23 The Grand Cascade Fountain at Peterhof Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison The Grand Cascade has 37 bronze sculptures, 64 fountains, and 142 water jets. Continue to 16 of 23 below. 16 of 23 Peterhof Park Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 17 of 23 below. 17 of 23 View of Peter the Great's Grand Palace and the Grand Cascade at Peterhof Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison Peterhof's design is much like Catherine's Palace and the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. Continue to 18 of 23 below. 18 of 23 Peterhof Park Fountain Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 19 of 23 below. 19 of 23 Small Pavilion in Peterhof Park Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison Continue to 20 of 23 below. 20 of 23 Peterhof Fountain in Peterhof Park Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison One of the 173 fountains at Peterhof, most of which are located in the Lower Park between the Grand Palace and the Gulf of Finland. Continue to 21 of 23 below. 21 of 23 Peterhof Formal Gardens Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison Peterhof Park features both traditional English and French formal gardens. Continue to 22 of 23 below. 22 of 23 Peterhof Fountains Along the Marine Canal Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison Fountains line the Marine Canal connecting the Peterhof Grand Palace to the Gulf of Finland. Continue to 23 of 23 below. 23 of 23 Peterhof Swimming Beach Peterhof Photo (c) Linda Garrison Summer is short in northern Russia, and swimmers and sun bathers flock to the beaches and parks to enjoy the long sunny days. This beach is near Peterhof Park and the hydrofoil dock. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit