Petrogradsky, Saint Petersburg: islands, Art Nouveau, parks
Petrogradsky district of Saint Petersburg: Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt, Bolshoy Prospekt and the islands. Who lives well here and what we measured.
Contents 7 sections
What the district is like
Petrogradsky district is a cluster of islands north of the Neva. The main one, which locals simply call Petrogradka, is a grid of Northern Art Nouveau apartment houses, with Kamennoostrovsky and Bolshoy Prospekt running through it. Further out come Aptekarsky, Kamenny, Krestovsky and Yelagin islands, where buildings thin out and parks take over.
Of all the central districts this one is the most lived in. There are fewer tourists than on Nevsky, and more grocers, coffee shops and schools to the block.
Errands on foot
Almost everything here is done on foot. A grocer, a pharmacy, a cafe and a barber are usually in the next building, and Sytny Market trades by Gorkovskaya. Five metro stations serve the district: Gorkovskaya and Petrogradskaya on the blue line, Sportivnaya, Chkalovskaya and Krestovsky Ostrov on the purple one.
Green space depends on the street. Alexander Park lies right under the windows on Kronverksky Prospekt, and the Botanical Garden and the islands are to the north. In the middle of the district, between the two avenues, you find closed courtyards and not a single tree for several blocks.
What we measured
The three addresses sit on the three main streets: Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt by Petrogradskaya station, Bolshoy Prospekt in the shopping stretch, and Kronverksky Prospekt facing the park.
| Address | Score | Groceries | Station or stop | School | Park | Noise and air |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamennoostrovskiy prospekt, 26-28, Saint Petersburg | 81.3 | 4 min | 5 minPetrogradskaya | 7 min | 1 min | −9.5 |
| Bolshoy prospekt P.S., 35, Saint Petersburg | 81.7 | 2 min | 9 minChkalovskaya | 6 min | 5 min | −8.8 |
| Kronverkskiy prospekt, 49, Saint Petersburg | 89.5 | 2 min | 9 minGorkovskaya | 5 min | 2 min | −2.5 |
Map numbers match the table rows. Use the plus button to zoom in.
Only a couple of stops separate the address by the park from the one on the avenue, yet their rows in the table look nothing alike. Each column is explained on How the score works.
Who it suits
- Families on a good income who want schools, clubs and a park without a car.
- People who work in the centre and cross a bridge on foot to get there.
- Students and staff of the universities on Aptekarsky Island.
- Anyone who wants a flat in an old house with stucco ceilings and a tiled stove in the corner.
What it costs you
Flats are expensive and buildings vary a lot: behind a fine facade there may be a neglected stairwell and old wooden floors. Leaving by car is slow, because there are few bridges and they jam. Courtyards have almost no parking, and Kamennoostrovsky is loud all day.
What to check
Walk into the courtyard and see where the windows look: into a well, onto the avenue, or onto a street with trees. Ask whether the building has had a major renovation and new floors. Walk to the nearest square with a pushchair or a dog and judge the route honestly. If you plan to stay for years, check which school serves the address.
Neighbours
Across the Tuchkov and Birzhevoy bridges is Vasileostrovsky district; across the Troitsky Bridge, the Central district. North of the Chernaya River begins Primorsky district, with new housing and large parks, where people move for more space.