Any suggestions for hotels in St Petersburg? What are the "must sees" for a first visit?

What's your budget? If money is not an issue, do you like big and fancy? If I went back on a splurge budget I'd stay at the Grand Hotel. I know people who go there on business and they stay at the Radisson. Not to miss: You must take the hydrofoil to Peterhof. When are you going? I was there last June, but we stayed a bit away from the center, as we were visiting friends and wanted to be near their flat. But even so, where we stayed was a quick walk to the metro and we were quickly in the center. Hotel Neptune. Was very convenient and comfortable for us.

Angleterre is a good hotel..check it out

We just returned home from our Russia River cruise. We went one day early and spent one day on our own in St. Pete at the Corinthia Nevskij Palace Hotel, www.corinthiahotels.com.

This was a splurge for us, but well worth it!! Arriving with major jet lag, this was paradise! My husband corresponded by e-mail with quick responses from the hotel regarding availability and prices,and making the reservation. It was painless.

We asked the hotel to send a car to the airport upon our arrival to take us to the hotel, that was a welcome sight seeing our name on the sign being held up by a young gentleman from the hotel.

Check In was a breeze, and we were told that we were ugraded to a Suite at no extra charge. The room was lovely, quiet and very comfortable.

Everyone at the front desk spoke excellent English and were friendly and extremely helpful.

The Hotel is on Nevsky Prospect, which is the main drag in St. Pete, great for walking up and down the street getting acquainted, lots of restaurants, shops, cafes, etc.

I highly recommend this hotel!!

Happy Travels.
Shari

The must-see sights in St. Petersburg: the Hermitage, Peter-and-Paul fortress, St. Isaac's cathedral, the Church-on-Spilt Blood, Peterhof, Catherine's palace in Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo), Pavlovsk, the Russian museum, Usupov palace.
Four-five star centrally located hotels (rooms from $250-300 per night): Grand Hotel Europe, Angleterre, Astoria, Radisson SAS, Corinthia Nevsky palace, Grand Hotel Emerald, Renaissance.
There are quite a few "mini-hotels" or B&Bs located in the city center with rooms at $100-120 per night.

Thank you all for the replies. We are looking forward to visiting St. Petersburg.