One of the many highlights of our August cruise on Viking Sun to St. Petersburg came on the first of two days we spent on the waterways of the “Venice of the North.”

For our included excursion, we began at the Neva River, where we spotted a submarine (still active, I think) along with two Russian Navy ships. Then we boarded a tour boat and took in the canals of St. Petersburg, lined with majestic palaces, cathedrals and distinctive bridges.

You can see some of the city’s most visible landmarks from the Moyka River and its canal – St. Petersburg is built for sightseeing from the water. Highlights included the golden dome of magnificent St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the steeple of Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, theaters, mansions, gardens and historic sites.

We spent the second half of our tour at Peter and Paul Fortress, which I’ll cover in my next Visual List. Enjoy this set of 17 images!