“Back in the USSR” ? Oh hell no.

This ice-cream cone city had a tough 20th century but, hardy and proud, it’s now bursting with hedonism and bohemians.

Anti-establishment art, concept cafés and concert venues stick it to the harsh soviet regime.

Like Griboedov’s bunker - a club in a bomb shelter, or Anti Café Ziferburg where you don’t pay for anything except your time. Deep.

The best way to explore the city is from the tops of its baroque and neoclassical buildings.

A ‘roofer’ will guide you along the roofs, pointing out Trinity’s blue dome, the bell tower, and other gold crusted, diamondy big shots.

Stop into one of St Pete's many rooftop bars while you're up there. The handrails should see you right, even after Russian portions of vodka.

Doughnuts used to be seen as food of the plebs here, but now everyone wants a piece of the action. Greasy, cheap and absolutely coated in sugar, go to Bolshaya Konushennaya for the best.

Stark and Soviet, this tiny cafe’s charm is its complete lack of it.

It’s all or nothing with St. Petersburg. Being so far north (59 degrees), Mother Nature closes the curtains for most of winter. It’s pretty grim.

But summer brings 80 days of ‘White Nights’ when the city (quite literally) doesn’t sleep and the rooftop bars fill with 24 hours of daytime.

The highlight of this freak-of-nature-twilight-zone is the White Nights Festival.

Fireworks light up the already bright sky and crowds dance across the bridges. It’s like Disneyland on crack.

And you can still make it.