New Year 2025 on Palace Square: How to Celebrate and Where to Relax

Traditionally, the New Year's celebration on Palace Square begins every December 31 at 22:00-23:00. By this time, it is worth taking your seats before the concert. Fun competitions and a show program will be held on the square on New Year 2025.

You will also see the New Year tree - a symbol of the New Year. Take bright photos for memory, and if you study the location of the square in advance, you can plan your vacation according to the weather, sit in a restaurant and then relax in a nearby hotel.

Palace Square for New Year 2025

Palace Square on New Year's Eve

Most people believe in magic and look forward to the New Year holidays because of this wonderful feeling associated with childhood memories of a Christmas tree, gifts and fun games in the winter frosty weather. So that adults and children have the same sense of wonder as before, the authorities of St. Petersburg took an interest in this issue in advance and prepared the square near the Hermitage and other places for the holiday. December-January is the time when you can see a decorated Christmas tree on the main square of the palace.

Over the past few years, local Petersburg residents have voted to install a live spruce tree on Palace Square.

Petersburgers have always been famous for their hospitality and willingly welcome guests from other countries and regions for the New Year. Next to the Hermitage and the Alexander Column you will see a live spruce decorated with toys and garlands this year. Traditionally, the height of the tree exceeds 25 meters. The main spruce is surrounded by small Christmas trees and a bright New Year's location for filming and photography, which helps preserve memories of celebrating the New Year in St. Petersburg.

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Palace Square is large, it can accommodate all the guests during the concert show. You don't have to worry about it being crowded. On the night of January 1, New Year's fireworks are launched here, which can be seen perfectly from any point on the square. The concert on Palace Square will also be organized more than once during the New Year holidays.

The Palace Square will be decorated according to the theme of the holiday. Garlands will be flashing everywhere, festive music will be playing, and locations for taking themed photos will be open. The fountains on the square will also be decorated with New Year's lighting, which will shimmer with neon shades.

Palace Square for New Year 2025

In several places on the square there will be large screens that will show what is happening on stage in real time, so that all guests of the celebration can enjoy the show. All the intervals between the festive performances are another opportunity to entertain guests with contests and games in a thematic manner. The program for the celebration will be universal, so children, young people and older people will enjoy it here. The main program will not be revealed until the end of this year, so people can expect a lot of surprises.

Palace Square for New Year 2025

Peculiarities of New Year's celebrations on Palace Square

The location of the square is so convenient that you can easily see the concert program from afar. Also, many other famous tourist routes lead to the square:

  • from Nevsky Boulevard, walking along the pedestrian zone, you can come to the square;
  • You can also come here from Vasilievsky Island;
  • the road from the Palace Embankment.

Palace Square for New Year 2025

The safety of all guests while walking around the square is guaranteed. Each person must pass through a metal detector frame. There may also be on-site checks of individuals who have aroused the suspicion of the police.

Those who are intoxicated are not allowed to be present in the square, and if such persons are found, they will be taken to police stations.

There will be Christmas cafes and restaurants on the square that do not close even on New Year's Eve. The choice of dishes is wide. You can sit in an exquisite restaurant or go and try St. Petersburg pastries in bakeries. Another plus is the proximity of the Palace Square to the metro stations, which are not closed all night from the 31st to the 1st. You can easily return to any location in the city, having spent as much time at the holiday as you need.

Palace Square for New Year 2025

Cafes and restaurants on the square

Since Palace Square has many culinary temptations in the form of cafes, restaurants and food courts, you can have a light snack at home. The prices in local restaurants are high, because this is the "heart" of the city.

Palace Square for New Year 2025

However, keep in mind that restaurants can be crowded in the evening, and you will be able to sit at a cozy table upon prior request. If you want to spend the New Year's feast in a specific establishment, then reserve a table in advance.

Palace Square for New Year 2025

There are cozy cafes on the square, which are a few minutes' walk from the landmark. In the new year, all these establishments will work until the morning. What establishments are visited here on New Year's:

  • Hermitage cafe. The establishment will delight its guests with the most delicious coffee and freshly prepared pastries;
  • IQ Laboratory Of Coffee. It serves exclusive coffee and fruit juices. The restaurant has a soulful atmosphere;
  • Gastro Pub BM 4. The café offers an exquisite and varied menu. Here you will taste the best soups. And, of course, the menu has many snacks and meat dishes. The establishment also has fast food;
  • Troitsky Most cafe. Vegetarians will like this cafe. Here you can taste not only oriental cuisine, but also European delicacies. The restaurant's specialty is that all dishes are made without using meat;
  • Restaurant "Gogol". Here guests are served Russian cuisine, as well as Caucasian shashlik and other oriental delicacies. The restaurant is decorated in the late 19th century;
  • Yoki Cafe. The establishment is decorated in a stylish design. It serves Asian dishes;
  • Mario. Suitable for a holiday with young visitors. Children can play in a special room with toys, and adults can celebrate an event. The 24-hour restaurant serves Italian cuisine.

Preparing for the celebration

Prepare for unexpected situations and celebrate the New Year only with pleasant emotions - these are the main rules of the holiday. It is better to prepare in advance and take warm clothes with you. Book a place in a hotel or hostel in advance if you come from another city or are a foreigner.

Palace Square for New Year 2025

During the New Year, the northern capital of Russia attracts many tourists, so you will not be able to find the necessary accommodation on the eve of the holiday if you decide to book a room at the last minute. In order not to spend a lot of money, you can look for an inexpensive hotel or hostel in another area of St. Petersburg.

In order not to miss the main events that are planned, make a plan for visiting the events. This is quite easy to do using the Internet. It is recommended to go to St. Petersburg for a New Year's vacation in advance to prepare for the holiday and visit many tourist places. Those who want to watch the artists from the front rows try to come to the square in advance before the start of the concert. Do not forget to be in a good mood, which will help immerse yourself in the wonderful atmosphere.

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Weather on New Year's Eve

St. Petersburg has always been famous for its changing weather conditions and strong winds. That's why you should dress warmly if you plan to go see artists perform or celebrate the holiday for a few hours outside. It's best to refrain from festive outfits that don't keep you warm at all. You can wear them if you're just coming for a photo shoot and won't stay for the New Year's show.

Palace Square for New Year 2025

Wear warm clothes, don't forget hats and gloves - this will allow you to stay in the square as long as possible.

Conclusions

Palace Square for New Year 2025

Many people love St. Petersburg for its diversity, and this advantage of the city is clearly evident during the New Year holidays. On New Year's Day and the period of Christmas events, local residents and guests of the northern capital can spend the main night of the year on Palace Square. You can take photos or go to a cafe on the square, and creative guests take part in exciting performances and competitions. And for those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle after the celebration, there are secluded hotels at local resorts a few dozen kilometers from the city.