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St. Petersburg (Russian: анкт-Петербург) is a city in Russia.
Info
The official language in Russia is Russian. Although more and more highly educated young people English learn, most adults only speak Russian. This can pose a problem when buying (train) tickets or foodstuffs. It is recommended to go with an organized trip to Russia.
Arrive
Before you are allowed to enter Russia, you need to apply for a visa at the Russian consulate in The Hague, for Belgium you can go to the Russian embassy in Brussels. To apply for a visa, you need an invitation from Russia from a hotel or private person. A visa is included in most organized trips. If you want to travel independently to Saint Petersburg, you can contact the Youth Hostel [1] for this invitation. The only exception to this rule is a visit to Saint Petersburg with the cruise ship "St. Peterline". See further under 'by boat'.
By plane
Saint Petersburg International Airport is Pulkovo (http://www.pulkovoairport.ru/), Pulkovo consists of 2 terminals that are far from each other. Most international flights arrive at Pulkovo-2. Domestic flights and a number of low-cost airlines use Pulkovo-1. The cheapest way to get from the airport to the center is to take a minibus (mashroetka) to Moskovskaya metro station and from there continue by metro. Of course there are also many (expensive) taxis at the airport.
By train
Saint Petersburg has 6 train stations. Each train station has its own destinations.
- Finlandski vokzal - The local trains to . depart from Finland station Karelia. In 1917 Lenin arrived at this station after years of exile. To commemorate this, the original locomotive still stands at this station and a large statue of Lenin in front of the station.
- ladozski vokzal - The Ladoga station is the newest station in Saint Petersburg. It was the idea to have all long-distance trains depart from here, but so far only the trains depart to Helsinki and a number of local trains from Ladoga station. From Helsinki you can reach St Petersburg in about three hours with the fastest connection.
- Moskovsky vokzal - Trains to . depart from Moscow station Moscow. The station building is a copy of the Leningrad station in Moscow.
- Vitebski vokzal - The Viteb station is the oldest station in Saint Petersburg. The first train in Russia to Tsarskoye selo once left from this place. From here the trains depart to Belarus, Poland, Germany and Ukraine. Also the local trains to Pavlovsky, Pushkin and Gatsina depart from Viteb station.
- Baltiski vokzal - Local trains depart from the Baltic station to, among others, Peterhof and Lomonosov (Oranienbaum)
The train stations are well connected by the metro.
By car
The traffic in Saint Petersburg is difficult. Driving is not recommended for anyone who is not strong in his shoes or who is very careful with his car. There are reasonable road connections with Tallinn, Helsinki, Vilnius and Riga. However, there are hardly any highways. The speed limit on normal roads outside built-up areas is 100 km/h.
By bus
Saint Petersburg has bus connections with Tallinn (from the Baltic station) and Helsinki (from the Moscow station).
By boat
It is possible to visit St. Petersburg without a visa. This is only possible if both arrival and departure are done with the St. Peterline, and on condition that you have left the country within 72 hours. The St. Peterline to St. Petersburg sails from Helsinki and back again. Be prepared for potentially long waiting times at customs upon arrival in St. Petersburg.
Travel around
The best way to get around the city is by metro. Saint Petersburg has 4 lines, each with its own color and number. Although most of the inscriptions are still in Russian (Cyrillic alphabet), there are more and more English signs. You can buy tickets for the metro at the counter at the entrance.
Saint Petersburg also has the largest tram network in the world. Unfortunately the tram is outdated. You can buy tickets from the conductor after boarding. A trip with the tram is recommended for the adventurous tourist.
The bus and trolleybus network of Saint Petersburg is, like the tram, very extensive, but the buses are usually outdated. You can buy tickets from the conductor on the bus.
A better alternative to the bus are the minibuses or Masrutka. These run the same route as the buses. They drive more often but do not have a fixed timetable. They stop everywhere but are a bit more expensive than the normal buses. You pay after boarding the driver.
There is a taxi driver in every Russian. Negotiate the price carefully before boarding. Real taxis are hard to find, except for hotels and the airport (expensive). It is best to book one in advance over the phone.
To look at
Saint Petersburg is one large open-air museum. Most tourist trips pass by the Hermitage, Church on the Spilled Blood and the Russian Museum but there is much more to see. Saint Petersburg has hundreds of beautiful churches and museums.
To do
Trips to one of the suburbs.
Peterhof - A summer palace of the Tsar, known for its beautiful fountains. Full of tourists on weekends.
pushkin - The summer residence of, among others, Catherine the Great. The replica of the amber room is also located here.
Pavlovsky - A summer palace of the Tsar, known for its park and wooded area, ideal for a walk.
Oranienbaum (lomonosov) - A summer residence of Tsar Alexander, not yet fully restored and not infested with tourists. A real insiders tip.
Tram tour - A tip for the adventurous tourist. Get on a tram, buy a ticket and see where you end up. A great way to discover the lesser-known, but certainly no less beautiful parts of the city.
Boat trip through the canals - A standard tourist attraction that belongs to any self-respecting city.
children's railway - Across Lake Ozerki is the starting point of the children's or pioneer railway. In the summer, from Wednesday to Saturday, a train runs here 3 times a day. All functions are performed by children aged 5-15 years. By metro you go to Ozernaya. You walk between the two lakes towards the railway. The starting point of the railway is just south of the Ozerki station.
To learn
To work
To buy
The largest shopping center in Saint Petersburg is Gostini Dvor. Here you will find mainly Western shops. Priceless for the average Russian.
More fun is the Armenian market to Sadova. Here all kinds of clothes and foodstuffs are sold in small stalls. Watch out for pickpockets.
On weekends, there is a flea market at Udelnaya metro station. Here you can buy everything from Soviet odds and ends to rusted screws.
CDs and DVDs are still very cheap in Russia, for 2-5 Euros you have the latest CD and for 5-10 Euros the latest movies. Most stores have both legal and professional illegal copies. Pay attention to the region code (Russia=5 Netherlands and Belgium=2) and that you do not take too many illegal CDs and DVDs with you. Customs at Schiphol regularly checks. Also check the languages and subtitles of the DVDs. Just because it's on the box doesn't mean it's on the DVD itself.
Food
Budget
Highly recommended in the budget segment tsajnajaa lotska, teaspoon. This is a chain of simple pancake restaurants (blini in the Russian) The pancakes are filled with sweet or savory filling. There are also various salads. The Russian answer to fast food.
Average
Jolik-palki is slightly more expensive than tsaja lotska, but it is also pleasant to sit here for a while. In addition to blini (pancakes), they sell a cross-section of Russian cuisine. Borscht, or in the summer cold borscht is recommended.
Expensive
Going out
stay overnight
Budget
- Friends hostels, 4 locations: Griboedov canal, Nevsky prospect, Bankovsky pereulok and Vosstania street (email="[email protected]"), ☎ 7 812 331 77 99. Named after the famous TV show, the hostel chain "Friends" was rated by Lonely Planet city guide and is considered immaculate dorms, great location and very helpful staff. From 400 rubles per person.
Average
- swissSTAR B&B, Fontanka 93-26, ☎ 7 911 929 27 93, e-mail: [email protected]. Check in: 14:00, check out: 11:00. 40 - 109 Euro.
Expensive
Contact
Most people only speak Russian and are not that fond of foreigners. At larger (and more expensive) souvenir shops, restaurants and museums, the staff often does speak English.
Most Dutch and Belgian mobile phones work in Saint Petersburg. Before you leave, check whether your provider has a roaming agreement with Russia.
Safety
Saint Petersburg is as safe as any other major European city. Petty crime (bag robbery and pickpockets) takes place around the tourist attractions. Given the poor knowledge of foreign languages at the police, reporting can be difficult.
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