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San Petersburgo

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For the US city of the same name, see [wiki=228d87a2b78d0ed975a6207b87e506c0]Saint Petersburg (Florida)[/wiki]

Saint Petersburg ([wiki=6777b01110836f77ba72e2ec0c0d5b31]Russian[/wiki]: Санкт-Петерб́ург Sankt-Peterburg;) is a world-class destination and [wiki=5feb168ca8fb495dcc89b1208cdeb919]Russia[/wiki]'s second largest city, with a population of more than 5 million perched at the eastern tip of of the Baltic Sea and the Neva River.

The city was formerly known as Petrograd (Петрогр́ад), and later Leningrad (Ленингр́ад).

This is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places on earth and virtually any building in the large historic centre, threaded with canals dotted with baroque bridges, can be considered an attraction-and indeed, it is a [wiki=362aabf3d0db21d7fc2b54f14d9ccad6]UNESCO World Heritage site[/wiki]. This is a magical city, with a long list of major attractions. Its Hermitage Museum, housed in the Winter Palace of the Romanov Dynasty, is both one of the world's greatest and oldest collections of art, treasure, and antiquities, and one of its most beautiful buildings.

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Understand
- History
  
  Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, in the territory of the Inkeri town of Nien which was a capital of Finno-Ugric province Ingermanland which was part of Novgorod Republic, and Sweden. The first settlements in this region date from 2500 years ago. Archaeologists found old graves full of izhora silver treasures, also korela-inkeri epos of Kalevala halfly was written near Sester river, modern Sestroretsk. In this time the lifestyle of aborigines was very different it was forest people which lived in tunnels underground, famous for hunting, mushroom medicine, and making steel. It was place of joining three finno ugric subethnosos suomi Inkeri and Karela, St Petersburg the former home of the tsars and the centre of imperial Russian culture, Saint Petersburg was known as "The Venice of the North" in its heyday. Re-christened Petrograd during the first World War, the city was renamed Leningrad in 1924 in honour of communist revolutionary and founder of the Soviet Union, Vladmir I. Lenin. Bombed, besieged and starved during World War II, the city took a back seat to [wiki=7e35e74e610188414ad24235dd787c78]Moscow[/wiki] during the Soviet-era.
  
  Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the city has rapidly been making up for lost time and is by far the most cosmopolitan and Western of Russia's cities. Renamed once more in the aftermath of the fall of the Soviet Union, most Russians know it as Piter (Питер), a familiar diminutive of Saint Petersburg.
  
  During the hardship years of Yeltsin's presidency, much of the city was controlled by the infamous Tambov gang, but have since reduced in influence. With world-class architecture, astonishing views and friendly people, there's lots to do here.
  
  The contemporary scene at St. Petersburg may be glimpsed by visitors through the English language newspaper, The St. Petersburg Times[http://www.sptimes.ru].
- Climate
  
  April-May sees warmer temperatures, but snow is not uncommon, and the sludge resulting from the melting snow gets tiresome fast. This is also that time of year when you should be wary of giant thawing icicles overhead, which threaten the occasional impaling. 9 May is Victory Day (День победы) celebrating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. This day is marked with an opening military parade on Palace Square, directly in front of the Hermitage, visiting various war monuments, giving flowers to war veterans who are dressed in full military outfits, and an evening parade down Nevsky Proskpect which includes survivors of the Leningrad blockade. 27 May is Foundation day with festivals and music during the day and fireworks in the evening.
  
  June is peak tourist season during the famous White Nights (roughly, 11 June-2 July), when the sun sets only for a brief period of twilight, and the streets stay alive around the clock. The last ten days of June, during the White Nights Festival of all-day performances, concerts, festivals, and parties, are the busiest time of the season and it can be difficult to reserve accommodation and transport. Book early.
  
  July-early September are usually the warmest months, albeit a bit humid. Rain showers are possible throughout this time, so it is always a good idea for one to have an umbrella at all times. Last Sunday of July is a NAVI day. Modern NAVI ships of Baltic fleet are staying in Neva embankments and open for visitors.
  
  Late September-October is a lovely time in the city. The humidity and temperatures drop to moderate with strong winds, and the tourists are all gone. Rain is still common.
  
  While yes, the city gets cold in the winter, there are a couple advantages to a visit November-March: there are hardly any tourists-even domestic tourists, so you won't see the barest hint of the long lines of the summer at the Hermitage; Saint Petersburg's neoclassical streets are also simply gorgeous in the snow. Temperatures can range from relatively mild to very cold. All major tourist attractions are still open and some hotels offer lower prices during this time. But be prepared to dress warmly, as temperatures can easily dip -25C (-13F) with blustery winds. The biggest danger, though, is the ice. The city's lovely marble surfaces, when mixed with snow and ice, create a very real danger of slipping and seriously hurting yourself. Wear good boots, take small steps, and watch your feet!
  
  Keep in mind that New Years is the biggest holiday of the year in Russia. Reserving a hotel room is usually not a problem during this time, but be prepared for very large crowds and noisy celebrations.
Get in
Russian visa requirements are complex but should not be feared. See the [wiki=5feb168ca8fb495dcc89b1208cdeb919#Get In]Get In[/wiki] section of the article on [wiki=5feb168ca8fb495dcc89b1208cdeb919]Russia[/wiki] for information.

A visa is not required for a trip of less than 72 hours if you arrive in St. Petersburg by ferry or by cruise liner, provided you have a pre-arranged program of excursions by an approved local company. This kind of visa for cruise passengers is called Blanket visa and can be [url=http://www.sputnik8.com/en/st-petersburg/activities/649-blanket-visa-tour-ticket-for-cruise-only-passengers]ordered online at Russian travel agency[/url].
- By train
  
  Tickets can be bought at the train stations or [url=http://pass.rzd.ru/main-pass/public/en]online[/url]. Long distance train tickets are generally more expensive if bought close to the date of travel.
  
  There are five principal train stations in Saint Petersburg:
  
  *Baltiysky Station (Балтийский вокзал) - Trains operate to/from [wiki=45c5ebfb15401f31e5dff7066ea51b13]Petrodvorets[/wiki] (Peterhof), [wiki=d02ebe8c09d239823f43805a876ac6e1]Lomonosov[/wiki] (Oranienbaum), [wiki=855f60b18b5d9d1ed581cb3cd877e3a5]Gatchina[/wiki], [wiki=b1976ec36167e8040821623312b5f67c]Luga[/wiki], and other cities. Also used by trains to/from Aeroport station, with connecting buses to Pulkovo airport. Metro: Baltiyskaya.
  
  *Ladozhsky Station (Ладожский вокзал) - Trains operate to/from [wiki=b8020ad20a869ff65a9da861220b3f3c]Murmansk[/wiki], [wiki=b9dcbb00b510c47fdc711be38f6de0b5]Ekaterinburg[/wiki], [wiki=a5d890d812fb70e5c54009032fb03ab5]Cheliabinsk[/wiki], [wiki=0d9b5c7faf5c1ce7d0728391ac51b538]Omsk[/wiki], [wiki=f38c039e89b151ba91c0ca6a990ae9ba]Novosibirsk[/wiki], [wiki=88468caed55221baac033a615533285a]Astana[/wiki] ([wiki=7c1a943bf29d2c753fb935e99428482c]Kazakhstan[/wiki]), [wiki=8449280a23f8c4fcfb13469f6dc19592]Helsinki[/wiki] (night-train Leo Tolstoi), and other cities. Metro: Ladozhskaya.
  
  *Finlyandsky Station (Финляндский вокзал) - Trains operate to/from [wiki=8449280a23f8c4fcfb13469f6dc19592]Helsinki[/wiki] (Allegro high speed) and [wiki=4c09c0d635846ae13eb0ea3be8ca5320]Vyborg[/wiki]. Metro: Ploschad Lenina.
  
  *Moskovsky Station (Московский вокзал) - Trains operate to/from [wiki=7e35e74e610188414ad24235dd787c78]Moscow[/wiki], [wiki=9b49060440682b6796e984f75b3964d4]Novgorod[/wiki], [wiki=f01fc92b23faa973f3492a23d5a705c5]Ukraine[/wiki], [wiki=7176f8c3bccfdf02322c73f7a0bc9688]Azerbaijan[/wiki], [wiki=1b76b0d2b1c0131465044a89285260a8]Volgograd[/wiki], [wiki=8a3752e9533d538016ce6ce86fe2a9be]Kazan[/wiki], [wiki=ae6d06b333642fea786d801e95e0b8d0]Samara[/wiki], [wiki=3aa8c00ba34cd9895f915fb32e1af517]Rostov-na-Donu[/wiki], [wiki=7965374f9592af19bfebce18a26c857b]Ufa[/wiki], [wiki=7f5651ef9b1fb1869c90bff552f60ecf]Sochi[/wiki], and other cities. Metro: Ploshchad Vosstaniya (closer) and Mayakovskaya. Both metro stations are directly linked with the rail terminal via an underground passage.
  
  *Vitebsky Station (Витебский вокзал) - Trains operate to/from [wiki=bb343fd97bebe9ae663daa703d45d8c1]Pushkin[/wiki] (formerly Tsarskoe Selo), [wiki=60917b09e10084560f856890ced62722]Pavlovsk[/wiki], [wiki=6542f875eaa09a5c550e5f3986400ad9]Belarus[/wiki], [wiki=51802d8bb965d0e5be697f07d16922e8]Czech Republic[/wiki], [wiki=fa79c3005daec47ecff84a116a0927a1]Hungary[/wiki], [wiki=94880bda83bda77c5692876700711f15]Poland[/wiki], [wiki=f01fc92b23faa973f3492a23d5a705c5]Ukraine[/wiki], [wiki=0c7d5ae44b2a0be9ebd7d6b9f7d60f20]Romania[/wiki], [wiki=0c12f5495afe76d9242ed25668979de9]Moldova[/wiki], [wiki=01a151debf2bfee8906f43f4342eb10b]Bulgaria[/wiki], [wiki=d8b00929dec65d422303256336ada04f]Germany[/wiki], [wiki=d9051e0b77f8bb5521389618e70e2ada]Lithuania[/wiki], [wiki=c16c50f34911d1f5d3924c8267409904]Riga[/wiki] (14 hours, from RUB2,200), [wiki=7755415a9fe7022060b98a689236ccd2]Estonia[/wiki]. Metro: Pushkinskaya.
- By bus
  
  The cheapest way of reaching Saint Petersburg from neighbouring countries is by bus. There are 3 intercity bus stations in Saint Petersburg.
  
  The process of entering Russia by bus is lengthier than when travelling by train or air. Border agents only speak Russian and are sometimes not aware of visa requirements, which leads to delays.
  
  At the main bus station (Avtovokzal) near the Obvodny Canal metro station, international buses are available to/from [wiki=6542f875eaa09a5c550e5f3986400ad9]Belarus[/wiki], [wiki=f01fc92b23faa973f3492a23d5a705c5]Ukraine[/wiki], [wiki=d8b00929dec65d422303256336ada04f]Germany[/wiki], [wiki=6f781c6559a0c605da918096bdb69edf]Finland[/wiki], the [wiki=e563195ac0e8dbffea9d704b6ad6ecae]Baltics[/wiki], and [wiki=1f51c2ead9d80bbd679be908c055f371]Scandinavia[/wiki] and domestic buses are available to/from Bryansk, Ivangorod, [wiki=291da81c7a08c3ac061549c1e3c595df]Ivanovo[/wiki], Novaya Ladoga, Lodeinoe Pole, [wiki=9b49060440682b6796e984f75b3964d4]Novgorod[/wiki], [wiki=6c429cf71dd68c9e344c59c5be26ab0c]Petrozavodsk[/wiki], [wiki=ec6d35fb32830be5e0e6dc8a2647d1b7]Pskov[/wiki], Pushkinskie Gori, Svetogorsk, [wiki=34ece898fc662234705fd092f7199a1a]Smolensk[/wiki], Staraya Russa, [wiki=40b88aa16397387179181e7950a18094]Tikhvin[/wiki], Velikie Luki, [wiki=c3145bba4a6cf311740acb5046a2b352]Vologda[/wiki], and [wiki=4c09c0d635846ae13eb0ea3be8ca5320]Vyborg[/wiki].
- By boat
  
  [url=http://www.passengerport-mf.spb.ru/en/]Passenger Port of St. Petersburg “Marine Façade"[/url] is the main boat terminal in St. Petersburg, and is where 90% of cruise ships dock. It was built on reclaimed land on the western shore of Vasilyevsky Island at the mouth of the Neva River, 8km west of the city center. With its 7 berths and 4 terminals, Marine Façade is able to handle 7 large cruise ships and more than 15,000 passengers per day. Bus #158 operates between terminal 3 and the Primorskaya (Примо́рская) metro station.
  
  Smaller cruise ships sail up the Neva river and dock at either English Embankment (Англи́йская на́бережная; Angliyskaya Naberezhnaya) or Lieutenant Schmidt Embankment, both of which are closer to the city centre.
Get around
- Traffic
  
  Most means of transportation stop functioning at night. The subway is closed from midnight to 05:45 and transfers between lines close (and open) at this time, while the departure of the last (and the first) trains from each station varies slightly. Taxis are always available but are much more expensive at night. Every private vehicle is a potential taxi. Flagging down a vehicle and paying for a ride somewhere is perfectly normal in Russia and quite popular although ill-advised for tourists. Safety is, of course, an issue. As a rule, you should never get in a private cab if it already has passengers inside.
  
  Also, refuse requests from the driver to take on more fares unless you reached your destination; if he insists, ask to stop at a safe-looking place, pay and leave. If the driver stops for gas, step out of the car, along with your belongings, and get some fresh air while he is fuelling it. Those travelling alone (men and women) should feel free to wave off any suspicious ride for any reason whatsoever. Gypsy cabs which linger near popular bars and restaurants at night have been known to be especially dangerous, with several instances of druggings and robberies.
  
  At night the city is divided in two by the Neva; all the main bridges are drawn up to allow for boat traffic, except during the winter, when ice makes the river impassable. Remember to make it to your side of the river in time; otherwise, you could find yourself stuck on the wrong side until early morning. Some bridges close once per night to permit crossing; see below for details. There is however the tall cable Big Obukhovski bridge which is not drawn up, as it is an important part of Saint Petersburg Ring Highway, but it's rather remote from the city centre which would multiple the taxi fare several times.
  
  The following table represents a drawn schedule of Saint Petersburg bridges in 2014 (as of 28 April), which may have changed since:
  [wiki_table=e9f29d4f]
- By metro
  
  Saint Petersburg's [url=http://www.metro.spb.ru/]metro[/url] is the second largest underground railway system in Russia, second only to [wiki=7e35e74e610188414ad24235dd787c78]Moscow[/wiki]. The subway is a cheap and effective way to get around the city, and also a major tourist attraction in itself thanks to the beautiful decorations of the stations. Taking pictures was once prohibited, but amateur photography (without a tripod, etc) is now allowed.
  
  The trains are fast and run frequently (during rush hour, there are often only 30 seconds between trains). The metro costs RUB31 per entry regardless of the distance. Brass tokens (жетон - zheton) can be purchased from kiosks at station entrances and vending machines, but they no more need to be stocked since metro now allows to use Mastercard PayPass or Visa PayWave cards as train ticket - all you need is to put your card on white circle near to turnstile. You have to pay an extra token if you have a big baggage.
  
  Metro maps can be found in every train car and always have station names in the Latin alphabet. The station names on the platforms are also in the Latin alphabet, and many other signs are in English. Station announcements on the train are only in Russian, but if you listen carefully you will hear the conductor announce the current station name and the next station as the doors are closing.
  
  Stations are deep, and transfers between stations also involve long walks. There is little time saving to be made travelling between adjacent stations in the historic centre.
  
  The Saint Petersburg metro can be unbelievably crowded during rush hour. Avoid travelling during this if not accustomed to big crowds. Be aware of your belongings and expect to have to push your way out upon arrival.
- By tram
  
  A more scenic, but slower, way to see Saint Petersburg is by tram (трамвай - "tramvai"). In recent years, due to traffic problems, some tram lines were removed from the centre of the city. They cost RUB25 and are sold by a conductor sitting in the tram.
- By bus or trolleybus
  
  Buses (автобус - avtobus) and trolleybuses (троллейбус - trolleibus) are cheap (28 rubles) and frequent. They cover many areas of the city that the metro doesn't. There is no map for the trolleybuses, but Google Transit comprehensively shows all the routes making it easy to navigate using the buses with this service.
  
  Trolleybuses are indicated by the letter 'm' (actually it is an old-school Russian 'т') on the stops, and diesel/gas buses by the letter 'A'. Both buses and trolleybuses may show the same route number, but the trolleybus route in this case is frequently shorter, and can vary in some minor respects.
  
  Tickets are sold by a conductor sitting in the bus. Every bus has its own conductor. The conductor will work their way up and down the aisle of a crowded bus, and just handing them the correct change is sufficient. The conductors don't like giving much change, and only speak Russian.
  
  Buses and trolleys on main routes are frequently overcrowded. Buses to suburbs cost 19 or 36 rubles within the territory of St. Peterburg ([wiki=d6cadf41b56ee040e3aa15e68177a043]Zelenogorsk[/wiki], [wiki=d02ebe8c09d239823f43805a876ac6e1]Lomonosov[/wiki] and others). If you are caught without a valid ticket you will be fined 300 rubles.
  
  Since July, 1 (2012) night buses have been introduced. They have the same routes as metro has, but the problem of the bridges is not resolved.
- By taxi
  
  Route taxi (маршрутка - marshrutka) is sometimes the fastest way to get somewhere. Taxis are 14-20 seat vans, usually white or yellow, always with a letter K and route number plate (K-28). Often they are small Chinese or Turkish buses. There are no regular stops; you must tell the driver when you want to get out, or wave while on the roadside to stop one. You must pay to the driver at entry, usually from 20 to 35 rubles. If you cannot reach the driver on your own, pass the money through the other passengers and be ready to pass other's money if you sit close to the driver. The Marshrutka experience may seem exciting sometimes, especially when you see some brave driver counting change while steering with his knees at 110km/h (70mph). Many marshrutka drivers are illegal immigrants and speak Russian poorly (if any at all).
  
  Another interesting means of transportation is special taxi for tourists and visitors. The service runs 24/7 and offers English language support, low fares and online booking before landing (Pulkovo 1, 2). The service is new and operates through community friendly social networks like couchsurfing and facebook. For further information check [url=https://www.couchsurfing.org/group.html?gid=63369]Couchsurfing[/url] or [url=http://www.facebook.com/spbtrans]Facebook[/url].
  
  Regular taxis are available, but drivers do not usually speak English. Watch out for overpriced taxis outside Hermitage museum. They have meters that run four times faster than those of regular taxis. A 3km ride on these runs 1600 rubles. Negotiate a flat fare before getting on the taxi. If the driver insists on using the meter you should walk away.
- By Uber
  
  Uber exists in St Petersburg and is cheaper than the taxis the hotel will call for you by about 20-25%. It may be hard to find the address you are at however so picking one up from a major hotel or restaurant is a good idea.
- By local train
  
  A commuter train (электричка, elektrichka) may be an option in areas distant from metro stations, such as the airport. Fares are based on travel distance, a ride within city limits should cost under 30 rubles. Speeds are moderate, but trains may be rare (1-2/h). Information available in here: [http://rasp.yandex.ru].
See
The [wiki=6b3908d5e259bfc57d777493a719b7d9]Historic Center[/wiki] of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments are [wiki=24a0ef0a6269be289db4de9570763de3#Russia]UNESCO[/wiki] world heritage [url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/540],]so definitely worth your while.

* The Hermitage Museum/The Winter Palace [url=http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/]]is Saint Petersburg's prime attraction, a massive palace-museum showing the highlights of a collection of over 3,000,000 pieces spanning the globe. The Hermitage is truly one of the world's great museums, with an imposing setting displaying priceless works by Rembrandt, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Rubens and more. Getting a tour guide is recommended; they can charge as much as $100, but the additional information they impart can be well worth the price, and they can readily take you directly to the items you want to see.

Ticketing is complex, but the Hermitage itself is 300 rubles for Russians and 400 rubles for foreigners (2013) and they do check if you have a Russian passport, even if you speak Russian. Students of all nationalities get in for free, but don't forget your student card with photo (the 'administration' will likely reject your ID if it doesn't have a date on it). Entrance is free on the first Thursday of every month. Large bags aren't allowed in the museum, and a massive cloakroom downstairs (no charge, as usual in Russia) exists to assist with jackets and bags. A ticket allowing photography costs 200 rubles. Some rooms and all temporary exhibits prohibit all kinds of photography.

You can buy tickets on-line, and have a confirmation emailed to you. It is currently slightly more expensive than a local ticket as they charge in dollars at an old exchange rate ($18 including photos), you just walk straight to the front of the queue. Hand your booking confirmation and passport to information desk. She will get the ticket office to check your details and issue the tickets.

The queues at the ticket office can be long, and purchasing a ticket online can help you bypass this queue first thing in the morning. However, at other times the museum can limit the admission rate because of the numbers already in the museum. In this case having purchased your tickets in advance won't save you as much time. There are also ticket machines just before you get to the cash desk which have much shorter lines.

The museum has a cafe and large shop near the entrance, and numerous small shops throughout the galleries. Audio guides are available in English, and most signs in the gallery are in English and Russian. Guide books are available for around 300 rubles.

* An extensive collection of Russian paintings and sculpture. People who are disappointed that the Hermitage is mainly western European art love this museum, since most of the artists are relatively unknown to non-Russians. The main building, the Mikhailovskiy Palace[url=http://www.saint-petersburg.com/palaces/mikhailovskiy-palace/]]houses the main exhibits, and the Russian Museum also oversees the permanent and temporary exhibits at the Stroganov Palace, Marble Palace and Mikhailovskiy Castle. Tickets to each can be purchased separately or as a universal pass.

*Peter and Paul Fortress. You can go in for free, but to enter the church and exhibitions you need tickets. You can get a combo ticket for everything, or you can just enter the church. Other than the church, which is where the all of the Romanov Czars of Russia from Peter the Great (bar two or three) are buried, the other things on the island aren't terribly impressive, so it might be worth it to just see the church. Note that if you buy a combo ticket for everything, you still need to have a 'special ticket' for a lot of exhibitions within the fortress!

* Not open to visitors, but worth seeing from the outside.

*The bridges on the Neva [url=http://www.petersburg-bridges.com/].]Open 2 times per night to allow boats to pass.

*Museum of Artillery, Combat Engineers and Signal Troops [url=http://www.artillery-museum.ru/en/[/url].]Housed in old Arsenal fortress-like building near the Peter and Paul Fortress and surrounded by moat. HUGE collection of weapons from the beginning of history until the present, including an extensive collection of Soviet weaponry from WW2 and the Cold War. Tanks, ballistic missiles, Katuscha trucks, countless Kalashnikovs. Personal note: Absolutely awesome, one of the highlights of all my European travels. If you speak Russian and can pass as a Russian, a 2-hour private guided tour costs around 15 euros. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and the last Thursday of the month.

* An interesting and educational display of the traditions and costumes of various ethnic groups found in the lands of the former Russian Empire.

*Alexander Nevskiy Monastery. Located at the Eastern end of Nevskiy Prospekt next to the River Neva. The site also has the Tikhvin Cemetery which houses the tombs of some of the world's most famous composers; Tschaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky and Borodin, and also the author Fyodor Dostoevsky, along with many other famous Russian figures.

* A traditional style Russian church built on the spot where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. The interior is elaborately decorated with over 6000sqm of mosaics. Photography without a tripod and extra lighting permitted for free. 250 RR

* Impressive neoclassical exterior, richly decorated interior. Includes the tomb of Gen. Kutuzov, hero of the war of 1812.

* Located near to the Admiralty. It was built in 1818 and is a major attraction in the city. It is the third highest cupola cathedral in the world. There are night time visits, too, and the view from the colonnade (observation deck) is one of the best views of the city, for those who are willing to climb 400 steps.

*Peter the Great's Cabin. Peter the Great's men built the small wooden cabin in a matter of days for him when he planned the city and it has been preserved in a small brick building in the district Petrogradskaya. It is located close to the Cruiser Aurora on Petrovskaya Naberzhnaya.

* You have just come out of Narvskaya metro station, and here it is! The arch was built to meet and greet Russian soldiers who came home having defeated Napoleon Bonaparte's army. It is made of bricks and plated with cooper. The chariot reined by Pheme is running atop. Many tourists and citizens misbelieve that the arch is monolithic. Nope, it's inhabited! You might have seen a lot of arches in your life. But you've hardly been within any. You come to the left door, enter the arch and buy a ticket (100 rubles in summer 2015). Then you climb a very high spiral ladder which pierces the pier (not for those who are prone to dizziness!). Eventually, you are in the crown of the arch. Here, at a height of 15 meters above the ground, a small exhibition hall is. Usually they exhibit something related to wars and battles Russia and USSR participated in. In August 2015 they were exhibiting things and photos telling about World War I.

* Culture centre located in five-storey former bakery building with several exhibition spaces (combined surface around 5000 square metres). Contemporary art exhibitions, concerts, events (flea markets). Parts of Etagi loft are two art galleries, four exhibitions spaces, a cafe (with great interior and outside terrace), a hostel and a bookshop.

* A good museum is never just a set of items. It speaks to people and answers their questions. This museum will answer these ones: How did Soviet people live in the 1930s? What did their flats look like? What beds did they sleep on? What bathrooms did they go to? Where did they keep their food? What pens did they write with? How did Soviet people regard "luxury"? What sweets did Soviet children want their parents to buy them? The museum is the flat of Sergey Kirov who was the mayor of Leningrad in 1927-1934. But it isn't about Kirov only. It's about the epoch he lived in. It was the time between the World Wars when Joseph Stalin headed the USSR.

*
15 guardian spirits came from Korea and gathered in the southwest corner of Park Sosnovka (the intersection of prospect Toreza and Svetlanovsky prospect - 60°00'41.3"N 30°20'50.7"E). It's believed that these 4-meter-high wooden spirits radiate positive energy and frighten demons away. Hurry up! Humid climate and vandals have destroyed 12 poles of the 15!
- Vasilievsky Island
  
  Perhaps the most beautiful religious building on the island, built in 1780. The main cupola is framed by three narrow towers, and is topped by a two-tiered belltower. The gilt, three-layered iconostasis inside is an impressive 17 meters tall.
  
  * This five domed church was built in 1897. In 1935, as happened to many churches in Russia, it was converted by the Soviets into a warehouse, but in 1993 it was reopened for services. The ongoing careful renovations began in 1996.
  
  *Erarta project brings under one roof Russia's largest private Museum of Contemporary Art (with over 2,300 works in its collection as of the time of writing) and one of the branches of its international Galleries (other branches located in London and Hong Kong). The building has a café (3rd floor), a restaurant, a gift store and a print shop. It has an overall floor area of 10,000 square meters. The Museum especially is worth visiting for its creativity, not only exhibiting other artists' works but also acting as an author itself.
  
  * The Exchange Building, which houses the Naval Museum, is the centerpiece of the Strelka ensemble. It was built in 1816 in the Neoclassical style. The Naval Museum, one of the largest in the world, contains historical displays of the Russian navy from its founding to the present day, including weaponry, models of ships, and even some original mastheads. Extensive World War II display, and also (not directly related to Naval history) a diorama box of the storming of the Winter Palace.
  
  * A statue of Admiral Ivan Kruzenshtern, was built in 1870 in honor of the 100-year anniversary of the renowned Admiral's death.
  
  * This museum is primarily famous for its one-room freak show collection of 300 year-old deformed fetuses in formaldehyde (of which you are not allowed to take pictures). The rest of the museum consists of trinkets from various world cultures (over one million exhibits). It's of interest mainly as it is the oldest state museum in Russia, established by Peter the Great in 1704-consequently it has a very dated feel.
  
  * Operated by the Hermitage, this museum displays some art and an exhibition on life in the early 18th century, in a palace built for the first governor of St. Petersburg, and before him Peter the Great. The Baroque palace was built in 1721, and was one of the first grand stone constructions of the city. Look especially for the grand staircase, and the Walnut, Naval, and Chinese rooms.
  Note: you will be given and required to wear special woolen "slippers" over your street shoes as to not damage the flooring.
  
  * A statue of the famous 18th century Russian Renaissance man himself, famous for his contributions to mathematics, literature, painting, natural science, chemistry, physics, mineralogy, history, philology, and art.
  
  * One of the largest and oldest geological museums in the world, containing more than 230 thousand items, collected from more than 80 countries. Even if you don't make it inside on a tour, it's worth passing by to admire it's imposing 1811 Imperial-style facade.
  
  * A small museum aboard a WWII submarine, dedicated to the actions of the submarine throughout the war (run by the Naval Museum).
  
  * The oldest naval academy in Russia, founded by Peter the Great in 1701. Some of its most famous graduates include Ivan Kruzenshtern, Rimsky-Korsakov, and many others. The building was completely rebuilt in 1798.
  
  * The first monuments you'll immediately notice on the Strelka, the Rostral Columns are yet another symbol of the city. Constructed in 1810, the columns are each adorned with six rostra (traditionally, the prows of captured ships), symbolizing the might of the Russian Baltic Fleet. At the base of the columns you'll see sculptures representing the great rivers of European Russia, the Volga, Dnieper, Neva, and Volkhov. In addition to their decorative purpose, the columns also served as lighthouses, and to this day the gas flames are lit on holidays.
  
  * The big obelisk in the center of the park was moved here from Mars Field in honor of Count Peter Rumyantsev's victory in the Russo-Turkish War of 1791. On the southern end, look for two statues of the famous Russian painters Repin and Surikov.
  
  * Russia's largest center for advanced study in the arts, founded by Lomonosov and Shuvalov, and was until the 20th century the only school of its kind in Russia. The impressive neoclassical building was built in 1788.
  
  * A huge collection of drawings, prints, paintings of both Russian and Western artists, as well as casts and sculptures, all on display across three floors of the Academy. The models of great Petersburg architecture, of the Smolny Monastery, St Isaac's Cathedral, Mikhailovsky Castle, etc., are especially worth seeking out.
  
  * You wouldn't expect it, but these two granite sphinxes are three thousand years older than the city itself! They were excavated in 1820 in the temple of Amenhotep III near [wiki=3f4522685c2e61b2ba00ad392749de43]Thebes[/wiki]. Upon seeing them, the Russian writer and diplomat Muravyev wrote to the Tsar, and convinced him to purchase the statues for display in Petersburg. They were installed in 1834. Oddly enough, sphinxes seem to be popular in the city - there are another six made by Russian sculptors lurking about.
  
  * One of Domeniko Trezini's many neoclassical buildings in Petersburg, built in 1742. The ensemble is comprised of twelve identical, connected, three-story buildings. The main facade faces Mendeleevskaya St, rather than the Neva, because at the time of construction, there was a canal in place of the street, across from which was the main market on the island. Today the ensemble houses the Geological and Agricultural departments, as well as Admissions.
  
  * A wild lesson in taxidermy, the museum contains over 17 million species, stuffed, mounted, and fossilized (although due to constraints of finitude, the building "only" displays some 500 thousand). The collection began at the Kunstkammer, and grew into its enormous state under the later Imperial period. You won't have to look hard, but look for the complete blue whale skeleton, as well as the world's only stuffed mammoth.
- Churches and Temples
  
  If you have seen the top tourist destinations but still have enough time, turn off the tourist highway and see some more churches and temples scattered throughout St. Petersburg. Many of them do have something unique to show!
  
  * Old Russian prince had a farm... And he wanted his village to have a church. He decided that it would resemble two Russian Easter dishes - kulich and paskha. The idea made the church outstanding before it was built. Then the prince found the architect who would bake the dishes. The Easter table is laid just across from Proletarskaya metro station. The church is round and yellow like a well-baked pie. It departs from the tradition (most Russian orthodox churches are cross-shaped). The bell tower isn't a tower at all. It's a pyramid plated with metal. The church is well-lit. The architect used windows and walls to direct sunbeams and then let them play inside. On clear days icons, candlesticks and chandeliers seem to be floating in the air! Ironically, along with the church, wherefrom people send messages to God, the architect built the Main post office of St. Petersburg, wherefrom people send messages to each other. The latter made him famous. The ways of God are inscrutable!
  
  * Technical university. What can sound more secular? The church breaks the stereotype. It was drawn by the teacher who taught drawing in the university. Initially, the church was to be a part of the library. The scientists even invented an iron curtain (long before it turned into a metaphor) to split the altar from the reading room. Then it was decided to attach the church to the university hostel as a separate building. God and students became neighbours. The church mishappened to be opened on the brink of World War I and everything which followed it. That's why it was frescoed only in the mid-'90s. But it saved the church from being ordinary. It's a rarest place where one can see the Last Judgement Scene frescoed in modern times. God is painted as a large and mighty hand. The Scales of Justice are weighing human souls. The sinners are being dragged to hell by the demons. In hell they are turning into the silhouettes. But some of them are being pardoned. God's mercy is painted as the spring which is cooling hell. Four kingdoms Babylon, Macedonia, Persia and Rome are painted as a square above hell to make visitors google, why. In the corridor God is painted neither as God the Father, nor as God the Son but as the Dove (God the Holy Spirit). It's also a rarest case in Russia!
Do
- Opera and Ballet
  
  No trip to St. Petersburg is complete without seeing an opera or ballet performance. The Mariinsky is perhaps the most well-known institution, but it is by no means the only theater in the city. Tickets are sold throughout the city at kiosks and shops called Teatralnaya Kassa, which charge a nominal (usually about 20 RR) fee for "insurance," which is theoretically optional. The theater box offices themselves sell tickets directly, too, and usually for the same price. Sometimes blocks of tickets sell out at the kiosks but tickets are still available at the theater, or vice versa, so it is worth checking both places if you have your heart set on a particular performance. It is possible to take not-so-small children into some performances if you take a private box, although you will need to ask when you buy your tickets.
  
  Do not buy your tickets "online". "Online" prices are 10x higher than the actual price and are geared for foreigners who don't know Russian. Example: 10th row seats at the Conservatory's performance of "The Marriage of Figaro" online cost $107, but if you go to the theatre directly a few days before, you pay 500 rubles ($15 US).
  
  * The Mariinsky Theater (formerly the Kirov, which is the name the troupe still uses when touring abroad) is world-class for both opera and ballet. There are English supertitles for operas sung in Russian; operas in other languages have Russian supertitles. Performances are offered in two halls: the main theater, and the newly-built Mariinsky Concert Hall. Tickets can be purchased on the theater's website.
  
  * The exterior is not as recognizable as the Mariinsky, but the interior is nearly as grand, and the theater hosts both Russian and foreign headliners in opera and ballet.
  
  * An intimate theater (half-sized stage, and only about 150-200 audience seats) which puts on the major repertory operas at a lower price than the major theaters and has a fascinating foyer - one has to see it to believe it.
  
  * While the hall itself is not lavish - quite sterile, really - a good option for seeing Russian and repertory operas cheaply, performed by faculty and students of the conservatory where Tchaikovsky (and many other famous figures from the Russian music world) studied.
- Drama Theaters
  
  If it were in New York City, it would rather be an 'off-Broadway' theater. But being in St. Petersburg it's a big but cozy theater on a big but cozy island. They stage Russian and foreign drama, e.g. The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Without a Dowry by Alexander Ostrovsky, Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov. They neither turn plays into 'performances for schoolchildren' nor into manifestations of underground art. They don't change dramatists' texts but choose the angles to show that a 150-year-old play isn't just a 'piece of art from the gorgeous past' and is still reflecting human life.
  
  * Don't take the theater's name literally! They do stage Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs by Brothers Grimm, The Moomins by Tove Jansson, The Emerald City by L. Frank Baum and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. But the theater isn't for children and teenagers only. Here you can see Plays by Samuel Beckett, King Lear by William Shakespeare, Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury, Poor Folk by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, A Profitable Position by Alexander Ostrovsky and Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev. Leave your age outside the theater but remember to take your heart and mind with!
  
  * The theater inherits the building from Tenishev School where Vladimir Nabokov studied. It obliges it to... Frankly speaking, it obliges the theater to nothing but does create the specific atmosphere. It's a theater and a school simultaneously. The auditorium is a deep wooden amphitheater with long and armless benches. The directors' talent is to combine this antique interior with fresh stage ideas. The actors are the students who are finishing the academy. As a part of their finals, they make a performance. They stage Odyssey, Don Juan, Romeo and Juliet, A Street Car Named Desire and many other plays. The repertoir changes every year. The actors often regard the house as a part of the stage. Don't be shocked when somebody suddenly jumps from nowhere to the bench next to you. Here you have a unique chance to see the actors who have learnt everything to perform well but aren't influenced by any theater with its intrigues and other paraphernalia yet. It's the theater where actors not only can show their best. They have to do it. Otherwise they will flunk their final exams.
- Concerts
  
  The music scene in St. Petersburg is diverse, with several classical, jazz, and pop concerts to choose from each week. Tickets are available at the same Teatralnaya Kassa locations as ballet and opera tickets, although tickets to pop concerts - especially US and European stars on tour - sometimes use exclusive distributors. For pop and rock concerts, unless you buy tickets for the dance floor (tanzpol), you are expected to sit quietly in your seat as if you were at a ballet - ushers are vigilant about keeping the audience from standing up, dancing, or cheering (polite applause is allowed, but that's about all).
  
  Several of the ballet and opera theaters above also offer orchestral and recital performances, so those are not repeated below. Also, don't forget the many small clubs where up and coming bands play.
  
  * A world-class orchestra which records and tours abroad. The Small Hall (Maliy Saal) hosts excellent chamber music performances and recitals.
  
  * The Small Hall (Maliy Saal) of the Philharmonic hosts excellent chamber music performances and recitals.
  
  * Offers a variety of jazz performances several times per week.
  
  * One of several sports arenas that also serves as a concert hall for pop and rock concerts.
  
  * Pop and rock concerts in an auditorium close to the city center.
- Film
  
  Most cinemas in St. Petersburg show Hollywood films dubbed in Russian. Art cinemas like Dom Kino often show independent American or British movies subtitled in Russian. DVDs of American/European films are also often dubbed. There have been crackdowns on sellers of bootleg DVDs, so it may be difficult or expensive to find DVDs in English these days. There are several DVD stores in the city - often near Metro stations - and it is worth asking about films in English.
  
  Annual Message to Man [http://www.message-to-man.spb.ru] international documentary, short, and animated films festival takes place in June or July, screening many films in English.
  
  * Sometimes shows films in their original language.
  
  *
- Modern cultural centers
  
  St Petersburg is considered to be a cultural capital of Russia not only because of Hermitage, but also because it attracts people working in creative industries.
  
  There many young artists, musicians, designers etc. These kind of people have their own places, so called "creative spaces" (креативные пространства in Russian).
  It's interesting to see young designers and programmers working or tourists sleeping in ex-palaces on the river bank.
  
  * The oldest and biggest cultural center. Cafe, hostel, designer shops, book store etc
  
  * Cultural center on the river bank. Good view over Petropavlovskaya fortress. Designer shops, offices, hostel, bar, ping pong etc
  
  * Recently opened cultural center. Bars, cafes, hostel, shops etc
  
  * Tour over cultural centers listed above run by Olga Polyakova, local activist in the creative industries.
- Roof tops of St Petersburg
  
  St Petersburg is beautiful city. But there is no observation platform like in Paris or London. Because of the constructions law that forbids building skyscrapers in historical centre.
  So there are few options where you can get great view.
  
  * The highest church in St Peterburg has so called Colonnaded Walkway at 43 metres height
  
  * There are many young people in St P, who call themselves roofers.
  The roofer guide offers a rooftop tour right on Nevsky prospekt. This one is safe and legal. And it has very unique location. Costs 1000 rub/person
  
  * Moskva, Makaronniki, Mansarda, Terrassa and some others. There are usually very expensive. 2000-5000 rub per person
- Canal tours
  
  A tour of the canals by boat is a great way to see the city in the summer. The typical tour is through the Moika, out to the Neva to see the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Cruiser Aurora, then in through the Fontanka (sometimes as far as the Mariinsky Theater). Tours start at many points along the route and return to their starting point - hawkers for different boat companies abound - and the boats may or may not have a cafe and toilet on board. Almost all tours are in Russian. 400-600 Rubles seems to be the average price.
  
  * Canal boat tours in English, departing from near the Anichkov Bridge (Nevsky Prospekt and Fontanka) in season (May 2 - Sept 30).
  
  * You can also walk along the canals and admire the numerous bridges, some of them very interesting (like the Bank Bridge).
- Walking around with locals
  
  The alternative way to explore St Petersburg is to know it from inside, walking and talking with locals and trying local activities. Those people who have lived here for years would like to tell you a plenty of stories, open some secret places (as roofs or courtyards etc.) and treat you as a friend.
  * Tours by locals for 1 to 10 people. Some tours are free and others are cheap (from 10$). Many of them are unique like Russian cooking classes, rooftop, flea market, Uzbek food tours, art galleries, lofts etc.
  
  * Daily Tours in English in small groups. A good way to find out about St. Petersburg more!
  
  * Meet actual Native of St Petersburg in addition to exploring major landmarks. Join a walk with locals who will "decode" the city with you, and also learn from an insider about local events and festivals, about where to shop, good places to eat or drink, secret places locals keep to themselves. Severeal tours to join every day, €15, by reservation.
- Half-a-day trip to [wiki=4c09c0d635846ae13eb0ea3be8ca5320]Vyborg[/wiki]
  
  Launched in September 2015 rapid trains 'Lastochka' ('Swallow') enabled half-a-day trips from St. Petersburg to [wiki=4c09c0d635846ae13eb0ea3be8ca5320]Vyborg[/wiki] on weekends. They cover the 130 km distance in only 1h15m.
  
  Have a look at this plan and apply it to your own schedule and needs:
  
  8.05 Take the first 'Sparrow' which departs St. Petersburg from Finlyandsky railway station. Buy a round-trip ticket because on your way back you can see a 150-people-long queue for tickets to St. Petersburg.
  
  9.20 You are in [wiki=4c09c0d635846ae13eb0ea3be8ca5320]Vyborg[/wiki]. Go out of the railway station. Turn right. Go to the gas station 'Neste Oil' electronic price board. The bus stop is here. Wait for the bus 1/6. Pay 25 rubles to the driver. Ask the driver to announce the stop 'Mon Repos'. Get out of the bus. Follow the asphalted road which branches off from the road your bus went and goes to the right. Cross the bridge over the railway. Follow the road until you see the Mon Repos entrance. Pay 100 rubles (September 2015) and come in!
  
  10.00 The park is for about 3 hours.
  
  13.00 Leave the park and go back to the bus stop. Take the same bus 1/6 and leave it when you see Vyborg Castle.
  
  13.30 You have 1.5 hours to see the castle (it's so small!) and all [wiki=4c09c0d635846ae13eb0ea3be8ca5320]Vyborg[/wiki] sights around it.
  
  15.00 You are at the railway station again. Mount the Sparrow.
  
  15.16 Your Swallow flies from [wiki=4c09c0d635846ae13eb0ea3be8ca5320]Vyborg[/wiki] to drop you off in St. Petersburg at 16.30
  
  You have seen [wiki=4c09c0d635846ae13eb0ea3be8ca5320]Vyborg[/wiki] and saved your evening for St. Petersburg!
Learn

Universities and private schools offer [wiki=deba6920e70615401385fe1fb5a379ec]Russian[/wiki] language courses (individual and group tuition).

* Private language school in Saint Petersburg, Moscow & Nizhni-Novgorod.

* Saint Petersburg State University, Smolniy Campus.

* Saint Petersburg State University on Vassilevskiy Island.

* Private school in Saint Petersburg

* Private school in Saint Petersburg.

* Private school in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

* Private school in Saint Petersburg.

* Schools in major Russian cities.
Buy

There are plenty of ATMs and legit currency exchange booths. ATM and big shops usually accept the following kinds of cards: Visa, Visa Electron, MasterCard, MasterCard Electronic and Maestro. Other cards (e.g. American Express) are rarely accepted. If you plan on using a US-issued 'stripe-only' card (not a European chip & PIN card), be prepared for it to be a hassle - some places (usually the more touristy locations) will run your card without any trouble, some places will ask you for your passport, and in some places the terminals will randomly either accept your card or insist on a PIN.
Do not exchange money on the street: the rate won't be any better, and you run a high risk of encountering any of numerous [url=://www.raketa.com/visit-factory/ ). Founded by Peter the Great in 1721, this Manufacture is the last one in Russia, and one of the very few in the world to produce its mechanisms from A to Z. Since counterfeits are mostly found, we advise you buy only those Russian watches in the shops listed on the factory,s site:[/url]url=://www.raketa.com/shops-in-saint-peterburg/

* Apraksin Dvor (Апраксин двор) - The Apraksin Market (Apraksin Dvor) is perfect for people watching, but keep your purse and camera close since it is a favorite of both shoppers and pickpockets. You can find almost anything here. site :[/url]url=://apraksindvor.piter-center.ru/

* Gostiny Dvor (Гостиный двор) - The city's oldest and largest shopping centre, dating to the mid-18th century. The name means "Merchant Yard", as its old role was to provide both shops and housing to merchants from far away. It sells almost everything from Playstations to Saint Petersburg Vodka. The prices of goods are the highest in St.Petersburg. site:[/url]url=://www.bgd.ru/

[[File:Nevsky Prospekt.jpg|thumb|Nevsky Prospekt][scams]].

Small cornerstores are not necessarily more expensive than larger stores.
The store at the ferry is surprisingly reasonably priced. Souvenirs there can be bought in roubles, dollars, or euros; however, prices vary depending on the currency used. In general, using euros is cheapest.

Churches often have small souvenir/religious shops with a large variety of items.

* Raketa wristwatches (Часы Ракета) for over half a century tourists have been hunting for Russian watches in Saint Ptersburg. But be aware of many counterfeits. The most wanted Russian watches in Saint Petersburg are the one produced locally by the "Petrodvorets Watch Factory - Raketa" Russian's 300 years watch factory (By the way the Factory, located in [wiki=cc1d923984f243853a852f95ff0ac2af]Peterhof[/wiki], is open to visits[/url]]
* Nevsky Prospekt (Невский проспект) - Saint Petersburg's Champs-Élysées, lined with department stores and fancy shops. A recommended shop for souvenir hunters is Nevsky Gifts on the corner of the road entering Palace Square.

*Udelnaya flea-market take blue metro line northwards ( 31 RUB one-way - 2015) from Nevsky Prospect station to "Udel'naya" station, go up the escalator, turn right, cross the railway in front of you and turn right. (You will find it with these instructions.) Starts off with blocks of concrete-steel-glass cubes selling various new goods, turns to roofed flea market stalls with good stock and widely varying wares which turns to non-roofed stalls and ending up with trade-places of blankets and sheetings on placed on the ground up-north where the market ends after running for hundereds of meters. Impossible to rob. Half way up the flea market on left side is Middle-Asian style open-fire grill-restaurant-tent with reasonable prices and delicious kebabs, shashliks and pork ribs. Bargaining in Russian will be appreciated as keeping it real.

* Passazh (Пассаж) - The Harrods of Saint Petersburg, a smaller and very beautiful shopping center for the elite.

* Souvenirs Market sells a huge variety of cheap souvenirs from Matroyshka (матрёшка) dolls to Soviet Memorabilia. It can be found behind the Church of the Saviour next to the Griboedova Canal. There are also some souvenir stalls in the square across from St. Isaacs Cathedral. Be aware that all the Russian Raketa watches sold in thoses souvenir markets are counterfeits, to buy original ones refer to the shop list on their official site.
*Used to be a book market but nowadays you can buy various things there. It's a very well known place among locals but not by foreigners. You can find souvenirs by a very good price there. Literally 3 times cheaper comparing to stores at Nevsky prospect.
Eat
Russian cuisine is famous in the world, and high-quality authentic Russian dishes are available all over Saint Petersburg. But there is other interesting food in the city.

1) Central Asian (Uzbek/Tajik) food. There is huge Uzbek immigrant community and they have unique culinary traditions. Very cheap (250RUB/meal) and very tasty. Most of the places are hole in the wall type and hard to find. There are many places inside Sennoy market. Also foodies can sign up for Uzbek food tour [http://www.sputnik8.com/en/st-petersburg/activities/18-introduction-to-uzbek-food-on-vasilievsky-island]

2) Georgian food. Very unique and tasty cuisine. Georgian restaurants are scattered all over St Petersburg. It's more expensive (600RUB/meal) than Uzbek. But worth trying.

It's hard to find Uzbek/Georgian food outside of ex-USSR. Try it here.
- Budget (
  
  Nothing, absolutely nothing, tastes better than hot Russian crepes with caviar, mushrooms, caramel, berries, or what have you with a cup of tea on a cold winter street.
  
  * These fast-food restaurants serve blini (Russian crepes) with a variety of fillings - you choose your own at the counter. They also have a wide selection of teas. Some restaurants have wifi.
  
  * . Decent food with very affordable prices, smoking and non-smoking sections. Staff in some restaurants may actually serve you in English.
  
  * It a big european chain of fast food restaurants that offers baked potatoes with your choice of topping but also has salads, soups and deserts.
  
  * This blini chain began with street-corner kiosks throughout the city (many are quite easy to find), and they have expanded to include counter-service restaurants serving not only blini, but also kasha, salads, and other quick, inexpensive fare. Some central locations are Bolshaya Morskaya Ul. 11, Nevsky Pr. 60, and Nevsky Pr. 106. The restaurants have menus in English if you ask.
  
  * Cafeteria-style Russian and Ukrainian food for a reasonable price with faux-rustic decor, not like a Soviet-era stolovaya. Has more than blini: soups, salads, meat dishes, desserts, etc. Those who know the Mu-Mu chain in Moscow will recognize this, although on a smaller scale.
  
  * Good and cheap food in the very centre (next to the "Saviour on the Spilled Blood" church). Pay attention, there are two restaurants called St. Petersburg next to each other and the second one is more expensive.
  
  * A cozy and charming cafe-restaurant ambience during the day, turning into cute and relaxing bar in the evening as well as a vibrant music venue at night. A variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages at a very reasonable price. Good and moderately priced food served 24 hours a day. The menu comes in both English and Russian. Friendly and helpful English-speaking staff. Free Wi-Fi. Separated smoking/non-smoking sections. A good selection of traditional Russian pies filled with meat, chicken, fish, mushrooms or cabbage served with three different salads (big enough to be a main course), 130 rub. Beef Stroganoff with mashed potatoes: 240 rub. Soups: 130 rub. Average bill per person: 450 rub (two courses + beer or wine).
  
  * Tasty pies with meat, fish, vegetables or fruits and berries. Different styles and sizes. Traditional russian cuisine like Borscht or roast beef. NB: a "pie" is not made with pastry in Russia, but with a bread-like substance.
  
  * Open during day time. You can freely come and have a lunch. Choise is not wide: 3 to 5 salads, couple of soups and few mains with tea or juice or fruit drink.
  
  * Done out like an old Soviet apartment. Has a HUGE range of board games and a decent range of food. The food is simple, but filling and delicious. Pirogi and simple sandwiches are the name of the game here. Beer is also cheap, and coffees are bottomless. There are also a few old Soviet era videogames for you to try your hand at for a nominal fee. If you've never visited a Russian flat that belongs to someone over the age of 30, then it's worth visiting just for the experience. The staff speak English, and are friendly enough to help you navigate the menu - unlike a lot of Russians!
- Mid-range (
  
  Fine cuisine in a romantic atmosphere in the center of St. Petersburg. The menu includes the classic recipes of the Italian and European cuisine prepared in accordance with the highest traditions.
  
  * Breakfast, Dinner, English menu. Menu in SCHASTYE present dishes by french and italian cuisine in autor’s interpretation by chief Dmitriy Reshetnikov, its always original and nobody can stay indifferent after this dishes. In SCHASTYE serve many different desserts by chief-bakery Ekaterina Kiselkova and cookies, chocolate, candys or different homemade dessert in original packing can be a good present or compliment.
  
  * Very nice, cosy little tea and cake shop near Griboedova canal with a sweet faux-French atmosphere. You can also have tasty meals there.
  
  * A great family-run place just a block away from the spectacular must-see Smolniy Monastery and Tavricheskiy garden. Fresh local and foreign beers, great cuisine (huge portions), english menus and english-speaking staff. Great for watching sport events too.
  
  * This would be but an ordinary undistinguished Uzbek restaurant, were it not within one block of the Winter Palace. Given location, the place is spectacular in that it maintains decent service and very good food.
  
  * Right on the water, this restaurant offers Italian food alongside a French/Asian fusion menu. Friendly people, delightful atmosphere, and a wonderful view, Acquarel is a wonderful and delicious dinner option or even a great place to relax and get a drink in their lounge chairs.
  
  * You'll probably be the only foreign visitor to this small unassuming place on Vasilievsky Island, but the great Georgian food is absolutely worth the short metro trip. The quality for the price here is just outstanding.
  
  * In a city with plenty of Uzbek food, this may outshine the competition. Not for the service or the decor, but for the very long menu of top-notch Uzbek cooking.
  
  * After the enormous success of opening bar "Mishka" last year, avant-garde musician/heartthrob Kirill Ivanov and budding chef-mogul Alexander Berkovksy have ventured into the restaurant, or more precisely "cafe-club," business. "Obschestvo Chistykh Tarelok", or "Clean Plates Society" in English, is named after a children's fairy tale alleging that Lenin told children that those who finish all the food on their plate would become members of the Clean Plates Society. Quality burgers, cream soups and vegetarian dishes with worldwide influences. Almost everything is under 300 rubles. Recommended for hipster-watching in St. Petersburg.
  
  * A very reasonably priced Japanese chain restaurant just across the street from the Chernyshevskaya metro station. The interior is very stylish, even if the fashion shows on the TVs are a bit much, and you can control your service with the aid of a call button. The food is good, but the sodas might be even better-free refills! It's also a very solid choice for a place to unwind late-night after a wild night.
  
  * Excellent desserts (tiramisu is really great); good reviews for dinner. Wide selection of international fare: Thai, Italian, Russian, steaks. Rare place with 5 varieties of Caesar salad. Outdoor terrace is comfortable for a baby stroller, but closes before late Sept.
  
  * Decent lower-end French cuisine. Nothing-special breakfasts: either omlet or croissant or porridge.
  
  * Kafe Kat is a tucked into a rather unassuming location, just off Nevsky. This little restaurant serves what might be the best Georgian food in St. Petersburg. There is an English menu and the staff is friendly. 1500 rubles for 2, 3 courses + beer
  
  * Georgian food. The dishes prepared in pots are excellent.
  
  * Named after the Dostoevsky novel, and offering a wide variety of very tasty vegan, vegetarian, and seafood dishes at prices higher than what you'd expect. All served in a very cozy and attractive cellar stocked with books, ex-pats, and intellectuals.
  
  * American cuisine, wonderful steaks (best in S-Petersburg), good wine and pleasant atmosphere. A bit expensive (the best steak costs 850 rubles), but it is worth it.
  
  * Chinese in Saint Petersburg is often better than in most parts of Europe. This restaurant is cozy and overcrowded (show up early or late if you want to ensure that you get a table), and has an extraordinarily long and complex menu. If you have no native speaker with you, bring a food dictionary, or you will have no idea what you are ordering.
  
  * Excellent Italian food in a white nearly-luxury setting. In peak hours, choose easier-to-cook dishes to minimize risk of mistake. Great gaspacho, "quatro formagio" pizza. Good for a late breakfast as well (although no breakfast-time menu: only omlets, 170 rubles). Heated outdoor terrace open until at least end of Sep. No wifi, for a reason: it's a place to eat.
  
  * A chain of Italian restaurants; free wifi. Malaya Konyushennaya, 4/2: outdoor terrace is open heated until at least end of Sep; terrace perfect with toddler: spacious enough for baby strollers; has children-safe wide couches.
  
  * Greek restaurant with a genuine Greek chef; popular with expats.
  
  * Tourists-oriented and doesn't hide it, the place has a good selection of traditional Russian dishes. Buffet and restaurant share the same building and kitchen and have few common dishes, but are otherwise very distant from each other (at least in prices). Free wifi (ask waiter for instructions).
  
  * Still TripAdvisor #1, it's currently loosing its charm and excellent service. Still, quite charming good value for money, although drinks are quite expensive. Fireplace in winter and courtyard with umbrellas and flowers in summer. Most staff speak English, those who don't are still helpful at navigating the English menu. Lunch set menu from 1pm. Equally good for breakfast (from 9am, Mon-Fri only) with omlets, pancakes, a weekly rotation of porridges and fritters. Free wifi (ask waiter for instructions); childrens playroom; separate non/smokers; outdoor terrace open until at least 5ths of Oct (but no gas heaters). Same owners as a nearby Zoom Cafe.
  
  * A very fun Russian restaurant, that would be worth visiting as a gallery of weird spy-kitsch, but the food is also decent. No wifi.
  
  * Good-quality Caucasian cuisine in a vivid interior. Excellent shahlyki and manty.
  
  * Located just opposite McDonald's (the one near ul. Rubinshteyna), this restobar is open 24 hours a day. They serve business lunch from 12-5 PM with 3 options. Choose the 250 rubles one, it includes salad, soup, main meal, garnish (a.k.a side dish), berry drink, and bread. The 200 rubles option include no soup and the 150 rubles includes no course/garnish. Food was very good. Looked classy and tasted great. Very great cool, lounge feel atmosphere. Menus have English translation and several staffs can speak English. Great service too.
  
  * Same owners as Tepló, but much more intimate; not a victim of top TripAdvisor positions.
- Splurge (>1000 RUB)
  
  This restaurant, offering a very European setting with mostly Russian high quality food, nabs a lot of tourists visiting the fortress. But nonetheless, the service and food remain phenomenal - while tourists are trapped here, it is no tourist trap. Off season, particularly during the snowy winter months it place can be almost magical, as you get the beautiful restaurant more or less to yourself.
  
  * One of the city's more impressive interiors, modeled after the palaces of the Shirvan Shahs (imagine eating in [wiki=1b74404581e8aed7ce83f37ebb5a85b4]Sheki[/wiki]'s Khan-Saray). Only opened in 2006, but has received rave reviews from all quarters since. A great place to try out Azeri cuisine.
  
  *Grand Hotel Europe Restaurant. The Sunday Jazz Brunch here is a "Not to Miss" if you are looking for a real splurge. About $90 USD per person includes a full caviar spread and sushi bar in addition to the normal brunch fare (carving station, omelette station, salads, fruit, baked goods, desserts, the options are nearly endless). There is also bottomless champagne glasses (and the champagne is quite good) and a huge frozen ice sculpture that is tapped where you can refill your glass with iced vodka as many times as you'd like. The jazz is very good and the pace is relaxed and enjoyable. The only caveat: As with most Russian eateries, there is no non-smoking section, so if you are not a smoker, ask for table away from the majority or risk having to inhale cigarette smoke while you dine.
  
  * Overdone and overpriced Russian-kitsch tourist trap for foreigners (Russians wouldn't be caught dead here). But if you're staying nearby, they'll treat you fine and you can eat some bear meat.
  
  * This is the kitschiest kitchen in town, but it's no tourist trap, not by a long stretch. Its way off on the Petrograd Side north of the stadium, and is frequented mostly just by Russians, who come to enjoy the fun over-the-top decor, and the delightful "tastes just like babushka makes it" cooking. Sending the kitsch even further over that top are the performances of Russian/Gypsy folk music and singing 19:00-23:00 daily. Come here for a full meal or the vodka shots + zakuski, and you'll have a memorable night.
  
  * A great, small, cozy, and very stylish brick-walled Russian restaurant, with excellent food, and good enough service. Live entertainment comes often, and is often surprisingly good-imagine sitting down and only then seeing a solo jazz guitarist sit down to play some beautiful music. It's been open for more than a decade, and there's a reason why it's a fixture of the local restaurant scene around Furshtatskaya.
  
  * Offers magnificent view to Kazansky cathedral from terrace. Pastries are well worth the price.
Drink
- Pubs
  
  The city acts as a beer destination for Moscovites visiting St. Pete for business or vacation reasons--hence its pubs frequently have a much wider choice of beers than an average pub in Moscow (not to mention other cities in Russia). St.Petersburg, being the the fatherland of the most popular beer in Russia - Baltica, is considered the beer capital of the country, while Moscow is more of a Vodka Capital.
  
  * Very home-atmosphere and friendly.
  
  * Dickens Pub offers good service, great food, and a wide range of English and other international beers, with over 15 on tap. There are also many superior whiskeys too! Dickens Pub is a good place to eat. Be prepared for a party - especially on Fridays & Saturdays!
  
  *
  No longer exists. Now there is a new place "old fashioned". Different name but description still applies. A low-key gastronomic pub that has Russian crafted beer, a real, two-room "secret" vinyl shop inside, some surprisingly good food (with a French twist) all priced around 250-500 roubles, home-made desserts, some amazingly cooked steak at a ridiculously small price, very homely, very cozy. Small TV's over the counter for sports games, but never too crowded or loud. From the guys that brought to Saint Petersburg the hip, trendy & irresistible Clean Plates Society and Mishka, meaning this is not-your-average-pub, but a place with a lot of love put in it. Opened in April 2014.
  
  * The Tower Pub is a great place to rest, have a quick drink or stay for the whole evening. The bartenders are really nice, do speak English and are in for a chat (on a quiet night). It's located in the basement of a large building but the atmosphere is really nice. No live music.
  
  * Lovely place where you can have a couple of whiskys and a pint in the evening. Lots of brands and a cosy atmosphere.
  
  * A comfortable, big bar with upscale drinks and cooking. The biggest draw is the cool clientele and live performances: blues, jazz, R&B. One tip though, if you open the door to a DJ blaring Russkaya popsa-leave because you won't be able to hear yourself think.
  
  * Very cozy tex mex bar/restaurant with warm atmosphere and always smiling personnel. Conchita Bonita is well known for it’s high quality kitchen, inexpensive prices, unquestionably best strawberry margarita in town and over 300 different cocktails. Restaurant’s staff speaks English and you can also ask for English menu. Guests of Conchita Bonita are called Donna Conchita’s family and every Saturday they come to the restaurant to celebrate Donna Conchita’s birthday at midnight. On Fridays and Saturdays after 12pm the floor is open for dancing and to spice things up there is even a dance pole in the center of the floor to give some extra spin.
- Nightclubs
  
  Saint Petersburgers know how to party. There is a wide and excellent selection of great clubs that will satisfy all tourists looking to spend the night out. The city hosts clubs of all music. Rock, pop, jazz, hip hop/RnB, and a lot more. The most popular trend within music and clubbing in Russia at the moment is house/techno.
  
  * Chroniki, ul. Nekrasova, 26 (Metro: Mayakovskaya; Ploshchad Vosstaniya), [url=https://www.facebook.com/xroniki].] "Chroniki" (Chronicles) bar on ulitsa Nekrasova anachronistically yet effortlessly harmonizes the drinking cultures of a modern Scandinavian bar and a classic Leningrad “ryumochnaya” (the traditional Soviet-era watering hole). This is not a rowdy club for dancing to Eurodance all night, but rather a classic bar perfect for intellectual debates of a more cultured public. The stylish interior is very modern yet cozy, simple yet edgy, with white tiled walls, brass windowsills, gilded antique Soviet chandeliers. There is a massive wooden table for larger groups as well as a tall standing (or leaning, if you’ve already had a few) table perfect for slamming down your shot glass, or grabbing a quick bite to eat before running off on errands or to your next bar-hopping destination. The beautiful and uniquely stylish wooden bar counter spans across two spaces: smoking and non-smoking. This is one of very few reasonably priced and cool bars in St. Petersburg located above basement-level, allowing its customers to gaze at passersby as well as take in the beauty of the classic St. Petersburg architecture on Nekrasova street. The black-and-white photos on the wall include images of a strict 1970s Leningrad barmaid as well as her jovial clients - a nostalgic reminder that in this beautiful northern city, its inhabitants were always capable of drinking and always loved drinking. The preferred order at Chroniki is, as per tradition at a Leningrad ryumochnaya, hard alcohol (there are a many vodka varieties, from the legendary Stoli for 90 rubles to Finnish, Swedish and Danish brands) and the bartenders also recommend Crimean port wine “Massandra”, locally brewed craft beer, and a house-special cocktail “Free Ingria,” inspired by the eternal confrontation between St. Petersburg and Moscow. The snack selection includes sandwiches (one for 100 rubles, two for 150 rubles, five for 350 rubles), distinctive “Northern tapas” served with a choice of boiled tongue, salmon, chicken, vegetables or, of course, herring (the traditional Russian chaser for vodka). The weeknights are more chilled out for quiet but steady drinking and on the weekends, friends of the owners are invited to DJ and merry revelry almost always inevitably ensues.
  
  * Dumskaya ulitsa several small, very, very crowded venues (Datscha, BarBarA, Fidel, Belgrad, also near liquor store seems to be part of the complex)), cheap beer, crazy dances, Balkan, ska, punk, disco or whatever the DJ has on his mind. The underground place. Slightly similar to [[Hamburg[/url]] St. Pauli area.
  
  * Griboedov (Грибоедов), Voronezskaya Ul. 2 (Metro: Ligovsky), [url=http://www.griboedovclub.ru].] A suitably spaced out place for a club whose name can also be interpreted as "the mushroom eater" or a famous Russian's poet surname, the acts here are famously offbeat, especially on weekdays when you're as likely to find a poetry reading as live reggae or a DJ spinning psychedelic trance. This club is hidden in an underground bomb shelter with a new performance space/bar/restaurant atop the bunker's hill. Open daily except Tuesday.
  
  * Metro Club (Метроклуб), 174 Ligovsky Pr (Metro: Ligovsky), [url=http://www.metroclub.ru[/url].]Saint Petersburgs biggest club. Mostly for people from age 16 to 30. Entry prices vary from 180-400 rubles depending on the time of arrival. The club is open between 10:00 p.m-6:00 a.m.ry day. The club boosts 3 floors and 6 bars. The preferred music is techno, trance and house.
  
  * Mishka, Fontanka, 40 (in the basement) (Metro: Nevsky Prospect; Mayakovskaya; Ploshchad Vosstaniya), [url=http://www.mishkabar.ru/[/url].] A popular DJ bar/cafe for local scenesters, as well as 20something tourists and ex-pats, located on the most central intersection (Nevsky prospekt and Fontanka). Due to strict dress code don't try to enter with a backpack and be ready to hear that the party tonight is "invitation only". It means the security did not like your look. The place was opened by St. Petersburg avant-garde musician and heartthrob Kirill Ivanov and friends in the beginning of 2011, at the end of 2011 Mishka has already achieved the title of St. Petersburg's Best Bar according to TimeOut magazine. During daytime, Mishka more of a cafe (with free wi-fi), where you can relax, read and/or chat and enjoy a selection of sandwiches and fresh salads. In fact, it's one of the few places that serves in line with the Western understanding of "salad" - a huge bowl of fresh greens with a choice of other fresh ingredients to add, rather than the traditional Russian understanding of salad which is usually a lot of mayonnaise with other ingredients and often without any greens at all. There are two spaces - the entrance space is the "club" side, generally the rowdier side and the place to get boozed up and drunkenly dance the night away, and the second space is more relaxed, more brightly lit, non-smoking, and a comfortable place to grab a bite to eat (even at 4am!) and sit and chat with your friends without shouting over the music from the entrance space. At night there is usually a DJ playing (even on weeknights!) whatever hipsters are listening to these days (rather than typical Russian clubs that only play worn-out house and 90s pop) and the bar can get very crowded on weekend nights. Try one of the dozens of specialty shots to get your night started in the right spirit... or to end your night, if you're on a bender.
  
  * Mod Club (Мод), Kanal Griboedova, dom 7 (in the courtyard) (Metro: Nevski Prospect), [url=http://www.modclub.info/[/url].] Cult club in the St. Petersburg center, next to Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood. Cavernous live music hall with old brick walls and loft bar, separate room with wrap-around bar and small DJ stand, chill-out room with small concerts and a terrace bar for dancing under the White Nights skies. Very diverse music program: from reggae to punk/metal, but mostly rock. Friendly atmosphere. The crowd is made up of students, musicians, artists and expats. The space also includes MOD Gallery with local art on display. Design of the club is worth checking out as well. Menus in English, English-speaking bartenders, inexpensive beer. The entry is 150 rubles on Fridays and Saturdays, with free entry all other days.
  
  * Morrison (МореСон), Lomonosova 2, [url=http://www.facebook.com/morrisonspb[/url]]a DJ bar with a friendly atmosphere, a summer terrace, & an attractive menu including the world's best cocktails and traditional Russian drinks for as low as 100 rubles. Evening coffee breaks near Nevskiy Prospekt, free wi-fi, & all-night dancing (until 6 am). Photo reports from all weekends are posted on Facebook. Music: Funk, Disco, Boogie, Hits, Funky house.
  
  * Produkty, Fontanka, 17 (Metro: Nevsky Prospect; Mayakovskaya; Ploshchad Vosstaniya), [url=http://www.facebook.com/fontanka17/[/url].]Cafe-bar "Produkty" (Russian for "groceries", don't bother trying to google this bar) was opened in the fall of 2011 by Lisa Izvozchikova, a St. Petersburg-born designer and best known as the former bosslady of another very popular DJ cafe-bar "Stirka" on Kazanskaya ulitsa. The space is modest in size, but being one of the rare cafe-bars in St. Petersburg located above basement-level, boasts views of the Fontanka and features local DJs as well as more "amateur" music lovers spinning their favorite tunes, sipping cocktails and occasionally dancing and even singing along if the mood strikes them. "Produkty" features a carefully thought-out range of alcohol - all the makings of any classic cocktail as well as a delicious and dry cider "St. Anton", grog, milkshakes with berries, a homemade hot ginger tea, as well as freshly squeezed orange juice. The food is mainly vegetarian, and the offerings include couscous and sandwiches. The design concept of the bar was conceived by the proprietor, who is also a designer. All the furniture was brought from Berlin: the leatherette-upholstered bar, massive leather armchairs, round bar stools from the 1970s, chairs taken from GDR kindergartens and schools, typewriters and a Wurlitzer jukebox that only accepts Deutschmark (don't worry! you can buy the necessary Deutschmark tokens at the bar). It has been written that Produkty is a bar straight out of the GDR, but this is hard to confirm, since there were no bars in the GDR. In any case, the classic hipster-reference to East Germany is not completely lost when it comes to describing the style and clientele of Produkty.
  
  * Underground (ex-Tunnel) (Undergeound), Zverinskaya Ul (Metro: Sportivnaya), [http://www.tunnelclub.ru/[/url]. Reputedly Russia's first techno club and certainly its most legendary, Tunnel is back after an extended shutdown. This unused bomb shelter isn't exactly pretty and the crush and "face control" at the entrance when the doors open at 12 midnight sharp are legendary, but the crowd and the DJs are worth it. Entry 250-350 rubles depending on who is playing.
- Gay & lesbian
  
  Central Station [url=http://www.centralstation.ru].]The biggest gay club in Saint Petersburg, it features three floors, plays a selection of house and disco music, performances of drag queens, a dark room and also contains St Petersburg's only all day sushi restaurant. Be aware that gays are not very accepted among the locals and are even targeted once in a while. It is not uncommon for people to wait outside to beat up clubgoers.
  
  Because of the difficulty in operating gay clubs and the social stigma associated with visiting gay clubs, many young men prefer to use gay iPhone applications like Hornet [http://www.gethornet.com[/url] and Scruff to arrange to meet at coffee shops and more discreet locations. This change in technology and the new political issues in St. Petersburg is transforming how gays meet, from nighttime dark watering holes to public straight venues during the day.
- Pub crawls
  
  Saint-Petersburg has a pub crawl [http://www.pubcrawls.ru] for both Russian and foreign tourists. The route of the pub crawl takes the guests around the city center, covering about 6 bars in a row. A good way to make friends with locals, not caring about having a list of drinking spots to visit. Be aware of that they won't take you to nice pretty pubs with fruit beer - the bars they visit are pretty hardcore, but they do play some good music and have lots of youth rockin' it.
Sleep
With the exception of some high-end hotels, all hotels and hostels offer free WiFi and many have computer terminals. Almost all accept credit cards.
- Mid-range
  
  Cosy Swiss managed B&B in a nice area off the main drag. Rooms include breakfast, TV, tea/coffee, Non-smoking.
  
  * Small hotel (18 rooms) with attentive service. Breakfast buffet included. English-speaking staff.
  
  * A small and comfortable mini-hotel in the centre, in the same building where the famous Russian writer Dostoevsky used to live. 10 cozy rooms with plasma TVs.
  
  * A small hotel with genuine St. Petersburg spirit. Offers 4 double rooms that allow usage of a fully equipped study and a magnificent hall with fire-place - and with the whole staff of the hotel at your disposal.
  
  * 20 rooms of different types, TV, bathroom, phone, air-conditioning in each room. 24-hours English speaking reception. Excellent breakfast (buffet) included.
  
  * Small cosy hotel located in a quiet, leafy lane. Seven rooms in lavishly restored former mansion looking onto monastery, very friendly service and attentive staff. Continental breakfast, satellite TV, fridge, safe, air-conditioning, 24-hour security, visa support, theatre bookings, guided tours, airport transfer.
  
  * A small, cosy hotel. The hotel has excellent service with large, clean rooms and satellite television (all but one news channels, Russia Today, are in Russian). The hotel is a jewel in an otherwise poorer area of the city; however, this should not put potential visitors off as it is the perfect way to see both perspectives of the city.
  
  * Incredibly gargantuan concrete monolith that continues to carry forward the Soviet traditions of former monopoly operator, Intourist. Ugly and soviet in style, but the location right above a metro station is excellent and the price can be right, especially if booked in a package.
  
  * 3 star hotel.
  
  * 5 minutes walk from Moscow railway station. The hotel offers 29 rooms different categories. All rooms are equipped with bathroom with bathtub or shower, satellite TV, telephone, air conditioning, mini-bar, electronic safe-box, hair-dryer. 24-hours reception & room-service, business & conference facilities, transport & excursion service, visa support & registration service, laundry.
  
  * Air conditioning in every room. Rooms are very small, but functional. Staff speak English well, and breakfast is included in the room rate (available from 7AM til 11AM). Shortcomings: no fridges in rooms; steep staircase at the entrance is difficult for a stroller.
  
  * 3 star hotel. Buffet breakfast. While the cheapest rooms are a bargain, you get what you pay for. Get a room with a jacuzzi and sauna.
  
  * A small, beautifully designed hotel. The hotel is Western owned and managed, ensuring that services are up to the highest international standard. Continental breakfast, visa support, airport transfers.
  
  *A both stylish and cozy mini-hotel of buisiness class level. All 14 rooms of the hotel are equipped with air conditioning, bathroom, satellite TV, telephone, mini-bar, hair-dryer, DVD. Breakfast (buffet) is included.
  
  * Art-hotel. 24h reception.
  
  * A family-run bed & breakfast. Basic, but very clean and comfortable. A bit difficult to find as it is on the fourth floor of an apartment building. Code for building entrance: 2230#.
  
  * Good service and you might be able to negotiate a better price. Looks bad from outside, but from the inside is fairly new and clean.
  
  * A Swiss-managed bed & breakfast. Stylish, safe and very clean. 8 Rooms (5 with attached bath) and a big, fully equipped kitchen. Free breakfast and tea/coffee. Non-smoking. English speaking staff.
  
  * Up-to-date and cozy rooms; 4th to 6th floors of an old building. Staff speak English by default, not Russian--which is quite rare. 6th floor features mansard windows. Some rooms have poor sound isolation from the corridor (eg. 514, 604). Free internet over wire, cable supplied. Breakfast: No-frills; no hot plates but fresh fruits; no espresso, only American coffee.
- Splurge
  
  4-star boutique hotel close to the Mariinsky (Kirov) Theatre on the embankments of the Kryukov Canal. Designer interiors and a homey atmosphere. Each of the 19 rooms is individually furnished and designed.
  
  *
  
  * A 5-star hotel.
  
  * A 5-star hotel. Built within a 19th century royal palace guarded by 2 lion statues.
  
  * Luxurious five-star hotel. Hosts several restaurants, SPA, Top Gym fitness centre and conference facilities.
  
  * A 5-star hotel. Hosts functions and several restaurants. Many rooms have great views over the city. Well worth a visit.
  
  * Has a spa, swimming pool and gym (but only free for guests before 11AM) and the rooms maids are very efficient - appearing to clean rooms several times a day. It is next to several excellent restaurants, coffee bars and a small shop.
  
  * A 5-star hotel. The hotel boasts a fitness centre, sauna and massage parlour.
  
  * Difficult to find a place to eat nearby if you arrive after midnight on weekday.
  
  * A 5-star hotel in a former palace. Includes a spa and sauna.
  
  * Ultramodern and chic hotel. Hosts Bliss Spa and mix restaurant by Alain Ducasse.
Contact
For information on using telephones and buying SIM cards in Russia, see [wiki=5feb168ca8fb495dcc89b1208cdeb919]Russia (Contact)[/wiki].

The emergency service number is 112.
- Wireless internet
  
  Free wifi is available in most hotels, cafes, restaurants, bars, and shopping centers.
- Computer access
  
  There are many computer clubs/internet cafes, usually crowded by kids playing CounterStrike, which also offer cheap internet access.
Stay safe

Saint Petersburg has a somewhat undeserved reputation for being a dangerous city. Things have calmed down since the Wild West (or Wild East) days immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but some common sense is still required.

As with most other major cities, avoid traveling alone at night, and do not get into altercations with drunks. If traveling at night, it is recommended to stay on the main sidewalks and avoid any dark alleys or yards. Gypsy cabs are not recommended under any circumstances, especially those that linger near bars where expatriates and tourists congregate.

Downtown and western parts of the city are safest. Suburbs like Kupchino, Veteranov, Ligovo and Sennaya in the centre should be avoided at night time.

As a general rule, the farther you are from the city center, the more dangerous it is.

Saint Petersburg's football club, Zenit Saint Petersburg, is one of the biggest clubs in the country, and has its own gang of hooligans. If you decide to visit the football stadium to watch the club play, you should buy tickets to center sectors. If you do not do this and a fight starts, you are likely to get dragged into it by either the hooligans or the police, since both will think you are part of the brawl.

Take care of money, documents, cameras, mobile phones, and anything of value because of pickpocketing. Especially watch out on the Metro during busy times, as people start pushing at the train doors, and pickpockets are frequent, particularly (but not only) at Gostinyy Dvor Metro Station. When riding the Metro, keep in mind that robbery can be a real threat; you should constantly watch what is going on around you and who is standing very close to you.

Thefts of photo equipment are really a big problem in Saint Petersburg. Photo bags probably won't save your camera -- it can be opened in less than 5 seconds. Cameras should be kept in bags slung across the body at all times, with your hands keeping a firm grip on them, and no watches or jewelry should be visible at all. Quite obviously, do not show in public that you have a lot of money. Robberies are not uncommon, and many foreigners have been threatened at gun and knife point. However, foreigners are not targeted specifically, and robbers will attack both foreigners and natives that carelessly reveal their wealth.

Take special care on Nevsky Prospekt, particularly the area with the city tour buses, a favorite spot of pickpockets and particularly of those after photo equipment. On the bright side, "Nevsky Prospekt" sees little mugging.

Russian driving is wild. Drivers attack their art with an equal mix of aggressiveness and incompetence. Guidelines are lax and rarely followed. As a pedestrian, take great care when crossing the roads, as pedestrian crossings are in 99% of cases ignored (even by police). If you are thinking of driving yourself, bear in mind that the Russian traffic police are extremely corrupt, even by Russian standards. Pedestrian crossings with a traffic light are quite safe to use, most car drivers will stop (of course, other cars will either be rear ended, or drive through crossings at ridiculous speeds with no regards for safety). Just like in any other big city always look left and right before crossing the road and make eye contact with the driver if possible.

Homosexuals must practice extreme caution while staying in Saint Petersburg, as attacks often occur. Many Russian people look upon public demonstrations of homosexuality with undisguised contempt.

Racism is another serious problem in Saint Petersburg. Some Russians may have a rude and unfriendly attitude towards those with darker complexions. Some may even push you aside.

Bar fights do occur. In the centre of the city and around Nevsky Prospekt, they are unlikely to happen. However, in the suburbs and local cheaper pubs, fights occur almost daily. If you are staying with locals living in these areas, it might be a good idea to avoid these bars. Police are unlikely to show up as they consider fights as small, unimportant, regular and a waste of time, and they will probably laugh at you for calling.

Another subtle danger that can affect your trip is the inevitable effect of winter weather. Poor clearance of snow and ice is a big problem in this city. Caution is advised in snowy winters because of falling ice from roofs, and pedestrians should pay special attention to ice on the streets.

Overall, be warned that if you are used to living in the US and/or Western Europe, Saint Petersburg, as well as the rest of Eastern Europe, will seem different, and, at times, a bit intimidating. On the other hand, Russian people are usually friendly, welcoming and interested towards foreigners, and nothing should happen to you unless you put yourself in harm's way. If you don't care about them they don't care about you, and nothing should get in your way of having a great holiday.
Stay healthy

The private hospitals listed below have English-speaking Russian doctors (very few, if any, hospital staff are expats). Depending on the type of service provided and the terms of one's insurance policy, these hospitals may be able to arrange direct billing with European and American medical insurance companies.

* Includes dental clinic and pediatric unit.

* Multi-specialty medical center that provides a full range of medical services,applying international standards and protocols of diagnostics and treatment. Includes it's own laboratory and pharmacy units, in-patient department with comfortable 5-star hotel class wards, ambulance team. English-speaking personnel provides direct insurance billing and any administrative support to the patient(accomodation,visas,transfers,medical evacuatuons).

* Full range medical service in cooperation with Clinique des Grangettes (Geneva, Switzerland). On-site trauma, laboratory, dentistry, pediatric ward, overnight pharmacy. Private Ambulance with medical transportation/evacuation services. Diagnostics Center with MRI unit, ultrasound, X-Ray, endoscopy, functional diagnostic. Emergency and elective surgery, urology, gynecology, ENT, general practitioners, family medicine. Stroke unit, hospital with ICU and resuscitation. English-speaking staff, direct billing with Russian and foreign insurance/assistance companies. Fully equipped Conference Room for medical/pharmaceutical symposiums and colloquiums.

The city's water system is not ideal because of a number of old pipes and as a result does not provide 100% clean water. Some locals boil or also filter tap water before use; you might want to buy it bottled if water quality affects you.

In Saint Petersburg cold water is cleaner than hot.

There are numerous public toilets, most of which are attended by a person who will charge about RUB15 for entry. It is a good idea to take your own toilet paper, as it is not always provided. The toilets are typically extremely dirty by Western standards. If you are a Westerner, you can get away with wandering into the Western hotels, which have lovely bathrooms- the Grand Hotel Europe in particular. Just don't ever push your luck with suit-clad men guarding the hotel entrances, they are tough as nails if provoked. Many restaurants also allow tourists to use the toilet without being a customer.
Cope
The first 24 hours in Saint Petersburg may be a shock to the system. The welcome from immigration officials seems like a hang-over from Communist times- don't expect to be spoken to or even looked at by officials. Flying into Saint Petersburg may seem unusual, with the sight of old concrete tower blocks and factory chimneys. The suburbs of the city are a contrast to those with which you may be familiar. Nevsky Prospekt is the most 'Westernized' street in the city and would be more familiar to Westerners traveling to Saint Petersburg. If you are from a Western country, you will find this either shocking or amusing.

Saint Petersburg is plagued by mosquitoes during the summer, as the swampy surroundings of the city give the mosquitoes excellent living conditions. In budget accommodation with few countermeasures against the mosquitoes, this can be a problem at night, putting your well deserved sleep at risk.
- Consulates
  
  [wiki_table=7b55302a]
- Visa Centers
  
  *
  *
Get out
- Day trips
  
  Day trips can be done on your own or via an organized excursion offered by many tour operators. Even though it is a lot to see in one day, [wiki=cc1d923984f243853a852f95ff0ac2af]Peterhof[/wiki], [wiki=87ace4565b94aac968c96f6d7d4b145e]Kronshtadt[/wiki], and [wiki=d02ebe8c09d239823f43805a876ac6e1]Lomonosov[/wiki] are all located in the same general direction west of Saint Petersburg and are all accessible by hydrofoil, so it is popular to see all three sites in one day.
  
  * [wiki=855f60b18b5d9d1ed581cb3cd877e3a5]Gatchina[/wiki] - Big palace and park located in a beautiful village 50km south of Saint Petersburg.
  
  * [wiki=87ace4565b94aac968c96f6d7d4b145e]Kronshtadt[/wiki] - Old seaport town on Kotlin island, 20km directly north of [wiki=d02ebe8c09d239823f43805a876ac6e1]Lomonosov[/wiki]. Main Russian naval base from early 18th century. You may take a hydrofoil back to the Hermitage for RUB 400 one-way.
  
  * [wiki=d02ebe8c09d239823f43805a876ac6e1]Lomonosov[/wiki] (AKA Oranienbaum) - Park with museum honoring Michael Lomonosov. 9km west of [wiki=cc1d923984f243853a852f95ff0ac2af]Peterhof[/wiki] via the A121 highway. Train station name is Oranienbaum ('Orange tree' in German). TIP - You may also visit [wiki=87ace4565b94aac968c96f6d7d4b145e]Kronshtadt[/wiki] and take a hydrofoil back to the Hermitage for RUB 400 one-way, an inexpensive alternative to the more expensive ones leaving from [wiki=cc1d923984f243853a852f95ff0ac2af]Peterhof[/wiki].
  
  * [wiki=3b3ed6e5e47b3e3475ce4779e8e44d04]Oreshek[/wiki] Fortess - a medieval russian fortess at Orekhovy Island in the mouth of Neva, 50km east of Saint Petersburg.
  
  * [wiki=60917b09e10084560f856890ced62722]Pavlovsk[/wiki] - Lusicous green park where you could feed the squirrels from your hands. Can be reached by train from Vitebskiy station (not the main hall, but the smaller hall for local trains, which is on the right side as you face the station). Pavlovsk train station is close to the northwestern gate to the park, and from there it is a long (but pleasant) walk though the park to the palace.
  
  * [wiki=cc1d923984f243853a852f95ff0ac2af]Peterhof[/wiki] - Home of the sumptuous "Russian Versailles" and the recently open to visits "Petrodvorets Watch Factory - Raketa", 30km southwest of Saint Petersburg.
  
  * [wiki=bb343fd97bebe9ae663daa703d45d8c1]Pushkin[/wiki] (A.K.A. Tsarskoye Selo) - 25km south of Saint Petersburg, with beautiful parks and palaces, most notably the Catherine Palace built for Tsarina Catherine I.
  
  * [wiki=5bbbcd1a775ef315dc596c9ca29d76aa]Repino[/wiki] - House-museum of the artist Ilya Repin, located just off the Gulf of Finland, where he lived and worked. To get there: Elektrichka train from the Finlandsky Station (45 minutes, round trip fare RUB 120, eleventh stop on the westbound line - check in advance to make sure the train you board stops in Repino - then from the station cross the main road and walk down the path to the left of the supermarket through a resort complex to the next major road. Turn left and walk about 1.5km to the gate marked Penaty. The walk takes about 45 minutes. The museum and grounds close at 3PM, or earlier if there are no visitors.
  
  * [wiki=792cf58afc2ff215c30a9b04c80ec1b8]Staraya Ladoga[/wiki] - the first capital of Russia is a pleasant little village four hours away with an incredible wealth of historical sights, including its own stone kremlin and church frescoes by the hand of none other than Andrei Rublev.
  
  * [wiki=4c09c0d635846ae13eb0ea3be8ca5320]Vyborg[/wiki], - town situated on the Karelian Isthmus near the head of the Bay of Vyborg, 130km to the northwest of St. Petersburg, 38 km south from Russia's border with Finland, where the [wiki=5885928e525dfd592859ae310f7f14ee]Saimaa Canal[/wiki] enters the Gulf of Finland. Swedish built castle, started in the 13th century and extensively reconstructed by Russians in 1891-1894. Mon Repos, one of the most spacious English parks in Eastern Europe, laid out in the 19 century. Fortifications of the Mannerheim Line (built by Finland against the Soviet Union) are close by.
- Overnight trips
  
  If you leave Russia and plan to return, make sure you have a multiple entry visa.
  
  * [wiki=9b49060440682b6796e984f75b3964d4]Novgorod[/wiki] - Ancient town with churches and museums, 180 km from St. Petersburg.
  
  * [wiki=4fe99d19f82e3e6bff53acedf208b0dd]Narva[/wiki], [wiki=7755415a9fe7022060b98a689236ccd2]Estonia[/wiki] - 160km southwest of Saint Petersburg. Located on the Narva river, which serves as the border between Russia and Estonia. Twin castles (Russian, established Grand Duke Ivan III, and Danish/Swedish).
  
  [wiki=94f3d6ad36420f9dfa2405465fd0d785]de:Sankt Petersburg[/wiki]
  [wiki=41bbf7a33086035f7262bd429db0a348]fi:Pietari[/wiki]
  [wiki=25bc48407e64e8d53d57c241ba1cb4f4]fr:Saint-Pétersbourg[/wiki]
  [wiki=43489f5f920e6b651fc9cbde62f16df2]it:San Pietroburgo[/wiki]
  [wiki=8c92edb1566c5fa3cf85a37cfe5c8264]ja:サンクトペテルブルク[/wiki]
  [wiki=aca1745794d89c614bc5bb4082dba40f]nl:Sint Petersburg[/wiki]
  [wiki=306415b222ee8ec1ca7156924616dd19]pl:Sankt Petersburg[/wiki]
  [wiki=e694ef923c27f4c91a5a57230e096e33]pt:São Petersburgo[/wiki]
  [wiki=2738cef6d314e8bb65b8eb96ad89875b]ru:Санкт-Петербург[/wiki]
  [wiki=89fd2a672dfcffe56a2806ea9b9dd80c]sv:Sankt Petersburg[/wiki]
  [wiki=bcf98d186e03a9033299d922dfa7f345]wts:Category:Saint Petersburg[/wiki]
  
  [[WikiPedia:Saint Petersburg]]
  [wiki=124ca7ccfc0615fe12e787ec12482df6]Dmoz:Europe/Russia/Administrative Regions/Saint Petersburg/[/wiki]
  [wiki=1a4b5ff44090dbfdf1ddeaf39b3946d8]World66:europe/russia/stpetersburg[/wiki]

Points of InterestRusia

Airport - Transportation
Airport - Transportation
Airport - Transportation
Kronshtadt Airport
Kronshtadt Airport
Saint Petersburg
Pulkuvo 2 Airport
Pulkuvo 2 Airport
Saint Petersburg
Pulkovo (LED)
Pulkovo (LED)
Saint Petersburg
Sheremetyevo Airport
Sheremetyevo Airport
Moscow
Domodedovo Airport
Domodedovo Airport
Moscow
Vnukovo Airport
Vnukovo Airport
Moscow

Point of Interest
Point of Interest
Point of Interest
Winter Palace
Winter Palace
Saint Petersburg
State Hermitage Museum
State Hermitage Museum
Saint Petersburg
Nevsky Prospekt
Nevsky Prospekt
Saint Petersburg
Red Square
Red Square
Moscow
St Basil's Cathedral
St Basil's Cathedral
Moscow
The Kremlin
The Kremlin
Moscow