You're Going to Love Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is the second-largest city in Russia and widely regarded as one of the most beautiful destinations in Europe. With a population of more than 5 million, it has a huge historic city center, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is a city of architecture and culture but the nightlife is pretty great, too.
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Saint Petersburg
1. The Hermitage Museum/The Winter Palace
This is one of the world's greatest museums, with more than 3 million exhibits. It has countless priceless artworks by the great masters and the building itself is fabulous.
2. Opera and Ballet
Seeing an opera or ballet at the Mariinsky Theatre is one of the city's great treats.
3. Rooftop Tours and Restaurants
There are no towers in Saint Petersburg, so for the best views you need to take a rooftop tour or eat in one of the rooftop restaurants.
4. Canal Tours
This is a more leisurely way to see the best of the city and enjoy its beautiful network of canals.
5. Architecture
The city contains some astonishing architecture and just walking in the historic center allows you to enjoy some of the most splendid buildings.
When to Visit Saint Petersburg
Estimated hotel price
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Saint Petersburg can get very cold in the winter. Daylight is also short, at less than six hours. Summers are wet and warm but spring is perhaps the best balance of dry and cool.
How to Get to Saint Petersburg
Plane
Saint Petersburg is served by Pulkovo Airport (LED), which has many international connections. It is 12 miles south of the city center and the number 39 bus will take you there for ₽40 in about 30 minutes. A taxi into the center will cost around ₽1,000.
Train
Saint Petersburg has no fewer than five main train stations. There are many domestic and international connections and the high-speed service will take you to Moscow in five hours for ₽2,000.
Car
Driving in Russia can be challenging, with Cyrillic road signs and some poor road surfaces. The main M10 motorway runs from the Finnish border to Saint Petersburg and Moscow and is a little better than most.
Bus
Saint Petersburg's main bus station is Avtovokzal, which has extensive connections to the Baltic States and major European cities.
Airports near Saint Petersburg
Airlines serving Saint Petersburg
Where to Stay in Saint Petersburg
The 1912 hostel on Chapayeva Street offers basic but central accommodation. At the other end of the scale, the Hotel Astoria by St. Isaac's Cathedral offers comfortable luxury rooms.
Popular Neighborhoods in Saint Petersburg
Palace Square - this is Saint Petersburg's historical and cultural center and is home to the beautiful Winter Palace.
Nevsky Prospekt - this neighborhood has some of the best hotels and shopping in the city and also some good bars.
Vasilievsky Island - Vasilievsky Island is an artsy district with lots of theaters and is home to the Saint Petersburg State University and Menshikov Palace.
Most popular hotel in Saint Petersburg by neighborhood
Where to stay in popular areas of Saint Petersburg
Most booked hotels in Saint Petersburg
How to Get Around Saint Petersburg
Public Transportation
Saint Petersburg has a huge subway system with frequent trains and a flat fare of ₽35. Buses and trolley buses cost from ₽30.
Taxi
Taxis are plentiful but watch out for scams. The initial fare is ₽200 and then ₽30 per mile.
Car
Driving in Saint Petersburg is relatively trouble-free within the city and car rental is widely available from around ₽3,000. Hertz and Avis outlets can be found in town.
Car rental agencies in Saint Petersburg
The Cost of Living in Saint Petersburg
Shopping Streets
The area around Nevsky Prospekt is home to most of the big stores. Here you will find fashion, leather goods, jewelry, and technology stores.
Groceries and Other
24-hour supermarkets are common around the city. Milk is around ₽60 per quart and a loaf of bread is ₽44.
Where to Eat in Saint Petersburg
Pirogi on Nab. reki Fontanki offers dishes of traditional Russian pies and salad for around ₽200. Austeria on Iohann Alley, by the Peter and Paul Fortress, has high-quality Russian cuisine for around ₽1,150.