See what the experts are saying about St. Petersburg. Get expert advice on how to get there what to see and more.
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Introduction
St. Petersburg was a planned city from day one, and therefore makes sense to most visitors right away. The center of town is relatively compact, and the increasing use of English on street signs and billboards breaks up the puzzling array of... Continue reading »
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Frommer's favorite experiences
Experiencing White Nights in St. Petersburg: Two weeks of festivities in late June celebrate the longest day of the year, when the northern sun never dips below the horizon. The White Nights are more than just a party; they're a buoyant, care... Continue reading »
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Planning a trip
The St. Petersburg City Tourist Office is quite modest for such a significant city, with not much more to offer than most hotels. Still, it's worth a visit to find out about festivals or special events that you might otherwise miss. The main... Continue reading »
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Fast facts
American Express -- The main local office is at 23 Malaya Morskaya, Business Center "Belye Nochi" (tel. 812/326-4500). It's open from 9am to 6pm and will cash traveler's checks. In the U.S., call tel. 800/221-7282. Business Hours -- Busine... Continue reading »
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Getting there
By Plane All international flights into St. Petersburg land at Pulkovo-2 Airport (tel. 812/704-3822 for Pulkovo-1 [domestic flights] or tel. 812/704-3444 for Pulkovo-2 [international flights]; www.pulkovo.ru), which is friendlier and more... Continue reading »
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Getting around
By Public Transportation The St. Petersburg Metro is a fast, cheap, and extraordinarily deep subway system that every visitor should try out at least once. Station entrances are marked with a big blue letter M. The four-line system is easy... Continue reading »
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Orientation
City Layout Peter the Great built his dream city on a cluster of islands in the marshland of the Gulf of Finland. To make sense of this boggy site, he designed a network of canals and bridges whose grueling construction cost the lives of m... Continue reading »
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Neighborhoods in brief
The city's historical and royal heart beats around Palace Square (Dvortsovaya Ploshchad), presided over by the resplendent, sea-green Winter Palace, home of the Hermitage Art Museum. This small district houses few hotels and restaurants, but... Continue reading »
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Suggested itineraries
St. Petersburg, for all its size and grandeur, is best viewed in small glimpses, by first studying the columns and crannies of each square at a time, and only then looking at the genius of the city plan. You could spend a full day walking up... Continue reading »
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In one day
This blitz tour begins at Palace Square and the Hermitage, for an intense morning of history and art that provides context for the rest of the St. Petersburg experience. The semicircle of sights surrounding this nucleus provides a sense of th... Continue reading »
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In two days
A second day in St. Petersburg is best spent discovering why the city still considers itself Russia's cultural capital. Starting at the Square of the Arts, this tour takes in the masterpieces of the Russian Museum and the ensemble of theaters... Continue reading »
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In three days
Although St. Petersburg itself has plenty more to explore, a third day offers an ideal opportunity to whiz up the Baltic Coast to Peterhof, the palace Peter modeled partly on Versailles. The ride itself -- on hydrofoil, ferry, or the private... Continue reading »
St. Petersburg Travel Experiences
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Russia, Saint Petersburg
31st JulyOur last day in this great town before the long bus ride to St Petersburg tonight. For some reason I was feeling very apprehensi... Continue reading »
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Saint Petersburg's Complex
Saint Petersburg is a fascinating place and is vastly different from Moscow, Russia's other major city. It is a truly European city and r... Continue reading »
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St Petersberg
I am writing this having been to St Petersburg and moved on to Moscow. The reflection back is a blur of fantastical, unreal s... Continue reading »
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Driving ALL NIGHT to see the Hermitage
It’s 3am, and we’re leaving Moscow. Let me explain why. We originally planned our trip itinerary, made reservations and booked airlines b... Continue reading »
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From Russia with Love
We checked out of our hostel on the 13th of February and spent the day wandering around Tallinn. Our bus didn't leave until 11.40pm... Continue reading »
Popular St. Petersburg Hotels
- Apricot Hostel
- Rossiya St Petersburg
- Novotel St Petersburg Centre
- St. Petersburg Serviced Apartments
- Rinaldi by the Hermitage
- Hotel Pribaltiyskaya
- Moskva Hotel
- Pulkovskaya Hotel
- Best Eastern Piter Hotel
- Azimut Hotel St Petersburg
Popular St. Petersburg Things to Do
- Dvortsovaia Ploshchad' (Palace Square)
- Edmond J Safra Grand Choral Synagogue (The)
- Ermitazh (Hermitage, The)
- Letnyi Sad (Summer Gardens)
- Griboedov Club
- Titanik (Titanic)
- Peterhof
- Tavricheskii Sad (Tauride Gardens, The)
- Monument to the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad
- Petropavlovskaia Krepost' (Peter and Paul Fortress)
