Tips& advices |
St. Petersburg travel guide |
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Useful links |
Museums: the museum tickets can be bought at the entrance of the museum and should be paid in roubles or by credit card. They usually cost from 2 to 15 € per person. There are discount of free entrance for children and students (ISIC card). Every first Thursday of each month the entrance to the Hermitage Museum is free. Free entrance: Aurora cruiser, all working churches and cathedrals. Before visiting a museum, find out about its day-off (see below). All musems are open on week-end. If you travel in summer and wish to visit Catherine Palace in Pushkin (Tsarskoe Selo), you should or find a private guide and ask her or him to book an entrance for you in advance, or book an excursion. During summer time, too many people want to see it because of the "Amber Room" and it is almost impossible to enter there for individual tourists. Days off at the most popular museums and palaces:
*** Trip to Petergoff: almost all visitors intend to visit Petergoff Parc and Palace complex - one of the summer residences of the tsars, with impressive beautiful fountains (also called "Russian Versalles"). One should know, that the fountains are working from the end of May to the middle of September. The parc and palaces are open during all the year. Petergoff is located at the shores of Finnish gulf, about 30 km from St. Petersburg. The most comfortable and fast way to get to the Petergoff is to take a hydrofoil boat from river Neva embankment near Hermitage. The trip is very pleasant, with great sea and city views and it will take 30 min. Regular price is about 10 €, with discounts for students and children. Money: Russian currency is Rouble. You can bring US dollars or Euro (banknotes in good condition) and change them in Russia, it is very easy to change them in the city, there are many banks and exchange points. Rate is about 27 roubles for 1 USD and 33 roubles for 1 €. Also, you can get cash from ATM machines and use your credit card. You must pay in roubles or by credit card in shops and restaurants, dollars or euros can be accepted only for some private services, also they are accepted at sovenier markets. Transportation: you can use public transport (metro, buses, trams, trolleybuses). 1 ride by metro or any other municipal transport costs 12 roubles. Also, there are very popular private "marshrutka" mini-buses, which are fast minivans with fixed route, this is the most populat transport apart of metro. Also it is common in Russia to stop as a taxi any private car (not Mercedes or BMW of course) and ask for a ride to the place you need. Negotiate a price beforehand. To stop it, just wave a hand (see many Russians doing this). The normal price for the ride in the center is 50-100 rub. Do not enter the car with 2 people inside, or if you do not like a driver. Around Hotels, bars, clubs, and Nevsky prospect there are taxis asking very elevated price, but it is always possible to find another car in the street with honest price. For your safety: St. Petersburg is generally safe, people are pacific and reserved. But, anyway, it is a big city with all kind of people. Be careful with people you do not know, the first time it is better to meet them on neutral territory: park, cafe. Do not open the door if you do not know a person calling, just do not answer. Hide well your wallet and expensive digital camera when walking, do not use crowded public transportation. You will not meet in St. Petersburg a crime of pulling out your bag or camera and running, but some pick-pockets exist, especially in crowded central areas, Nevsky prospect, shopping centers, subway, public transport, etc. They are very professional and can act in pairs or groups, so, put your wallet, passport and valuebles into the inner pockets, do not have them at your bagpack or exterior pockets. Avoid Gypsy kids and women, if you see them, avoid to walk or stay close to them. Very important: do not walk at night around Nevsky prospect, especially if you are alone and a little drunk, take a taxi (or private car). The worst thing is that you can be stopped by police (or people wearing police uniform) and have unpleasant surprise, so, spend 2-4$ for the car and be safe for sure. If you can afford, hire a guide for the visits, or go with your Russian friend, they will care about you, safe your money and will advice the best. If you travel with your laptop, you can connect it to the Internet very easily. Buy an Internet card in any computer or electronic shop, kiosk, there are cards for any numbers of hours and the price is about 0,5-1$ for hour. You get a telephone of local ISP, a password and a login name. I advice you cards of Golden Telecon, Matrix, Webplus, Peterlink. Also, there are a lot of Intenet cafes or centres around the city, many have Wi-Fi zones. Electricity: Russian standard is 220 Volts AC, 50 Hertz. Shops: The most of the shops work every day (including weekend) and do not have a lunch brake. Usually the stores are open since 10.00. till 20.00. or 21.00. Some little food stores, cafes, video and audio stores work 24h. In downtown there are not many big western style supermarkets, you can find them at Passage departmente store on Nevsky prospect, at Vladimirsky Passage, or at "PIK" shopping mall (on Sennaya square). But there are many small food-stores. Food: You can find description of typical Russian dishes and St. Petersburg restaurants reviews on this page. Russian character: Smiling: Russian people smile only when they are really having fun, happy, or very glad. They usually do not smile for cortesy or to unknown people. If you have Russian friends, it is very important to make little presents for them, flowers for women, sweets for children. To make presents it is a strong tradition, they also probably will present you many things. If you are invited to Russian house, do not forget about flowers for the hostess, a cake, sweets, some good vine. Your gifts will be very appreciated and Russians will do the best for you. A Birthday is also a very important day in Russia. St Petersburg Russia Apartments |
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