St. Petersburg is one of the most majestic cities in Russia and Europe so it’s no surprise if it ends up on your travel bucket list. The city’s history can be traced back to two great Peters: Saint Peter the apostle and Peter the Great, the city’s founder. The city was named after Saint Peter while its streets and architecture were envisioned by Peter the Great.
The city features the fusion of Western European architecture and Russian culture that captivates millions of tourists every year. As you make plans to travel to Europe and visit St. Petersburg you need to know some essential things. Read on as we share what you need to know if you want to visit St. Petersburg
You May Need a Schengen Visa
Depending on your travel itinerary and your flight route, you may need to process a Schengen visa before arriving in St. Petersburg. Europe has 26 Schengen member countries, and having a Schengen visa allows you to travel to any members of the Schengen Area. Even though Russia is not a Schengen member country, its western side is almost surrounded by Schengen Area countries. If your travel itinerary involves staying a few days in Schengen countries like France and Germany or if your flight has a connection in a Schengen country before reaching Moscow, then you’ll need a Schengen visa. That said, you need to prepare for Schengen Visa fees, which can be at least 80 EUR (95 USD) as it includes a Travel Medical Insurance cost. You’ll need to have enough money to set aside for that visa requirement, not to mention Russia’s special visa requirements and costs. The bottom line is to know your possible visa requirements months before you travel and process them as early as you can.
Best Months to Visit
Summer is the best season for traveling and the best months to visit St. Petersburg are from mid-June to September. Summers are cool and pleasant in Russia, ranging from 10°C to 25°C. This kind of weather makes it the perfect time to go around the city and experience nearly 24 hours of sunshine and celebrate the White Nights Festival. Be sure to pack and dress accordingly to make the most out of your strolls around the city.
How to Get Around St. Petersburg
Using the metro is the most convenient mode of transportation in St. Petersburg. It has a fantastic metro system where trains run every 2 to 3 minutes and an underground network that can get you anywhere in the city. The metro is available until 12:30 past midnight and is a relatively safe public transport that you can take along with the locals.
If you want to feel more of the locals’ ways of getting around the city, you can walk around Nevsky Prospekt, the main thoroughfare. You can also take a tram or trolley for short journeys and sightseeing within the city. You can choose these affordable means of transportation to enjoy the city’s sights and sounds even more as you have the entire day for exploring.
Your trip to Russia would not be complete without visiting the iconic city of St. Petersburg. It serves as a gateway to Western Europe and proudly wears European architecture that blends well with the strong Russian spirit. It is a great city to relax and immerse in a different culture. With the few basic tips we provided here, whatever your travel plans in Europe are, you can confidently include St. Petersburg in your destinations.