St Petersburg on our own

Hi

We're travelling to St Petersburg on the Azura in June this year. I understand that we need a visa unless we use a registered agent or do a ship tour. Has anyone applied for a visa and toured the city unescorted? We particularly enjoy the hop on hop off bus in other cities, and there is also a hoho boat in St Petersburg that looks interesting. Any thoughts much appreciated thank you...

I came across this thread earlier on in the week: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1256265

Wow, that's perfect - thank you to both Kat and to Minsterman for such an informative post! :)

Hi

 

We're travelling to St Petersburg on the Azura in June this year. I understand that we need a visa unless we use a registered agent or do a ship tour. Has anyone applied for a visa and toured the city unescorted? We particularly enjoy the hop on hop off bus in other cities, and there is also a hoho boat in St Petersburg that looks interesting. Any thoughts much appreciated thank you...

I applaud you adventurous spirit! The first time I visited St. Petersburg, I arrived via cruise ship - I used Alla Tours because I didn't have a visa (her tours are excellent, BTW). Since I wanted to return & explore Russia in depth and see sights seldom or never offered by tour companies, I applied for a 3 year visa the following year & arrived via air. I have toured St. Petersburg independently (also Moscow) over the past 3 years and can vouch for the fact that it is not difficult to DIY if you are willing to do a little research before you go.

Here is what I know to be true as of October, 2015 (last visit):

Cruise terminal: There is a taxi kiosk inside the terminal where you can get a taxi from Vasilyevsky Island (where most cruise ships dock) to the city center. If you are booked on one of the fortunate (small ships and river cruises) ships to dock at the English Embankment there is no need for a taxi as you are already in the center of the city.

Note: most taxi drivers do not speak much (if any) English so it is a good idea to write down (in Russian) the name of your ship and cruise terminal. ATM is also available inside the terminal. Once in the city center, most popular sights are within walking distance. The Metro is also easy to use and signage is in both Russian and English. I recommend that you download a metro map before you go: http://www.cityvision2000.com/transport/metro_map.htm

or

http://www.metro.spb.ru/en/map.html

I also recommend a good city map - many are available online & at bookstores: http://waytorussia.net/SaintPetersburg/Map.html

HOHO bus: http://www.redbuses.com/hop-on-hop-off-bus-st-petersburg/

Note: traffic is, at best, chaotic in St. Petersburg - much time is wasted sitting in traffic on the bus. Also, there are not many hoho buses (like in other European cities) and it may take up to an hour waiting at a stop for the next bus to arrive - more wasted time. Also, the bus waits at each stop for about 10 minutes. I would NOT recommend the hoho buses unless you don't mind extended waits and wasted time. They do, however, provide a decent city overview.

St Petersburg Card - I have found this an excellent value - check it out: https://petersburgcard.com/

Hydrofoil to Peterhof - catch it on the Neva river in front of the Hermitage. Trip to Peterhof takes about 30 minutes.

Canal Cruises: there will be providers along the canal selling these tours. English tours are only offered at specific times.

Audio Tours: Audio tours (English) are available in most Museums including the Faberge (after 6pm - guided tours available in English during the day excluding Friday), Hermitage, Peterhof Grand Palace, etc.

Food: lots of good places to eat! However, many restaurants will have menus only in Russian. There is an excellent Georgian Restaurant that has both English & Russian menus - located right around the corner from the Faberge Museum (Tarkhun - Karavannaya St. 14). I also enjoy the Stolle pie shops (located at several areas throughout the city) and, for pastries, Bushe (also several locations).

Awesome info! We are planning to DIY St. Petersburg this summer as we will have a Russian visa (going to Moscow pre-cruise). Planning to hire a private guide through toursbylocals for the first day to take us to Catherine's Palace and tour the hermitage. Then we will be on our own for the churches and other sites. Can't wait!

Hi

 

We're travelling to St Petersburg on the Azura in June this year. I understand that we need a visa unless we use a registered agent or do a ship tour. Has anyone applied for a visa and toured the city unescorted? We particularly enjoy the hop on hop off bus in other cities, and there is also a hoho boat in St Petersburg that looks interesting. Any thoughts much appreciated thank you...

Our DIY visit to Moscow took place over a decade ago as part of a Moscow to St. Petersburg river cruise. We had a problem I've never seen anyone mention: using maps. Perhaps the situation has improved in the past decade, but we struggled because the map we were given by the hotel concierge had transliterated Russian street names but the sign posts were in Cyrillic. No knowing any Cyrillic I had to use the little drawings on the map to match up with what we were seeing in real time. Since our independent wandering largely ranged from the Bolshoi to Red Square including the main shopping street, we managed once we got over the initial moment of panic. There was no mistaking the big sculpture on facade of the Bolshoi either on the map and in real life. Ditto for the onion domes of Red Square.

I know you're talking about St Petersburg, but the principle is the same. Hopefully, the maps offered by hotels and tourist agencies have become more tourist friendly. (And that might mean having both maps and signs in Cyrillic or having both Cyrillic and transliteration on the street signs. Whatever matches!) If you can't find how the maps are made, you might want to make your own maps before you leave home. I've successfully used Google Map "Directions" for this same purpose in other countries, but I assume Russian destinations will work, too.

Our DIY visit to Moscow took place over a decade ago as part of a Moscow to St. Petersburg river cruise. We had a problem I've never seen anyone mention: using maps. Perhaps the situation has improved in the past decade, but we struggled because the map we were given by the hotel concierge had transliterated Russian street names but the sign posts were in Cyrillic. No knowing any Cyrillic I had to use the little drawings on the map to match up with what we were seeing in real time. Since our independent wandering largely ranged from the Bolshoi to Red Square including the main shopping street, we managed once we got over the initial moment of panic. There was no mistaking the big sculpture on facade of the Bolshoi either on the map and in real life. Ditto for the onion domes of Red Square.

 

I know you're talking about St Petersburg, but the principle is the same. Hopefully, the maps offered by hotels and tourist agencies have become more tourist friendly. (And that might mean having both maps and signs in Cyrillic or having both Cyrillic and transliteration on the street signs. Whatever matches!) If you can't find how the maps are made, you might want to make your own maps before you leave home. I've successfully used Google Map "Directions" for this same purpose in other countries, but I assume Russian destinations will work, too.

Now you can just download Google Maps for the city you want (or you maps.me or other similar apps). Never again wander around with folded paper looking like a tourist. Now you can wander around looking at your phone like the locals :)

Now you can just download Google Maps for the city you want (or you maps.me or other similar apps). Never again wander around with folded paper looking like a tourist. Now you can wander around looking at your phone like the locals :)

Exactly :D

And these apps (Google, for example) give the street name in both Latin script and Cyrillic. For example Nevsky Prospect and Не́вский проспе́кт (Cyrillic).

If you are not on a tour, and do not have a Visa, is there anything else to do beside sit on the Ship?

Thank you for your help.

No, without a visa, you cannot get through passport control to enter St. Petersburg.

If you are not on a tour, and do not have a Visa, is there anything else to do beside sit on the Ship?

 

Thank you for your help.

That's it.

You are not allowed thru immigration without some sort of visa or tour ticket saying that some one in Russia is taking responsibly for you with a blanket visa.

And the only way you can do anything on your own is to have a your own visa.

Just curious but why go to St Petersburg if you don't want to try and see it?

Cheers

Len

Lolabarola - I'm guessing you're British.

Be aware that application for a Russian visa changed last year - Brits (all in the party) now have to present themselves at the Russian embassy in London or Edinburgh for biometrics. That's no fun if you live in the Orkneys or Cornwall - or even a lot closer to London or Edinburgh.

Makes the whole idea of a pre-booked visa-free tour a whole lot more attractive.

The application-in-person/biometrics only applies to Brits, I understand its one of the tit-for-tat nonsenses that countries play on each-other, and that this is retaliation for the UK making Russians go through hoops for a Brit visa.

There are also a number of logistical obstacles to DIY in St Petersburg - worth getting round for an extended stay but a Royal pain for just a one/two/three day visit.

JB :)

That's it.

 

You are not allowed thru immigration without some sort of visa or tour ticket saying that some one in Russia is taking responsibly for you with a blanket visa.

 

And the only way you can do anything on your own is to have a your own visa.

 

Just curious but why go to St Petersburg if you don't want to try and see it?

 

Cheers

 

Len

We have 2 days in SPB. We have booked the Ballet on the first night and a full day tour on the 2nd. I was wondering if there were any souvenir stands that were accessible before we started our evening.

We have 2 days in SPB. We have booked the Ballet on the first night and a full day tour on the 2nd. I was wondering if there were any souvenir stands that were accessible before we started our evening.

There are souvenir shops inside the terminal - right after you clear immigration.

How was the price of the Terminal souvenir shop compared to those of tour stops?

How was the price of the Terminal souvenir shop compared to those of tour stops?

I don't have a clue as I don't shop for souvenirs - I saw the shops in the terminal but did not enter any. Hopefully, a member that has visited both will be able to help you.

I shop for souvenirs. The prices at the terminal were mostly comparable although some things were a little higher from what I remembered

We went through the Russian Visa process for our river cruise tour of Russia in 2011. The cost of the visa and bill from visa company was substantial, probably more than someone would pay for a paid tour with no visa required.

There are so many things to see in STP and they are NOT close together. If you stay in the city center, Hermitage, etc. you can do it yourself easy, but then you have to make you way to the Peter and Paul Fortress and most importantly Catherine's Palace and Peterhof, which are located several miles from the city. Further, having a guide is very helpful.

We went through the Russian Visa process for our river cruise tour of Russia in 2011. The cost of the visa and bill from visa company was substantial, probably more than someone would pay for a paid tour with no visa required.

 

There are so many things to see in STP and they are NOT close together. If you stay in the city center, Hermitage, etc. you can do it yourself easy, but then you have to make you way to the Peter and Paul Fortress and most importantly Catherine's Palace and Peterhof, which are located several miles from the city. Further, having a guide is very helpful.

You are absolutely correct - it makes economic & logistical sense to book a tour through an independent operator if you are arriving via cruise ship and wish to see as much as possible on your short port stop. If one is a dedicated DIYer and wants to explore on their own at their own pace, then a visa is the way to go.

During my past 3 visits I have arrived via air for an extended Russian visit so a visa was required and made perfect sense. I don't live near one of the 5 Russian consulates in the US so I used the mail service provided by ILS - my 3 year visa cost about $320 - significantly more than the all inclusive 2 day Grand tour offered by Alla Tours and other similar providers. From St. Petersburg, you can reach Catherine Palace by bus and the same goes for Peter & Paul Fortress; Peterhof can be reached via hydrofoil - however,IMHO, these options are not the best use of one's limited time during a port stop.