Guide Petersburg

FAQ

  • Are there many people in Russia who speak English?

    Quite a lot, especially the younger generation. Most restaurants and shops in the centre of the city prefer to hire staff who speaks English.

  • Will I need any vaccinations?

    Whilst not essential, travellers to Russia are advised to have up-to-date vaccinations for tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis A and typhoid, as well as medications for travellers’ stomach upsets.

  • What currency should I take?

    It is better to take euros. You can change euros and USD easily in St Petersburg. You can also exchange pounds in almost all the 4 and 5 star hotels. It is also very easy to withdraw cash while in Russia with your bank card - don't forget your PIN code, and to let your bank know that you will be travelling to Russia.

  • What should I take with me to be prepared for any weather?

    Whatever the season, it is wise to bring your umbrella and a windproof raincoat or jacket. You will do a lot of walking in St. Petersburg, so think carefully about footwear. Depending on the time of the year, you will need warm boots with non-slip soles, waterproof boots/shoes, comfortable sandals. In winter it can get very cold outside, but hotels and homes are reasonably well heated, which makes it a good idea to dress in layers. In spring it might be chilly at times, but in mid-May it gets warmer. You can wear shorts in summer, though wearing shorts might prevent you from entering churches, ladies will also need to cover their heads in churches. Bring a sweater or light jacket for those chilly evenings. It is in autumn that you are most likely to need your umbrella and waterproof boots, though a Russian version of an Indian Summer (around mid-September) can be mild and fairly dry.

  • Are your tours suitable for single travellers?

    Our tours are suitable for single travellers, for married couples, for friends or for groups up to 10 people. You can book either a pre-arranged or tailored tour.

  • What is the best way of getting around SPB?

    By metro, unfortunately not all stations are signposted in English, only central ones. By taxi, it is more secure to hire licensed taxi-drivers, not to catch a car in the street. Besides, most of the taxi-drivers who work in the centre speak a bit of English.

  • How much money can I bring to Russia and take home after my trip?

    You can bring any amount with you to Russia, but you must declare any sum over US $3000. This is important because the Russian Law only allows you to take US $3000 (or equivalent in other currencies), out of the country without any paperwork. If you want to take more money back with you, you must present a special certificate (Permission to Export Currency) which can be obtained at any bank in Russia and comes at a price (usually, you have to pay the difference between their buy and sell rate). Please note that these regulations only apply to cash. Travellers' cheques can be taken home in unlimited quantity without any extra permission.

  • What electric plug adaptor will I need?

    Electrial power is 220V, 50Hz with a two pin Continental type socket. In trains and hotels 110V sockets are available.

  • What is included into the price of a tour?

    A highly qualified English speaking tour guide is included in the price of your tour.

  • What is not included into the price of a tour?

    Some entrance fees, travel costs, and additional expenses (ie toilets, souvenirs…) are not included in the price of your tour.

  • Can I make amendments to my booking?

    You can make amendments to your booking no less than 10 days prior to your arrival.

  • How far in advance should I book my holiday?

    The earlier you book your tour the better, but no less than 14 days prior to the date of arrival. All other options can be discussed by e-mail, Skype or phone.

  • Are prices per person or for the whole group?

    All published prices are for individual guests. Prices will be cheaper if there are 2 or more of you, as you will be sharing the costs of the guided tours. Special group prices are available upon request for groups of 5 people or more.

  • Will our mobiles work in Russia?

    You can use your mobile phone if your provider has an international roaming agreement with one of the Russian mobile phone GSM providers in St. Petersburg. If you don’t want unexpected bills finding on your door mat, ask for details on the call tariffs before you travel to Russia. Normally, if you are abroad you have to pay for all incoming as well as outgoing calls.

  • When is it the best time to visit Saint-Petersburg?

    It depends on the weather you prefer. Climate here is continental, with distinct periods of warm and very cold weather. Summer days from mid-May - early September are warm and very long. Autumn is brief, and by the end of November, the snow arrives. Spring arrives bringing with it the great thaw in March and April. If visiting in winter, wear extremely warm clothing inc. a hat, gloves, long coat, thermals and sensible shoes. The possibilities of sightseeing will differ depending on the season. High-season in Saint-Petersburg begins in the second half of May and finishes in October. The “hottest” period is May-July, with the White Nights period in June; generally this is the most expensive time to visit. In late autumn, winter and in early spring you have the opportunity to visit all the museums and places of interest without crowds of people but more comfortably because during the high season tourists are everywhere.

  • What must I do first if I get ill in Russia?

    Most drugs can be bought from a Pharmacy to treat most common conditions. Call an ambulance – 03 (24 hours) only in an emergency, and you will be offered free of charge emergency medical help. The following treatment can take place in any commercial medical clinic in Russia. You must think of the medical insurance beforehand (in your native country) not to pay for the treatment fully in Russia. It is also possible to buy the medical insurance in most big cities of Russia. There is a great variety of clinics in Moscow and St. Petersburg, their level of service is quite high and prices are lower than in EU.

  • How easy is it to get from the airport to the centre of SPB by public transport? Could you give me some idea of cost?

    It is not very difficult. There is a public taxi bus at the airport called “marshrutka”. You need number K13 or K113. It costs about 30 rub. You go by it to “Moskovskaya” metro station, buy a token that costs 25 rub and go to “Nevskiy Prospekt” metro station (7 metro stations), then get out of the metro and you are in Nevskiy prospect – the heart of our city. It will take you about 50 minutes.

  • Will I be able to read the underground (metro) timetable? or is it all in Cyrillic?

    It is possible to find your way in the metro but not very easy. There are metro maps inside the train carriages and the station names are written in Latin letters there. But there are not very many metro maps at the stations and station names are mostly written in Russian there. It is better to study the metro map beforehand and to count the stations on your way.

  • Will we be able to get to Peterhof by train and return by boat? How long will it take to get there and how long would you suggest is a good amount of time to see most of it?

    You can get to Petehof by boat only in summer. This is the hydrofoil that starts from the Palace Embankment (just opposite the Hermitage) every half an hour. The ticket costs about 500 rub and it will take you about 30 min to get to Peterhof. This is the best and the quickest way to get there during the high-season because it lets you avoid huge traffic jams we suffer from every summer. You can return to the city the same way, just check the timetable beforehand. Going by train will take you about 100 min. You should use the metro first, find the station called “Vladimirskaya” and go to “Baltiyskaya” metro station (3 metro stations, 25 rub for a token). Then get out of the metro and go to “Baltiyskiy” Railway Station on foot (about 130 meters). Then you get on the train going to “Staryi Petergof” (Old Peterhof) – 11 train stations – about 60 rub. Then you go on foot (1100 meters) from the train station to Peterhof Complex or you can use the public bus taxi called “marshrutka” (about 30 rub) going there. It is better to have 5 hours to visit Peterhof (2 hour – your way to and from Peterhof, 1,5 hour – the Great Palace, 1,5 hour – the fountains.

  • My husband and I are visiting SPB in July and we would like to go to the ballet, how do we get tickets? Please could you also tell us which is the best theatre to go to?

    The best theatre to go to see the ballet in Saint-Petersburg is The Mariinskiy Theatre. You can book the tickets online www.mariinskiy.ru.

  • What voltage is your electricity and will I need an adaptor for my electrical items? I'm from the UK where our voltage is 240v.

    Electric power is 220V, 50Hz with a two pin Continental type socket. In trains and hotels 110V sockets are available.

  • What forms of ID is it best to carry with us at all times? We would prefer to leave our passports at our hotel.

    Of course, you must leave all your documents at the hotel safe. It is better to carry copies of your passports and registration with you.

  • We would like to visit SPB in September what will the weather be like? We have children who are 12, 9 and 5 years old; can you suggest things that may be of interest to them apart from the museums?

    In autumn it is usually cold and wet here. There can be a lot of rain. The temperature is about 10 degrees above zero. Whatever the season, it is wise to bring your umbrella and a windproof raincoat or jacket. You will do a lot of walking in St. Petersburg, so think carefully about footwear. Bring a sweater or light jacket for chilly evenings. It is in autumn that you are most likely to need your umbrella and waterproof boots, though a Russian version of an Indian Summer (around mid-September) can be mild and fairly dry. The children can be interested in going to the Zoo (Alexander park, 1) or to see fountains in Peterhof, you can also take them to the circus (Fontanka embankment, 3) or to the Zoological museum (the University Embankment, 1).

  • How do we get a visa if we plan to travel independently?

    You should apply for your visa to the Russian Embassy in your country. See the relative section on www.guidepetersburg.com If you book the hotel here in Saint-Petersburg they usually offer visa support for their future clients. It will cost you about 1500 rub per visa. It helps greatly with getting visas.

  • I will bring some money with me but how can I change more when I'm in SPB, can I use my credit card easily in all shops restaurants and museums?

    Most shops and restaurants in the centre receive credit cards. There're many cash machines in St. Petersburg. If you don't know where to look for an ATM, go to any big and expensive hotel. However, it's better if you withdraw your money in the cash machine, which is at some bank's office, in that case if your card gets swallowed you'll deal with the problem faster. It's good to write down beforehand the numbers of all the traveler's cheques and cards you have with the emergency number, so that in case something is stolen you can block it. Anyway, not to get in a big trouble try to store some amounts in cash, in cheques and cards and put them all in different places, so that if something is stolen you still have a backup.

  • We will only be in SPB for 3 days, what would you think would be the best things to see in this short time?

    The State Hermitage, the Catherine’s Palace in Pushkin, the Church on the Spilled Blood, St’ Isaac’s Cathedral, St. Peter and Paul’s Fortress.