"When St.Petersburg was still Leningrad" Top 5 Page for this destination Gorod Sankt-Peterburg by globetrott

Gorod Sankt-Peterburg Travel Guide: 3,753 reviews and 8,121 photos

When St.Petersburg was still Leningrad - Gorod Sankt-Peterburg

I have been several times in Leningrad when I was working onboard of M/S Vistafjord.

In these days everything was a bit different from today. Communism was the only way of life, and western tourists were rarely to be seen. Our Passengers could go ashore only for the guided tours, had to stay with the groups and no chance to go on there own. - Only very few passengers had a visa.

But crewmembers were allowed to go everywhere !

Leningrad was a really interesting place for me. In school we had to learn Russian, and here I had the chance to practice a bit.

Last visit to Gorod Sankt-Peterburg: Dec 1984
Intro Updated May 4, 2003
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Reviews (21)

take a hydrofoil - Gorod Sankt-Peterburg

take a hydrofoil Transportation (3)

another great and quick means of transportation: The Hydrofoil. I once took this one from the Hermitage to... more travel advice

The Hermitage Ensemble - Gorod Sankt-Peterburg

The Hermitage Ensemble Local Customs (1)

The Hermitage Ensemble is one of the most famous architectural landmarks of Leningrad. It includes the Winter Palace,... more travel advice

Back in 1985... Favorites (3)

Do not forget, that in 1985 everything looked much different. Never a single smiling person, - not in a shop, - not in a... more travel advice

CAVIAR ?? - forget it !! - Gorod Sankt-Peterburg

CAVIAR ?? - forget it !! Restaurants (2)

Once we went to the famous 'Hotel EUROPA' - one of the fine hotels for western people: we wanted to taste the 'REAL... more travel advice

Warnings and Dangers (2)
See All "nothing to see there"...
Things to Do (5)
See All Peterhof
Off The Beaten Path (1)
It was one of my funniest...
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Comments (89)

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hopang May 6, 2009 at 7:02 AM

Excellent Saint Petersburg page with superb photographs! Petrodworez, fountains and golden sculptures are certainly lovely attractions! Thanks for sharing. We hope to visit the city one day! ~ho & pang
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globetrott Dec 30, 2007 at 2:44 PM

@mindtpi: maybe you simply read my pages before you give such rubbish comments. I was talking about a guide in communiste times, who said its nothing to see there, because they never liked to show churches to western tourists !!
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mindtpi Dec 30, 2007 at 2:04 PM

what a load or rubbish - all museums are closed one day a week which is clearly shown on the board outside. It's a major attraction in St Petersburg, it's in _every_ guide book and heaps of the sourvenirs. I'd suggest you find a better guide next time.
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gubbi1 May 4, 2007 at 1:30 PM

Hi, nice page! Had an exchange with school to S.P. During their visit the town was renamed. So they came from Leningrad and went back to Sankt Peterburg. Take care, Christian.
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artdeco Mar 16, 2007 at 12:56 PM

I vistied St. Peter for the first time in 2002 and fell in love with the city...They did a good job restoring the architecture ...3 days were not enough to see it all...Great journal! Mary
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Natalya2006 Dec 9, 2006 at 6:44 AM

It's very interesting for me to surf pages of my city made VTer from other countries. BTW, the Cathedral on Spilled Blood is opened now (closed on Wednesdays) and it's not so dark in the toilets now :-)
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condorito Sep 1, 2006 at 9:26 PM

Yes, You are Number One.
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tiabunna Jun 14, 2006 at 4:19 AM

An interesting look at Leningrad, as it was when you visited. Time and change certainly adds an extra dimension!
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HORSCHECK Nov 16, 2005 at 1:19 PM

Interesting page about Leningrad. It brings back many memories of my time in St. Petersburg this summer. Nowadays the city looks much more colourful... :o)
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starship Aug 24, 2005 at 7:59 AM

Recently back from a cruise & spent 2 days in SPb. Enjoyed your recollections of the city in the days of the USSR. I think some of the old mentality may still exist today--Big Brother is still watching!