Night boats and other Saint Petersburg, Russia Transportation Tips

'Mode': TO
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: During the summer the bridges across the Neva are raised for ships. It is a great time to take a boat and enjoy the night sounds and views. Many large and small boats load on the Neva after midnight. Listen to the water, voices across the river, the chugging of boat engines, the reflections of lights or imagine a scene from "African Queen." Or even better, go with a friend to keep warm.
Here is a short clip of what happens when the night boat goes under a low bridge -- watch out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDO_AY8W_Ng

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Website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDO_AY8W_Ng

'Mode': TO
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: Saint Petersburg is the Northern Venice and has numerous canals.
There are tour operators near Nevsky Prospect and the Neva River at every major road. The best canal tours are small boats from Moika, Griboeova or Fontanka canals. Many organized tours take the big boats but they cannot go under the low bridges and smaller canals.
At night many boats in summer offer rides to see the bridges open after midnight.
After so much walking it is really great to sit for an hour and watch all the great architecture scroll by. :)
Late afternoon evening light it is really beautiful. :)

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Saint Petersburg is made for walkers. Even in Winter you can find plenty to see.
But if you get tired, the Metro subway systems is fun and only about 17 Rubles. The long escalators into these tunnels, which can double as bomb shelters, is quite an experince. Even if you don't take the Metro a trip down and back up the escalator is worth the 17 Rubles.
Buses run about 17 Rubles, you can flag a car anywhere for a few bucks, and get a taxi for about twice that.
But walk, that is the real fun. There is art and architecture in every block.

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Website: http://www.peterswalks.ru

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: With over 100 kilometers tunnels (and with many 100 meters underground) the Saint Petersburg Metro are a good way to get around cheaply and efficiently.
In 2004 the metro token costs 12 rubles, or about 45 cents US.
In 2008 - 17 rubles.

They can be crowded at rush hour. Between 6-7 pm can be quite a crush.
Do not wear a backpack in the crowd,
give seats to seniors and women,
and be quick entering and exiting.
Most lines start at 6 am and start the last run at midnight.

One uniqie feature is that the design and art in each Metro undergound station is unique. Some have really beautiful soviet era art, especially the old stations on the blue line.

Be warned that it is against regulations to take pictures in the Metro. I got caught and chewed out, but was allowed to keep my pictures after some stern looks and harsh warnings.
These deep chambers have strategic importance and all such things cannot be photographed. Also, there can be seen at the bottom of the escalators doors that can be closed to seal these stations as bomb shelters.
Above ground trains are also strategic and technically you are not supposed to photograph them.

Open since 1955.

And it is more stations now then in 2004 metro map

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Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petersburg_Metro

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bicycle
Getting TO/AROUND: With the increasing automobile traffic and lack of bicycle lanes or paths, St. Petersburg is difficult for bicycles. Not to mention icy roads in winter.
However, outside the city there is almost always a footpath off the road for people. Many of these are paved and can make bicycling possible.

In 2007 the first bicylce tours started , 10:30 on Sunday mornings, during the warm months.
You meet at Skat Prokat, 7 Goncharnaya st. (Moscow Station) and rent the bicycle and take the tour. Or just go there and rent a bicycle if your are brave.

Photo: On the road since 2000, Pablo from Argentina is halfway on his journey around the world.
He started form his home in Argentina and now in St. Peterburg Russia for a day or two as he continues. He travels on a budget always looking for sponsors and new friends.
He figures it will be another 4 years (2008) to make it back to Argentina. Say hello!

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Phone: +7 (812) 717-68-30
Website: http://www.peterswalk.com/en/sunday_bike_tour
Other Contact: info@biketour.spb.ru

'Mode': TO,AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: It is easy to hire a car with or without driver.
It is the same price and less problems with driver. You are free this way and drive where ever you want.
You can see http://www.mapsofworld.com/cities/russia/saint-petersburg/car-hire.html
www.gemut.com
I hope it can help you.
Welcome to Russia!

I really recommend to hire a car only WITH driver!

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Website: http://www.sixt-rent.ru/en/rent_a_car.html

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: Trolley buses are run by the city and run along electric lines inthe center of the city. Theya re a good deal, 12 rubles in 2006 and fill the gap between Metro stations sometimes. They are labeled on the side for where they go and there are trolley bus stop signs above the street where they stop. They only stop at designeated spots.
About 12-17 rubles in 2007.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Trams run on rails in the center of the street and look like trains. They stop at designated spots and are one of the major ways to get around above ground.
They stop in the middle of the road and cars are supposed to stop and let people on and off. This is Russia. look first before entering the street and expecting that cars have stopped. Some drivers try and get by anyway.
About 17 rubles(2008year)

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: There are 5 train stations in St. Petersburg for local suburbs and international travel.

Trains are a great way to go to other cities, in fact the only way besides airplanes.
The local trains are the most economical electric trains. They are widely used for nearby towns and dascha. If you don't mind sitting on hard wood benches and many stops you can try and piece together a number of short runs to get to a far place, but it will be slow and tiring.

The redeye or night trains to Moscow from St. Petersburg and well traveled. You leave late at night and arrive early in the morning for a day of sightseeing. You can also return to Petersburg on the night train.
Most charge extra for sheets to sleep, about 50 rubles.

Moskovsky Station (Metro: Ploshchad Vosstania or Mayakovskaya) Daily trains to Moscow run frequently, and most take approx. 7-8 hours, with overnight sleepers being the recommended choice. There is one train by the name of ER200 which will do the trip in about 4 hours, though it is rumored not to be for those with weak stomachs. In general, be advised to buy tickets well in advance, especially for weekend travel, as this is always a popular route. The station also serves the Novgorod, Luga, Far North, +7 (812) 768-94-57

Finlandsky Station (Metro: Ploshchad Lenina) Trains to Helsinki, Finland, Vyborg and other northwest Russia areas.
+7 (812) 768-79-00

Ladozhsky Station (Metro: Ladozhskaya) Central Asia, Crimea, and the Caucuses.
http://www.lvspb.ru/
+7 (812) 436-56-00, 436-53-04

Baltiysky Station (Metro: Baltiskaya) For local/suburban services only. Trains to Peterhof, Pskov, Luga, Gatchina.
Next to it is Varshavsky Station Serving Pskov, the Baltics, and Eastern.
+7 (812) 768-28-59

Vitebsky Station (Metro: Pushkinskaya) Pavlovsk, Belarus, Kiev, Odessa.
+7 (812) 768-59-39

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Website: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/travel/arriving/stpete.html

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: If you take an overnight train you usually can buy tea in the morning and some trains have a dining car. But most people bring their own food. If you are in a coupe, 4 bed-seats and a common table, you can make a picnic spread. Bread, cheese, kohlbasa, juices, fresh fruit, vegetables and water make a good spread.

It is a good idea to bring your own food. Trains make whistle stops at small villages and you can jump out for a minute and try to buy some juice from a kiosk or fresh fruit and bread from the grandmothers who come for your convenience. But you never know what you will find and the train will not wait for you. The conductor will scold you royally if you jump aboard as the train starts moving.

Many long distance trains do have a dining car and it makes for a pleasant break from the train seats if it is not crowded.

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