Expert: Ivan - 3/23/2005

Question
We are there on a cruise ship for two days and know it is impossible to see very much.Would appreciate recommendations of "must sees". How is public transportation? and at what cost. would it be difficult for us to get around on our own speaking only English? Is a visa  needed?
Is there a day ticket that can be bought for public transportation? Is there a City card that can be bought that gives entry to places, and transportation.


Answer
Even you speak English only, you don't have to worry. St.Pete is a tourism oriented city, so every second person could help you somehow. It's easy to navigate - streets in suburbs going perpendicular relatively to the main street.

It was a lot of noise about “should the cruise passengers have visa or not”, and the last I've heard – yes, they have to… but check it in your travel agency.

There are no day tickets and entry cards. Buy 10 rides metro card (~ 30 c per entry), it's enough for 2 days for 1 person. Taxi is not so expensive (50-60 c per km), city route minibuses are cheap (50 c per ride).

No doubt – you should take a “boat trip” via canals, walk through the main street and visit Petropavlovskaya krepost, where the city started to grow. You could explore the city center walking through the prospects (avenues) until the end and make “circles” via nearest streets or canals or embankments. About “must be seen” objects – is it something special what YOU want to know or look at?

Ivan