Travel to St.Petersburg

Kafka09

Hypothetically...

would anyone know much about Russia and St.Petersburg?

I would love to go there and see the Hermitage, the Winter Palace, Catherine's Palace, see the buildings, find out where Dostoevsky and Tchaikovsky lived.

Crime, mosquitoes, Visa issues, travel problems, rude natives, natives not being able to speak English, bureaucracy....etc

These are some of the issues people have warned me about....

But I would like to go nonetheless, because Russia is such an interesting place.

What do people think?

spurious

Beautiful city. I was first there in the old 'Leningrad' days and then again last summer. Plenty of folk waiting to rip you off, but the same could be said about many places.

The visa is not that difficult to get and the procedures are a good intro to Russian bureaucracy. They still have the 'foreigner' charges and the local rates in ticket offices in St. P., so if you have any Russian friends there, get them to book your tickets.

I would disagree that the natives are rude. They are wary of strangers (and with good reason for anyone who lived through the Soviet times), but outside south east Asia, I have never met a more hospitable people if they are welcoming you to their home.

There is good value to be had in renting apartments for short stays. If you can go during White Nights it's spectacular.
The opening of the bridges should not be missed either, it's like a night long party and there are night tours of the city which take advantage of the bright nights.

Beautiful city.

Kafka09

Wow....I have to go!

I'm a big fan of Russian literature and a Slavophile at times...

would a trip there be very expensive...for example what would it be like eating out and going to museums?

spurious

Eating out can be done REALLY cheaply if you can find a stolovaya (old Soviet style canteen). It is expensive to eat in Western chain restaurants like TGIF and the like or more or less anywhere on Nevsky Prospekt. Self catering would be a cheap option.

Museums are a bit pricier than we are used to (for foreigners, locals have much cheaper rates), but they are well worth it.

Kafka09

Well... I'll just learn a few sentences in Russian...enough to get into the museums for the native rates! I'll have to practice it all!
To fool them into thinking I'm Russian!

As for travelling Im am just back from Munich and Prague...and will be going to the Cotswolds in June and Catalonia in August...have you ever been to any of these places Spurious?

spurious

I was in Prague for a few days one winter a few years ago. I have never experienced such cold, but again, a great place to visit. I'd love to see it in summer.

Kafka09

Oh cold...is an understatement...freeze the goolies off any man!
I found it to be too crowded and the hostel was a nightmare...fool of drunks!

But I did go and see an exhibtion by Alphonse Mucha...called the Slav Epic! it was truly some of the greatest Art i have ever seen before!

Hmm_Messiah

spurious wrote: »

Beautiful city. I was first there in the old 'Leningrad' days and then again last summer. Plenty of folk waiting to rip you off, but the same could be said about many places.

The visa is not that difficult to get and the procedures are a good intro to Russian bureaucracy. They still have the 'foreigner' charges and the local rates in ticket offices in St. P., so if you have any Russian friends there, get them to book your tickets.

I would disagree that the natives are rude. They are wary of strangers (and with good reason for anyone who lived through the Soviet times), but outside south east Asia, I have never met a more hospitable people if they are welcoming you to their home.

There is good value to be had in renting apartments for short stays. If you can go during White Nights it's spectacular.
The opening of the bridges should not be missed either, it's like a night long party and there are night tours of the city which take advantage of the bright nights.

Beautiful city.

I went a few years ago - via night train from Moscow
Can agree with what Spurious said. You will not be able to pretend to be a native.. any Russian you learn will not be russian enough.

There are scams but well documented, just don't engage when people try tell you you dropped money, or a ring etc. People are nice, never met any rudeness. the amount of alcohol on the street and drunk people in Moscow was a bit offputting, but they were harmless. also a lot of dogs around .

The Hermitage was amazing . The bridges also ( we had the added excitement of persuading a taxi man to get us across before they opened - he brought us part of the way. I was there in JUly - not exactly White nights but it was bright at Midnight

I found the food cheap

I recommend Idiot restaurant especially if you are into soviet writers

The visa is quite easy - my first was rejected as I had over paid !! you need an "invite" - google it and you will be sorted

you need to register your details at each hotel - its not a big hassle but avoids the possibility of small fines etc. If stopped by the police (recognising you as a foreigner) - do not dispute it - explain you are a tourist and is there a fine. Many are very poorly paid so may charge you a fine for something you didnt do - its small money

the Metro stations are themselves pieces of art. but people will try mug you - i was (thankfully im left handed so everything in the "wrong " pocket - they try and trap you as you get on the metro - even using kids to block your way . just mind your possessions and if you feel some one at your bag. pockets protest very loudly

dollars a re useful but not really necessary . photocopy your passport - and try not let the hotel keep it

enjoy -

Gatica

a lot of good advice there.
I agree, I think the Russians can seem cold until you're invited into their house. They'll put everything out and make a feast for any guest, which is very hospitable and surprising, as they pull it out of nowhere even when they have little.
The ticket prices you cannot get around unless you speak native Russian. However, I'd recommend learning at least to recognise and read the alphabet for using the metro. It may not be of use to you for getting cheaper rates, but you'll defo need it to get around. Unlike most of Asia things are not sign-posted in English. It's cheap and easy to use the metro but you'd need to be able to understand signs for your stop, change of line, etc...
Go to Peterhof while you're there and see the royal summer residence - a palace and garden. It's beautiful and surprisingly right by the sea. Wonderful walk... BTW, they charge entrance into the garden and then into the palace separately, so be prepared. I thought it was a bit of a scam to charge for them separately. Hardly anyone would go there just for the garden! and you can't get into the palace without going through the garden.

St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Church of the Saviour on Blood are also worth a visit.