Things to do in Saint Petersburg
”Venice of the North”- River Cruise
This cruise should definitely be on the list if you plan to visit Saint Petersburg. It takes you along the rivers and canals of Saint Petersburg. The cost of the trip is 800 rubles. You have to show the electronic ticket to get a boarding pass from the booth on the Anichkov Bridge. The departure was from the Fontanka River Embankment. I used Neva Travels to book my tickets.
The total time of the cruise was around 1.5 hours. We were just 2 passengers for this ride ( A big advantage of travelling during the shoulder season is that you can avoid hoards of peak season tourists). Viewing the city’s magnificent monuments and architecture passing through the channels and the 24 bridges was a lovely experience. The trees on the banks with fall colours were mesmerizing. Star attractions on the way were the Hermitage building, Palace Bridge, Church of the Savior, and Peter and Paul Fortress.
The Palace Bridge
Galeria Mall
Galeria Mall is located right in the city centre. It has a total of 5 floors and the best thing about this mall is, there is a wonderful selection of stores from high-end designer brands to more affordable brands. The food court is on the 4th floor. There is also a supermarket inside the mall. If you are looking for local Russian brands, they are mostly on the top floors and are cheaper than other stores on the 1st floor where the majority of the international brands are available.
Hermitage Museum
A must-see for all art and culture enthusiasts. The Hermitage Museum is one of the largest and oldest museums in the world. There is not just Russian art and history but there are interesting things from other parts of the world as well. It can take many hours if you wish to see all the 3 floors. The architecture, gold embellishments, intricately designed chandeliers, paintings and marble flooring will leave you in awe.
The entrance fee is 700 rubles for the Main Museum complex and its branches. Admission is free for all visitors on the third Thursday of every month, March 8th, May 18th and December 7th. There is a cafeteria inside in case you need something to munch in between.
You have to leave your coat in the cloakroom before entering. There are 2 cloakrooms, one is big and the other is small. The big one is for those who are in large groups. I headed to the small one and deposited my coat and collected it upon exit.
Walking around the city
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
Saint Petersburg can best be explored by walking and you will find that every street has some interesting architecture. The city is beautifully lit at night. If you need a stop in between, there are wonderful cafes. It was breathtaking to see this beautiful Savior on the Spilled Blood Church along the Griboedov Canal in the evening. For a minute, you might mistake it for Moscow’s Basil’s Cathedral. The marvellous colourful mosaics make it stand out with the intricate designs on the domes and the vibrant colours. Most of the buildings in the city are of Baroque or Neoclassical architectural styles but this church has the style of Russian architecture. It looked splendid with all the lights at dusk.
On the way, one can see a number of attractive buildings and well-laid-out parks.
Pigeons in the pecking order
Vegetarian/Vegan Dining
Auroville cafe
If you feel like trying Indian food, this is the place. They have many varieties of Thalis and I tried two different ones on different occasions. It was delicious. Their samosas are good too. I visited this place a few times as it was close to the hotel I stayed in.
Ukrop cafe is equally good and their service is excellent. It is a great place for vegans.
I stayed at Galunov hotel on Degtyarnaya Street. It is an excellent boutique hotel and centrally located. Most of the places are within walking distance from here. Bus stops and metro stops are nearby. If I go back to Saint Petersburg, I wouldn’t think of staying elsewhere.
Clearing immigration
This took longer than expected since I was a solo traveller they asked me a few questions. If you travel in a group or with a tour agent, this may not be the case. The questions were very general and they told me to have the Police number handy and to be careful. They checked my documents and asked me to wait in order for them to complete some forms.
It took quite some time and by now, I was too tired and sleepy. Three officers( 1 male and 2 female ) asked me questions, they were extremely polite and friendly. I was mainly advised about staying safe in the country. In the meantime, I was asked to wait until another officer calls me to stamp my passport. All this while, my passport was with them.
Finally, I was called and my passport was stamped by an officer wishing me a happy stay in Russia. I was a bit worried that my suitcase could be missing when I saw a few passengers standing at the missing baggage counter. I went to check again and found the belt number for my flight and was happy to see my suitcase there.
Upon exit, I could see a board with my name and the girl at the taxi counter gave me a receipt and explained where exactly my taxi was parked. The driver was waiting for me and loaded the luggage. It was about 45 45-minute drive from the airport to the hotel.
Reaching the city from the airport
Saint Petersburg has only one international airport – Pulkovo Airport. Upon collecting your baggage, there are taxi counters from where you can book a taxi or book a taxi through one of the apps Yandex or Uber. I had a hotel transfer that cost me 800 rubles. The Yandex would have cost me almost the same for a comfort-class car. Read the post (Russia travel guide) on how to get a local SIM card in Russia.
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