St. Petersburg is the place miracles are made. Today, Russia’s second largest city is known for its stunning tsarist architecture, fashionable restaurants, shopping and electric nightlife, all set along the beautiful Neva River. But St. Petersburg is also the site of some of the most pivotal moments in Russia's history, most notably the Siege of Leningrad. Many inhabitants of the city have a family member who lived through the siege and it is still remembered vividly, though the city has prevailed and lived to tell its story.
One of the most awesome spectacles you can see once you've stepped off a flight to St. Petersburg are the “white nights” that occur in the city in the summer. Find cheap flights to St. Petersburg in June and July and watch in awe as the city glows from the prolonged twilight. The sun never drops far enough below the horizon to create the usual nighttime darkness, so the city is constantly lit up under the miraculous white light.
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Plan for the unexpected when you book your cheap flight to St. Petersburg, because although the weather is mild for the most part, it’s often unpredictable. Seldom hot, the weather ranges from freezing in the winter, to high 60’s in the summer.
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Peak Season: June, July, and August are the most popular months to book St. Petersburg flights due to its pleasant and warm weather. Typically mid 60’s, it’s not your average scorching summer, reaching maximums in the low 70’s. August brings heavy humidity and rain along with the heat, so over-packers should focus on weather-specific clothing like rain boots, umbrellas, and versatile layers.
Off-peak Season: Ready to brave the cold? A flight to St. Petersburg in the winter will release you into a land so frigid that typically temperatures can bottom out even lower than 10 degrees. Icy winds and weighty snowfall make January and February the bitterest months. If you’re looking to save money and the cold weather doesn’t bother you, this is the best time to find cheap flights to St. Petersburg.
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Bus No.13 leaves for Moskovskaya Metro Station from outside Terminal 2, from where metros go to the city center. Taxis are also available from both terminals; pre-booking a taxi is far cheaper. Passengers who are staying in a major hotel can arrange to be picked up.
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Once you’ve landed, St. Petersburg travel is made easy by the many forms of public transportation, despite the fact that everything is written in Russian. The metro runs four different lines and can be overcrowded during rush hours. Although everything is written in Russian, it’s easy to figure out where to go because there are maps of each stop in every train with destination names written out for convenience. Trains run from 5:45am-12:15am, and all tickets are under one zone, making pricing simple.
Buses, trolleys, and trams avoid the written schedules and seem to come every 5 or 10 minutes instead of a set time. Waits can amount to 40 minutes in the evenings, so you may want to seek an alternative. Look for “A” signs for buses, “T” signs for trolleys, and “Tp” signs for trams. Riding on marshrutkas, or minibuses, will make you feel like a local during your travel to St. Petersburg. Most of these run the same routes as bus, and even have replaced some bus routes. You’ll need to wave it down like a taxi, though. Once on it, simply yell “Stop!” if you want to get off, and pay the driver when you leave.
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Bridges: Beautiful picturesque bridges are all over St. Petersburg crossing the Neva River. Most of them lift in the afternoon to let boats pass, so be careful to check schedules before you plan on crossing a bridge during your commute. Two of the most common: The Volodarskiy closes from 2:00-3:45, and 4:15-5:45, and the Liteiny closes from 1:50-4:40. Be sure to check local listings once you get there for other bridge closing times.
Drinks: If you prefer shaken and not stirred, your long flight to St. Petersburg may call for an aperitif. The MTV generation in Russia has taken to American cocktail trends including Margaritas and Terminators, but the most common drinks of choice revolve around beer and vodka. A St. Petersburg microbrewery produces unfiltered beers, and locally produced brands like Baltika and Nevskoe are popular. Liviz distillery makes vodka for $6 a liter and is available at almost any time, anywhere.
Theater and Concerts: Although sometimes rivaling Moscow, St. Petersburg has recently held a reputation for being the arts and culture capital of Russia. Complete your St. Petersburg travel agenda by adding art galleries, palaces, and museums to your list of things to do. Ballet and opera shows, as well as classical and folklore music concerts are plentiful and make for a perfect night out at the Mariinsky Theater.
Rock Clubs: St. Petersburg conceived many a rock band in recent decades, and the diverse live music scene caters to the breeding ground of budding artists coming to attention on stage night after night. Concerts and clubs are affordable compared to other European cities. Dance the night away at two of the most famous clubs, Adams and Koniushenniy Dvor. No matter what’s streaming from your iPod on your flight to St. Petersburg, you’re guaranteed to be entertained by this upbeat and edgy genre.
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Your flight to St. Petersburg will land at Pulkovo Airport (LED), where parking is available, and public transportation is accessible.
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Both a visa and a valid passport are required.
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Both a visa and a valid passport are required for entry into St. Petersburg.
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