Travel Tips

Traveling to St Petersburg, Russia - Tips & FAQ

1) Do I need a visa to travel to St Petersburg, Russia?

No – if you are from the following countries: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and some others.

No – if you are a cruise ship passenger and book a shore excursion to St Petersburg from a local tour operator as City Break Tours (► check out visa-free tours). St Petersburg is included in the route of all the major cruise ships serving the Baltic Sea: AIDAaura, AIDAbella, AIDAcara, AIDAdiva, AIDAmar, Arcadia, Artania, Astoria, Aurora, Azura, Balmoral, Brilliance of the Seas, Britannia, Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Silhouette, Columbus, Costa Magica, Costa Pacifica, Crystal Serenity, Disney Magic, Europa 2, Koningsdam, Magellan, Marco Polo, Marella Discovery, Marina, Mein Schiff, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Orchestra, MSC Preziosa, Navigator of the Seas, Norwegian Breakaway, Ocean Dream, Pacific Princess, Prinsendam, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria, Regal Princess, Rotterdam, Saga Sapphire, Sapphire Princess, Sea Cloud, Seabourn Ovation, Serenade of the Seas, Seven Seas Explorer, Viking Sea, Viking Sky, Viking Star, Viking Sun, Zenith, Zuiderdam and others. The cruise ships stay in the port of St Petersburg from 1 to 3 days, during which you can participate in tours without a touristic visa. Our company is authorized to organize shore excursions in St Petersburg and Moscow, including activities and visa-free arrangements. Every traveler will be asked to provide his passport data to issue a tour ticket, which allows disembarking without a Russian visa. Note, shore excursions in St Petersburg are to be booked at least 1-2 weeks before the arrival of the cruise ship, so we advise to plan carefully and reserve all activities you want beforehand. Do not hesitate to contact us, our reservation team is always ready to consult you and answer any questions.

If you are not covered by these two options, you can contact us to get a letter of invitation (visa support) and issue a visa in your home country.

2) What to see in St Petersburg, Russia? The list of must-places:

  • Palace Square, the Winter Palace and the Hermitage Museum (► find private guide)
  • Nevsky Prospect – the main avenue of the city
  • The cathedrals of St Petersburg: St Isaac’s, the Church of our Savior on the Spilled Blood, the Kazan Cathedral (► explore with a professional)
  • St Peter & Paul Fortress and the Cathedral – the birthplace of the city 
  • Rivers and canals of St Petersburg during a boat trip
  • the White Night Festival – the ceremony of opening the bridges (from May to Oct at 1:15 am on the Palace Embankment)
  • The Catherine’s Palace and the Amber Room in Tsarskoye Selo, Pushkin (► half-day trip)
  • Peterhof – the capital of Fountains, the Russian Versailles (► half-day tour)
  • Pavlovsk - the biggest landscape park in Europe and a luxurious palace of the Romanovs (► Pushkin + Pavlovsk tour)

3) What to do in St Petersburg in two days?

Our hearts hurt when we hear that someone is coming to St Petersburg just for two days… Even though this short time is not enough to fully enjoy the sightseeing and the unforgettable atmosphere of the city, we have prepared a short list of places that you cannot miss:

  • Nevsky Prospect and surrounding territory
  • the Hermitage Museum
  • the Church of our Savior on the Spilled Blood
  • the fountains of Peterhof
  • Catherine’s Palace

All these must-places are covered by our ► two-day tour of St Petersburg. The program can also be adjusted according to your wish, so do not hesitate and make a reservation to be sure that you are covered and will not miss a thing.

4) When is the best time to travel to St Petersburg, Russia?

In two words, the touristic season in Russia starts in early May and ends in the late September. The peak period is undoubtedly the White Nights – from last days May to the beginning of July, when the sun only sets for an hour and the night practically does not exist. This is the most romantic period in the year, the time when the city is especially charming and people cannot stop admiring it day and night. The average temperature in St Petersburg during the summer season is 18°C (64°F), which sounds quite fine but get ready for days when it is raining cats and dogs. In low season – from October to April, the weather is not so pleasant and totally unpredictable, but for those brave who come to Russia in winter, there is a great reward – no lines and half-empty museums.

5) Best tours in St Petersburg

Huge experience shows us that the most popular and satisfying tours are full-day excursions that allow travelers to learn more, see more, and love more. Here is the list of our all-time bestsellers:

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