Suggestions for things to do in the evening for St. Petersburg

[crazydog]

We have booked a day tour with a private company in St. Petersburg and are now looking for evening options.

 

For those who have experienced this port, what would you recommend? The ballet, folklore show, or a canal cruise, etc?

 

Wanted to get folks' input into their evening program experiences in St. Petersburg!

 

Thanks!

[CintiPam]

We have booked a day tour with a private company in St. Petersburg and are now looking for evening options.

 

For those who have experienced this port, what would you recommend? The ballet, folklore show, or a canal cruise, etc?

 

Wanted to get folks' input into their evening program experiences in St. Petersburg!

 

Thanks!

 

If you are there during the White Nights, a canal cruise is a very lovely experience in St. Petersburg, and also very relaxing after a busy sightseeing day. If you get tickets to the Kirov, fine, but no point in going to a "tourist" ballet company (which I did on a land trip four years ago with my sister) when you can see better dancers at home. I never had a folklore experience in St. Petersburg, but it sounds enjoyable.

[TLCOhio]

If you are there during the White Nights, a canal cruise is a very lovely experience in St. Petersburg, and also very relaxing after a busy sightseeing day. If you get tickets to the Kirov, fine, but no point in going to a "tourist" ballet company (which I did on a land trip four years ago with my sister) when you can see better dancers at home. I never had a folklore experience in St. Petersburg, but it sounds enjoyable.

 

Pam has summarized the three options well. There are several other pro/con factors to consider. The ballet could be a three-hour performance, which is fairly L-O-N-G, given all that you will have done that day and are planning for the next day. It depends on how much you really LOVE the ballet and if it is going to be a well-done performance by a good company. We've heard good things on SOME of the evening folk shows. You need to make sure you're getting a good one.

 

The canal trip can be nice. Some might consider it too "low-key". It depends on your expectations. You could also do a visit to the two major Cathedrals later than average in the early evening and then maybe a canal boat ride. Most important, it all depends on your personal interests. Below are some examples for what you can see on the canal tour. It provides nice angles for the classy architecture in this historic town. You are getting a better, more relaxed view of these sights than just out the window of a bus on crowded streets. Tell us more on what you are seeking, liking and needing.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

 

Along a canal in St. Petersburg, here are examples of some different buildings:

 

 

 

A royal structure seen on the canal boat tour:

 

 

 

An example of bridge details you will see on the canal tour:

 

 

 

 

 

On the canal boat in front of the Hermitage, here is a speed boat enjoying the water:

 

[CintiPam]

Great photos, Terry (as usual).

 

To elucidate on my earlier post, I spent four days in St. Petersburg four years ago in June with my sister (and 16 others on a land/air trip on a tour with Grand Circle Travel), and I felt that our canal cruise (although it was during the day) was one of the highlights of our stay, a really lovely perspective on this most beautiful city.

 

In contrast, as a ballet regular, I felt that our evening seeing Swan Lake with hundreds of other tourists was a bit of a waste of time and money.

 

We also enjoyed strolling the streets and canal areas around the Nevsky Prospect during the amazing White Nights where at 11 PM we felt that it was only late afternoon!

We saw many private boats out on the canals then, and it looked like a nice way to spend an evening.

[crazydog]

CintiPam and TLCOhio,

Thank you for the recommendations. I think we are headed for the canal cruise option! I'm afraid we might fall asleep at the ballet after a long day tour! LOL TLC, your pics are incredible!

[laverendrye]

Great photos, Terry (as usual).

 

To elucidate on my earlier post, I spent four days in St. Petersburg four years ago in June with my sister (and 16 others on a land/air trip on a tour with Grand Circle Travel), and I felt that our canal cruise (although it was during the day) was one of the highlights of our stay, a really lovely perspective on this most beautiful city.

 

In contrast, as a ballet regular, I felt that our evening seeing Swan Lake with hundreds of other tourists was a bit of a waste of time and money.

 

We also enjoyed strolling the streets and canal areas around the Nevsky Prospect during the amazing White Nights where at 11 PM we felt that it was only late afternoon!

We saw many private boats out on the canals then, and it looked like a nice way to spend an evening.

 

We have just returned from a second visit to St. Petersburg (the first was with a Marco Polo Baltic Cruise, this time a Viking cruise to Moscow).

 

The mention of Swan Lake is interesting. The Viking Cruise included a performance at the Hermitage Theatre, and it was interesting from the historical nature of the theatre. The ballet was OK--a small company with a small pick-up orchestra--especially at the price which was included for the cruise.

 

The next night, however, was Swan Lake again, this time at the Mariinsky Theatre (the Kirov in Soviet times). We hadn't known what the entertainment would be for the previous night, so we ordered tickets on-line and they were remarkably inexpensive (1500 Ru for front row second tier seats). The performance was absolutely outstanding, as is to be expected from one of the world's leading companies, and the old Mariinsky Theatre was every bit as interesting if not more so from a historical point of view as the Hermitage theatre.

 

The contrast between the two performances was immense, and the lesson is that if you really want to see ballet, skip the ship's tours and go for the best. Buying tickets on-line from the Mariinsky was dead simple and the prices were amazingly low for the quality of performance. By comparison, the ship managed to get 40 tickets for a performance of La Fille Mal Gardée at the Bolshoi in Moscow and they were going for well over 3 times what we paid for the Mariinsky.

 

On our Marco Polo visit, we went to an operatic recital at the Sheremetyev Palace. The music was fine, but the tour was excellent as it also included a visit to the Anna Akhmatova museum and a musical instrument museum in the Palace. This trip, our available time and the Mariinsky schedule precluded an opera performance.

 

Folklore shows can be good or bad. We actually saw one at lunch in the Hotel Europe with a Marco Polo tour and quite enjoyed it. I expect that your best bet here would be to go to one arranged by the ship.

 

(The more I think about it, the more I lament the demise of Orient Lines, as their shore excursions were excellent).

 

A canal cruise would certainly make a nice evening's outing, combined with strolling on the Nevsky Prospekt during the long summer nights.

 

Just remember that to do things on your own from an ocean cruise ship without a tour, you will need a Russian visa.

[jbbnb]

 

Tell us more on what you are seeking, liking and needing.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

 

Terry, I am booked on a two day tour in SPB, my family are not sight-seerers and would rather walk around and get a local feeling. I am going to book them on the evening canal tour with me, this way they have a "visa". My questions are will the tour ticket cover them when they are not on the tour. If so how difficult is it to strike out on your own?

Thanks, Beth

[Giantfan13]

We have booked a day tour with a private company in St. Petersburg and are now looking for evening options.

 

For those who have experienced this port, what would you recommend? The ballet, folklore show, or a canal cruise, etc?

 

Wanted to get folks' input into their evening program experiences in St. Petersburg!

 

Thanks!

 

 

for us, it was dinner, a shower and

 

SLEEP:D:D:D:D:D

 

Cheers

 

Len

[alcpa1]

JBBNB,

Your tour company in St. Petersburg is totally responsible for each participant. Your family must stay with the group which is covered under the group VISA.

I have been to SPB before and there is no way I would let my children, no matter their ages, loose to roam in the city. Can they read cyrilic or speak Russian? Can they read a map? Can they evade the gypsys on the streets and in the subway? Do they have rubels and know how to calculate the currency? Can they sweet talk the Russians at the port to gain admittance to the pier without the group and its VISA? Are they aware that the tap water in SPB is too foul to drink?

If you are docked at the new Marine Terminal you are quite a ride away from Nevsky Prospect. SPB does not have cabs like we, in the states, are accustomed to. English speaking cabbies might be engaged at the major hotels but are not readily found elsewhere.

Please rethink your plans. This one is not viable.

[momothree]

Hi,

Has anyone done the Catherine Palace Evening Excursion (Tour/champagne reception/etc...)? This seemed like an interesting way to spend the evening and frees up some daytime hours to see other sites. My group is seriously considering this excursion for our trip this August, but would love to hear about some first hand experiences with this excursion.

Thanks!

[cruisealex]

The main ballet companies appear to go on summer tour outside Russia. I actually saw the Kirov at the Royal Opera House in London 2 nights before we set off on our Baltic cruise last year! My impression is that many of the ballet performances and folk dance performances are set up just for the cruise trade - which is fine if you understand what you are getting.

As well as a canal cruise your tour company might offer a general evening drive , or transport to and from a restaurant?

[2Bob]

4 years ago we went on a river cruise St P to Moscow. We had to have a visa so it meant we were free to do lots of things that you couldn't do other wise. We booked Kirov Ballet for ourselves and a local uni student who we had an introduction to from a friend. (We paid much more for our tickets as tourists than we had to pay for hers, we did it over the web and the tickets were delivered to the boat all with no hassle). She also organised for her boyfriend to get himself a ticket at his expense. The ballet was enjoyed by all (me included and it is not my thing really). The Russian girl and boy friend had never been to the Kirov and were delighted. After wards we had a meal at a chinese restraunt (not much choice late at night!) and then hung around to watch the 'opening of the bridges' at 2:00 am! This seems to be the highlight of the night for many young (and a bit drunk) locals and was good fun. The local boyfriend had picked us up from our boat and dropped us back in the early hours of the morning. The river boats are moored nowhere near the normal cruise boats and I guess because all the river cruise passengers have to have visas there were no immigration procedures there at all. We actually took our 'friends' back onto the boat and showed them our cabin although they were surprised that this was allowed.

 

Anyway, highly recommend the Kirov ballet if you can arrange it. Also the opening of the bridges but that might be harder to do.

[2Bob]

Just thought I would add a couple of photos - first shows are seats at ballet (and us of course).[/img]

 

People hanging around for the opening (including us).

 

 

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and the fountains in the river. This was around 2am, still sort of light!

 

and finally, sunrise taken from cabin window (roll over, take photo while still in bunk, roll back and go back to sleep). This is from a river cruise boat - blatent plug for river cruising).

 

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[TMLAalum]

We saw this folkloric show after a tiring day of touring in St P-burg. It was delightfully entertaining and a highlight of our time in that port. The dancers ability to express emotions without words transcended any language barriers. It was a high energy show that revitalized us very quickly. Light finger foods and wine are served at intermission. There are also vendors there with typical Russian souvenirs at very good prices.

 

We attended the 7pm show and were back aboard the Eclipse by 9:30 pm- early enough to get a decent nite's rest before beginning our 2nd day of sightseeing at 7am.

[bardstowntraveller]

CintiPam and TLCOhio,

Thank you for the recommendations. I think we are headed for the canal cruise option! I'm afraid we might fall asleep at the ballet after a long day tour! LOL TLC, your pics are incredible!

Before you finalize your decision, let me tell you about our experience with the Folkloric Show. It was one of the highlights of our visit. It is in a former palace and is a fairly small venue. The performances were magical. There was a four man acappelo (sp?) group that was phenomenal and two different dance troupes. They performed traditional folk songs and dances and their costumes were beautiful. The show was 2 hours long with an intermission with vodka, champagne and canapes served free. We loved the show. One word to the wise, if you decide to go, don't sit in the first row. The dancers often extended their kicks too close for comfort!

 

With that said we also did a canal cruise that was very nice. If you are travelling during White Nights there will be virtually no difference between cruising during the day and cruising at night. My reco to you is to see if you can rearrange your day tour to include the cruise and add the Folkloric Show as your evening activity.

[MercedMike]

Well, our experience was that after a looooong day touring St P with lots of walking, we were pretty much exhausted. We had dinner and fell into bed.

 

One member of our group did go to the ballet and said it was very good. However, we had to keep waking her up during the next day's tour!;)

[CintiPam]

My reco to you is to see if you can rearrange your day tour to include the cruise and add the Folkloric Show as your evening activity.

 

Good suggestion for the evening for those who want an evening activity.

 

As for me, because we only will have two days in St. Petersburg on our cruise visit next June, I am not planning to do anything that first evening after dinner, but rest up/sleep in preparation for intensive day two of my tour!

 

I hope that we can fit in a one-hour canal cruise during the day because this will be my husband's first visit to St. Petersburg, and I thought that my daytime canal trip with my sister (which ended at the Yusopov Palace, which, history nut that I am, I loved more than the reconstructed St. Catherine's Palace) was a great way to view the city.

[Bet & Peg]

We just returned from the July 3rd Baltic Cruise and had a wonderful St. Petersburg experience at the FolkLore Show "Fell Yourself Russian"!! (Hi. TMLAalum!!)

 

We also added it on at the end of our tour - the 7pm show - and when we left they were lined up outside the the next show!!

 

Our tour company SPB, took us right to the venue ofter the day tour - we didn't return to the ship. We spent some time in the gift shop across the street with their very clean (I mean it!) rest rooms and free coffee/vodka/liquor - the guys loved it and kept asking to go to gift shops!! The show was lots of fun and great dancing and photos were permitted. I think when we arrived we were given a glassof champagne and at intermission they had some light refreshments - champaign some crackers, etc. NOT a full meal! Ans, of course, they were selling things - but no pressure to buy and they had some lovely shawls, jewelry, etc.

 

I was surprised we didn't feel more tired! But thinking about it, we had ridden in an air conditioned van quit a bit that day and also in the hydrofoil. So, while we were tired, we weren't "dead"!! Two couples we had met on the ship were on a different private tour. Their company took them back to the ship for 45minutes and then to the Palace for the show. One couple enjoyed it - dropping off camera and changing shoes; the other couple felt it was too rushed - long line to get one (Russian officials), running to their room, etc. I'm glad we did what we did - had a chance to sit and relax a little before the show. When we arrived back at the ship the terminal seemed empty - we had to look for the official to show our passports and we on board the ship in minutes! We were eating a late snack about 9:30pm - not that late for a fabulous day!!!