Saint Petersburg: Maps , pictures and information.

[Queen of DaNile]

Our upcoming 3 day tour of SPB currently does not include a hydrofoil ride. I read somewhere that that is "the" way to arrive at Peterhof. Is it something we should do? Thanks!

[scubacruiserx2]

Our upcoming 3 day tour of SPB currently does not include a hydrofoil ride. I read somewhere that that is "the" way to arrive at Peterhof. Is it something we should do? Thanks!

 

Welcome to the thread and that's a great question. On our three visits to Peterhof , we never used the hydrofoil and quite frankly we didn't feel like we had missed anything. On the contrary , we loved the drive in the country - away from the crowds. We requested a couple of brief stops along the way at the Peter and Paul Cathedral near Peterhof.

 

 

 

 

And the Constantine Palace near Peterhof , which is where Putin and Bush met previously and the G - 20 meeting was held last year.

 

 

 

 

 

Last year was the first time that we used the hydrofoil when we went to Peterhof on our own , without a guide. If you do use the hydrofoil , it is a 30 minute ride instead of the 1 hour drive and you go past the main cruise port and see a different views of the city. It's also a chance to interact with some of the locals. We have found that the majority of Russians to be very friendly and curious about in spite of sometimes holding differing political views. One unique observation on visiting St. Petersburg. Almost everybody that I have spoken to or read about concerning guides and guide services proclaim that their guide and their trip was the BEST . So have a great trip on a great ship (we envy you) and enjoy every minute of your trip and what you do see . You will not be able to see everything on this trip so pick and choose what you can. Who knows, you may develop the "St. Petersburg" addiction (like we have !) and want to visit this beautiful city again.

 

That being said, if you want to ride the hydrofoil , contact your guide service and request it. They are paid well to make you happy and while you are there, don't be afraid to request things or photo stops along the way. If you are hungry , the Russian way of asking for a drink or food is to say " can we have tea" ? . Perhaps the Best of both worlds is to use the hydrofoil to go and return with the driver. Enjoy your visit!! :D

[Queen of DaNile]

Thanks Scuba!

[scubacruiserx2]

Thanks Scuba!

 

You're welcome , glad to help.

 

 

 

Perhaps the best incentive that we could offer the kids or grand kids would be a evening trip to the amusement park Divo Ostrov as a reward for good behavior. It's located near the cruise port and is a good place run around and have a good time.

 

http://www.divo-ostrov.ru/english

 

 

On the second day , as an afternoon incentive , before you leave (if on a two day trip) you may want to let the kids shop for their own Matryoshka dolls.

 

 

 

 

 

Of course they come in all shapes and sizes including sports teams.

 

 

 

 

Best Guides also offers Matryoshka doll painting classes if you wish to try your hand at painting your own.

Edited July 25, 2014 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

There is one last place that would be good for children that we stumbled on quite by accident. We were visiting the Russian Political Museum (more later) near the Artillery Museum , when we went for a walk in the adjacent Alexandrovskiy Park . We found a miniature version of many of the famous buildings of St. Petersburg. Here's Saint Issac's Cathedral:

 

 

 

 

 

And the Church on Spilled Blood stands about 6 feet tall.

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Here's a brief article from In your pocket guides to help you with your visit to the Hermitage. Is this really the ultimate guide ?

 

http://www.inyourpocket.com/russia/st-petersburg/Hermitage-the-Ultimate-Guide_70575f

[Joulupukki]

http://grandmaket.ru/en/

[scubacruiserx2]

http://grandmaket.ru/en/

 

Thank you for this link to this amazing model railway Joulupukki. We hope to visit it next May when we plan to visit again. It looks like a great place to also take children !! :) Here's the youtube video.

 

[Queen of DaNile]

Scuba-someone on our cruise just posted that they don't need a visa to go to the Mariinsky for an evening performance (just hop in cab on their own) because they are doing a tour during the day with a guide providing the visa. Really???:confused:

[scubacruiserx2]

Scuba-someone on our cruise just posted that they don't need a visa to go to the Mariinsky for an evening performance (just hop in cab on their own) because they are doing a tour during the day with a guide providing the visa. Really???:confused:

 

I hope that's true because we would love to see the day come when that is the norm for visitors to Russia. However, I have seen nothing official demonstrating this to be true , so good luck getting off the boat. I personally would not advocate testing the Russian authorities , but I had a friend who had a philosophy that "everything is legal (until you get caught)". He died of a cocaine overdose in his early twenties. :(

 

 

Best wishes on your upcoming trip and let us know how it turns out , OK ? Joe :)

[DipBrat]

Scuba-someone on our cruise just posted that they don't need a visa to go to the Mariinsky for an evening performance (just hop in cab on their own) because they are doing a tour during the day with a guide providing the visa. Really???:confused:

 

You need to be escorted by the tour company at all times. The tour company does not provide a visa rather you are exempt from the requirement to have a visa when using an accredited tour company. Most tours can arrange an evening at the theatre with transfers.

 

Will the Immigration agent let you off. Maybe, but....

 

btw- getting a taxi is not an easy process especially if you don't speak Russian.

[QuattroRomeo]

Thanks for all of the wonderful photos. Am I seeing correctly that the streets and even the subway sites are quite clean? Not a lot of garbage, or littering, or graffiti?

[scubacruiserx2]

Thanks for all of the wonderful photos. Am I seeing correctly that the streets and even the subway sites are quite clean? Not a lot of garbage, or littering, or graffiti?

 

Most of the tourist areas are kept very clean , but like all large cities you will find graffiti in some areas. I was out early one morning and wanted to take some photos before the crowds arrived and found a number of bottles piled here:

 

 

 

The bottles were removed before the church opened.

[CrazyJess]

Thank you so much for your excellent photos and videos! Just great! St. Petersburg really looks quite clean – at least the tourists sights. The city itself is unbelievably beautiful. I can’t wait to return back.

Jess :)

[scubacruiserx2]

Thank you so much for your excellent photos and videos! Just great! St. Petersburg really looks quite clean – at least the tourists sights. The city itself is unbelievably beautiful. I can’t wait to return back.

Jess :)

 

Thanks Jess , we agree about the beauty and are glad that you enjoyed your visit. Will you be staying this time ?

[scubacruiserx2]

The Hermitage has been named as the Top Museum in Europe in the Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice for 2014. You can read the story here:

 

 

http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=40781

 

 

 

 

The 2014 rankings:

 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Attractions-g1

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Wonderful photos! How do you attach them? I wanted to add some of my pictures but I only was able to add small images. How does it work for you?

 

Thanks bochata ! The way I do it is:

 

1. Choose a photo sharing web site like Flickr or Photobucket. I use Photobucket and the first 2 GB of storage is free - so you can try it for nothing.

 

2. Upload photos to your library on Photobucket.

 

3. When you move your cursor on or near the photo a popup will appear with a paint brush. It's the edit button and you can edit or not.

 

4. When you're ready to copy , go to the right under share links and left click on the IMG rectangle . It should say copied .

 

5. Go to the thread you wish to attach the photo and left click. Right click and highlight paste . Left click on paste and the information (no picture) should appear .

 

6. Go to the Preview Post button and left click it and the photo should appear !! Let us know how it works OK ?

[Joulupukki]

[scubacruiserx2]

 

Thank you Joulupkki for sharing these videos ! We had hoped to see The Aurora when we visit St. Petersburg next year . Perhaps we will visit Kronstadt . Here is a story about it and an amusing video of some stowaway "rabbits" on the ship when it was being moved.

 

http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=40811

 

 

When we were visiting Zayachy Island (Hare Island) last year , we photographed this enormous Hare .

 

 

[Joulupukki]

:)

:)

[scubacruiserx2]

:)

:)

 

That video about True Russia ( stereotypes ) is too funny . Here's a commercial from the Wendy's Hamburger chain , about stereotypical fashion in the Soviet Union .

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckYBL0ja_Oo

[scubacruiserx2]

Have you ever wondered what it's like to fly over St. Petersburg ? Or to fly in a helicopter ? Join us as we do it .

 

 

 

 

The Baltic Air , Mil 8 takes off .

 

 

 

 

The helicopter leaves from the Peter and Paul Fortress on weekends and holidays . Part # 1 , the engine start up . Fasten your seat belts !

 

 

[dogs4fun]

Thanks for posting the videos, scuba. This is something I still have not done. Did you enjoy the ride?

[scubacruiserx2]

Thanks for posting the videos, scuba. This is something I still have not done. Did you enjoy the ride?

 

Yes , we sure did . We hope to fly again this year on Victory Day . We made a mistake last time when we tried to fly on this helicopter - A police one !

 

 

[spbstan]

I have not been in the larger passenger liners but I have been in the 6 place helicopters which use that heliport. The view is spectacular and I am surprised few people go. I have never heard of a cruiser wanting to go up as part of their tour. The last time I remember anyone asking to the Artillery Museum was 7 years ago. Cruisers have gotten into a rut of only wanting to see the same very over crowded 7 destinations which leaves 247 museums, palaces and cathedrals untouched. There is a lot more to see and do than just those 7 destinations. It is good to see you posting info about some of the alternatives.

A good friend bought a new helicopter, a small high performance French made craft and he commutes to work from the country to his office at the yacht harbor. I have been in his a number of times and taken photos but his flying is a little too aggressive to make a good photography platform;>) He was a fighter pilot in the Russian Air Force so likes to pull heavy g-forces in his flying and in his Ferrari. I am a pilot but do not fly here and my license is only fixed wing rating and have no burning desire to learn rotary wing. All the pilots I have met here who were trained in the military seem to be very good pilots.