Russia - 5 Days St Petersburg - Too Long?

My wife and I are planning a trip where St. Petersburg (along with Lisbon and Paris) will be one stop. We usually "take our time" and really explore the cities that we venture to. For example on past trips we spent five days in Rome, and once even a whole week in Manhattan!

It seems from the guide books that five days in St. Petersburg would be good for a rather lesiurely exploration.

But before finalizing tickets it seemed like a good idea to check in here with those who know what's going on.

Thoughts?

Many thanks!!

Joel

There are so many cool things to see and do in and around St.Petersburg that you will have no trouble at all spending five days there.

You could spend five days in the Hermitage alone!!

If anything, I would add a few more, you won't regret it!

If you need suggestions for an itinerary, feel free to send me a message. I went with my family in 2006 and took a group from our church last summer.

Five days would be a nice stay. The city is large and has many days' worth of sights to see. There are several worthwhile (actually must-do) day trips from St. P that make it more or less imperative to stay for a while: Petrodvorets, Pushkino, etc. Make an effort also to get to some cool, relatively unvisited places in the city itself (Smolniy and the surrounding park, for example).

Five days would be a nice stay. The city is large and has many days' worth of sights to see. There are several worthwhile (actually must-do) day trips from St. P that make it more or less imperative to stay for a while: Petrodvorets, Pushkino, etc. Make an effort also to get to some cool, relatively unvisited places in the city itself (Smolniy and the surrounding park, for example).I quote this in the form of a mild dissent from the rest above.

UNLESS you are taking day trips out of the city I think I would find myself restless after 3 days in the city. IMHO only, a day split among the art museums including the Hermitage is enough for me. A day to see the 'mains' and then a day on the 'sides' of the city. Don't forget, in the summertime those 'days' are veeeeery long! ;)

Unless you are really interested in committing more than a day to museums or are going to make day-trips, 3 full days seems enough to me.

YMMV, naturally!

kokonutz, recall that the OP says We usually "take our time" and really explore the cities that we venture to.
So it seems like their travel style is much different than yours. I don't think five days would be long at all, especially if you take a day trip or two.

kokonutz, recall that the OP says
So it seems like their travel style is much different than yours. I don't think five days would be long at all, especially if you take a day trip or two.Fair enough. Everyone tours differently. For me, though, Rome is easily a 5 dayer. Same with Moscow. St. Pete not so much unless you are spending an entire day or more on the Hermitage and/or taking a day trip or two.

Your mileage may vary. :)

I don't think 5 days is absurd. Last month, had a half-day (arrived at 1pm-ish) and 3 full days in SP, and it was just about right for us. First day (the half-day), we walked around the areas on the main island -- Nevisky Prospect, Gostiny Dvor, Arts Square, St Isaac's (including going inside and to the top), Admiralty, Bronze Horseman, etc. Second day, we spent the entire day in the Hermitage / Winter Palace. Third day, we spent the day visiting the other islands -- Peter & Paul Fortress, Vasilevsky Island, walking between them, etc. The last day, we did a day trip to Peterhof Palace. We covered a ton of ground each day given the long daylight hours and didn't even see everything major (Russian Museum, Naval Museum, Tsarkae Selo, etc.).

Thanks all! We're going to do the five day stay in early August. To the point several of you make, I'm not sure how much "museum time" I can handle. Now, for my wife that's another story:D

abouna thanks for the offer on itn details. Would most appreciate your perspective. I'll send a note along in a few days when we start to get an idea of what we're interested in.

Best,

Joel

As one additional option for day trips I would suggest a trip to Novgorod, although you would need to get in touch with some agency for that (just google "day trip Novgorod"). It is one of oldest towns in Russia and is completely different from St.Pete. So if I would not be the native, I would spend my 5 days there as 2 days of walking/sightseeing, 1 day - Hermitage, 1 day - trip to Petrodvorets (of course by hydrofoil) and 1 day trip to Novgorod.

It's also possible to do cruises on lakes Ladoga and Onega. There are quite interesting sights there, including monasteries and old wooden churches.

Yes, I have done the day trip to Valaam Monastery on the lake twice, it is a long trip, but one of the most natural and beautiful places on earth. The scenery and monastery is paradise!

1 day - trip to Petrodvorets (of course by hydrofoil)That is not to be missed -- and the hydrofoil is pretty cool too!

5 days is way too long for me! YMMV
I'm here now!
Day 1 half day went to Aurora (1 hour) shops out side (1 hour) walked quite a ways through Peter and Paul (3 hours), past the light houses and theatre square up to Kazankski??? and back to hotel.
Day 2 city tour took in St Isaacs, Peter and Paul and photo op at other locations with guide. (4 hours)
Day 3 Hermitage and military musesum across from peter and paul. (8 hours total)
NOTHING ELSE suits my fancy!
Art galleries every where, not interested but you might be.
Would love a day trip to Novgorod, but they are not offered unless arranged by group way in advance. Three hours one way.

Moscow 5 days and then some. I could spend a week there.
Kiev 2 days MAX!

YMMV
YMMV
YMMV

5 days is way too long for me!
I was there 5 days and it wasn't long enough! :D

NOTHING ELSE suits my fancy!You've not been to any of the out-of-town palaces. You don't know what you're missing.

You've not been to any of the out-of-town palaces. You don't know what you're missing.

I would love to, however, there are not any tours offered from here at the NOT Holiday Inn. You cannot find out any information either from here. So unless you know, prearranged, stumble upon. I guess you are out of luck.

I would love to, however, there are not any tours offered from here at the NOT Holiday Inn. You cannot find out any information either from here. So unless you know, prearranged, stumble upon. I guess you are out of luck.
Head up Nevsky Prospect to Gostiny Dvor (big yellow complex a couple of blocks past Kazan Cathedral on the same side). There are several kiosks advertising excursions to the parks & palaces, in English too. While the chances are high that you may get roped into a Russian speaking only group, you will at least get out and see something.

Given your lackluster time in StP, what do you plan on doing in Moscow?

Head up Nevsky Prospect to Gostiny Dvor (big yellow complex a couple of blocks past Kazan Cathedral on the same side). There are several kiosks advertising excursions to the parks & palaces, in English too. While the chances are high that you may get roped into a Russian speaking only group, you will at least get out and see something.That's just what I was going to suggest! :p ...also, beware that even if they offer you an air conditioned bus it almost certainly will not be.

I spent 4 days in Moscow and loved every minute of it. There were many more things that I could have done, had I had the time.