Visiting St. Petersburg but not on cruise?
Jan 20, 2017, 8:58 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,720
Visiting St. Petersburg but not on cruise?
I'd like to spend more than 3-4 days (the max time allotted to most Baltic cruises it seems) visiting St. Petersburg. Is there any way to visit St. Petersburg on my own or do all trips need to be scheduled through a cruise company?
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Jan 23, 2017, 5:11 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Programs: Mainly Hilton Hhonors, SAS Eurobonus
Posts: 1,981
You can visit St. Petersburg on your own, no problem.
You just need a visa.
This is assuming you are from Europe - I don't know how it works for the rest of the world.
You just need a visa.
This is assuming you are from Europe - I don't know how it works for the rest of the world.
Jan 23, 2017, 2:16 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,720
I guess that booking through a cruise company is the easiest since all the dates are pinpointed. Thanks!
Jan 24, 2017, 12:28 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Programs: Mainly Hilton Hhonors, SAS Eurobonus
Posts: 1,981
But it's not difficult to do yourself at all.
In Europe for the visa application you need a travelhealth insurance that specifically covers Russia (a letter from your insurance company will do) + the official 'invitation' papers from your hotel(s) - hotels provide this for free when you have booked with them and request it - no trouble.
I would assume that it's the same from USA.
In Europe for the visa application you need a travelhealth insurance that specifically covers Russia (a letter from your insurance company will do) + the official 'invitation' papers from your hotel(s) - hotels provide this for free when you have booked with them and request it - no trouble.
I would assume that it's the same from USA.
Jan 25, 2017, 3:03 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: London
Posts: 517
But it's not difficult to do yourself at all.
In Europe for the visa application you need a travelhealth insurance that specifically covers Russia (a letter from your insurance company will do) + the official 'invitation' papers from your hotel(s) - hotels provide this for free when you have booked with them and request it - no trouble.
I would assume that it's the same from USA.
In Europe for the visa application you need a travelhealth insurance that specifically covers Russia (a letter from your insurance company will do) + the official 'invitation' papers from your hotel(s) - hotels provide this for free when you have booked with them and request it - no trouble.
I would assume that it's the same from USA.
Dec 26, 2018, 7:29 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 6
There are plenty of hire-a-guide services and they aren't that expensive. Not gonna give links, they are easily Googleable. If you are in Saint Petersburg, you should definitely schedule a few museum tours with a private guide. You can totally visit the city alone, just get your visa.
May 4, 2019, 8:16 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,734
On the topic of short visits to St. Petersburg: where/how would you get rubles if you've got an American ATM card? Or would you trade cash for cash, or, shades of travel past, bring traveler's checks?
A friend is going on a cruise with her in-laws (she's not much of a traveler) and she's panicked about getting some "walking around money" - i.e. a couple lunches and a few souvenirs' worth of cash - and asked me for info. Never been to Russia, so I can't help her but I thought someone here could advise.
A friend is going on a cruise with her in-laws (she's not much of a traveler) and she's panicked about getting some "walking around money" - i.e. a couple lunches and a few souvenirs' worth of cash - and asked me for info. Never been to Russia, so I can't help her but I thought someone here could advise.
May 7, 2019, 10:23 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: HPN
Posts: 352
On the topic of short visits to St. Petersburg: where/how would you get rubles if you've got an American ATM card? Or would you trade cash for cash, or, shades of travel past, bring traveler's checks?
A friend is going on a cruise with her in-laws (she's not much of a traveler) and she's panicked about getting some "walking around money" - i.e. a couple lunches and a few souvenirs' worth of cash - and asked me for info. Never been to Russia, so I can't help her but I thought someone here could advise.
A friend is going on a cruise with her in-laws (she's not much of a traveler) and she's panicked about getting some "walking around money" - i.e. a couple lunches and a few souvenirs' worth of cash - and asked me for info. Never been to Russia, so I can't help her but I thought someone here could advise.
May 8, 2019, 5:26 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: A3*G, UA Gold EY Silver
Posts: 8,954
On the topic of short visits to St. Petersburg: where/how would you get rubles if you've got an American ATM card? Or would you trade cash for cash, or, shades of travel past, bring traveler's checks?
A friend is going on a cruise with her in-laws (she's not much of a traveler) and she's panicked about getting some "walking around money" - i.e. a couple lunches and a few souvenirs' worth of cash - and asked me for info. Never been to Russia, so I can't help her but I thought someone here could advise.
A friend is going on a cruise with her in-laws (she's not much of a traveler) and she's panicked about getting some "walking around money" - i.e. a couple lunches and a few souvenirs' worth of cash - and asked me for info. Never been to Russia, so I can't help her but I thought someone here could advise.