A word of warning to those visiting St Petersburg, one of the richest and most beautiful cities in the whole world :

The price for foreign tourists to visit museums and churches is simply staggering and has to be taken into account if preparing a budget. One pays everywhere (a notable exception is the Kazan basilica), the basic ticket price for foreigners is 300 rubles (9 euros or 12 USD), rarely less, sometimes much more. In some cases like Peterhof, you pay separately for every single building (5 major ones, several minor). One price each time, 300 rubles. The Peter and Paul fortress has a « general admission » ticket which allows some savings, but does not really admit you everywhere in the fortress.

We have been very busy these six days, and I just realize that the price per day and per person has been between $ 100 and 150, just for the entrance tickets, not counting anything else, transportation etc… Russian visitors (an overwhelming majority) pay far less, something which I find normal but for tourists from abroad prices add-up quickly.

This being said, it is an absolutely magnificent city, rather well organized, welcoming and as safe as we could think. I just thought prospective visitors might need to know in advance.