SPB to Kiev Train
Apr 21, 2007 | 2:08 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: CA & Europe
Programs: AA Life-Plat-Pro, HH Gold, IHG Plat, UA
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SPB to Kiev Train
I am planning a trip to St Petersburg (SPB) (only SPB, no Moscow etc) and Ukraine.
Did somebody actually took the SPB to Kiev train (leaves every eve at 21:11, arr Kiev 20:15 next day).
Does it go thru Belarus? Do foreigners need transit visa for Belarus?
Any info will be appreciated. Thanks.
Did somebody actually took the SPB to Kiev train (leaves every eve at 21:11, arr Kiev 20:15 next day).
Does it go thru Belarus? Do foreigners need transit visa for Belarus?
Any info will be appreciated. Thanks.
Apr 21, 2007 | 3:11 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: EVN
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Train 53 (right?) does go through Belarus. You can use Timatic database to check the visa requirements (available through any major airline website).
To avoid Belarus altogether you'll have to connect in Moscow or fly
To avoid Belarus altogether you'll have to connect in Moscow or fly
Apr 24, 2007 | 4:01 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: AMS
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Posts: 1,849
Trains for Ukraine will leave from the Vitebskiy Station in SPb. The clue is in the name - Vitebsk is a town in Belarus! A full list of station stops for direct trains can be found here. You'd cross the border with Belarus at about 6am.
You'll need a transit visa - an example of the requirements can be found on the site of the Belarusian Embassy to the UK: http://uk.belembassy.org/cons-visainfo.html
Exact details and costs will depend on your nationality and place of issuing. In my experience to date getting a Belarus visa is surprisingly hassle free.
You'll need a transit visa - an example of the requirements can be found on the site of the Belarusian Embassy to the UK: http://uk.belembassy.org/cons-visainfo.html
Exact details and costs will depend on your nationality and place of issuing. In my experience to date getting a Belarus visa is surprisingly hassle free.
Apr 25, 2007 | 9:49 am
#5
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SPB to Kiev better via Moscow
We solved our problem of NOT going via Belarus (with need for transit visa etc.). We plan to take the 2pm train SPB-Moscow, arrives 9pm. Then the 11:30pm Moscow-Kiev train which arrives Kiev at 8am. The total time is less than the "direct" train SPB-Kiev via Belarus.
Apr 25, 2007 | 11:29 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Do you know Moscow well enough to transfer between two different rail termini across the city in an hour and half?
Apr 27, 2007 | 5:51 am
#7
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Good point, but OK in my case. I am going to have with me a relative from Novgorod who is familiar with Moscow. It will be his call if we can do it in subway or need to take a taxi.
Apr 27, 2007 | 7:20 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Oh I just missed the point that it's 2 and half hours - that's more than enough with a Russian speaker in tow. (FWIW, I'd take the subway)
Jul 10, 2007 | 6:25 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2004
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Hi,
For your info, SPB is the code for Elfin Cove, Alsaka.
The code for St Petersburg, Russia, remains LED as in the good old days (Leningrad)
You can't go from Elfin Cove to Kiev (IEB or KBP) by train, you CAN fly Alsaka Airlines to Magadan (GDX) or Vladivostok (VVO), and the good news is that you don't need to transit Belarus.
For your info, SPB is the code for Elfin Cove, Alsaka.
The code for St Petersburg, Russia, remains LED as in the good old days (Leningrad)
You can't go from Elfin Cove to Kiev (IEB or KBP) by train, you CAN fly Alsaka Airlines to Magadan (GDX) or Vladivostok (VVO), and the good news is that you don't need to transit Belarus.
Jul 11, 2007 | 7:06 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: EVN
Programs: KLM Flying Dutchman forever, bmi Diamond Club (is there a theme here?), LH, BA, EK, DL nobody
Posts: 1,877
Hi,
For your info, SPB is the code for Elfin Cove, Alsaka.
The code for St Petersburg, Russia, remains LED as in the good old days (Leningrad)
You can't go from Elfin Cove to Kiev (IEB or KBP) by train, you CAN fly Alsaka Airlines to Magadan (GDX) or Vladivostok (VVO), and the good news is that you don't need to transit Belarus.
For your info, SPB is the code for Elfin Cove, Alsaka.
The code for St Petersburg, Russia, remains LED as in the good old days (Leningrad)
You can't go from Elfin Cove to Kiev (IEB or KBP) by train, you CAN fly Alsaka Airlines to Magadan (GDX) or Vladivostok (VVO), and the good news is that you don't need to transit Belarus.
Jul 11, 2007 | 7:31 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 518
Hi,
For your info, SPB is the code for Elfin Cove, Alsaka.
The code for St Petersburg, Russia, remains LED as in the good old days (Leningrad)
You can't go from Elfin Cove to Kiev (IEB or KBP) by train, you CAN fly Alsaka Airlines to Magadan (GDX) or Vladivostok (VVO), and the good news is that you don't need to transit Belarus.
For your info, SPB is the code for Elfin Cove, Alsaka.
The code for St Petersburg, Russia, remains LED as in the good old days (Leningrad)
You can't go from Elfin Cove to Kiev (IEB or KBP) by train, you CAN fly Alsaka Airlines to Magadan (GDX) or Vladivostok (VVO), and the good news is that you don't need to transit Belarus.
In regards to flights, I thought it had been years since Alaska Airlines discontinued the Far East routes???
Edited to add: I see apoivre answered my query regarding AS and Russia flights before I asked the question
Jul 11, 2007 | 10:22 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: New York, Paris
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Hotel Ambassador , SPB/LED
Back to SPB or LED, has anybody heard of Hotel Ambassador ? It is not frequently mentioned in guides or websites, and it seems quite nice.
Jul 11, 2007 | 11:14 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SNA
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Posts: 378
I'll be in LED again in a few weeks, but have not yet selected a hotel...