FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN St. Petersburg

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Saint Petersburg each year. The main ones are listed below.

The Russian Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar and thus celebrates Christmas thirteen days after it is celebrated by most Christians in the rest of the world.

Previously commemorated the anniversary of the creation of the Red Army in 1918. Today, it is celebrated as the Russian equivalent of Father's Day, on which women and girls give presents to their male relatives of any age, whether they have served in the Russian armed forces or not.

Celebrated worldwide, this holiday honours all women. In Russia, men and boys give flowers, chocolate and small presents to their wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, girlfriends and female colleagues. Throngs of flower sellers and other vendors line the sidewalks in Saint Petersburg on this day.

For Russians, this is the day the Great Patriotic War against Nazi Germany ended in 1945. Celebrations include a magnificent victory parade along Nevsky Prospekt, which ends with fireworks over the Neva in the evening.

Celebrates the founding of Saint Petersburg by Peter the Great on this day in 1703. A large variety of events are organized, including a parade, brass bands, folk dancing, etc.

Marks the day the Russian Federation proclaimed its sovereignty in 1990. Celebrated in Saint Petersburg with parades and a fireworks display in the evening.

One of the world's great sea-faring cities, Saint Petersburg pays tribute to its sailors each year on this day. Submarines and torpedo boats, festooned with flags and bunting, gather along the Neva and engage in mock battles.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN St. Petersburg

Month	Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Average Rains (MM)	Best Time to Travel
January	-9/16	-4/25	40/1.6	Good period to go
February	-9/16	-3/27	31/1.2	Not the best period to go
March	-4/25	2/36	35/1.4	Not the best period to go
April	1/34	8/46	33/1.3	Not the best period to go
May	7/45	16/61	38/1.5	Good period to go
June	12/54	20/68	64/2.5	Good period to go
July	14/57	22/72	78/3.1	Good period to go
August	13/55	20/68	77/3.0	Good period to go
September	8/46	14/57	67/2.6	Good period to go
October	3/37	8/46	65/2.6	Not the best period to go
November	-2/28	2/36	56/2.2	Not the best period to go
December	-6/21	2/36	49/1.9	Good period to go

Saint Petersburg Pulkovo Airport

The Saint Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport is located 23 kilometres (14 miles) south of Palace Square in the city centre.

• Two terminals
  • Pulkovo 1 (Air France)
  • Pulkovo 2

• By car
  • Accessible via Moskovsky Prospekt, then the Pulkovskoye Shosse highway to the marked airport exits.
  • Several parking facilities are available at the airport: P4 (long-term car parks, RUB 450 per day, RUB 2,000 per week), P7 (non-monitored free parking area).
  • Several car rental companies have counters at the airport.
• By bus
  • Express city bus connecting the two airport terminals with Moskovskaya station on the Saint Petersburg Metro every 25 to 30 minutes. RUB 30 for a one-way ticket.
• By taxi
  • The airport has an official taxi service, with payment accepted by credit card or cash at the Taxi Pulkovo counter or by cash to the driver at the end of the ride. These taxis operate with set fares, depending on your destination, ranging from RUB 600 to RUB 1,400 within Saint Petersburg. 30 to 60 minutes to reach the city centre.
  • Avoid accepting rides from illegal taxis. Official ones are Pulkovo taxis (named after the airport).

• Services: shops, bars and restaurants, bank, post office, and free Internet access (Wi-Fi) available in the airport.
• Telephone: +7 812 337 38 22
  or +7 812 337 34 44
• Website: http://www.pulkovoairport.ru/en

GETTING AROUND St. Petersburg

There are several excellent options for getting around Saint Petersburg, including metro lines, trams, buses and trolleybuses. Saint Petersburg's public transport system also includes “river buses”, small boats taking several routes along the Neva and the city's canals, an especially delightful option in the summer months.

By metro

The Saint Petersburg Metro is the best way to get around the city quickly. And it is also an opportunity to discover the city's monumental and ornately decorated stations! Each day, nearly 3.5 million people use the Metro.

• There are five lines with 67 stations open from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.
• During the day, metros run roughly every two minutes.

• Single ride: RUB 35 (a second ticket must be purchased as a supplement if you have luggage)
• Pass with 40 rides (valid for 30 days): RUB 1,205

By bus and minibus (marshrutka)

There are numerous bus stops dotted along all the city's main thoroughfares. Buses are thus very useful for getting around, in combination with the Metro. Tickets may be purchased from the driver on the bus. Minibuses follow fixed routes, but collect and drop off passengers anywhere along the way. You just need to ask the driver to stop when you are about to reach your destination. Allow about RUB 30 per ride.

By boat

A boat cruise along the Neva or the city's canals is also an ideal way to discover Saint Petersburg, sometimes known as the Venice of the North. Several companies offer cruises, with or without a guide. Allow at least RUB 1,016 per person for a 1-hour cruise.

Visitor information

Upon your arrival in Saint Petersburg, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organize your stay.

Offers practical information and publications for tourists on the city of Saint Petersburg and its region. Here are the main addresses:

• • Main office
    • Address: St. Petersburg, Sadovaya ul., 14/52
    • Telephone: +7 812 310 22 31
    • Website: http://www.ispb.info

See also the Tourist Information Bureau's official travel guide at http://www.visit-petersburg.ru

• Office on Sennaya Square
• Address: St. Petersburg, Sennaya Square, 37
• Phone: +7 812 570 76 25

The Tourist Information Bureau also operates a number of information kiosks at various locations throughout the city, including:

• Saint Isaac's Square
• Rastrelli Square
• Pulkovo Airport
• Marine Facade cruise port terminal
• Uprising Square (Ploshchad Vosstaniya)

The English-language website maintained by the Russian National Tourist Office, , provides a wealth of information for visitors to Saint Petersburg.

• Website: http://www.visitrussia.org.uk

Medical information

See your doctor before you travel. In order to obtain your visa to travel to Russia, you will need to take out insurance covering both medical expenses and medical evacuation or repatriation. Saint Petersburg counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists.

There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to Russia. The following vaccines are recommended for travel to Russia:

• Booster doses for protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio, plus vaccines against typhoid fever, hepatitis A and B, influenza, meningitis and rabies (depending on the length of your stay and hygiene conditions)

For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:

• Address: 38, Quai de Jemmapes 75010 Paris
• Website: http://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr
• Telephone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment:
  • online (click here)
  • call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00

It is recommended to drink bottled water in Saint Petersburg.

Administrative formalities

Foreign nationals are required to be in possession of a visa in order to enter and stay in Russia.

For further information, visit the website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: http://www.russianconsulate.info/visa_requirements.html

Useful addresses

Essential phrases

Good to know

00 7

+ phone number

-4 : 00
of time difference with
Bangkok

There is no daylight savings time in Russia.

Banks

Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Government offices

Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

220 V / 50 Hz

Tipping
In Saint Petersburg, tipping is certainly not required but always appreciated. If you are satisfied with the service, you can tip about 10 percent of the bill in restaurants and bars.