paulfr

We a couple in our active 70's on a GCT St. Pete to Moscow Boat Tour and have 4 free nights in St. Petersburg.
In addition to walking around Nevsky Prospect what do you suggest:

1. Are any museums, churches and/or galleries open at night?

2. Is a canal boat tour better at night than by day; if so what company and/or itinerary is most interesting?

3. Any free or low cost concerts?

4. Is there a preferred people watching outdoor cafe, perhaps on Nevsky Prospect?

5. We will be staying at the Ambassador Hotel on Rimsky-Korsakov Ave. Is it safe to walk to and from our hotel or should we use the Metro and/or taxi when the Metro closes?

6. Are there any special activities scheduled for these dates?

Lets see how late we will be up!!!!

paulfr

Where are all the experienced travellers and/or experts who could answer some of our questions???

gracejoan3

Why don't you contact the hotel's concierge with all your questions? They should be able to advise you about everything and then to also make whatever reservations you decide to make.

Enjoy.....

djkbooks

Highly recommend that you engage a private tour guide for at least some of your time.

For one thing, if you do not speak Russian and/or are not even familiar with the Russian alphabet, it will be a huge challenge to get around on your own.

A private tour guide knows the best sights, can get you in ahead of long lines, and give you a comprehensive tour in English.

Our guide knew the best/longest canal boat tour, and also provided commentary in English (if you go on your own, they are in Russian only).

We found Olga through recommendations here on this forum. She was outstanding and I highly recommend her.

http://www.tourservice.sp.ru/

Girlspytravel

You know, I'm doing St. Petersburg and Moscow on my own this summer, and somehow, I just don't think it will be all that difficult, even without knowing Russian. At least, that's not my impression-I never use personal guides, I have nothing against them, but I like to get around on my own, or take a day tour on my own. I've been communicating with my hotel in St. Petersburg (which is a 3 star hotel) for this very complicated visa support scam that the Russians have going-very expensive, very unnecessary-very Soviet-but you have to get the hotel to "sponsor' you first-you have to have the voucher, you have to have the official seal, etc., and all that costs money, on top of your visa fees, which are extra, of course.

I would get a good guidebook for St. Petersburg, decide the things you want to do, and arrange with your hotel how to do them-they will help you. I got the new Frommers guide and I have found it to be useful thus far in planning some of my itinerary-but I will wait until I get there to make my final decisions-I am coming in from Talinn, which is about a 7 hour bus ride from St. Petersburg. I do know that St. Petersburg has a summer arts festival, so you might be lucky and there may be free concerts at night while you are there. I won't arrive until August, but I believe there is still plenty happening even then.

For information from the St. Petersburg Tourist Authority about events, city itineraries, etc., go to:

www.petersburgcity.com/for-tourists