The new high-speed rail service linking Helsinki with St. Petersburg, just launched last December, has been an immediate success, with passenger numbers in the first four months of 2011 up over a third on the same period in 2010. With the journey time slashed to 3 hours 36 minutes, it is no surprise that cross-border » Read more

Europe’s ferry schedules are famously fluid, and it’s often devilishly hard to keep pace with new route developments. Here is our choice of a quartet of interesting ferry options for spring and summer 2011. 1. St. Peter Line to Russia The news last week that over 60 ships were trapped in thick ice in the » Read more

Last week we gave a rail service update for Britain, focusing on some of the new train services that started with the schedule changes that came into effect last Sunday, December 12. Now we’ll take a look at how the 2011 schedules look for continental Europe. Discontinued services First the bad news. A number of » Read more

By Nicky Gardner and Susanne Kries— The big rail news in Europe this past week has been the successful launch of a new direct train service from Moscow to Nice, restoring a link between the Russian capital and the French Riviera that has not operated since before the First World War. Routed via Minsk, Warsaw, » Read more

I’ve been back from St. Petersburg for nearly six weeks, but I’m still combing through my photographs, trying to make sense of it all. Today I thought I’d post some of my favorite photos of St. Petersburg at night. Talk about drama! As you can see, walking along the canals–or anywhere, really–in St. Petersburg in January can be hazardous. » Read more

The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is one of the most famous sights in St. Petersburg, Russia. Although the Cathedral touts an old romantic style, it is, in fact quite young, constructed between 1883-1907. Officially named the “Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ,” the church was built as a memorial to the slain Tsar Alexander II of Russia, » Read more

The little green pirozhki hut in St. Petersburg, Russia. Afternoon delight About ten days ago, during my last day in St. Petersburg, Russia, I experienced an afternoon snack attack. I had spent the day visiting churches, climbing to the top of St. Isaac’s Cathedral, and doing last-minute shopping. I wanted to stop for a coffee and » Read more

Note: EuroCheapo editor Tom Meyers is traveling in St. Petersburg, Russia and blogging about his journey. St. Petersburg, like most big cities, strikes me as a place of small surprises. For every grandiose palace visit, there’s an insightful trip to the grocery store. For every grand view, there’s a real-world view right behind you. Today I thought I’d post some » Read more

The Hermitage in the snow, taken yesterday while trying to keep dry. Note: EuroCheapo editor Tom Meyers is traveling this week in St. Petersburg, Russia. Greetings from St. Petersburg! The city is snowy, slushy, and slippery, and every step outside requires attention. I flew in from Paris on Saturday afternoon and my friend Carl, who lives » Read more