EuroCheapo's St. Petersburg Articles

Russia: Are visa policies becoming easier?

monastery in russia
Goritsky Monastery of Dormition in Russia. Photo: World-wide-gifts.com

Aug 09 German Magazine Spiegel reports that Russia and Poland now allows visa-free travel for residents within 50 km of the Kaliningrad border. While this policy change only currently affects our Cheapos in Gdansk (Cze??, czytelnicy!), the hope is that moves such as this, which “Kremlin officials are viewing … as a first step toward a complete elimination » Read more

Posted in Europe, News, Practical Info, Russia, St. Petersburg, Trip Planning

From St. Petersburg to Helsinki, by bus

From St. Petersburg to Helsinki, by bus

May 25 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

Posted in Bus, Day Trips, Europe, Finland, Helsinki, hidden europe, Russia, St. Petersburg, Train, transportation

European Ferries: 4 interesting new options for 2011

European Ferries: 4 interesting new options for 2011

Mar 09 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

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Estonia, France, hidden europe, Ireland, Malta, Russia, Scotland, Spain, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, Sweden, Tallinn, transportation, Trip Planning, United Kingdom

St. Petersburg: Photos album of the city at night

St. Petersburg: Photos album of the city at night

Mar 12 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

Posted in Cheapos at work, Russia, St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg: Holy Mosaics! The “Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood”

Feb 23 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

Posted in Art, churches, Russia, St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg Cheap Eat: Fried pirozhki!

Feb 09 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

Posted in Cheapos at work, Food, Russia, St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg Journal: Daily surprises

Jan 29 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

Posted in Cheapos at work, Russia, St. Petersburg, Wandering Cheapos

St. Petersburg Journal: Impressions, photos, and a smile

St. Petersburg Journal: Impressions, photos, and a smile

Jan 27 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

Posted in Cheapos at work, Russia, St. Petersburg, Wandering Cheapos

Cheapos at Work: Off to Paris, St. Petersburg, and…

Jan 16 Hi everyone — just a quick note from EC HQ in New York where I’m about to dash out the door and head to Newark Airport. Over the next 19 days, I’ll be sending dispatches from Paris, St. Petersburg, and (drum roll!) Riga, Latvia! In Paris, I’ll be visiting as many hotels as I can fit into » Read more

Posted in Cheapos at work, Russia, St. Petersburg