Transportation
St Petersburg is a big city with a well developed
system of public vehicles. Public transport facilities allow you
to save a lot on traveling around the city.
Metro
St Petersburg has a good system of underground trains connecting
all parts of the city. In Russia the subway is called "Metro".
The Metro sign (the capital letter M) means that there is the entrance
to the metro station. To use metro, one should use a token or a
metro pass. You can buy this in a kiosk at metro station. If you
intend to use metro often, it is advisable to buy a pass that will
often save your time and money using St Petersburg's metro.
At the end of the month, as well as at the beginning
and in the midst, there is often a long line of people you wouldn't
like to join. So it is better to have some tokens at hand if you
going to use metro such busy days.
Even if you will not use metro, it is recommended
to see it. The metro in St Petersburg is very different from many
Western subways. Metro stations often remind of palace halls and
have real architectural value.
Buses, Trolleybuses, and Trams
Buses, trolleybuses, and trams are widely in use in St Petersburg.
These vehicles are the cheapest way to get around. You should buy
a ticket from a controller on a bus. Sometime it is quite difficult
or almost impossible to get into a bus during peak hours.
Mini-buses
A good alternative to buses and trams is mini-buses that
are widely in use in St Petersburg. The network of mini-buses is
developed thanks to private owned companies that provide city transportation
services. The fare for using mini-buses is just a little more than
on regular buses. Mini-buses allow you to travel around the city
not using metro as connect the central parts of St Petersburg with
its sleeping areas.
Taxis Perhaps, you have heard that every car in Russia is a taxi.
This is partly true. A lot of people who have a car earn additionally
providing taxi services without license. But this situation is
quite normal, so don't be surprised if a car without the "taxi"
sign stops. Free-lance drivers usually charge less but it is better
to negotiate on the price in advance as you driver may not speak
English.
It is common to hail a taxi in the street. Official (legal) taxis
have a sign on the top of a car. Your trip can be quite expensive,
so you don't need to tip your driver.
Car Hire
St Petersburg is quite a big city. If you visit it for the first
time it will be difficult to drive here. We recommend using public
transport or cars with drivers to first time visitors.
Boats
St Petersburg is the city on the Neva. It is often
referred to as the "city of canals" and compared with
Amsterdam on this point. Taking a boat trip along St Petersburg's
rivers and canals can be a very fascinating experience. The most
popular places for starting your trip are the Fontanka River and
the Moika (right near Nevsky Prospect).
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