Cheap flights to Saint Petersburg
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Quick summary
Country
Russia
Continent
Europe
Airport
LED
Currency
Russian rouble (RUB)
Time zone
UTC+3
Deals already spotted to Saint Petersburg
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Airport and getting into town
An airport south of the city, linked by bus and metro
Pulkovo (LED)
Pulkovo Airport lies about 17 km south of the centre according to Wikivoyage (EN). Wikipedia (EN) cites a rapid bus link between the airport and Moskovskaya metro station, plus a round-the-clock taxi service. It opened to passengers in 1931 as a small aerodrome, per Wikipedia (EN), and is now among the busiest in Russia.
Distances and times are approximate and vary by source. We do not quote fares.
Saint Petersburg was founded on 27 May 1703 by Peter the Great, per Wikipedia (FR, EN), and lies about 635 km north-west of Moscow and 300 km east of Helsinki according to Wikipedia (FR). It is one of Europe's largest cities, with more than five million residents according to Wikivoyage (EN).
For a price alert, track LED. Flight links, entry rules, traveller advice and payment options can change quickly depending on your departure country: check that country's official recommendations and the real availability of routes before booking.
Landmarks
Winter Palace, Palace Square, churches, canals and imperial palaces
The historic centre of Saint Petersburg and its monumental ensembles have been on the UNESCO list since 1991, per Wikipedia (FR, DE). Built on the marshy delta of the Neva, the city is sometimes called the "Venice of the North", according to Wikipedia (EN). The places below are illustrated.
The Palace Bridge and the Admiralty
The Palace Bridge links Vasilyevsky Island with the south bank of the Neva, where the Admiralty and the vast Hermitage complex stand, per Wikipedia (EN, ES). From April to November its spans are raised at night to let ships through, according to Wikipedia (EN) and Wikivoyage (EN).
Canals at dusk
The city's rivers and canals, such as the Moika and the Fontanka, can be toured by boat in summer, per Wikivoyage (EN). In midsummer the sky never fully darkens: evenings stretch out.
The Winter Palace
Former winter residence of the tsars, this Baroque palace now houses the Hermitage Museum, per Wikipedia (EN) and Wikivoyage (EN). Its pale green, white and gold facade is recognisable from afar.
Palace Square
Palace Square stretches in front of the Winter Palace and the Admiralty, per Wikivoyage (EN); it hosts parades and events. A rule of 1762 forbade building higher than the Winter Palace, according to Wikipedia (EN), which explains the low profile of the historic city.
The Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood
The church with its colourful onion domes stands beside the Griboyedov Canal, near the Russian Museum, per Wikipedia (DE) and Wikivoyage (EN). Its silhouette is one of the most photographed in the city.
Peterhof
Peterhof Palace, an imperial residence begun in 1714 according to Wikipedia (ES), is a UNESCO site per Wikipedia (DE). It is reached by suburban train in about 35 minutes from Baltiysky station according to Wikipedia (DE), or by hydrofoil in summer, per Wikivoyage (EN) and Wikipedia (ES). Its Grand Cascade of gilded statues is the famous image.
The Winter Palace chapel
Inside the Hermitage, the white and gold decor recalls the grandeur of the imperial residences. Wikivoyage (EN) calls the Hermitage the city's most important sight.
Nevsky Prospekt and the Peter and Paul Fortress
Nevsky Prospekt is the city's grand shopping avenue, with palaces and cathedrals including Kazan Cathedral, per Wikivoyage (EN) and Wikipedia (DE). The Peter and Paul Fortress, founded in 1703 on Hare Island, holds the tombs of the Romanovs, per Wikipedia (EN) and Wikivoyage (EN).
Suburban palaces
Pushkin, with the Catherine Palace and its reconstructed Amber Room, Pavlovsk and Peterhof are classic excursions, per Wikipedia (DE) and Wikivoyage (EN).
Museums and culture
The Hermitage, the Russian Museum, theatres and palaces
The Hermitage
The Hermitage occupies a group of buildings along the Neva, including the Winter Palace; Catherine II began its collections in 1764, per Wikipedia (FR). It ranks among the world's largest museums. Wikivoyage (EN) suggests visiting outside summer to avoid the queues.
The Russian Museum and other collections
The Russian Museum is devoted to Russian art, per Wikipedia (EN); the city has more than 200 museums according to Wikipedia (FR, EN, ES).
Ballet and opera
Wikivoyage (EN) presents an opera or ballet performance, such as at the Mariinsky Theatre, as a must.
Before you visit
We do not quote fares or opening hours: they change and sources disagree.
Food and drink
Pyshki, shawarma and Russian cooking
Street food
Wikivoyage (EN) cites two fast-food staples: shawarma, found everywhere, and pyshki, sweet doughnuts.
Restaurants
The offer is varied, from Russian to international cuisine, per Wikivoyage (EN); a Russian restaurant stands on the grounds of the Peter and Paul Fortress.
Drinks
Many local distilleries produce a wide range of vodkas, per Wikipedia (EN).
Where to eat
The area around Nevsky Prospekt concentrates cafés and restaurants, per Wikivoyage (EN).
Getting around
A monumental metro, buses and drawbridges
The metro
The Saint Petersburg metro is Russia's second largest, cheap and an attraction in itself thanks to its decorated stations, per Wikivoyage (EN). Station names are written in the Latin alphabet on the platforms.
Cards
The Podorozhnik card is the easiest way to pay for metro and bus, per Wikivoyage (EN).
Drawbridges
From late April to November, the movable bridges are raised at night on a published schedule: if you are on the wrong side, you have to wait, per Wikivoyage (EN).
Take care
Wikivoyage (EN) reports pickpockets on crowded transport: watch your belongings.
Budget and precautions
A budget to compare, and travel conditions to check
Price level
The amounts found in our sources date from different years and disagree, so we give no figures.
Currency
The currency is the rouble.
Flights, entry rules and payments
SniperAir monitors prices to LED and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets. Entry conditions, traveller advice, flight links and payment options depend on your departure country and can change: check that country's official recommendations before booking.
Before you go
Check the real availability of routes, the validity of your documents and which payment methods can be used on the ground.
When to go
White Nights in summer, a long snowy winter
Winter (December to February)
Long and moderately cold: the average February low is around -8.5 °C per Wikipedia (EN). The ground is snow-covered about 118 days a year between December and March. Wikivoyage (EN) notes that the streets are lovely under snow and tourists are scarce from November to March.
Spring (March to May)
The thaw arrives in April, when the Neva frees itself of ice per Wikipedia (EN). The movable bridges resume their nightly routine.
Summer (June to August)
Short, warm and humid: an average high of around 23 °C in July per Wikipedia (EN). The White Nights run from mid-May to the end of July per Wikipedia (EN); Wikivoyage (EN) puts the tourist peak at about 11 June to 2 July.
Autumn (September to November)
Precipitation peaks in late summer, per Wikipedia (EN). Autumn is often overcast with little sun, per Wikipedia (ES, RU).
The climate is humid continental (Dfb) according to Wikipedia (EN): mean annual temperature of about 5.8 °C and about 660 mm of precipitation a year. Day length ranges from nearly 6 hours to nearly 19 hours per Wikipedia (EN). We do not give detailed monthly averages.
By length of stay
What to do in Saint Petersburg depending on how long you stay
Historic centre
The Hermitage, Palace Square, Nevsky Prospekt, the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood and a walk along the canals.
Fortress and theatres
The Peter and Paul Fortress, the Russian Museum, a ballet and a ride on the decorated metro.
Suburban palaces
A day at Peterhof, or Pushkin and Pavlovsk.
In pictures
Saint Petersburg in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Saint Petersburg
How do I get from Pulkovo Airport to central Saint Petersburg?
Pulkovo is about 17 km south of the centre. An express bus reaches Moskovskaya metro station and a taxi service runs round the clock, according to sources.
When can you see the White Nights?
From mid-May to the end of July roughly; the peak is around late June according to Wikivoyage.
Do I need a visa for Russia?
It depends on your departure country and can change: check your country's official recommendations before booking.
Can you visit Peterhof in a day?
Yes: about 35 minutes by suburban train from Baltiysky station, or by hydrofoil in summer, according to sources.
What is the best season to visit Saint Petersburg?
Summer for the White Nights; winter is quieter and snowy, with few tourists.
How long should I stay in Saint Petersburg?
Two days for the essentials of the centre; four with the suburban palaces; more for opera and museums.
How much does a flight to Saint Petersburg usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the time of year and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real examples of prices SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Saint Petersburg drops below my budget?
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