Helsinki & St. Petersburg

Ballard

I’ve booked return flights to Helsinki for next May and plan to get the train to St. Petersburg and spend a few days in each city.

I know that I will need a Russian visa but other than that I’ve done no research. I’m only away a total of six nights.

Any recommendations would be welcome.

RADDERS

We did St Petersburg on a cruise, but we did an organised trip by a company called Alla Tours, they were excellent and even though the tour wasn’t cheap we crammed so much into the two days it was amazing.
The guide spoke excellent English, if you look at their website it give you different ideas and they can also do bespoke tours but obviously they will cost more.
We were very very impressed and had a memorable 2 days.

shykins

we also used alla tours on our cruise, as long as you are on an organised tour you dont need a visa but i am not sure that applies when arriving by train

i suggest you investigate the Visa aspect urgently as it can take a long time to get a Russian visa and it isnt cheap!!!

bigadaj

It's likely that it will be too expensive and too much hassle to go for a couple of nights but it's your choice.

Ballard

Thanks, folks.

We did consider the boat but it doesn't work if you're trying to fit in two cities in just under a week so we will need to get a visa. Also, as a group we tend not to do the organised tours but I will look into it, specifically the one mentioned.

Thanks for the heads up on the length of time to get a visa. I will look into that later. I probably can't do a great deal at the moment as I'm off to Chile on Thursday and won't get back until mid-December.

Katiehound

If you want to do St Petersberg justice I would say several days at least. Long long ago we did the St P- Moscow week tour going by overnight train between the two cities. I assume this tour is still around? (Since I am talking pre- Perestroika!)

It was a great city for walking and exploring plus you have possible opportunities for ballet / opera.
The 3 Restored palaces of Peterhof & Catherine Palace & one other!which are outside the city are fascinating.
Museum of the siege in the gatehouse to the war cemetary
Cruise on the canal
Actually I think you could spend a week in the city and not be bored.
Since then been back and stayed overnight on cruise ship and seen different snippets.

richardw

Btw Finnair operate a large A350 aircraft on some flights between Heathrow and Helsinki. The reason for this is the demand for cargo on the route.

Apparently the flight is often not full and Avios redemption availability can be good.

Ballard

richardw wrote: »

Btw Finnair operate a large A350 aircraft on some flights between Heathrow and Helsinki. The reason for this is the demand for cargo on the route.

Apparently the flight is often not full and Avios redemption availability can be good.

Thanks. I have already booked the flights and did indeed use some Avios. 27,750 Avios plus about £75 for the return. Out BA and returning Finnair. I had only intended to go economy but business was only £7.50 more (and twice the Avios). I don’t expect it to be massively better than economy but I will get food in the lounge and on board.

Alfrescodave

Don't delay with the visas as when we visited Russia 2 years ago it required a personal visit to London to apply and collect the visa. I think there was also an option for a Manchester pick up - but do check soon.

Ballard

Alfrescodave wrote: »

Don't delay with the visas as when we visited Russia 2 years ago it required a personal visit to London to apply and collect the visa. I think there was also an option for a Manchester pick up - but do check soon.

Thanks. A previous poster prompted me to look and I will have to visit the London office. Fortunately I work fairly close to that office so I should be able to attend relatively easily. I shall look into doing it shortly after the new year. That would still give me five months to sort it so I should be fine.