Advantages: A wonderful, beautiful city with a rich history Disadvantages: None
...in having finally arrived) into St Petersburg the change in atmosphere hit us as quickly as the icy Baltic breeze. Visited in succession it is hard to believe that these cities, the two largest in Russia, are even in the same country, let alone only 5 hours apart by train.
St Petersburg, dubbed the Venice of the North thanks to its network of canals, has experienced a turbulent history. Foundered by Peter the Great in 1703 to provide access to the ... ...Tsars. In the 20th century St Petersburg has endured more mixed fortunes. Renamed Petrograd in 1914 it was the scene of the 1917 revolutions. Then the city, known as Leningrad since 1924, was surrounded by German troops during WWII. The people of St Petersburg fiercely defended their city in a siege that lasted over two years in temperatures dropping to -35°C.
I have it on good authority (first hand witness) that St Petersburg bore its battle scars ...
Tricia24 31.05.2006 (02.06.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of St Petersburg (Russia)
Advantages: City of such beauty Disadvantages: Locals tend not to be overly friendly
I took Paul to St Petersburg, Russia in November 2003. It was his birthday/Christmas present. It had been a destination we both always fancied, and whilst looking through the Sunday Telegraph travel section, we saw a tour company advertising trips. After looking into that deal and then independent travel, we decided to go it alone!! So we booked our flights out of Heathrow, direct to Pulkovo airport with BA. Traveling from Belfast meant connections ... ...a guide book (TIME OUT ST PETERSBURG) found us our hotel – a reasonably priced local hotel Pulkovoskaya. Also required for trips to Russia are a visa – we had to send our passports along with forms and photos off to the Russian embassy in Edinburgh – something l was not too happy about doing but everything ran like clockwork. I would advise doing this a good 4 weeks at least before travel and be aware that the visa costs approx ...
purdy 02.01.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of St Petersburg (Russia)
Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
Quick review of St Petersburg (Russia)
I loved reading your experiences in Saint Petersburg. I fell in love with the city and it's people and even married my wife in this great place. It's truly an easy city visit compared to Moscow. The best thing is that the people from Saint Petersburg love their city and know it's history and even take their time to show you around! ...
alfredebbers 24.05.2007
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of St Petersburg (Russia)
Advantages: A different holiday, the most beautiful location i have visited Disadvantages: Only some of the comforts of home, not a huge problem!
...easiest, places to travel to, St Petersburg offers the opportunity to visit Russia, whilst still retaining links with the west. Founded in 1703 by Peter the Great as a "Window to the West", St Petersburg went on to become known as the germanic Petrograd during the First World War and subsequently Leningrad during the communist era. One of the symbols of Russia's turbulent history, the city has retained much of its dramatic architecture including ... ...known perhaps being the Winter Palace, known as the Hermitage, displaying one of the world's greatest and most admired art collections. The city is remarkably picturesque, founded on rivers and canals, sometimes referred to as the Venice of the North. The city was also home to a host of renowned figures including the composers Stravinsky and Shostakovich, the writers Dostoevsky and Pushkin and such historical figures as Rasputin and Lenin. The traditions ...
rachelja 31.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of St Petersburg (Russia)
Advantages: CHEAP!! - really good value for money - brilliant public transport Disadvantages: a fair bit of red tape in repect of sorting ones own trip there!!
...of this fantastic city. geographically St Petersburg is situated at the extreme east of the gulf of finland and is a series of islands not unlike Venice - in fact many tourists refer to it as the venice of the north. The majority of buildings in the city centre are very grand and each and every one has its own secrets. the river was frozen solid all it appeared good for was the odd ice hole fisher or as was being demonstrated by a bunch of soilders ... ...fortress, a game of football. I hope they dont fall in i though then realised that there was not much chance of this happening, the locals know when the ice is unsafe and stay well clear but for now the snow covered ice provided pedestirans the ideal short cut to cross the river. suffice to say my trip continued in this good but cold vein - you do need to ensure that you are able to handel the very good but confusing public transport system in order ...
danielkatya 07.02.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of St Petersburg (Russia)
Advantages: magnificient city, a lot to see Disadvantages: might be the weather
...culture and tradition- rich history. St Petersburg is the cultural center of Russia. This city was build in 17th century by russian tsar Peter the Great in efford to have an access to Baltic sea for trade and military purposes. Later on St Petersburg became the home of all russian rsars including Nicolas II who was killed with his family during russian revolution in 1917. The only fact that all tsars lived in St Petersburg made this city a cultural ...
zedix 12.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of St Petersburg (Russia)
Advantages: Very interesting town Disadvantages: Very wet and windy weather
I visited S.Peterburg in summer. I think it is the most suitable season for travelling there because the weather was fine there and not very windy.This town is rather differ than another Rusian towns.In the first the bildings there are in Europian arckitekchual style, in the second it has a reach historical traditions since the times of Peter the Great who founded this great town in Neva river in 1709.On that moment there was a swamp there and it ... ...The third is a lot reall nice places to visit which are connected with Russian history:Hermitage with its beautiful pictures, Russian musiem with the pictures of famoues russian painters,New Petergof called Russian Versal.Kunscamera with its mericle people and things with different nations. The modern Petersburg are on Nevsky prospect where a lot of restrongs and caffes offices and stores.Us for me I liked to go for a walk in Summer gaden not far ...
Vital 04.10.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of St Petersburg (Russia)
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