St. Petersburg has had three names in less than 100 years, changes that mirror the shifting political winds of Mother Russia. The names of its places and people are a roll call of Russian history of the 19th and 20th centuries: the Winter Palace, the czars, Dostoyevsky, the Catherine Palace, Tchaikovsky, Lenin.
As the former official—some still say cultural—capital, St. Petersburg is the most westernized of Russia's cities. Its grand architecture echoes the great cities of Europe, and there are seemingly endless museums full of staggering quantities of treasure. St. Petersburg sprawls along the banks of the Neva River and was once known as the Venice of the North for the many canals there. For visitors who want to understand what came before, and what is happening now in Russia, St. Petersburg is essential.
Location
Tourists arriving by ship could end up in a few different locations, including Morskoi Vokzal, or Sea Terminal, or one of a number of private docks located closer to the city center not far from the Lieutenant Schmidt Bridge (Angliiskaya embankment). Anyone arriving by ferry from Tallinn or Helsinki should expect to arrive at the Sea Terminal (check the schedule in advance, as it tends to change often).
Independent travelers arriving by ferry will arrive at the Morskoi Vokzal. The terminal was rebuilt and renovated in time for the city's 300th anniversary in 2003 and boasts a restaurant, bar, bowling alley, bank, ATMs, two travel agencies, insurance companies and a rent-a-car office. It was built beneath Morskaya, an old Soviet hotel (which, despite renovations, isn't one of the best places to stay in the city). Neva Travel and InFlot are two travel agencies that have offices in the terminal as well as promotional booths on the ferries. Packages vary but usually include city tours and trips to leading museums and palaces in the city's suburbs.
Those arriving by ferry should obtain a migration card before landing. The cards are usually distributed to passengers as they disembark. If you are not given one, ask. If you go to passport control without one you are likely to be sent back or fined upon departure.
Shore Excursions
Anyone arriving on a cruise ship touring the Baltic Sea will most likely anchor at a private dock near the Lieutenant Schmidt Bridge (contact your tour operator for details). Many tour operators have made arrangements to stay in St. Petersburg for less than 48 hours, taking advantage of a provision that allows passengers to visit St. Petersburg visa-free. Customs officials will meet you at the dock and process the necessary paperwork. If you are on one of these tours, you will not be allowed to travel independently and must stay with your group/bus at all times. Tourist excursions vary but normally include an early-morning trip through the Hermitage (before it opens for regular tourists, thereby avoiding the crowds), as well as a trip to one of the palaces in the suburbs and an evening at the theater. Other popular options include a boat trip along the rivers and canals of St. Petersburg (day or late-evening options).
If you wish to travel independently, you will need to arrange for a Russian visa well in advance of your arrival. Your cruise company will be able to help you with the details.
