St. Petersburg

[diganta]

Hi There,
I am coming to St. Petersburg for a few days in September. It would be my first trip to Russia and really look forward to meeting some nice and beautiful people. I might have an extra day to spare before I catch my flight back home. So I was wondering, if at all, it is possible to visit Moscow from St. Petersburg in one day. Also, the items of interests in both Moscow and St. Petersburg !!
- Dig

[Mission010]

probably not for just one day in Moscow, unless you have the luxery of flying. you may be able to fly into Moscow, and then use the Metro for transporation around Moscow for the day, then fly home.
I'm sure that the ride by train between the two cities would be far too long to have any resonable amount of time left for seeing the sites. And riding in a car, we spent 3 hrs driving just between the Moscow airport and the Izmoliva(our hotel) and that was at midnight. It takes forever to get anywhere by car in that city.
I've only been there once though, adn there are much more experianced people on this boare, but i would say, unless you fly in I wouldn't count on just one day being an enjoyable trip to moscow from petersburg.

[Homenuck]

It is possible, of course, but would you want to do it? A common way to get between Moscow and St. Petersburg is by train. You can take a night train that leaves at about midnight (or shortly before) and arrives about nine hours later. Assuming that you took two night trains, you'd have a full day in Moscow. I think that it would be very tiring, though, since you'd basically have to be on the move from 9am until midnight, since you'd have nowhere to stay and grab a nap.

It would be a better idea to take a day trip out to one of the small places around St. Pete's. Pushkin, Petergof and Pavlovsk are all very interesting, but more beautiful in good weather (May would be nice!).

The Ismailovo hotel complex is quite nice, but is extremely far from anything in the city. If anybody is considering staying at the Ismailovo, I'd recommend that you find somewhere closer to the centre. There is a metro station right across the street from the hotel and the metro is quite fast and efficient, it will still take you hours to do the simplest task. The only other hotel I've stayed in while in Russia was Pribaltiskaya in St. Petersburg. The rooms are VERY nice... nicer than many western hotels!

What to do in St. Petersburg? Well, you'll definitely be taking walks down Nevsky... it'll hold your interest for days! Check out the Hermitage, even if you're not a big art fan (the rooms themselves will blow you away). If you're Canadian (there are a lot of us on this board!), you should hunt down the Montreal Canadiens Bar/restaurant! You can watch some hockey games on the big screen while you enjoy some good food and drinks. I forget exactly where it is located, but if anybody's interested, I can figure it out.

The park area around the Church on the Spilled Blood (one of the many names I've heard it referred to as) is great, as well as the interior of the Church itself, of course! Againk, maybe the park area would be nicer in April or May...

I'll be in St. Petersburg this September (studying Russian), as well. If anybody knows of a good internet cafe in St. Pete's, I'd love to know! I've used the one at the train ticket place near Kazan Cathedral and I think I saw one in an alley near the Banker's Bridge (a street over, actually) but I was a bit freaked out to go in after I saw cars surrounded by tough looking bodyguards (armed, of course!) hanging out in the area...

Later,
Dave

[diganta]

Thank you both, Mission010 and Homenuck, for your replies. I am coming to St. Petersburg for a conference/workshop but I know what to do there now...just present my paper and fly away/sneak out to all those wonderful places!! Moscow seems to be a tough proposition though. May be next time.

Guys, tell me how's the weather like September? I saw in the BBC news couple of days ago that it was about 22C Moscow.

Talk to U Later,
-Dig

P.S. Homenuck, I am of Indian origin but living in UK. Haven't got a clue which hotel I am going to stay in b'cos the organisers have arranged something for me. I just hope it is as nice as you said...

[This message has been edited by diganta (edited 10 August 2000).]

[Mission010]

Correct me if I'm wrong Homenuck, but Petersburg wheather is pretty close to the wheather in British Columbia Canada, or Seattle Washington USA. Kind of warm in September, because of the moisture laden air coming off the Baltic sea. Actually probably not much different from your weather in the UK, a lot moist air. Warmer than normal in the fall, cooler than normal in the spring. I hope this helps out. Its waht friends have told me. Moscow's colder though, kind of like the midwestern U.S, if oyu know what that like -that's where I'm from. i hope i helped you somewhat. I'm counting on homenuk to verify all this. take care.

[alexmshaw]

Hum I just can back from a trip there, and it is possible to travel from St. P to Moscow in one day.

You see, you take the 11:00pm late night train (always go for first class) from St. P and will arrive in Moscow next morning around 7:00am. Do the same thing on your way back.