I was wondering if anyone on the forums has ever been to Russia. St. Petersburg specifically, I have a opportunity to go next summer and am trying to get all my plans straight. I’m currently taking classes to learn the language and trying to read reviews on how much money to bring, places to go etc. So is anyone from there or ever visited? If so where should I wander around to and what other touristy things should I do?
Yes I have been there past summer, what would you like to know? I suggest to try the river rides, the hermitage museum, Pitergrof museum, and go out of the town to see the real Russia. There are lots of cathedrals in city too.
My brother has been to Russia and to Ukraine - I can pose your question to him and ask him to email me his thoughts which I can post here.
I was thinking of staying in a hostel, The Apple Hostel in fact. It's really cheap, I also want to travel within Russia using the train system to see several of the smaller cities/towns. I guess I have some small fear of safety being a tourist there and I want to make sure I don't get ripped off or anything like that when it comes to exchaning money or buying products.
I always go to the foreign exchange bank / kiosk at the airport before I travel to another country to exchange my dollars for whatever currency I'll be using where I go. Thankfully the Euro is used about everywhere in Europe except Switzerland which I got taken advantage of when converting one time but it was a small amount.
there is a cheap hostel in St. Petersburgh right in the center of the city, very clean and quiet. http://www.ryh.ru/ the location is at Ploschad Vosstania