Saint Petersburg Travel Forum

Hey there,

I'm traveling to St. Petersburg in about a week.
I am going to take the train from Riga to St. P. and will arrive in the morning.
I am probably staying at the Nordhostel - does anyone know what the easiest way is to get there from the train station?
And - this probably sounds stupid - can anyone tell me how to get metro tickets (and maybe something I need to know in advance when tking the metro etc)
Also, can I use a visa debit card to get money from ATMs there? (or do I need a credit card??)

Thanks a lot,

As it says on the hostel's website, by metro to Nevsky Prospekt http://www.nordhostel.com/expl/map.htm. From Warsaw Station, which is where you would arrive from Riga, you will need to change at Pushkinskaya, see http://www.cityvision2000.com/transport/metro_map.htm

About metro: you can buy tokens (zheton) and magnetic cards (magnitnaya karta) from ticket counters, a single token is valid for one journey of unlimited length and cost 14 roubles last year (2007), while a card for 10 rides in 7 days cost 115 roubles.
I used a Maestro debit card to get money out of ATMs. But a credit card is always good to have!

i used visa and mastercard as well for ATM in StPetersburg (debt and credit). in many places, mostly in the central part of the city, you may pay by your card (I mean you needn't get a lot of cash with you).

While on this subject are these magnetic cards (magnitnahya karta)also used in Moscow for the use of the Metro?..thanks

A token and a central city map are all you need to get anywhere in St. Petersburg.
Metro tokens and magnetic cards are puchased down in the metro station and sometimes there is a vending machine that gives tokens if the line is long in St. Petersburg,
In Moscow the metro only uses magnetic cards, you buy how many trips you think you will need. You cannot use the same cards in Moscow and st. Petersburg.

ATM Bankomat machines are all over the center of St. Petersburg and the fees and exchange rates can vary. Occassionally you will have to try a couple machines, but all US debit and credit cards should work in most. Even Paypal cards work.

Many thanks Sennaya...i should be in S.P on the 26 & 27th May after 2 days in Moscow...cheers :)

Just a note: The Zheton price is now 17 Rubles. Inflation is increasing all costs rapidly, but the fall in the dollar compounds the sense that this is getting to be a very expensive city to visit or live in for foreigners.

Thanks for the info stanj