Why doesn't Rick do St. Petersborg and Moscow? Really makes me sad! I'm at the mercy of other guide books (Let's Go) - and while good, they're not Rick. This will be the first trip we've taken without a rail pass, since my point to point calculations seem cheaper. If going this route: Copenhage-Stockholm (train) Stock - St. Pet. (ferry + train via Helsinki) St. Pet - Moscow (train).
None are overnight, except ferry. Would you advise buying the tickets in advance? Using a travel agent or DeBahn or Russiantrains.com online? OR, just getting them when we get there? We usually pay extra for 1st class on long trips. We know our itenerary - so buying ahead should not be an issue as I doubt we would alter our schedule. We don't go until June, 2013, so it's probably too early to book now.
Posted by
Seattle, Washington, United States
284 posts
1. You can take an overnight train to Moscow. "The Red Arrow" leaves just before midnight and gets you in in the early morning. Sharing a kupe is part of the rail experience in Russia (which is a 4 person berth). The first class is more expensive and just for two people. http://seattleflyerguy.blogspot.com/2011/08/moscow-across-russia-part-3.html 2. RZD releases tickets 90 days before departure. Any tickets that you see on sale before that are just promises, and not real tickets. 3. You can buy tickets directly from RZD, if you don't want to go through a travel agent (who naturally mark up the price). Check http://pass.rzd.ru/ and use Google Chrome for translation. It isn't 100% easy, but it is the least expensive way possible. 4. Copehagen to Stockholm tickets can be purchased on sj.se 5. Remember your visa for Russia. :)
Posted by
Ottawa
1446 posts
Nicholas has provided sound info. A regular visa will have to be arranged for, at min. 30 days in advance. The process takes a little time, but is straightforward. Since your first overnight in Russia will be in St. Petersburg, it will be easy for you to get a letter of invitation from your first hotel booked there (for a small fee). I can recommend the SwissStar B&B for that: http://www.swiss-star.ru/index.php/home-en I've been told that the ferry journey from Helsinki is very pleasant. The next time that I go, I will by-pass Moscow entirely and just combine St. Petersburg and Helsinki. As for the train, I used the http://rzd.ru/ website to book myself. The info here, on the TA forums, and this site was useful:
http://www.seat61.com/Russia-trains.htm I found the morning express train from St.Petersburg to Moscow just great! Buying the ticket in advance would be advisable if the journey will be on a week-end or if you must have a front-facing seat (which you can request during the booking process).
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9109 posts
" ...Since your first overnight in Russia will be in St. Petersburg, it will be easy for you to get a letter of invitation from your first hotel booked there (for a small fee)..." If you use a professional Visa service you don't have to go through the trouble of arranging an invitation letter. They have relationships with other hotels in-country which will provide the letter; already built in to processing fee. You're under no obligation to stay in the hotel your invitation letter originates from.
Posted by
Ottawa
1446 posts
True. But the hotel you book can just as easily do it. Mine also included the registration of the visa on arrival for me, as part of the small fee.
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12313 posts
I think Nicholas spells it out pretty well. Another options may be a guided tour (probably by bus) to Moscow from St. Petersburg. If you do a guided tour, you can skip the visa (more than $150 each). I know very little Russian (and am not interested enough in Russia to invest the time to learn) so a guide makes sense to me. If you are comfortable with your Russian and have a visa in hand, it would be a great experience to go without a guide. English is easy in Scandinavia. It's generally a second language for everyone - so much so that it's almost silly to ask if people speak English. Russia isn't like that at all. Tour guides and some people directly employed in the tourist industry speak English but few others do.
Posted by
Seattle, Washington, United States
284 posts
I'm not 100% sure about this, but I believe that the visa exception for cruise ship passengers is only for guided tours from the boat in St. P. It does not cover travel to Moscow. From the St. Petersburg line website: "According to the law a passenger must arrive at the port of St. Petersburg aboard a ferry of St.PETER LINE Company and leave in the same manner, be part of a tour group ("Car Shorex" in this case) and comply with the rule of no longer than 72-hour stay." In practice, people have broken away from the tour groups without any consequence, but you have to leave via the cruise ship from St. Petersburg. See: http://www.stpeterline.com/en/Goodtoknow/Visafreerule.aspx
See also: http://seattle.rusembassy.org/rusvisa.html
Posted by
Seattle, WA, US
1005 posts
I've heard that Rick will have a chapter on St. Petersburg in his new Northern European Cruise Ports book, but unfortunately, that won't be out until Julyafter you've started your trip. From the Books page: North European Cruise Ports: July 2, 2013
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
You can also get train information from www.seat61.com. I've taken both the overnight train of 8 hours (in a first class 2 person compartment) and the new Sapsan high speed train of 4 hours. Both are quite nice, so choose based on which works better with your itinerary. Don't fly this route, as getting to and from the airports is more hassle than you need.