For those travellers used to jetting about Europe on budget airlines for next to nothing, getting to St Petersburg can cause problems.
This problem has its roots in the punishing Russian visa regime, which puts off most visitors. With such low visitor numbers no budget airlines can run routes to Russia at the capacities they need to remain profitable. Easyjet and Ryanair route maps show Russia as a blank void, a swathe of grey stretching eastwards from Europe into obscurity. However, for those with time and enthusiasm, it is quite easy to get to St Petersburg without spending hundreds of Euros or Pounds on full service airlines. I shall detail here the three main routes.
Getting to Saint Petersburg rom Finland
Finland provides the first and most comfortable route. Easyjet flies to Helsinki from London Gatwick while Ryanair flies to Tampere from Stansted Airport. There is a useful train that runs daily from Helsinki to St Petersburg’s Finlandsky Vokzhal, taking six or seven hours. This means that you have the option to explore Helsinki before heading east or simply hop on the train. However, the problem with this route is that the train is quite expensive. This means the financial saving is reduced and many travellers conclude that it no longer outweighs the time it takes. The Helsinki route, therefore, is the most expensive alternative route, but the most comfortable one.
Getting to Saint Petersburg from Tallinn, Estonia
Tallinn is a charming and beautiful city and so well worth visiting on the way to or from Russia. It is well served by Easyjet since it became a hub for weekend city breaks, but don’t let that put you off. Travel from Tallinn to St Petersburg is straightforward and cheap, but it isn’t comfortable. For reasons I don’t fully understand (feel free to let me know) there is no longer a train service between the two cities. This means travel by bus is the only option. I did this once and I would do it again if I was totally strapped for cash. When cost is not the first consideration I recommend taking a different route.
Getting to Saint Petersburg from Riga, Latvia
From the UK it is possible to fly to Riga for as little as ten pounds, as long as you don’t mind flying with Ryanair. This puts you a mere twelve hours away from St Petersburg which is easily covered by an overnight train journey. In terms of time, this is the least efficient route yet it is also my favourite. The journey on the train is comfortable and eases you into the mindset required for travel in Russia. You get time in Riga and arrive in St Petersburg rested in the morning ready for the day ahead.
Many people conclude that the added time and hassle of taking any of these routes negates any financial saving. If time and convenience are the basis of the decision then they are right. For those, however, who are willing to spend a little time and effort getting there cheaper and exploring the region on the way then these routes are for you.
Photo of the Church of the Savior on Blood in St Petersburg, Russia, by marcella bona
3 responses to “How to get to Saint Petersburg on the Cheap”
Report an inappropriate commentJune 24th, 2009 at 8:57 am
Good article and all true, also you can travel by bus from Tampere which is much cheeper than taking train. If like international buses you may think of taking a bus from Riga as well, but it will take about 10 hours to reach SPb.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:45 am
It’s a reals shame that train tickets are so expensive these days because it used to be that the best way to get to Piter was by train through Eastern Europe which could be done for next to nothing. These days it costs almost as much as flying and takes three or four days
March 18th, 2011 at 6:49 am
this is certainly a considerate write-up. Like my close friend used to declare Easy come, easy go!
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