St. Petersburg - Northern Venice of Russia
The literary and musical heritage of St. Petersburg is simply outstanding - the number of writers, poets and composers who were creating their masterpieces on its shores is incredible - Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Esenin, Rachmaninoff and many more.
St. Petersburg is also called a “city of bridges” as is located on 68 rivers, canals and channels crossing the city in different directions, forming 42 islands on its territory. Now in St. Petersburg and its suburbs, there are 580 bridges, including 20 drawbridges.
Entry requirements:
• International flights to and from Dubai have resumed (through Moscow) • UAE citizens and residents can enter the Russian Federation if arriving on a direct flight from their country of nationality/residence. • The Consular Section of the Embassy fully resumes issuing visas from 10 September 2020. Please book an appointment to apply for a visa: http://abu-dhabi.kdmid.ru/. • Foreign citizens can apply for a Russian visa in the UAE only if they have UAE permanent residence permits. • Please note that UAE citizens can enter Russia and stay there for up to 90 days each period of 180 days. Other foreign citizens should check the list of visa-free regime countries: https://uae.mid.ru/web/uae-en/visa-free-regime. • For all foreign citizens entering the Russian Federation, it will be possible only upon presenting a negative COVID-19 test issued within 3 days before the date of departure. • Every passenger has to show a printed medical document (in English or Russian), confirming a negative PCR test for COVID-19, at the check-in and then at the border of the Russian Federation. Passengers without the printed medical document will be refused to board. • If the medical document is in another language, it should be translated into Russian and certified by the respective Russian Consulate (please, consult such Consulate in advance). • All passengers on board should fill in a dedicated questionnaire (this will be provided by the airlines). Airlines: until the direct flight is restored, you can fly Emirates Airlines to Moscow and then S7 to St. Petersburg (60 minutes flight)
When to arrive:
May, June, July, August and September are considered the best times to visit St. Petersburg. May holidays, summer and winter holidays are considered the high season in St. Petersburg.
The most popular season is from mid-May to September when the legendary St. Petersburg White Nights season begins. At this time, annual traditional and world-famous events are held: Scarlet Sails, Sensation, Geek Picnic and many other interesting city events.
Weather:
The weather in the northern capital is changeable even in summer. No wonder the city is called the Venice of the North. In summer, it often rains and thunderstorms, there are cold snaps, and they come suddenly. I recommend keeping your umbrella and a jacket handy, even if the morning is sunny and does not portend a thunderstorm.
Season of the White Nights
"White nights" in St. Petersburg is a unique natural phenomenon when evening and morning merge into light smoky twilight. The beginning of the white nights is considered to be May 25, the end - July 17. In total, they last 55 days.
"White Nights" is a business card of the city on the Neva. During this period, many tourists from different parts of Russia and the world come to the Northern capital. The lightest nights are observed from June 11 to July 2.
Must see:
1. Climb the colonnade of St. Isaac's Cathedral to get a city panoramic view 2. Getting lost in the Hermitage - a museum so large that it is unlikely that there is a St. Petersburg local who has visited all of its halls. 3. Listen to an opera in one of the three halls of the Mariinsky Theater. 4. Watch the opening of the Palace Bridge i 5. Throw a coin for a bit of good luck to the bronze bird named Chizhik-Pyzhik on the Fontanka river 6. Go to the impressionist exhibition General Staff Building 7. Take a boat trip down the rivers and canals of the "Venice of the North" 8. Chill out and dine in the new fashionable surrounding "New Holland Island" 9. Visit Russian Versaille -the Royal Peterhof with its stunning fountains
What to bring as the souvenir: amber, hand-painted jewellery boxes, Faberge, furs, downy shawl, Khokhloma wooden dishes, porcelain, matryoshkas, caviar, paintings by local artists.