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nilhans
Just Starting
Joined: 03 Sep 2006
Posts: 7
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 Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 11:51 pm Post subject: would 8 days be enough to see both Moscow&St Petersburg? |
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Hi all,
We have a week off towards the end of October and we are planning to visit both Moscow and St Peterburg? Would 8 days be enough to explore these two cities?
Thanks |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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| Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 12:04 am Post subject: |
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| Definitely get a guide...traffic is usually bad so get around eats up a lot of time. The Hermitage can take eight days alone. Ok Definitely a day though. You'll definitely be running around. |
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nilhans
Just Starting
Joined: 03 Sep 2006
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 12:17 am Post subject: |
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| thanks for your answer. and another question if you have time. we are planning to stay in one of the apartments advertised on this web sites both in moscow and st pete. do you think it is a good idea and are they reliable (i mean in reservation and in facilities). Is there any that you can recommend? |
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Rick
Moderator
Joined: 04 May 2005
Posts: 854
Location: Касабланка
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| Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 12:27 am Post subject: |
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8 Days can never be enough to explore 2 cities with 6 and 12 million inhabitants , but you can have an okay time within a week. Don't have yourself pressurized into running across all the sights: it's nonsense. You'll see too much and experience too little.
I myself preferred St. Petersburg over Moscow. |
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greg222
VIP
Joined: 15 Feb 2005
Posts: 599
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| Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 7:53 am Post subject: |
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| Yes, I would say Moscow and St Petersburg are 4 or 5 days cities for a tourist that has no deep fascination with the country. The apartments are reliable and a great option - definitely the best value accommodation you can find in either city, and especially in Moscow. |
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camarks
Moderator
Joined: 30 Sep 2005
Posts: 333
Location: Richmond, VA USA
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| Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Eight days is enough to see quite a lot of these cities. As mentioned above, set some priorities and don't try to see too much. I recommend taking the overnight trains between the cities to save some time. On my wife's first trip to Russia (my third), we covered the highlights of these two cities in about five days. We saved a lot of time in the Hermitage by focusing on the rooms with Russian art. Since we live near the Smithsonian Museum and have also been to the Louvre, We didn't feel the need to look at too much European stuff. |
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Sparks
Frequent Guest
Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 22
Location: Sao Paulo - Brazil
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| Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 4:12 am Post subject: |
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I think eight days is enough for an introductory overview of both cities, as long as you concentrate on the most important sites only, and you don’t reserve any days for breaks.
I would split time like this: 3 days for Moscow, 4 days for Saint Petersburg (of which you need at least a whole day for the Hermitage), and 1 day for Peterhof. |
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Rick
Moderator
Joined: 04 May 2005
Posts: 854
Location: Касабланка
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| Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 1:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Adding to Camarcks remark about the overnight trains: There are many night trains bewteen both cities, (with great variations in prices) but the Moscow metro only starts at 6.00 am, so arriving there earlier by train is kind of useless. You'll just end up in a huge crowd at the metro station... |
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greg222
VIP
Joined: 15 Feb 2005
Posts: 599
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| Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Yeah, you could wait half an hour trying to get in to Komsomolskaya metro with the crowds there in the mornings. Which is perplexing seeing as it's only a 10 minute walk straight up the street to Krasnoselskaya metro which is always empty... and then you get a seat as well. |
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nilhans
Just Starting
Joined: 03 Sep 2006
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 5:01 pm Post subject: THANKS |
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| We have sorted out the transport from Moscow to St Petersburg. We have already booked a flight. And about the return flight, all the flights between Istanbul and St Peterburg are flown via Moscow. So no problem about it. I appreciate all your replies. Thank you... |
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Rick
Moderator
Joined: 04 May 2005
Posts: 854
Location: Касабланка
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| Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 10:40 am Post subject: |
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| greg222 wrote: | | Yeah, you could wait half an hour trying to get in to Komsomolskaya metro with the crowds there in the mornings. Which is perplexing seeing as it's only a 10 minute walk straight up the street to Krasnoselskaya metro which is always empty... and then you get a seat as well. |
LOL If I knew that.. I bought a ticket from one of the guys at the door at Komsomolskaya. Only 5 rubles more than the ones you wait for.. |
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norge95
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 25 Aug 2006
Posts: 99
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| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 3:53 am Post subject: Re: would 8 days be enough to see both Moscow&St Petersb |
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| nilhans wrote: | Hi all,
We have a week off towards the end of October and we are planning to visit both Moscow and St Peterburg? Would 8 days be enough to explore these two cities?
Thanks |
This thread is also of interest to me because I might have the opportunity to take my first trip to Russian next spring and I was also thinking about spending approximately 8-10 days primarily visiting St. Petersburg and Moscow. Just out of curiosity, how long does it take to get to Moscow from St. Petersburg by train? |
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camarks
Moderator
Joined: 30 Sep 2005
Posts: 333
Location: Richmond, VA USA
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| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 5:07 am Post subject: |
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| It takes about four to eight hours depending on the train. I have always chosen to take the better overnight trains (lower numbers) and save a night in a hotel. Except for one trip with a drunk, unsociable, and loud snoring kupe-mate, I have always enjoyed the experience |
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norge95
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 25 Aug 2006
Posts: 99
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| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 5:22 am Post subject: |
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| camarks wrote: | | It takes about four to eight hours depending on the train. I have always chosen to take the better overnight trains (lower numbers) and save a night in a hotel. Except for one trip with a drunk, unsociable, and loud snoring kupe-mate, I have always enjoyed the experience |
Thanks for your reply.  I've been to Europe 10 previous times and have for the most part really enjoyed traveling by train, but have never before taken an overnight train. For a first time traveler to Russia do you think is there enough nice scenery between St. Petersburg and Moscow to make it worthwhile to travel during the day? |
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camarks
Moderator
Joined: 30 Sep 2005
Posts: 333
Location: Richmond, VA USA
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| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 5:33 am Post subject: |
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I am sure the scenery is interesting, but probably not different enough from what you will see elsewhere to make this a priority. I have never made the trip during the daytime. For a first time traveler to Russia, I would recommend getting a second class kupe (four berths) ticket on one of the earlier overnight trains, departing between 10 and 11 PM. This will allow you two spend some time with a few Russians in your compartment. Bring a late-night snack to share; your companions will provide the vodka. This is a great experience (unless you are very unlucky -- see previous post), especially for a seasoned traveler. A few shots of vodka also ensure a good night's sleep, but don't drink as much as the Russians  . |
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