Way to Russia Talk Lounge

meagen1970 · Just Starting Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 5

Hello
I'm landing in st. pete. next monday- my hotel jacked up its transfer cost from $30 US to $46 because of "inflation" so i'm thinking of taking a bus into the city. Landing at Pulkovo 2, in the evening, and looking at the #3 as i have to go to sennaya pl. anyone have any experiences with the airport buses, in particular the 3? do you pay on board? how long is the ride in? is is safe to arrive in sannaya pl around 8:00 at night?
thanks

nikir · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:40 am Post subject:

Take the bus to the metro station Moskovskaya, from there its only a few stops to Sennaya. The whole trip should cost $2 at the most.

It's safe area of St Petersburg.

meagen1970 · Just Starting Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 5

Thanks. I think tho that if the 3 goes to sennaya i'll just go straight there instead of to the metro...but it's good to know the area is safe.

Andrey Vereshchagin · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:26 pm Post subject:

To specify: there are regular city buses #13 from Pulkovo 2 to Moskovskaya metro station (14 rubles - only in Russian cash) and minibuses #213 and K-3 bound for Sennaya square (17-20 rbl). I have used K-3 just yesterday. The duration of journey differs depending on exact time - it can be just 10 min to Moskovsksys and 30 min to Sennaya with easy traffic - and twice more in heavy time (morning of weekdays).
_________________
I do provide guiding both in St.Petersburg and Moscow - museums, theatre tickets, transportations, visa free services for cruise passengers.
Age 51, 13 years in tourism, bridge design engineer by diploma (15 years practice)

meagen1970 · Just Starting Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 5

Thanks Andrey. It looks like I'll take either the 213 or K3 then. And sannaya is a safe place to disembark at night? my hotel is off the square. I ask not so much out of paranoia as caution- I was pretty badly mugged in Naples Italy a few years ago, at dusk, a stone's throw from my hotel just a few hours after my arrival; so I like to know what I'm getting in to.

Andrey Vereshchagin · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:04 pm Post subject:

What time are you to land? It takes about 40 minutes to pass the border and receive your luggage here.
These mini-buses operate until 23.00; also - please remember that it is not the final stop for #213 - so you need to take the right embarkation point, the one which is closer to the arrivals' pavilion, on the left from the exit. Sennaya is mostly quite crowded area - hence, not dangerous.
_________________
I do provide guiding both in St.Petersburg and Moscow - museums, theatre tickets, transportations, visa free services for cruise passengers.
Age 51, 13 years in tourism, bridge design engineer by diploma (15 years practice)

meagen1970 · Just Starting Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 5

40 minutes? that's fast! not like landing at JFK here in NYC! arriving at 17:30- so i exit arrivals and head left... sennaya is the last stop on the k213?

Andrey Vereshchagin · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:20 pm Post subject:

Yes - you will not miss it!
_________________
I do provide guiding both in St.Petersburg and Moscow - museums, theatre tickets, transportations, visa free services for cruise passengers.
Age 51, 13 years in tourism, bridge design engineer by diploma (15 years practice)

meagen1970 · Just Starting Joined: 18 Mar 2008 Posts: 5

Thank you! I'm looking forward to smooth sailing on this one, cross my fingers.

Pete8400 · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:27 pm Post subject:

As a foreigner here, I can actually say that I feel safer than back at "home" in Europe...
Plus around your hour of arrival, it's crowded, but that's it.
Also, getting through the whole customs thing is a breeze.... It didn't even take me 40 minutes, I guess I was out in about 20 or so....Just go to the green channel, not the red one....