When asked how interesting it is to spend a long weekend for Muscovites without much damage to the budget, there are many answers. For example, those who like to walk around museum halls and visit architectural and historical sights can be advised to go to the Northern capital. Traveling from Moscow to St. Petersburg can be carried out on different types of transport. The advantages and disadvantages of this or that option will be discussed in this article.
By car
Traveling Moscow - St. Petersburg by car is best done in the summer and on May holidays, if the weather is favorable for walking. The road along the Leningrad highway from the capital to St. Petersburg takes about 10 hours. If you want to overcome the path quickly and without problems, it is better to hit the road at night.
It is best to pre-book apartments on a specialized site. You can rent housing directly at the Moscow station, where the owners offer it directly. The latter option is suitable for trips on weekdays, but on holidays it will be quite difficult to find a decent apartment in this way.
What to see along the road
The M10 highway passes through the territory of four regions: Moscow, Tver, Novgorod and Leningrad. Along the way, the car passes through the cities of Klin, Solnechnogorsk and Vyshny Volochek.
On the way, you can admire the beauties of the Russian forest and visit interesting places where you can relax, eat and see sights, such as the Valdai Heights, Novgorod Sophia Cathedral, Goat Museums in Tver and bells in Valdai, the Tsarskoye Selo historical reserve in Pushkin, etc.
Difficulties on the road
The hardest part for motorists is in Vyshny Volochyok. During the day you can find yourself in a huge traffic jam, the reason for the formation of which are large wagons. Another place where you can easily get stuck is located 150 km from Moscow.
The rest of the route is easy enough, despite the traffic and the presence of a huge amount of freight transport. At the same time, it is not recommended to forget about caution and exercise increased care.
First of all, you should fix all the car’s problems so that you don’t have to stand in the “clean field” for hours waiting for help, as there are very few technical assistance stations on the M10 highway. In addition, traffic rules should be strictly observed, and if it is a night trip, stock up on a collection of driving music or ask fellow travelers to chat with the driver, replacing each other.
Real reviews about traveling by car from Moscow to St. Petersburg
Many of those who have already made such a trip say they had a great time spending relatively little money. Spending on a car trip consists of the cost of gasoline, rental housing, as well as food and tickets to museums in St. Petersburg.
Most of the complaints are related to prices for catering services. In particular, in their reviews, tourists note that even in the most nondescript dining rooms and eateries, a modest lunch can cost about 200-250 rubles per person. Thus, a family of 4 people (teenage children) will spend 1,000 rubles. In fairness, it should be noted that guests from other regions usually express displeasure, since for Muscovites the cost of dishes in the dining rooms of St. Petersburg is familiar and does not raise questions.
As for the rental of apartments, some travelers consider their prices acceptable, but notes that many of the proposed options do not correspond to the descriptions provided on the real estate rental sites.
Complaints can also be heard regarding the quality of the federal highway connecting Moscow with St. Petersburg. Judging by the reviews, it is often patched, which does not make the coating better, and the repair work itself complicates the movement of vehicles.
By train
With great comfort, you can travel from Moscow to St. Petersburg by rail. However, in this case, it should be borne in mind that you will have to travel around the city by taxi or public transport. Railway communication between the capital and St. Petersburg is carried out on trains of various types. You can use:
By train "Peregrine Falcon". In this case, the journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow or in the opposite direction will take only 4 hours. In this case, a trip in an economy-class carriage will have to pay from 2300 rubles.
Named train, where you will be offered a place in the compartment for the amount of 2500 rubles. and higher.
The usual train. The cost for 1 ticket is from 700 rubles, but it is a very inconvenient time of departure and arrival.
On the boat
A swim from Moscow to St. Petersburg is a great choice for a vacation. The water route between the cities has a length of 1338 km.
Travel companies offer cruises of various types. Among them, the option that involves visiting Uglich, Yaroslavl, Goritsa, Kizhe and Mandrogi is especially popular. On board a comfortable boat tourists spend 7 days and 6 nights. Ticket prices range from 24,200 to 48,600 rubles. There are also round-trip routes, for example, via Myshkin, Kuzino, Goritsy, Valaam, St. Petersburg, Mandrogi, Kizhi, Goritsy and Uglich. As a result, tourists traveling on the ship Moscow - St. Petersburg will return to the capital in 12 days. The cost of a ticket, depending on the category, ranges from 38-70 thousand rubles. In St. Petersburg, tourists spend 2 days, during which they have time for independent walks around the city, and also organize excursions to the most famous sights of the Northern capital.
By plane
Those who are not constrained in money and want to make a trip from Moscow to St. Petersburg with maximum comfort can buy a ticket for one of the regular flights between these cities. Travel time in this case will be only 1.5 hours. The cost of the cheapest plane tickets is at the level of 1,500 rubles (seasonal fluctuations are observed).
sights
Travel from Moscow to St. Petersburg is usually done to see its architectural and historical monuments, as well as visit the numerous museums of the city. A self-guided tour of the Northern capital, including an external examination of palaces and monuments, as well as visiting temples will cost quite cheap (you will have to incur only transportation costs). The same cannot be said about the cost of tickets to various cultural institutions. So, to get to the Main Museum Complex of the Hermitage on Palace Square, you will have to pay 600 rubles per person. It will be cheaper to visit the General Staff (300 rubles), the Central Naval Museum (500 rubles), the Botanical Garden (300 rubles), St. Isaac's Cathedral (250 rubles), etc.
What to try in St. Petersburg
Going to the Northern capital, you should definitely try traditional local dishes. Of course, such a thing as St. Petersburg cuisine, by and large, does not exist, but the city on the Neva has its own culinary highlights. Smelt belongs to them. This small fish saved thousands of people from starvation in the blockade, so she even installed a monument in Kronstadt. In addition, every year in May the city even hosts a holiday dedicated to smelt. You can try this fish “in St. Petersburg” in various institutions of the Northern capital - from snack bars to the Koryushka restaurant, located at Peter and Paul Fortress 3. In the latter case, you will have to pay 500 rubles for 100 g of this authentic delicacy.
Where to eat
Traveling from Moscow to St. Petersburg will be not only interesting, but also “tasty” if you use the services of local pastry shops. Historical so that the first institutions of this kind appeared in our country in St. Petersburg. You can enjoy aromatic and mouth-watering pastries in Plyushkino House (Kazanskaya St., 29), in Pyshechnaya (Bolshaya Konyushennaya St., 25), as well as in institutions such as the Ideal Cup and Sweet Tooth "," Bush "," Chocolate Girl ", etc.
Festivals
Travel from Moscow to St. Petersburg is often made to take part in a particular festival, which is organized in the Northern capital. For example, every year in late July, the city celebrates Navy Day on a large scale. In honor of the sailors, a parade of warships takes place in the Neva, and in the evening on the spit of Vasilyevsky Island or on Palace Square, all guests and residents of the city are invited to take part in a traditional concert.
In addition, thousands of tourists come to St. Petersburg specifically to participate in the Scarlet Sails festival. Within its framework, on the longest night of the year , a grandiose salute is arranged in the sky above the Neva, and then a magnificent ship floats through its waters. As in the famous story of Alexander Green, he has red sails, which allows all the girls present to feel in the role of Assol.
Guests of the city can become participants in the celebrations at the end of May, when Peter celebrates his birthday.
Interesting places in the vicinity of St. Petersburg
Those who went to the Northern capital on their own cars have the opportunity to visit the sights located outside the city. In particular, you should definitely visit Peterhof. You can also visit this palace and park complex using public transport. In the warm season, it is better to use a meteor. The cost of a two-way ticket for adults will be 1200 rubles. By the way, at the end of May, fountains are solemnly launched in Peterhof. This enchanting spectacle, accompanied by live performances by famous musicians, attracts thousands of tourists.
If you are not limited in time, then you should visit Tsarskoye Selo. It is best to take minibuses from the Moskovskaya metro station or from the House of Soviets (No. 342, 287, 347a and others). The fare is about 40 rubles, and the journey time is about half an hour. You can get to Tsarskoye Selo by train. However, you will have to walk about 20 minutes from the nearest station to the palace complex.
Now you know which means of transport you can travel from Moscow to St. Petersburg. You are also familiar with the reviews of such trips and tips of experienced tourists and you can avoid mistakes that could spoil your pleasure in visiting the Northern capital.