Saint Petersburg is Russia's second-largest city and its cultural capital, built on 42 islands at the mouth of the Neva River. Founded by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703, it served as the imperial capital for over two centuries and is home to some of the world's greatest museums, palaces, and architectural masterpieces.
- Public
- Excellent metro network with 5 lines covers the whole city; cheap and reliable
- Taxi
- Yandex.Taxi is reliable and affordable; avoid unlicensed street taxis
- Rental
- Not recommended for city travel due to traffic and parking; useful for day trips to palaces
- Walking
- The central historic area is very walkable; the embankments are particularly pleasant
Transport at a glance
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
- Taxi
- $15–20, 30–45 min to center
- Taxi Info
- Use Yandex.Taxi app or official airport taxi counters; avoid unofficial drivers at arrivals
- Shuttle
- $5–8, shared airport shuttle to various hotels
- Shuttle Info
- Several shuttle services operate from Pulkovo to the city center
- Bus
- $0.60, Bus 39 to Moskovskaya metro station
- Bus Info
- Bus 39 connects the airport to Moskovskaya metro (Line 2) in about 30 minutes
- Private
- $25–40, pre-booked private transfer
- Private Info
- Book online through hotel or reputable transfer company
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Bus
Extensive network covering all districts; $0.40–0.60 per ride; buses share routes with marshrutkas
Alternatives
Metro is faster and recommended for longer journeys; canal boats are available in summer from Palace Embankment and other stops
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Regular
- $1 base fare + $0.30/km approximately
- Apps
- Yandex.Taxi, Citymobil
- App Names
- Yandex.Taxi, Citymobil
- Typical Fare
- $3–8 for an average city ride; $15–20 to/from Pulkovo Airport
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Bus
Long-distance buses from Obvodny Canal Bus Station; routes to Tallinn, Helsinki, Riga from $20
Shared
Shared taxis (blablacar) available to Moscow and nearby cities
Flights
Domestic flights from Pulkovo to Moscow and major Russian cities from $30
Private
Private car hire with driver from $80/day
Train
Sapsan high-speed train to Moscow in 3.5 hours from $30; regular trains to Pskov, Novgorod from $10
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Saint Petersburg has an excellent public transport system centered on the metro, which is fast, clean, and affordable. The metro has 5 lines and over 72 stations, including some of the deepest and most architecturally stunning in the world. Buses, trolleybuses, and trams supplement the metro network.
Airports
Pulkovo International Airport
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Yandex.Taxi
Russia's main ride-hailing app, equivalent to Uber; most reliable way to book a taxi
Yandex.Maps
Best mapping app for Russia with accurate transit directions and real-time traffic
2GIS
Excellent offline maps app with detailed Saint Petersburg coverage and business listings
Citymobil
Secondary taxi app, useful if Yandex.Taxi has surge pricing
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Get a Podorozhnik transport card at any metro station — saves 30% on every ride
The metro closes at 12:30AM — plan your night accordingly or budget for a taxi
Google Maps works for transit directions in Saint Petersburg
Yandex Maps (in Russian) gives more detailed real-time bus information
Download the Yandex.Taxi app before arriving — create an account with your phone number
International bank cards may not work in Russian taxi apps — load rubles in cash
Canal boats operate May–October from Palace Embankment near the Hermitage
The suburban train (elektrichka) from Baltic Station is the cheapest way to reach Peterhof