How to Have a Successful Journey to Russia: 10 Things Every Traveler Should Know About St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg is a city full of museums, churches, palaces, and lots of vodka. Four days was not NEARLY enough time to see all the greatness the city has to offer...but plenty of time to spend showering in disgusting water and trying to decipher a completely different alphabet. Here's my list of things any traveler should know about Peter the Great's Northern Capital.

1. Customs is not that intimidating. After shelling out $100 for a visa and filling out more paperwork than my last job required, I was all nerves about going through customs upon arrival. The worst images I conjured up were of scary policemen with guns questioning me in Russian and refusing me entrance to the country. More realistically, I thought it would take at least an hour to get through customs and I expected an interrogation about the contents of my luggage, my lack of travel insurance, or the brief form I completed on the plane. Actually, customs was a breeze. No questions, hardly any lines, baggage arrived in an adequate amount of time...we got through in about 20 minutes. For an impatient person such as I, this was a great relief.

2. This is a time of great change in Russia. The Russian economy is growing rapidly and in St. Petersburg, it is interesting to see all the improvements being done to the city. Cranes are everywhere erecting new buildings and old buildings are being repainted and remodeled. I think the city will look really beautiful in a few years...and hopefully be a bit more tourist friendly. Although a number of great restaurants abound (offering cuisines from around the world), I don't think Russians quite have the concept of "good service" down except in very nice hotels and restaurants. Make sure you are quite clear about the order you'd like to receive your food (like if you want a salad or appetizer before the meal). Be aware that, though a server won't come to your table for about 10 minutes after you sit down, he or she will expect you to put in drink AND food orders at this time. Another tip: if you enjoy wine with your meal, you might want to make sure before sitting down that the wines listed on the wine list are actually available. We had problems with this situation at a number of places.

3. Don't expect everything to be in English. I highly recommend bringing a Russian phrasebook and a translation of the Russian alphabet. Knowing the alphabet will help you immensely in identifying bars, restaurants, Internet places, and, most importantly, beers.

4. Don't drink the water. Don't even use it to brush your teeth. It's smells and is quite contaminated. I even avoided showering daily because I dreaded being drenched in that awful water.

5. Peterhof is worth the trip. This is an amazing palace that is only a 30 minute hydrofoil ride on the Bay of Finland away from St. Petersburg. The costs of the excursion can add up (the hydrofoil, plus entrance to get into the palace grounds, and then the cost of going into the palace and other museums), but it's completely worth it to see the Great Cascade, gardens and many fountains of Peter the Great's awesome tribute to Russian victory (over the Swedes). There was an unorganized, pushing crowd waiting to get into the actual palace and, in a fit of panic to escape the harsh conditions, my mom and I actually jumped through a window. It is definitely cheaper and more relaxing to avoid the palace and stick to the outdoor attractions!! Also, there are some good restaurants nearby, some with a nice view of the Bay of Finland.

6. The Hermitage is huge and amazingly beautiful. It's one of the greatest art museums in the world. Set aside at least 5 hours to see the highlights of the collection. You should definitely pay extra for the audio guides that will give you additional information about certain rooms of the museum and the artwork. Plus, you won't have to shove through the crowd to get close enough to read the artwork description. Make sure to see the Rembrandts, Raphaels, and Rodins (some of my favorites). There is an indoor cafe that's quite cheap (pizza, sandwiches, chips, beer) but don't make the mistake of missing the OUTDOOR cafe in the Hermitage courtyard.

7. Caviar, Nevskoe, Baltica, Vodka, Beef Stroganoff...oh my!! I really enjoyed these typical Russian foods and drinks. Caviar is typically served with Vodka, crepes, boiled eggs, sour cream, and green onions. Nevskoe and Baltica are Russian beers. Note that there are a number of Baltikas, each number denoting a different type and strength. Beef Stroganoff was invented by the chef of Russian diplomat Count Pavel Alexandrovich Stroganov in the 1890s. It is not your typical, American, Hamburger Helper Beef Stroganoff but is an elegant dish flavored with mushrooms and onions.

8. The history of the Church on Spilt Blood. This whimsical church right off Nevsky Prospekt (the main artery of St. Petersburg), is a fun sight to see. So fun that you might forget it was built where Alexander II was fatally attacked by his people for failing to set up a parliament...hence the name. My family started to go inside, but, once again, we didn't feel like paying the high price and fighting the crowds. The outside was quite enough for us.

9. The colonnade of St. Isaac's Cathedral has a beautiful view at twilight. Another church we did not actually go into...but we did climb to the dome around 8:30pm (in August) and enjoy the beautiful 360 degree view of the city.

10. Visit the Peter and Paul Fortress. This is located across the Neva River from the Hermitage. The best parts were the Cathedral (where you can see the tombs of the Romanovs) and the bastions of the fort which you can walk and take in the view of the river and city. Of course, you have to buy separate tickets for the cathedral and the bastions.

Some extra notes:

Bring a student ID card, or if you look (or are) quite young, say you are a student. Most places have significant discounts and you can enter the Hermitage for free. Many places don't even ask for a student card.

There are many museums and cathedrals you can pay to go into (they are using all the tourist money to fix up the city's sights!), but my favorite things were often outdoors and consisted of just enjoying the scenery!

There is so much to see, do and learn in St. Peterburg. It is truly a unique city and its quirks make it all the more interesting. Go to Russia with some patience, an open mind, and a bit of knowledge about the language and history, and you are sure to have a lovely trip!