The St. Petersburg Metro is our underground train system and one of the prides of our city.  There are 4 intersecting lines combining for over 110 kilometers with 60 stops.  Ask a St. Petersburg resident where they live and they will most likely tell you the nearest metro stop to their home.  Many of the stations are very ornate (photo gallery) in their design.  The system is the fastest and cheapest way to get around the city.   During rush hours trains arrive every minute.  During non-rush hours, trains arrive every 4 minutes.  See map.

For non-Russian speaking riders, it's useful to have a map that has both the names in Cyrillic and latin letters.  Also, it is advisable to learn the Cyrillic alphabet (it's not that hard), so you can recognize the station names.   One final thought - men should be gentlemen and give their seats to women, especially older women when it is busy. 

Standard system with hundreds of routes throughout the city.  A ticket seller will approach you after entering the bus.

During peak hours, the busses are so overcrowded that you will get to know all around you very (too) well.  Don't lose your ticket while riding or you may have to pay again.

A network of tracked busses around the city

Mini-vans that run regular routes.  Passengers announce to the driver when they want to stop.  Each van will have a sign that details destinations and landmarks along its route.  Each van is numbered.  Some vans will require payment when you get in, others when you exit.  Simply pass your money either directly to the driver or to another passenger between you and the driver. 

Much more comfortable than busses, the only difficulty is learning which van to take.  Just ask somebody that knows what number Marshrutka and the rest is fairly simple.  It's not polite to sit in the seat right by the door if there are other open seats as others will have to climb over you to get in and out. 

There are a number of taxi companies that have licenses and offer metered rides. 

If you would like to order a taxi to your apartment, you can locally dial '068'.  The prices are higher than unofficial taxies but quite reasonable compared with other countries. Be sure that the meter is actually running, or else you will be at the mercy of the driver regarding a price.  Though they claim to speak English, I'm still waiting for an example of it.

A culturally popular paid hitchhiking system.   Essentially, every passing car is a potential taxi, and putting your arm out in front of you invites cars to stop.  Riders tell the driver where he's going and how much he'll pay, and the driver either invites you to sit down or speeds away, sometimes with your head still half way in their window. 

Street taxies are sure to generate interesting stories for your friends back home.  Negotiation is a bit of an art form.  St. Petersburg drivers know that tourists will sometimes pay too much so it's important to know some general guidelines.  Rides within the center should never be more than 100 rubles, and usually about 1/2 that.  Never get into a car without an agreed price.  Sit in the front passenger seat.  NEVER get into a car with more than one male in it. 

The process of extending opposite legs in front of oneself in a coordinated manner to produce movement.

The best way to see St. Petersburg and soak in the culture.  Be careful crossing streets as Russian drivers who feel they have the right of way will not stop or slow down for a mere mortal person, though they may be polite and beep their horn as they accelerate.

St. Petersburg was originally envisioned to be like Venice.  Built on a series of islands, St. Petersburg often requires crossing one or more bridges for getting from point to point.  St. Petersburg is also a port city and requires it's bridges to be opened to allow for merchant ships to pass.  From April until September each year, beginning around 1 a.m. it's wise to know the times the bridges open so you don't get stuck with long waits.   The bridge schedule changes a little every year so it's important to make sure you have current times.  I will update this site as often as possible.  Here are times from the 2003 season.

Perhaps also of interest, the bridge openings during the White Night period (see picture to the left) is a social gathering point for people of all levels of sobriety. 

Sadly, many funny jokes have a bit of truth in them.  It is not uncommon for police to stop people and find some excuse to fine  them on the street.  It is important to know that if you have your passport and a properly registered visa, and you are not violating any laws such as crossing Nevsky Prospect in the middle, then there is absolutely no reason you should pay a single kopeck to the police.  If you feel you are being improperly harrassed, you absolutely should ask for the police officer's name and badge number.  You should then report this information to your consulate.