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St. Marys (Pennsylvania)

St. Marys is a city in Elk County, Pennsylvania, part of the Pennsylvania Wilds.

Sitting near the center of the Pennsylvania Wilds region, St. Marys provides a great jumping-off point for visits to the area's parks, forests, rivers, lakes, and mountains.

Understand
St. Marys was founded by Bavarian Catholic immigrants in 1842, and today it still retains the early settlers' work ethic, industrial nature, and religious devotion.

The settlers intended to take up farming as their primary industry, but the terrain was found to be unsuitable to widespread agriculture. There were other resources to which they could turn, however. First among these was logging, facilitated by powerful new steam engines, and the corresponding lumbering industry.

Brickmaking was popular for a while, as was brewing. Around the turn of the 20th century, carbon and powdered metal became an important part of the borough's economy. St.Marys was also the site of an early light bulb manufacturing company, the Novelty Incandescent Lamp Company; through a series of mergers and name changes that company became Sylvania, which sadly closed in October of 2019.

In 1992, St.Marys absorbed the surrounding township of Benzinger and incorporated as a city, leading to the slogan "Pennsylvania's Newest City". Most of the "city" limits remains wild, with business and residences found primarily within the former borough limits.

Today, powdered metal, carbon, and beer are the cornerstones of the St.Marys economy, but like many old industrial areas, the city is shifting toward more service-oriented businesses.

By car
St. Marys lies at the intersection of Pennsylvania Routes 255 and 120. U.S. Route 219, the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway, is the main route into and out of Elk County. To get from U.S. 219 to St. Marys, there are three options. From the north, take Route 255 in Johnsonburg and travel nine miles southeast to St. Marys. From the south, take Route 255 in DuBois and travel 30 miles northeast to St. Marys. U.S. 219 also passes through Ridgway, ten miles west of St. Marys; the two towns are connected by Route 120.

From the east or west, you will probably be coming in on I-80; take exit 101 (Route 255) in DuBois, or take exit 111 (Route 153) north where it connects with Route 255.

By bus
Fullington Trailways stops in St. Marys (at the corner of 4th and Depot) on its Buffalo–DuBois route.

By car
Getting around St. Marys is straightforward and confusing at the same time. As far as major routes go, it couldn't be simpler; Route 255 comes in from the northwest (Johnsonburg) and leaves to the south (DuBois); Route 120 comes in from the west (Ridgway) and leaves to the east (Emporium). Where it gets tricky, however, is at the intersection in the middle of downtown where those two routes meet. It's a triangular plot of land called the Diamond, and in addition to the two state routes, the railroad tracks, Elk Creek, and multiple local roads all pass through.

Staying on Route 255 southbound is the only straightforward path through the Diamond. For anything else, take along a local for your first few attempts. If that's not practical, then watch the signs and surrounding vehicles carefully and be prepared to go around the block and try again if you miss.

The central business district is anchored by the Diamond, extending south on South St. Marys Street (Route 255), southeast on South Michael Street, and east on Brusselles Street (Route 120). Businesses in the downtown area are primarily locally owned. The major commercial strip is farther south on Route 255, along a section known as Million Dollar Highway; this is where you'll find the chain restaurants, hotels, and shops. A Wal-Mart lies just south of the city limits on Million Dollar Highway, marking the southern end of the commercial strip.

Beyond the major streets, you'll want a map to get around; the terrain combined with the odd angles at intersections mean there are few right angles and a lot of dead-ends. Almost everything a traveler needs can be found on the major roadways (including North and South Michael Street).

See

Do

Buy
There are a couple of shopping plazas around St. Marys; one is anchored by Dollar General and Aldi on Million Dollar Highway; the other is a couple of miles east of the Diamond on Route 120, anchored by a Sears Hometown Store and a Peebles department store.

There are some local businesses of note, of course.

If none of these options work, you can always head off to the Wal-Mart on Million Dollar Highway, just south of the city limits.

Eat
The restaurant options in St. Marys are a mix of casual chain restaurants, local taverns, and pizza joints.

If you'd like to buy groceries, you have limited options. The main grocery store in the city, Giant Eagle, closed in August 2014, leaving few alternatives. You can always drop by a gas station for convenience items; Sheetz in particular has a wide range of offerings. If you want fresh produce or meats, though, your best bet is probably Pfaff's, while the Save-A-Lot offers discounted dry goods. Dollar General (on Million Dollar Highway, near the former Giant Eagle) also has a selection of dry goods, as well as dairy and freezer cases.

Drink
The distinction between "restaurant" and "bar" in St. Marys is heavily blurred; most of the local non-chain restaurants have bars, and most of the bars have sit-down and/or takeout menus.

Sleep
The Best Western and the Holiday Inn Express, both on Million Dollar Highway, are chain hotels, catering to the business traveler; they are comparable in most respects. The Cobblestone Inn, opened in 2016, is closer to the business district but has similar amenities. Gunners offers more local flavor right on the Diamond.

Connect
St. Marys is in the 814 area code. Most phone numbers are in the 834 exchange, with some in 781. The Zip code is 15857.

Go next
St. Marys sits within easy driving distance of countless state parks, woodlands, waterways, and mountains.

Nearby boroughs, all about 10-15 minutes away:
 * Ridgway to the west; a small riverside community, Elk County seat, and, in many ways, St. Marys' smaller sibling.
 * Johnsonburg to the northwest; known simply as "Burg" to other Elk County residents, this is an industrial community dominated by the Domtar paper processing plant.
 * Emporium to the east.

Heading south, you'll pass through numerous small villages and hamlets before reaching the city of Dubois, about 40 minutes south of St. Marys. Dubois is somewhat larger and more urbanized than St. Marys, with a decent-sized mall anchoring a sizable commercial strip. This is where St. Marys residents head when they want to shop someplace other than Wal-Mart.

For larger cities, Erie is 90 minutes northwest, Buffalo is two hours north, and Pittsburgh, the "big city" to locals, is about 2½ hours southwest.

The Clarion River, of which St. Marys' Elk Creek is a tributary, flows through Johnsonburg and Ridgway and provides fishing and boating opportunities. It also runs through the Allegheny National Forest, which extends from west of Ridgway north to the New York border and is a large expanse of wilderness dotted with small communities. Canoeing, hiking, skiing (water and cross-country), boating, swimming, and, of course, hunting are all available within its borders.

North of St. Marys, the East Branch of the Clarion River flows from within Elk State Forest, where the East Branch Dam forms a 1,370-acre lake with camping, picnicking, and boat launch facilities. Downstream of the dam, closer to Johnsonburg, is Bendigo State Park with similar outdoors activities.

There is a herd of elk in the area, sometimes visible from St. Marys but more often farther south near Benezette. It's one of the few herds found east of the Mississippi River.

title: St. Marys (Pennsylvania)


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Saint Matthews (Kentucky)

St. Matthews is a city in the Kentucky Derby Region, part of metro Louisville with an approximate population of 15,000.

By car
St. Matthews, generally, lies in the northwest quadrant of the I-64, I-264 (Watterson Expressway) interchange. The city can be reached easily from these routes. From I-64, use the Cannons Ln. (Exit 10) or I-264 North (Exit 12A) interchanges. From I-264 use the Breckenridge Ln. North (Exit 19B) or Shelbyville Rd. West (Exit 21B) exits.

By bus
TARC offers several bus routes around St. Matthews and Jefferson County.

By plane
Bowman Field, located at Cannons Ln south of I-64, offers services for small aircraft. There are two runways with lengths of 3032' and 3200'.

Louisville International Airport, located eight miles from St. Matthews, has several commercial flights to major cities around the country. Follow I-264 West to I-65 and the Fair/Expo Center area.

By train
There is no passenger rail service to St. Matthews or Louisville.

Get around
Major routes in St. Matthews: East-west roads Frankfort Ave. (from downtown Louisville) and Shelbyville Rd. (from Middletown) meet at the intersection of north-south roads Breckenridge Ln. (from Hikes Point) and Chenoweth Ln. (from Brownsboro Rd.) in the heart of St. Matthews. Also at this intersection is Westport Rd., running northeast into the Springhurst area. One block west of this intersection is Lexington Rd., bringing traffic in from the Cherokee Park area. Others roads in St. Matthews include Dutchmans Pkwy. (near I-264), Cannons Ln. (near Seneca Park), Hubbards Ln. (connecting Westport Rd. and Dutchmans Pkwy area), and Bowling Blvd (near Mall St. Matthews).

Parks

 * Brown Park (with Walking Trails), Kresge Way at Browns Ln., +1 502 895-9444.
 * Seneca Park, 3151 Pee Wee Reese Rd, Louisville. Golf Course/Pro Shop. +1 502-574-7275.
 * Seneca Park, 3151 Pee Wee Reese Rd, Louisville. Golf Course/Pro Shop. +1 502-574-7275.

American

 * WW Cousins, Breckenridge Ln. at Dupont Rd.
 * WW Cousins, Breckenridge Ln. at Dupont Rd.
 * WW Cousins, Breckenridge Ln. at Dupont Rd.
 * WW Cousins, Breckenridge Ln. at Dupont Rd.

Seafood

 * The Fishery Lexington Rd at Bauer Ave., +1 502 895-1188.

Go next

 * Louisville

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Saint Matthews (Kentucky)


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Saint-Maurice

Saint-Maurice is a cosy small town in Valais, Switzerland. It looks back on a long history, with the first mention in the year 200 as a Roman outpost. It is famous for its abbey. Its location where the Rhone valley narrows down into a canyon made it an important defence post throughout the history of the town and fortifications from the period of the Second World War and the infamous National Redoubt can still be visited today.

Get in
Direct trains with stops at major stations from Geneva and Brig arrive at Saint-Maurice hourly. Regional trains leave half hourly in direction Martigny and Monthey.

Saint-Maurice lies directly on the A9 motorway as well as on the regular main road. As the valley narrows down to below 100 metres, all the roads converge here and you are unlikely to miss the town.

Do
Visit Lavey Spa & Resort - thermal baths with two outdoor pools, one indoor pool that maintain a temperature of 32°C to 36°C and are open all year round Su-Th 09:00-21:00, Friday – Saturday 09:00-22:00. Entrance fee for pools only: €16 for 3 hours. The baths are placed 2 km away from the village, it is possible to book a room in the complex.

Eat
During low season the major part of restaurants is closed, the kitchen of those that are open works till 21:00, near Lavey Spa there is a restaurant/pizzeria with flashing sign that is open in the evenings and serves wonderful fondues.

title: Saint-Maurice


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St. Moritz

St. Moritz (German: Sankt Moritz, Italian: San Maurizio, French: Saint-Moritz) is located in the Upper Engadin in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It is one of the best-known vacation spots in Europe. It is chic and famous for its ambiance, and is situated next to Engadine's lakescape at 1,856 metres above sea level. The bubbly "champagne atmosphere" is as legendary as the St. Moritz sun, which shines on an average 322 days a year!

Get in

You can get to St.Moritz by train, bus, car, or air.

By train
If you arrive at the International Airport Zurich take the SBB train to Chur and from there the Rhb train over the famous Albulapass to. Trains from Chur to St. Moritz run hourly. The last train from St. Moritz to Chur departs at 21:00.

Furthermore, St. Moritz is the starting point for the famous Glacier Express and the Palm Express.

By car
If you are coming by car from Switzerland the only pass which is open in winter is the Julierpass. If you come from Davos or Klosters you can take the cartrain from Klosters through the Fluelapass. From Italy you drive over the Bernina or the Maloja.

By plane
There is a small airport in Samedan, which is around 20 minutes away from St. Moritz. It provides flights to the international airports of Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Milan, and Munich. You can also take a train from Zurich or a bus from Milan; both take about 4 hours.

By bus
St. Moritz is served by the Post Bus, departing from right next to the train station. Buses depart towards Chur and Lugano (and back). Reservations may be necessary. The last Post Bus from St. Moritz to Chur leaves at 23:00. Later there are not any bus or train connections from St. Moritz to Chur. On the way, you can admire a lot of Swiss villages and spectacular mountain views. You can reach St. Moritz from Milan by bus.

Get around
St.Moritz has a good public transport network. Biking is also very good around St.Moritz, however it is sometimes a bit steep. There are very few parking places in wintertime.

See

Do
There are a lot of events in St. Moritz such as operas in all seasons, the British Classic Car Meeting, the surf marathon, the city race, the gourmet festival, etc. For an overview of the upcoming events, take a look at the event calendar of the Engadin.

Sleep
People in St. Moritz are very hospitable and its hotels brought St. Moritz to the top of the world. Here, you can find all types of accommodation from luxurious hotels over holiday apartments, mountain lodges, a youth hostel, to a camping place. The best-known hotels are the Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains, Badrutt’s Palace, and the Kulm Hotel.

Go next
Livigno is just behind the borders, accessible via Bernina Pass.

title: St. Moritz


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Saint Paul

Saint Paul (or St. Paul) is the capital city and the second largest city of the US state of Minnesota. Along with the slightly larger Minneapolis it forms the urban core of the Twin Cities region, the third largest metropolis in the Midwest.

Geography
Saint Paul is in the Upper Midwest along the Mississippi River, just east and downstream of its sister city Minneapolis. Its location near the head of navigation on the Mississippi River led to its historical development as a transportation hub for freight from the west and to the east and south. The geologically recent Mississippi River is a prominent feature of the landscape, traversing the city from the upscale riverside homes in Highland Park to the undevelopable floodlands near the junction with the Minnesota River, through the historic downtown riverboat landings and railroad infrastructure, the Mississippi River is the defining feature of Saint Paul.

Climate
Winters in Saint Paul can be very cold, summer is often warm to hot and frequently humid, snowfall is common in the winter and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall occur during the spring, summer and autumn. If you are not fond of the cold, May-October would be the best time to visit Saint Paul. Downtown Saint Paul has a skyway system to allow you to escape the elements in bad weather, although it isn't nearly as extensive as the one in downtown Minneapolis.

By plane

 * Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is just outside the southwest corner of the city. It is a major hub for Delta Air Lines and also a hub for local discount carrier Sun Country Airlines. Metro Transit provides bus service between the airport (at Terminal 1) and downtown Saint Paul on Route 54, which runs along West 7th Street. The bus comes by every 15 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays, every 20 minutes on Sundays, and the trip time from the airport to downtown is roughly 20 minutes. If your flight arrives at Terminal 2, take the light rail (free fare between terminals) one stop north to Terminal 1 and transfer to the bus. Taxi fare from the airport to downtown is around $31-38.

By train

 * Route stopping at Saint Paul:
 * The Empire Builder, operating daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as trains consisting of train cars from both branches between Spokane and Chicago. This train covers a route similar to the historic Empire Builder of the James J. Hill Great Northern Railway.
 * The Borealis, which operates daily between Chicago and Saint Paul on the same route as the Empire Builder, but on a different schedule.
 * The Borealis, which operates daily between Chicago and Saint Paul on the same route as the Empire Builder, but on a different schedule.

By bus
Bus services operate out of Union Depot (see "By train" above)

By car
Interstate 35E and Interstate 94 travel through Saint Paul. US 52 also is a freeway connecting Saint Paul to the southern suburbs.

By public transit

 * METRO Light Rail. The Green Line runs from downtown Saint Paul to downtown Minneapolis. The line starts at Union Depot and runs down 4th Street and Cedar Street, goes past the State Capitol, and then runs west down University Avenue through the Frogtown and Midway areas before reaching the city of Minneapolis. Trains run every 10 minutes during much of the day, with service being reduced to every 15 minutes later in the evening, and then just hourly during the overnight hours.
 * Bus. Bus service in Saint Paul has improved, even if it doesn't quite match up to services in Minneapolis. The 54 runs fairly often between downtown Saint Paul and the airport via West 7th Street. The A Line runs frequently along Snelling Avenue and Ford Parkway. The A Line is also different from the other bus lines in town in that fares are paid before boarding the bus; each stop has a ticket machine (cash and credit cards accepted, no change given) and a Go-To card validator.

Pass options
Unlimited ride passes are available in 1-day, 7-day, and 31-day formats. Stored value passes (pay-per-ride) are also available. Day passes are $6 and can be purchased online, at a Metro Transit Store, from a bus driver, or a ticket machine at any light rail station or A Line bus stop. 7-day ($24) and 31-day ($65-120) passes must be loaded on a Go-To card, which can be purchased online, at a Metro Transit Store, or participating Metro Transit sales outlets. Stored value passes can be loaded on a Go-To card in increments of $10 (up to $400). Once in possession of a Go-To card, reloading it with new unlimited ride passes or stored value is easy and can be done online, at Metro Transit stores and outlets, or at light rail ticket machines.

Telephones
Saint Paul and the eastern suburbs of the Twin Cities are in the 651 area code. From 651, it is not necessary to dial a 1 before the area code when calling numbers in the 612 (Minneapolis, Richfield, St. Anthony, the airport, and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus), 763 (northwest suburbs), or 952 (southwest suburbs) area codes.

Internet
There are no Internet cafes in Saint Paul. Most coffeehouses offer free wi-fi to paying customers, but very few will have Internet terminals.

Publications

 * Pioneer Press. Saint Paul's daily newspaper. $0.50 daily, $1 Sunday.
 * Star Tribune. Daily newspaper based across the river in Minneapolis, but still available in Saint Paul and around the Twin Cities. $1 daily, $2 Sunday.
 * Lavender. Free biweekly LGBT magazine.

title: Saint Paul


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Saint-Paul de Vence

St.-Paul-de-Vence, in Alpes-Maritimes, France, is a perfectly preserved medieval village perched on a hillside several kilometres from the Mediterranean. St. Paul became an art centre in the early twentieth century and remains home to countless galleries and studios.

Get in
Buses run from the terminal in Nice. Alternatively you can go to Cagnes-sur-Mer by train (TER line 4) and then take the bus (line 200) to St. Paul. The 30-minute bus ride is a very rewarding one because it takes you through some other smaller villages, and offers you a great panoramic view onto St. Paul before you get there.

Get around
The village is pedestrian only.

See

Wandering the streets of the village is the best way to see everything.

Buy
Artworks, of course. There is art to fit a wide variety of budgets in St. Paul.

"Le Boudoir de Saint-Paul " shows modern and contemporary art from world famous artists such as Picasso, Klein, Duchamp or Delvoye. Located at the entrance of the village, Le Boudoir is conceived such that the Leroy Brothers are able to invite personalities to interview in a salon setting.

Eat
La Colombe d'Or offers a wonderful cuisine in a setting unlike any other. As you dine, you will notice paintings filling the walls of artists who in the earlier 20th century were offered room and board in exchange for their artwork, such as Matisse and Picasso. In the summer, Toile Blanche opens its restaurant on the terrace with a view on the village and superb landscape. The restaurant is mentioned in both the Michelin and the Gault&Millau guide.

Drink
There are fountains with free water all around the village, with which you can replenish your water bottle.

Sleep
Toile Blanche is a wonderful boutique hotel in the valley of Saint-Paul, run by the artistic trio 'Leroy Brothers'. The house is filled with artworks of the brothers.

Hotel Les Vergers de St. Paul is a beautiful place just outside the city walls. Its pool and landscape will constantly remind you that you are near the Riviera.

title: Saint-Paul de Vence


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Saint-Paul-lès-Dax

Saint-Paul-lès-Dax is a well provided spa town in France. Ideally situated, St-Paul-lès-Dax, a pretty and blooming city, is a privileged spa and holiday resort. In the Landes, human relations are still authentic.

See
The Landes country is definitely for nature lovers. The largest forest in Europe, chain of dunes along the fine and sandy beaches, mosaïc of countrysides : the typical Basque villages, the Pyrenées mountains, the sun of the nearby Spain.

See
From the Christus Lake various shaded walking and cycling paths will take you to the nearby pine forest.

Well being and spa treatments

 * For 2 hours or a week, give yourself a chance to naturally gain energy and vitality.
 * Under an exotic wooden dome, alone or in family, enjoy Caliceo’s exceptional fittings in a glass and marbled decor.
 * 4 swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), jacuzzis, swan necks, bubble seats and beds, high pressure jets, geysers, water falls, against current swimming, saunas,  hammams, solarium, fitness room will reshape your mind and body.
 * Various treatment packages to be discovered all year long to wholly benefit from a rich thermal experience.
 * Reaching the highest standards of quality, Terdax, the local made mud is famous for its efficiency for rheumatologic cares. Smooth and creamy, it will certainly ease your pains.
 * Other treatments as underwater massages and jets are also recommended and available “à la carte”.
 * In cooled mineral water, make your legs lighter and thinner under phlebologic treatments such as specific bubble baths, jets showers, walking trails in pool, affusion massages, underwater showers.

Eat
The world famous “foie gras” and other local food specialities, summer parties and festivals, bull fight games and corridas, brass bands are everywhere to be fully savoured.

title: Saint-Paul-lès-Dax


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Saint Petersburg

 * For the city in Florida, see Saint Petersburg (Florida)

Saint Petersburg (Russian: Са́нкт-Петербу́рг Sankt-Peterburg), known as Petrograd (Петроград) in 1914-1924 and Leningrad (Ленинград) in 1924-1991, is the second largest city of Russia, with 5.6 million inhabitants (2021), the fourth most populous city in Europe, the world's northernmost city of at least a million residents, and the former capital of the Russian Empire. Founded in 1703, it is not ancient, but its historical cityscape is remarkably well-preserved. The center of Saint Petersburg occupies numerous islands of the Neva River delta, divided by waterways and connected by huge drawbridges. Since 1991 it and some historical suburbs, including Peterhof, have been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It is part of the Silver Ring of cultural and historical centers of the Northwest of Russia. It is home to one of the world's largest museums of art, the Hermitage. Many Russians know the city as Piter (Питер), a familiar diminutive of Saint Petersburg.

History
Saint Petersburg was built by Peter the Great in 1703 on the Neva river, on the land he had just conquered from the Swedish Empire, outside the area then populated by the Russian people. Pre-planned rather than spontaneous almost from the very beginning, the city, called by Peter "my window on Europe", was designed to look European rather than Russian, and many European architects were invited to work here. As the capital of the Russian Empire from the early 18th century to the early 20th century, the city grew steadily, saw many crucial events of the Russian history, and was a major cultural center. Many world-famous artists, scientists, writers and composers, such as Mendeleev, Dostoevsky and Tchaikovsky, lived and worked here.

In 1917 the Russian Revolution started. The significance of Saint Petersburg has declined somewhat after the transfer of the Russian capital to Moscow in 1918, but this allowed its cityscape to remain largely intact to this day. During World War II, the city was besieged by the Wehrmacht for 872 days, resulting in more than a million of civilian losses, mainly from starvation.

The city has undergone several name changes since its founding. Due to the German origins of the name "Saint Petersburg", its name was changed to the more Russian-sounding "Petrograd" in 1914 in the wake of World War I. Subsequently, its name was changed to "Leningrad" in honour of the founding leader of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. It was only in 1991, after the breakup of the Soviet Union that the original name was restored, though the surrounding area remains known as Leningrad Oblast.

Saint Petersburg has almost always been, or at least tried to be a city with strong foreign connections, and this is where its authenticity lies. Don't expect it to be overly indigenous. Matryoshkas and other such souvenirs popular among foreigners have very little to do with its authentic life.

Climate
The city's position at 60°N makes for huge seasonal variation in day length. Days are less than 6 hours long at the end of December, but it never gets darker than twilight during the White Nights season in June. Not only are the days very short in late autumn and early winter, but the weather may be overcast for weeks, without a hint of blue sky, which may feel depressing. However, when the sun does shine through in December, the light of the low sun, not more than only seven degrees above the horizon at its zenith, bathes the city and its snow-covered landmarks, canals, and neoclassical architecture in an enchanting, diffuse, golden light. The driest season with least precipitation is early spring. July and August are usually the rainiest months, though the difference is usually not big enough to worry about. But if you care about this, it is a good idea to have an umbrella or raincoat handy. In November–March there are hardly any tourists—even domestic tourists—so you won't see the barest hint of the long lines of the summer at the Hermitage. Saint Petersburg's neoclassical streets are also simply gorgeous in the snow. Temperatures can range from relatively mild, slightly above freezing point, to bitterly cold. From time to time it may get well below the averages, to -25°C (-13F) and below, often with high humidity and wind, so be prepared to dress warmly. Most major tourist attractions (except fountains and all sorts of water transport, of course) are still open and some hotels offer lower prices during this time.

Snow cover persists on average from November till early April (late April in the countryside), with most of it falling during the first half of the winter. Snow is not always removed from streets in time and may exacerbate traffic problems. The danger of slipping may be high in winter, as the surfaces are often covered with ice. Wear good boots, take small steps, and watch your feet! Also beware of icicles falling from roofs.

The rivers and canals are frozen on average from late November till April. Usually from late April till November the Neva is navigable, and during this season most of its huge bridges are drawn up to let ships pass for several hours each night according to a published schedule. This is a spectacular sight during the White Nights, but also a major transport inconvenience.

In April, the sludge resulting from melting snow and the dust which forms when it dries up may get tiresome.

May 9 is Victory Day (День победы) celebrating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. This day is marked with an opening military parade on Palace Square, directly in front of the Hermitage, visiting various war monuments, giving flowers to war veterans who are dressed in full military outfits, and an evening parade down Nevsky Prospekt which includes survivors of the Siege of Leningrad. June is peak tourist season during the famous White Nights (roughly 11 June–2 July), when the sun sets only for a brief period of twilight, and the streets stay alive around the clock. The last ten days of June, during the White Nights Festival of all-day performances, concerts, festivals, and parties, are the busiest time of the season and it can be difficult to reserve accommodation and transport. Book early.

July and August are usually the warmest months. This is a rather northern city, and it rarely gets really hot, but even more modest warmth can be hard to bear in summer because of the high humidity. Rain showers usually come and go throughout this time, so it is always a good idea for one to have an umbrella or rain jacket at all times, even on sunny clear days.

Late September—early October is a lovely time in the city. The temperatures drop to moderate, often with strong winds, and the tourists are all gone. Rain is still common.

Fountains work from May through mid-September. Most trees are in leaf from May through October.

When deciding on the time of your visit, keep in mind the days of school holidays, when museums and other similar venues can become considerably more crowded. School holidays happen in early November, the first half of January and late March. Moreover, general holidays are held around the New Year into early January, as well as in early May.

New Years is the biggest holiday of the year in Russia. Reserving a hotel room is usually not a problem during this time, but be prepared for very large crowds and noisy celebrations.

Talk
The language spoken in Saint Petersburg is Russian, as in most parts of Russia. English is usually taught in schools and universities, so younger people are supposed to understand it to some extent, but the chance of finding anybody who is fluent in English on the streets is, though better than elsewhere in Russia including Moscow, still not that great. Average people will probably be able to point out a direction, but don't expect much more. The signs and labels in most places, especially off the beaten path, are still in Russian only, with a notable exceptions of metro (subway) and street signs in the city centre. It may be a good idea to get familiar with the Russian Cyrillic alphabet before the travel, as this is easy and lets you recognize street names and so on.

There is a local weekly English-language newspaper, The St. Petersburg Times.

Get in
Russian visa requirements are complex but are not hard to manage with some online research. See the Get In section of the article on Russia for information. A visa is not required for a trip of less than 72 hours if you arrive in St. Petersburg by ferry or by cruise liner and you have a pre-arranged program of excursions by an approved local company.

Starting October 1, 2019 tourists from a number of countries can visit St.Petersburg and the surrounding regions by e-visa, obtained free of charge from the Russian Government website. This site lists the particular border crossings where this class of visa is accepted. This visa has been suspended due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Airport to city travel

 * City buses numbers 39, 39Ex and minibus K39 operate service between the airport and the Moskovskaya (Московская) metro station (₽40, 35 minutes). Buses are available 05:30-01:30. From the Moskovskaya metro station, you can take metro line 2 (blue), which operates between 05:45 and 00:20, to the city centre (20 minutes). If you arrive late at night and the metro is not operating, you can also take a night bus from the metro station to the city centre. Minibus K39 also stops at the Aeroport commuter rail station. From there, you can take a train to Saint Petersburg's Baltiysky Station (17 minutes, 06:00-23:30), next to the Baltiyskaya metro station. This is only convenient if it is near your accommodation.
 * Marshrutka (minibus) K3 operates service from the airport with stops at the Moskovskaya (Московская) metro station and the Sennaya Ploshchad/Spasskaya (Спáсская) metro station, in the city centre.
 * Uber or Yandex.Taxi costs ₽500-900 to the city center.
 * Taxis can be ordered from the service booth in the arrivals hall. Prices are fixed based on the zone of travel; the cost to the city centre is ₽1000-1400, including booking fees. Without traffic, the trip takes 30 minutes, but it can easily take an hour during rush hour. As an alternative, Taxi 068 has a mobile app that you can use to book a taxi to the center for ₽600, but you will need a Russian phone number to communicate. If calling from the airport arrival hall, it will take 10-20 minutes for the taxi to arrive.
 * Pre-booked taxis will cost ₽1300-1600 to the centre, but you will be welcomed in the arrival hall by your driver carrying a sign with your name. Pre-booking through the internet is without risk, no credit card information is asked, and pre-payment is not required. Some taxi companies, such as LingoTaxi, have English-speaking drivers and dispatchers.

By train
Tickets can be bought at the train stations or online. Long distance train tickets are generally more expensive if bought close to the date of travel. See Russia for more details on travelling in Russia by train.

There are five principal train stations in Saint Petersburg:

From Russia
Tickets for travel originating in Russia can be bought at the train stations or online. Long distance train tickets are generally more expensive if bought close to the date of travel. See Russia for more details on travelling in Russia by train.

Sapsan high-speed trains (4-5 hours, 6 per day, ₽2300-3500 for 2nd class if bought several days in advance) make travel between downtown Saint Petersburg and downtown Moscow very easy. Some trains make a few stops including Tver. The crew speaks English.

Overnight rapid trains (8-9 hours, ₽800+) are slower but usually cheaper. Price and comfort levels vary, with the luxurious private Grand-Express "hotel train" (featuring some compartments with showers!) at the high end, all the way down to budget connections in third-class platzkart cars. Second-class coupe coaches, which include a bed and sheets, are good value.

From Finland
Karelian Trains, a joint venture of the state railway companies VR (Finland) and RZD (Russia), operates highspeed Allegro trains running at up to 220 km/h between Helsinki and Saint Petersburg (travel time 3½ hours, 4 departures in each direction per day, €59-79 for 2nd class). Tickets originating in Finland can be purchased from the VR Group website, via some travel agencies, and at major VR train stations in Finland. Border crossing formalities are completed on board the train immediately after departure from Helsinki. The trains are almost always on time and there are no delays in crossing the border. On-board currency exchange is available. On 26 March 2022 the Allegros will stop because of the Russian war on Ukraine.

By bus
International buses and buses to major cities in Russia all leave from the, near the Obvodny Kanal metro station. Some may make additional stops elsewhere in the city; see below. Buses are the preferred method of travel to/from Estonia and Latvia, but generally do not make sense for travel to Finland or within Russia.

The process of crossing the border by bus takes much longer than when travelling by train or air. Border agents only speak Russian and are sometimes not aware of visa requirements, which leads to delays.

From Russia
The train is much more preferred method of travel than the bus within Russia. Domestic bus schedules can be accessed on AviaBus.

From Finland

 * Lux Express operates service to/from Helsinki (€15-20, 7 hours, 3 per day). This is the cheapest way to travel to Helsinki, although it takes twice as long as the train.
 * Matkahuolto provides information on traveling by bus to/from Finland. There are direct buses between Saint Petersburg and Helsinki (7-8 hours, 4 per day, €35) and Lappeenranta (6 hours, 3 per day, €31), with further connections to other cities in Finland.
 * Sovavto  operates daily buses between Saint Petersburg and Turku (10 hours, €53), with stops at several cities including Helsinki (7½ hours, €35).

By boat
If you join a cruise tour of St. Petersburg, then you don't need a Russian visa but you have to stay with the tour. See Russia.

 * St. Peter Line operates visa-free cruises to St. Petersburg from Helsinki, Tallinn, and Stockholm.
 * RechFlot and Stolichnaya Sudokhodnaya Kompania (SSK) operate river cruises on the inland waterway "Volga-Baltic" which links Moscow, the River Volga, and Lakes Onega, Ladoga and Neva.

Ports
Passenger Port of St. Petersburg “Marine Façade" is the main boat terminal in St. Petersburg, and is where 90% of cruise ships dock. It was built on reclaimed land on the western shore of Vasilyevsky Island at the mouth of the Neva River, 8 km west of the city center. With its 7 berths and 4 terminals, Marine Façade is able to handle 7 large cruise ships and more than 15,000 passengers per day. Bus 158 operates between terminal 3 and the Primorskaya (Примо́рская) metro station.

Smaller cruise ships sail up the Neva river and dock at either English Embankment (Англи́йская на́бережная; Angliyskaya Naberezhnaya) or Lieutenant Schmidt Embankment, both of which are closer to the city center.

Bridge draw schedule
Except during the winter, the 9 low bridges in St. Petersburg are drawn during the night to allow for the passage of boat traffic. Therefore, if you don't make it to the side of the river where you are staying before the bridges are drawn and there are no high bridges to cross, you will be stuck until the bridges are lowered. There are "breaks" when some the bridges are lowered in the middle of the night for approximately 30 minutes to briefly allow everyone to get home. The bridge schedule is particularly noteworthy for those staying on Vasilyevsky Island, which is unreachable at certain times of the night. Seeing the bridges drawn in the middle of the night is a must for all visitors to the city!

The Bolshoy Obukhovskiy Most, 14 km south of the Alexander Nevsky Bridge (Most Aleksandra Nevskogo), is never drawn, allowing for 24-hour crossing of the Neva River. However, the bridge is out of the way and will increase the cost of your taxi or Uber.

The official bridge draw schedule is published online.

The following are the times when the bridges are drawn and will not be able to be crossed:

By metro
Metro lines:,, , ,

Saint Petersburg's metro system is the second largest in Russia, after that of Moscow. The metro is a cheap and effective way to get around the city, and also a major tourist attraction due to the beautiful decorations of the stations. Amateur photography (without a tripod, etc.) is allowed, although professional photography is prohibited.

The trains are fast and run frequently. During rush hour, there are 2-3 minutes between trains. Fares are ₽55 per entry regardless of the distance traveled. Multi-trip passes can be purchased including a 10-trip pass for ₽370 (must be used within 7 days of purchase). The system can be accessed by inserting a brass token into the turnstile slot, by tapping a Sputnik smart card purchased from a machine at the station, or by tapping a Mastercard PayPass or Visa PayWave card on the white circle near the turnstile. Large baggage requires payment of 1 additional fare.

Opening and closing times vary; the subway is closed from approximately midnight to approximately 05:45, depending on the station.

Metro maps can be found in every train car and always have station names in the Latin alphabet. The station names on the platforms are also in the Latin alphabet, and many other signs are in English. Station announcements on the train are only in Russian, but if you listen carefully you will hear the conductor announce the current station name and the next station as the doors are closing.

Stations are deep underground, and transferring trains at transfer stations involves long walks that can take up to 10 minutes.

Trains can be extremely crowded during rush hour. Be aware of your belongings and expect to have to push your way out of the train upon arrival at your station.

By bus, trolleybus, or tram
Buses (автобус) and trolleybuses (троллейбус - trolleibus) run frequently and cover much of the city. Route information is available using Google Maps. Information for trolleybuses and trams is also available online. There is also a free mobile app Yandex.Transport (Яндекс.Транспорт) (Google Play, AppStore ). It contains routes of all ground transportation and shows transport online on the map.

Trolleybuses are indicated by the letter 'm' (the lower case version of the Russian letter 'т') on the stops, and diesel/gas buses by the letter 'A'. Both buses and trolleybuses may show the same route number, but the trolleybus route in this case is frequently shorter, and can vary in some minor respects.

Trams (трамвай – "tramvai") are not common in the city center due to traffic issues but are available outside the city center.

Tickets (₽40, more to the suburbs) are sold by attendants on board the vehicle. They usually only speak Russian and prefer exact change.

Buses and trolleys on main routes are frequently overcrowded. If you are caught without a valid ticket, you will be fined ₽300.

By taxi
Taxis are always available but are much more expensive at night. Every private vehicle is a potential taxi. Flagging down a vehicle and paying for a ride somewhere is perfectly normal in Russia and quite popular although ill-advised for tourists. Safety is, of course, an issue. As a rule, you should never get in a private cab if it already has passengers inside.

Refuse requests from the driver to take on more fares unless you reached your destination; if he insists, ask to stop at a safe-looking place, pay and leave. If the driver stops for gas, step out of the car, take your belongings, and get some fresh air while he is fuelling it. Those travelling alone (men and women) should wave off any suspicious ride for any reason whatsoever. Gypsy cabs which linger near popular bars and restaurants at night have been known to be especially dangerous, with several instances of druggings and robberies.

Drivers do not usually speak English. Watch out for overpriced taxis outside Hermitage museum. They have meters that run at 4 times the rate of regular taxis. Negotiate a flat fare before getting on the taxi. If the driver insists on using the meter you should walk away.

By ridehail
Uber is a safer and cheaper method of transport than taxis. In Russia it works under the franchise of Yandex.Taxi, the subsidiary of Yandex - the local Internet giant, so you will need to download the corresponding app. Drivers usually don't speak English, but communicating with the driver is not necessary since the fares and destinations are all handled through the app. Other alternative for ridehail is Bolt.

By marshrutka
Route taxi (маршрутка - marshrutka) is sometimes the fastest way to get somewhere. Vans have 14-20 seats, are usually white or yellow, always with a letter K followed by the route number plate (such as K-28). Often they are small Chinese or Turkish buses. There are no regular stops; you must tell the driver when you want to get out, or wave while on the roadside to stop one. You must pay to the driver at entry, usually ₽30-40. If you cannot reach the driver on your own, pass the money through the other passengers and be ready to pass other's money if you sit close to the driver. The Marshrutka experience may seem exciting sometimes, especially when you see some brave driver counting change while steering with his knees at 110km/h (70mph). Many marshrutka drivers are illegal immigrants and speak Russian poorly (if any at all).

By local train
Commuter trains (электричка, elektrichka) may be useful to get to the suburbs. Fares are based on travel distance. Speeds are moderate, but trains operate infrequently. Information is available in Russian online.

By bicycle
While the terrain in Saint Petersburg is flat, the city is not bicycle-friendly due to limited bike lanes, bad weather, and dangerous car traffic. However, you are allowed to take a bicycle onto the elektrichka trains upon payment of a small fee and go to a less crowded suburb to enjoy a ride.

See

Saint Petersburg is simply put one of the greatest sightseeing cities on earth. No visit can do it justice—you'll have to move here to really be able to see all the sights. Really, budgeting a month of full-time tourism would not be unrealistic. And that's after all dramatic events of the 20th century that took place here! Perhaps only Rome, Paris and London can compare in sheer volume of beautiful, grand things to see.

As the center of the Russian world for 200 years of the Romanov Dynasty, the city reaped the rewards of Peter the Great's impossibly grandiose and tyrannical vision, and the Empire's extreme inequality. The wealth of the wealthy in Imperial Russia was almost unfathomably extreme, and led to the extreme opulence of the palaces and ecclesiastical buildings throughout the city center, as well as the suburban palaces at Peterhof, Gatchina, Strelna, Pushkin, and Pavlovsk. The greatest concentration of sights is found within the huge area of the center inside the Obvodny Canal, along the south embankment of Vasilievsky Island, and in the southern half of Petrogradsky Island.

Highlights
So, OK, you don't have months to explore the city—what are the highlights? It's a difficult question to answer. The most obvious destination is the Winter Palace on Palace Square (right by the Admiralty and the Bronze Horseman), which houses the Hermitage Museum, and which was the winter residence of the Romanov Tsars and essentially the center of the Russian Imperial government. The Hermitage Museum is easily one of the top five art museums in the world, but even if you don't care about art, wandering around the enormous palace itself is extremely rewarding. The nineteenth century, whimsical Church on the Spilled Blood nearby is another internationally recognized icon of the city, with a spectacular setting on the Griboedov Canal near the Mikhailovsky Garden, and filled—literally filled—with beautiful mosaics.

Speakings of canals, strolling the palace-lined banks of the Moika, the Fontanka, and the Griboedov Canal in the historic center is a must. During the summer months, you can also enjoy this magnificent architecture from the boat by joining any of the popular (albeit expensive) "channel tours," or opt for a budget boat trip along the Neva river on a so-called riverbus, which is a tiny boat zooming along the river on several routes that are integrated into the system of public transport.

In the same neighborhood, walk down Nevsky Prospekt, which serves as Saint Petersburg's main grand avenue for shops (especially the historic mall of Gostiny Dvor), theaters, and another realm of palaces and cathedrals, most notably the massive Kazan Cathedral. The Kazan Cathedral is functioning, so its easier to visit than the other big cathedrals (no lines, entrance fees, etc.). In the same neighborhood, but off Nevsky, are the Square of the Arts, where you'll find the Russian Museum—an absolute can't-miss for art lovers. The Mariinsky Theater is one of the world's most beautiful performance venues, and you should check it out even if you can't see an opera or ballet performance. Mammoth Saint Isaac's Cathedral, with its impressive balcony views, is another obvious sightseeing destination.

Across the Neva River are more can't-miss sights. The Peter and Paul Fortress on the Petrograd Side is easily one of the city's top three attractions. Aside from its sheer beauty, visit it for its immense history as the final resting place of the Romanov Tsars, as well as its role as a notorious prison for the most high-profile political prisoners under their rule. On Vasilievsky Island, you must at least take a taxi over to the Strelka for the views by the Rostral Columns, across the street from the Old Stock Exchange, home to the Naval Museum, surely one of the best of this kind on the planet. Then take another ride along University Embankment before heading back across the river. Better yet, stop along the way at the weird and wonderful Kunstkamera museum of ethnology, home to Peter the Great's bizarre collection of oddities.

Complicating the desire to see the city's highlights in a short period of time are the magnificent suburban palaces at Peterhof, Pushkin, Lomonosov, Strelna, and Pavlovsk. Any tourists who visit Saint Petersburg and don't see neither the Tsarskoye Selo palaces at Pushkin, nor the Bolshoi Palace at Peterhof, really should be a bit ashamed of themselves. It's like going to Paris and skipping Versailles. Of the three, the Pavlovsk Palace would be the least unforgivable to miss, but if you have the time—go.

Exploring more
More time? The center has a world of more sights. Mars Field with the Memorial to the Revolutionary Fighters and the Eternal Flame, the Circus, wonderfully baroque Smolny Cathedral, Peter the Great's Cabin, the rolling parkland of the Tauride Palace and Gardens, Alexander Nevsky Monastery, the Yusupov Palace where Rasputin was killed (if you get the chance to see a performance in the theater inside, jump on it), the neoclassical bust-filled Summer Gardens, Mikhailovsky Castle, the Marble Palace, the small but powerfully heartrending Museum of the Defense and Blockade of Leningrad. Literary buffs should seek out Dostoevsky's local haunts, including the famous "Murder Walk" from Crime and Punishment, which will take you right from Raskolnikov's apartment to the door of the very apartment where the grisly deed was done.

Head back across the river to the Petrograd Side, past the Peter and Paul Fortress, you'll find the Saint Petersburg Mosque, the really impressive Military Museum, the museum-ship of the Cruiser Aurora, the ever... interesting Museum of Political History, and the Botanical Gardens. On Vasilievsky, the whole Neva embankment is filled with great museums and grand buildings. Especially great places to visit (aside from the aforementioned Naval Museum and Kunstkamera) include the Menshikov Palace (run by the Hermitage), the Twelve Collegia, and the Mining Museum. And don't forget to hunt down the some 3,300 year-old sphinx statues from the Theban Necropolis!

Further afield
Few tourists make it out of the city center, south of the Obvodny Canal and north of Petrogradsky Island, but there are still huge amounts of things to see in the north and south of the city—especially in the south. Southern Saint Petersburg is home to the Narva Triumphal Arch and its sister monument—the Moscow Triumphal Gate, the huge Monument to the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad (which honestly should be one of the main attractions in this city, if not for its distance from the center), Moscow Victory Park, and one of the best examples of Stalinist architecture (more interesting than you'd think) at the House of the Soviets, fronted by a very large Lenin statue. The most wonderful sight in southern Saint Petersburg, though, may be the whimsical, candy cane-colored Chesme Church.

The eastern part of the city (colloquially known as the Right bank) is renowned for its nineteenth century industrial architecture in the districts of Okhta and Porokhovye (former gunpowder factories).

Northern Saint Petersburg is a bit less notable, but adventurous travelers can find some things of interest, especially in the old industrial district around the Finliandskii Station, at the Forestry Academy and Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery for the fallen in the Siege of Leningrad.

The naval fortress of Kronstadt at Kotlin island, nowadays accessible by road across the dam, is a very significant site for fans of the history of military architecture, and makes for enjoyable day trips by boat.

Opera and Ballet
No trip to St. Petersburg is complete without seeing an opera or ballet performance. The Mariinsky is perhaps the most well-known institution, but it is by no means the only theater in the city. Tickets are sold throughout the city at kiosks and shops called Teatralnaya Kassa, which charge a nominal (usually about ₽20) fee for "insurance," which is theoretically optional. The theater box offices themselves sell tickets directly, too, and usually for the same price. Sometimes blocks of tickets sell out at the kiosks but tickets are still available at the theater, or vice versa, so it is worth checking both places if you have your heart set on a particular performance. It is possible to take not-so-small children into some performances if you take a private box, although you will need to ask when you buy your tickets.

Concerts
The music scene in St. Petersburg is diverse, with several classical, jazz, and pop concerts to choose from each week. Tickets are available at the same Teatralnaya Kassa locations as ballet and opera tickets, although tickets to pop concerts - especially US and European stars on tour - sometimes use exclusive distributors. For pop and rock concerts, unless you buy tickets for the dance floor (tanzpol), you are expected to sit quietly in your seat as if you were at a ballet - ushers are vigilant about keeping the audience from standing up, dancing, or cheering (polite applause is allowed, but that's about all).

Several of the ballet and opera theaters above also offer orchestral and recital performances, so those are not repeated below. Also, don't forget the many small clubs where up and coming bands play.

Film
Most cinemas in St. Petersburg show Hollywood films dubbed in Russian. Art cinemas like Dom Kino often show independent American or British movies subtitled in Russian. DVDs of American/European films are also often dubbed. There have been crackdowns on sellers of bootleg DVDs, so it may be difficult or expensive to find DVDs in English these days. There are several DVD stores in the city - often near Metro stations - and it is worth asking about films in English.

Annual Message to Man international documentary, short, and animated films festival takes place in June or July, screening many films in English.

Canal boat tours
A tour of the canals by boat is a great way to see the city in the summer. The typical tour is through the Moika, out to the Neva to see the Peter and Paul Fortress and the Cruiser Aurora, then in through the Fontanka (sometimes as far as the Mariinsky Theater). Tours start at many points along the route and return to their starting point - hawkers for different boat companies abound - and the boats may or may not have a cafe and toilet on board. Almost all tours are in Russian. ₽500-650 seems to be the average price.

Sport
Watch football: FC Zenit Saint Petersburg play in the Russian Premier League, the top tier of Russian football. Their home ground is Krestovsky Stadium, on Krestovsky island 10 km north of city centre. Take Metro M3 (Green Line) west towards Begovaya and get off at Novokrestovskaya. The stadium will host matches at the upcoming Euro 2020 tournament.

Buy
There are plenty of ATMs and legit currency exchange booths. Do not exchange money on the street: the rate won't be any better, and you run a high risk of encountering any of numerous scams.

Small cornerstores are not necessarily more expensive than larger stores.

Churches often have small souvenir/religious shops with a large variety of items.

The famous place to shop is of course on Nevsky Prospekt in the Center. The streetfront shops there, Passazh, and the historic mall at Gostiny Dvor skew upscale, but there are street markets just off Nevsky, most notably Apraksin Dvor (south on Sadovaya from Gostiny Dvor) where you can get anything on the cheap (especially cheap if you speak Russian).

Luxury shopping with world-class brands is available in two places in St. Petersburg: DLT luxury multi-brand store and Staronevsky fashion district. Due to the difference in exchange rates, prices for some positions may be better than in Milan. The staff at the luxury stores speak English (always) and Chinese (often)

Eat
Hot Russian crepes (bliny/блины) match excellently with caviar, mushrooms, caramel, berries, or what have you with a cup of tea on a cold winter street. Teremok (Теремок) is the street-corner kiosk "chain" for bliny but it now has indoor fast food spots around the city, along with Chainaya Lozhka (Чайная ложка) and U Tyoshi Na Blinakh (У тёщи на блинах).

The other really tasty local offerings for street food/fast food include pirozhki, shawarma (шаверма), and pyshki (пышки). Pirozhki are fried buns stuffed usually with beef, vegetables, potatoes, and mushrooms, and are easy enough to find, but not quite as widespread as in Moscow. Shawarma is a decidedly Saint Petersburg phenomenon (you won't find much of it in other Russian cities), served mostly by Azeris, and is everywhere—in cafes and on the street. Pyshki are Russian doughnuts, wonderful with coffee, and are strongly associated with Saint Petersburg.

For restaurant dining, offerings are diverse. A pretty unique place to eat Russian cuisine would be the attractive restaurant on the grounds of the Peter and Paul Fortress. International, Western European, Asian fusion (Russified Chinese food is really good, but requires a culinary dictionary to order), etc. are just as easy to find as Russian, and sushi is very popular. Some of the most exciting food to try comes from the former Soviet Republics. Georgian cooking, despite its obscurity, is one of the world's great cuisines, and should not be missed. The Central Asian (usually Uzbek) restaurants are a lot of fun too.

Pubs
The city acts as a beer destination for Moscovites visiting St. Petersburg for business or vacation reasons - hence its pubs frequently have a much wider choice of beers than an average pub in Moscow (not to mention other cities in Russia). St.Petersburg, being the fatherland of the most popular beer in Russia — Baltika (Балтика), is considered the beer capital of the country, while Moscow is more of a Vodka Capital. Baltika, by the way, comes in a large variety of numbers. Numbers 7 and 8 (seem-YORK-uh, vahs-MYOR-kuh) are the most popular: seven is a lager, eight is a Hefeweizen-style wheat beer. 9 is strongest.

Nightclubs
Saint Petersburgers know how to party. There is a wide and excellent selection of great clubs that will satisfy all tourists looking to spend the night out. The city hosts clubs of all music. Rock, pop, jazz, hip hop/RnB, and a lot more.

Because of the difficulty in operating gay clubs and the social stigma associated with visiting gay clubs, many young men prefer to use gay iPhone applications like Hornet, Grindr and Tinder to arrange to meet at coffee shops and more discreet locations. This change in technology and the new political issues in St. Petersburg is transforming how gays meet, from nighttime dark watering holes to public straight venues during the day. At the same time, there are several small, rather dirty gay clubs in the city: The Central Station (Центральная станция), Priscilla/Blue Oyster (Присцилла/Голубая устрица), Cabaret (Кабаре) and Malevich (Малевич).

Sleep
The best area for a tourist to stay in is generally considered to be near the Nevsky Prospekt Metro. You'll be able to walk to most of the main attractions, and there are tons of restaurants, shops, cafes, clubs, etc. right on Nevsky. Staying off Nevsky along one of the beautiful canals, though, would also be a fabulous idea.

Connect
For information on using telephones and buying SIM cards in Russia, see Russia.

The emergency service number is 112.

WiFi
Free WiFi is available in most hotels, cafes, restaurants, bars, and shopping centers.

Computer and printer access
There are many computer clubs/internet cafes, usually crowded by kids playing CounterStrike.

Corruption
Policemen & bureaucrats. For any Western traveller disturbing the system, permission to visit the country can be refused at the border. The average street policeman usually cannot speak any foreign language, but if you look like a tourist, you could be a target for money income source. Don't panic! Always ask for a receipt and the names of the officers.

Crime
Saint Petersburg has a somewhat undeserved reputation for being a dangerous city. Things have calmed down since the Wild West (or Wild East) days immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but some common sense is still required.

Guards at metro stations require random passengers to show carry items and inspect their backpacks. If you prefer to avoid this, ride by bus or taxi.

Take care of money, documents, cameras, mobile phones, and anything of value because of pickpocketing. Especially watch out on the Metro during busy times, as people start pushing at the train doors, and pickpockets are frequent, particularly (but not only) at Gostinyy Dvor Metro Station. When riding the Metro, keep in mind that robbery can be a real threat; you should constantly watch what is going on around you and who is standing very close to you. Nevsky Prospekt and nearby markets are also pickpocket hangouts.

Theft of photo equipment is really a big problem in Saint Petersburg. Photo bags probably won't save your camera—it can be opened in less than 5 seconds; the straps can be slashed with a knife even more quickly. Cameras should be kept in bags slung across the body at all times, with your hands keeping a firm grip on them, and no watches or jewelry should be visible at all. Quite obviously, do not show in public that you have a lot of money. Robberies are not uncommon, and many foreigners have been threatened at gun and knife point. However, foreigners are not targeted specifically, and robbers will attack both foreigners and natives that carelessly reveal their wealth.

By night
As with most other major cities, avoid traveling alone at night, and do not get into altercations with drunks. If traveling at night, it is recommended to stay on the main sidewalks and avoid any dark alleys or yards.

Downtown and western parts of the city are safest. Suburbs like Kupchino, Veteranov and Ligovo are struggling with criminality and poverty.

As a general rule, the farther you are from the city center, the more dangerous it is.

Gangs are a problem, although mafia gang wars are unlikely to affect tourists. Some gangs, however, such as neo-Nazis or angry hooligans, are out looking for problems and commit crimes that can affect tourists. Hatred toward people with darker complexions is not uncommon, and neo-Nazism is a concern. St. Petersburg, and Russia in general, can be regarded as a seriously dangerous destination for tourists of darker complexions so travelling in groups is highly advised.

Saint Petersburg's football club, Zenit Saint Petersburg, is one of the biggest clubs in the country, and has its own band of hooligans. If you decide to visit the football stadium to watch the club play, you should buy tickets to center sectors. If you do not do this and a fight starts, you are likely to get dragged into it by either the hooligans or the police, since both will think you are part of the brawl.

Take special care on Nevsky Prospekt, particularly the area with the city tour buses, a favorite spot of pickpockets and particularly of those after photo equipment. On the bright side, "Nevsky Prospekt" sees little mugging.

Russian driving is wild. Drivers attack their art with an equal blend of aggressiveness and incompetence. Guidelines are lax and rarely followed. As a pedestrian, take care when crossing the roads, since it might be difficult for drivers to notice you. If you are thinking of driving yourself, bear in mind that the local traffic police are corrupt, but this issue has improved drastically. Pedestrian crossings with a traffic light are quite safe to use, most car drivers will stop.

Bar fights do occur. In the center of the city and around Nevsky Prospekt, they are rare. However, in the suburbs and local cheaper pubs, fights occur almost daily. If you are staying with locals living in these areas, it might be a good idea to avoid these bars. Police are unlikely to show up as they consider fights as small, unimportant, regular and a waste of time, and they will probably laugh at you for calling.

Tourist traps
Gypsy cabs are ubiquitous and a little risky; never take one lingering near bars/clubs where expatriates and tourists congregate.

Saint Petersburg has a relatively big problem with street children who make their living out of stealing. They can be a hassle and can beg you aggressively. Act like any other Russian would: say no, then just ignore them and go away. If they start touching you, be very firm in pushing them away.

Gay travelers must practice extreme caution while staying in Saint Petersburg, as attacks often occur. Many Russian people look upon public demonstrations of homosexuality with undisguised contempt. It is advised to not openly display one's sexuality.

Natural hazards
Another subtle danger that can affect your trip is the inevitable effect of winter weather. Poor harvesting of snow and ice is a big problem in the city. Caution is advised in snowy winters because of falling ice from roofs, and pedestrians should pay special attention to ice on the streets. Snow on marble is very, very slippery—take small steps and watch your feet!

St. Petersburg regularly experienced floods during its history, sometimes catastrophic. However, the construction of the preventive dam has been completed, and catastrophic floods are unlikely to happen again.

Overall, be warned that if you are used to living in the US and/or Western Europe, Saint Petersburg, as well as the rest of Eastern Europe, will seem different, and, at times, a bit intimidating. On the other hand, Russian people are usually friendly, welcoming and interested towards foreigners, and nothing should happen to you unless you put yourself in harm's way. If you don't care about them they don't care about you, and nothing should get in your way of having a great holiday.

Stay healthy
The below private hospitals have English-speaking Russian doctors (very few, if any, hospital staff are expats). Depending on the type of service provided and the terms of one's insurance policy, these hospitals may be able to arrange direct billing with European and American medical insurance companies.

The city's water-system is not ideal because of a number of old pipes and as a result does not provide 100% clean water (too much heavy metals). Some locals boil or also filter tap water before use; you might want to buy it bottled if water quality affects you. It's germ free, though, so brushing your teeth with it is fine—it's just not great for drinking. Cold water is cleaner than hot. No hot water for 1-3 weeks every summer.

There are numerous public toilets, most of which are attended by a person who will charge about ₽30 for entry. Toilet paper is not always provided. The toilets are typically extremely dirty by Western standards. If you are a Westerner, you can get away with wandering into the Western hotels, which have lovely bathrooms. Just don't ever push your luck with suit-clad martial arts masters guarding the hotel entrances, they are tough as nails if provoked. Many restaurants also allow tourists to use toilet without being a customer.

Cope
Saint Petersburg is plagued by a number of mosquitoes during the summer, especially in June, as the swampy surroundings of the city give the mosquitoes excellent living conditions. In budget accommodation with few countermeasures against the mosquitoes, this can be a problem at night, putting your well deserved sleep at risk. Less of an issue in the city center, mosquitoes can be much more numerous on the outskirts. They are not dangerous, though, just a nuisance.

Visa centers

 * 🇧🇪 Belgium
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇳🇿 New Zealand

Day trips
Day trips can be done on your own or via an organized excursion offered by many tour operators. Even though it is a lot to see in one day, Peterhof, Kronshtadt, and Lomonosov are all in the same general direction west of Saint Petersburg and are all accessible by hydrofoil, so it is popular to see all three sites in one day.

 * Gatchina — Big palace and park in a beautiful village 50km south of Saint Petersburg.
 * Kronstadt — Old seaport town on Kotlin island, 20 km directly north of Lomonosov. Main Russian naval base from early 18th century. You may take a hydrofoil back to the Hermitage for ₽400 one-way.
 * Lomonosov (Oranienbaum) — Park with museum honoring Michael Lomonosov. 9km west of Peterhof via the A121 highway. Train station name is Oranienbaum ('Orange tree' in German). TIP - You may also visit Kronstadt and take a hydrofoil back to the Hermitage for ₽400 one-way, an inexpensive alternative to the more expensive ones leaving from Peterhof.
 * Shlisselburg/Oreshek Fortess — Russian fortress on the Oreshek/Orekhovy Island at the head of Neva, 50 km east of Saint Petersburg. A UNESCO World Heritage Site. The medieval Treaty of Nöteborg was signed here.
 * Pavlovsk — Lusicous green park where you could feed the squirrels from your hands. Can be reached by train from Vitebskiy station (not the main hall, but the smaller hall for local trains, which is on the right side as you face the station). Pavlovsk train station is close to the northwestern gate to the park, and from there it is a long (but pleasant) walk though the park to the palace.
 * Peterhof — Home of the sumptuous "Russian Versailles" and to the "Petrodvorets Watch Factory - Raketa" (tours available), 30 km southwest of Saint Petersburg.
 * Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo) — 25 km south of Saint Petersburg, with beautiful parks and palaces, most notably the Catherine Palace built for Tsarina Catherine I.
 * Repino — House-museum of the artist Ilya Repin, just off the Gulf of Finland, where he lived and worked. To get there: Elektrichka train from the Finlandsky Station (45 minutes, round trip fare ₽120, eleventh stop on the westbound line — check in advance to make sure the train you board stops in Repino — then from the station cross the main road and walk down the path to the left of the supermarket through a resort complex to the next major road. Turn left and walk about 1.5 km to the gate marked Penaty. The walk takes about 45 minutes. The museum and grounds close at 15:00, or earlier if there are no visitors.
 * Staraya Ladoga — The first capital of Russia is a pleasant little village four hours away with an incredible wealth of historical sights, including its own stone kremlin and church frescoes by the hand of none other than Andrei Rublev.
 * Vyborg — Town situated on the Karelian Isthmus near the head of the Bay of Vyborg, 130 km to the northwest of St. Petersburg, 38 km south from Russia's border with Finland, where the Saimaa Canal enters the Gulf of Finland. It was one of the main cities of Finland in the Swedish times and again from 1812 until the 1940s. Swedish built castle, started in the 13th century and extensively reconstructed by Russians in 1891–1894. Mon Repos, one of the most spacious English parks in Eastern Europe, laid out in the 19 century. Fortifications of the Mannerheim Line (built by Finland against the Soviet Union) are close by. Now available for day trips with high-speed rail.

Overnight trips
If you leave Russia and plan to return, make sure you have a multiple entry visa.

 * Novgorod — Ancient town with churches and museums, 180 km from St. Petersburg, can be accessed by high-speed trains.
 * Narva, Estonia — 160 km southwest of Saint Petersburg on the Narva river, which serves as the border between Russia and Estonia. Twin castles (Russian, established Grand Duke Ivan III, and Danish/Swedish).
 * Vologda — this city is considered the heart of Russian North, a popular local travel destination. Reachable by overnight train, from there you can go to Moscow or further north to Arkhangelsk.
 * Petrozavodsk and the rest of Karelia — popular Russian travel destination for its beautiful nature and access to White Sea islands. Reachable by overnight or high-speed train.
 * Moscow — the Russian capital is reachable by overnight train or in the daytime by the high-speed Sapsan train (about 4 hr) or by plane. As much to see as in St. Petersburg, so plan on several days here.

title: Saint Petersburg


text:
Saint Petersburg (district)

Saint Petersburg is a metropolitan district surrounded by Leningrad Oblast, centered on Saint Petersburg.

Cities

 * (Санкт-Петерб́ург, Sankt Peterburg)
 * (Ко́лпино)
 * (Кроншта́дт, Kronshtádt)
 * (Ломоно́сов)
 * (Пу́шкин)
 * (Па́вловск)
 * (Петерго́ф, Petergof)
 * (Сестроре́цк)
 * (Стре́льна)

Other destinations

 * (Комаро́во)
 * (Ре́пино)

Understand
Russia's second metropolis, the Saint Petersburg area is one of the world's richest in terms of sights for the visitor. Besides the city itself, the three suburbs, Pushkin, Pavlovsk, and Peterhof are home to three of the world's most spectacularly opulent palaces, former country residences of the Tsars (Lomonosov is home to a less opulent, but also pleasantly less-touristed palace of its own). Pushkin is also rich in literary history, being the site of Pushkin's (the poet) schooling. The island city and naval base Kronstadt makes an interesting day trip from Saint Petersburg as it is home to an impressive and newly restored Naval Cathedral and was closed to all foreign travelers until the late 90's.

Talk
English is spoken by very few people in the city of Saint Petersburg, and just a limited number of people are able to understand English language although they say that they know it. For independent travel it will be necessary to have a basic knowledge of Cyrillic alphabet and a basic vocabulary from your language to Russian.

title: Saint Petersburg (district)


text:
Saint Petersburg (Florida)

Saint Petersburg sits at the base of the Tampa Bay peninsula in Pinellas County, Florida, and enjoys a more subdued social atmosphere than its larger cousin, Tampa. The city has tried to characterize the downtown as an arts and entertainments destination and you will find no shortage of arts and crafts stores, galleries, & museums along with cafes and boutique food shops all within a couple blocks of the Tampa Bay waterfront. With water on three sides of the city, St. Pete is a superb location for fishing, sailing, and wandering beaches.

Understand
In 2020, the city was home to 258,000 people, with 2.1 million in the metropolitan area.

The city publishes the free "Downtown St.Petersburg Guide & Map" booklet, updated each season, that contains maps, trolley routes, and listings for hundreds of museums, events, restaurants, & hotels along with coupons. You can find the guide in dispensers throughout downtown and in many businesses.

History
Saint Petersburg was founded by John C. Williams from Detroit, Michigan, who purchased the land in 1876. The town began with the help of Peter Demens, who was instrumental in bringing a railroad connection there in 1888. Saint Petersburg was named after the Saint Petersburg in Russia, the birthplace of Peter Demens. A local legend says that John C. Williams and Peter Demens flipped a coin to see who would have the honor of naming the city. Peter Demens won and named the city after his birthplace, while John C. Williams named the first hotel after his birthplace, Detroit. The Detroit Hotel still exists downtown, but it was converted into condos in 2002.

By train
While Saint Petersburg has no railway station on its own, nearby Tampa is served by Amtrak via its Silver Service between Miami and New York City. A thruway bus service is available, arriving at Corner of US 19 and 110 Ave near Pinellas Park Square Shopping Center.

By car
The primary route in and out of the city is Interstate 275. I-275 runs north to Tampa and connects with Interstate 4 (Orlando, East Coast) and Interstate 75. I-275 runs south over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to Bradenton and connects with Interstate 75 heading south to Sarasota, Ft.Meyers, Naples, and South Florida.

By trolley
There are trolley-styled buses, on two separate lines:

The two lines connect at (no free transfers): Baywalk & The Pier. Connections with PSTA bus routes are available at Grand Central Station & Williams Park. The city also runs a free "Baseball Shuttle" between downtown parking garages and Tropicana Field for certain games where large crowds are expected.

By car
There are over 25,000 available public parking spaces in St. Petersburg. Metered parking spaces along streets in downtown and at parking lots along the bay. There are also several public parking garages in downtown. As of Feb 2021, the rates along the Pier are $1/hr. You can pay via coin or the Parkmobile app.

Car rental places around here are all on the search engines like Priceline. Turo is another popular option for peer-to-peer renting. Rental Cars are available from:

By bicycle
The Pinellas Trail starts in downtown and runs the entire length of Pinellas County.

Drink
There are many small bars on the beaches to the west side of the peninsula and scattered throughout the area.

Elsewhere

Sleep
Several beach front and cityside hotels, from chain to locally owned & operated. The Spring Break period of March-April is typically the peak time for rates and crowds. The St. Pete area gets its share of Spring Breakers but many seem to flock to other parts of the state.

Other beachfront communities have their own motel/hotel areas as well. St. Pete Beach, Sand Key, Clearwater, Madeira Beach, Redington Beach, Redington Shores, John's Pass, and several other communities are in Pinellas County and located along the beach. There is also the city of Pinellas Park.

Budget
Travellers might find deals at many hotel/motel locations along 34th Street in St. Pete. This is U.S. 19. These are inland hotels but are just a short drive to the beaches or the city.

Downtown
These hotel locations are in downtown St. Petersburg and despite not being within walking distance from beaches, they are walking distance to many museums, restaurants and shops.

Beach side
These resort/hotel locations offer travellers lodging directly on St. Pete Beach. Walk right out of the hotel onto the white sandy beach; room views of the Gulf of Mexico and plenty of nearby entertainment.

Stay safe
Statistically, Saint Petersburg is a safe community. Like any city, there are parts to avoid, but the majority of St. Pete is a modern city full of nice people and hospitable places. Cities that are tourist attractions are also attractions to those that prey on tourists.

Cope
The weather is warm year round here with highs typically in the 60s and 70s (°F) in the winter and 80s and 90s in the summer. Summers are very hot and humid. Sometimes when it rains in St. Pete, it literally pours!

The hurricane season runs through summer and fall with the peak of the season in September. It has been many years since St. Pete has been directly hit by a hurricane.

Being on a peninsula, the city is surrounded on three sides by water. There are also three very long bridges that access the area, the Sunshine Skyway rises to a height of 17 stories above the Tampa Bay. The Howard Frankland Bridge and the Gandy Bridge are much lower rise as bridges grow. If a person fears long bridges, they should be prepared to deal with this aspect of the area.

Go next
The port of Tampa is the launchpoint of Caribbean and other cruises. The port is now limited to smaller (relatively speaking) cruise ships since many of the largest vessels on the Caribbean cannot navigate under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge (approximately 17 stories high) to enter the bay.

St. Petersburg is about 90 minutes west from Orlando and the various theme parks near Orlando like Disney World and Universal Studios. Three hours northeast from St. Petersburg is Daytona Beach and Cape Canaveral.

title: Saint Petersburg (Florida)


text:
Saint-Pierre

Saint Pierre is an island and the capital of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.

Understand
Although it is much smaller than Miquelon, it is much more heavily populated (about 5,400 in 2017). The residents are primarily of Basque, Breton, Normand and Acadian heritage.

There are several small islands near the main island, including L'Île-aux-Marins ("Island of the Sailors"), which used to be inhabited.

Get in
There are two principal methods of getting to Saint-Pierre: ferry or flight. Everyone arriving in Saint-Pierre must pass through Customs. Passports are required for all travellers.

Airlines

 * Operates regularly scheduled flights from Miquelon and these Canadian cities: St. John's (Newfoundland) (45 minutes), Montréal (Québec) (2.75 hours), Halifax (Nova Scotia) (1.25 hours).

Get around
The downtown area can be easily explored on foot.

Buy
There are several shops along or near the south ends of Rue du Maréchal Foch and Rue Maître Georges Lefèvre. However, not all shops in Saint-Pierre are clustered at this location. Sometimes a shop is located inconspicuously away from the centre of town.

Shops tend to close for lunch at mid-day (typically 12:00-13:30), and this also pertains to the post office and the tourist office.

Eat
There are few restaurants in Saint-Pierre. It is strongly encouraged that you make reservations for supper time. Any hotel/B&B or the tourism office can assist you in making reservations.

Sleep

Go next

 * Miquelon
 * Newfoundland
 * Quebec

title: Saint-Pierre


text:
Saint-Pierre (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Saint-Pierre:

Caribbean

 * Saint-Pierre (Martinique) - A city on the island of Martinique.

Africa

 * Saint-Pierre (Reunion)- A town on the island of Reunion.

Belgium

 * Woluwé-Saint-Pierre - A district of Brussels.

France

 * Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron - A city in Charente-Maritime.

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

 * Saint-Pierre - An island in the North Atlantic.

 * Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron

title: Saint-Pierre (disambiguation)


text:
Saint-Pierre (Martinique)

Saint-Pierre is the former capital of the island of Martinique, nowadays a community of about 5,000 people.

Understand

The then capital of Martinique was destroyed in three minutes in an eruption of the nearby volcano of Mount Pelée on May 8, 1902. Around 30,000 people perished. Today the town practically consists of two one-way streets, and little is reminiscent of the eruption.

See

The harbourfront has been restored. The vegetable market is right by the sea. Slaves used to be traded there. The former customs house with a fig tree in the middle (Anciens Entrepôts, Rue Bouillé) is only a few steps away.

Before you reach the river you can see the ruins of an Ursuline convent. At Rivière Roxelane there is a pillar bridge over the river.

There is a monument by Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc there. On the other side you can see the old stone bridge from 1766. If you go a little further, you will reach the columns and remains of the walls of the first church, which was built on the island in 1640.

On the second one-way street you pass the old prison and the remains of the theatre, which once provided space for 800 spectators. The museum is just a few meters further on the other side of the street.
 * Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption de Saint-Pierre IMG 0872C.JPG
 * The Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption from 1654 is in the southern district of Le Mouillage. The facade survived the volcanic eruption undamaged up to the cornices. Most of the collapsed nave was rebuilt using material from the former church from the 18th century.
 * Battery of Sainte-Marthe.
 * Bureau du Génie et des Ponts et Chaussées ou ancien asile, Rue Levassor. Ruins of buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries.
 * Cachot de Siparis, Rue de la Prison. Former prison.
 * Cimetière du Fort. Former cemetery.infoto edit
 * Habitation perrinelle. Archaeological excavations.
 * Asile Bethléem Hospice, Rue Abbé-Gosse at Rue de la Raffinerie. The ruins of the chapel with the tomb of the clergyman Gosse.

Do

 * Scuba dive at wrecks in the harbor. During the 1902 volcanic eruption, all but one of the ships in the harbour sunk, including large four-masters. 13 of them can be explored by divers in shallow water as coral-overgrown remains.

Connect

 * Police, Sub-Prefecture.
 * La Poste (Post office), Rue Victor Hugo at Rue du Général de Gaulle..

Banks

 * Credit Agricole, Rue Victor Hugo.
 * Credit Martiniquais, Rue Victor Hugo. . Open: M–F 08:00–12:00, 14:30–16:30

title: Saint-Pierre (Martinique)


text:
Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Saint Pierre and Miquelon are a small group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland and Labrador. First settled by the French in the early 17th century, the islands represent the sole remaining vestige of France's once vast North American empire, New France.

Islands

 * Miquelon — the larger island (actually three of them, connected by drifted sand) and village, Basque and Acadian history, and a large amount of wildlife, small farming operations and summer homes.
 * Saint-Pierre — the smaller island, the only significantly populated town (the capital), and the central area of activity.

Understand
Saint-Pierre was a site for settlement by the French in the early 17th century, later abandoned under the Treaty of Utrecht, and returned to France in 1763 at the end of the Seven Years War. The islands became a place of refuge for Acadian deportees from Nova Scotia. Saint-Pierre figured frequently in North American British-French relations. It profited heavily from U.S. Prohibition, which did not apply in this area, as they were part of France. It was depopulated and repopulated frequently, and now remains the last vestige of Imperial France within North America outside the Caribbean.

Like its northern neighbour, Newfoundland, it is a key fishing centre close to the Grand Banks, some of the world's richest fishing grounds. However, as in Newfoundland, the decline in cod stocks has seriously affected the fishery. As a result, tourism is becoming increasingly important to the economy. As a travel destination, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is ideal for those interested in historical and cultural discovery, eco-tourism and the French language. Beyond its history, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is a wonderful destination because of its mild refreshing climate, its beautiful landscapes, the quality of the air and the warmth of its inhabitants.

As a part of France, the area has much in common with Europe, but also with its Canadian and American neighbours.

Get in
Although Saint Pierre and Miquelon are territories of France, they are not part of the Schengen Zone, so immigration procedures are different from those of France. Canadian residents will need passports for a stay of over three months, otherwise some forms of photo ID are acceptable. (While the wording of the law states that “holders of a Canadian identification document are exempted from carrying a passport or visa for stays of under 90 days per 180-day period”, meaning that even non-citizens with a Canadian driver's licence, provincial ID, or permanent resident card can enter, additional documentation will be required when re-entering Canada or going to mainland France on the seasonal Paris flight.) All others will need passports and, in some cases, visas. Check with your local French consulate or embassy. Most travellers are only given a cursory inspection when entering the island of Saint-Pierre.

By plane
Air service to Saint-Pierre is available via Air Saint-Pierre through:
 * St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador (45 minutes)
 * Halifax, Nova Scotia (1.25 hours)
 * Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec
 * Montreal, Quebec (2.75 hours)

Air Saint Pierre operates non-stop flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport from mid-June through the first week of September; these cost €590-740/person one way (€1092 for non-refundable and €1304 for refundable round-trip) and run once a week. There are no other flights to Saint Pierre and Miquelon  from anywhere but Canada.

As Canada does not allow sterile transit, travel to Saint Pierre and Miquelon requires a multiple-entry Canadian Visa or eTA, even for passengers who would otherwise enjoy visa free entry to Saint Pierre and Miquelon. U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents as well as French Citizens living in Saint Pierre and Miquelon are exempt from the eTA and are not required to apply for one as part of their transit via Canada.

By car
Travelling by car to Saint-Pierre requires driving through Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and taking the ferry.

 * From Argentia, take Route 100 northeast until the Trans Canada Highway (Route 1). Take Route 1 West to Route 210.  On 210, head Southwest until Route 220.   Take 220 to Fortune.
 * From Port aux Basques, take the Trans Canada Highway (Route 1). Take Route 1 East until Route 210.  On 210, head Southwest until Route 220. Take 220 to Fortune.

As the island of Newfoundland is home to a moose population of over 100,000, do drive slowly and cautiously, especially when driving at night. Remember that hitting a moose is not like hitting a deer — a moose is a tall beast, and your car will hit its legs, knocking the brunt of its weight into the windshield and you. Depending on the size of your vehicle and speed, this could result in death or serious injury.

By bus
DRL Coachlines and Newhook's Transportation  operate on the Trans-Canada Highway between St. John's and Port-aux-Basques. Disembark a short time after Clarenville to head southwest towards Fortune and the ferry to Saint-Pierre.

The distance from the Trans-Canada Highway to Fortune is about, and there's no public transport on that stretch. Hitchhiking or taking a taxi from Clarenville are the fastest options if you don't have your own car.

Get around
Given the compact size of Saint-Pierre, it is generally easy to get around on foot. Those intimidated by the town's notorious sloping streets may find that a rented scooter may be a more friendly option. There are also a number of taxi services that offer guided tours of Saint-Pierre. Avid renters, be warned that there is but a handful of rental cars on the island.

The nearby islands of île aux Marins, Langlade, and Miquelon may be accessed via ferry. Île aux Marins and Langlade are inhabited only during the summer months and lack amenities such as taxis, hospitals, or internet service. The town of Miquelon is considerably smaller than Saint-Pierre and therefore has fewer hotels, shops, and restaurants.

Talk
The French spoken in Saint Pierre and Miquelon is very similar to that spoken in northwestern France (Normandy and Brittany). The islanders are quite proud of their linguistic heritage.

Due to its proximity to English-speaking Canada, Saint-Pierre has become a popular destination for Anglophone students wishing to become immersed in French language and culture.

The islands have a specialist language teaching facility named the FrancoForum, owned and operated by the local government in Saint-Pierre. Staffed by professional French instructors, the institute offers a variety of courses for both students and teachers wishing to improve their fluency.

The FrancoForum is best known for hosting Le Programme Frecker, a 3-month French immersion program offered to students at Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada. The program began in 1975, was originally housed in a small building at the centre of town. In 2000, an agreement was reached with the Territorial Council in Saint-Pierre to relocate the programme to the newly built FrancoForum.

English is spoken as a second language by the majority of the population, due to the number of Canadian and American tourists who visit, as well as the close relationship between local fishermen and those from Newfoundland.

Do
Soak up this little corner of France in North America.

Money
Like the rest of France, the official currency is the euro ("€", ISO currency code: EUR). It is divided into 100 cents. In Saint-Pierre, it is also common for Canadian and U.S. dollars to be accepted by merchants. Chip-and-PIN credit cards are accepted everywhere except bakeries.

You will find that nearly everything is on the expensive side, with the notable exceptions of wine and cigarettes.

Eat
French cuisine is standard in Saint Pierre and Miquelon but the dependency has some excellent restaurants along with local specialties. Travellers to should also note that the prices can get quite expensive.

Those who love seafood should look into the Seafood Festival that is held every year in mid-August in the small town of Miquelon. However only 500 tickets are available and they can only be bought 3-4 days ahead of time in Miquelon.

Sleep
Both islands have a number of hotels, B&Bs, and rental apartments, though none are large — only a couple of establishments on Saint Pierre have more than a dozen rooms, so be sure to book in advance.

Stay safe
There is little crime in Saint Pierre and Miquelon and this destination should be considered one of the safest possible in North America.

Unlike virtually everywhere else in North America, the power mains voltage is mostly 220 V. If you're from a 110-120 V country, note that a euro-plug adaptor doesn't reduce the voltage, and so will cause your appliance to burn out quickly. See the Electrical systems article for more information. Note that a few bed & breakfast inns have 110 V with North American outlets, though the frequency is still 50 Hz which can affect clocks and motors.

Stay healthy
Saint Pierre and Miquelon pose few health threats. The weather is often chilly and a sweater comes in handy, even during the summer months. If a serious injury should occur, there is a small hospital located in the town of Saint-Pierre. Patients who require special treatment are usually sent to larger, better-equipped hospitals in Canada.

Go next
Heading back to Canada is the most sensible choice. Go to Halifax, Montreal or St. John's by plane. Alternatively, take a ferry to Fortune, Newfoundland. There are now also seasonal flights in July and August to Paris.

title: Saint Pierre and Miquelon


text:
Saint-Pons-de-Thomières

St Pons de Thomieres is a cathedral village in Languedoc-Rousillon. It is the capital of the Haut Languedoc Regional Park and is situated by the river Jaur.

Get in
It is situated on the N112/D612 from Béziers.

See
This is a great centre for getting around the Monts de Lacaune, Le Sidobre and, nearest and possibly most appealing, the Monts d'Épinousse. Within the village the cathedral is well worth seeing - a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic styles, although it's date would not suggest Romanesque.

Do
Try to look at the market early on a Friday and then get out into the country somewhere! The crowding is mind bending!

Sleep
If camping, see Fraisse-sur-Agout

title: Saint-Pons-de-Thomières


text:
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

St Remy-de-Provence is a little village in Provence a region in France. It is very charming in the summer.

Get in
There is no train station in St Rémy. It is possible reach St Rémy by bus from Avignon. There are two train stations in Avignon, namely the TGV train station and also the main, central train station. The buses to St Rémy leave from the bus depot that is near the Avignon central train station, i.e. not the TGV station. When you exit Avignon central train station, turn right and walk about 100 metres to reach the bus station. The bus depot is at the ground floor of a large building. The No. 57 bus line goes to St Rémy. The No. 57 bus timetable is found at this website. You can see the bus map here.

See
Nostradamus was born in St Rémy.
 * The rock formations and quarries surrounding La Baux.
 * Walk to Glanum, ruins of an old ancient Roman/Gaul city. Well worth the admission if you have an imagination and enjoy history.

Do

 * Follow the paths of Vincent Van Gogh who lived in Saint-Remy for a short time.
 * Hike in the Alpilles.
 * Wander the old-town of St. Remy, in the centreville. The stores are pretty, but their prices are not. The fountains are worth a stop, and are usually flanked by cafes, perfect for a nice rest and a cafe.

Buy
Buy nothing until Wednesday, when shops cut their heavily inflated prices to attempt to compete with the street merchants. Most goods may be found for far less at the Sunday market in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.

Eat

 * The village has numerous pancake cafés which serve French crêpes but can get expensive. Lou Planet's creperie located in the central old town (Place Favier) charges roughly €5 for a crepe (many choices), and is well worth the price.
 * Great pizza can be had at a shop neighbouring the restaurant "Le Cigalon", at the corner of Rue A. Paulet and Boulevard Marceau. Open late, take out only, very helpful staff.

Drink

 * Enjoy a coffee under the tree shade
 * Pastis, at roughly a 4-to-1 ratio with water. If you are staying for a while with a group, a bottle of Ricard from a super-marche (Spar, or InterMarche) would be a good idea.

Connect
As of July 2023, Saint-Rémy and its approach roads have 5G from all French carriers.

Go next

 * Arles
 * Tarascon

title: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence


text:
Saint Rose

Saint Rose is a town on the Mississippi River in St. Charles Parish, one of the River Parishes of Louisiana, near New Orleans.

Go next

 * LaPlace
 * Luling

title: Saint Rose