Information about St.Petersburg

St.Petersburg is the largest industrial, cultural and scientific centre, an important transportation connection point, a sea port and airport of Russia. The city is located in estuary of the Neva River on the bank of the Baltic Sea on the 60 th parallel and is the biggest megalopolis in the world on such high latitudes. This explains the season of "white nights" giving St.Petersburg a peculiar charm. Slightly hiding behind the horizon sun lightens up the sky and floating clouds. Pushkin, Block, Akhmatova and many other famous poets praised the unique beauty of St.Petersburg's white nights, streets and prospects of the city, of granite embankments of Neva, of its old parks and squares.

The city possesses a perfect architectural style and intense cultural life. The best architects worked for several centuries to create this irresistible visage of St.Petersburg which each guest enjoys now.

Nevsky prospect is the main street of the city. On Nevsky prospect and adjoining squares there are theaters, concert halls, museums and temples: the State Hermitage, the State Russian Museum, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Church of the Savior-on-the-Spilt Blood; famous theaters: the world-known Mariinsky Theater, the St.Petersburg Mussorgsky State Academic Opera and Ballet, opera, ballet, music, legitimate theaters and music-halls.

St.Petersburg is rightfully considered a cultural capital of Russia. There are more than 100 theaters and 200 museums in our city. A lot of cultural events are held here, including famous all over the world "White Nights" and "Arts Square Festival" music festivals, a lot of international festivals, congresses, exhibitions, city holidays, sport events, concerts of world famous stars.

It is impossible to imagine St.Petersburg without watery waste of Neva River, numerous rivers, channels, canals piercing the North Venice forming the necklace of isles. Our amazing city is tied together by wonderful bridges that are an integral part of its architectural ensemble. There are more than 500 bridges of various constructions in the city on the Neva River, among them 20 drawbridges the charm of which fully opens during white nights.

A special attention should be given to extremely beautiful and memorable suburbs of St.Petersburg (Peterhof, Pavlovsk, Pushkin (Tsarskoe Selo), Gatchina, Lomonosov).

Population
On January 1 the population of St.Petersburg numbered about 5 565 000 people.

Territory
1 400 sq. km the longitude from north to south is 44 km, from west to east 25 km.

Climate
An average summer temperature is +24.2œN
An average winter temperature is: -15.7œN

Time
St.Petersburg is in the zone of Moscow Standard time (MST) which differs from Greenwich (GMT):
Summer time MST = GMT + 4 hours.
Winter time MST = GMT + 3 hours.
Switch to summer time is on the last Saturday of March. Switch to winter time is one the last Saturday of September.

Customs regulation
After arrival and passport control tourists are to present to customs authorities a declaration containing all things imported into the country for personal use. The copy of declaration should be kept and presented on departure. Attempts of illegal traffic in weapon, drugs and psychotropic drugs are prosecutable in accordance with the law of the Russian Federation.

National currency
The national currency of the Russian Federation is ruble. Banknotes in 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000 rubles denomination, and coins in 1, 5, 10, 50 kopecks and 1, 2, 5 roubles denomination are used. All money imported into Russia should be declared upon arrival. Foreign citizens can not export money irrespectively of the currency on the sum exceeding that imported into Russia.

Profit organisations accept for payment rubles, and credit cards (American Express, Visa, Visa Electron, MasterCard, Diners Club, and JCB). ATM work as well all over St.Petersburg.

Bank working hours
State banks usually open from 9:00 to 18:00, commercial banks work a little longer. Many profit organisations are closed for lunch break from 13:00 to 15:00. All banks are closed on weekends and national holidays. Banks in airports, ports and main railway stations usually work longer.

Currency exchange
Currency exchange offices are usually open daily from 10:00 to 21:00. Currency exchange offices are located in banks, airports and stations of St.Petersburg.

Airports
Pulkovo-1 terminal city serves domestic flights, and CIS flights.
Pulkovo-2 serves international flights.

Railway stations
There are 5 railway stations in St.Petersburg: Moscovsky station, Finlandsky station, Vitebsky station, Baltiysky station, Ladozhsky station.
Passenger seaport and river port.
International bus station.

Working hours of shops and restaurants
Shops and supermarkets open at 9:00 or 10:00 and work till 21:00-23:00 and 24 hours.
Restaurants usually open in the afternoon and work till midnight, but some popular restaurants are open till 2 a.m. on weekdays and till morning on weekends.

Useful links:
Airport "Pulkovo" – http://www.airportpulkovo.ru/eng/
Theatres repertoire – http://www.afisha.ru/spb/schedule_theatre/theatre
Museums – www.museum.ru