Helsinki to St. Petersburg is not just a popular route for the citizens of Finland. Many travelers use Helsinki as a stop on their way to St. Petersburg. Why? Because this gives them an opportunity to explore St. Petersburg and not waste time and money on obtaining the Russian visa. Visa-free Helsinki to St. Petersburg tours are so popular that we have designed all-inclusive tour packages for those who come to St. Petersburg from Helsinki, Tallinn or Stockholm on board of a ferry. 

Say, you’ve decided to go to Europe and you have got your visa (or may be you don’t even need one). St. Petersburg is just a few hours’ drive from Helsinki so it might be a good idea to add St. Petersburg, the cultural capital of Russia, to the list of cities you’d want to visit.

There are many ways to get from Helsinki to St. Petersburg: by car or bus, by plane or train, or on board of an international cruise ship or a ferry. If you choose the latter, you won’t need to worry about a visa! There is a law in Russia that allows a visa-free regime for the passengers of cruise ships or ferries. It is an ideal means of transportation from Helsinki to St. Petersburg for short-term visits (no more than 3 days). However, if you would like to go to Moscow as well as St. Petersburg or if you prefer to stay for more than 72 hours, then no matter how you get to St. Petersburg, you will have to apply for the visa at the Russian Consulate.

Bus ride from Helsinki – the cheapest way to get to St. Petersburg

The buses run from Helsinki to St. Petersburg daily, three times a day. The ride takes about 7.5 hours. The bus goes from the bus station Kamppi, Helsinki to the bus station in the center of St. Petersburg. The bus also makes stops at Karhula (Kotka) bus station and Rajahovi (Virolahti) bus station. The tickets cost about USD 20 per person (one way). Keep in mind, that Russian visa is essential for your visit.

Travel from Helsinki to St. Petersburg with comfort by Sapsan fast train or plane

Train ride is the most convenient and fast way to come to St. Petersburg from Helsinki or the other way around. The ride in a fast train takes about 3.5 hours, the train is modern, comfortable, with the internet access. You may buy e-tickets online at the web site of the Russian Railroads Company or we can book the train tickets for you if you like and send them to you via e-mail. You have to have a proper Russian visa if you choose to come to St. Petersburg by train.

Taking plane is an option too, there are several flights between Helsinki and St. Petersburg every day, but it is the most expensive means of transportation. Even though the flight takes less than an hour, you will still lose a lot of time on registration, customs as well as the road from the airport to the center of St. Petersburg. Again, don’t forget to get a Russian visa before your trip.

Ferry ride – best way to come to St. Petersburg without a visa.

More and more people choose ferries to get from Helsinki to St. Petersburg. Ferry leaves Helsinki at 7.00 pm and docks at St. Petersburg at 9.00 am. Now only one ferry works on this route – St. Peter Line’s Princess Anastasia. They will issue a special cruise visa for you on board of the ferry so you do not need to get Russian visa beforehand. They charge about EUR 25 for this service. Keep in mind, that if you come to St. Petersburg on board of a ferry, you’ll have to go back to Helsinki on board of a ferry as well. You may find more information about the visas to Russia here. The ferry also makes stops at Tallinn and Stockholm. You can book your ferry ride on line (no commission) and then choose one of our Helsinki to St. Petersburg day trips if you come for one day or send us a request via e-mail for a three-day tour package with hotel accommodarion.

Keep in mind, that no matter which way you choose to get from Helsinki to St. Petersburg, we would be happy to help you if you face any difficulties. We can book the tickets and provide you with the visa support service that will help you obtain Russian visa at the Consulate. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or need more information.

Millions of tourists come to St. Petersburg every year because there are so many things to do in St. Petersburg! There are about 300 museums, dozens of parks, theatres, restaurants, palaces and cathedrals! It doesn’t matter if you come just for a day or two or for a few weeks, there are some things in St. Petersburg that everyone wants to see and some activities everyone wants to do. Here’s a to-do list for the guests of our marvelous city designed by a local who is also a tour guide who knows and loves St. Petersburg:

1 If you book your tour in May-June, then you are lucky to witness a natural phenomenon called “the white nights”. From the middle of May till the end of June it is light outside even at night. It is possible to read a book in the street without any artificial light. It is easy to get confused as early morning and late evening seem the same.  It is a very romantic time, people walk at night when it is light but very quiet and peaceful. Many locals have a tradition: at least once a year they come to the embankment of Neva around midnight or 1 am to see the Palace bridge drawn. It is mesmerizing!

2 Another thing to do in St. Petersburg is to see the city from the bird’s eye view. If you are fit, you can climb up the colonnade of St. Isaac’s Cathedral. 300 steps up the spiral staircase will make your feet sore but the view will be worth it. If you don’t want a challenge, then you can relax in one of the restaurants with panoramic view (like Moscow or Terrassa) and enjoy well-cooked meal along with the breathtaking view.

3 Have a meal at local café/restaurant with traditional Russian cuisine. Don’t miss your chance to try real Russian borscht, solyanka, Russian salad, pies with various fillings, crapes, dumplings, pyshky (similar to donuts but not quite)…and discover a little Russian in you. Russia is a multinational country, that is why traditional dishes of all the nationalities that live here form “Russian cuisine” so you will certainly find something you’ll love here.

4 Do a rivers and canals boat ride. It will show you St. Petersburg from a completely different angle. You’ll understand why they call it “The Venice of the North”. Hundreds of bridges with ornate railings, embankments that are faced with stone or marble, dozens of rivers and canals running around 42 islands of St. Petersburg form a unique atmosphere and add to the tourist experience.

5 One more thing you should do in St. Petersburg is use subway. I’m not joking! Local subway is not only the deepest in the world but also the most beautiful in the world. Crystal glass, marble, precious stones, mosaics, sculpture are widely used in the interior decoration. Personally, I think Ploschad Vosstania and  Avtovo are the most beautiful stations. Do you agree?

6 Explore one of the royal palaces either in Peterhof or in Pushkin. I bet you’ve never seen so much gold in one place (unless you work at the treasury)! Walk through an endless chain of gala rooms designed for the official receptions and ball parties. Back in the 18^th century people used to dream of coming here, just to take a peek at the lifestyle of the royal family. Aren’t you curious to know how one lives in a palace?

7 Visit the Hermitage museum. It won’t be easy as it is the most popular museum in St. Petersburg and is always crowded but it is simply a must-see while you are here. There are so many things to see! The Hermitage collection totally numbers about 3 million items. You’ll see masterpieces by Da Vinci, Rafael, Tizian, Tiepolo, Rembrandt, Renoir …the list of artists goes on forever. If you are not very fond of art, that is fine too. Focus on the Winter palace and its vast gala rooms, faced with marble, and decorated with gilded bronze chandeliers, stone vases, inlaid floors, tapestries, crystal glass etc

8 Attend a ballet performance. Russian ballet is considered one of the best in the world and St. Petersburg offers a great choice of theatres, starting with the world-famous Mariinsky (Kirov), Alexandrinsky, Mikhailivsky, Hermitage theatre and others.

9 Walk in one of the parks (I especially love the Summer gardens and Peterhof park), then sit on a bench and listen. And feel. Just let yourself enjoy this moment. May be just for a minute. With so many things that you have planned to do in St. Petersburg, don’t forget to do the main thing: fall in love with St. Petersburg!

I hope this information helps you choose the things that you would like to do in St. Petersburg. Some of these activities may not be easy to arrange on your own (especially in summer) so I will be happy to help you during your trip and make sure your visit to St. Petersburg will be hustle-free and unforgettable!

Here's a little sneak peek for you:

We offer private guided tours for families or small groups, with travel options by car, mini-coach or public transport. 'Private tour' means privately chartered: the tour is tailored to your request and the guide as well as the vehicle and the driver that we provide are dedicated exclusively to your family or group on the tour itself.

Below is a comparison for a typical St. Petersburg day-tour between a scheduled service tour by coach, and a private tour with us. We leave you to decide which option offers the best value.