Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg

Often referred to as the European capital of Russia, St Petersburg has gained worldwide fame as the home of many high-class museums and buildings of architectural interests. Its many orthodox churches are the most famous example of the astonishing architectural accomplishments of Russia and the former Soviet Union. Yet, St. Petersburg offers also nice shopping facilities, lively nightlife, and cultural entertainment such as high-class theater and opera performances.

Church of spilled blood in St Petersburg

Saint Petersburg, Russian cultural capital with architectural pearls

Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Leningrad, is the old capital of Russia and its window to Europe. This beautiful city built in early 1700s hosts many architectural wonders. The most amazing of St Petersburg churches is the fairytale-like Church on Spilled Blood. With its onion-shaped domes of pure gold reaching towards the sky, this magnificent orthodox cathedral is such an incredible sight you would rather not believe it is real. This famous church is of special interest not only as a masterpiece of Russian architecture, but also as a memorial monument, which was built in the place where Czar Alexander II was murdered in 1881.

Places to see. The massive Hermitage Art Museum is one of the most famous sights of Saint Petersburg. In this astonishing palace-like museum you can easily spend days admiring the accomplishments of the most famous artists of the world. There are also other interesting and world-famous museums in St Petersburg, as well as high class concerts in Saint Petersburg available regularly. One more thing St. Petersburg is famous for is performing arts, which can be enjoyed in the fabulous opera and theatres in St Petersburg.

Palace Square, Saint Petersburg, Russia

The Russian Venice. Offering something green for those who want to stay out, the fountains and pavilions of the Summer Garden are the place to go when you want to take a deep breath of fresh air in St Petersburg. The river Neva, which flows in the middle of the city, as well as the many canals create an essential part of the city image of St. Petersburg. The city is known as the Russian Venice, and offers pleasant surroundings for boat tours. When the cultural treasures of the city are seen, there is also always shopping in Saint Petersburg, which is concentrated on the main street called Nevski Prospect. The lively nightlife of St Petersburg is also worth checking out.

Practical information for your trip to Saint Petersburg

Climate in St Petersburg is continental with quite warm summers and cold winters. The period between June and August is the warmest, while winter usually lasts from November to late March. In general, St. Petersburg is a year-round destination.

However, if you want to see the famous palace parks, come in summer.

Street view of St Peteresburg by night

Getting around. Metro is the best way to move around St Petersburg. There are frequent connections available to almost anywhere in the area of St. Petersburg. Metro tickets in St Petersburg are cheap, but as all announcements are given in Russian, navigating in the vast network of stations can cause problems if you are not familiar with Russian language and alphabets. If you want to stay above the ground, trolleybuses run frequently in the city, and taxis are also available at a reasonable price.

Canal in St Petersburg

Travelling to St Petersburg is easy, although most foreign nationalities need a visa. International flights to St Petersburg are available from all over the world. Another pleasant way to reach the city is by train from Finland (Helsinki), or with a Baltic cruise. When moving around in St Petersburg, the fastest way is by subway. Frequent local bus connections are available in the city center. Rental cars in St Petersburg are also available, although if you are not planning to leave the city, a bus or subway is more recommended.

Inside Peter and paul cathedral

Visitor services. Hotels in St Petersburg are easy to find, and restaurants in St Petersburg will also not run out any time soon. Talking of the services, also tailored sightseeing tours in St Petersburg are available. St Petersburg is generally a safe city, but as pick-pocketing is quite common and robberies do happen, it is important to take good care of your belongings and avoid walking around in unknown neighborhoods at night. Keep your passport with you all times, as the police might check your ID. Some Russian language skills are needed for independent touring.

Smolensk Travel Information

Smolensk Travel Information

Old Russian city with astonishing orthodox churches and lots of cultural draws, Smolensk is one of the hidden jewels of Western Russia. The city contains a historic fortress and famous museums such as the one dedicated to the Russia national drink, Vodka. More than that, Smolensk offers you art galleries to be explored and lively nightlife to be attended. The region is good also for fishing and countryside tours.

Smolensk, the Russian meeting place of national heritage and modern culture

Smolensk is one of the oldest cities in Russia, sure, but somehow it still manages to surprise with all the national heritage included in the packet. Add shopping facilities and beautiful natural surroundings, and the mix is ready.

Church in Smolensk

Cultural attractions. Smolensk has art galleries with masterpieces from artists like Aivazovsky, and the famous Olympic and Vodka museums of the city are unique places even in worldwide measure. The whole thing is made even better by all the architectural treasures found in the city. Local people in Smolensk are proud of their 17th century fortress wall with 17 towers, and the many orthodox churches of the city are just as astonishing as in other Russian cities of this age. The most famous of the churches is the majestic Cathedral of Assumption, built in 1676.

Convento de Novodévichi, catedral de la Virgen de Smolens

Shopping and entertainment. In addition to being a city of strong cultural heritage, Smolensk has also modern face. Much of it has been rebuilt after damages caused in the wars faced by the city. The city center is quite modern and has excellent facilities available for shopping in Smolensk as well as modern bars and nightclubs for entering the lively nightlife in Smolensk.

Nature. Smolensk is attractive also by its natural surroundings dominated by the Dnepr River. The city area has several green parks for walking and fishing in Smolensk, and should you want to make longer excursions, the forests of the region are waiting!

Practical information for your trip to Smolensk

Smolensk is located in the western part of Russia, some 360 km southwest of Moscow. For flights and travelling to Smolensk, connections are best available from the two Russian metropolises, Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Architect of the fortress walls of Smolensk, Russia

These two cities are easily reachable from Smolensk also by train. Buses and taxis are good for getting around in the city, but for travelling across Smolensk you can use also railway lines. Car rental in Smolensk is good for touring in the surrounding region.

Climate. Smolensk has a continental climate with big seasonal changes in weather. During the summer average monthly high temperatures in the region climb to 20°C or above, with the warmest time of the year faced between June and August. Winters of Smolensk are cold and snowy and the mercury commonly drops to below zero degrees between November and March. The best time for travelling to Smolensk is between May and September.

cathedral of our lady from distance, Smolensk

Beloved by Russians, Smolensk has started to draw an increasing number of international visitors as well. There are modern hotels in Smolensk city center and sport complexes and tourist centers outside the city are good for outdoor sports and games. Restaurants in Smolensk are quite international, which goes also for the many nightclubs of the city. Smolensk is a quite safe travel destination, provided you follow common sense and keep an eye on your belongings. Some knowledge of Russian language is needed for independent touring.

Brasov Travel Information

Brasov Travel Information

The historic mountain resort city of Brasov offers a great mix of medieval history and beautiful Carpathian mountain scenery with excellent skiing and trekking opportunities. Gothic churches and medieval fortresses and castles are part of Brasov’s appeal, and the city also hosts lively festivals and affordable shopping.

Brasov city buildings

Transylvanian city located in Central Romania, Brasov is the seventh largest city in the country. It is home to a beautiful medieval town center surrounded by scenic green hills, and nearby Southern Carpathian Mountains offer plenty of outdoor activities around the year. No wonder Brasov is one of the most popular tourism destinations in Romania. Settled already during ancient times, Brasov city was founded by Saxons who came to Transylvania in the 1200s AD. The city still has notable Hungarian and German minorities.

Sights and activities in Brasov: skiing, trekking and medieval history

Brasov has plenty of attractions ranging from historical sights to skiing, hiking, and horseback riding in the Carpathian Mountains. The city is also used as a base for visits in the nearby attractions such as the castle of Bran and the historic fortress of Rasnov. Brasov also hosts popular festivals such as the Golden Stag Music Festival between August and September, offering many international concerts, as well as the Feast Days fair around Easter and the Beer Festival in autumn. There are also plenty of opportunities for inexpensive shopping in Brasov.

Brasov seen from amountain top

Three mountain resorts around Brasov – Poiana Brasov, Predeal, and Sinaia offer a wide range of outdoor sports opportunities from skiing and snowboarding in wintertime to mountain climbing, trekking, horseback riding, and roller skating during the summer. They make skiing in Brasov area arguably the best in Eastern Europe. The Bran Castle, located in the village of Bran 30 km / 19 miles south of Brasov, is a popular place to visit and commonly referred to as the Castle of Dracula, although it has never been home of the historic ruler Vlad Tepes.

City attractions. In Brasov itself, the main touristic sight is the medieval old town with the famous black Gothic church, built in 1477, cobblestone pedestrian streets, old city gates, and restaurants and cafés, as well as buildings representing several centuries and architectural styles situated around the main square, Piata Sfatului. There are also a couple of museums in Brasov, including the Town Museum and an art museum. The Tâmpa Mountain close to the old city center offers beautiful views over Brasov and can be reached by walking or by cable car. There is also an old citadel from the 16th century that is now home to many outdoor restaurants and bars of Brasov. Outside the fortress, you can find the oldest part of the city, called the Schei district.

Brasov city square

Brasov travel information and practical tips

The climate in Brasov is temperate and continental with four seasons. It is also cooler and wetter than in the lower-lying areas in Romania.

Brasov winters from December to March are cold and snowy, and summers from June to September are hot during the days but with chilly nights. High mountain areas around Brasov have colder climate than in the city and the surrounding hills.

How to get there. Travelling to Brasov can be done by rail or by road. The city has no civilian airport, although an international airport is currently being built. For now, the best way to travel to Brasov by air is to fly to Bucharest or nearby Sibiu instead. The railway connections to Brasov are good, and you can travel there easily by train from many European countries as well as elsewhere in Romania. Intercity buses to Brasov are also available.

The old city hall of Brasov

Local transport in Brasov is handled by buses and trolleybuses. The nearby ski resort of Poiana Brasov is connected to the city by buses. Taxis are plentiful in the city and relatively inexpensive. Car rental in Brasov is also available and a good idea if you are planning to tour the rural areas of Transylvania.

Visitor services. There is a good amount of hotels in Brasov, as well as cheaper guesthouses and private accommodation options. The city is a popular tourism destination, so prices in Brasov can be higher than in many other parts of Romania. Restaurants in Brasov are plentifully available, serving mostly local cuisine. There are also many nightlife options, and the Brasov’s nightlife becomes especially lively during the major festivals.

Narrow street in Brasov

Safety. Brasov is a relatively safe destination with very little violent crime and visible police presence. However, pick-pocketing and scams targeted at tourists are not uncommon, and you should take good care of your belongings especially on public transport and in the city center. Many local people in Brasov can speak English, and also German, French and Hungarian languages are widely understood.