Select smaller vessels get the best spots, sailing up the Neva River and docking in the heart of the city at English Embankment or Lieutenant Schmidt Embankment. There's nothing in the area that will entice you to linger. Between 20 and 36 passport booths help speed debarkation (though be prepared for stern and businesslike customs officials and lines, especially on the first day). Although the port can handle up to seven mega-liners simultaneously, debarkation doesn't seem to be much of a hassle (though that doesn't mean you won't have to wait a bit in lines).Ĭompleted in 2011, the four Marine Facade terminals are user-friendly, offering a taxi stand, a tourist info booth, ATMs, vending machines, souvenir shops and a cafe (amenities vary among the terminals). It's on Vasilyevsky Island, about a 15-minute taxi ride from the city's historic center. Petersburg's Marine Facade was built on reclaimed land at the mouth of the Neva River. A visit to Russia is a once in a lifetime experience for many - and it's worth a splurge or two. A knowledgeable guide and a small group will help you dodge the tourist hordes and access the history and backstory that make the sights come alive. And the Hermitage is typically packed to the gills you may have to do a lot of jostling to see the art highlights if you aren't on a tour that specifically avoids the crowds.Ī guided tour, whether privately arranged or through your ship's excursion department, will definitely help you get the most out of your two or three days in St. Very few signs are in English, and understanding what you are seeing - whether it's a street sign, a shop name or a painting description - can be impossible. And don't miss a chance to see Russian ballet performed live.Ī visit is not entirely without hassles: The key museums and attractions are not air-conditioned and rarely have special facilities for the disabled. Petersburg, home to significant collections of Matisses, Picassos and Rembrandts. You've been to the Louvre in Paris now see the Hermitage in St. You are likely to find yourself oohing and aahing at the architecture from your cab or bus, and art is a key attraction. Petersburg, including Pushkin, Dostoyevsky, Tchaikovsky and Tolstoy. All the big names have been affiliated with St. Petersburg was the capital of Imperial Russia from 1712 to 1914 and remains Russia's cultural capital.