🇷🇺 Russia Travel Tips & Experiences

Saint Petersburg is the highlight of Russian travel — so much to explore! 10 days weren’t enough 😍. I wandered alone during the day and felt completely safe. Here’s a summary of key points: 1️⃣ Get a local bank card for seamless travel 🏦💳. Electronic payments are widely accepted for metro, taxis, meals, and shopping. 🚇 Two people can use one card for the metro — just swipe separately at different gates. 🚖 Use Yandex Go with a linked card; drivers rarely carry change. Pricing surges during rush hour or rain 🌧️💸. 2️⃣ Confirm your SIM card works under Russia’s "biometric" policy 📵. My China-bought card didn’t work in Saint Petersburg. Local SIMs > roaming! 3️⃣ Stay near Nevsky Prospect (between Moscow Station and Winter Palace) 🏨. Choose a hotel close to the metro — unless you want sore feet after 20k steps/day 😅. 4️⃣ English isn’t widely spoken, but people are polite and helpful 🤗. We used a translator to resolve a tennis court booking issue — they even helped us get a refund and found an available slot! 5️⃣ Dining tips 🍽️: 🔍 Check Xiaohongshu for food recommendations or browse Yandex Maps — restaurants rated 5.0/4.9 won’t disappoint. 📅 Walk in for brunch/lunch; book dinner in advance for popular spots. Some websites have booking links. 🍽️ No English menu? Use Yandex Translate to scan or point at pics in Maps. Learn "Спасибо" (Thank you) — locals love it! 6️⃣ Weather in late April 🌧️❄️: Pack a coat, hoodie, and jeans. A rainproof jacket is handy! Indoors are warm — layer prettily for photos 📸. 7️⃣ Winter Palace (Hermitage) needs a full day 🏛️⏳: I spent 8 hours there! Enter at your booked time or re-queue. Don’t miss the Dunhuang and Tibetan exhibits on the 3rd floor. 8️⃣ Hermitage Modern Art Gallery 🎨: See one of the world’s best Picasso collections for ~40 RMB! 9️⃣ Best sunset spots 🌇: Duma Tower clock room & St. Isaac’s Cathedral dome. 🔟 Feed squirrels at Primorskiy Park 🐿️🌲: Fluffy tails! Half the park is a playground — Russians ride thrill rides silently 😆. 1️⃣1️⃣ Podpisnye Izdaniya bookstore > historic bookstore 📚💕. #JustGo #MyTravelMemories #RussiaTravel #SaintPetersburg ✈️❤️