Saint Petersburg Budget Travel Guide!! 💰

Here’s a real budget-friendly guide—no exaggeration, no extreme frugality! I traveled solo; costs can be lower for two. Add 1k RUB if planning to visit a tank military base. 🏨 Accommodation I stayed at Piterskaya Club Hotel 🏢—avg. 200 RMB/night. Cheaper in low season; book early for peak dates! Located right on Nevsky Prospect (check street numbers!). 200m to bus stops 🚌 600m to metro station 🚇 🚆 Transport Buy a 3-day unlimited metro card for 600 RUB at any station. Sometimes I took the bus back to Nevsky Prospect instead of walking. 📅 5-Day Itinerary Day 1: Kazan Cathedral → Dom Knigi (Century Bookstore) → Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood → Field of Mars → Peter and Paul Fortress → Nevsky Prospect Day 2: The Hermitage → St. Isaac’s Cathedral (sunset view from the colonnade!) 🌇 Day 3: Catherine Palace → Park around the palace Day 4: Tank Military Base → Ballet show 🩰 Day 5: Admiralty Building → Alexander Garden → St. Isaac’s Cathedral (or explore local shops!) 🔍 Detailed Tips: 1️⃣ Avoid buying souvenirs at Dom Knigi—Nevsky Prospect is full of souvenir shops! Look for stores with “1+1=3” signs (buy 2, get 3 free).😂 2️⃣ Cheap eats: On the right side of the road between Dom Knigi and the Savior on Spilled Blood, there’s a budget-friendly restaurant with an outdoor menu. Perfect for a break! 🍽️ 3️⃣ Groceries at EuroSpar 🛒: A huge supermarket on Nevsky Prospect with affordable ready-to-eat meals. Heat them up at your hotel! 4️⃣ The Hermitage: Low season: Arrive at 11 AM and enter through the side entrance. High season: Book online/bank card, or ask local students to help buy tickets. Skip the audio guide unless you love history—it’s huge and overwhelming! Use translation apps for captions. Bring water & snacks—food inside is expensive! 💧 5️⃣ Treat yourself at Meat & Bread 🥩: After the Hermitage, navigate to this spot. For ~180 RUB per person (if sharing), you can try almost everything! Leftovers? Pack the onions (they cut the grease) and meat—enough for two more meals! 🍖 6️⃣ Cake shops 🍰: Try 4–5 bakeries along Nevsky Prospect. They’re similar in taste—focus on finding affordable and visually appealing ones! 7️⃣ Catherine Palace: If you’re tired after the Hermitage, just wander the park outside. There’s a lake—bring bread to feed the ducks! 🦆🍞 Final note: Travel smart, spend where it matters, and enjoy Saint Petersburg without breaking the bank! #BudgetTravel #SaintPetersburg #RussiaOnABudget #Hermitage #TravelHacks