From 695 €
for 4 weeks !

(incl. stay, transfers, certificate, visa support, student card)

Saint Petersburg

General information
Saint Petersburg was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great and has currently about 5 million inhabitants. The city is considered as the “Window on Europe” and celibrated last year its 300 anniversary intensely. Saint Petersburg is the most northly situated millions city of the world. In June and July, during the so called “White Nights” it is almost continuously light.

Visit www.petersburg-pictures.com if you want to see the beauty of the city!

The average temperature in summer is about 20 degrees. In winter the average temperature is minus 10 degrees, but it could easily go down to minus 25 or even colder. Till the october-revolution of 1917 Saint-Petersburg was the capital of Russia. During the communist area the city was named Leningrad. In 1991 the population took back its old name. Historical all time low was the 900-days siege by the Germans in the WWII, when almost one million inhabitants of the city lost their lives. Saint Petersburg is home city of the current president Wladimir Putin.

Culture
Saint Petersburg is the cultural capital of Russia. Many composers (Tshaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky) and writers (Dostoyevsky, Pushkin) were brought by this city. Saint Petersburg has many musea, the most famous of all: the Hermitage. In the Hermitage all famous names are represented: Picasso, Leonardo de Vinci, Van Gogh. The museum also has the biggest Rembrandt-collection of the world. Entrance to the Hermitage is free when showing your student card.

Besides musea, the city has a large number of theaters. The Mariinsky Theatre is the home-theater of the world-famous Kirov-ballet. In addition a lot of opera’s are performed in the Mariinsky which are worth visiting.

Dangers
There are many Wild West stories about Russia. Consider it a usual European city. We won't say it's without dangers, but as long as you know where to look, you reduce most of your risk. And those risks are probably not what you expect as being a risk in the first place. Most dangers come from:

1. Traffic... a Russian saying "those who don't risk, won't drink champaign"... they'll all go for the champaign... ALL! So be careful, even as a pedestrian.

2. Women... As a man you should provide your Russian girl for drinks... Do not let them buy a Coca-Cola for you if you know her 5 minutes. It might have "added-value" 

3. Alcohol, avoid street conversations with drunk people, they easily might be offended by you refusing their invitation to drink wodka together. Being drunk yourself is also not the best idea, it makes you weak towards those with bad intentions.

4. Black cab, you will be surprised by the number of non-official Russian cab drivers during the night. It is an easy way to get through the city when public transport is sleeping. Just one thing: AVOID TO STEP IN A CAR WITH MORE PEOPLE THAN ONLY THE DRIVER !

5. > 50 km out of St. Petersburg, you will miss nothing skipping a visit to uncivilised Russia (unless you like adventures). Law only functions to a certain level. That makes you weak as a foreigner... don't go there without a Russian accompanying you. This does not count for Novgorod or Moscow.