St. Petersburg Live Cam

Visit Peter the Great's favorite villa Monplaisir facing the Finish Gulf, stroll along the spectacular Grand Cascade & Water Avenue with its unequalled collection of magnificent fountains and canals, and wander the many lavish halls and galleries of the Grand Palace.

In the Peterhof Museum Reserve, we are sure that the museum can and should be interesting for children. For this purpose, special educational programs were designed for visitors of all ages, from the youngest - preschoolers to high school students. Author's tours help make the museum attractive for children. The growing interest in children's educational programs is proof of this. During the academic year about 250 author's excursions are held.

Local trains go from Baltisky Station, St Petersburg, to 'Novy Petergof' Station. There is also a hydrofoil service that leaves from two terminals: on the Makarova Embankment and by the Hermitage Museum.

The city of 101 islands, which has become the self-proclaimed cultural capital of Russia, has a seemingly endless array of unique photo opportunities. You only need to look at the number of Russian and foreign tourists wandering around one of the city's many picturesque canals or embankments with guidebook and camera in hand to be reminded of the city's unique beauty and popularity. The former center of a vast and glorious empire which quickly became Russia's most European city was created and developed by a group of talented European and Russian architects.

A Russian port city on the Baltic Sea

Saint Petersburg is Russia’s gate to Europe and her strategic center closest to the countries of the European community. Saint Petersburg occupies a special place within Russia. Having been founded 300 years ago, the young city has soon become the most prominent symbol of Russia’s culture and science. It has given a strong impulse to the entire country’s spiritual and economic development. Historic traditions are being preserved and carried on in Saint Petersburg. The city has everything necessary for successful business, it possesses favorable conditions for the attraction of investments. Saint Petersburg’s historical and artistic value is well-known. The great city on the Neva constitutes a unique open-air museum, containing a collection of outstanding historical, architectural and cultural landmarks. The process of acquainting yourself with these treasures is infinitely fascinating. I am wishing you all rewarding encounters in the city, both virtual and real, for business and pleasure. I am wishing you new and exciting experiences, successful work and pleasant recreation.

St. Peterburg's Administration is composed of the Governor himself, of the City Government, of the Governor's Office (under the Governor's command), of the Administration's territorial and industrial branches, and also of administrative boards in charge of separate industries, governed by the City Administration in conjunction with the Russian Federation's Government's executive branch and the Administration of the Leningrad region.

The city centre has enough museums to satisfy even the most inquisitive visitor. The Hermitage, of course, is by far the most important. Its collection is comparable to the world's greatest art collections, like the Louvre, the Metropolitan and El Prado. There is also a great number of other museums, covering a wide variety of topics and interests. Unfortunately, several lesser-known museums, such as the Communications Museum, are closing due to lack of funding and other reasons.

The city centre has enough museums to satisfy even the most inquisitive visitor. The Hermitage, of course, is by far the most important. Its collection is comparable to the world's greatest art collections, like the Louvre, the Metropolitan and El Prado. There is also a great number of other museums, covering a wide variety of topics and interests. Unfortunately, several lesser-known museums, such as the Communications Museum, are closing due to lack of funding and other reasons. Almost all museum exhibits are described in Russian, but paid guided tours are provided in English at certain times of the day. Advance reservations usually need to be made. As an alternative, many tourist agencies and hotel service bureaus can arrange museum tours or personal guides for non-Russian speakers. Some museums sell books of various quality and complexity in English.

Most museums and tourist attractions have higher admission prices for foreigners. Although the policy may seem unfair, it helps keep these organizations afloat, and lower prices for locals keep St. Petersburg's cultural heritage affordable and accessible. The most popular museums have currency exchange booths located on the premises.

Any bag larger than a ladies' handbag must be checked at the cloakroom. If you plan to photograph or videotape any parts of the exhibit you must pay a flat fee at the ticket office and receive a photo permit. You also must check your coat in. Note that on any English-language signs the floors are labelled according to the British system, i.e.: ground floor, first floor, and second floor. This can be confusing, as in Russian the same floors are labelled first, second, and third, correspondingly.

Saint-Petersburg has a variety of transportation types, both public and private. The subway, with average train speed over 40 km per hour, is by far the fastest and most comfortable way to get almost anywhere within the city. Bus routes are available almost everywhere, trolley bus and tram routes tend to be gathered within the older areas of the city. Public transportation in St. Petersburg is comfortable enough, especially if you consider its relatively cheap prices.

Saint-Petersburg has a variety of transportation types, both public and private. The subway, with average train speed over 40 km per hour, is by far the fastest and most comfortable way to get almost anywhere within the city. Bus routes are available almost everywhere, trolley bus and tram routes tend to be gathered within the older areas of the city. Public transportation in St. Petersburg is comfortable enough, especially if you consider its relatively cheap prices.

However, you might want to avoid riding through the city's overcrowded central stations during rush hours. A single subway ride costs 5 roubles, while the surface transportation fare is 4 roubles. Private taxi-bus routes have been organized recently along the routes of major bus lines. The numbers of taxi-bus routes are in most cases the same as those of the corresponding bus routes. Taxi-buses can be either real buses or minivans, which can be stopped pretty much anywhere along the route. Taxi-bus fares are around 6 roubles, and riding a taxi-bus is much more comfortable than using any other type of transportation.

Inside metro station City subway stations are marked with the blue letter "M". They work from 5:30 a.m. until midnight. The last train leaves the end station at 12 midnight, so you might actually be able to catch it sometime between 12:00 and 12:30 at stations closer to the middle of the line. Subway trains run with the interval of 2 to 3 minutes, but from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the weekday, the coaches may be overcrowded. In order to use the subway, you need to buy a subway token, which costs 5 roubles (approximately $0.18). Tokens are sold at the cashiers inside the stations, near the entrance. Magnetic cards for multiple rides are also available. Cards with a limited validity period are cheaper than unlimited ones with the same number of rides. A monthly 70-rides card costs 180 roubles and can be bought during the beginning of every calendar month. The same card with an attached surface transportation pass (unlimited number of rides) costs 270 roubles. The surface transportation pass must be filled out with the number printed on the subway card if you want to avoid being fined. The card can be returned to subway cashiers at the end of the month for a 5 rouble refund.

Bus Public buses start working at around 6 a.m. and run until about 12 a.m., with the intervals of anywhere from 10 minutes up to an hour. Buses are available almost everywhere in the city. The cost of a surface transportation ticket is 4 roubles (about $0.14). Tickets are bought on the spot from conductors, who will approach you trying to collect the fare, unless you have a pass, which they will ask you to show. The ticket a conductor gives you is valid for one ride only. If the bus is overcrowded and the conductor is unable to approach you, you are still responsible for contacting him and paying your fare (possibly with the help of other passengers). Fare inspectors may drop in at any station, and explaining to them that you've just boarded the vehicle and the conductor has not yet approached you rarely works.

Public trolleys start working at around 6 a.m. and run until about 12 a.m., with the intervals of anywhere from 10 minutes up to an hour. Trolley routes tend to be gathered in the city's older parts. The cost of a surface transportation ticket is 4 roubles (about $0.14). Tickets are bought on the spot from conductors, who will approach you trying to collect the fare, unless you have a pass, which they will ask you to show. The ticket a conductor gives you is valid for one ride only. If the bus is overcrowded and the conductor is unable to approach you, you are still responsible for contacting him and paying your fare (possibly with the help of other passengers). Fare inspectors may drop in at any station, and explaining to them that you've just boarded the vehicle and the conductor has not yet approached you rarely works.

Public trams start working at around 6 a.m. and run until about 12 a.m., with the intervals of anywhere from 10 minutes up to an hour. Tram routes tend to be gathered in the city's older parts. The cost of a tram ticket is 4 roubles (about $0.14). Tickets are bought on the spot from conductors, who will approach you trying to collect the fare, unless you have a pass, which they will ask you to show. The ticket a conductor gives you is valid for one ride only. If the tram car is overcrowded and the conductor is unable to approach you, you are still responsible for contacting him and paying your fare (possibly with the help of other passengers). Fare inspectors may drop in at any station, and explaining to them that you've just boarded the vehicle and the conductor has not yet approached you rarely works.