It doesn’t take long to realise why St. Petersburg is known as the Venice of the North, with 342 bridges crisscrossing the elegant canals and waterways that span this impressive Russian city. It’s no coincidence that the majority of cruises to the Baltic capitals stop overnight in St. Petersburg, allowing guests to really immerse themselves in this treasure trove of culture and art.
The one question that always comes up when we’re helping guests choose a summer cruise to the Baltics is how to go about organising a visa for Russia. It’s no secret that applying for a Russian visa can be a complicated and costly experience, thankfully, there is a very simple alternative, booking an organised excursion.
Cruise passengers are allowed to visit Russia without a visa for up to 72 hours if they are on an organised tour, however, you will need to remain with your group throughout and cannot wander off and explore independently. All cruise lines offer a variety of different types of tours, but you’re not bound by booking a cruise line tour, you can use any authorised travel agency, however, we’d always recommend doing your research and checking any reviews. Our first recommendation would be to check out our partners Venture Ashore who offer tours which can be cheaper than the cruise line’s offering and will, of course, cover you with regards to the tour group visa. They have one or two-day tours as well as outings to experience a ballet performance or an evening river cruise along the Nera river.
Whichever way you choose to explore St. Petersburg, we’re sure you’ll come back with some amazing memories and a camera full of incredible photographs to share with your friends and family.
