Miami to Saint Petersburg Flights

  About Miami

If there is one place that you can head to, any time of the year, for the perfect beachy holiday, it is Miami. The crazy parties, sunbathing at the beach, diverse cultures are only some of the things that attract tourists to Miami. Miami Beach is another destination that is extremely popular among tourists. You can go with your family or with your friends. Miami is a city that never sleeps, and you won't even notice time passing by when you are holidaying in Miami. You won't feel like leaving from the beach at all. Waking up to the wonderfully blue waters from your hotel room makes for the perfect vacation, don't you think? You will not get used to a view like this and will definitely want to come back for another holiday pretty soon.

Best Time to Visit Miami

Summer is one of the most popular seasons to visit Miami, even though the city does welcome tourists all year round. There are quite a few parties and events hosted in the city throughout the year, which also leads to a spike in hotel rates and flight tickets to Miami. However, if you are keen on partying till sunrise and hitting the beach every now and then, this is worth every penny spent. Spring is also a popular season to visit Miami and has a lot of teenagers turning it into a crazy party destination, thanks to the Spring break. June to August is summer in Miami, and the temperature ranges from 23 to 32 degree Celsius. There are quite a few events and festivals in all of these months like the American Black Film Festival in June, Florida Supercon in July and Coconut Grove Food and Wine Festival in August. If you are planning to hit the Miami beach, make sure you carry loads of sunscreen because you will want to take a dip in the ocean quite frequently. However, this is also the start of Atlantic's hurricane season so make sure that you are prepared to face the humid temperatures.

September to November is the autumn season, and the city sees a dip in the number of tourists since there are frequent showers and the threat of hurricanes hitting the city. It will be a lot of gambles to plan a trip to Miami during the autumn season. However, if you are still keen on hitting the Miami beach during this time, you can catch the South Beach Seafood Week in October and the White Party Week in November. Not to mention, there is also a BK Beach Run event that happens in October. The temperature ranges from 22 to 31 degree Celsius. However, it does drop considerably in November.

The city experiences winter from December to February. The temperature ranges from 15 to 26 degree Celsius, and this is a very pleasant time to hit the beach. You will see a minimal crowd and can enjoy your solitude at the beach though you must book your hotel in Miami at least four months in advance since the hotel prices start increasing. It will get difficult to find something decent in your budget at the last moment.

March to May is the most popular time to head to Miami. The temperature ranges from 17 to 30 degree Celsius. Since it is Spring season, you will see a lot of young crowds, mostly at the beach to celebrate Spring break. There are quite a lot of events to attend during this season, too. You can attend the Miami International Film Festival in March, Miami Beach Pride in March or April and the Miami Fashion Week in May or June. However, since it is also a popular tourist season, especially among youngsters, you might want to check for your flight and hotel availability in advance.

Places to Visit in Miami

Put on your fanciest bikini and head to the Miami beach. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Miami and also one of the main reasons why tourists plan a trip to the city. There are long stretches of pristine and tranquil beaches that you will not get over at all. The South Beach is another one of the famous beaches in Miami that a lot of people head to. If you are travelling with your family, you can also visit the Miami Zoo that is home to approximately 3000 animals and 500 different species. One of the specialities of the zoo is that it has created a natural habitat for the animals to move around freely instead of caging them. Make sure you are all set for a long walk since the zoo is quite big. You will also find a lot of water fountains in the zoo and play areas for the kids.

The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is yet another popular tourist that you can visit. It used to be a winter home of industrialist, James Deering and is a blend of European and Italian Renaissance style architecture. You will love the gardens and the outdoor area here. Bayside Marketplace is one of the most popular shopping areas in Miami. Located on the Miami waterfront, you will find a lot of unique shops here and a lot of souvenirs to take back home, too. Bayfront Park is another wonderful place to go to that has a lot of sculptures and monuments spread across 32 acres of space. It is a famous place to host musical performances since it also has an amphitheatre and makes for a great place to take pictures. Make sure you also head to Wynwood to catch the beautiful wall arts. You will find a lot of graffiti paintings on the walls here that make it a spot you must visit in Miami. Little Havana is in the Cuban district of Miami and is known for its cultural scene. You will find a lot of restaurants and food stalls here, in addition to Latin music. You can also attend the Calle Ocho Festival in March that celebrates the Cuban culture.

Things to do in Miami

Since Miami Beach is one of the main highlights of the city, you can try a bunch of beach activities here like swimming, paddle surfing or even take a speed boat tour. You can also try deep-sea fishing in Miami. Since it is a hot party destination, you can also experience the crazy nightlife here. The food and cocktail in Miami are to die for, and you will simply love it. Take a walking tour of the Art Deco Museum and make sure you also hire a guide for this one. You can challenge your photography skills at the Wynwood Walls, and we are certain the pictures here will get you loads of likes and followers on social media.

Food and Restaurants in Miami

It is not difficult to find your favourite type of cuisine in Miami. Be it Japanese food or Cuban cuisines, and you will find everything here. Owing to its proximity to the ocean, seafood is also a speciality here. You can head over to Garcia's Seafood Grille and Fish Market for sustainable seafood. You can also try Versailles Restaurant for authentic Cuban cuisine or Chef Creole's at Little Haiti for Caribbean food. You can also head to House of Food Porn for sushi and other kinds of Japanese food. La Mar by Gaston Acurio at Mandarin Oriental, is another restaurant that is recommended by food experts. Aromas del Peru serves the best Peruvian food in Miami. You can also try Cuban and Spanish food at El Mago de las Fritas. Head over to Lagniappe for a glass of wine. It has an impressive menu of different types of wine that you can choose from.

How to reach Miami (Transportation)

The Miami International Airport is about 16 km away from Downtown Miami. The flight connectivity to Miami from India is excellent. However, be prepared for tedious hours of flights and more than one layover. Though there are flights to Miami that only have layovers in one city, the duration is close to 22 hours. It is not very easy to get cheap flight tickets to Miami from India, so make sure you plan and book it way in advance. It is also advisable to book your hotel in Miami well in advance to avoid any inconveniences. Layovers at London, New York and Istanbul are some of the popular routes to Miami via air. Miami airport is well-equipped with lounges, shopping arenas, restaurants, cafe, WiFi, smoking rooms, children's area and prayer area. You will not get bored at all if you are waiting to board your flight. With so many options to dine in and sip a coffee, Miami airport makes sure that it stands out. Not to mention, you will also get a taxi and other transport services from the airport quite easily. The airport also has art exhibitions for passengers. The airport has specific exits and areas for pets and service animals.

  About Saint Petersburg

Russia's famous port city, Saint Petersburg, is located on the coast of the Baltic Sea. The city raves some of the best tourist attractions for being one of the big cities in all of Russia. The city was part of the imperial capital for two centuries before the baton was passed to Moscow. While it is not the capital anymore, the city continues to remain the cultural hub of Russia.

Best time to visit St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg enjoys cold weather throughout the year. The temperatures even tend to go in the negative as the geographical features are such. During winters, you will actually get to experience negative temperatures that range from -5 degree Celsius to -2 degree Celsius. With such extreme temperatures, winters shut down the city. While some domestic businesses do function, the city mostly shut as traversing within St. Petersburg is quite risky. With frostbites and breathing problems that could crop up due to the extreme cold, many avoid winters to visit St. Petersburg. The days are short during winters, and the temperatures certainly don't spell 'vacation'. Hence, the best thing to do would be to avoid the months of October through mid-April. Some festivals do take place in the city. However, the cold temperatures make it tough to enjoy the fun, vibrant events. The hotel prices do take a dip as the tourism industry sees less action. This is probably the only time when you will get to enjoy the inexpensive hotels in St. Petersburg.

As long as you are open to brave the cold and freezing winters of the city, booking flights and hotels in St. Petersburg during winters will get you multitudes of discounts. Months from June through September see the best of St. Petersburg. Although the temperatures don't really escalate to a pleasant 25 degree Celsius to 30 degree Celsius, the average 20 degree Celsius does uplift the city's spirts. Many festivals take place during these months as the sun is present for 24 hours. The city is literally awake the whole time during the summer months, and it only adds to the beauty of St. Petersburg. Restaurants and bars also extend their working hours as the city is practically awake the whole time. This doesn't mean you will have a smooth trip. The summers experience a massive surge in the hospitality sector as many tourists from around the world flock over to visit St. Petersburg. Booking a hotel in St. Petersburg during their summers is quite challenging and comes with an exorbitant cost. However, as long as you make advance hotel bookings in St. Petersburg, you might be able to avail good discounts.

Places to visit in St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg has a plethora of art galleries and architecture that you will enjoy. You can start exploring by visiting the Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace. Built in 1764, the structure was originally reserved for private art collections. However, it has come out to be one of the most famed attractions in St. Petersburg. Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood is another such attraction that will pique your interest with its story. Plus, the architecture of the place further makes it an alluring sight. St. Isaac's Cathedral is a beautiful neoclassical structure that has managed to survive a lot of ordeals, including the Nazi shelling and World War II. You should also visit Peter and Paul Fortress. It is actually the place where the city of St. Petersburg was founded, hence holds a lot of historical relevance. Do not miss the Catherine Palace and Park. The fanciful structure, with its Russian-inspired architecture, is something worth exploring. You can learn about the royal heiress too. UNESCO has recognised Peterhof Palace and Garden as a World Heritage Site.

Things to do in St. Petersburg

The city's museum is perfect for you to learn more about Russian history. Do visit the Russian Museum for the same. You can also go to the Fabergé Museum for more cultural enlightenment. Opera and ballet are recognised to be popular art. You can catch a show at the Mariinsky Theatre which has shows of Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker. A walk around Alexander Park is also a good way to spend your time in St. Petersburg. The large expanse of the garden is perfectly designed to bring about a lovely and serene vibe. During the warm seasons, the bars and pubs are open till late in the night. Perhaps you can actually hang out there, maybe chat up with the locals and have a good time downing some vodka. There are boat rides too that are available in the city. You can take it up and soak in the beauty of the city.

Food and Restaurants in St. Petersburg

Much like Moscow, even St. Petersburg has a slew of lovely Russian cuisine along with international flavours. Although you might not be able to find those contemporary Mediterranean dishes, it would still be quite a fancy spread. The Russian cuisine is a testament to their geographical features and lifestyle. To combat the excessively cold winters, they need to keep their body warm. This means to consume as much stews and borschts that one can find. Don't be surprised to get hold of the classic Russian dishes as the city has them aplenty. Food spread including borscht, stroganoff, caviar and cabbage stew, are staple to the city. The good thing about food in St. Petersburg in comparison to the country's capital, Moscow, is that the prices are cheap and affordable. Moscow's restaurants put quite an exorbitant price on the menu for the dishes. However, in St. Petersburg, you wouldn't have to worry about that. The restaurants and food establishments make exquisite dishes and are pocket-friendly. When you're in the city, there are some must-haves that you should add to your list.

Aside from the traditional staple food that you'll find, do not miss the Russian version of crepe and pancakes that comes with caviar stuffing. These snacks are affordable and perfect to be relished under the Russian sun. There are many street vendors that are present in every corner, serving piping hot stews and such comfort food on the go. However, if you wish to upscale your dining experience just a notch, then head to Literary Cafe, located on Nevsky Prospekt. They serve the traditional Russian meal and once played host to celebrities such as Pushkin and Dostoyevsky. If you wish to see some variations in the Russian dishes, Hamlet + Jacks have some interesting meals, including Siberian venison and Baltic herring. Phali Hinkali is also a good place to chow down hearty delicacies which are inspired from Georgian cuisine. The city does have fusion food with an elegant setting. Places such as Palkin, Probka and Bekitzer, to name a few, have some interesting food that will go down well with your system. They are a little pricey, but the vibe is what they sell.

How to reach St. Petersburg (Transportation)

There is no direct way to reach St. Petersburg from India. One will have to face layovers and change flights to reach the Russian city. The flight connectivity to St. Petersburg from India is decent. It could be better, but due to the little demand the city has from India, there are fewer airlines and flights connected to reach St. Petersburg. The most popular route to reach St. Petersburg is through Warsaw in Poland. Warsaw has the best flight connectivity to St. Petersburg. Hence, you will have to go through the European route to reach St. Petersburg. Airlines such as Uzbekistan Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch, Aeroflot, Swiss, Lufthansa, Emirates, to name a few, offer dedicated flights to St. Petersburg. Much of the layovers take place in cities such as Warsaw, Frankfurt and Paris. In fact, Paris is another popular international route to St. Petersburg that is favoured as the connectivity from the French capital is immaculate. There are layovers and flight changes that you will have to deal with on your way to St. Petersburg. Not to mention how a transit visa will also be required.

Since a majority of the popular routes to St. Petersburg fall in European cities, a Schengen transit visa is required. However, acquiring a visa would be quite easy. You can get in touch with the embassy for the same. The flight duration is close to 14 hours if you opt for the Paris route to reach St. Petersburg. It is by far the best international route to choose to reach St. Petersburg. However, depending on the airlines and flight ticket costs, the duration also varies. The summers in St. Petersburg are peak season for tourism so there might be a surge in flight tickets to St. Petersburg. Hence, to avoid paying excessively for flight tickets to St. Petersburg, you can make prior flight bookings online. It would be convenient and might also come with some online discounts and deals. You can make your flight and hotel bookings in St. Petersburg together to avail some online deals and discounts. Plus, the peak season would lead to a lack of good hotels, so it is best to make hotel reservations in advance to avoid any problems later.