Moscow to Saint Petersburg Flights

  About Moscow

Situated on the banks of the sparkling Moskva River, the city of Moscow is the capital of Russia. With a rich history and contribution towards the performing arts industry, the city is a haven for tourists during summers.

Best time to visit Moscow

June to August is practically perfect for a visit to Moscow. However, the finances will take a supreme toll during these months. As a cold country that witnesses a decent summer, the three months automatically become a favourite not just for tourists but also citizens of Russia. Hotel prices and flights are staggering and affording the same is next to impossible. Of course, the city does have some lovely festivals during this time, such as the Moscow International Film Festival and Usadbha Jazz Festival that takes place. Another reason that makes tourists from within Russia head to the capital. Nobody would want to miss the carnivalesque celebrations of Moscow. While June to August might be rough on the pockets, April to May might give you the satisfaction shelling out fewer rubles. The temperatures during this stretch are quite alluring as the sun starts to pop out of the clouds to entertain the city. Not to mention the festivals and events such as Russian Fashion Week, Labour Day/Spring Festival and Victory Day, that take over the city streets. You should know though that the cheap hotel prices in Moscow are only in the initial few days of spring. As the temperatures start to rise, the costs of the room will also see a tremendous growth.

No matter when you plan your trip, do avoid the winters in Moscow. Unless you're willing to risk the possibility of frostbites and low heart rates, the winter is certainly not meant for you. The temperatures drop to negative between November to March. It literally does have freezing cold winters that are not ideal for tourism or travelling.

Places to visit in Moscow

The one thing Moscow does not fall short off is the intriguing slew of museums, art galleries and preservation of monuments. You will notice how these places have been preserved by the government officials as they reflect the historical significance as well as the cultural relevance of Russia. From age-old cathedrals to Russian iconography, the city witnesses some of the finest architecture from the old times that continue to stand firm. As part of your sightseeing expedition in Moscow, you should start with Red Square. It is located at the heart of Moscow and is known to have symbolic significance to also be at the centre of the whole of Russia. Take some good time from your travel duration and spend as much time in Red Square as possible. The views are scintillating and definitely worth being captured. St. Basil's Cathedral is the next important place in the city. Originally called the Cathedral of Intercession of Theotokos on the Moat, the cathedral is located within the red Square. You will be able to recognise this structure for its bonfire-styled architecture.

Further continuing with your pilgrimage, do check out the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, nestled beautifully on the banks of river Moscow. The architecture is as Russian as it can get while the history is rather strange. Close to the cathedral is the Moscow Kremlin, a fortress located in the city centre, a little away from the Red Square. Kremlins are basically Russian citadels that serve as the official abode to the President of Russia. There are four palaces, a few towers and four cathedrals located in the Kremlin. Pushkin Fine Arts Museum is the perfect place to visit if you're invested in the artistic past of the country and its literary contributions. As home to one of the largest collections to be found in European art in Moscow, the museum honours some of the prominent names in the Russian art history. You should also check out Moscow Zoo if you're travelling with family. The zoo houses over 6,000 animals that range from 1,000 diverse species. It is an extremely old zoo and is definitely compelling. You should also check out Lenin's Mausoleum, which is actually quite a strange site. The place attracts tourists majorly because of the fact that it contains the embalmed body of Vladimir Lenin, which is always on display. It is odd and even disturbing, which seems to attract tourists from around the world.

Things to do in Moscow

Moscow caters majorly to the shopaholics in a traveller. They have the humongous department store called GUM, which houses a slew of high-end boutiques and brands. The interiors of the store are exquisite and marvellous. Luxury brands such as Dior to high-street fashion brands like Zara, also have stores in the complex. To give your taste buds a culinary excursion, head to Arbat Street. The place is legendary and is known to attract the highest number of tourists in Moscow. Thanks to the street, which is no short of a puny carnival, there are many restaurants, cafes, performers, live music, caricaturists, etc., who entertain the travellers. If you are tired with all the touristy indulgences and simply want to kick off your shoes and sit back, head to Gorky Park. The city's luscious green space is well-maintained and is perfect for finding tranquillity in the city. You simply cannot miss the Bolshoi Theatre as it is one of the biggest entertainment institutions in the country. The stage hosts a bunch of opera performances as well as beautiful ballet.

Food and Restaurants in Moscow

Russian cuisine is unique as it comprises dishes based on the geographical and environmental factors. From cold soups to excess meat, their meals are one of a kind and definitely worth trying. Using a single base, they make a plethora of dishes. Not only is this impressive, but it also expands their cuisine with variations to dishes. Traditional Russian meals should be something to indulge in when you're visiting Moscow. One of the most basic and common meals found in the city is Kasha, a healthy and unique version of porridge. You will find this everywhere, and its homely flavours will make you feel happy and satiated. Pelmeni is another interesting dish made by the Russians which consists of fish dumplings that are kept frozen, only to be cooked in boiling water for a flavourful explosion. The Russian version of pancakes or crepes, if you will, has meat and is served sour cream. Russians roll blini with cottage cheese, cabbage, mushrooms as fillings and complete the dish with smoked salmon and sour cream. You can change the sides to jam or honey as well. Of course, one of their most famous meals is borscht. It is typically cooked with beetroot and tomatoes, which is why it has the reddish-purple hue. The soup has beef, tossed with other vegetables.

To find some of the best Russian meals, you should head to Boemi, Megobari, LavkaLavka Farm Restaurant, Russian Pub and Paktika By Darvin. Of course, the city doesn't rid you of any other international cuisine. In fact, they do have some upscale dining experiences which can be found at places such as Italoniya, Tkemali, Beer Harbor, Lure Oyster Bar, Dzhumbus, Sabor de la Vida and 5+2, to name a few. Moscow has many cheap restaurants and pubs where you can chill to enjoy the city's vibe and interact with the locals. Shopping centres in the city have many food joints that would give you company, in case you were bored and hungry.

How to reach Moscow (Transportation)

Flight connectivity to Moscow from India is actually much better than you would assume. The city of Mumbai has dedicated direct flights to Moscow, making travel duration considerably less. There are nearly 280 flights that operate from India to Russia thanks to the demand it has. This provision of several flights is on a daily basis. Hence, in terms of getting flights to Moscow from India, you don't have to worry. Even the flight tickets to Moscow are inexpensive from India. Various international routes to Moscow are from the Middle East and European belt. Delhi also has the provision to charter direct flights to Moscow. The capital has two airlines that provide direct flights to Moscow. Travelling duration from Delhi to Moscow is close to seven hours while flights from Mumbai to Delhi have eleven hours travel duration. Airlines such as Air India, Air Arabia, Etihad, Emirates and Aeroflot are some of the primary ones to source flights to Moscow from India. The travelling is actually quite convenient with Middle being the popular route to reach Moscow from India.

As the flight tickets to Moscow from India aren't very exorbitant, you will be able to avail some travel discounts. In fact, there might be cheap flight tickets to Moscow available online. The more you peruse through the internet, the more you will find flight deals to Moscow. Accommodation options are also available, and some are even located close to the airport. Depending on the kind of trip, you can accordingly make your hotel reservations in Moscow.

  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.