A secret: No visa needed for tourist visits to Saint Petersburg, Russia

Have you ever dreamed of being a tourist in Russia?

The biggest complication on the way to traveling to Russia is that citizens of a number of countries have to get a visa in advance. Citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, most of the European states, and more than half of African countries and the Middle East – almost half of the world – is not allowed to visit Russia without a visa.

Stunningly, there is a way to skip it and enter into the Russian land without a visa. It is a simple law: there is a visa-free law that applies for up to 72 hours when entering Russia through the country’s ports by ferries and cruise ships. In accordance to RF Government Resolution N 397 of May 7, 2009, foreign tourists and persons without citizenship or a relevant visa and/or proper permission traveling on ferries may arrive to the Russian Federation without a Russian visa for a period of 72 hours if part of an organized excursion group. This means a traveler may enjoy 3 days in Russia without the complications of getting a visa. The RF Government Resolution names a list of 9 ports with visa-free “windows” to Russia.

When it comes to visiting Russia, what likely pops up first in a tourist’s mind is Saint Petersburg – the first imperial capital of Russia, and the most westernized and historically-rich city that is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list as an area with 36 historical architectural complexes and 221 museums, more than 80 theaters, and 45 galleries that attract millions of tourists every year. Saint Petersburg is a unique European city that has preserved its historical architectural styles of the last centuries and provides a “time journey” through various epochs from the baroque to the Soviet era.

The cheapest and most comfortable way to get to Saint Petersburg is by ferry from Helsinki, Finland. Helsinki and Saint Petersburg have regular ferry connections during the year provided by shipping company, St. Peters Line.

The travel time by ferry from Helsinki is about 13-15 hours over the Baltic Sea. The schedule provides evening boarding on ferries, arriving in Saint Petersburg the next morning. To use a visa-free option, travelers have to book cruise travel from a travel agency or directly online from a ferry company in advance. The scheme to get a visa-free to Saint Petersburg is quite easy and a 4 step process. First step: Buy your airline ticket to Helsinki; Second book your ferry cruise from Helsinki to St. Petersburg; book your transfers; four: Select your hotel listed in the tour group program.

Surprisingly, there is also a secret as to how to reduce the cost of travel to Saint Petersburg and to get easier access to museums and tours. Most of the airlines offer special fares for flights from European cities to Helsinki in the low tourist season, and hotels in Saint Petersburg provide special accommodation fares in the low season as well when they are not fully booked like they are in the summer – a time of year when travelers have to book a month or two in advance.

The low season also helps visitors to avoid crowds and lanes in museums. It is especially important in case of visiting the world famous Hermitage, the Russian Museum, Saint Isaac’s Cathedral, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, and the Catherine Palace with its Amber Room, to name a few of the popular tourist spots.

And finally, the other benefit of the traveling to Saint Petersburg during the fall and winter season is the added benefit of seeing city in its snowy picturesque splendor that gives visitors the feeling of the true spirit of the northern capital of Russia.

This “visa-free window” to Russia is an excellent opportunity to plan an organized trip to discover the historical and cultural treasures of Saint Petersburg and obtain invaluable travel experiences, while enjoying one of most interesting cities in the world – and all without bureaucratic boundaries.