Page 114 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - St. Petersburg

112 ❯❯ Streetsmart

Opening Hours companies such as Astra jewellery from the Baltic
Marine, Neptun-boat and region. Decorative lacquer
Most sights are open Anglotourismo. boxes and imperial china
from 10:30am until 6pm, Buying a day ticket to designs produced by the
with no break for lunch. use the hop-on hop-off Imperial Porcelain
Shops are open from City Tour buses is one of Factory are also popular,
10am until 7pm, 7 days the most convenient and Russian chocolates
a week, and there are a land-based sightseeing in pretty wrappers make
number of 24-hour shops, options as it’s a flexible great gifts for children.
ranging from simple way to take in the main Avoid buying art,
grocery stores to hip sights of your choice. antiques, musical
boutiques. Parks are The St Petersburg instruments, fur or
usually open from 10am Free Tour is an enjoyable expensive items of
until 10pm, with opening 2-hour walking tour with jewellery in St Petersburg
hours extended during a professional guide. as these are usually
White Nights. These can be very useful subject to strict export
and informative, but controls (see p110). You
Currency note that the guide will can secure permission
be appreciative of a to export antique books
Russia’s currency is the generous tip. and art objects from
rouble (₽), written рубль. Cyclists can join a the Ministry of Culture,
One rouble is divided into 3-hour guided city bike and the process for this
100 kopeks (100k). There tour run by Skatprokat, is relatively speedy.
are six denominations of which also rents out bikes VAT is included in the
notes, with values of ₽10, by the hour or day. price of all items you buy
₽50, ₽100, ₽500, ₽1,000 Numerous other local in Russia, but it cannot
and ₽5,000. There are travel agents such as be claimed back at the
also eight coins: ₽10, ₽5, Anastasia Travel Group border as in some
₽2, ₽1, 50k, 10k, 5k and 1k. and Maxi Balt Tours European countries.
organize a variety of If you need to ship
Tourist Information guided city tours that large items home, DHL
include minibus trips and is probably the best
Visit Petersburg is the even helicopter flights. option as they can also
official tourist organization arrange customs
for St Petersburg. There Shopping clearances if necessary.
are information kiosks
throughout the city, but Although still not quite Where to Eat
the main tourism offices on a par with Moscow,
are in Sadovaya ulitsa St Petersburg’s shopping The city has a broad
and Sennaya Square. scene has plenty to offer. choice of cuisine, from
For a full list of visitor Nevskiy prospekt remains restaurants serving
centres, plus information the city’s commercial dishes once enjoyed by
on sights, events and heart with its profusion the Russian aristocracy
accommodation, go to the of shopping arcades to food from the former
Visit Petersburg website. and souvenir, food and Soviet republics of
Other useful sources clothing shops, along Georgia, Armenia
of information include with the grand Gostinyy and Azerbaijan.
Saint-Petersburg.com Dvor shopping mall, Zakuski (appetisers),
and St Petersburg in home to the city’s most are usually eaten cold
Your Pocket. expensive boutiques. before the main meal.
With its historic façade These could be salads,
Trips and Tours and hundreds of shops, marinated mushrooms,
the Galeria shopping mall pancakes, pickled herring
One of the best ways to is a great central option. or gherkins. They are
see St Petersburg is to The ubiquitous Russian usually served with bread
tour its many canals and nesting dolls (matryoshki) and sour cream. There
rivers. English-language are an obvious souvenir are also specific zakuski
tours are offered by choice, as is amber to accompany beer and

110-113_Top_10_St-Petersburg.indd 112 10/10/2016 12:00