Transport

The locals in St Petersburg make good use of their public transport, which is extensive if not particularly efficient or reliable. There are 65 tramlines, close to 200 bus routes and numerous trolley buses, but nothing runs after midnight. Bus, tram and trolley bus tickets can be bought from kiosks, or drivers, and validated on boarding. Tram and trolley stops are marked with a 'T' sign hanging from the overhead wires.

A popular form of local transport is the network of passenger vans or 'marshrutka' which follow the same routes as buses and trams and stop on request. St Petersburg's metro has four lines and 54 stations and is extremely efficient and easy to use, though a quick brush-up of the Russian alphabet before you travel will be invaluable as the signs are not translated into other languages.

Tokens and multi-journey cards can be obtained at the stations, while taxis, which are clearly marked, can either be hailed in the street or booked by phone. Check that the meter is working or negotiate with the driver before you leave.

With heavy traffic, bad road surfaces and Cyrillic road signs endemic throughout the region, most big car rental companies quite rightly offer a car with a driver.