Hello everyone! I'm a travel enthusiast who loves exploring new places and finding inspiration in the world around me. This time, I decided to step outside my comfort zone and embark on a journey to Russia, a country I knew very little about.

This is my first time posting on this forum, so please forgive me if any information is inaccurate.

My journey took me to the fascinating country of Russia. Before my trip, I had heard many warnings about the dangers of traveling there, including the language barrier, transportation difficulties, and potential for crime. However, I decided to take the plunge and see for myself what Russia had to offer. To my surprise, my experience was far from what I had expected. Russia turned out to be a dream destination that exceeded all my expectations.

I visited Russia during the month of July, which is considered their summer season. However, the weather was surprisingly cool, with temperatures hovering around 10 degrees Celsius. My trip lasted from the 4th to the 11th of July, and I spent two days in St. Petersburg and four days in Moscow.

If you're planning a trip to St. Petersburg, I highly recommend staying for several days as there are many more attractions to explore compared to Moscow.

For those interested in learning more about my travel preparations, you can find detailed information here: https://th.readme.me/p/11785

DAY 01

The adventure begins! Today, I set off on my journey from Suvarnabhumi Airport, checking in and loading my luggage for the flight.

This trip, we flew with Etihad Airways. The flight departed at 8:35 PM and landed in Abu Dhabi. We then connected to Moscow, arriving at 7:40 AM at Domodedovo Airport (Московский аэропорт Домодедово). On the connecting flight from Abu Dhabi to Moscow, we made a mistake in choosing our seats. We chose the right side of the plane, which was exposed to intense sunlight. The sunlight was so strong that it was blinding.

After a long journey, we finally arrived in the land of the white bear, Russia.

After getting off the plane, we had to go through Russian immigration and collect our luggage. Here, we don't need to fill out an Immigration Card, as they will print out a form for us to sign instead. We must keep this form safe, as we will need to present it when leaving the country.

Get ready and let's explore the world!

First, take the Aeroexpress to the city. To get to the Aeroexpress, follow the signs that say Aeroexpress ( Аэроэкспресс ), which is a train from the airport to the city center. You can buy train tickets at the automatic ticket machines. Select English first and then choose Standard seats. The ticket price is 500 RUB per person. The train comes every 30 minutes and takes about 30-40 minutes. Don't worry about waiting too long. You can check the train schedule at https://aeroexpress.ru/en/domodedovo.html

After boarding the train, enjoy a long and comfortable ride. The train will arrive at Paveletskaya Station (Павелецкий вокзал) on the brown line.

After exiting the Aeroexpress, transfer to the Metro and alight at Komsomolskaya Station (Павелецкий) on the red or brown line. From there, board the high-speed train to St. Petersburg. Komsomolskaya Station is renowned for its stunning architectural design, considered one of the most beautiful stations in Russia. The station is located three stops away from our current location, offering a quick journey. However, finding the correct platform can be challenging. We recommend asking locals for assistance to avoid boarding the wrong train.

The Moscow Metro is remarkably deep, as it served as a transportation hub for food supplies and a bomb shelter during World War II. Our advice for backpackers carrying large luggage is to be prepared for extensive walking when transferring between lines within the Metro. While escalators are available, there are also numerous staircases. As a petite woman, the thought of carrying a large suitcase through the Metro fills me with exhaustion.

Upon arriving at our destination station, the first thing we did was look for the main road to get to Leningradsky Railway Station (Ленингра́дский), which is located next to the Metro station. However, as soon as we exited the Metro, we were greeted by a vast array of massive structures. There were beautiful, towering buildings everywhere, making us feel incredibly small.

In addition to the train station for St. Petersburg, there were many other stations offering connections outside of Moscow. It seemed like a central hub for train travel.

Appearance of Metro Komsomolskaya Station

If you walk to the main road, you will find Leningradsky Railway Station.

Inside Leningradsky Railway Station, there are shops, cafes, and free restrooms for those with train tickets. There is also a luggage storage facility located in the basement, near the restrooms. In addition to travelers, there are also police and even soldiers patrolling the area, which provides a sense of security.

We spent five hours here before our journey, allowing us to observe the bustling crowds and witness the daily lives of the Russian people.

After five hours, it was finally time to board the train to St. Petersburg. Before boarding, we had to present our train tickets and passports for inspection. We traveled on the Sapsan high-speed train ( САПСАН ), which took approximately four hours to reach St. Petersburg. As we boarded the train, excitement surged through us once again, as we were finally about to embark on our long-awaited journey.

And finally, we arrived at St. Petersburg at Moskovsky Railway Station ( Санкт-Петербург-Главный ).

After getting off the train and gathering our wits, we went to check in at the hotel. Tonight we will be staying at the Mini-hotel Fermata ( Отель "ФЕРМАТА" ), a hotel that is only 240 meters from the Railway Station and is also close to the Metro and the Galeria and Stockmann department stores, which we will visit today before returning to the hotel. As for the room, it was okay and clean.

After checking in, we quickly put our things away and headed to the Metro, as the place we were going to was a highlight of the trip. We traveled from the Metro station Ploschad' Vosstaniya ( Площадь Восстания ) to Admiralteyskaya ( Адмиралтейская ) on the purple line.

Hermitage Museum ( Эрмитаж )

Open every day except Monday, 10:30 AM - 6:00 PM, Wednesday and Friday 10:30 AM - 9:00 PM.

Admission fee is 700 RUB and free for ISIC card holders or every first Thursday of the month.

Take the Metro to Admiralteyskaya ( Адмиралтейская ) station on the purple line.

Today is Wednesday, and every Wednesday at 7:00 PM, the golden peacock comes out to sing. Today was no different, and we arrived just in time.

After watching the show, we spent a long time exploring the museum, which houses a vast collection of paintings and artifacts from various countries throughout history.

After immersing ourselves in art, it's time to stroll down Nevsky Prospekt (Невский проспект).

The atmosphere around Palace Square outside the Hermitage Museum

As you stroll down the street, you will encounter Kazan Cathedral (Казанский кафедральный собор). This church, built in 1708 during the reign of Peter the Great, showcases a blend of Neoclassical and Italian architectural styles. Following the Russo-French War, a statue of the supreme naval commander was erected as a memorial in front of the cathedral. The semicircular structure features 96 Roman columns and a massive dome reaching a height of 90 meters.

Across from Kazan Cathedral stands the Singer Building (Дом книги), which houses a bookstore and a restaurant offering stunning views of the cathedral.

Facing the Griboedov Canal, you will find the

Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood (Спас на Крови)

Open daily except Wednesdays, 11:00-19:00. Ticket price: 250/150 RUB. Ticket sales close at 18:00.

Take the Metro to Gostiny Dvor (Гостиный двор) station on the green line or Nevsky Prospekt (Невский проспект) station on the blue line.

This church, known as the Church of the Spilled Blood, is a beautiful structure steeped in a sorrowful history. It serves as a memorial built by Tsar Alexander III to commemorate his father, who was assassinated at this site in 1881. The assassination was motivated by the Tsar's attempts to liberate peasants and workers, which angered nobles who stood to lose their privileges. Some accounts suggest that the peasants' living conditions did not improve, further fueling discontent.

After a short walk, we stopped by Pyshechnaya (Пышечная) to buy some donuts. This Soviet-style donut shop has several branches in St. Petersburg, but we didn't take any pictures because we were busy buying sneakers.

We decided to have dinner at the Galería shopping mall, which is conveniently located next to the Moskovsky Railway Station. We took the green line from the Gostinyy dvor metro station to the Ploschad' Vosstaniya station. The mall houses a variety of well-known brands and a food court on the top floor. As it started to rain, we were grateful for the mall's proximity to the metro station.

After a satisfying meal and successful shopping, with the mall closing soon, it was time to return to the hotel for a restful night in preparation for tomorrow's adventures.

Day 2: Exploring the Palaces

On the second day of our journey, we set out to explore the magnificent palaces that are the highlight of this city. After packing our belongings and leaving them at the hotel, as we will be returning to Moscow tomorrow, we embarked on our adventure.

The entrance to the hotel where we are staying.

The railway station where we took the train yesterday

The first palace we will visit is located about an hour outside the city center.

We will start from the Ploschad' Vosstaniya Metro Station on the red line and go to the Avtovo (Автово) station on the red line. Then, we will take a minibus from the opposite side of the Metro station.

Peterhof Palace ( Петерго́ф )

Open daily except Mondays. Photography is not allowed inside the palace.

Grand Palace open hours: 10:30 AM - 6:00 PM

Upper Garden open hours: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Admission fee for Lower Garden and Grand Palace: 750 RUB, 450 RUB for ISIC card holders

There are four ways to get there: Take the Metro to Avtovo ( Автово ) station, red line

Transfer to minibus 224, 300, 424, 424-A

Take the Metro to Leninsky Prospekt ( Ленинский проспект ) station, red line, transfer to minibus 103 (K-224), 420

Take the Metro to Prospekt Vateranov ( Проспект Ветеранов ) station, red line, transfer to minibus 343, 639

Take the Metro to Baltiyskaya ( Балтийская ) station, red line, transfer to minibus 404

When taking a van, observe the fences as you approach areas with numerous houses. Disembark when you see a fence that resembles the one below. Upon exiting, proceed to the front gate and inform the driver, Peterhof, who will then stop the van. Remember to pay the fare upon boarding.

This palace was built during the reign of Peter the Great by Russian architects. It served as a summer residence and hunting lodge for the Russian tsars. The construction took 10 years and the complex includes the palace itself, the Lower Garden, and the Upper Garden. Notably, it features one of the world's most magnificent and grand fountain systems.

There are corners for sitting and reading books.

The sea is also connected to Finland.

For those visiting Peterhof, it is recommended to arrive before 11:00 AM to witness the spectacular fountain show in the Lower Garden, which commences at that time.

After admiring the beauty of the place, it was time for lunch. We decided to eat at Brynza (Брынза), a restaurant located near the ticket booth. It seemed to be the only restaurant offering hot soup, which was a welcome relief from the cold weather.

With full bellies, our energy returned and we set off for our next destination, which was about an hour away.

We took a minibus from the opposite side of where we got off, looking for one that went to the Metro. We then took the Metro from Avtovo station (red line) to Kupchino station (blue line) and then another minibus from the opposite side to reach the second palace of the day.

Catherine Palace ( Екатерининский дворец )

Open daily except Tuesdays. Grand Palace open from 12:00 PM to 6:45 PM.

Grand Palace entrance fee: 1000 RUB, ISIC card holders: 350 RUB.

Park entrance fee: 120 RUB, ISIC card holders: 60 RUB.

Take the Metro to Kupchino ( Купчино ) station on the blue line.

Then take bus 186 ( Krasnosel'skoye Hwy, 65 ) and get off at Sadovaya ulitsa ( Садовая улица ) (16 stops).

Then take bus K-342 ( Arkhitektora Danini St ) and get off at Leont'evskaya St / Srednyaya St ( Средняя улица ) (10 stops).

Catherine Palace was built in 1717 by Catherine I, the wife of Peter the Great, as a summer residence. The palace features the Amber Room, a collaboration between German and Russian craftsmen completed in 1701 to symbolize the Soviet alliance. During World War II, the room was dismantled and sent to Germany, where it subsequently vanished.

After taking photos, it was time to travel to the final destination before departing for Moscow. We took a minibus to Kupchino Metro on the blue line from Catherine Palace, then took the metro back two stations and got off at Moskovskaya (Моско́вская) station on the blue line. We then followed the main road according to Google Maps.

The fruit vendor sells fruits in front of the Metro. We stopped by to buy some fruits to eat on the way back.

The Chesma Church ( Чесменская церковь )

Free admission. Photography is not allowed inside.

Take the Metro to Moskovskaya ( Моско́вская ) station on the blue line.

This church was built to commemorate the victory of the Russian army over the Ottoman fleet at the Battle of Chesma in the Aegean Sea in 1770. Construction began in 1777 under the orders of Catherine II and was completed in 1780.

After visiting the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, we took the metro back to Ploschad' Vosstaniya ( Площадь Восстания ) station and stopped by the Galería shopping center to grab a bite to eat and do some last-minute shopping before picking up our luggage that we had left at the hotel this morning.

11:36 PM

It's time to say goodbye to St. Petersburg as night falls.

Tonight, we'll be taking an overnight train to Moscow. This is a new experience for me on my trip to Russia. I must say, the train is very clean and beautiful compared to those in my home country.

And the night passed with the sound of trains running on the tracks.