Car Hire St Petersburg

St Petersburg has gone through many changes over the years having formerly been known as Petrograd and then Leningrad. It is Russia’s second largest city and has a reputation for its great architectural beauty, being known as the Venice of the North. It is also considered the most cosmopolitan and culturally advanced city in Russia.

Founded by St Peter the Great, the city took on the name Petrograd during World War One and then was rechristened Leningrad in 1924 because of Lenin and the Russian revolution.

St Petersburg International Airport is known as Pulkovo and you can fly here from cities across Russia and the world. Before you book your flight make sure to check out any visa requirements as these can be frustratingly complicated. If you wish to take the train to St Petersburg and pick up your Rhino rental car the city has a number of train stations which are well connected with Europe. But public transport is not great in St Petersburg as the subways don’t run at night, Having a car is certainly the safest and cheapest way of getting around. Taxis cabs are not cheap and can even be appropriated by unsavoury types who masquerade as registered drivers.
 

St Petersburg’s most impressive sight is the Heritage museum which is one of the best collections of art and artefacts in the world. This huge building houses work from masters like Michelangelo and Rembrandt. Though it can be pricey if you get a tour guide, it remains a must see attraction. St Petersburg has a tradition of fine opera and ballet. The St Petersburg Opera takes place within a beautiful building in Galernaya while the Mariinsky Theatre is home to the Kirov ballet group and among the best theatres in the world.

St Petersburg has a whole host of bars, cafes, restaurants and nightclubs to enjoy and all sorts of accommodation – the list is too long to mention here. While the weather can get cold Russian food is designed to warm you up and you must try the local delicacy known as blini. These are crepes with caviar, caramel, berries and mushrooms (choose your filling) and chains such as U Tyoshi Na Blinakh and Chainaya Lozhka do them to perfection.