fbpx

FAQ

General

St Petersburg, unlike many other destinations, is better when explored with a guide. Many of the museums have to be pre-booked, and hiring a guide saves a lot of your precious time. In some cases and at certain times it is the only possible to visit them as part of an organized private or group tour, as these have preferential entrance.

Yes, and we will be ready to start your tour either from the port where St Peter’s Line cruise ships arrive, or from the hotel where you are staying, if you come for more than one day. Your guide will have a sign with your name, and will meet right after passport control in the port or at the lobby of your hotel.

We keep in touch with everyone who has used our tours, and we are sure that they will be happy to share their experiences with you, either by email or over the phone. Please contact us and we will send you a list with their contacts.

Yes. Please, let us know this and we will adjust your tour program to make it the best possible way for you to enjoy all the sights you want to see. For example, if you use a wheelchair the route of your tour and timing will be taken into account when planning your program. We have to admit that in Russia there aren’t enough facilities in many of public places for wheelchair users.

If there is a need to have extra priviliges for the people with limited walking abilities, then it is better if we are able to plan the visits to museums in advance. In this case we have the time to contact the administration, andget everything ready before the tour.

If you need to use a wheelchair, we are always ready to arrange it upon your arrival in St. Petersburg.

If it is not against museum regulations (for example it is not allowed to take photographs inside all the museus in Peterhof) you can use your camera. Please let your guide know that you want to use your camera and you will be provided with a camera permit.

The permits for professional photo sessions are not included and have to be paid before entering the musuem.

Payment

You can pay on one of your tour days. Usually we set the payment the last day of a tour to know how our guests liked the tour. We accept ALL major Credit Cards and cash but have to say that a bank will add 3% to your bill if you pay by card.

If you would like to take care of all your tour payments in advance, we can accept your advance payment via credit card, PayPal, or bank money transfer.

There's NO DEPOSIT required to place a reservation. We only kindly ask you to inform us about ANY change of your tour plans in advance as cancelling at last minute makes it impossible for us to get the money back for the booked tickets. Some of the local museum tickets as well as theatre ones cannot be cancelled.

Credit Card payment is processed through a Russian bank and only in ROUBLES which adds a percentage fee to all international transactions (the amount depends on your bank). Your bank's inner exchange rate might vary from the Russian Central Bank rate on which the to make the transaction is based, and the amount on your bank statement may vary from from the original invoiced amount.

Please, when paying in Russia by card, make sure your bank knows about the payment, so that the transaction is not declined.

The amount depends on you, but usually the gratuity is divided in the following way: 2/3 to the guide and 1/3 to the driver. However, it all depends on your wish. It's preferable to tip your guide and driver separately. The tour price doesn't include gratuities to your guide and driver. If you are happy with the tour and would like to thank your tour team, you are welcome to do that at the end of your tour. Please have some cash with you for the tips. It does not matter which currency you have.

Transport

Yes, and we will take care to make the tour match your interests in the best way. But we have to warn you that the distance between the main attractions is pretty long, and it will take you more time to get to places. Often you will need to walk longer than you may expect from looking at the distance on a map.

Yes, but please take into account that if you have a complete tour and not an excursion to just one or two museums it can take more time than expected as you may need to wait for transport to go from one place to another. In addition, in some cases transport stops are some distance from the museum entrances.

We use only comfortable, air-conditioned vehicles which are licensed for tourism. We cooperate with the best transport companies, which provide us with all types of vehicles our guests might wish to book with us. All the drivers are highly experienced, polite and non-smoking, and most of them speak a little (or more) English and several other European languages.

Visa

No, you don't. Guide For You is a fully licensed tour operator and can do VISA FREE tours for all cruise ship visitors. In accordance with the law of the Russian Federation (RF Government Resolution №397), foreign tourists without citizenship or a relevant visa and/or proper permission travelling on ships may arrive at the port of St. Petersburg without a visa and stay in Russia for up to 72 hours (the 72 hour period begins from the moment of crossing border control), if they have booked a guided shore excursion with a licensed tour operator.

You need to have your valid passport, as well as a Tour Ticket provided by our company. Please do not forget to PRINT the Tour Ticket we send you! As the approval of the tour we will send you the confirmation of your sightseeing program in St. Petersburg in advance. In accordance with the law of the Russian Federation passengers arriving under the VISA FREE regime must stay within the territory defined by the excursion program.

If you have a Russian visa you have all the flexibility you need about planning your time while staying in Russia BUT if you book a VISA FREE tour with us (or a Blanket Visa tour) it means that you will leave the boat and will come back only accompanied by the guide from the company with which the tour was booked.

If you are a passenger of a visa free cruise with St.Peter Line, arriving in St Petersburg on the cruise ferry " Princess Anastasia” or “Princess Maria", and are planning to spend more than a day in St Petersburg, you have to stay at the hotels provided by St.Peter Line. In accordance with the law of the Russian Federation, if a passenger stays within Russian territory for longer than one day the passenger must present to the Border Guard Service a hotel voucher or a confirmation of payment for the booking. Undergoing the registration formalities at the hotel is obligatory!

To issue your Tour Ticket (submitted with the Russian customs) we need the following information from you in order to be able to arrange your disembarkation without a visa:

  1. Your full Name;
  2. Passport Number;
  3. Date of Birth;
  4. Citizenship.

All the information will stay contidential. Our security department ensures it to is only used for your registration at Russian Customs!

The following list will let you find the information about the details for all the countries with visa free entrance:

  • Abkhazia — Entry into the Russian Federation without a visa, for a period not exceeding 90 days.
  • Azerbaijan — Entry into the Russian Federation without a visa, for a period not exceeding 90 days. Argentina - Total period of stay during the period of 180 days shall not exceed 90 days (a period of 180 days is considered from the moment of entry into the Russian Federation).
  • Armenia — Entry into the Russian Federation without a visa, for a period not exceeding 90 days.
  • Belarus — Entry into the Russian Federation without a visa, for a period not exceeding 90 days. Bosnia and Herzegovina - For tourists: up to 30 days (subject to availability of tourist invitation). Official and private trips up to 90 days, you need an original invitation
  • Brazil — Total stay in a period of 180 days shall not exceed 90 days (a period of 180 days is considered from the moment of entry into the Russian Federation).
  • Venezuela — Total period of stay during the period of 180 days shall not exceed 90 days (a period of 180 days is considered from the moment of entry into the Russian Federation).
  • Israel — Total stay in a period of 180 days shall not exceed 90 days (a period of 180 days is considered from the moment of entry into the Russian Federation).
  • Kazakhstan — Not more than 90 days from the moment of crossing the border.
  • Kirghizia (Kyrgyzstan) — Not more than 90 days from the moment of crossing the border.
  • Columbia — Total period of stay during the period of 180 days shall not exceed 90 days (a period of 180 days is considered from the moment of entry into the Russian Federation).
  • Cuba — Entry into the Russian Federation without a visa for a period not exceeding 90 days. The total period of stay without a visa in each period of 180 days must be no more than 90 days. You need the original invitation.
  • Macedonia — For tourists: a period of stay not exceeding 30 days, for non-commercial purposes not more than 90 days. The reason for the entry is the original invitation, certified by the competent authority.
  • Moldova — Entry into the Russian Federation without a visa, for a period not exceeding 90 days.
  • Nicaragua — Entry into the Russian Federation without a visa for a period not exceeding 90 days. The total period of stay without a visa, in each period of 180 days, no more than 90 days. You need the original invitation.
  • Peru — The enterance into the Russian Federation without a visa for a period not exceeding 90 days. The total period of stay without a visa in each period of 180 days must be no more than 90 days. You need the original invitation.
  • Serbia — Entry into the Russian Federation without a visa for a period not exceeding 30 days for holders of biometric passports issued after April 8, 2008.
  • Tajikistan — Entry into the Russian Federation without a visa, for a period not exceeding 90 days. Thailand - Entry into the Russian Federation without a visa, for a period not exceeding 30 days. You need the original invitation.
  • Turkey — Entry into the Russian Federation without a visa for a period not exceeding 30 days. To stay in Russia for more than 30 days, you must to apply for a visa.
  • Uzbekistan – Entry into the Russian Federation without a visa, for a period not exceeding 90 days.
  • Ukraine — Entry into the Russian Federation without a visa, for a period not exceeding 90 days.
  • Uruguay — The total period of stay during the period of 180 days shall not exceed 90 days (a period of 180 days is considered from the moment of entry into the Russian Federation).
  • Montenegro — Entering Russia without a visa for a period not exceeding 30 days. You need the original invitation.
  • Chile — Entry into the Russian Federation without a visa for a period not exceeding 90 days. The total period of stay without a visa in each period of 180 days must be no more than 90 days. You need the original invitation.

If you can't find an answer to your question, please contact us and we will respond within 24 hours!

Special offers

Visit SPb Tram Museum and have a memorable ride on a vintage tram through the historical attractions.
(more…)

Enlarge your War and Peace knowledge by joining Guide For You on the War and Peace Trail. (more…)

If you are looking for something unique to do in Saint Petersburg, experience Russian Blacksmith mastership!

(more…)

Moderate 2 Day Shore Excursion St. Petersburg, Russia from 241$ Reserve Now & Pay Later