I will be wanting to prepare a visit for my boyfriend and I also’s 30th birthday celebration. Our company is looking at either Iceland & Norway or Finland & St. Petersburg, but after reading the Lonely Planet’s guide to St. Petersburg I’ve discovered that it may be quite unsafe for tourists and Asians.

For Asians that have traveled here, just just what has your experiences been like? Did you’re feeling unsafe?

For anyone who has traveled here, just just what has your experience been as with the locals including pickpocketing and the authorities (I’ve look over they demand bribes very often)

Must you remain inside after having a time that is certain?

I would personally like to see St. Petersburg due to the history that is amazing breathtaking architecture and tradition but additionally wouldn’t like to be back at my journey worrying all about my security on a regular basis.

BTW I reside in Toronto, Canada and now have experienced “unsafe” neighbourhoods but have not been to worried inside them. I will be careful and will not have digital camera back at my throat or carry a map around etc.

Many thanks for the input!

St petersburg is quite safe simply keep your wits in regards to you and stick to the greater amount of parts that are central. While you have previously mentioned do not show such a thing costly. We have vitied several times and love the area We even went from the beaten a track a little and discovered the majority of locals extremely friendly, them all warned me personally about fake authorities though We never ever had any issues.

I am neither female nor asian, but i did not see any trouble after all while I became there. Until youare going to be wandering some strange areas in the first hours i mightn’t expect one to have issues. The central area, Nevsky Prospect, had been similar to some other city in feel, and though i’ve heard reports of individuals having difficulty with authorities, both fake and real, I do not think it is because typical as the scaremongers need you to definitely think.

Thank you for the input! I’m sure there is plenty of incorrect information on the market this is exactly why I made the decision to inquire of issue in the forum simply to find a few more experiences that are personal. Ideally the knowledge will get efficiently!

1. For Asians who’ve traveled here, just exactly what has your experiences been like? Did you’re feeling unsafe?

We traveled having A asian that is east in. Their only difficulty arrived once we weren’t together and a police in a tiny city train place asked him just just exactly what he had been doing here. Otherwise, there have been no dilemmas and soon after he visited other areas of Russia together with family that is extended and no problems

1. For anybody which have traveled here, just exactly what has your experience been as with the locals including pickpocketing and law enforcement (i have look over they demand bribes very often)

Pickpockets are really a nagging issue into the metro, on buses and along Nevsky prospekt. Police used to be a significant problem, |problem that is major nevertheless the weather has changed somewhat within the last a long period as well as the information today isn’t the same as. For instance, in 2003, possessed a tourist that is huge while the authorities had been particularly trained to cope with foreigners differently. In addition, the major reason to stop individuals happens to be eliminated whilst the need certainly to register your stay is not any longer the obligation for the tourist the area where you remain.

1. Should you remain inside after having a time that is certain?

No, but I would personally adhere to the tourist areas at night.

Ruth yet again has spelled it our properly. I have seen it in Paris, London and Glasgow so St. Petersburg is not any different in you’ll want to get wits about yourself when you’re on or nearby the metro, train channels, etc. You will be able to cover each other and look out for trouble more. Don’t let it affect your stay, make the most of it and enjoy it – St. P is great if you are travelling as a pair. Have a care that is little. I will be there back at my vacation in June therefore would select this kind of place that is terrible.

Both in Moscow and St Petersburg have strange places where it isn’t safe to be belated hours. I am able to offer you a good instance: Lufthansa teams whom stay instantaneously in St Petersburg frequently require a fantastic evening groups hv enjoyable here through the night long and walk into the town

Both in Moscow and St Petersburg have actually so named areas that are strange it’s not safe to be even yet in belated hours.

I’d disagree. Every city that is large the entire world has dangerous elements of city. Moscow and St. Petersburg are no exclusion. You can find aspects of both these towns that I will never declare that a non-russian speaking foreigner explore late through the night but we question that any is wandering here.

Actually? We invested twenty years in MOW and currently reside in St Pets yet still not really acquainted with ‘dangerous’ components of the town. I want to explain the problem. In a lot of nations like the US in big towns and cities you can find districts inhibited and managed by ethnic teams, individuals who have really low earnings etc, so it’s maybe not safe at lest uncomfortable to be even yet in time hours and also for locals. Provide just one single instance for Mow? The components for the urban centers where individuals reside it is similarly safe. I cannot say as an example the southern region associated with the town is much more harmful side that is west there is absolutely no segregation on that foundation. Myself I would personally head to some sites. I’ve gone to all components of Moscow and utilized public transportation in belated hours and do not never smith bad. Many individuals drive in late hours, it’ normal. Of program, that does not imply that it’ s definitely safe like in big cities real time differen people in addition to foreigners should wander all evening long throughout the city alone, however if for reasons uknown you ought to go to several other components of Moscow or Saint Petersburg I cannot let you know should avoid that for security period.

I’m a lady from Northern Norway who is been located in St. Petersburg for days gone by 5 months;

To begin with, just how time that is much you have got?

Iceland & Norway or Finland & St. PetersburgI have not visited Iceland, and just to Northern Finland. Iceland gets the volcanoes and springs that are hot Norway has fjords, midnight sunlight etc. St. Petersburg has most of the culture and museums. You really need to surely do St. Petersburg. North Norway is quite nice and dazzling, Oslo is really a tiny town with a park with a few old naked rock sculptures, a fort by the bay and some viking museums.

I’m maybe not Asian, I am a blond Norwegian, from time one individuals thought I happened to be A russian woman, thus I don’t possess that issue. It is even worse for African change students and Muslims. Being an Asian you may be seen erroneously as an individual originating from North Korea, Asia, Uzbekistan looking for work, nonetheless I’m certain you can expect to look similar to a tourist, talking English, holding a digital camera etc.

The individuals whom have stopped, robbed or bribed by the authorities usually are men, meet mindful drunk, walking alone at dressed shabby, and looking “dark” night. Sorry this term but Russia racist destination we have actually ever gone to and there are lots of neo Nazis right here, therefore I simply want to explain.

My Uzbek feminine buddy ended up being stopped in a shopping mall when, going through the steel detectors, the protection guards hassled her, think they stop Asian females on the streets though.

As an example whenever I first arrived A croatian man had been stopped 2 times into the metro within one evening, but a bit drunk, wore sweatpants and seemed “dark”. A tourist, therefore he simply showed their and they let him go.

The street that is main often safe, as it’s a 24 hour town. It really is well illuminated at evening and I also can walk alone here. We reside very nearly from the street that is main i could go for a walk at say 3 am. You can find protection guards nearby the primary sights at evening, by way of example the Hermitage and Isac’s cathedral, this really is west Nevsky.

Simply work as you’d in almost any large city. Stay static in the guts through the night, do not venture out alone through the night, stay in well lit, somewhat populated areas after midnight, do not get etc that is overly drunk.

I’m not sure about pickpockets, simply make use of an internal pocket in your coat, slim cash belt or something like that. Carry your case from the front side etc.