Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
lived-in feel; it was a favorite residence of the last Russian czar, Nicholas II.
Alexander
Garden
provides even more regal places to stroll.
Cost and Hours:
Catherine's Palace—320 R, Wed-Mon 10:00-18:00 (during peak
months, individuals can enter only at certain times—see later), closed Tue and last Mon
of each month; Catherine Park—100-R admission fee collected 9:00-18:00—free at other
times, open daily 7:00-21:00; Alexander Palace—250 R, Wed-Mon 10:00-18:00, closed
Tue and last Wed of each month; last entry for all sights one hour before closing; tel.
466-6669,
http://eng.tzar.ru
.
Crowd-Beating Tips:
Be aware that in peak season (May-Sept), individuals may
enter the biggest attractions (such as Catherine's Palace) only from 12:00-14:00 &
16:00-18:00—and tickets can sell out, so line up as early as possible. During busy times,
you'll be required to join a (likely Russian-only) guided tour.
GettingThere:
Tsarskoye Selo is most easily reached on an
excursion,
which provides
door-to-door service and an efficient, highly focused tour of just the highlights. If you
prefer to linger at your own pace (you could easily spend the day here), it's also possible
by
public transportation
(figure about an hour each way from downtown): From the
Nevsky Prospekt stop downtown, ride the blue Metro line toward Kupchino, and get off at
Moskovskaya (the third-to-last stop). Exit the platform at the back end of the train. Surface
onto the large square—with a huge, iconic statue of Lenin, with his jacket flapping behind
him. There's a bus stop directly behind Lenin's back, where minibuses go constantly to
Pushkin (ask around for “Pushkin?”). You'll ride the bus for about 30 minutes, and get off
at the palaces (50-70 R one-way).
Nearby
: Just four miles southeast,
Pavlovsk
is a popular side-trip that's often combined
with an excursion to Tsarskoye Selo. Another sprawling complex of gardens and opulent
palaces, the highlight here is Pavlovsk Palace, a grandly domed hall with semicircular
wings defining an oval courtyard—also built by Catherine the Great.
With a variety of vivid cultural artifacts for sale and relatively low prices, St. Petersburg is
a favorite shopping stop for many tourists. The famous Russian nesting dolls called
matry-
oshka
are one of the most popular items. The classic design shows a ruby-cheeked Russian
peasant woman, wearing a babushka and traditional dress, but don't miss the entertaining
modern interpretations. You'll see Russian heads of state (Peter the Great inside Lenin in-
side Stalin inside Gorby inside Putin), as well as every American professional and college
sports team you can imagine—each individual player wearing his actual number.
