Experience Traveling Through Helsinki to St. Petersburg?

[Dashinka 24,635]

Just wondering if anyone has any recent experience traveling to Russia via Helsinki to St. Petersburg?  Working on planning the wife's trip coming up and are leaning toward Dubai to Novosibirsk, but she talked to someone that said Helsinki to St. Petersburg is an option by train or bus.

 

Thanks.

[Karjala 3]

4 hours ago, Dashinka said:

Just wondering if anyone has any recent experience traveling to Russia via Helsinki to St. Petersburg?  Working on planning the wife's trip coming up and are leaning toward Dubai to Novosibirsk, but she talked to someone that said Helsinki to St. Petersburg is an option by train or bus.

 

Thanks.

I don't think there is any public transportation left, but you should be able to catch a car, because people regularly drive back and forth. Services like blablacar should be helpful. If anything, I might find people I know, who would be driving to Petrozavodsk. 

[millefleur 5,047]

On 6/7/2023 at 7:30 AM, Dashinka said:

Just wondering if anyone has any recent experience traveling to Russia via Helsinki to St. Petersburg?  Working on planning the wife's trip coming up and are leaning toward Dubai to Novosibirsk, but she talked to someone that said Helsinki to St. Petersburg is an option by train or bus.

 

Thanks.

Haha I had to check that we were in the year 2023 here....the train between Helsinki and St Petersburg is long gone. I would not consider this an option, even in the days long before the Ukraine invasion, the Russian-Finnish border via car or bus was just terrible. Would not have recommended it then, definitely do not recommend it now. 

[Dashinka 24,635]

6 hours ago, millefleur said:

Haha I had to check that we were in the year 2023 here....the train between Helsinki and St Petersburg is long gone. I would not consider this an option, even in the days long before the Ukraine invasion, the Russian-Finnish border via car or bus was just terrible. Would not have recommended it then, definitely do not recommend it now. 

That is what I was thinking as well.  My wife had been talking to some folks that suggested it, but yes, she would need to take a car service across the border.  We are leaning toward Dubai to Novosibirsk.

[Elena Korsik 3]

Hi!

Helsinki - Saint Petersburg - Helsinki buses run. My fiance from the USA came in January 2023 and is planning such a trip in August 2023

Edited June 23, 2023 by Elena Korsik

[Dashinka 24,635]

1 hour ago, Elena Korsik said:

Hi!

Helsinki - Saint Petersburg - Helsinki buses run. My fiance from the USA came in January 2023 and is planning such a trip in August 2023

Thanks, we need to do more research, but this time we chose the Dubai to Novosibirsk route as it allows for entrance closer to my wife’s final destination and is easier to plan timing.

Edited June 23, 2023 by Dashinka

[millefleur 5,047]

6 hours ago, Elena Korsik said:

Hi!

Helsinki - Saint Petersburg - Helsinki buses run. My fiance from the USA came in January 2023 and is planning such a trip in August 2023

How was his experience at the border?

[Elena Korsik 3]

he also has Russian citizenship. There were no questions at the border

Edited June 27, 2023 by Elena Korsik

[millefleur 5,047]

10 hours ago, Elena Korsik said:

he also has Russian citizenship. There were no questions at the border

That's great to hear. How was the bus ride? Was the delay at the border long?

[millefleur 5,047]

Rant sidenote: Really annoying that the border is still basically open (hence buses) but the Finnish government cannibalised and sold off their train components. Not only did they stop the train, they made sure the train will never come back.  

[Gawain 23]

You can go from Pete to Helsinki airport (Terminal 2) using Lux:

 

https://luxexpress.eu/ru/

 

Or these:

 

https://bus.sovavto.ru/

 

https://ecolines.net/international/en

 

We've only used Lux.  The times they show on the website seem to take into account for all delays.  App seems to work good.  If you cancel a ticket after purchase, you will get 1/2 refund.

Used Lux 3 or 4 times now.  Most recent - May 2023.  You will need the appropriate passports, Schengen visas, etc., or they will not let you get on the bus.  If using a Schengen visa make sure it is for the intended purpose, or it may not work.  Finnish border guard answers emails with any questions you may have.  Good luck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 8, 2023 by Gawain