Overview
Saint Petersburg's public transport network is anchored by one of the deepest and busiest metro systems in the world. The Saint Petersburg Metro (Russian: Петербургский метрополитен, romanised: Peterburgskiy metropoliten) opened on 15 November 1955, after construction that began in 1941 was interrupted by World War II and the Siege of Leningrad. It is the deepest metro system in the world by average station depth, and its deepest station, Admiralteyskaya, lies 86 metres (282 ft) below ground — the escalator ride alone can take up to about three minutes.
For a visitor, riding end to end is straightforward. Look for the large "M" signs marking station entrances, descend the long escalator, and pass through a turnstile using a token, a Podorozhnik smartcard, or a contactless bank card. Trains run roughly every 90 seconds to 4 minutes at peak times, and the system operates from about 05:45 until midnight daily, with transfer corridors closing around 00:15. Signage is in both Cyrillic and Latin script, and ticket machines often offer an English option, though public-address announcements are in Russian only. Expect security checks and metal detectors at many entrances.
The network
Saint Petersburg's system is a mix of rapid transit, suburban rail, surface transport and seasonal ferries. The metro is by far the fastest way to cross the city; above-ground transport is better for sightseeing.
Metro
The metro is operated by Petersburg Metropoliten and consists of six colour-coded lines with 75 stations and 8 transfer points, covering 131 kilometres (81 mi). It is one of the busiest systems in Europe, carrying around 686 million passengers a year — almost 2 million a day. The lines are:
- Line 1 (red) — the oldest line, opened in 1955, with grand Stalin-era stations such as Avtovo and Narvskaya.
- Line 2 (dark blue) — opened in 1961; its design shifted toward function over decoration.
- Line 3 (green) — opened in 1967.
- Line 4 (orange)
- Line 5 (purple)
- Line 6 (brown, Krasnoselsko-Kalininskaya) — the newest line, whose first two stations, Putilovskaya (interchange with Line 1 at Kirovsky Zavod) and Yugo-Zapadnaya, opened in December 2025.
Several stations are attractions in their own right: Avtovo, with its cut-glass and marble columns and a World War II defence-of-Leningrad mosaic; Narvskaya, with Soviet worker reliefs; Ploshchad Vosstaniya, with chandeliers and an October Revolution mosaic; Admiralteyskaya, with maritime decor and proximity to the Hermitage and Palace Square; and Zenit (formerly Novokrestovskaya), opened in 2018 next to Gazprom Arena.
Suburban rail
Suburban electric trains (electrichki) run from five principal stations: Baltiysky (Балтийский вокзал), serving Petrodvorets (Peterhof), Lomonosov (Oranienbaum), Gatchina and Luga; Finlyandsky (Финляндский вокзал); Ladozhsky (Ладожский вокзал); Moskovsky (Московский вокзал); and Vitebsky (Витебский вокзал), serving Pushkin (formerly Tsarskoe Selo) and Pavlovsk. Local electrified trains are operated by Transcom. Tickets can be bought at the stations or online, and long-distance tickets are generally cheaper the further in advance you buy.
Trams, trolleybuses and buses
Surface transport is run by a mix of operators, including Gorelectrotrans for trams and trolleybuses, and more than 40 state companies, joint-stock companies and private entrepreneurs for buses. Saint Petersburg has the largest tram system in the world, with over 400 miles (about 640 km) of track. Private minivan route taxis, known as marshrutkas (маршрутки), also operate but are not covered by the unlimited tourist tickets.
Ferries
The city's Sea Port Complex includes passenger terminals and river ports, with smaller ports at Lomonosov and Kronshtadt. The sea port has 75 berths and can receive ships up to 260 m long.
Tickets & fares
Fares rose across all Saint Petersburg public transport on 1 January 2026. The figures below are approximate and change, so check current prices when you arrive.
- Single token (жетон): 95 ₽ for one metro ride, sold at ticket offices and vending machines.
- Podorozhnik (Подорожник) rechargeable card: 90 ₽ deposit (keychain version 110 ₽), then 65 ₽ per ride on metro, bus, tram and trolleybus. It includes a 60-minute transfer fare — a second ride within 60 minutes costs 14 ₽ and a third is free. The card is multi-person, with a 20-minute timeout between metro uses, is valid for 3 years from the last top-up, and has a maximum balance of 15,000 ₽. Buy or top it up at metro ticket offices and station terminals using cash rubles or a Russian card. Leftover balance is non-refundable.
- Contactless bank card at the turnstile: 65 ₽ per ride with a Russian MIR card or the MIR EKP (St. Petersburg Citizen's Card). Foreign Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB cards do not work in Russia, which affects turnstiles and ride-hailing apps.
- 90-minute unified ticket: 106 ₽ for one metro ride plus unlimited bus, tram and trolleybus travel for 90 minutes.
- Tourist unlimited tickets (metro, bus, tram and trolleybus): 1 day 364 ₽; 3 days 701 ₽; 5 days 1,240 ₽. The period starts at first activation, there is a 20-minute minimum interval between rides, and the tickets are not valid on private marshrutkas but are valid on mixed routes to Peterhof and Pushkin (200, 210, 211, 213, 215, 216, 273, 278).
As a rule of thumb, the unlimited multi-day ticket beats the Podorozhnik card above roughly four rides a day; below that, the Podorozhnik is cheaper. On surface transport, tickets are sold by an onboard conductor, and one ticket is valid for one ride — keep it until the end of your trip.
From the airport
Pulkovo Airport (LED, Аэропо́рт Пу́лково) lies about 17 km south of the centre. Public-transport options into the city include:
- City bus 39Э (Express): runs between the airport and the Moskovskaya (Московская) metro station, where you can transfer to Metro Line 2 and other buses.
- Bus 82: runs to and from the Проспект Ветеранов station, for transfers to Metro Line 1 and other buses.
Buses are available from 05:15 to 01:40. Yandex.Taxi is the official airport taxi and costs roughly RUB 1,000–2,000 to the city centre; it can be booked via the mobile app or at the desk in the arrivals hall. Do not accept a ride from a tout unless you have negotiated a price in advance. Note that foreign bank cards do not work in Russia, so ride-hailing may require a MIR card or cash paid to the driver.
Etiquette & customs
- Escalators: stand on the right and keep the left side clear for people walking past.
- Queuing: queues are orderly; wait your turn at ticket windows and turnstiles.
- Seating: give up your seat to elderly people, middle-aged women, and parents with children. Priority seating is intended for those who need it.
- Exiting a crowded car: tell other passengers you need to get off, or you may miss your stop.
- Eating and drinking: keep food and drink off the trains and stations.
- Rush hour: trains are crowded at peak times, though seats are usually available off-peak. Follow the signs in the relevant line colour at multi-line stations, and use the last stop on the train to work out which direction you are heading.
- Finding your exit: stations often have more than one exit; placards with arrows point to orientation landmarks such as street names and shopping centres.
Official links
Survival terms
- subway/metro — метрополитен (metropoliten)
- ticket — билет (bilet)
- line — линия (liniya)
- entrance — вход (vkhod)
- exit — выход (vykhod)
- transfer — переход (perekhod)
- single fare — одна поездка (odna poyezdka)
- day pass — суточный билет (sutochnyy bilet)
Before you travel, top up a Podorozhnik card at a metro ticket office so you can move between the metro and surface transport without queuing for a token each time.