Train from London to St Petersburg
Photo © Explorer Travel @ Flickr
Overview
Route: London to St Petersburg via Berlin and Paris or Brussels, Cologne and Moscow
Journey time: 2 - 3 days
Detailed itinerary
Option 1: via Paris and Berlin |
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Sample itinerary: Take an afternoon train from St Pancras to Paris and you might have time for a quick dinner before heading to Gare de l'Est for the 2020 sleeper service to Berlin, which arrives at a civilized 0859. You then have the morning to enjoy the German capital before catching the 1515 service to St Petersburg, where it arrives on the second morning at 0615.
Price:
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| Leg 1: | London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord in the heart of Paris. Don't forget check-in time for Eurostar is at least 30 mins before departure. |
Frequency of service: About 15 trains a day
Operator:
Eurostar Journey time: From 2 hrs 15 mins
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| Transfer | A short 10-minute walk from Gare du Nord to Gare de l'Est. Exit Gare du Nord, turn left then at the main intersection turn right (slightly downhill) along Rue du Fauberg Saint-Denis for about 400m then left along Rue de Chabrol to Gare de L'Est. Alternatively it is one stop on the metro line - from the Eurostar platform, turn left, walk down the stairs and follow the signs for Metro line M4 to Gare de L'Est (which is signposted 'direction Porte d'Orléans'). |
Short hopTransfer time: Allow 25 minutes
Book a hotel near Gare du Nord/Gare de l'Est
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| Leg 2: | Paris Gare de l'Est to Berlin Hauptbahnhof (sleeper) The train leaves Paris at 2020 and arrives in Berlin at 0859. |
Frequency of service: Daily
Operator:
City Night Line Journey time: 12 hurs 39 mins
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| Transfer | A quick same-station change of platform at Berlin Hauptbahnhof |
Change of platformTransfer time: Allow 20 mins
Book a hotel near Berlin Hauptbahnhof
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| Leg 3: | Berlin to St Petersburg Trains depart Berlin Hauptbahnhof at 1515 Fridays and Sundays, arriving in St Petersburg (Vitebsky Station) on the second morning at 0615. |
Frequency of service: Twice weekly (Friday & Sunday)
Operator: n/a
Journey time: 1 1/2 days
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| Destination | Добро пожаловать в Санкт-Петербург (Dobra Pozhalovat v Sankt Peterburg) |
Book a stopover hotel near Vitebsky Station
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Option 2: via Brussels, Cologne & Moscow |
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Sample itinerary: Take an afternoon Eurostar service from St Pancras to Brussels, such as the 1604, which arrives at 1903. Transfer to the Thalys service at 1928, which arrives in Cologne at 2115. You've got time to grab a late bite to eat before catching the 2228 service to Moscow, which arrives on the second morning at 1033. Transfer to Leningradsky station, where you can catch the 1200 service to St Petersburg, where you'll arrive at 1545.
Price: Varies depending on the route chosen
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| Leg 1: | London St Pancras to Brussels Midi
First train 0620 (Mon-Fri), 0659 (Sat), 0857 (Sun). Last train 1934 (every day). |
Frequency of service: 8 trains a day.
Operator:
Eurostar Journey time: from 1 hr 58 mins
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| Transfer | A quick same-station change of platform at Brussels Midi station to catch the onward connection. |
Change of platformTransfer time: Allow 20 mins
Book a hotel near Brussels Midi
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| Leg 2: | Brussels Midi to Cologne Central Station (Köln Hbf) |
Frequency of service:
Operator:
Thalys or ICE Journey time: From 1 hr 47 mins
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| Transfer | A quick same-station change of platform at Cologne Central Station to catch the onward connection. If you have time to spare, Cologne cathedral is next door. |
Change of platformTransfer time: Allow 20 mins
Book a hotel near Cologne Central Station
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| Leg 3: | Cologne (Köln Hbf) to Moscow Train departs Cologne daily at 2228, arriving a day and a half later in Moscow (Bolrusskaya Station) at 1033. |
Frequency of service: Daily
Operator:
Russian Railways/EuroNight Journey time: Around 34 hours
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| Transfer | It is three stops on the Koltsevaya (Circle) line from Belorusskaya Station (at Belorussky railway station) to Komsomolskaya metro station, which is just outside Leningradsky Station |
Short hopTransfer time: Allow 45 mins
Book a stopover hotel near Belorussky Station
Book a stopover hotel in Moscow
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| Leg 4: | Moscow to St Petersburg First train departs Moscow Leningradsky (Oktyabrskaya) at 0030, last train departs at 2359. |
Frequency of service: Up to 25 trains a day.
Operator:
RZhD Journey time: From 3 hours 45 minutes
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| Destination | Добро пожаловать в Санкт-Петербург (Dobra Pozhalovat v Sankt Peterburg) |
Book a stopover hotel near Moskovsky Station
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Your route to St Petersburg
The lines on the map are for illustrative purposes only - they don't show the exact route taken by the train.
