How to go from Pulkovo Airport to St. Petersburg

Last Updated on December 1, 2023 by Irena Domingo

Pulkovo Airport is located about 23 kilometers south of St. Petersburg. In this post I will explain the different ways to get from Pulkovo airport to St Petersburg either the city center or outside, by public transport or taxi.

About Pulkovo Airport

The Pulkovo airport at St. Petersburg is the third busiest in Russia after Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow. This is a newly renovated airport where you find it hard to get lost, since once you get to Terminal 1, there is only one way to migration office, then to collect the luggage and the exit.

Some data about the airport:

• The airport code is LED, which derives from the name it had during the time of the former Soviet Union, Leningrad.
• In 2015 it had a volume of 18 million passengers.
• It is located about 23 kilometers south of downtown St. Petersburg.
• Bars, restaurants and shops: https://pulkovoairport.ru/passengers/services/
• The airport serves as a base of Russia’s Rossiya Airlines.
• Airport website: https://www.pulkovoairport.ru

It is possible to go from Pulkovo airport to the center of St. Petersburg by bus (by boarding the transshipment subway station called Moskovskaya) or by taxi.

Option 1: Bus+ Metro

It is the most economical transportation system to get to St. Petersburg, but you must take into account that they only get to the outskirts of St. Petersburg where they begin Metro lines. Therefore, to reach the city center (or to the hotel) you must also take the St. Petersburg Metro.

There are two buses that you can take as soon as you leave the arrivals hall and that will take you to the nearest metro station, called Moskovskaya: 39 and 39E. Both run from 5:15 in the morning to 1:36 at night, with a frequency of every 12-20 minutes. The ticket costs 65 rubles.

All these buses will leave you the station Moskovskaya metro, just outside St. Petersburg, which means you have to buy a metro ticket to get to the center of St. Petersburg. Moskovskaya subway line is No. 2 (the blue) and passes through the center of the city (Nevsky Prospekt stop).

St. Petersburg Metro:

• Website: http://www.metro.spb.ru/en/
• Map: St. Petersburg Metro.
• Metro Schedule: the St. Petersburg Metro begins to open their stations at around 5:30 am and closes at around 1:00 in the morning. The best is to consult the times for each station on the Metro website: http://www.metro.spb.ru/en/pricetickets.html
• Ticket price: a simple metro ticket in St. Petersburg costs 70 rubles. More information on the price of tickets: http://www.metro.spb.ru/en/pricetickets.html

Advantages of using the bus and Metro

• It is the most economic means of transport. For about 135 rubles it is possible to reach the city center (65 rubles the bus and 70 rubles the Metro ticket)

Disadvantages of using the bus and Metro

• You have to make transhipments, which is inconvenient if you have many suitcases or they are too heavy.
• If you arrive at dawn to St. Petersburg, you can’t use the bus or the Metro

Option 2: Taxi

The other option to go to St. Petersburg is by taxi, a more expensive but more convenient option. The cab ride to downtown St. Petersburg lasts 30 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic volume.

You can book a taxi in two ways:

• Book taxi at the airport itself. The best option and the one recommended by the airport is to book a taxi through the Yandex Go application. It is very easy to sign up for this application using your mobile number. Taxi payment can be made in advance (using a Russian bank card) or in cash when taking the taxi. The cheapest taxi to St. Petersburg can cost about 1,100 rubles.

IMPORTANT. It is advisable to ignore people who approach you offering you to collect your luggage and offering you a taxi. These are illegal taxi drivers and probably more expensive than the official ones.

• Book a taxi in advance on arrival. You can book a taxi in advance with some taxi company operating in St. Petersburg. In this case they will be waiting with a sign in hand with your full name. There are many taxi companies operating in St. Petersburg and you can book taxi in advance like GetTransfer.

Advantages of taking a cab

• It is the most convenient option, especially if you’re loaded with suitcases, since it picks you up just outside the airport and drop you off at the door of your hotel or accommodation.
• It is the only option if you arrive early in the morning to the airport.

Disadvantages of taking a cab

• It is a more expensive means of transport, though if it is shared with several people, it is much more economic.

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