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About St. Petersburg
ABOUT ST. PETERSBURG
St. Petersburg is Russia’s second largest city and a hotbed of culture. Located on the Baltic Sea coast of the Gulf of Finland, it was founded in 1703 by Russian tsar Peter I the Great and is one of the most beautiful and historically significant cities in the country.

The city is known for its architectural marvels and outstanding museums, theatres, parks, and historical and cultural monuments.

St. Petersburg is in the UTC+3 time zone

Unique atmosphere combines historical heritage, modern trends, and the spirit of romance. Visiting St. Petersburg will be a bright and unforgettable event.

Some of the most iconic landmarks in St. Petersburg:
The Hermitage
Russian Museum
Peter and Paul Fortress
Kazan Cathedral
St. Isaac's Cathedral
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
Mikhailovsky Castle
The Summer Garden
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Helpful telephone numbers
Universal emergency response number
112
24 hours
Municipal Centre for Lost Documents and Phones
+7 (812) 336 5109
Municipal Tourist Information Bureau
+7 (812) 242 3906 +7 (812) 242 3904
Information Service about Drug Availability at Pharmacies
+7 (812) 246 1111
Weather in St. Petersburg
The weather in St. Petersburg in early April is changeable and cool, marking the transition from winter to spring. Daytime temperatures typically range from 2 to 8 degrees Celsius.
Power supply (outlet types)
The electrical network voltage in the Russian Federation is 220 V (50–60 Hz). The most common types of sockets are C and F.
If you plan to take electrical appliances with you that require higher voltage, or you need a different type of outlet, we recommend taking an adapter with you on your trip.
Mobile communications
Operators in St. Petersburg provide a wide range of mobile services based on GSM, UMTS, and LTE standards. Guests can purchase SIM cards from local mobile operators at mobile phone stores. All mobile operators provide mobile Internet services.
Major mobile operators in St. Petersburg

Russian law requires a person to be physically present with either a Russian or foreign passport in order to purchase a SIM card and conclude an agreement for the provision of mobile communication services.

List of all telecom operators in St. Petersburg
Taxi service
Yandex Taxi
+7 (812) 366 6666
www.go.yandex
Taxi 068
8 (800) 550 0068 +7 (812) 324 7777
www.taxi068.ru
Taxi 6000000
+7 (812) 600 0000
www.6-000-000.ru
List of all taxi aggregators in St. Petersburg
Bank cards
Given the existing restrictions on the use of foreign bank cards in Russia, we recommend that you carry sufficient cash for the entire duration of your stay at the Forum.
Mir and UnionPay cards in any currency work without restrictions in Russia. Forum participants are advised, where possible, to apply for a card or bring an existing card from either of these payment systems. 
Russia’s largest banks represented in St. Petersburg:
Credit institutions in St. Petersburg
Currency exchange

Please note the restrictions on exchanging foreign currencies:     

  • The US dollar, euro, сhinese yuan, United Arab Emirates dirham, turkish lira, and other currencies can be freely exchanged for rubles. About 18 currencies can be exchanged in Sberbank’s offices. The exchange rate and addresses can be found here.
  • For currency exchange operations you must present an identity document.
  • It is NOT POSSIBLE to exchange non-cash currency for rubles (cash) if the currency is held on Mastercard or Visa bank cards issued outside Russia. It is also impossible to withdraw rubles using these cards..