Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Saint Petersburg

Accommodation

$15-35 per night

Hostel dormitory beds, budget guesthouses, shared bathrooms, basic Soviet-era hotels in outer districts

Food & Dining

$12-25 per day

Street food, local cafeterias, grocery stores for self-catering, traditional Russian canteens, avoiding tourist areas

Transportation

$3-8 per day

Metro system, public buses, trolleybuses, walking, occasional marshrutka minibuses

Activities

$5-20 per day

Free walking tours, public parks, free museum days, street art exploration, occasional paid museum entry

Use the metro system extensively - typically 80-90% cheaper than taxis and covers most tourist areas efficiently

Eat at local stolovayas (cafeterias) and avoid restaurants near major tourist sites for 60-70% food savings

Visit museums on free days or discounted evening hours - can save 50-100% on entry fees

Book accommodation in Vasilievsky Island or Petrograd districts instead of city center for 30-50% savings

Buy groceries and prepare some meals yourself - typically saves 70-80% compared to restaurant dining

Walk between nearby attractions instead of taking transport - St. Petersburg's center is quite compact

Look for combination tickets for multiple palaces and museums - usually 20-30% cheaper than individual entries

Taking taxis everywhere instead of using the excellent metro system - costs typically 5-8 times more

Eating only in tourist areas around Palace Square and Nevsky Prospect - usually 100-200% markup over local prices

Not booking palace tours in advance during peak season - can result in sold-out attractions or premium last-minute pricing