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Russia has a reputation as a wild and dangerous country, but for tourists most of the fear comes from unfamiliarity. A little effort to get to know the system, and the dangers, beforehand should allay most of your fears and guarantee peace of mind on holiday.
 | Crime & The Police |
St Petersburg made a name for itself in the nineties as the crime capital of Russia, although how much this was true and how much the reputation relied on discrediting journalism and gangster films is a debatable point. Either way, that type of organized crime never had any effect on tourists.
As in all large cities, petty crime can be a problem and tourists are often the target - for the obvious reasons that they stand out in a crowd and are more likely to be carrying large amounts of cash or valuables. Pickpockets of various species are the main threat, and they tend to be most prevalent on public transport, especially on the metro in the center, and round tourist traps. To avoid being a victim, follow the obvious precautions: do not carry more cash than necessary and try not to display large sums in public places, keep large sums in a money belt or sealable inner pocket, keep credit cards separately, and don't carry valuables in a backpack or easily opened bag.
Violent crime of any sort is extremely unlikely to be a problem for tourists. Mugging is rare in St Petersburg and you are only likely to encounter this late at night if you are doing something to be ashamed of or are on your own a long way from the center. There are not really any 'no-go' areas of St Petersburg, or certainly none that a visitor is likely to wander into by mistake, but there is a constant low-level threat of drunken aggression from xenophobic thugs, so you are advised not to act too loudly or brashly in bars and clubs, and to be polite but firm with anyone who approaches you in the street and tries to strike up conversation.
This is particularly true for anyone who is dark-skinned, as St Petersburg has a small but high-profile skin-head population. Again, it is only really dangerous to be out late away from the center.
If you are robbed while in St Petersburg, then for insurance purposes you will need to obtain a police report (the same goes if you lose anything valuable). It will be easiest to find the small police stations located in most metro stations and large hotels - few policemen speak English, so try to find someone Russian to help you.
Unlike the police in Moscow, St Petersburg's militsia are less prone to stopping foreigners for document checks, but it does still happen. If you are asked to show your passport, hold onto it yourself and show it to the policeman, or show photocopies, and never give in to demands for money.
| Health & Insurance |
In theory, most foreigners are entitled to free emergency care in Russian hospitals, and some countries have reciprocal agreements with Russia for free healthcare for their citizens. Russians are extremely proud of the quality of their doctors, but few can deny the chronic under-funding of the public healthcare system, and free treatment is almost unheard of even for Russian citizens - even if you are admitted to hospital free, you will almost certainly have to pay for medication, and for reasonable treatment by nurses. It is therefore well worth taking out effective travel insurance.
There are a large number of private clinics in Petersburg, many of them with English-speaking staff and many with their own ambulances. However, there is not necessarily any relationship between cost and quality, and the best way to ensure good treatment is by recommendation. In a real emergency, you should be able to organize a medical evacuation to Finland in one of those private ambulances.
Booster-shots for diphtheria, polio and tetanus are recommended for travelers. Drinking water straight from the tap is not advisable, as Petersburg water often contains a parasite called Giardia Lamblia that can cause curable but unpleasant intestinal infections. Even if you avoid infection, the water still tastes pretty foul, and cheap bottled water is available everywhere.
The emergency services number for Russia is 01. For an ambulance, say: "skoraya pomosh", literally meaning quick help.
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