Border Crossing between Russia and Estonia

[(RIP) petcul]

Just back from four weeks through Norway to Nordkapp then Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany and Holland. Fantastic trip and fantastic people all the way apart from the short fat police b***tard on the Russian border at the Narva crossing into Estonia.

A simple scam.

Nobody stops you until just before the border when you are stopped and asked for your ticket. What ticket? We were never stopped once on the way through. You turn around and go back only to be fined for a traffic violation by the aforesaid SFPB - £20.

If you ever have to go through watch out for a filling station off the road on the right and a small sign directing you to it. Inside you pay pennies for the ticket!!!! Then you proceed to the crossing and hand in your ticket!!!!! and go on to the immigration and customs officials at the border proper.

Simple

The officials on the way in to Russia near Vyborg were helpful in the extreme including arranging insurance for our days in Russia.

 

[Steveremf]

Just got back from the same trip minus the Russian excursion, always meant to visit St Petersburg but it seemed like so much hassle for visa and such like that I couldn,t be bothered in the end.

Did I miss much?

 

[Dellis]

Just back from four weeks through Norway to Nordkapp then Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany and Holland. Fantastic trip and fantastic people all the way apart from the short fat police b***tard on the Russian border at the Narva crossing into Estonia.

A simple scam.

Nobody stops you until just before the border when you are stopped and asked for your ticket. What ticket? We were never stopped once on the way through. You turn around and go back only to be fined for a traffic violation by the aforesaid SFPB - £20.

If you ever have to go through watch out for a filling station off the road on the right and a small sign directing you to it. Inside you pay pennies for the ticket!!!! Then you proceed to the crossing and hand in your ticket!!!!! and go on to the immigration and customs officials at the border proper.

Simple

The officials on the way in to Russia near Vyborg were helpful in the extreme including arranging insurance for our days in Russia.

This is "the" trip I've dreamed of for many years but for numerous reasons I've never been able to have enough time off in one go to make it worthwhile. However the opportunity is getting nearer and we (Sandra and I) plan to make the trip in 2009, still a while to go...... but I'd be very interested to hear how you got on with the Russia visa, routes etc.

Cheers
Dave

 

[(RIP) petcul]

1) St. Petersburg is the most fantastic city imaginable. Unfortunately only spent three days there and only scratched the surface but enjoyed every moment of it. Could easily spend a month there.

2) Visas were not a problem. Booked a hotel on the internet, got them to send me a confirmation and an invitation (had to be paid for). Got an application form on the internet from the Russian consulate website. Brought the completed form, photos, hotel confirmation, invitation, passport, self addressed recorded deliver envelope and £45 to the consulate in Edinburgh (or London - it can be posted). They sent the passport with the visa to me a few days later. It can be issued on the day but at double the cost.

3) We used the Imatra (Finland) Vyborg border crossing. It is quieter than the Helsinki one. Still has hundreds of trucks mostly with top of the range cars waiting to cross but go to the front. Officials and Russian car drivers could not be more helpful. We arranged 3rd party bike insurance (dont ask me what it was worth) there. Though legally you don't seem to need it I'd get it just in case someone checks for it and tells you you are breaking the law and fines you on the spot!!! The alternative is to drive to the next town and arrange it there if you can find an office. The road to Vyborg is rough but after that it is plain sailing to St. Petersburg.

4) GPS was handy coming out of St. Petersburg though you could follow the signs reasonably well.

5) The road to Ivangorod and the scam was plain sailing.

Any other information just ask and I'll do my best.

There is a bike club in Raahe in Finland who gave us free bunk accommodation for the night. Great and hospitable people.

A memorable trip.

 

[Loiq]

I got my visas via realrussia.com it's really easy, costs vary they do a very quick service but it's mega money. My next trip is to head more directly for Moscow via Belarus. Border crossing further south are more of a scam in my opinion....