Russia’s old imperial capital is an incredible place to get a sense of the grand history of this remarkable country. From vast palaces and museums to parks, gardens and memories of its revolutionary past, this is city that has something for every visitor. The great news is that much of it is accessible to those of us who use mobility scooters.
So, here are just a few of the highlights of Quingo Scooter’s accessible getaway in St Petersburg, Russia.
Get lost in one of the largest art museums in the world
The statistics that swirl around the Hermitage art museum are mind-blowing. Over three million exhibits. More paintings in one place than anywhere else on the planet. And the fact that even if you took just a minute for each piece, you’d still need 11 years to see everything!
But don’t let the scale put you off. The Hermitage is breathtaking, with highlights such as the Leonardo da Vinci room and the ancient Scythian and Greek jewellery in the Gold Rooms. The museum is largely accessible with ramped access to the main entrance and lifts inside. The museum’s website also suggests an excellent accessible tour of the key exhibits too.
Take a cruise around the ‘Venice of the North’
There are a few European cities that have tried to adopt the title of ‘the Venice of the North’, but in our view St Petersburg has the strongest claim. It has beautiful buildings and a complex network of canals that weave through the city. Many of them pass by some of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
As you’d expect, there are plenty of operators offering different cruise options, and it is a great way to get a sense of this beautiful city. However for mobility scooter users we were really impressed by this one – just give them a call to discuss your particular requirements.
The State Russian Museum
If the Hermitage is a little overwhelming then the State Russian Museum makes for a smaller scale alternative. This is still a huge collection (it covers pretty much the entire history of Russian art), but you can get around it a single day at most.
It is generally accessible, although they are currently repairing the lifts in the Mikhailovsky Palace and in the Benois Wing sections. The team there recommend that you give them a call before you go to arrange any particular support you might need on your visit. Their number is +7 (812) 314-64-24.
Roam through the gardens of Peterhof Grand Palace
The Peterhof Grand Palace is a must-see for any visitor to St Petersburg. It was originally planned out by Peter the Great as a palace to match Versailles in Paris. And in our view it more than stands up to comparison with its French counterpart.
The gardens in particular are perfect for those of us who use a mobility scooter. They are level and easily accessible, and are an incredible example of large-scale landscape gardening. The Lower Park in particular is great for visitors with different mobility requirements.
Did you know?
Don’t be alarmed, but there is absolutely nothing holding up the 600-ton Alexander Column in Palace Square except its own weight. Apparently people were so worried about this that the man who made it, Auguste de Montferrand, walked under it everyday to prove it was safe.
Getting to St Petersburg
While you can fly from Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow, the only direct flights to St Petersburg go from London Heathrow with British Airways or Aeroflot.
There is a great team at Pulkovo Airport Saint Petersburg and they offer a special assistance service for you on arrival. Just let them know in advance about any particular mobility requirements you may have, by giving them a call on +7 921 981 83-44 or +7 921 858 56-71.
Unfortunately, public transport in St Petersburg is still far from accessible. There are taxis into the city centre available outside the airport (book at the Taxi Pulkovo counters inside the terminal).
There are other operators available, however we always recommend that you pre-book to make sure that the taxi is accessible (and legally registered). You can do that here, or by calling +7 812 380 2478.
Although getting around this historic city can be difficult on public transport, there are plenty of companies offering accessible tours. One of our top picks is this one.
Travelling with scooters
The great news for those of you travelling abroad is that Quingo Scooters are all approved for air travel by IATA so you won’t have any problems taking them on the plane. That said, it is always well worth getting in touch directly with any train, bus and airlines you want to use just to double check their rules on scooters before you go. For more handy tips on travelling with your scooter by air, take a look at our page here.
Share your accessible getaways abroad with us
Do you have any accessible getaways abroad recommendations? In Europe or perhaps further afield? If you do, we’d love to hear from you, so drop us a line and we’ll feature them.
About Quingo Scooters
The Quingo Scooter range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.
Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.
All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC). AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 30847
