Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/904009
38 maltatoday SUNDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2017 Travel THE NATIVE Travelling is always risky business – getting stuck in a touristy area with terrible meals. The same can be said of sightseeing, hotels and nightspots. Travelling to a place where you know people to recommend the right places makes your stay all the more enjoyable. Maria Shebets, 34, was born in St Petersburg, Russia, and lived there for 26 years. If you're visiting St Petersburg, these are the places she recommends to hang out like a native. NEED TO KNOW How to get there Air Malta offer direct flights to St Petersburg Best time to visit Between mid-June and September when the nights are almost indistinguishable from the days. The White Night celebrations are not to be missed. Summers are generally cool but pleasant with temperatures around 18C. Winters are cold and dark with temperatures dropping below freezing point. Currency Russian ruble Visas A 90-day travel visa must be obtained from consulates before entering the country. Visas will not be issued on entry. BEST SPOT FOR SIGHTSEEING Choosing the best spot for sightseeing in St Petersburg is not easy at all! My city has plenty of spectacular spots to offer and these simply cannot be missed. One of my favourites is the monu- mental and grandiose Palace Square, of course. Make sure you approach it through the magnificent Arch of General Staff building, which opens a splendid view on the State Hermitage as you slowly come closer. Moreover, you will see the semicircle of the immense General Staff building and the impressive Alexandrian Pillar, which is a single piece freestanding granite column weighing 600 tonnes. Un- doubtedly, this square is one of the most elegant and harmoni- ous ensembles of architecture in the world! I've chosen this place because it brings the feel- ing of greatness and opulence of St Petersburg. St Petersburg, Russia Maria Shebets, 34, was born in St Petersburg and lived there for 26 years BEST PLACE FOR A NIGHT OUT There is something you should definitely do at night when in St Peters- burg. Starting from late May and continuing up to early July nights are becoming so bright and almost indistin- guishable from days. We call this phenom- enon "White Nights", which is caused by the city's northern location. So my advice will be to go for a walk along the embank- ments of the Neva River and observe the ships passing under our gorgeous draw- bridges. This experience is unforgettable and certainly deserves to be considered as one of the most romantic in the world. By the way, before the permanent bridges' con- struction, it was even more romantic due to the fact that you could easily get stuck in one part of the city till around 5 a.m. What a great excuse to stay out for a night in the city!