Traveling from Europe to Russia by bus is an economical and practical choice. This guide covers the best bus companies operating from Finland, Estonia, and the Baltic countries to Saint Petersburg and includes my personnal preference.
Important : you will find up-to-date information about the Russia – Finland border crossings bellow.
Last updated : 28/08/2024
It’s mandatory to have an insurance to travel in Russia and apply for a russian visa (including the e-visa)
I recommend Attollo Assistance (24/7 assistance, medical expenses up to 35 000 €, repatriation)
Don’t want to read the whole post ? Here’s the most important :
Key bus companies and routes
LuxExpress : direct buses from Tallinn/Riga to Saint Petersburg
LuxExpress, an Estonian bus company, offers multiple daily buses to Saint Petersburg from Tallinn, Riga, and other Baltic cities. Tickets can be purchased at bus stations or on the company’s website.
Tip: If Saint Petersburg doesn’t appear on the English version of the website, switch to Russian, type “Санкт Петербург,” select your route, and then switch back to English to complete the booking. For MIR cardholders, tickets can be bought on Tutu.ru.
My Experience: I traveled from Saint Petersburg to Riga with LuxExpress. The journey was more comfortable than an economy flight, with spacious seats, free high-speed Wi-Fi, and a friendly driver. Highly recommended.
Baltic Shuttle : direct buses from Tallinn to Saint Petersburg
Baltic Shuttle is an Estonian bus compagny who operates daily buses from Tallinn to Saint Petersburg but also to Pskov. It’s slightly cheaper than LuxExpress. Tickets can be purchased on the company’s website.
Ecolines : direct buses from Helsinki to Saint Petersburg
– NOT OPERATING RIGHT NOW –Ecolines is a Baltic bus company operating routes from Central Europe (Germany) to Eastern Europe, Finland, and Russia. They offer direct buses from Helsinki to Saint Petersburg and from Riga to Kaliningrad.
Routes :
• Helsinki to Saint Petersburg: Direct via Vaalimaa/Torfyanovka.
• Tallinn to Saint Petersburg: Direct via Narva/Ivangorod border.
Important: Due to the ongoing crisis, the Finland-Russia border is currently closed until further notice.
Note: Ecolines has a bus route from Minsk to Moscow but third-country nationals cannot legally cross the Belarus-Russia border by land. Air travel is required for proper immigration checks.
Sovavto : budget-friendly buses from Finland to Saint Petersburg
– NOT OPERATING RIGHT NOW – Sovavto, based in Saint Petersburg, offers daily services between Finland and Russia’s cultural capital. They serve seven Finnish cities, including Helsinki. Tickets can be booked on Sovavto’s website (for Russian cardholders) or on Matkahuolto (with Visa/Mastercard).
Availability: Sovavto is cheaper than LuxExpress and Ecolines (or so they say).
Important: Due to the ongoing crisis, the Finland-Russia border is currently closed until further notice.
• Sovavto Official Website (with a MIR bank card)
• Matkahuolto Booking Platform (with a Visa/Mastercard)
Border crossing information
Current status of key border crossings
• Narva – Ivangorod (Estonia – Russia): Open for pedestrians only from February 1, 2024 (up until the end of the year). Passengers on LuxExpress or Baltic Shuttle buses cross the border on foot and board another bus on the other side.
• Vaalimaa – Torfyanovka (Finland – Russia): Closed until further notice.
Note: Third-country nationals with valid visas can cross these borders. Nationals of Finland, Estonia, or Russia should confirm with local authorities.
Crossing with vehicles
For private vehicle (car or motorcycle) crossings, use the following points:
• Burashki – Terekhova (Latvia)
• Kunichina Gora – Koidula (Estonia)
• Shumilkino – Luhamaa (Estonia)
All these crossings accept e-visas.
Alternatives for reaching Moscow
For travelers heading to Moscow, I recommend traveling to Saint Petersburg first by bus, then taking a high-speed train or an overnight train to the Russian capital. Tickets can be booked on Russiantrain.com with foreign Visa/Mastercard.
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