Unfortunately, the highly bureaucratic visa process means that visiting either country, if you plan to come back to Russia, is a headache. Nevertheless, the likes of Pushkin and Novgorod, both close to Russia’s second city, are within easy touching distance and offer plenty to see and do. Novgorod: getting here in a day is a bit of a stretch from St Petersburg as it takes three and a half hours by bus or three hours by train; but the 120-mile journey can be done in two and a half hours in a rented car. The distance though is well worth the effort given that this is one of the oldest and most culturally significant cities in all of the country. Pushkin: previously known as Czar’s village, or Tsarkoye Selo in Russian, this moderately-sized town 15 miles southwest of St Petersburg makes an ideal daytrip destination that can be reached in about half an hour. The highlight here is Alexander Palace, an impressive pastel yellow and white structure dating back to the end of the 18th century that was a favourite residence of the last Tsar, Nicholas II. Upon entering the town, visitors will notice a curious Egyptian-style gate built at the beginning of the 19th century by a Scottish architect at a time when Egypt-inspired architecture was very much in fashion. Pavlovsk: like a miniature Peterhof, Pavlovsk also boasts its own palace which ranks as one of the best preserved of the imperial palaces still standing in the country today, as many were partly destroyed during the Nazi occupation during WWII. The town lies just south of Pushkin, meaning it’s a straightforward bus ride of just under one hour to get here from St Petersburg. Kopore: located just west of Peterhof, this small town is dominated by an old fortress. Looking around this centuries-old monument won’t take a day but this makes a good half-day trip or an extension to a trip to Peterhof. | 
