St Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport: An Essential Gateway To Russia

St. Petersburg, Russia is served by Pulkovo Airport (IATA: LED, ICAO: ULLI), which is located 19 to 23 kilometres south of the city centre. It is the second-busiest airport in Russia and Post-Soviet states, and one of the largest airports in Russia and Eastern Europe. The airport consists of a single terminal, which was opened in 2014, replacing the previous Pulkovo 1 and Pulkovo 2 terminals.

St Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport is the fourth busiest airport in Russia

St Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport is Russia's fourth busiest airport. It is located 19 kilometres from the city centre and is accessible via the Pulkovo Highway, although this road can experience chronic traffic congestion. The airport is served by an official taxi service, and there is also a metro station ("Moskovskaya" on line M2, and "Prospekt Veteranov" on line M1).

Pulkovo Airport was opened on 24 June 1932 as a state-owned domestic airport. It now serves international flights, too, and is one of the fastest-growing international air hubs in Russia. In 2012, it had a capacity of 11 million passengers, and in 2017, 16,125,520 passengers passed through—a 21.6% increase on the previous year. By 2025, it is expected to process more than 17.3 million passengers.

The airport has one terminal, which incorporates a new, modern terminal built to accommodate the increase in visitors and improve the transport infrastructure, and the old, reconstructed Soviet terminal. The new terminal features a glass skylight, geometric panels, and an unusual gold, domed ceiling. It includes 88 check-in counters, 110 passport booths, 7 baggage carousels, 110 parking stands, 17 gates, and 17 escalators. There are several shops, cafes, restaurants, ATM machines, a children's playground, a bank, an information desk, and a car rental desk.

In 2020, the number of destinations was expected to increase rapidly, with a 75% increase in passenger numbers forecast. This was due to a five-year agreement permitting non-Russian airlines to operate flights from multiple European destinations into the airport. However, due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, flights to the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australasia, North America, Switzerland, Singapore, Northeast Asia, Taiwan, Iceland, and Norway have been suspended until further notice.

The airport is located 12 miles (20 km) south of the city

St Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport is located 12 miles (20 km) south of the city. The airport is one of the largest in Russia and Eastern Europe, welcoming over 10 million passengers a year from more than 170 destinations. It is the fourth busiest airport in Russia and the former Soviet states. The airport consists of one terminal, which was opened in 2014, replacing the previous two terminals, Pulkovo I and Pulkovo II, which sit side by side in the south of the city.

The airport is easily accessible by public transport, with city buses running from both the old and new terminals to Moskovskaya Metro Station on the blue metro line. This line runs directly into the historical heart of the city. The journey to the metro takes around 20-30 minutes, and the bus costs less than $1. There are also minibus shuttle services that run the same route, which are quicker and cost just over $1.

For those who prefer not to take public transport, there are several taxi options. The cheapest option is to book a taxi by phone when you arrive, although this may involve a wait. The average fare to the city centre is around $20. Alternatively, you can use the official airport taxi service, Taxi Pulkovo, or book a private transfer in advance.

It has two terminals, Pulkovo I and II, which serve domestic and international flights

St Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport is located 12 miles (20 km) south of the city and is one of the largest airports in Russia and Eastern Europe. It was opened on 24 June 1932 and was initially named Shosseynaya Airport. The airport has grown rapidly since its early days, with regular flights to Petrozavodsk, Pudozh, Arkhangelsk, and Murmansk.

Pulkovo Airport used to have two separate terminals, Pulkovo I and II, which served domestic and international flights. However, in March 2014, a new terminal was opened, combining all flights into one building. The new terminal is modern and efficient, with a capacity of 17 million passengers per year. It offers a seamless travel experience with 88 check-in counters, 110 passport booths, 7 baggage carousels, 110 parking stands, 17 gates, and 17 escalators. The terminal also boasts artistic sculptures and paintings, showcasing the thriving culture of Saint Petersburg.

The airport is easily accessible by public transport, with city buses running from both the old and new terminals to Moskovskaya Metro Station on the blue metro line. The journey to the metro station takes around 20-30 minutes, and from there, it is just seven stops to the heart of St. Petersburg at Nevsky Prospekt. For those travelling with luggage, a taxi or private transfer is recommended, as the public transport system can be challenging for newcomers.

The airport is accessible by taxi, bus, train, or private transfer

St. Petersburg, Russia is served by Pulkovo Airport, located 14-23 kilometres south of the city centre. The airport is accessible by taxi, bus, train, or private transfer.

Taxi

Taxis are available at the airport, with Taxi Pulkovo booths in the arrivals lounge of both terminals. The average fare to the city centre is around $20, but fares are only slightly higher (less than $30) if you book through the official airport taxi service. It rarely takes more than 45 minutes to get to the city centre, but there can be chronic traffic congestion on the Pulkovskoe Highway, especially during morning rush hour and on Sunday evenings.

Bus

City buses, costing less than $1, run from both terminals to Moskovskaya Metro Station on the blue metro line, seven stops south of Nevsky Prospekt in the city centre. From Pulkovo-1, the N39 leaves from opposite Exit 1 of the arrivals lounge at roughly 15-minute intervals from 5.30 am to 1.30 am, and the ride to the metro takes around 30 minutes. The bus stop at Pulkovo-2 is to the left of the exit from arrivals, and from there the N13 operates between 5.40 am (6 am at weekends) and 12.47 am, also every 15 minutes, and takes just over 20 minutes to reach the metro.

Marshrutka Minibus Shuttle

Marshrutka minibus shuttles run the same routes as the regular buses and are slightly quicker, but they cost just over $1. You will have to pay double if you are carrying large baggage. The K3 marshrutka from Pulkovo-2 continues past Moskovskaya Metro Station up Moskovskiy Prospekt to Sennaya Ploshchad in the city centre. The Aeroport Express service offers more comfortable shuttle buses (larger seats, better luggage space, and air-conditioning) from both terminals to Moskovskaya Metro Station (around $1.50), Tekhnologicheskiy Institut (around $5), and Vladimirskaya (around $6.50), which is in the very centre, about 200m from Nevsky Prospekt. The service operates 24 hours a day, and tickets can be bought from booths in the arrivals lounges, and card payments are accepted.

Train

The nearest metro station to the airport is Moskovsky, which can be reached by bus or marshrutka minibus shuttle, as described above. It is on the blue line, and you can get right into the historical heart of the city without having to change lines.

It is the only airport in the city, serving over 10 million passengers annually

St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport is the only airport in the city. It was opened in 1932 as a state-owned domestic airport and has since become one of the largest and the fourth busiest airport in Russia and Eastern Europe. The airport is located 12 miles (20 km) south of St. Petersburg and is accessible via the nearby Pulkovo Highway (Pulkovskoe shosse) from the city centre. It is served by buses and taxis, with the journey to the city centre rarely taking more than 45 minutes.

Pulkovo Airport is made up of two terminals, Pulkovo-1 and Pulkovo-2, which were closed and replaced by a new, modern terminal in March 2014. This terminal caters to all flights, both domestic and international. The airport is surprisingly modest in size, considering it serves a city of nearly 5 million people, and it shows signs of age.

In 2017, the airport handled 16,125,520 passengers, a 21.6% increase from 2016, with over 10 million passengers annually from more than 170 destinations. This makes it the fourth busiest airport in Russia and the post-Soviet states.

To get to the city centre from the airport, you can take an official taxi, a city bus outside the terminal, or arrange a private transfer in advance. The nearest metro station to the airport is Moskovsky, on the blue line, with buses #39, #39Э, and minivan taxis running between the two every 20-30 minutes.

Frequently asked questions