This guide is for visitors who are out in the evening in Saint Petersburg and want to be sure they can get home when the bridges rise. If you are wondering how to cross the Neva during drawbridge openings, the short answer is: cross before the first bridge lifts, or choose a bank to stay on for the night.
You will learn when the bridges open, how the city gets cut in two, which options remain while they are up and what to plan before the evening begins. The openings take place during the navigation season, roughly from April to November, in the small hours.
Quick answer: Cross the Neva before the first bridge rises, around the early hours, or stay on one bank until the bridges close again in the morning. Cost depends on how you travel: a taxi is ₽₽₽, the metro earlier in the evening ₽.
At a Glance
| Total time | Depends on when you cross; allow 30 to 60 minutes of buffer |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | ₽₽ |
| Last updated | October 17, 2026 |
What You Need Before You Start
- The current bridge schedule from the bridge operator
- Knowledge of which bank of the Neva your accommodation is on
- A plan for the last metro or a taxi back before the bridges rise
- A phone with a map or taxi app and enough battery
- Warm clothing in case you are waiting outdoors
Compare Your Options
| Option | Duration | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross early by metro or on foot | 30 to 60 minutes | ₽ | The best option. Leave the evening's venue in time to cross before the first lift, using the metro before it closes or a bridge on foot. |
| Taxi over a bridge that stays down | 30 to 90 minutes | ₽₽₽ | Useful if you are late. The driver uses a fixed crossing, such as the Bolshoy Obukhovsky Bridge or the ring road, so the route can be long. Check the fare first. |
| Stay on one bank until morning | Until the bridges close again, in the early morning | ₽₽ | A calm choice if you are already late. Choose a place that stays open, or watch the bridges rise. Needs warm clothing. |
| Night boat trip | About 1.5 to 2 hours | ₽₽₽ | A boat passes under the raised bridges and takes you back to the pier where you started. It is a way to spend the lift period, not a way to cross to the other bank. |
| Book accommodation on the bank you want | Planned in advance | ₽₽₽ | If you plan to be out late often, choose a hotel on the bank where you will spend the evenings. |
₽ budget · ₽₽ moderate · ₽₽₽ upscale · ₽₽₽₽ splurge. Price levels are estimates compared with typical prices for visitors.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Look up the schedule
Before you go out, check the bridge schedule on the website of the bridge operator, Mostotrest. Each bridge has its own time windows, and the Palace Bridge normally rises first among the central ones. Note the earliest window and plan to be across the river well before it.
Tip: Look at the schedule again if there is a big city event, as lifts can be moved.
Step 2: Know which bank you need
Work out whether your accommodation is on the left bank with the centre, on Vasilyevsky Island, on the Petrogradsky Side or across the river to the east. While the bridges are raised, the Neva splits the city, and the islands can be cut off from the centre. Write down your bank and the nearest metro station.
Tip: Ask your hotel which bridge or metro route they recommend for the evening.
Step 3: Cross before the first lift
Plan to leave the evening's venue in time to cross before the first bridge opens. The metro runs until after midnight, and a taxi can take you across a bridge that is still down. Do not leave the crossing to the last minute, as the first lifts begin in the early hours and the bridges close to traffic in advance.
Tip: A buffer of an hour is wise, since traffic near the bridges slows before the lifts.
Step 4: Use a bridge that stays down
Some crossings do not rise. The cable-stayed Bolshoy Obukhovsky Bridge in the east and the bridges on the ring road are fixed. They are far from the centre, so they suit a taxi rather than a walk. Ask the driver or a map app for a route over a bridge that is open to traffic, and check that it does not add a very long detour.
Tip: Ask for the fare before you set off, since a long detour can increase the price.
Step 5: Or stay on one bank
If it is already late, the easiest answer is to stay where you are until the bridges close again in the early morning. Choose a place that is open late, or take a night boat or a night walk on the same bank. Traffic returns once the last bridge is down, and the metro opens again in the morning.
Tip: Look for 24-hour places near your bank, such as late cafes and hotel lobbies.
Step 6: Watch the bridges and wait
If you do get stuck, make a feature of it: the lifts are one of the sights of the city, and the Palace Embankment is the best place to see the Palace Bridge. Keep an eye on the clock, and when the bridges close you can cross freely. Dress warmly and keep your phone charged.
Tip: See the companion guide on watching the drawbridges for the best viewing places.
Step 7: Cross when the bridges close
After the last window the bridges close and traffic resumes. You can walk across the nearest open bridge or take a taxi. The metro starts again in the morning, so a taxi is the practical option at the first light. Check the schedule for the last bridge on your route.
Tip: Bridges in the centre usually close again in the early morning; check the latest window of the bridge you need.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Going out without checking the schedule: bridge times change, so check the current windows.
- Leaving the crossing to the last minute: the bridges close to traffic before the lift, and a taxi may not reach you in time.
- Assuming the metro runs all night: it closes after midnight, before the bridges rise.
- Not knowing which bank your hotel is on: a taxi driver or a map app needs a clear destination, and the route may need a fixed bridge.
- Trying to walk across a raised bridge: it is closed to pedestrians while up.
- Taking an unmarked car at the embankment: use a ride-hailing app or a registered taxi, and agree on the fare.
Tickets, Payment and Booking
Crossing the river on foot or by metro needs no ticket beyond the metro fare; see the metro how-to for payment. For a taxi, use a ride-hailing app or a registered taxi and agree on the fare before you set off (as of October 2026).
- Payment: methods depend on the app and the driver, and the sanctions rules of your own country may restrict Russian payment services, so check this yourself.
- Touts: be wary of unlicensed drivers near the embankments, who may quote very high fares at night.
The bridge schedule is published by the bridge operator, Mostotrest, on its official website.
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Russia Vibes Tips
- Treat the early evening as the time to cross, not the end of the night; the last hour before the first lift is when taxis are hardest to find.
- If you are staying on Vasilyevsky Island or the Petrogradsky Side, make your evening plans on your own bank to avoid the problem.
- Save your accommodation address in Russian on your phone, so that a driver can enter it quickly.
- Look at a map before you set out: the detour over a fixed bridge can be much longer than the direct crossing.
- In the white-nights period it is light almost all night, which makes a late wait by the water much more pleasant.
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FAQ
Can I cross the Neva when the bridges are up?
Not over the raised bridge. You can use a bridge that stays down, such as the Bolshoy Obukhovsky Bridge or the ring road, or wait until the bridge closes again in the early morning.
When do the bridges open?
During the navigation season, which runs roughly from April to November, in set windows in the small hours. Each bridge has its own schedule, which the bridge operator publishes on its official website.
How long are the bridges up?
A bridge rises for a few minutes at a time, but each bridge has a longer window in which it may open, so the crossing can be closed for part of the night. Check the windows for the bridge you need.
Does the metro run during the lifts?
No. The metro closes after midnight, before the bridges open, and starts again in the morning. Check the operator's hours.
Are taxis available during the lifts?
Yes, but fewer, and they can only use bridges that are down. Expect a longer route and ask for the fare before you set off.
Which parts of the city are cut off?
The islands, such as Vasilyevsky Island and the Petrogradsky Side, can be cut off from the centre, depending on which bridges are raised. Know your bank before the evening.
Is it dangerous to be stuck on the wrong bank?
It is an inconvenience rather than a danger. Choose a place that is open late, keep warm and wait for the bridges to close again.
Does this apply in winter?
No. The regular lifts happen only in the navigation season. Between seasons there are occasional technical lifts.
Russia Vibes is a one-person project. A coffee keeps it going
Not legal advice. This is general information for visitors. Rules on visas, entry, registration, customs and similar matters change often and can depend on your nationality. Check the official source and, if in doubt, ask your embassy or a qualified adviser.
Last updated: October 17, 2026.
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This guide is created with the help of AI and is based on official sources where available. Mistakes can still happen. Opening hours, prices, rules and other details are given to the best of our knowledge as of the date shown and can change without notice. It offers general recommendations only, not professional, legal or travel advice. Please confirm important details with the official source before you travel; you are responsible for your own plans and decisions.
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