The Saint Petersburg Central Bus Station, known in Russian as Avtovokzal, stands at number 36 on the Obvodny Canal Embankment, south of the historic centre in Frunzensky District. It opened in May 1963 and is the main departure point for regular intercity buses, with routes to Pskov, Veliky Novgorod, Petrozavodsk and Moscow.
It is a working transport hub, not a sight. Visitors use it for cheap long-distance travel to nearby towns in north-west Russia, and, depending on the current rules, for some international lines. The nearest metro is Obvodny Kanal on Line 5, about ten minutes’ walk along the canal.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Автовокзал на набережной Обводного канала (Автовокзал № 2) |
|---|---|
| Type | Transport hub |
| Built / opened | 1963 |
| Address | Санкт-Петербург, набережная Обводного канала, 36 OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Frunzensky District |
| Metro | Obvodny Kanal (Line 5, about 10 minutes on foot along the canal) |
| Opening hours | Listed as open every day from early morning until late evening, with the first opening at about 05:30 and the last closing at about 23:30; individual buses follow their own timetables (as of October 2026 – check the carrier's timetable, as no official station site was confirmed). |
| Admission | Free to enter; you pay only for your bus ticket and any extras such as left luggage. |
| Best time to visit | The station works every day of the year, with the first buses leaving early in the morning and the last arriving late in the evening. The calmest times are mid-morning and early afternoon on weekdays. Fridays, Sundays and the days before holidays are the busiest, so book ahead for popular routes. |
| Recommended duration | 30 minutes before departure |
| Last updated | October 16, 2026 |
How to Get to and from Saint Petersburg Central Bus Station
| Option | Duration | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk to Obvodny Kanal metro | About 10 minutes | Free | Recommended with light luggage and in daylight. Walk along the canal embankment to the station on Line 5, then change at Sadovaya or Zvenigorodskaya for the centre. Check a map for the best route. |
| Official taxi or taxi app | About 10 to 20 minutes to most central hotels | ₽₽ | The most comfortable option with luggage or at night. Use an official service or app, and ignore drivers who approach you at the entrance. |
| Tram or bus along the canal | Varies | ₽ | Several city routes run along the Obvodny Canal and Ligovsky Prospekt. Check a map for the line that suits your destination. |
| Walk or ride to Moskovsky Railway Station | About 15 minutes by taxi, or metro with a change | ₽ | Useful for the Moscow trains. The Moskovsky station is on Nevsky Prospekt at Ploshchad Vosstaniya. |
₽ budget · ₽₽ moderate · ₽₽₽ upscale · ₽₽₽₽ splurge. Price levels are estimates compared with typical prices for visitors.
Why Visit Saint Petersburg Central Bus Station?
For a traveller, the bus station is the practical choice for towns that the railway serves badly or at awkward times: Pskov, Veliky Novgorod, Petrozavodsk and smaller places on the way. It is also the usual departure point for the long bus route to Moscow, which ends at the Tushinskaya bus stop in the north-west of the capital.
It is easy to forget that Saint Petersburg has more than the five railway stations. Knowing that the buses leave from here, a short way from the Moskovsky and Baltiysky stations, saves you from turning up at the wrong terminal.
Highlights of Saint Petersburg Central Bus Station
Regional routes to Pskov and Veliky Novgorod
The station is the departure point for regular buses to Pskov, about 290 kilometres away, and to Veliky Novgorod, about 190 kilometres away. Both towns have kremlins and are popular excursions from Saint Petersburg.
Other regional destinations include Ivangorod, on the border with Estonia, and Petrozavodsk in Karelia, about 435 kilometres to the north.
Tip: Check the arrival stop at your destination; it is not always the main bus station.
The long route to Moscow
A regular intercity route links this station with Moscow, about 750 kilometres away. The Moscow end is the Tushinskaya bus stop at Stratonavtov Passage, in the north-west of the capital, not a central station.
The trains are faster, but the bus is a cheaper alternative for those who do not mind a long day.
Tip: Allow extra time at the Moscow end; the stop is a metro ride from the centre.
International lines to the Baltics and beyond
In earlier years, this station was the starting point and end of international buses to Tallinn, Riga, Helsinki and Minsk. Whether these routes run today depends on the current border rules, which change.
Check the carrier's own site and the official sources of your own government before you plan a journey across a border.
Tip: Do not rely on older guides for international routes; confirm the route and the entry rules before you travel.
The ticket hall
The station has ticket offices for domestic and, where they run, international bus lines. An older description also mentions a cash machine and a cafe, handy if you arrive early or miss a bus, but the current services were not confirmed.
Tickets for many routes can also be bought online from the carriers.
Tip: Arrive with time to find your platform; the departure board is the safest guide.
The Obvodny Canal setting
The station stands on the embankment of the Obvodny Canal, a nineteenth-century waterway that marked the southern edge of the old city. The area around it is a mix of industrial buildings, rail lines and apartment blocks, not the postcard centre.
You will not find sights next door, but the canal embankment is a short walk from the metro and from Ligovsky Prospekt.
Tip: Walk along the canal to the metro in daylight; the way is straightforward but quiet in the evening.
A short walk to the metro
Obvodny Kanal metro station, on Line 5, opened on 30 December 2010 and is about ten minutes' walk from the bus station. From there Line 5 runs to Zvenigorodskaya and Sadovaya, where you can change for the centre.
A taxi from the station to the centre is also short and cheap by international standards.
Tip: With heavy luggage, take an official taxi from the stand or use a taxi app.
Atmosphere
The station is functional and plain, with buses of different companies pulling in and out, passengers with suitcases and boxes, and the smell of diesel in the air. The mood is quiet outside the morning and evening departures, and busier on Fridays and before holidays.
Around it, the Obvodny Canal is wide and grey, with industrial buildings and railway lines along the banks. The setting is not pretty, but it is the real working edge of the city, where long-distance travellers come and go at all hours.
History of Saint Petersburg Central Bus Station
The Saint Petersburg bus station on the Obvodny Canal opened in May 1963. It was built south of the historic centre, close to the old canal that marked the edge of the city, and it served as the main terminal for intercity buses.
In official route documents it appears as Bus Station No. 2, at number 36 on the Obvodny Canal Embankment. Over the decades it handled routes to Pskov, Veliky Novgorod, Petrozavodsk, Moscow and many smaller towns in north-west Russia.
After the 1990s, international lines grew up alongside the regional ones. The station became the starting point and end of buses to Tallinn, Riga and Helsinki, and also of some lines to Minsk, run by private carriers.
In 2010, Obvodny Kanal metro station opened on Line 5, about ten minutes’ walk away, which gave the station a metro link that it had lacked for most of its history.
The international services depend on the current border and entry rules, which have changed several times in recent years. For this reason, the list of lines that run today should always be checked with the carriers.
Tickets and Payment at Saint Petersburg Central Bus Station
Bus tickets are sold by the carriers, at the station’s ticket offices and, for many routes, online. There is no single official booking page for all routes, so check the carrier’s own site and timetable for the line you want.
- At the station: ticket offices and machines work for same-day travel; weekend and holiday departures can sell out.
- Online: many carriers sell tickets on their own sites; some long-distance routes require passport details for the booking.
- International routes: entry rules depend on your nationality and change over time. Check the official sources of the Russian authorities and of your own government, and the carrier’s current timetable, before you book.
- Payment: whether a foreign bank card works varies, and the sanctions rules of your own country may restrict the use of Russian payment services, so check this yourself before you travel.
- Taxis: use an official service or app, and ignore drivers who approach you at the entrance; unofficial drivers have a record of overcharging foreign visitors.
Fares for Russian citizens and concession categories differ. Check the carrier’s own page for all categories.
Flights, Transfers and Planning
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How to Get to Saint Petersburg Central Bus Station
By metro: take Line 5, the purple line, to Obvodny Kanal, between Zvenigorodskaya and Volkovskaya, and walk along the canal embankment to number 36, about ten minutes. From the centre, change to Line 5 at Sadovaya or Zvenigorodskaya.
By road: taxis drop you at the entrance on the Obvodny Canal Embankment. Trams and buses run along the embankment and on Ligovsky Prospekt, which is the next main street to the north.
On foot from Ligovsky Prospekt: the Line 4 station of the same name is a longer walk, about 15 minutes. Check a map for the best route.
Accessibility
A station built in 1963 is unlikely to be fully step-free, and specific details were not confirmed for this article. Ask the station staff and the carrier about assistance before your journey. The walk to Obvodny Kanal metro is on level pavement, but Line 5 stations are deep, so a taxi may be easier with a wheelchair.
Food Nearby
The station has a small cafe or kiosks, according to older descriptions, but the current options were not confirmed, so bring water and a snack. The streets around the canal and Ligovsky Prospekt have shops and cafes within a short walk, and Obvodny Kanal metro has a few more.
What to Bring
Your passport for long-distance and international tickets, water and a snack for the journey, a payment option for taxis and food, and a warm layer in winter. Keep documents in a pocket you can reach, not in the luggage hold.
Photography Rules
Photography is generally tolerated in the public areas and outside, but filming security staff, police and technical areas is not allowed. Drones are not permitted near the station, and tripods and professional equipment usually need permission from the operator.
Family Suitability
Workable for families on a longer trip, but it is a plain transport hub with little to entertain children. Bring snacks, water and something to do. Strollers are manageable on level ground, but the access to the platforms was not confirmed, and the metro stations nearby are deep.
Russia Vibes Tips
- Check which station your route leaves from; the buses leave from the Obvodny Canal, not from the railway stations.
- Walk to Obvodny Kanal metro in daylight; the embankment is quiet and mostly industrial in the evening.
- Look up the arrival stop at your destination; in Moscow the buses stop at Tushinskaya, not in the centre.
- Book popular routes early, especially before weekends and holidays; the seats go fast.
- Do not rely on older guides for international buses; confirm the route and the entry rules before you travel.
- For Pskov or Veliky Novgorod, compare the bus with the train before you decide; the stations are different and the journey times vary.
Explore Nearby Saint Petersburg Central Bus Station
Metro stations near Saint Petersburg Central Bus Station
Obvodny Kanal Metro Station, Saint Petersburgabout 550 m away (~9 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Zvenigorodskaya Metro Station, Saint Petersburgabout 1.6 km away (~26 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Sights near Saint Petersburg Central Bus Station
Alexander Nevsky Lavra, Saint Petersburgabout 1.9 km away (~31 min walk) · typical visit: 1.5–3 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near Saint Petersburg Central Bus Station
Moskovsky Railway Station, Saint Petersburgabout 1.9 km away (~30 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Baltiysky Railway Station, Saint Petersburgabout 3.4 km awayMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Vitebsky Railway Station, Saint Petersburgabout 1.8 km away (~29 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Browse more: More in Frunzensky District · All Airports & Transport · All Airports & Transport in Saint Petersburg · All Other Hubs · All Saint Petersburg
FAQ: Saint Petersburg Central Bus Station
Where do long-distance buses leave from in Saint Petersburg?
Mostly from the central bus station at number 36 on the Obvodny Canal Embankment, Frunzensky District. It is a short walk from Obvodny Kanal metro station on Line 5.
When did the station open?
In May 1963. It stands on the embankment of the Obvodny Canal, south of the historic centre.
Which towns can I reach by bus from here?
Pskov, Veliky Novgorod, Petrozavodsk, Ivangorod and Moscow, among others. Check the carrier's timetable for the current routes.
Do international buses still leave from here?
They did in earlier years, to Tallinn, Riga, Helsinki and Minsk. Whether they run now depends on the border and entry rules, so check the carrier and official sources.
How do I get to the centre?
Walk to Obvodny Kanal metro in about ten minutes, or take an official taxi. See the options section for the routes.
Is it far from the railway stations?
It is a short taxi ride from Moskovsky and Baltiysky stations, and a metro ride with a change, so allow extra time if you switch between them.
Is it safe at night?
The station itself is lit and staffed, but the canal embankment is quiet after dark. Use an official taxi or a taxi app for late arrivals.
Is the station worth visiting as a sight?
No. It is a working transport hub; use it only if your journey starts or ends here.
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Last updated: October 16, 2026. Found an error or something out of date? Report it and we will check and fix it.
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