The 13th European VLBI Network Symposium and Users Meeting will be held in Saint Petersburg ? the second largest city in Russia and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It was founded in 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great on the swampy land at the mouth of the Neva River. Being Russia?s political and cultural centre for 200 years, St.Petersburg is sometimes referred to in Russia as the Northern Capital. The city is often called the Venice of the North because there are 65 rivers and canals with artistically decorated cast iron bridges. St.Petersburg is a major industrial, cultural and scientific centre of Russia and an important port on the Baltic Sea.

The city's unique history is reflected in its 18th-19th century avenues, palaces and parks. The streets of the Northern capital are a wonderful combination of different architectural styles. Majestic palaces, cathedrals, churches and other buildings were built by famous European and Russian architects. The islands, rivers, canals and bridges make it especially charming. In June and July during the White Nights a great number of people come to the embankments of the Neva River to enjoy a spectacular view of the bridges being drawn to let the sea ships through. The Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments constitute a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are a great number of theatres, operas and more than 200 museums in Saint Petersburg. The largest one is the Hermitage Museum which contains the richest collection of pictures and pieces of applied art in the world. Saint Petersburg inspired many of great poets, writers, painters, sculptors, composers and actors. Much of the life and work of Pushkin, Dostoevsky and Tchaikovsky was connected with the city.

On the Official city tourist portal of St.Petersburg you will find essential travel information about the city, attractions and events, and get the answers on any question helping you to plan your trip to Saint Petersburg.

Official mobile application adapts the whole functionality of the city tourist portal for mobile devices what gives an opportunity to obtain useful and interesting information at any time. The app will help you find the nearest metro station, restaurant or hotel, to see the city, learn its history, to pass a fascinating route and see all the fun.

Saint Petersburg Card is a smart way to experience the northern capital of Russia. It includes free entrance to the best attractions and tours, a rechargeable transport pass, cost-saving special offers and discounts.

Impressive HD video of St. Petersburg from the air.

The 13th European VLBI Network Symposium and Users Meeting will take place in St.Petersburg Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences which is located on Vasilievsky Island. St.Petersburg Scientific Center is a regional division of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The building was designed by Giacomo Quarenghi in 1785 specially for the Imperial St.Petersburg Academy of Sciences. The building is fully equipped for holding conferences and symposiums. The capacity of the main room is about 200-250 participants.

Participants should check whether or not a Visa is required. The citizens of several countries are eligible to visit Russia with a valid passport and without obtaining a visa in advance.

According to the Agreement between the European Community and the Russian Federation the documentary evidence regarding the purpose of the journey for persons participating in scientific, cultural and artistic activities is a written request from the host organisation to participate in those activities. Fees for processing the visa application for such persons are waived. This Agreement do not apply to the United Kingdom and Denmark. According to the appropriate agreements similar rules apply to citizens of China and Japan.

For citizens of other countries we recommend to apply for Travel Visa. Almost all hotels provide Visa support documents to apply for Travel Visas. To use Visa support service you need to contact your Hotel. It is fast and usually free way to get the documents. Alternatively, we can provide the original invitation from Russian Federal Migration Service, the procedure which usually takes about a month.

Participants who need to receive an official letter of invitation in order to obtain a visa, raise travel funds, or for administrative purposes should apply for this document in the registration formšby 1 August 2016. Requests received later than this date may not be processed by the embassies. All visa costs must be borne by the participant. It should be understood that the organizers can only issue an invitation which includes the time of the Symposium plus the Saturdays and Sundays directly before and after the conference.