In the small town of Imatra - located at half an hour from the border with the Leningrad Region of Russia, the easiest way to reach your car. The border checkpoint of Svetogorsk, the nearest to Imatre, is considered less loaded compared to the rest of the region's borderlers. The main thing, going to such an independent journey, should be remembered about the documents necessary for this. When crossing the state border, you will need to provide the authorities the "Green Card" to your car. You can arrange this document, both in St. Petersburg and at mobile points along the entire highway to the border.
If you are planning a trip without the use of the car, then the most convenient option will be a charter bus of any of the many tourist companies in St. Petersburg, which organize such trips in weekly mode. There are no regular bus routes between cities, so if you plan to get to the Imatra in this way, then select the charter trips in advance and book your place in advance. As a rule, this can be done via the Internet. Naturally, for such a trip you will need a valid Schengen visa. As a rule, the cost of such a trip to the charter bus will be 800-1000 rubles. Often travel companies organize trips to Imatru, including in them Lappeenranta. The cost of the ticket does not change, but in this case you will not be able to go back to Russia on the same day, and therefore it will be necessary to provide accommodation in one of the hotels in Imatra.
Another way to get to Imatra is on the railway. From Russia direct trains passing through this city. Therefore, you can plan a complex and not much cheap route through Vainikkala and Lappeenranta. First you have to go on the train "Allegro", which is sent four times a day from the Finnish station of the Northern Capital, get to the border Finnish station Vainikkala.
Travel time is just over two hours. The fare is about 3,000 thousand rubles. If you choose the morning train, departing from St. Petersburg at 6.40, then save on the passage, paying only 1500 rubles. The fare on these trains varies, depending on the time of their departure. Wagons "Allegro" are sufficiently comfortable, the seats are located according to the type of aircraft. The train has a restaurant car. Border formalities in the Russian territory you will pass right along the train follow. Employees of the border and customs will be held in composition. But upon arrival at Vainikkala station, you need to go to the building of the railway station, where you have to "go through" the Finnish border. At the output from the station at Perron, you will need to sit on a long-distance bus to Lappeenranta. And there is already transferring either to another flight bus, departing from the city's bus station several times a day in Imatru, or sit down on the passing train from Helsinki. Time on the way from Vainikkala to Lappeenranta and from Lappeenranta to Imatra - 30-40 minutes each of the segments of the path.
You can get to Imatra and from Helsinki, where you, for example, flew on the plane. Regular high-speed trains from Finland's capital in the direction of Joensuu are sent several times a day and pass through Imatra. Time on the way is less than 4 hours. The fare from 30 euros.
