Pulkovo Airport (LED) is Saint Petersburg's primary international gateway and Russia’s second-busiest airport.
The airport is located 23 kilometers south of the city center and connects the Leningrad Region to various domestic and international destinations.
In 2024, Pulkovo Airport served nearly 21 million passengers ranking it among the 30 busiest airports in Europe.
Major Airlines - Aeroflot, Rossiya Airlines, Nordwind Airlines
Pulkovo Airport serves as one of Aeroflot’s hubs - Russia’s flag carrier. Additionally, the airport is home to
Nordwind Airlines: a Russian leisure airline with mostly domestic flights.
Pobeda: A Russian ultra-low-cost airline for domestic flights.
Rossiya Airlines: A subsidiary of Aeroflot and one of the country’s oldest airlines. It offers both domestic and international flights.
Smartavia: Another low-cost airline that connects the country.
Ural Airlines: Operates scheduled and charter flights to destinations in Russia and Central Asia.
International airlines with scheduled flights from Pulkovo Airport include the Chinese Hainan Airlines, Georgian Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Uzbekistan Airways.
One of the major impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has been the severance of air links with destinations in Europe and East Asia. All airlines from countries like France, the UK, Japan, and Taiwan have pulled back from Pulkovo Airport and ceased operations there.
To see all airlines that currently serve Pulkovo Airport, click here.
Terminal Layout and Gates
Pulkovo Airport operates a single integrated terminal known simply as Terminal 1.
It is a modern terminal building with operations only starting in 2014 after the former two terminals were shut down. It features 88 check-in counters, 110 passport control booths, and 17 gates with jet bridges.
Air shuttles between Saint Petersburg and Moscow
The Aeroflot Shuttle Program offers flights between Pulkovo and Sheremetyevo every 15 minutes or between Pulkovo and Vnukovo every 30 minutes.
Booking is available no earlier than 12 hours and no later than 40 minutes before the departure of any of those flights. There are special economy fares for this shuttle service and dedicated check-in desks (29-32). Flight time between Saint Petersburg and Moscow is approximately 1:30 hours.
Wi-Fi at Pulkovo Airport
The airport provides free-of-charge Wi-Fi throughout the terminal.
You can connect to the "OBIT - Free Internet Access" network and an authorization page will automatically load. Enter a valid phone number to receive a 4-digit OTP code. Enter this code in the input field on the authorization page, then click "Connect to the Internet". That’s it - you’re now connected to Pulkovo’s airport Wi-Fi.
Dining Options at LED
Pulkovo Airport has a fair selection of places to eat and drink.
Here are some dining options to choose from:
CoffeeCourte: Offers coffee and desserts near Gate 7.
БЕРЁЗКА поинт: A popular Russian chain of bakeries that also sells confectionary, ice cream, caviar and special drinks.
Вкусно - и точка: The Russian McDonald’s copy after the burger giant left the country in 2022.
Sky Pizza: your go-to place for pizza at Pulkovo.
Doner House: A taste of Middle Eastern cuisine, including drinks, fries, and desserts.
Beer & Tapas by Stroganoff: Panini, tapas, and other bar fare.
Крошка Картошка: A Russian bistro favorite, famous for its baked potatoes.
You won’t find big international brands because many withdrew their presence in Russia at the start of the 2022 war. A notable exception is Burger King, which still operates a joint at Pulkovo Airport through its franchise.
Lounges at Pulkovo Airport
At Pulkovo Airport there are both premium lounges for passengers of specific airlines and lounges that you can enter by paying at the door, using a lounge pass or a membership program.
Aeroflot maintains 2 VIP lounges for its premium fliers - one domestic (on the 3rd floor) and one international (on the 4th floor). These two lounges are open 24/7 and offer the standardly expected amenities - complimentary food and drinks, comfortable seating, AC, Wi-Fi, and showers.
There is also at least one Business Lounge in each of the domestic and international sections. While offerings are more limited there, these lounges are accessible to anyone and affordable for an airport lounge.
Transportation to and from Saint Petersburg
Getting to Saint Petersburg from Pulkovo Airport is not hard.
Public transport is in the form of 3 bus lines:
Bus #39 goes to Metro Station Moskovskaya (M2). Every 5-7 minutes.
Bus #39Ex also goes to Metro Station Moskovskaya (M2). Every 13-20 minutes.
Bus #82Ex goes to Veterans Avenue (M1). Every 15 minutes.
Purchase bus tickets from the special kiosk at the airport. A single ticket costs 65 RUB.
The other option you have is to take a taxi. The official recommendation from Pulkovo Airport is to order a cab through the Yandex app - the biggest ridesharing company in Russia. A typical taxi trip to Saint Petersburg costs around 15-20 USD.
See private transfer options at Pulkovo Airport.
Parking near Pulkovo Airport
To just drop off or pick up a passenger, drive up to the approach area of the Terminal. Stays shorter than 15 minutes are free of charge but longer than that and the fee is a hefty 2000 RUB.
The airport offers 7 different parking lots for short or long stays:
P0 is the free parking limited to 5 minutes per car. It’s a bit further away from the terminal at Pulkovskoe Shose.
P1 is a universal parking lot just 2 minutes from the terminal. Its rates are 1100 RUB for 1 hour or 2100 RUB per day.
P2 is a short-term car park located a 3-minute walk from the terminal. It costs 400 RUB per 30 minutes.
P4 is the long-term car park about a 10-minute walk from T1. The parking fee is 1600 RUB for a day or 10000 RUB for a week.
P8 is another universal car park super close to the terminal (1 minute). It costs 500 RUB per hour maxed at 1000 RUB per day. However, to use it, you must register for a yearly pass first.
P13 is the biggest universal parking lot with over 700 lots. It is 2 minutes from the Terminal. The rates are 400 RUB per 30 minutes maxed at 2000 RUB per day.
P10 is reserved for buses.
Upon entering any car park, you will receive a ticket which you must keep with you until you leave. This parking ticket allows you to get discounts at select shops and restaurants at the airport.
Hotels near Pulkovo Airport
Inside the terminal itself, the only option for resting your head on a pillow is the Capsule Hotel. It’s a modest hotel that offers cabin boxes at an hourly rate of 700 RUB per hour. While not a luxurious place, it can certainly be an adequate place to nap if your flight is delayed or canceled.
Right outside the terminal, you will find Cosmos Saint-Petersburg Pulkovo Airport Hotel - a 4-star full-service hotel with premium amenities and a delightful breakfast. It’s the best place to stay near the airport during layovers.
A little bit further and outside of the airport grounds is the Airportcity Plaza St.Petersburg - another magnificent airport hotel and a good value-for-money luxury hotel.
Saint Petersburg, Russia
No
