St Petersburg is well served by trams, conventional buses, trolley buses, metro trains and marshrutnoye taxis (minivans, also known as marushrutka). All public transport operates 0600-0100, with the exception of the metro, which runs 0600-2400. Although vehicles may be rather run-down, the system is cheap and effective. If time is of the essence, use the metro.

Buses and marshrutka mainly operate between the suburbs and metro stations. However, there are several useful routes which connect the islands of St Petersburg with Nevsky prospekt in the centre. Stops are indicated by bus shelters or a blue and white sign depicting a bus mounted on the building closest to the stop. It's usually simpler to look for the crowd of people waiting expectantly by the curb. For conventional buses, you should buy a ticket (talon) from a kiosk or the driver and validate it in the machine when you board. Marshrutka charge a fixed fare which should be handed to the driver when you embark.

Trams and trolley buses run on similar routes to conventional buses. Stops are marked with signs on lampposts, or sometimes with a ‘T' hanging from the electric lines. The tickets are the same as those used on the buses.

The metro or St Petersburg Metropoliten (tel: (812) 301 9700; website: www.metro.spb.ru) with four lines and 58 stations, is fast and efficient, though stations are widely spaced out. Station ticket booths sell single-journey tokens (zheton) and 10-journey magnetic cards, which should be deposited or swiped at the machines at the top of the escalators. All the names in the metro system are in Cyrillic, so a metro map with English translations is essential. There are no travel passes available to non-residents. Stations are identified by large blue ‘M' signs, which light up at night. The metro tunnels are buried deep underground so expect long, time-consuming walks and escalator rides at interchange stations, which will have a different name on each line.

St Petersburg's ageing fleet of Volga and Lada taxis (marked with the letter 'T') can be flagged down in the centre or booked through Petersburgkoye Taxi (tel: 068 or (812) 324 7777; website: www.taxi068.spb.ru) or Taxi Million (tel (821) 700 0000). However, meters are unreliable and fares are generally agreed by negotiation before departure. For this reason, tipping is not required. Predictably, prices are inflated for foreigners - it takes some bargaining to reach a reasonable fare.

Many local car-owners supplement their income by acting as informal taxi drivers, but it is almost impossible to negotiate a fare or destination if you are not fluent in Russian. For safety reasons, you should never get into a vehicle that contains anyone other than the driver.

Potholes and appalling road surfaces, drivers with no apparent road sense and the dreaded traffic police all serve as a serious deterrent to driving in St Petersburg. Indeed, self-drive car hire is rarely available, though it is possible to hire a car with an English-speaking driver.

Street-side parking is generally free, but it is banned along Nevsky prospekt, though you wouldn't know this from the erratically parked cars of local drivers. Keep an eye out for signs indicating other restricted areas. Outside posher shops, hotels and restaurants, uniformed attendants will watch your vehicle for a small fee.

Almost all hire cars come with a driver. The main providers are Astoria Service (tel: (812) 712 1583; website www.astoriaservice.ru), Avis (tel: (812) 600 1213; website: www.avis-rentacar.ru), Hertz (tel: (812) 324 3242; website: www.hertz.ru) and Europcar (tel: (812) 644 4418; website: www.europcar.ru).

Bicycles are available for hire from several cycle tour companies, but the heavy traffic, poor road surfaces and high incidence of theft mean that hiring a bicycle is not really recommended.