Guidebook for Moscow & St. Petersburg
 

I am headed to St. Petersburg and Moscow in a few weeks and am looking for recommendations on the best guidebooks to those cities. I am not particularly interested in glossy photography; what I do want is a guidebook with a lot of substance. Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

DK-EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE -for both
cities is great.I'm going next July and I have found alot of info. with these 2 books. I also have some websites, I would recommend:
moscowcity.com
moscow-taxi.com
discoveringrussia.com
waytorussia.net
saint-petersburg.com
travel.spb.ru
moscowkremlin.ru
I hope this helps.

Hi
In addition to DK eyewitness also check out Rough guide to Moscow and RG to St. Petersburg. Frommers has a guide to both also just published this year. I don't particulary like glossies either

I also like the Rough Guide for St.P. Knopf also has an excellent guidebook; beautifully detailed illustrations of museums and palaces and excellent descriptions - very good at putting what you're seeing in context. Cadogan used to have another very good guide, but I believe it's OOP.

I prefer the Fodor's guide, I would suggest getting the most up to date version for St Pete & Moscow as things change so quickly. I have a 2002 copy which is pretty much out of date for some restaurants which have since closed, moved premises or changed names. Fodor's have suggested itineraries and walking tours, for those who want go get off the main tourist trails. For latest restaurant and other local information, I pick up a copy of the Moscow or St Petersburg Times from the hotel or available online