We will be going to Finland and St. Petersburg. We are not too much into tours, however, a friend suggested that it is much better to use one in Russia. What are your thoughts?

You can visit St. Petersburg with just a guide book in hand. That's what we did in 1995. We did have a private guide on our last day, which might have been just as good as having one on the first day. He added cultural information to what we already knew, and his information would probably have passed us by on the first day.

It's up to the individual-tours are good for the first time in Russia if intimidated by the language but if not, then all sights can be done independently. If you feel like using a guide once there, you can do so since they stand outside most places eg Hermitage,museums etc or the hotel could organise it for you.

Hi, Pamo2 -

I agree with Michael and Odin - you can see and enjoy St. Petersburg on your own. Take a good guide book!

Enjoy!

Have been twice -

Once with a tour - when that was the only option

Later when you could travel indpendently

Enjoyed the second far more. Much less time wsted on "shopping" and things we didn;t want - and got a much more "real" experience. We either walked or used cabs - which were very cheap - since the lines to get on a bus were horrendous. We had not trouble taking day trips by train or boat, getting ballet tickets etc - all in English.

St Petersburg is an extremely compact walkable city. The metro is very cheap and effecient as well. I agree with the other posts and would forego the guide and just get a great recent guidebook. I was there two summers ago and loved it!

Been twice to SP. The first time (in 2000) we enjoyed the city very much on our 2 "free days" away from the guides at our disposal. We got a real view and feel of the city getting away from the touristy places.
We revisited SP in June for 2 days on cruise ship this year and took the ships tour as we were with friends. It was a complete waste of time. The guides all want you to spend money at the various shops and outdoor souvenir stalls so give you too much "free time" for shopping. We just get to see a few of the main sights.
We really enjoyed the Hermitage though.
Go it alone!

Forgot to add - if you are in Helsinki then take the hop on - hop off sightseeing bus. It was excellent value.