I'll be flying Seattle-Frankfurt-Helsinki, and then going by train to St.Petersburg, and I'd like to have some rubles before I arrive in St. Petersburg. I don't really care if the exchange is bad. I will get a more substantial amount of rubles at an ATM/cash point after I arrive in St.Petersburg.

I'm wondering if the Helsinki airport has any of those rip-off money-exchange stands at which I can get a few expensive rubles to tide me over. Or should I just go to a bank in Helsinki and get rubles there?

I understand your angst about not having any rubles when arriving but American dollars are hugely accepted informally by anyone over the soft currency of the ruble.

>>but American dollars are hugely accepted informally by anyone over the soft currency of the ruble.<<

Have you been there in the last 30 years??? It is illegal to accept other currencies.

IME it is extremely difficult to buy rubles outside of Russia. A better option is bring US$ or € and exchange them when you get to StP. But using your ATM card is best.

American dollars are not widely accepted or even accepted at all, it is not the legal currency for Russia and it is illegal to pay in dollars or euros.

When I arrived in St. P by train from Vilnius back in 2004 I got rubles from an ATM in the station. I feel sure they will only have proliferated since.

Thanks, Odin
I am going to SP and Moscow in July...it is not problem for me to purchase rubles
where we live.
I am going to bring some US dollars or euros as well,
I certainly do not wish to break any laws.

There is at least one money exchange stand in Helsinki Airport, in terminal 2 departures hall. Maybe there are more, but that´s the one that I have used so it´s definitely there. I assume that you´re taking the Allegro train from Helsinki, are you aware that they have a money exchange service as well?

Thanks for the responses. I was able to get roubles at the Forex bank at the Helskini train station.