Simply St Petes - 4 days
A very European city in a very Russian setting. With beautiful scenery, fascinating history and stunning architecture, St Pete's - or Piter to the locals - offers a plethora of things to see and do.
Saturday. Welcome to St Pete’s and the start of your long weekend! Arrival transfer from St Petersburg Airport, transfer to hotel and check in. Tonight, our Welcome Meeting takes place where you can meet other group members also staying in St Pete’s for the weekend. Remainder of the evening at leisure, consider a beer and a chat with newly met friends.
Overnight - St Petersburg
Today we take a city tour that takes us to the main sights. We drive along colourful Nevsky Prospekt, the main avenue of St Pete’s from which most main attractions can be easily reached. There’ll be a stop at the famous Church on Spilled Blood (viewed from outside from the Nevsky prospect side for photo opportunities) and Peter and Paul Fortress, the oldest building in St Petersburg, which was built in 1703. This fortress was once used as a political prison - containing the likes of Dostoevsky and Lenin’s older brother, Alexander. Later we enjoy a guided tour of the amazing Hermitage art collection, located in the grand sky blue Winter Palace. When you’ve had your fill of Matisse, Picasso, Cezanne, Monet and more, the rest of the day is free for you to explore.
Why not visit some of the many impressive buildings, or take a boat ride along the canals. Later you can investigate St Pete’s buzzing bar and jazz club scene, watch the world famous Russian ballet or enjoy the energetic Cossacks cultural performance show (book and pay locally).
Overnight - St Petersburg (B)
Simply St Petes - 4 days Go Guide : :Check out the go guide for details of the tour, info on visas, climate, money, what to bring and more!
A free day to explore on your own. Alternatively, opt to join one of our optional group excursions.
Pukka Pass - Enjoy a full day of guided sightseeing Touring will include, dependent upon opening hours and availability, either a visit to the gardens of Peter the Great’s palatial Peterhof which overlooks the Gulf of Finland (in summer) or a visit to
Catherine Palace at Tsarskoe Selo in winter (or Pavlosk Palace if Catherine Palace is closed). We then stop for lunch at Tinkoff Beer Restaurant where we can enjoy a hearty meal, some beer tasting and a tour of the Tinkoff brewery. After lunch we continue with a guided tour of the interior of The Church on Spilled Blood with time to shop in the souvenir market located alongside the church. Entrance fees, lunch and transport are all included, payable at time of booking.
Peterhof Summer Gardens (summer) or Catherine Palace or Pavlovsk Palace (winter) - Take our morning tour to one of these sights dependant upon the time of year. In the
summer, immerse yourself in the wonderland of Peterhof
Park and gardens with its beautiful lakes, shaded glades
and elaborate fountains, overlooked by the Grand Palace.
In the winter be dazzled by Catherine Palace, with the
famous Amber room and Catherine Park as highlights.
Pavlovsk Palace is also sumptuously decorated and you
will be enchanted by the lakes, rivers and classical
statues and temples of its woodland park. Payable
at time of booking.
Overnight - St Petersburg (B)
Tuesday. Today gives the opportunity to shop for souvenirs, or time to take a leisurely walk around the city. Our city stay concludes after breakfast and hotel check out at 12 noon. (B)
Night at the Museum
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Night at the Museum (aka Long Night of Museums) began in Berlin in 1997, in an aim to attract a larger and also younger audience to its museums and cultural institutions. Over 120 cities in Europe, including St Petersburg and Moscow, have now jumped onboard, showcasing their unique museums, galleries and heritage sites.
We are running a special Night At The Museums departure of our Simply St Pete's tour departing 21 May 2011. Coinciding with the wonderful Russian 'White Nights' when the sun barely sets and St Petersburg comes to life. Join us for this wonderful event accompanied by our expert guide, explore a selection of the cities best late night galleries and museums on day 1 of your tour.
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Upgrade your stay!
For those that would like a little extra comfort whilst travelling, we offer an upgrade package on our Simply St Petes tour. Upgrade to a stylish 4 star hotel with a good range of facilities in St Petersburg - includes 3 nights accommodation.
Prices & Departure Dates
Prices shown are per person travelling. 'Twin/Double' prices per person apply when there are 2 people travelling, sharing a room. The 'Single supplement' applies for single travellers who require their own room and needs to be added to the 'Twin/Double' price.
If you are happy to be paired up with another single traveller of the same sex on your tour, this can be arranged, (if another solo traveller of the same sex is already booked upon the tour), thus avoiding the single person supplement.
All our scheduled tour departures are guaranteed subject to a minimum of 2 travellers.
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| 4 star upgrade package |
USD $499 |
USD $-220 |
Simply St Petes - 4 days Go Guide : :Check out the go guide for details of the tour, info on visas, climate, money, what to bring and more!
Bolt-ons
Make the most of your time away! Listed below are the optional activities that are available on this trip. Please note that you will need to book these prior to travel as we cannot always guarantee availability of these activities once you are on holiday.
| Take a step back in time - enjoy a guided tour of the stunning Royal Residences of the Russian Tsars, located in the outskirts of St Pete's and admire the beautiful Russian countryside on the way. Our Catherine Palace (winter) or Peterhof Gardens (summer) bolt on is available on all tours visiting St Petersburg. |
| Escape the bustling city of St Petersburg with an overnight stay in a country house in ancient Novgorod. Your visit begins with a tour of the historic Kremlin (Fortress) grounds and the open air museum of Russian wooden architecture. You’ve free time to admire Novgorod - listed by UNESCO as one of the top 100 cities of the world. Why not soak up the views from a leisurely walk along the Volkhov river, visit one of the great medieval abbeys, or wander round the quaint shops and bars.
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Experiences
If you are interesting in trips with similar experiences to this one, then check out some of the ones we've listed below.
| Want to see how the other half live? Then take a look at our selection of tours that visit all the best palaces and forts around the world. Many of the wonderfully ornate edifices that we visit are now historical museums and sites of interest allowing you to have a good old look around. And when you've had your fill of sightseeing, it's time to live like a king and stay in one of the many hotels that have been converted from a palace or fort! |
What You See and What You Get
Below is a list of key highlights and what is included on this tour. Further, where appropriate, we have listed the items that are not included in the tour price.
Trip Highlights
- St Petersburg - UNESCO-listed city area including: Nevsky Prospekt, Museum and University districts, Peter and Paul Fortress, Church on Spilled Blood, The Bronze Horseman and Admiralty End
- Day 3 is a free day for you to explore on your own. Optional
tours are available on this day at an additional cost. Try our full day Pukka Pass or half day morning tour of Catherines Palace or if closed (Pavlosk Palace) or Peterhof.
| - Guided tour of the Hermitage at the Winter Palace
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What's Included
- 3 breakfasts
- Airport arrival transfer on day 1
- Services of an English speaking Russian tour leader during your stay
| - 3 nights 3 star hotel
- Guided sightseeing day 2 - St Petersburg city, Peter and Paul Fortress and the Hermitage at Winter Palace
- All relevant transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles
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What's Not Included
- International flights and visa
- Entrance Fees: $25-30 USD
| - Tipping - an entirely personal gesture
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