PRIVATE TOUR: Explore Russia's capital city with all the remnants of Communism; check out the art at the Tretyakov Gallery, gasp in awe at St Basil's Cathedral and get your taste buds flowing with the sublime blinis and borsch.
Trip Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
St Petersburg
Welcome to Russia and the start of your holiday! Upon arrival you will be met at St Petersburg Pulkovo Airport and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Dependent on your time of arrival you may enjoy a city orientation tour on the way to the hotel. The rest of the evening if free - your guide can recommend some local bars and restaurants for you to try out.
Overnight: St Petersburg
Sightseeing
Enjoy a day of sightseeing in St Petersburg, the Jewel in Russia’s Imperial Crown. Today remnants of the city’s grandiose past can be seen in its beautiful historic centre; made up of a series of canals this UNESCO World Heritage site is dotted with elegant baroque bridges, impressive rococo architecture and spectacular palaces. We will start the day with a visit to Peter and Paul Fortress, a former political prison. Within its grounds is the SS Peter and Paul Cathedral, an 18th century church that houses the tombs of the Romanov Tsars. With its marbled columns, amazing chandeliers and incredible carved and gilded icons, the church creates a reverent setting for the tombs of the Romanov monarchs
This afternoon we will enjoy a guided visit to the world-famous Hermitage Museum. Made up of five interlinked buildings, the museums boasts one of the world’s largest art collections, with exhibits ranging from the Stone Age to present day, including works by Rembrandt, Picasso, Da Vinci and more.
Overnight: St Petersburg | Breakfast
Peterhof or Catherine Palace
St Petersburg - Moscow. Today we visit a summer palace of the Tsars, either Peterhof in summer or Catherine Palace in winter. Palatial Peterhof is the former summer residence of Peter the Great. Peterhof Park is famous for its array of magnificent gold fountains, with highlights including the Grand Cascade, which comprises 64 different fountains and over 200 bronze statues.
Originally commissioned as a modest building for the wife of Peter the Great, Catherine Palace was later transformed by their daughter into the blue-and-white fairytale palace it is today. Located on the tsar’s suburban estate - Tsarkoe Selo, the palace provides a fascinating insight into the history and luxurious lifestyles of the tsars. Later, we transfer to the train station for our overnight journey to Moscow.
Overnight: Sleeper Train | Breakfast
Red Square
Upon arrival in Moscow we will head to our hotel for check-in before hopping on board the metro to make our way to legendary Red Square. At the southern end of the square is the iconic St Basil’s Cathedral, with its colourful tent roofs and twisting onion shaped domes. Here you will also find the towering red walls of the Kremlin, with the rooftops of palaces and cathedrals peeking over the top. Covering the entire eastern side of the square is the elaborate facade of the glamorous GUM shopping mall.
From here we will head on to the mighty Kremlin - the seat of Russia's political power, where we will enjoy a guided tour of the complex. Highlights will include the armony, a series of impressive cathedrals and churches, including the Cathedral of the Annunciation - a breathtaking cathedral crowned by gold onion domes, and Ivan the Great Bell Tower with its tsar bell.
Overnight: Moscow | Breakfast
Tretyakov Gallery
Today you will really get an appreciation of Russian fine art, from in its art galleries and museums, to where it finds itself in every day life. First stop will be the Tretyakov Gallery which houses the best examples of Russian art, from icons to modern art, including Soviet propaganda paintings. This afternoon, we will take a ride on the metro, built during Stalin’s rule as “palaces for the people”. Lavish designs, with columns and chandeliers, sculptures and paintings, they truly are a sight to behold.
Overnight: Moscow | Breakfast
Moscow
Our tour comes to an end after breakfast and hotel check-out at 12 noon. You will be transferred to the airport for your onward travel.
Prices & Dates
Prices shown are per person when there are 2 persons sharing a room. The 'Single supplement' applies for single travellers who require their own room and needs to be added to the per person price.
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Hotels
The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.
Asteria Hotel, St Petersburg
Set on the banks of Fontanka River, Asteria Hotel enjoys a prime location in the city centre just a few minutes walk from St Petersburg's famous Nevsky Prospekt. This 3-star hotel features a restaurant and bar, plus free WiFi throughout the property.
Izmailovo Delta Hotel, Moscow
The 4 star Izmailovo Delta Hotel forms part of the huge Izmailovo Gamma Delta complex, which was built to accommodate guests and participants of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. Offering comfortable guest rooms with modern amenities, the complex also boasts 16 restaurants and bars serving Russian and international cuisine, a SPA, gym and swimming pool, in addition to shops, a bank and post office. Conveniently located with the Partizanskaya Metro Station just 350 yards away, it's a quick 10 minute metro ride to Red Square where you can take in the highlights of the capital. The hotel is also ideally located for souvenir shopping, with the famous Izmailovo Market just a short stroll away.
In Brief
