St Petersburg & the Baltics - 5 day tour

VISA FREE RUSSIA TOUR! Travelling by ferry, combine the finest cities of Russia, Estonia and Finland in an exciting 5 day tour. Sail from Helsinki to St Petersburg, with its fine arts and museums, exquisite palaces and historic fortresses. Spend three days exploring the City of the Tsars before travelling on to Tallinn, the charming maritime capital of Estonia.

Prices & Dates

Inclusions

Itinerary

Prices & Dates

Trip Highlights

Helsinki - start your tour in Finland's capital where you can independently visit Helsinki's Suomenlinna Fortress, Parliament House, Hakaniemi Market Square and Esplanadi Park 

St Petersburg - Explore the city centre on a guided city tour, including visits to Church on Spilled Blood, St Isaac's Cathedral and the world-famous Hermitage Museum

Tallinn - end your tour in Estonia's enchanting capital where you can independently explore its UNESCO listed Old Town, Toompea Castle and more

Crossing the Gulf of Finland by ferry on the Baltic Sea

Day trip from St Petersburg - Discover two stunning Royal Residences of the Russian Tsars located on the outskirts of the city, including Peterhof Park (or Palace in winter months) and Catherine Palace (or Pavlovsk) 

No Russian Tourist Visa is required for this tour. A saving of more than USD$150 for most nationalities

Included

4 breakfasts and 1 lunch

Guided sightseeing in St Petersburg including St Issacs Cathedral, the Hermitage Museum and Peterhof

All relevant transfers and transportation in St Petersburg

Services of a professional English speaking Russian tour guide for scheduled sightseeing in St Petersburg

2 nights 3 star hotels and 2 night onboard the Princess Anastasia ferry (private B2V class inside twin cabin). Hotel and ferry cabin upgrades are available on request.

Entrance Fees to all included sites

Overnight ferry from Helsinki - St Petersburg and St Petersburg - Tallinn

Not Included

International flights, airport transfers, Finnish and Estonian visa

Tip for your tour guide. We recommend you allow USD$3 - 5 per day, per traveller. Tipping your guide is an entirely personal gesture

Laundry, drinks and items of a personal nature

Itinerary

Day 1

Helsinki

Friday. Resting on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, Helsinki is both historic and modern. In contrast to the city’s 450 years of history, historic architecture and unique Finnish design, the beauty of the city blends seamlessly with high-tech achievements. It is here where old traditions mix with the latest contemporary trends. We recommend arriving early as there is plenty to see and do!

This afternoon you will need to make your own way to Helsinki ferry port to board the Princess Anastasia ferry for an overnight cruise across the Gulf of Finland to St Petersburg. Embarkation is typically at 5pm with departure at 7pm, so make sure you arrive with plenty of time to settle in.
Overnight: Princess Anastasia Ferry

Day 2

St Petersburg city tour

Arriving into St Petersburg this morning, disembark at approximately 9am. You'll be met at the port by a representative to begin your guided tour of St Petersburg. Begin by making your way along the famed Nevsky Prospekt, past the museum and university districts. Then visit St Isaac's Cathedral, completed in 1858 this landmark of the Russian Imperial age boasts some of the most beautiful facades of any Cathedral in Russia. The interior is a splendid display of ornate paintings, sculptures and decoration.

This afternoon enjoy a guided tour of the incredible Hermitage Collection at the Winter Palace. This former home of the Tsars now houses a collection of fine art, collected from the far reaches of the world. View masterpieces from throughout the ages and marvel at the lavish reception halls. Later you'll be escorted to your hotel for check in, the rest of your evening is at leisure.
Overnight: St Petersburg | Breakfast

Day 3

Peterhof Palace

This morning enjoy a tour of Catherine Palace or Pavlovsk Palace. Both palace exteriors and interiors are lavishly decorated and really catch the eye. Surrounded by extensively well kept gardens, the palaces are fantastic for exploring and discovering the history behind their former important inhabitants.

After lunch visit Peterhof Palace and explore its beautiful gardens. Often referred to as Russia’s ‘Versailles’, the gardens of Peterhof are a wonderland of greenery and flowers, sweeping vistas and ornate architectural decorations. The real highlight are the spectacular gold fountains. Then board a hydrofoil boat to travel back to the centre of St Petersburg along one of the many canals that link the city. The rest of your evening is at leisure.
Overnight: St Petersburg | Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4

Free Time in St Petersburg

Today offers free time to explore St Petersburg at your own pace. You may wish to visit the Faberge Museum, with a collection of over 4,000 pieces of art including paintings and porcelain. Alternatively you might want to explore the city by Canal. With over 100 tributaries running through the heart of the city there are a number of boats trips on offer.

Later this afternoon you will be transferred back to the dock to board an overnight ferry to Tallinn in Estonia.
Overnight: Princess Anastasia Ferry | Breakfast

Day 5

Tallinn

Arrive into Tallinn at approximately 9am this morning. After disembarkation and immigration your tour comes to an end. In Tallin you can independently explore this picturesque city, taking in highlights such as the Toompea Castle, Alexander Nevetsky Cathedral and Kadriorg Palace.
Breakfast

Visas & the Ferry

In light of the fact that you are arriving to Russia by ferry, are not staying for more than 72 hours and have a confirmed ferry ticket for your departure, you are not required to obtain a Russian Tourisit Visa to enter the country. Not having to obtain a Russian visa saves most nationalities more than $150 in visa costs. A tourist visa for Finland is required though for most nationalities it is offered free of charge. Please check with your nearest embassy for more information.

This tour includes two overnight journeys on board the Princess Anastasia ferry travelling between Helsinki, St Petersburg and Tallinn. On the ferry we reserve comfortable private 2-berth or 4-berth air conditioned inside cabins, equipped with an en suite bathroom and freshly laundered bed linen.