Welcome to Moscow, the largest city in Russia and the center of its political and economic life. Upon arrival your driver will meet you at the exit gate of the airport or at the station to transfer you to the hotel. We recommend that you rest this evening. We are ready to advise on the best restaurants nearby for dinner.

Full day sightseeing / 4 hours with car & 8 hours with guide

09:30 The city-tour will take you to Moscow’s most famous historic sites, from ancient churches to giant Stalin skyscrapers to the sheik contemporary office buildings. It’s an excellent way to see the exteriors of renowned buildings and places such as the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Bolshoy Theatre, New Maiden Convent, Kitai Gorod merchant area, Vorobievy Hills with a fantastic panoramic view of the city and more.

You’ll take a short ride on Moscow’s Metro System, which has some stations ornate as palaces, with marble arches, crystal chandeliers, sculptures and mosaics – glorious remnants of the Soviet era.

Finally, you’ll get to the heart of Moscow – Red Square, whose name in old Russian means ‘Beautiful Square’. Red Square must be seen to be truly appreciated. As you walk across this place, steeped in history, you will behold the colorful, onion-domed St. Basil Cathedral – the iconic visiting card of Moscow.

We also offer you to visit the Zaryadye park located just few steps away from the Red sq. It is a landscape urban park on the site of former Zaryadye district. Time magazine included the park on its 2018 list of the “World’s Greatest Places”

Optional: visit into St. Basil Cathedral inside visit (1500 rub per person) OR/AND “Flight over Russia” attraction or “Flight over Moscow” attraction at Zaryadye’s Media center (1100 rub.per person/flight).

14:00 Tour of the Kremlin – the Russian citadel and birthplace of Moscow, the seat of Russian power and home to the President of the Russian Federation. This fortified complex of ancient churches, palaces, and government buildings dates back to 1156. Our Team will take you inside the Annunciation, Assumption and Archangel’s Cathedrals. You’ll also visit the Armoury Chamber with its amazing collection of tsarist paraphernalia.

Please note that the Kremlin is closed on Thursdays. 

Optional: Diamond Fund, entrance tickets – 1100 rub per person

17:30 Return to hotel by foot or by taxi or by metro

Half-day sightseeing with car & guide; transfer to Sapsan train

09:30 After breakfast, check out of the hotel and we will take you to the Tretyakov State Gallery – which houses the greatest collection of Russian art, including thousands of works from the 11th to 20th centuries. The gallery was founded by Tretyakov, a wealthy 19th century merchant as a private collection and later donated to the city.

14:00 Transfer to the train station for your departure to St. Petersburg

15:40  Sapsan fast train to St. Petersburg (economy class train ticket)

Optional: upgrade to business class train ticket or to the 1^st (premium) class upon request

19:30 Arrive to St. Petersburg, transfer to the hotel by private transfer

Full day sightseeing / 6 hours with car & guide

Welcome to St. Petersburg, one of the world’s most magnificent travel destinations!

09:30 Depart for the city-tour, which gives you an overview of the history and geography of St. Petersburg, a UNESCO World Heritage site. From outside you’ll observe St. Isaac’s Square and the Mariinsky Theater, the Hermitage, the Winter Palace, the Palace Square, the Spit of Vasilievsky Island, the Bronze Horseman Statue, Peter’s Log Cabin, the cruiser Aurora, Smolny Convent, the Nevsky Prospect, the Church of the Saviour on the Spilt Blood, the Square of Arts and more.

Late morning you’ll visit the Peter-and-Paul Fortress, which marks the founding of the city by Peter the Great in 1703. The massive stone walls enclose a number of very early 18th century buildings including the Cathedral of St. Peter & St. Paul built by D. Trezzini in 1714. Here all the Romanovs from Peter the Great onwards are buried, and on July 1998 the last Tsar, Nickolas II, with most of his family, were finally laid here to rest.

The majestic St. Isaac’s Cathedral stands among Europe’s largest and most imposing churches. Its decadent golden dome, sweeping observation deck, opulent interior decorations, and ornate artifacts make it one of the most popular sites in St. Petersburg. Inside there are magnificent mosaic icons that enjoy the world renown.

14:00 The afternoon tour is to the Yusupov palace – once owned by the richest family in Russia, where the restored State Rooms can be seen, some still with their original furniture, the exquisite Rococo private theatre, and the cellars where the murder of Rasputin took place in December 1916 – the scene eerily recreated in wax.

15:30 End of the tour

Full day sightseeing / 8 hours with guide (including 4 to 5 hours with car)

09:30 Drive (one hour approx.) to Peterhof – the vast ensemble of gilded fountains and gardens on the Gulf of Finland. Designed for Peter the Great in 1706-1723 as the Tsar’s ‘Versailles’ and embellished by successive Tsars, Peterhof is one of the most impressive and ornate residences, with the largest functioning 18th century fountain complex in the world.

10:30–12:30 Walk through the delightful formal gardens, pass cascades and fountains and visit the palaces in the grounds:

• Monplaisir Palace(May – October), or
• Grand Palace of Peterhof(October – May)

The Grand Palace, like others in and around St. Petersburg, was destroyed during World War II. However, the extraordinary restoration to its original state is widely regarded as a model of restoration worldwide. Monplaisir Palace, Peter’s private home on the Gulf of Finland, still preserves the atmosphere of the early 18th century with the Tsar’s personal belongings, paintings and furniture.

• Hydrofoil trip (35 min) from Peterhof to the Hermitage pier (May – October), or
• Drive back to the city (October – May)

15:00-17.00 Guided tour of the State Hermitage Museum – Russia’s premier museum and one of the largest art collections that has ever been gathered in the world.

The Hermitage is housed in a magnificent architectural complex, the former 18th century Winter palace of the Romanovs and four adjacent buildings, stretching for a quarter of a mile along the banks of the river Neva in central St. Petersburg. You’ll tour the sumptuously furnished State Rooms, seeing the unrivalled European masterpieces, the majority amassed during the reign of Catherine the Great. After the direction of your experienced guide you’ll see the best of the collections in two hours before exploring the museum on your own.

From 17.00 free time to spend in the Hermitage, or optional visit to the General Staff building across from Winter palace (on your own with a separate ticket)  with the French Impressionists exhibition.  Walk back to the hotel. Please note that no transportation will be provided after the Hermitage Tour.

5 hours sightseeing with guide  car

09:30 You’ll drive approximately 1 hour to the town of ‘Pushkin’ (formerly Tsarskoye Selo) located in 24 miles south of St. Petersburg. The drive will be narrated by your private guide. In Pushkin you’ll enjoy a lovely walk through the gardens and visit the grandiose Catherine Palace – the summer residence of the Tsars.

The Catherine Palace was originally built in the early 18th century for Peter the Great’s wife Catherine I. It was completely rebuilt in by the architect F. B. Rastrelli in 1752, and later it became the beloved residence of Catherine the Great who invited the British architect Charles Cameron to work on the palace. It was Cameron who added the neo-classical Cameron Gallery and converted the gardens into an elaborate English park. You’ll see the dazzling Ballroom and the enfilade of rococo halls including the legendary ‘Amber Room’, now recreated since its ‘loss’ during World War II.

15:00 Return to the hotel

Recommended activity for the afternoon/early evening: take a boat ride through St. Petersburg’s canals.

Optional evening program: St. Petersburg boasts some of the best theaters in the world! We can arrange tickets for a concert, folk-show, or ballet / opera performance.

On the last day of your journey your driver will take you to the airport and assist with your baggage and departure. We’re confident that you will feel enriched from your time with us in Russia and hope that you will carry your wonderful memories home to cherish and share forever.