Classic Moscow & St Petersburg
Programme Overview
Duration: 9 days
A 9-day itinerary exploring Russia's most iconic cities: Moscow and St Petersburg.
Highlights: Moscow, Sergiev Posad, St Petersburg, Petrodvorets, Pushkin
Arrive Moscow
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met in the Customs hall by an airport representative and assisted through immigration formalities. After clearing Customs, proceed through the doors to the Airport Hall. At this point, a transfer guide will be waiting for you and you will be transferred to your hotel where your Guardian Angel will help you check in.
Moscow is the centre of European Russia, but it is also the country's historical, political, economical and spiritual centre. The city has withstood numerous invasions, civil war, revolution, and even demotion as the country's capital, yet it survived and remains the heart and soul of Russia. A city of contrasts, contemporary and Soviet-era architecture stands alongside ancient monasteries and 19th century palaces. Moscow has a rich collection of museums ranging in all topics of interest, from art to literary. The city's repertoire of evening entertainment varies from theatre and circus to concerts and ballet with programs changing almost nightly.
Overnight: Baltchug Kempinski
Moscow
Your full day tour of this magnificent city begins with a visit to Red Square. The focal point of the city, the square lies on the east wall of the Kremlin surrounded by a thick red fortress wall containing 20 towers, all at various intervals. Walk through the square to St. Basil's Cathedral, a colourful multi-domed complex built between 1555 and 1560. The cathedral's architects were supposedly blinded by Ivan the Terrible so that they could never recreate such splendor again. Continue on to the Novodevichy Convent, one of the finest examples of 16th and 17th century architecture in the city, it houses a museum of rare and ancient Russian art as well as Moscow's most prestigious cemetery. Here rest such eminent notables as Chekov, Prokofiev, Stanislavsky and Kruschev, to name a few. This afternoon visit the Tretyakov Gallery, which contains the best collections of Russian art in the world. Reopened in 1995 after a nine-year renovation, it houses an outstanding display of pre-revolutionary Russian art as well as an extensive collection of icons.
The remainder of the day is at leisure to continue your explorations of this unique city, perhaps savouring classic Russian specialties in one of the city's many fine restaurants.
Overnight: Baltchug Kempinski
Meal Plan: B
Moscow - Sergiev Posad - Moscow
This morning take an excursion into the countryside to the town of Sergiev Posad (formerly Zagorsk) to visit the Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius. Dating back to the Middle Ages, it is one of Russia's most important religious centres and a place of pilgrimage. With its glorious gilded domes and great collection of icon paintings, this was the seat of the Russian Orthodox Church until 1988. Behind the imposing walls, peace and serenity exist within a veritable complex of architectural gems, the fine domed Assumption Cathedral being the most impressive. The various buildings also contain a vast collection of ancient Russian paintings, frescoes and precious items.
Have a lunch at leisure in Sergiev Posad.
On arrival in Moscow – enjoy a Metro ride. The Moscow Metro system is famous for its art, murals, mosaics, mouldings, and ornate chandeliers. Build in Soviet times many of the stations became luxurious palaces of the new social order. The Moscow Metro is one of world's busiest metro systems, serving more than nine million passengers daily.
The remainder of the day is free to enjoy the splendors of Moscow as you choose.
Return to your hotel where your evening is at leisure to enjoy the variety of entertainment that Moscow's nightlife has to offer.
Overnight: Baltchug Kempinski
Meal Plan: B
Moscow
Wear comfortable shoes today as you embark on a full day's sightseeing tour beginning with the Kremlin Territory. For centuries, the Kremlin has been witness to many famous and tragic events and it is a treasure trove of Russian history. Visit two of the Kremlin's three cathedrals: Archangel, the royal burial church, and the Assumption, the burial church of religious leaders. Visit the State Armory, the oldest museum in Russia, home to a collection of precious stones, masterpieces of 18th and 19th century jewelry, platinum and gold nuggets, as well as priceless artifacts dating as far back as the 14th century. See the dazzling exhibition of the State Diamond Fund, containing the "pride and glory" of Russia including the crown jewels, used for centuries in coronations right up to that of Nicholas II in 1896. Lunch in the city centre at leisure.
After lunch we invite you to Cold War Museum – the former soviet Secret Command Post "Tagansky" (GO-42), built at the height of the confrontation period between the USSR and the USA. Apart from the corridors and tunnels you can see show cases with military items of that time. The complex is situated at a depth of 65 meters or 200 feet (equal to the height of 22-storey building).
Take the express train ‘Sapsan’ to St Petersburg. You will have access to our Concierge Rail service for this journey which includes escorted transfers to and from the station, seat reservation, porterage and a ‘Rail Pack’.
Overnight: Hotel Astoria
Meal Plan: B
St Petersburg
St. Petersburg remains Russia's most European city. Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, it was built on an impressive scale with luxurious palaces, and grand boulevards in symmetric orderliness. Created on an island in the Neva River, the river splits the city into three sections. The southern side extends from the Winter Palace and the Admiralty with the Nevsky Prospect being its most famous thoroughfare. The northern side includes many fine buildings and a cluster of delta islands on whose southern end the city originally began. The eastern side stretches along the northern bank of the Neva River.
Meet your local guide and tour the Hermitage Museum which includes a visit to the Scythian gold rooms located in the three former palaces. The Hermitage occupies six magnificent buildings and houses 3 million pieces of artwork from the Stone Age to modern times. The main building and largest part of the museum is the Rococo-style Winter Palace, residence of the Tsars from 1762 to 1917.
The remainder of the day is at leisure to browse through 19th century shops and Art Nouveau stores along Nevsky Prospekt or enjoy a meal in one of the city's elegant restaurants.
Overnight: Hotel Astoria
Meal Plan: B
St Petersburg
A full day's sightseeing includes the Peter and Paul Fortress. Located on Zayachy Island, it was designed to defend newly conquered lands obtained from Sweden. Formerly a political prison, it is now a museum. Members of the Romanov dynasty are buried in the cathedral of the same name, which is also the oldest church in St. Petersburg. From here, continue to St. Isaac's Cathedral, whose gilded dome dominates the skyline. The cathedral's construction began in 1818 and was not completed until 1858. Sculptures and massive red granite columns ornament the façade, while the interior is even more lavishly decorated with mosaics, icons and columns of malachite and lapis lazuli.
Your tour includes a visit to the Yusupov Palace, a marvel of 18th and 19th century architecture, which lies on a quiet stretch of the Moika River. Home to one of the wealthiest and most powerful Russian families prior to the Revolution, this location will forever be associated with the murder of the infamous Siberian mystic Grigory Rasputin by Prince Felix Yusupov and his fellow conspirators in December of 1916.
The remainder of the day is at leisure to continue your explorations of the city, which is known as the "Venice of the North."
Overnight: Hotel Astoria
Meal Plan: B
St. Petersburg - Petrodvorets - St. Petersburg
Today is another morning for wearing comfortable shoes as you travel by private vehicle to visit Petrodvorets (Peterhof), the great summer estate and artistic gem of Peter the Great, nestled on the shore of the Gulf of Finland (part of the Baltic Sea). After his victory over the Swedes at Poltava in 1709 Peter decided to build a palace 'befitting to the very highest of monarchs' and a visit to Versailles in 1717 furthered these ambitions. Over 5,000 laborers, serfs and soldiers were employed in the creation of this magnificent estate that was officially opened in 1723. A prominent highlight is the Grand Cascade, a delightful sequence of 37 gilded bronze sculptures, 64 fountains and 142 water jets descending from the terraces of the Great Palace to the Marine Canal and the sea. The park features numerous palaces, summer houses and pavilions, including the Hermitage, specifically designed for holding Imperial dinner parties. We offer early entrance to the Palace (before opening hours) to avoid crowds.
Depart Petrodvorets and travel back to St. Petersburg, where you will be transferred to the Russian Museum. The Russian Museum showcases the history of Russian art from the 10th to the 20th centuries. The expansive collection is housed in four buildings within walking distance of each other.
Return to your hotel where this evening is at leisure.
Overnight: Hotel Astoria
Meal Plan: B
St Petersburg
This morning, leave the city and drive out to the countryside to the village of Pushkin (formerly known as Tsarskoye Selo), renamed in 1937 on the centenary of the famous Russian poet's death. Visit the grounds of the sparkling Catherine Palace. This palace was built in the mid 18th century for Tsarina Elizabeth, who named it the Catherine Palace in honor of her mother. The yellow and blue façade with its snowy white columns is one of the most famous examples of Russian baroque architecture.
Enjoy lunch in a rustic country restaurant, Podvorie, with traditional folk entertainment.
This afternoon, visit Pavlovsk Great Palace. Originally part of Tsarskoye Selo, the estate was a gift of Catherine the Great to her son, Paul. The great Scottish architect, Charles Cameron, was commissioned to design the subtly elegant buildings and the park itself was designed by the Italian Gonzago. The palace's style varies as relations between Paul and his mother Catherine were strained. When Paul I ascended the throne the palace was redecorated to reflect his own taste.
Return to St. Petersburg where you are free to spend your final evening in this splendid city as you choose.
Overnight: Hotel Astoria
Meal Plan: B,L