Moscow and St Petersburg in Style

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Moscow and St Petersburg in Style

Day 1: Arrival to Moscow

Welcome to Moscow, the monumental capital of Russia! On arrival at the airport, you’ll be met by your driver and transferred to your centrally located hotel.

Spend the rest of the day relaxing or getting acquainted with the local area on your own. For this evening we will book a table for you and your travel partners at one of the best restaurants in Moscow for your welcoming dinner. Choose either one of the top 20 best restaurants in the world and the main gastronomic attraction of the Russian capital – White Rabbit restaurant, to enjoy modern Russian food with a spectacular 360-degree view of the beautiful city of Moscow. Or find yourself in a more low-key the Chemodan restaurant on Arbat street, which focuses on original Siberian cuisine, where you can try bears cutlets and frozen shaved fish with a shot of vodka or home-made "nastoika" spirit.

Day 2: Moscow: Tretyakov Gallery and city tour

Today we explore the city, giving you a sense of the city’s sheer size, and an impression of how Moscow has changed throughout the ages. Start with a tour of the 19th century Tretyakov State Gallery, the world’s foremost depository of Russian fine art, containing over 130,000 exhibits, with work by Rublev, Kandinsky, Repin and many others. We’ll get to the gallery via a Metro Tour, stopping on the way to marvel at some of the most elaborately decorated stations of the world-famous Moscow subway system. Next, you’ll visit the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, one of the most important churches in Russia. Besides the cathedral is a bridge with fantastic views of this part of the city. Next, we explore the Red October district, and a vibrant hangout for Moscow’s youth, with its old industrial alleyways and lovingly restored courtyards lined with chic cafes, designer studios and galleries.

After a lunch break, the second half of the day consists of a wandering sojourn through some of Moscow’s most famous streets and squares. Driving through the new business district, we’ll enjoy a panoramic drive along the Mosvka River, where a huge, controversial state of Peter the Great was erected. Pass by the legendary Gorky Park and the White House before a stop at the architecturally stunning Novodevichy Convent, and the observation platform at Sparrow Hills, for a bird’s eye view over this staggering megalopolis.

As an option*, we suggest you spend this night on a sumptuous cruise, taking in the sights and sounds of this mesmerising city by night. The 2.5 hours cruise sails past some of the city’s most remarkable landmarks. Drinks are included, as well as a live musical accompaniment every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Day 3: Moscow: Red Square, Kremlin and Armoury Chamber

Our in-depth Moscow discovery starts with a walking tour of the historical city centre. Meet your friendly and knowledgeable guide at your hotel lobby and enjoy a tour of Moscow’s main attractions including the Red Square, the State Historical Museum, GUM (a luxurious shopping centre), the colourful Saint Basil's Cathedral and other sights.

Have a delicious lunch in Dr. Zhivago restaurant (self-paid) on Tverskaya Street overlooking Kremlin and enjoy the delightful atmosphere, where art pieces are organically woven into a modern interior, mixed with strong yet lovely Soviet touch. After lunch, your day continues with the tour of Kremlin and Armoury Chamber, famous for the Tsar's regalia such as jewellery crowns, orbs and scepters, clothing of the Russian tsars and tsarinas, royal carriages, collection of arms and armour, gifts to the Russian Tsars from various countries of the West and the East, and the illustrious collection of Faberge Easter eggs.

Take your time to relax as we prepare something special as an option* for this evening. After dinner at your hotel, we head out for an unforgettable night at the opera or the Russian ballet at the iconic Bolshoi Theatre, its resident opera and ballet troupes rate among the finest in the world, which worth travelling to Moscow just for this experience.

Day 4: Sergiev Posad

Today we’ll travel to the rural provinces north of Moscow to check out one of the most famous towns on the historical Golden Ring, Sergiev Posad, located 75km to the northeast of Moscow.

The spiritual heart of the Orthodox Church, Sergiev Posad is known as the Russian Vatican thanks to the gleaming blue and gold cupolas scattered all around the town. After reaching the city, you will be stroke by the difference in the architecture and way of life. Our afternoon will include a visit to the resplendent Trinity Lavra, dedicated to Russia’s patron saint. Built in 1423, the working monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with a cathedral brimming with works by many of Russia’s greatest religious painters. Sergiev Posad is also the birthplace of matryoshka, known in the west as the Russian doll or babushka. You can see some rare nesting dolls and other wooden toys and dolls in the town's Toy Museum or do some matryoshka shopping in the market square near the monastery gates. Lunch will be served at the Russian Courtyard café-restaurant (self-paid), before our trip back to Moscow.

After our arrival, we’ll board a Sapsan – a Russian high-speed train – which will speed us on to our next destination, St Petersburg, completing the 700km journey in just four hours. On arrival in St Petersburg, you’ll be transferred straight to your centrally located hotel.

Day 5: St Petersburg: city tour and canals cruise

Meet your St Petersburg guide in the lobby and begin your discovery of Russia’s ‘Cultural Capital’ with a walking tour of the city’s most popular attractions. Your walking tour will include Nevsky Prospect, St. Petersburg’s fanciful high street, the Anichokov Bridge and Palace, viewpoints over the Fontaka and Moika rivers, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Palace Square and the Senate Square, with its bronze horseman monument to Peter the Great and the Church of the Spilled Blood. You’ll also get the chance to stroll the grounds of the magnificent Peter and Paul Fortress on the banks of the Lena River, a burial place for the Russian emperors from Peter the Great to Nicholas II.

Take time out for lunch at one of the myriad restaurants and cafes on Nevsky Prospect. We suggest Mamalyga, whose gastronomic ideology is about introducing its guests to the distinctive and delicious Caucasian cuisines, including Georgian, Imeretian, Armenian, Gurian, Megrel, Svan and Adzharia.

Next, relax on a boat ride along canals of St Petersburg. Nicknamed the “Venice of the North” the city is bound together by a complex network of rivers, canals, channels and islands that also mark the borders of St Petersburg’s varying districts and neighbourhoods. You’ll gain a different perspective of St. Petersburg's majestic buildings, ornate palaces and grand architectural landmarks of the imperial age.

As an option* for this evening, we invite you to experience an evening of classical music at one of St. Petersburg’s beautiful palaces. Take a seat in the magnificent Hall of the Palace, then, lose yourself in much-loved works by Russian composers such as Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich and others, played by one of the world-class orchestras of St Petersburg. Before the raising of the curtains, enjoy an interesting pre-concert tour of the palace's halls and a glass of sparkling wine.

Day 6: St Petersburg: Peterhof and Faberge Museum

Today we’ll take a day trip (5 hours) to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Peterhof (Petrodvorets). Travelling by fast boat, we’ll avoid the rush hour traffic and take in fine scenery along the riverbanks.

Peterhof was once the opulent summer resort of the Romanovs. Today, it is a huge open-air museum and a testament to Peter the Great’s contribution to the city’s development. Peter's daughter, Empress Elizabeth, who ordered the expansion of the Grand Palace, greatly extended the park and its famous system of fountains, including the immense Grand Cascade. Learn about Peter the Great’s maritime passions and plans for his seafront estate. Admire the palace’s grand interiors, including the Throne Room and the White Dining Room. Then, take a walking tour around the fountain-adorned Lower Park.

In the afternoon, enjoy a self-guided tour of the recently opened Faberge Museum, a private collection of over 4,000 Faberge Eggs and other bejewelled objects of desire, elegantly displayed inside the stunning Shuvalov Palace.

As an option* for this evening, we invite you to enjoy the traditional Russian dance performance in Nikolaevsky Palace.

Day 7: St Petersburg: Hermitage

Today starts with a walk to the Palace Square to admire the grand designs of the Tsar’s Winter Palace, now a part of the State Hermitage Museum complex. You’ll be treated to a very special private tour of the Hermitage (4 hours), allowing you to ask as many questions as you like while exploring the colossal exhibitions on display.

As an afternoon option* embark on a tour of Konstantinovsky Palace, the revived residence of Grand Dukes of the House of Romanovs. The architecturally dominant structure now known as the National Congress Palace is located on the picturesque coast of the Gulf of Finland, less than 20km from St Petersburg's city centre. The palace is surrounded by parks which are decorated with an inimitable ensemble of fountains, canals, draw bridges and splendid rosaries. The state-of-the-art complex is used official visits of heads of state and has hosted the G20 and G8 summits.

Day 8: St Petersburg: Tsarskoye Selo, Pavlovsk and Yusupov Palace

Experience the extravagance of the Imperial rulers on an excursion to the suburban estates of the Romanov Tsars. Tsarskoye Selo (Tsar’s village) is now part of the nearby town of Pushkin and is one of Saint Petersburg’s finest attractions. We also explore the neoclassical Alexander Palace, whose tumultuous history paints a fascinating portrait of the Romanov family and the replica of the world-renowned Amber Room. We’ll also visit Pavlovsk Palace and Park, commissioned by Catherine as the summer residence of her son, Emperor Paul I. Unlike its stately counterparts, the Pavlovsk Palace does not feel official at all and has the aura of a country mansion. The 600-hectare park is one of the largest landscaped parks in Europe and undoubtedly one of the most beautiful parks in the world. The park is decorated by statues, monuments and bridges, and is home to several architectural pavilions creating an atmosphere of classic romanticism.

During the second part of the day, tour Yusupov Palace on the Moika River, best known as the scene of the assassination of Rasputin. Having survived much of the WWII destruction that wreaked havoc on many of St Petersburg’s suburbs, it’s one of the area’s few aristocratic homes to have retained much of its original character.

Day 9: St Petersburg: departure

Today you’ll be transferred to the airport, as our Moscow and Saint Petersburg tour has come to an end. We hope you’ll taking a little piece of the Russian spirit home with you, as you farewell this beautiful country, until next time!

You also may consider the tour extension by visiting the nearby Karelia region to explore its unique culture, nature and beautiful Russian rural life. Contact us for more information.

Included