MOSCOW AND ST PETERSBURG TOUR

DAY 1: WELCOME

Arrive in Moscow the capital of Russia and meet your ExploRussia rep. Go to the hotel and check-in. Depending on your arrival time and your personal interests, we can take you for a walking tour around the city center to discover Moscow by night, a bar crawl, or a folk show (optional activities).

DAY 2: INTRODUCTION TO MOSCOW

Begin your introduction to Moscow the capital of Russia with its most important tourist attraction and the center of Russian power and politics – the Kremlin. The Kremlin is a famous historic fortified complex located in the heart of Moscow. Once home to grand dukes and tsars, it is now the President’s official residence. Visit the impressive Armory Chamber and the Cathedrals within its imposing walls. The Armory hosts ancient state regalia, the tsar’s ceremonial vestments, and coronation robe, and the world’s largest collection of Russian-made gold and silver ceremonial arms.

For lunch try traditional Russian cuisine with a Soviet touch, a great beginning for local cuisine discovery. In the afternoon, go on an interactive walking tour around the city center. Our walking tour will get you around the main must-sees of the city but keep you away from the huge tourist crowds. Enjoy Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral, the GUM department store, Lenin’s mausoleum and the State Historical Museum. Walk along Nikolskaya Street to see the magnificent Bolshoi Theater with its famous quadriga on top, also it has the world biggest ballet company. Afterward walk along Tverskaya street, pass by secret yards, invisible from the main street, and visit a hidden church which escaped being spoilt during Soviet times purely by virtue of its concealed location. Learn fascinating stories and legends about Moscow and the city center.

Still not tired? There’re a few optional activities waiting for you! For the culture lovers, we can arrange visit to theater/ballet performance, as for the sporty types – ice-skating in one of the Moscow parks or tickets to an ice-hockey game.

DAY 3: BACK TO THE USSR TOUR IN MOSCOW WITH OPTIONAL MODERN ARTS AFTERNOON

Today we invite you for a tour called “Back to the USSR”. Go back in time and see Soviet Russia from a Soviet perspective!  Visit the most spectacular examples of Soviet architecture. First go to Sparrow Hills, which is the best observation point from which to look out over Moscow. Walk a bit further to see the enormous and breathtaking Moscow State University, one of Stalin’s skyscrapers (one of his so-called ‘Seven Sisters’). Continue the tour by visiting Victory Park (Poklonnaya Hill), a great place with a spectacular monument to the heroes of what Russians call the ‘Great Patriotic War’ (known to the rest of the world as World War II).

Afterwards, visit VDNKh. Built in Soviet times as the “All-Russian Exhibition Center”, it is now a huge park and entertainment area. Locals spend their afternoons and weekends there. VDNKh is packed with beautiful and monumental Soviet-era buildings and fountains. The “Friendship of Nations” Fountain is one of the most famous ones. VDNKh hosts also a Space Pavilion and just outside the main entrance you can see Monument to the Conquerors of Space, with the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics located in its basement.

As an option for the second part of the day visits Garage – museum of contemporary art . It is the new-wave museum in Moscow, where modern arts, technologies, and approach to organizing the museum come together. It is the must-visit not only for contemporary-art lovers but also for those who want to breathe in the new and modern Russia. The museum always has something new, as they do not have their own permanent exposition; so several times per year they form absolutely new exhibitions of modern artists from around the world.

In the evening travel by Russian train (overnight) to St Petersburg.

DAY 4: WELCOME TO ST PETERSBURG

Start your day with a sightseeing tour. Explore the most beautiful and impressive city attractions but also get a more local taste of the city’s life. Pass by small, cozy cafes and indie bars, discover graffiti in the courtyards and by gorgeous side-streets. Walk along Nevsky Prospekt, the main street of St Petersburg, with countless shops, restaurants, and hotels. Visit the Kazan Cathedral – one of the most picturesque churches on Nevsky. Take a picture of the colorful and breathtaking Church of the Savior on the Spilt Blood, take in the cityscape from the top of the colonnade of St. Isaac’s Cathedral.

After lunch, explore the modern life of St Petersburg’s citizens by visiting New Holland Island. The man-made island was formed in 1730 by the order of Peter the Great. Initially, the island was used for storing lumber for ship building, and for some time it was even a prison. Nowadays space has been completely renovated: combining its historic style with a modern touch, it aims to become a central part of the lives of city residents. There you can enjoy different outdoor activities: sports, master-classes, cultural events and projects, exhibitions and much more.

In winter and during bad weather conditions, instead of New Holland Island, you will visit Center of Modern Art Etazhi. This is a great opportunity to get to know the modern, trendy and hip lifestyle of the city. Enjoy the exhibitions, art installations, fashion shops of young Russian designers and have a meal in their cozy cafeteria. For the perfect close to the day, we suggest a visit to the famous Mariinsky Theatre for one of its incredible performances.

DAY 5: VISIT TO HERMITAGE

Today visit the Hermitage – one of the biggest and oldest museums of art and culture in the world. Its collections feature over 3 million masterpieces, representing the development of world culture and art from the Stone Age to the 20th century. The museum’s main building is the Winter Palace, a former residence of the Russian emperor; you won’t miss it because all excursions to Hermitage start exactly from this point.

In the evening you will get a chance to see the city from another angle. Explore St Petersburg’s numerous rivers and channels during a boat trip. Enjoy the gorgeous architecture of the city and the beautiful buildings situated right on the banks of its rivers and canals. Alternatively, you can choose a night walk around St Petersburg to see the raising of its bridges. This happens every day and is so impressive that locals and tourists alike gather around to see them open, beautifully illuminated. An evening spent on the riverbank is also a chance to chill out, get to know new people and listen to street music performed by local artists.

DAY 6: EXCURSION TO PETERHOF

First thing in the morning you will leave to the Peterhof Palace, commonly known as the “Russian Versailles”, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Peterhof is a series of majestic palaces and colorful gardens located near Saint Petersburg: for 200 years it served as a summer residence of the Russian monarchs. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was a setting for majestic receptions, grand festivities, balls, concerts, and masquerades. Visit the Grand Palace, the Mon Plaisir Palace, walk around 150 beautiful fountains and the Upper and Lower Parks. See the shore of the Gulf of Finland. It’s a magical place with a magical atmosphere!

Optionally afterwards we invite you to the Russian village to get to know Russian roots and traditions. Learn about traditional crafts and challenge yourself during the workshops. Try delicious Russian cuisine, and one of the most famous dishes – blini, Russian pancakes.

DAY 7: FAREWELL

It’s time to finish your Ultimate Moscow and St Petersburg Tour and say goodbye to ExploRussia’s team. Check out from the hotel and drive to the airport to fly back home. Depending on your flight, you may use the last day to walk along your favorite places in St Petersburg and have a farewell lunch in one of the unique restaurants in the city center. ExploRussia’s guide will provide you with tips where else to go and what to do in St Petersburg.

• Accommodation in 3* or 4* hotels with breakfast
• Airport Transfers
• Personal Guide
• Private tours in cities

• Entry fees in museums
• Food and Beverages
• Train stations transfers
• Train tickets