Day 1 - Arrive in Moscow
On arrival at Moscow Airport our driver will take you to your hotel, where you will have time to settle in, explore your surroundings and grab a bite to eat after your journey.
Day 2 - Moscow. Guided city tour, Underground tour
Today you will have a tour around the most beautiful sights in Moscow and you take a glimpse of its culture and history. The tour starts in the heart of the city, at Red Square. After observing St. Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin’s Mausoleum, the State Historical Museum and other sights of the area we move along the Moscow river embankment. On the way we enjoy views of the Kremlin and continue with the Cathedral of the Christ the Savior, Novodevichy Convent. Then we travel to Moscow State University on the Lenin’s Hills and the Sparrow Hills. Visit to the observation spot of the Sparrow Hills opens an outstanding view on Moscow. After this stop we pass through the Memorial Complex at Poklonnaya Hill and Victory Park, Triumphal Arch, Kutuzov Avenue, New Arbat, Boulevard ring, Pushkin square, Tverskaya street and end the tour at Manezhnaya Square.
Guided tour of Moscow’s Underground – explore one of the masterpieces of the Soviet era created in the Socialist Realism style. The Moscow Metro, with its stations decorated with marble, mosaics, stained-glass panels and bronze sculptures, looks more like a vast art museum. It was one of the proudest achievements of the Soviet era and it still beats many other European underground systems with its ultra-reliable service.
Day 3 - Moscow. Guided tour of Kremlin, Armoury Museum and transfer to St Petersburg
One of the biggest landmarks in Moscow to explore is the Kremlin, a self-contained city complete with palaces, churches and armories. Once home to the Russian tsars and the political centre for Soviet politics, it's now a hang out for Moscow citizens – as well as where the President lives.
Prepare to be extra wowed in the guided tour of the Armoury Museum where you will see a collection of over 50 Faberge eggs, precious jewelery and rare pieces of artwork from Russia's past.
Top tip
After seeing main Moscow treasure – Stunning Kremlin and Armoury Museum, we suggest you to stay in centre of Moscow and enjoy your walk around this unique city. At the evening you will be picked up and transferred to train station, where you board Grand Express train. Train journey is part of unique unforgettable experience.
Alternatively you can travel by day time fast train (4 hours ). Please require about this option.
Day 4 - St Petersburg. Arrival in St Petersburg and St Petersburg City Tour
When you arrive in St Petersburg, our driver will be waiting for you at the end of the train platform.
Today you will have a great opportunity to fully explore Russia's second largest city. Sometimes dubbed the Venice of the North, because of its canal system, you'll learn more about landmarks which include the Peter and Paul Fortress and St Isaac's Cathedral, as well as the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood. A treat, both inside and out, its highly decorated facade, and distinctive onion domes feature on a myriad of postcards in Russian gift shops.
Day 5 - St Petersburg. Walking Tour of State Hermitage Museum
Perhaps the jewel in St Petersburg's crown, the Hermitage is the largest museum in the world, so you can easily spend your whole day here getting lost amongst the myriad of artwork and sculptures. Established in 1895 by a decree of the Emperor Nicholas I, the bulk of the exhibitions lie within the Winter Palace. A magnificent artefact within itself, the Winter Palace was once the main residence of the Russian monarchs. The museum contains works of arts from ancient times, right up until the early 20th century, with highlights including paintings by da Vinci, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse and Kandinsky.
Day 6 - St Petersburg. Tsarskoe Selo guided tour
The last day of your trip is based around a visit to the extravagant Tsarskoye Selo estate situated just 25km from St Petersburg. Outstripping even Versailles in the grandness of its design, the powder-blue, white and gold Catherine's Palace is perhaps the most impressive of the palaces - not just from the outside, but inside too. The iconic Amber Room is quite literally lined with slabs of amber, while the great hall, resplendent with two tiers of windows interspersed with a myriad of mirrors, is simply dazzling. Just remember to pack your sunglasses!
* Kindly ask you to pay attention that during high season (May - September) actual timing for your tour might differ from your initial itinerary. Timing will be finalized within 14-9 days prior to visit to Catherine palace
Day 7 - St Petersburg. Walking Yusupov Palace guided tour
Yusupov Palace is one of two surviving St. Petersburg residences of the monumentally wealthy Yusupov family. Its expositions reflect refined luxury, splendour of high life, human relationships and the history of rich aristocratic family. During the tour you will see luxurious decorations of the interiors: murals, carvings, marble, mirrors, gilded chandelier, expensive silk clothes and refined furniture. Yusupov Palace is perhaps most famous as the scene of the assassination of Grigory Rasputin, and is one of the few aristocratic homes in the city to have retained many of its original interiors.
Day 8 - Departure
Sadly, the tour has to come to an end some time! Spend your last few hours stocking up on souvenirs, and then meet our driver in the hotel lobby, where you'll be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
See our other Moscow and St Petersburg packages here
