Itinerary
One of our ever-popular tours, this Best of Moscow and St Petersburg tour visits two of Russia’s most extraordinary cities where you can indulge yourself in the rich history and diverse culture. Your trip will take you to the very best that Russia has to offer, including The Kremlin and Red Square in Moscow, as well as the Winter Palace and The Hermitage in St Petersburg. Get a chance to explore the twisting, winding canals of St Petersburg and the bustling beauty of Kutuzov Avenue in Moscow, not to mention the beautiful buildings of both. You will find that this tour has all the ingredients you need to give you an in-depth Russian experience.
Day 1 - Arrival in Moscow and free time
Your journey begins upon arrival at the Moscow airport. There, you will meet a local guide and embark on a private transfer to your remarkable 4-star hotel. Once you have had a chance to get settled in and store your luggage, you will have the rest of the day to explore this vibrant city.
Day 2 - Full day city tour in Moscow (half walking/half by car)
Your private tour will begin in the heart of Moscow – The Kremlin, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Kremlin was home to the Russian Tsars and, following the fall of Tsarist order, Communist leaders. In modern times it is where the President resides and the epicentre of the Russian government.
Surrounded by medieval walls you will see the Ivan III White Bell Tower dating back to the 16th century. At the foot of the bell tower is the Tsar Bell, a well-known Russian symbol.
Following lunch, you will explore the legendary Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral and Lenin’s Mausoleum. Please note that fees to St Basil’s Cathedral and Lenin's Mausoleum are at an additional cost.
Moscow State University
Your excursion continues along the Moskva River Embankment, the ideal place to stop and take in the magnificent views of the Kremlin. Other important sights you will see include the Cathedral of the Christ the Saviour, New Maiden’s Convent and the Moscow State University.
Your day’s excursion finishes at Manezhnaya Square, a pedestrianized square built by Stalin in the 1930’s which features buildings from the Communist era.
The rest of the evening is free time and the ideal opportunity to explore some of Moscow’s restaurants and nightlife.
Day 3 - Choice of excursion and Underground tour in Moscow. Free time
You are free to choose from one of the following fantastic options for your morning excursion.
Option 1 – River Cruise tour
River Cruise
This incredible four-hour cruise will give you the opportunity to take in the scenic beauty of Moscow from the water. The boat will take you past more than one of the famous Seven Sisters, as well as iconic landmarks, such as The Kremlin and the monument to Peter the Great, and some of Moscow’s most important religious buildings, such as the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.
Option 2 – The Tretyakov State Gallery tour by metro
This exciting excursion will certainly please fine art lovers, as you will visit the State Tretyakov Gallery, one of the largest fine art museums in Russia built in 1856. This gallery, often referred to as Old Tretyakov, is home to 62 rooms with 100,000 works displaying Russian art from the 10th century to the end of the 19th century. The guided excursion lasts four hours.
Option 3 – The Kolomenskoe Park Estate by car
This four-hour excursion will take you to the Kolomenskoe Park Estate – a wonderful historic site with extensive options for leisure. The park and its awe-inspiring buildings are so steeped in history that not even The Kremlin itself can quite so well evoke the Russia of old. Starting from the 15th century, Kolomenskoe served as a summer country residence for the Grand Dukes of Moscow and Russian Tsars. Due to this fact, a rich architectural heritage was formed in the area. The most significant attraction is the Church of the Ascension of the Lord, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage monument.
In the afternoon, you will enjoy the Metro tour and discover why the Moscow Metro is recognised as the most beautiful in the world. Our professional local guide will show you the Russian capital’s most celebrated stations built during the Soviet period.
After this excursion, you will return to your hotel where you will have your own free time to explore more of Moscow at your leisure or to relax and perhaps enjoy some of Moscow’s nightlife.
Day 4 - Arrival in St Petersburg and free time
St Isaac's Cathedral
Your private transfer with a guide will collect you from the hotel and take you to the railway station to hop aboard the high-speed Sapsan train in the direction of St Petersburg.
Due to a wide choice of departure times for the Sapsan train throughout the day, you can be flexible to leave early in the afternoon and spend the evening in St Petersburg or extend your afternoon in Moscow and leave either early, or mid, evening. The travel time from Moscow to St Petersburg on the Sapsan train is approximately 4 hours.
Upon arrival in St Petersburg, you will be collected from the railway station and taken by private transfer to your beautiful 4-star hotel. Following check-in, you will have free time to relax and unpack or take in some of what St Petersburg has to offer.
Day 5 - Full day city tour in St Petersburg by car
St Petersburg View
Our knowledgeable local guide will greet you at the hotel and take you on a full day private tour of amazing St Petersburg.
You will explore the city's must-see sights, including Nevsky Prospekt, the Admiralty, Moscow Railway Station, St Isaac's Cathedral and Kazanskiy Cathedral.
Throughout the day you will also visit the Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood, built in memory of the Tsar Alexander II following his assassination in 1881. It took 24 years to build and it is especially famous for its five onion-shaped domes that sit on top, each of which are intricately decorated in colourful jeweller’s enamel.
Following lunch, you will continue your tour with a visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress. The first ever structure built in St Petersburg, its original function was to act as defence for the city. It is best known as a military base, but it is also where members of the Russian royal family are buried.
Your tour ends with transfer back to your hotel where you are free to relax or perhaps explore more of St Petersburg.
Day 6 - Hermitage walking tour and free time
The Hermitage
One of the world’s largest museums, and famous for its incredible artefacts and collections, it has over 3 million items to explore. Collections include Impressionist masterpieces, oriental treasures, Russian art and more. To help you gain a deeper understanding of the items and artwork on display, you will have a personal guided tour of the exhibitions inside.
The afternoon gives you the opportunity to enjoy free time where you can relax or explore fascinating St Petersburg.
Day 7 - Free time and Departure
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, followed by more free time. At a prearranged time, your private transfer will collect you from your hotel and take you to your point of departure.
If leaving is just too difficult for you, which it is for many of our customers, Real Russia can extend your time and arrange more thrilling excursions for you (at an additional cost).
Includes
The Premium Moscow – St Petersburg tour includes:
- Accommodation at finest 4-star hotels in Moscow and St Petersburg
- Breakfasts at the hotels, two lunches
- Activities included:
- 4-hour private walking tour of the Kremlin and Cathedrals
- 4-hour Moscow city tour by car, including entrance to the New Maidens Convent
- Choice of excursion: a luxury river cruise on Moskva river, a guided tour of The Tretyakov State Gallery or a visit to The Kolomenskoe Park Estate
- Underground Metro tour in Moscow
- Full day St Petersburg city tour by car, including entrances to St Isaac's Cathedral, Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood and Peter and Paul Fortress
- 4-hour walking tour of Hermitage
- Private transfers on arrival and departure in each city; all transportation according to the itinerary
- Private professional English-speaking guide (other languages are available, please contact our travel experts)
- Second Class tickets for the Sapsan high-speed train between Moscow and St Petersburg. If you wish to upgrade your ticket to First Class, please contact our travel experts.
- Entrance fees
- Russian letter of invitation to obtain your Russian visa
- 24/7 hotline support while you are travelling
The tour does not include:
- Personal expenses
- Visa processing and service costs
- Flights or other travel arrangements prior to tour joining point
- Meals, unless specified in the itinerary
- Gratuities
- Photo/video charges, where required
Overview
We want to help you to get the most out of your time in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, to truly immerse yourself in the history, culture and people of these great cities.
Our packages are designed with you in mind and for that reason we will provide you with greater control and transparency. It is our promise to give you the flexibility to personalise your tour, should you wish, by upgrading hotels, changing rail departure times and even offering you a selection of excursions.
We have a selection of options available to you, so that you get the most out of your tour. Scroll down for a breakdown of our prices.
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Options
Trains
Russian rail travel is universally recognised as one of the most enthralling experiences in the world, and with that in mind, why not do it in style? If you decide to upgrade to first class on the Sapsan, you will be able to experience your journey in maximum comfort with more leg space and Wi-Fi access.
The Grand Express, by any standard, is a lavish hotel on wheels. Aboard the most luxurious train travelling between these two great cities, you will be provided with a spacious, and comfortable sleeping compartment, featuring air conditioning, LCD TV’s, personal service and complimentary tea, coffee and water. By travelling overnight you get an additional evening in Moscow as the Grand Express departs at 11.40pm, you even receive on board breakfast. If you choose to travel with the Grand Express not only will you be travelling in the highest level of comfort, but you will also receive late check-out at your Moscow hotel and early check-in at your Saint Petersburg hotel, allowing you to securely store your luggage prior to commencing your city tour.
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| Grand Express Overnight Train - 2nd Class |
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| Grand Express Overnight Train - 1st Class |
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| Grand Express Overnight Train - Premium Class |
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Hotels
Moscow and Saint Petersburg are both famous for being the most popular places to visit in Russia.
If you wish to add a bit of lavishness to your tour you have the option to upgrade to a four star hotel, where you will stay at two of the most prominent hotels in Russia, the Park Inn in Moscow and Solo Sokos hotel in Saint Petersburg. The Park Inn is a short distance away from Red Square, the Kremlin and Christ the Saviour Cathedral. After sightseeing, you can return to your room and unwind with amenities like free Wi-Fi, onsite cafe and 24 hour service. The Solo Sokos hotel is located in the historic centre of Saint Petersburg, a short distance away from the Hermitage, Palace Square and Saint Issaac’s Cathedral. You can relax by getting a spa treatment, or experience dinning in complete darkness at one of their fantastic restaurants.
If your budget is limited, but you still want to experience this incredible tour, why not choose a two star hotel for a discount on the price, leaving you with more spending money to experience the sights, sounds and flavours of Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Both options provide you with greater flexibility, ensuring that the tour can be exactly what you want it to be.
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| Upgrade to 4* Hotels |
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Extra Days
Should you fall in love with Moscow and Saint Petersburg, and so many people do, Real Russia can organise additional days for you to explore more of your favourite sites. You can spend the days exploring at your leisure, or if you choose, we can also organise extra excursion for you.
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| Extra Day in Moscow - 3* |
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| Extra Day in Moscow - 4* |
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| Extra Day in St Petersburg - 2* |
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| Extra Day in St Petersburg - 3* |
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| Extra Day in St Petersburg - 4* |
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All prices are per person and the tour may start in either Moscow or St Petersburg.
Centrally located quality 3* hotel accommodation. Options are available for switching to 2* or upgrading to 4* hotels.
Travel between Moscow and St Petersburg on the Sapsan high speed, day train. Overnight travel is available on the Red Arrow or Express trains at no additional cost. Options are also available for "Grand" and "De-lux" cabins and on the Grand Express luxury train for an additional charge.
Please speak to one of our tours specialists for hotel, overnight traveling and other options and they will be happy to advise you.
Accommodation
You will stay at finest 4-star hotels in Moscow and St Petersburg:
MOSCOW
BUDAPEST HOTEL
Set in a 19th-century building in Moscow, this beautiful 4-star hotel is conveniently located in Moscow historical centre. Bolshoi Theatre, as well as popular luxury shopping streets Petrovka and Stoleshnikov Lane, are in close proximity to the hotel. Red Square is only a 15-minute walk from the hotel.
It offers the following features:
- Staff speaking Russian and English
- Satellite TV, Hairdryer, Safety Deposit Box
- 24-Hour Front Desk
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- Air Conditioning & Heating
- Room Service 24 hours
- Breakfast
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- Free Wi-Fi
- Currency Exchange and Cash Machine
- Luggage Storage
- Laundry, Dry Cleaning and Ironing Service and Shoeshine
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ST PETERSBURG
PETRO PALACE HOTEL
Located just a short walk from the Hermitage and St. Isaac’s Cathedral and surrounded by some of the city's best restaurants and bars, vibrant cafes and most exciting theatres and nightlife, the Petro Palace Hotel is a superior hotel which offers the best location and superb amenities.
You’ll have the chance to experience all of the following features:
- Safety Deposit Box
- Free Wi-Fi
- Breakfast buffet
- Coffee/tea maker and minibar
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- Fitness Centre
- Indoor Pool with Hot Tub, Sauna and Treatment Rooms
- Air Conditioning & Heating
- Free bottled water
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- Staff Speaking Russian and English
- 24 Hour Front Desk, Cash Machine, Concierge Service
- Laundry, Dry Cleaning and Ironing Service
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