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.

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.

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.

The travel time from Moscow to St Petersburg on the Sapsan train is approximately 4 hours. 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.

Should you wish to spend your afternoon in Moscow, why not taking an additional excursion in the Russian capital? We recommend Russian Vodka Museum tour or the Jewish Sights tour by car.

Upon arrival in St Petersburg, you will be collected from the railway station and taken by private transfer to your centrally located hotel. Following check-in, you will have free time to relax and unpack or take in some of what St Petersburg has to offer.

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.

After breakfast, you will meet your guide in the hotel lobby where you will begin your 5-hour palace tour.

In Summer, you will explore the ‘Russian Versaille’, the Peterhof Palace and gardens with its spectacular fountains and the elegant Chesma Hall, decorated with twelve large paintings by German artist Jacob Philipp Hackert commemorating the Battle of Chesma, a stunning naval victory of the Russo-Turkish War.

In Winter, you shall visit the marvellous Pavlovsk estate with its sprawling park and grand palace dating to the 18th century. The Pavlovsk residence was built by the order of Catherine the Great for her son Grand Duke Paul. After his death, it became the home of his widow, Maria Feodorovna.

After your palace tour, you will head back to your hotel where you will have the rest of the day free to rest or explore the city of St Petersburg for yourself.

The afternoon gives you the opportunity to enjoy free time where you can relax or explore fascinating St Petersburg.