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‘Best of’ Moscow and St Petersburg Tour


This 8-day trip will take you through the best that Russia has to offer, including The Kremlin and Red Square in Moscow, and the Winter Palace and State Hermitage in St Petersburg.
Overview
Our 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. Get a chance to explore the twisting, winding canals of St Petersburg and the bustling beauty of Kutuzov Avenue in Moscow. If you are looking to get a more in-depth experience in these two cities, then this 8-day tour is the one for you. 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.
City tour of Moscow and St Petersburg
Kremlin and Red Square tour
Lenin’s Mausoleum
St Basil’s Cathedral
Visit to the Hermitage Museum
Visit to Peter and Paul Fortress
Private tour for Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
Itinerary


Moscow
Russia’s official capital, Moscow, is the political and religious heart of the country. The city has the highest density of billionaires, is the world’s most populated inland city and boasts six out of Europe’s ten tallest buildings. It continues to be a major tourist destination in Europe growing year on year with famous attractions including Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral, and the Kremlin.
Day 1
Arrival in Moscow
Your journey begins upon arrival at the Moscow airport. There, you will meet a local guide and embark on a private transfer to your hotel, located in the historical centre of the Russian capital. 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.
Expert Guide
Arrival Transfer
Free Time
Scenic Surrounds
Souvenir Shopping
Day 2
City Tour of Moscow
Your private tour will begin in the heart of Moscow – The Kremlin.
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.
Breakfast & Lunch
Private Tour
City Tour
Moscow Kremlin
Red Square
St Basil’s Cathedral
Moskva River Embankment
Religious Buildings & Monuments
Manezhnaya Square
Day 3
Morning Excursion with choice of Tour
You are free to choose from one of the following fantastic options for your morning excursion:

Aerial View of Moscow in the Morning, Moscow
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 most significant attraction is the Church of the Ascension of the Lord, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage monument.
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.
River Cruise tour
This incredible 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.
Underground Moscow Experience
In the afternoon, you will enjoy the Underground tour and discover why the Moscow Metro is recognised as the most beautiful in the world.
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.
Breakfast & Lunch
Kolomenskoe Park Estate
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Church of the Ascension of the Lord
State Tretyakov Gallery
River cruise
Religious Buildings & Monuments
Moscow Metro
Scenic Surrounds
Day 4
Free Time in Moscow
Today 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.
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.
Breakfast
Expert Guide
Transfer to Train
Arrival Transfer
Free Time
Scenic Surrounds
Souvenir Shopping
Travel to


St Petersburg
The pinnacle of art and culture in Russia, St Petersburg, is one of the country’s most visited destinations and former capital city. Nicknamed the ‘Venice of the North’ due to its elaborate system of canals, the city lies on the Neva River. It is popular with tourists and includes several of Russia’s most famous attractions including the Hermitage Museum, Catherine Palace and the Peterhof.
Day 5
City Tour of St Petersburg
Our local guide will greet you at the hotel and take you on a full day private tour of 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.
Breakfast & Lunch
Private Tour
Expert Guide
City Tour
Nevsky Prospect
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
Religious Buildings & Monuments
Peter and Paul Fortress
Military History
Day 6
Visit to the Peterhof or Pavlovsk Palace
Today, you will enjoy a fantastic trip to one of St Petersburg’s famous palaces, the Peterhof or Pavlovsk palace.
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.
Breakfast
Peterhof Palace
Pavlovsk Palace and Garden
Scenic Surrounds
Souvenir Shopping
Free Time
Day 7
Visiting the Hermitage Museum
One of the world’s largest museums, and famous for its incredible artefacts and collections, the Hermitage 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.
Breakfast
Guided Museum Tour
Hermitage Museum
Scenic Surrounds
Souvenir Shopping
Free Time
Day 8
Departure from St Petersburg
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, followed by more free time. At a prearranged time, your private transfer with a guide will collect you from your hotel and take you to your point of departure.
Breakfast
Free Time
Expert Guide
Departure Transfer
Where you can stay
A hotel can be the make or break of any experience, and we understand that choosing the right hotel is important to our travellers. Check out our range of hotels ahead of time, and learn more about our standard 3-star options and the luxury 5-star upgrades that are available in the destinations you will be visiting.
Please note that the selection of hotels included here are examples of where you may stay on your tour, we will pick the best option for you based on your travel requirements.
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Dates & Rates
Please select the amount of travellers in your group and language requirement of your guide.
Please select a date
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*This tour’s total cost is an estimate, based on travel costs prior to tickets being released. The price is subject to fluctation of up to 10%.† Based on 2 people sharing a twin room.
More information
What’s included
24/7 hotline support while you are travelling
Accommodation as part of the tour
All tours are COVID-19 secure and offer flexible booking options. Visit our Covid-19 information page to find out more
Breakfast
Entrance fees
Private professional English-speaking guide (other languages are available)
Private transfers on arrival and departure in each city; all transportation according to the itinerary
Russian Tourist Visa Invitation
Standard Class tickets for the Sapsan high-speed train between Moscow and St Petersburg
TravelSim card (exclusive to tours starting in Moscow)
What’s not included
Flights or other travel arrangements prior to tour joining point
Gratuities
Meals, unless specified in the itinerary
Personal costs (souvenirs, additional snacks etc)
Photo / video charges
Visa processing and service costs
Travel Tips
All travellers are asked to check the vaccination requirements before travel. Visit our Vaccines and Health page to find out more
Any dietary or allergy requirements will need to be disclosed before the start of the tour
Carrying a water bottle with you is recommended
Medication should always be taken with you and kept on your person
Please ensure that you keep any personal documents and valuables on your person at all times
WIFI will be available at most of the hotels, although mobile coverage may vary in rural areas
Your local guides will recommend stops where you can go souvenir shopping during your tour
Special notes
There are no special notes for this tour
Suggested reading
Enrich your travel experience with our list of top recommended books from specialist travel guides to compelling novels. Whether you are looking for something to pass the time on the train, or want to get to grips with the local history, reading is essential to turning your trip into a fully-fledged experience.
Moscow, St Petersburg & the Golden Ring
The ultimate guidebook to the Golden Ring that no tourist can go without! Lonely Planet’s Moscow, St Petersburg and the Golden Ring is packed full of almost everything you need when travelling to these three spectacular regions including the best places to eat, what you need to see while you are there, cultural highlights and more. In addition to its noteworthy insider tips about key attractions such as the Moscow Kremlin, the Peterhof and the many monasteries and cathedrals of the Golden Ring cities, this guide includes regional maps that are invaluable to even the most seasoned traveller.
Moscow: A Traveller’s Reader
A masterful anthology documenting Moscow’s turbulent growth through the lives of its people from the bloody reprisals of Peter the Great to the literary greats of the 19th century. The city spent much of its early life in turmoil from being the subject to much greater empires including the Tatars, to being burnt down numerous times, yet rising from the ashes twice as magnificent each time. Kelly’s compelling narrative covers all of Moscow’s major milestones over 700 years in engaging detail. A must-read for anyone interested in the history of Russia.
Russia: Lonely Planet
The ultimate guidebook to Russia that no tourist can go without! Lonely Planet’s Russia is packed full of almost everything you need when travelling to this vast country from how to get around, the best places to eat in its most popular cities, what you need to see while you are there, cultural highlights, currency and more. In addition to its noteworthy insider tips about key attractions such as the Moscow Kremlin, Lake Baikal and the Romanov sites, this guide includes detailed maps that are invaluable to even the most seasoned traveller.
Extras & Upgrades
Extras
Customise your experience with our spectacular range of tailor-made tour extras. If you have some free time during your tour and are unsure how to spend it, then our extras may be just what you are looking for, with various activities ranging from an hour long to a full day. Simply, let us know when booking your tour and we can arrange this for you.
Upgrades
Enhance your travel experience with one of our available tour upgrades. Whether you are looking to go first class on the train or swap your standard hotel for a luxury 5-star option, our Sales team are on-hand to help. Simply, let us know when booking your tour and we can arrange this for you.
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