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Essential Moscow and St Petersburg Tour
Overview
Discover two of the world’s most enigmatic cities in one tour! Experience the rich Soviet and Tsarist history of Moscow alongside St Petersburg’s beautiful bridges, opulent palaces, parks and canals. See the highlights of Moscow and St Petersburg for yourself with this essential 5-day tour. This experience includes a visit to Red Square and the magical St Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow as well as private tours of the Church of Spilled Blood and a visit to the Peters and Paul fortress in St Petersburg.
City tour of Moscow and St Petersburg
Kremlin and Red Square tour
Lenin’s Mausoleum
Visit to Peter and Paul Fortress
Private tour for Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
St Basil’s Cathedral
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
Upon arrival at the Moscow airport, you will be greeted by a local guide who will accompany you on a private transfer to your hotel, located in the historical centre of the Russian capital. Following check-in, you will have free time to unpack and relax or to start to explore magical Moscow and get a taste of what you are about to experience.
Expert Guide
Arrival Transfer
Free Time
Scenic Surrounds
Souvenir Shopping
Day 2
City Tour of Moscow
After breakfast, you will be met at your hotel by a local guide, who will accompany you on a fascinating walking tour of central Moscow, before taking you by car to see some of the best historical sights spread across the city in the afternoon.
Breakfast & Lunch
Expert Guide
Walking Tour
City Tour by car
Moscow Kremlin
Red Square
St Basil’s Cathedral
Manezhnaya Square
Scenic Surrounds
Day 3
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.
Breakfast
Expert Guide
Transfer to Train
New Destination by 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 4
City Tour of St Petersburg
Today will see the following masterpieces of St Petersburg – Nevsky Prospekt, the Admiralty, Moscow Railway Station, Alexander Nevsky Monastery, Kazanskiy Cathedral, St Isaac’s Cathedral, Palace Square, the Hermitage, and even more.
Breakfast & Lunch
City Tour
Nevsky Prospect
Religious Buildings & Monuments
St Isaac’s Cathedral
Hermitage Museum
Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
Guided Museum Tour
Peter and Paul Fortress
Day 5
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
Scenic Surrounds
Souvenir Shopping
Departure Transfer
Expert Guide
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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
- Breakfasts at the hotels, 2 lunches
- 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
- Russian visa processing and service costs for UK residents only.
- 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.
Visa Information
