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Tallinn Festive Christmas Experience with St Petersburg
Overview
Do something special this Christmas and embark on a festive journey to two of Europe’s most spectacular cities, Tallinn and St Petersburg. Spend four days in the Estonian capital followed by four days in the magnificent city of St Petersburg. Whether you are looking to get away with the family this Christmas or wanting a cosy couples retreat, this experience is the one for you. This 8-day festive tour of Tallinn and St Petersburg includes plenty of festive fun from culture-packed walking tours of Tallinn’s Old Town, souvenir shopping at the local Christmas market, and tours around some of the most ornate palaces and museums of St Petersburg
Toompea Castle
Walking tour of the Old Town
World-renowned Christmas market
Guided tour of Catherine Palace
Visit to the Hermitage Museum
Stroll around Pavlovsk Park
Itinerary
Tallinn
The capital and most influential city in Estonia, Tallinn is situated on the shore of the Gulf of Finland around the Baltic Sea. The city was known as Reval between the 13th and 20th centuries and dates to the 12th century when King Valdemar II of Denmark claimed the land. This was later followed by succession of alternating Scandinavian and Teutonic rulers. The Old Town in Kesklinn is considered one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 1
Arrival in Tallinn
On arrival in Tallinn your driver will meet you at your scheduled arrival point (airport or railway station) before taking you to the L’Ermitage hotel, where you will be greeted with a complimentary champagne cocktail on checking in.
Arrival Transfer
Prominent Landscape
Scenic Surrounds
Food & Drink Experience
Day 2
Tallinn City Tour with Christmas Market
You will kick off your time in Tallinn with a morning walking tour of the city.
Breakfast
Walking Tour
Expert Guide
Toompea Castle
Dome Cathedral
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Medieval Old Town Hall
Christmas Market
Souvenir Shopping
Day 3
Free time in Tallinn
Today you will have a free day to explore the magical city of Tallinn for yourself. Take in the local culture by visiting some of the city’s museums and galleries or simply stroll around the city and do some last-minute Christmas shopping, the decision is yours.
Breakfast
Free Time
Museums
Galleries
Scenic Surrounds
Souvenir Shopping
Optional Extras
Kadriorg Park
KUMU Experience
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
Arrival in St Petersburg
After checking out of your hotel, your driver will meet you at your hotel and take you to the train station where you will catch the train to St Petersburg.
Breakfast
Transfer to Train
Day on the Train
Prominent Landscape
Scenic Surrounds
New Destination by Train
Day 5
Walking tour of the State Hermitage Museum
After breakfast, you will begin your day by meeting your guide and driver in the hotel lobby where you will embark on a city tour by car, taking in the most spectacular sights found in Russia’s second city.
Breakfast & Lunch
City Tour by car
Hermitage Museum
Expert Guide
Walking Tour
Winter Palace
Prominent Landscape
Souvenir Shopping
Free Time
Day 6
Guided tour of the Catherine Palace and Amber Room
Today, you will enjoy a spectacular guided tour of one of St Petersburg’s most well-known attractions, the Catherine Palace along with its famous Amber Room.
Breakfast & Lunch
Catherine Palace
Amber Room
Expert Guide
Faberge Museum
Free Time
Scenic Surrounds
Souvenir Shopping
Day 7
Visit to Pavlovsk
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast followed by a full morning of free time to explore the city as you see fit. In the afternoon, you will meet up with your guide and driver for the trip to the Pavlovsk Imperial Residence. While in Pavlovsk, you will be shown around the palace of Emperor Paul I, the only legitimate son of Empress Catherine the Great.
Breakfast
Free Time
Optional excursions
Souvenir Shopping
Pavlovsk Palace and Garden
Prominent Landscape
Optional Extras
Russian Troika ride
Breakfast
Departure Transfer
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More information
What’s included
Accommodation as part of the tour- Admissions to all museums
- All tours are COVID-19 secure and offer flexible booking options. Visit our Covid-19 information page to find out more
- Arrival & departure transfers
- English speaking guide (other options available)
- Meals (as specified in the itinerary)
- Russian Tourist Visa Invitation
- Train between Tallinn and St Petersburg
- Welcome meeting with champagne-cocktail or juice in Tallinn
What’s not included
Food and drinks (unless specified)- International train / plane tickets
- Personal costs (souvenirs, additional snacks etc)
- Tips for drivers/guides/in restaurants
- Travel / medical insurance
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.
Top 10 Tallinn: Pocket Travel Guide
One of the UK’s favourite pocket guides, the ‘Top 10’ series of city guides provide easy to follow listicles of city’s top events, attractions, restaurants, bars and more. Top 10 St Tallinn provides a brief introduction to Estonia’s magnificent capital city, from its historic Old Town fortifications to its beautiful boulevards and parks. This recently updated guide breaks down each area of interest into helpful lists of 10 so you always know the best places to visit at a glance.
Scandinavia
The ultimate guidebook to Scandanavia that no tourist can go without! Lonely Planet’s Scandanavia is packed full of almost everything you need when travelling to Norway, Sweden, Denmark or Finland including, the best places to eat in its most popular cities, what you need to see while you are there, cultural highlights and more. In addition to its noteworthy insider tips about key natural landmarks and national parks, this guide includes detailed maps that are invaluable to even the most seasoned traveller.
Watching the Dark
A thrilling murder mystery novel following an English girl who disappeared in Estonia six years ago, who seems to hold the secret at the heart of a new case closer to home. Watching the Dark sees DCI Banks investigate the final moments of Inspector Bill Quinn who is killed by a crossbow in the tranquil grounds of a police rehabilitation centre, with compromising photos found in his room. With little else to go on and surrounded by suspects, will Banks succeed in getting to the bottom of one of the most mysterious cases to date?
St Petersburg
The ultimate guidebook to St Petersburg that no tourist can go without! Lonely Planet’s St Petersburg is packed full of almost everything you need when travelling to any destination from how to get around the city, 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, this guide includes detailed maps that are invaluable to even the most seasoned traveller.
Top 10 St Petersburg
One of the UK’s favourite pocket guides, the ‘Top 10’ series of city guides provide easy to follow listicles of city’s top events, attractions, restaurants, bars and more. Top 10 St Petersburg provides a brief introduction to the ‘Venice of the North’ from its magnificent canals, elegant bridges and sprawling boulevards to its ornate palaces that line the city. This recently updated guide breaks down each area of interest into helpful lists of 10 so you always know the best places to visit at a glance.
St Petersburg: Three Centuries of Murderous Desire
The undeniable soul of Russia, St Petersburg is a city full of intrigue, decadence and grandeur. Established by Peter the Great in 1703, the city would rise to become Russia’s capital city and home of contrasts from both artistic and intellectual genius to cutthroat politics, seditious scandal and debauchery. Miles recreates the drama of 300 years in a city of contrasts, where Pushkin Dostoyevsky and Tchaikovsky thrived, and war, revolution and starvation was commonplace paving the way for Lenin and Stalin’s brutal quest for power. This tale is filled to the brim of murder, madness and undeniable splendour.
Visa Information
Single Entry Tourist Visa
