► Tours  ► St Petersburg and Moscow tours ► Two capitals of Russia

  Moscow and St Petersburg are considered the two capitals of Russia and both cities are strikingly different from each other, but amazing in their own ways. Moscow is a major metropolis which is constantly changing and whose citizens are almost always in a rush. It is the political and financial centre of the country and home to the president whose residence is located inside the Moscow Kremlin. St Petersburg is known as the Northern Capital and the Venice of the North. It is also considered the cultural capital of Russia and has a much more European feel to it than Moscow. St Petersburg is often regarded as more beautiful than Moscow with its countless bridges and canals, stunning palaces and architectural masterpieces, all of which especially shine during the period known as the white nights when the sun does not set.

  On this tour you will visit the main treasures of both capitals, including the Moscow Kremlin and St Petersburg’s Hermitage. The tour is perfect for those coming to Russia for the first time and can be combined with visits to the Golden Ring or a trip on the Trans-Siberian. The tour is based on you arriving in Russia in one city and then leaving from the other, as this will save time and is the best option for seeing both cities. If you arrive and depart from the same city then one extra night at a hotel and an extra train trip will need to be added.

This itinerary is best for first visits to Russia for this particular duration of stay, but as this tour is completely private you can modify it according to your preferences and special requirements.

 DAY1 | ARRIVAL IN MOSCOW

 Arrival in Moscow and transfer to the hotel.

A driver with a sign saying  will wait for you in the arrival area of the airport. Free time in the city.

• OPTIONAL EXTRA • MOSCOW •

Moscow by Night Tour.
An evening excursion around the main sights of Moscow including Victory Park, Red Square, the viewing platform at Sparrow Hills, Novodevichy Convent, Christ the Saviour Cathedral, the Garden Ring and Moscow City.​  Duration: 3 hours |  Transportation: by private car        PRICE PER GROUP 1-2 PAX 3-4 PAX 5-6 PAX 7-8 PAX RUR 10400 10920 11700 12800

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 DAY2 | CITY-TOUR OF MOSCOW

  Breakfast in the hotel.

  Walking city tour of central Moscow. The highlights of the tour are:

• Aleksandrovsky Gardens – city gardens located next to the kremlin which have several interesting statues.
• Red Square – Russia’s most famous and most beautiful square where you will find St Basil’s Cathedral.
• GUM - the Russian equivalent of Paris’s Galeries Lafayette or London’s Harrods with a Soviet atmosphere and an interesting history.
• Lenin’s Mausoleum – the resting place of the founder of USSR.
• Bolshoi Theatre – one of the most famous theatres in the world.
• Zaryadye Park - this new park does not just have beautiful landscapes, but also offers a new angle for viewing the Kremlin, the River Moskva and the historical churches of Ulitsa Varvarka.
• Christ the Saviour Cathedral – the main cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church.
• Lubyanka Building – once the headquarters of the KGB, now home to the FSB.

  ​Guided tour of the Moscow Kremlin – the biggest fortress in Russia and Moscow’s main tourist sight. Today it also serves as the official residence of the Russian president. Located inside are the Tsar Bell and Tsar Canon and several cathedrals and churches which act as the resting place for 47 pre-Peter the Great Russian rulers (including Ivan the Terrible and Dmitry Donskoy).

  Guided tour of Moscow metro - the most beautiful metro system in the World. You will see the best examples of Soviet Metro System and learn about the secrets it has.

 Duration: 8h |  Transportation: By metro

• OPTIONAL EXTRA • MOSCOW •

Guided Tour of the Romanov's Chambers
One of the oldest surviving stone buildings in Moscow. The chambers are separated into women and men sections which have been recreated to give visitors a feeling of the life of nobles in mediaeval Russia. Tour availability: daily except Tuesdays  Duration: 1 hour        PRICE PER GROUP 1-2 PAX 3-4 PAX 5-6 PAX 7-8 PAX RUR 3120 4160 5720 7280

Guided Tour of the Bolshoi Theatre
An excursion to one of the most famous theatres in the world. You will see not only the main stage but also behind the curtains. Tour availability: daily except weekends and August  Duration: 1h30         PRICE PER GROUP 1-2 PAX 3-4 PAX 5-6 PAX 7-8 PAX RUR 13650 13650 15340 18720

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 DAY3 | ART AND ARCHITECTURE

  Guided tour of the Novodevichy Convent – a masterpiece of Russian baroque architecture and the most beautiful convent in Moscow. In addition the neighbouring Novodevichy Cemetery is the burial place of many outstanding figures of science, culture, art, politics, military leaders, war heroes. Many of the tombstones are very elaborate and the work of famous sculptors. Just by walking around the graves you can learn a lot about Russian history.

  Guided tour of the Tretyakov Gallery – home to one of the world's largest collections of Russian art. Since its foundation in 1856, the gallery has collected has more than 170,000 exhibits including some of the most famous Russian artworks and ancient icons.

 Duration: 7h |  Transportation: by metro

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TRAIN TO ST PETERSBURG.

In the evening, transfer from the hotel to the railway station and then an overnight train to St Petersburg. The tour includes a trip on the historic Red Arrow overnight train, but you can choose another train here.

Options:

• Take the evening Sapsan high-speed train, the last one leaves (Moscow and St Petersburg) at about 20:00, so you will arrive at around midnight. In this case you will need to book an extra night at a hotel in St Petersburg.
• Spend another night in Moscow and take the early morning Sapsan high-speed train on the next day, however this is a more expensive option as you have to pay for an extra night in the hotel and for a more expensive train.
• Take a flight to St Petersburg, but since there is an efficient high-speed train connection we do not recommend this option as unlike the train stations, the airports are located out of the city centre.

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 DAY4 | ST PETERSBURG CITY TOUR

 Arrival in St Petersburg - transfer to your hotel to leave your luggage. A guide will meet you just next to your carriage with a sign saying .

• Peter and Paul Fortress and Cathedral – the oldest part of St Petersburg. The fortress’ cathedral is now a shrine holding the tombs of almost all emperors and empresses of Russia.
• Nevsky Prospekt – St Petersburg’s main thoroughfare.
• Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral – Russia’s equivalent of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, complete with a large colonnade.
• The Field of Mars – a memorial established after the Russian Revolution.
• Saviour on the Spilled Blood Cathedral (exterior) – a beautiful cathedral somewhat reminiscent of Moscow’s St Basil’s Cathedral, built on the site of the assassination of Emperor Alexander II.
• St Michael’s Castle (exterior) – a residence built for Emperor Paul, where he was subsequently assassinated.
• Anichkov Bridge – one of St Petersburg’s most beautiful bridges decorated with four statues of youths taming wild horses.
• Bronze Horseman – an equestrian statue of Peter the Great which has become a symbol of the city.
• St Isaac’s Cathedral – the largest cathedral in St Petersburg, the current version dates from 1818 and features a huge dome.

  Guided tour of the State Hermitage (Winter Palace) – a private tour around the world famous art gallery which is located in the Winter Palace, the former residence of the Russian imperial family. Although the gallery houses an outstanding collection of European Art, often the interiors of the palace itself attract the most attention. Your guide will show you the highlights which may otherwise be missed if you are looking around the massive complex yourself.

 Duration: 8h |  Transportation: By private car and by metro

• OPTIONAL EXTRA • ST PETERSBURG •

Guided Tour of the Cathedral on the Spilled Blood
The cathedral is often compared to Moscow’s St Basil's Cathedral and was built on the place where Russian Emperor Alexander II was fatally wounded by a revolutionary’s bomb. The interior of the cathedral is decorated with stunning mosaics depicting scenes from the Bible and from Russian history. Duration: 1 hour        PRICE PER GROUP 1-2 PAX 3-4 PAX 5-6 PAX 7-8 PAX RUR 3120 4160 5720 7280

Guided Tour of St Isaac's Cathedral
One of the largest cathedrals in the world with a capacity of 12,000. The excursion includes going up to the top of the cathedral to enjoy great views of the city. Duration: 1 hour        PRICE PER GROUP 1-2 PAX 3-4 PAX 5-6 PAX 7-8 PAX RUR 3900 5720 8060 10400

Boat Cruise around St Petersburg canals
St Petersburg is a city of canals and bridges which has earned it the name of the Venice of the North. A boat trip allows you to see the city’s main sights from a whole new angle. Duration: 1h30        PRICE PER GROUP 1-2 PAX 3-4 PAX 5-6 PAX 7-8 PAX RUR 6110 8060 10270 12740

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 DAY5 | CATHERINE PALACE

 Guided tour of the Catherine Palace – one of the architectural masterpieces of the style known as Russian baroque which was popular in the mid-18th century. It is one of the most stunning imperial palaces located outside St Petersburg (over 100kg of gold were used to decorate it). It is widely known for its Amber Room which is decorated entirely with amber, although the current version is a replica, since the original was lost in the Second World War. 

 Duration: 6h |  Transportation: By private car

• OPTIONAL EXTRA • ST PETERSBURG •

Guided tour of Pavlovsk Palace.

Guided tour of the Pavlovsk Palace - the Pavlovsk Palace is closely connected with Emperor Paul and his family and was one of the last imperial palaces to be built. Its interiors are decorated with white marble, French tapestries, valuable paintings, antique sculptures and a sea of gilding. The palace is surrounded by one of the most picturesque landscaped gardens in Russia.​  Duration: 2h |  Transportation: by private car        PRICE PER GROUP 1-2 PAX 3-4 PAX 5-6 PAX 7-8 PAX RUR 8320 11180 15080 18850

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​ DAY6 | YUSUPOV PALACE

 Guided tour of the Yusupov Palace – an interesting and mysterious palace which was home to the Yusupov noble family. It is especially famous as it was here that the mad monk Grigory Rasputin was murdered in a plot in which Feliks Yusupov took part. 

 Duration: 3h |  Transportation: by metro

• OPTIONAL EXTRA • ST PETERSBURG •

Guided tour of the Grand Model Russia

A giant model train set of Russia showing the massive country from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok on a more digestible scale. In addition to the country’s geographical and architectural landmarks, the model also depicts people going about their lives. It is especially a must-see if you are travelling with children or simply have had your fill of palaces and museums.  Duration: 2 h.  Transportation: by private car        PRICE PER GROUP 1-2 PAX 3-4 PAX 5-6 PAX 7-8 PAX RUR 10660 12935 15470 18330

Guided Tour of the Sergey Kirov Memorial Apartment

Once home to Sergey Kirov, a revolutionary and politician close to Stalin whose killing unleashed Stalin’s terror. The flat provides a wonderful time capsule showing how members of the Bolshevik government lived just after the Revolution. Tour availability: daily except Wednesdays  Duration: 1½-2h.  Transportation: by private car        PRICE PER GROUP 1-2 PAX 3-4 PAX 5-6 PAX 7-8 PAX RUR 9230 10530 13130 15210

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 DAY7 | DEPARTURE ST PETERSBURG

 Transfer from the hotel to the airport.

• The tour is available the whole year round starting on any day, but please take into account that the museum’s working hours and days-off vary so we reserve the right to change the itinerary while trying to save the excursion programme.
• Optional excursions should be booked before the start of the tour to schedule the itinerary.
• Transportation in Moscow, where travel by metro is designated, can be changed to a car upon request, but please note that the transport situation in Moscow is not very good, so you could get stuck in a traffic jam.
• Tickets to museums cannot be sold without an excursion with a guide.
• During state holidays and celebrations, Red Square may be closed (either partially blocked off or completely closed).
• The price of the tour may be increased during the period of the White Nights (11JUN-10JUL) and when the International Economic Forum (end of May or beggining of June) is being held in St Petersburg. Please check the price when booking.
• All excursions/guided tours included in the itinerary are private which means private guides and private transport along the programme - unless otherwise stated.
• Best time to travel on this route: from the end of April to mid-October and from December to mid-March.

• CANCELLATION POLICY •

DATE OF CANCELLATION	CANCELLATION CHARGES
FROM 60 TO 45 DAYS BEFORE THE DEPARTURE	10%
FROM 44 TO 15 DAYS BEFORE THE DEPARTURE	30%
FROM 14 TO 7 DAYS BEFORE THE DEPARTURE	50%
LESS THAN 7 DAYS BEFORE THE DEPARTURE	100%