► Tours  ► St Petersburg and Moscow tours ► Deep into St Petersburg tour

  A long trip in St Petersburg allows you to visit the best museums in the city and to enjoy one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You will go to the famous Winter Palace, which is now home to the Hermitage and its numerous works of art, and the Peter and Paul Fortress, which marks the spot where Peter the Great founded his new capital. In addition you will visit some of St Petersburg’s magnificent cathedrals: the Saviour on the Spilled Blood Cathedral, which is reminiscent of Moscow's St Basil's and St Isaac's Cathedral, which is one of the largest cathedrals in the world. Plus you will also get out of St Petersburg to see the main imperial residences in the suburbs of the city: Peterhof with its wonderful palace, park and fountains and the Catherine Palace in Pushkin with its famous Amber Room.

  One day of the tour is left free so that you can have a look round this city by yourself. However optional additional excursions can be booked on each day if you really want to make the most of your trip to Russia’s cultural capital. This itinerary is optimal for a visit to St Petersburg 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 | WELCOME TO ST PETERSBURG

 Arrival in St Petersburg and transfer to the hotel. A driver will wait for you in the arrival area of the airport with a sign saying . 

 Free day in St Petersburg.

• OPTIONAL EXTRA • ST PETERSBURG •

St Petersburg by Night Excursion.

Twilight is a great time to see St Petersburg and the wonderful panorama of the Neva opening up to the Strelka and Peter and Paul Fortress. Plus it is only at night that you can see one of St Petersburg’s most famous spectacles – the opening up of its bridges. This event attracts lots of tourists daily, especially around the Dvortsovy, Troitsky and Blagoveschesky Bridges.  Duration: 3 hours |  Transportation: by a private car      PRICE PER GROUP 1-2 PAX 3-4 PAX 5-6 PAX 7-8 PAX USD 124 150 166 180 EUR 107 130 144 156 GBP 90 108 120 130

 DAY2 | CITY TOUR - THE STATE HERMITAGE

 Breakfast in the hotel.

 A city tour around St Petersburg. The highlights of the tour are:

• 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 St Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, 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.

 The city tour also includes:

• Guided tour of Peter and Paul Fortress – the original point of foundation of St Petersburg which later served as a prison for political prisoners. Its cathedral is the resting place for almost all Russian monarchs after Peter the Great. 
• Guided tour of the State Hermitage - one of the most famous art galleries in the world which receives over 3.5 million visitors a year. It is located inside the Winter Palace which was once the official residence of the Russian emperors and empresses. Many of the palace's 365 rooms are filled with sculptures and paintings of world-renowned artists of all ages, although quite often the interiors of the palace outshine even these masterpieces. It is said that if you stand next to each of the exhibits or pictures for a minute, it will take eight years of your life to see everything. Our guide though knows shortcuts and will take you to the must-see exhibitions and rooms so you won’t need to stay there that long!

 Duration: 8 hours |  Transportation: by a car and by metro

 DAY3 | PUSHKIN - SSB CATHEDRAL

 Excursion to the Saviour on the Spilled Blood Cathedral - the collection of mosaics of this cathedral is one of the largest in Europe. The mosaics cover the whole interior of the cathedral, and the production of these masterpieces delayed the completion of the cathedral by ten years! Famous Russian masters - Vasnetsov, Nesterov, Belyaev, Kharlamov, Zhuravlev, Ryabushkin - took part in the work. Even the iconostasis features mosaics.

 Excursion to Pushkin with a visit or  Catherine Palace and the Amber room - the city is located in 25km from St Petersburg. The Amber Room of the Catherine Palace is often called as the most beautiful palace hall in the world. The palace is among the top five most beautiful palaces in Russia. About 100kg of gold was used to decorate the palace.

 Duration: 8 hours |  Transportation: by a private car

 DAY4 | FREE DAY IN ST PETERSBURG

 Breakfast in the hotel.

 Free day in St Petersburg. You can spend this day either exploring St Petersburg by yourself or by ordering an additional excursion, including an excursion outside of St Petersburg.

 Recommended optional excursions:

Day tour to Veliky Novgorod

Novgorod Veliky is one of the oldest cities in Russia. It is located in the north-west of the country on River Volkhov and Lake Ilmen. The city’s history is inseparably linked with major events over the course of the Russian nation-state. It was once centre of the important Novgorod Republic, whose prince was elected by local nobles. The Republic became a prize fought over by neighbouring principalities and was very unruly and independent at times. It was also an importance religious and trade centre, acting as a connection between Rus and the West via the Hanseatic League. Over the centuries the city has been protected by a large and sturdy kremlin, which in turn proved a stronghold in the defence of the country as a whole. The kremlin is now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Duration: 12 hours |  Transportation: by train        PRICE PER GROUP 1-2 PAX 3-4 PAX 5-6 PAX 7-8 PAX USD 257 391 468 622 EUR 222 339 405 539 GBP 185 283 338 450

Oreshek Fotress (only from May to October)

This monument of mediaeval Russian defensive architecture is located on the source of the Neva. It was founded by Novgorodians in 1323 but from 1612 it was held by the Swedish until it was recaptured by Peter the Great in 1702. Having lost its strategic significance, it later became a prison for high profile prisoners. Imprisoned here were Yevdokia Lopukhina (Peter the Great's first wife), Emperor Ivan VI, several Decembrists, members of the People’s Will organisation (including Lenin’s brother who was executed here) and Polish nationals who fought for Polish liberation. Between 1941 and 1943 a small garrison at the fortress were able to hold out here and protect the Road of Life from the Nazis for over 500 days. Therefore many famous events in Russian history have a connection with this fascinating fortress.  Duration: about 6 hours |  Transportation: by private car and by boat      PRICE PER GROUP 1-2 PAX 3-4 PAX 5-6 PAX 7-8 PAX USD 286 330 416 486 EUR 248 286 361 421 GBP 207 238 300 351

Red tour

This tour is dedicated to the Russian revolution and the figures who played a part in it. The tour includes a visit to the Museum of Political History where you will learn the details of one of the critical moments in Russian history. You will also visit the Alliluev Memorial Apartment where Lenin sought refuge and where Stalin also lived at the beginning of his political career. The apartment also serves as an example of typical housing for a qualified Petrograd worker in the beginning of the 20th century. In addition you will visit the Sergey Kirov Memorial Apartment, Kirov was a close associate of Stalin whose murder marked the beginning of the Red Terror – mass repression which resulted in the death of around 1 million people. This apartment gives you an impression of how the Soviet elite lived just after the revolution.  Tour availability: from Friday to Sunday  Duration: about 7 hours |  Transportation: by a private car        PRICE PER GROUP 1-2 PAX 3-4 PAX 5-6 PAX 7-8 PAX USD 324 406 516 596 EUR 281 352 447 517 GBP 234 293 373 430

Best Cathedrals of St Petersburg tour

This tour includes visits to the most striking and beautiful cathedrals of St Petersburg - St Issac's Cathedral, Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral, Chesme Church, Cathedral of the Ioannovsky Convent and the Cathedral of the Smolny Convent. These cathedrals represent different architectural styles and historical eras, but all are unique, grand and beautiful.  Duration: 6 hours |  Transportation: by a private car              PRICE PER GROUP 1-2 PAX 3-4 PAX 5-6 PAX 7-8 PAX USD 236 302 364 442 EUR 205 262 315 383 GBP 170 218 263 319

Guided tour of Zoological museum and Kunskamera

This guided tour will show you the most interesting natural history museums in St Petersburg: the Zoological Museum and the Kunstkamera. The Zoological Museum is the oldest zoological museum in Russia and has over 30,000 exhibits on display ranging from the smallest mollusc up to an enormous blue whale. When not on loan to other museums, the museum is home to Dima and Masha the baby mammoths which were discovered relatively well preserved after millennia spent in the permafrost of Siberia. The Kunstkamera was the first museum to be opened in Russia. It has a unique collection of artefacts which tell the history and everyday life of various peoples of the world. There is also a section on rare birth defects and anomalies, with the unfortunate babies and animals preserved in jars (it was hoped that people would become less superstitious if they became more aware of birth defects). In addition the early-18th century building in which the Kunstkamera is located is a monument in itself and has become the symbol of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Tour availability: daily except Mondays  Duration: 4 h |  Transportation: walking      PRICE PER GROUP 1-2 PAX 3-4 PAX 5-6 PAX 7-8 PAX USD 190 200 318 328 EUR 165 173 276 284 GBP 137 144 230 237

Literary St Petersburg

Guided tours around three of St Petersburg’s literary museums. Aleksandr Pushkin Memorial Apartment - the place where Pushkin spent his last days after being fatally wounded in a duel. In the apartment a large number of authentic items of Russia’s most beloved poet can still be seen. Mikhail Dostoevsky Memorial Apartment - the Crime and Punishment writer often changed his abode, living in over 20 places throughout his life. However this apartment on Kuznechnoy Pereulok is where he spent the last three years of his life and where he died. At the museum you will learn all about the life, work and death of the great writer. Lev Gumilev Memorial Apartment - it is possible that you have never heard of this scientist and writer but he was a well-known historian, ethnologist and anthropologist. He is also famous for being the son of two of the leading poets of Russia's so-called Silver Age of Poetry – Nikolai Gumilev and Anna Akhmatova. Lev Gumilev developed the concept of of the "passionarity" of peoples to describe the various stages all ethnic groups go through over time. However one of the joys of visiting this memorial apartment is not just to learn about the interesting life and ideas of Gumilev, but to see a real apartment typical for a member of the Soviet intelligentsia. Tour availability: Daily except Monday and Tuesday  Duration: about 6-7 h |  Transportation: by metro            PRICE PER GROUP 1-2 PAX 3-4 PAX 5-6 PAX 7-8 PAX USD 287 334 394 468 EUR 249 289 341 406 GBP 207 241 285 338

 DAY5 | PETERHOF

 Breakfast in the hotel.

 Duration: 7h |  Transportation: By private car  or by  boat

  The fountains at Peterhof are on between May and October. From October to May, if you prefer, this trip can be replaced with an excursion to the Menshikov and Yusupov palaces in St Petersburg. 

• OPTIONAL EXTRA • ST PETERSBURG •

Boat cruise around St Petersburg canals (from May till October)
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: 1½ h.        PRICE PER GROUP 1-2 PAX 3-4 PAX 5-6 PAX 7-8 PAX USD 72 100 128 156 EUR 62 87 111 135 GBP 52 72 92 113

 DAY6 | RUSSIAN MUSEUM - ST ISAAC'S CATHEDRAL

 Guided tour of St Isaac's Cathedral - one of the largest cathedrals in the world with a capacity of 12,000. It has a height of 101.5 metres and its dome has a diameter of 26 metres. Its interiors were created by some of the leading artists of the time: Fyodor Bruni, Karl Bryullov and Timofey Neff and made use of marble, malachite and lazurite. The excursion includes going up to the top of the cathedral to enjoy great views of the city. 

 Guided tour of the Russian Museum - one of the biggest collections of Russian art - painting,s sculptures, Russian folk craft and many others work. The museum is located in Mikhailovsky Palace and the Benoi departments of a large palace ensemble. Among works displayed in the museum are masterpieces of Russian's best artists - Andrey Rublyov, Dionisis, Karl Bryullov, Vasily Tropinin, Ivan Aivazovsky, Ivan Shishkin, Ilia Repin, Vasily Surikov and many many more.

 Duration: 6 hours |  Transportation: by metro 

 DAY7 | DEPARTURE FROM ST PETERSBURG

  Breakfast in the hotel.

 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.
• Tickets to museums cannot be sold without an excursion with a guide.
• All excursions/guided tours included in the itinerary are private which means private guides and private transport along the programme - unless otherwise stated.
• 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.
• Best time to travel on this route: from the end of April to mid-October and from December to mid-March.

• CANCELLATION POLICY •