St Petersburg is the cultural capital of Russia and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. A three-day tour is an excellent choice for those who want to see as much as possible in a short time, for example for people visiting the city as part of a cruise on a 72 hour visa free regime. 

  This tour includes several of St Petersburg’s main museums and sights such as the State Hermitage which is located in the Winter Palace – the former residence of the Russian emperors, the Peter and Paul Fortress where most of the Russian emperors and empress are buried, the Catherine Palace in Pushkin which is home to the famous Amber Room, and the Yusupov Palace in St Petersburg.

  The tour can be extended with visits to places in the Russian North such as Kizhi Island or with a trip to Moscow.

 The offered itinerary is optimal for a trip to Russia for this particular duration of stay covering all the sights mentioned above and other places of interest, but as this tour is completely private you can modify it according to your preferences and special requirements.

 DAY1 | ARRIVAL IN ST PETERSBURG - CITY TOUR - THE HERMITAGE

​ Arrival in St Petersburg and transfer to the hotel to leave your luggage. A guide will wait for you in the arrival area of the airport or next to the custom exit in the sea port with a sign saying .

 A city tour around St Petersburg by car. 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 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.

 The city tour also includes:

• Guilded tour of the 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!

 NOTE: You will pass the hotel while on the excursion to drop off your luggage. Car rental is only included for the city tour part so as not to pay for a car while at the Hermitage, however if you would like to go by car it is possible to add an extra three-four hours of car rental.

 Duration: about 7-8 hours |  Transportation: by a car and by metro

• 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 RUR 8060 9750 10790 11700

 DAY2 | PUSHKIN - CATHERIN PALACE

 Breakfast in the hotel.

 Excursion to the Catherine Palace in Pushkin – one of the most striking examples of palace architecture in St Petersburg and a must see for those interested in imperial Russian history. The palace’s Amber Room was dismantled and removed by the Nazis during the Second World War and subsequently lost, however it has since been carefully recreated and is now once again one of the most beautiful palace rooms in the world.

 Duration: 6 hours |  Transportation: by a private car 

• 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

Excursion to 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

 DAY3 | YUSUPOV PALACE

 Breakfast in the hotel.

 Excursion to the Yusupov Palace - the palace of the richest family in Imperial Russia, where the mad monk Grigory Rasputin was infamously murdered. Today this scene has been recreated in the palace’s basement.

 Duration: 3 hours |  Transportation: by a metro

 Transfer to the airport or to the Sea Port.