Intro
Itinerary
Cost
Notes
11 Days
10 Nights
via Golden Ring
Medieval Rus
All Year
► Tours ► St Petersburg and Moscow tours ► Capitals through the Ages tour
For this Capitals through the Ages tour, we have included not just Moscow (the capital of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation) and St Petersburg (the capital of the Russian Empire), but also some beautiful and fascinating ancient cities which were capitals of earlier incarnations of the Russian state and which played a key role in Russian history.
Novgorod Veliky - although the name of this city translates as Great New City, it was in fact founded in 859 (at the very latest) and is one of the oldest cities in Russia. It served as the very first capital of the Rus state founded by the semi-legendary Viking Ryurik. The Mongols never attacked Novgorod meaning that it has one of the highest concentrations of examples of pre-Mongol invasion architecture in the whole of Russia, including many churches, monasteries and of course sections of the city’s Kremlin. The centerpiece is St Sophia’s Cathedral - one of the oldest surviving buildings in Russia, at almost 1000 years old. The historical centre is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Suzdal - known as an open-air museum for the number of old buildings which have survived here in excellent condition and among beautiful natural surroundings. The city served as the centre of North-Westen Rus lands held by Prince Yury Dolgoruky, which served as the core of what later became Russia. Several of its white stone buildings are protected by UNESCO
Vladimir - Yury Dolgoruky’s son Andrey Bolgolybsky moved the capital of his realm from Suzdal to Vladimir, which is known to have existed since 990 and thought to have been founded by Dolgoruky’s father Vladimir Monomakh. The new capital was decorated with the Dormition Cathedral, St Demetrius’ Cathedral and the Golden Gates, which are now all protected by UNESCO.
Aleksandrov - this city briefly served as the capital of Rus when Ivan the Terrible set up residence and move the whole court here. They remained here for almost 20 years and the kremlin where Ivan set up court has been preserved. It was here that the tsar killed his son and heir.
Sergiev Posad - although never the political capital, Sergiev Posad can be said to be the spiritual centre of Russia as it is home to the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, a famous monastery founded in 1337 by Russia’s most revered saint: St Sergius of Radonezh. The architectural complex is another of Russia’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS TOUR
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You will visit the most beautiful cities of the famous Golden Ring of Russia route Vladimir and Suzdal, and ancient Veliky Novgorod - one of the oldest cities in Russia, and the main monastery of the country - Troitse-Sergieva Lavra (St Sergius Trinity Monastery).
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You will have tours in Moscow and St Petersburg to the main sights of both cities.
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You will be allowed to skip-the-line at popular museums
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Your excursions will be led by professional friendly guides
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You will stay at centrally located accommodation
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You will travel by comfortable high-speed trains
Moscow → Sergiev Posad → Aleksandrov → Suzdal → Vladimir → V. Novgorod → St Petersburg
1 DAY / MOSCOW
Arrival in Moscow. Transfer to the hotel. Free time in the city, although if you arrive in the morning we can organise an excursion on this day.
Night in Moscow.
2 DAY / MOSCOW - CITY TOUR - KREMLIN
- Red Square – one of the most famous squares in the world, known for St Basil’s Cathedral, which is one of the most recognisable symbols of Russia.
- Lenin’s Mausoleum – where the body of Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the World Proletariat, still lies, embalmed in a glass box.
- GUM – a historical shopping centre located on Red Square.
- Aleksandrovsky Gardens – gardens which run along the northern wall of the Kremlin.
- Zaryadye Park - this new park showcases the natural landscapes of Russia, while also featuring museums and a concert hall.
- Lubyanka KGB Building – an imposing building once home to the KGB; it is now the headquarters of the Federal Security Bureau.
- Christ the Saviour Cathedral – the largest place of worship in Russia, it was rebuilt in the 1990s after the original was destroyed on the orders of Stalin.
- Ulitsa Arbat – a popular pedestrian street which has souvenir shops and many bars and restaurants.
You will also have the following excursions around:
- Moscow Kremlin - you will go inside the famous fortress which is now home to the Russian president and will see the Tsar Cannon, Tsar Bell and the Kremlin’s cathedrals.
- Moscow Metro – you will visit the most beautiful stations of the metro system which is often ranked as the most beautiful in the world.
Duration: 7-8 hours | 
Transportation: by metro
Night in Moscow.
3 DAY / FREE DAY IN MOSCOW
Breakfast in the hotel.
Free day in Moscow. You can spend this day either exploring Moscow by yourself or by ordering an additional excursion, including an excursion outside of Moscow.
Night in Moscow.
4 DAY / SERGIEV POSAD - ALEKSANDROV - SUZDAL
Breakfast in the hotel.
Morning transfer to Sergiev Posad. Distance: 75km.
Guided Tour of the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra (St Sergius Trinity Monastery) - during the excursion you will see the three main cathedrals of the monastery:
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Trinity Cathedral (1422) - the most ancient building of the monastery, where the relics of St Sergius are kept. The iconostasis of the temple is unique and was created by the best masters of the 15th-century iconography: Andrei Rublev and Danila Chyorny.
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Dormition Cathedral (1585) - the biggest cathedral of the monastery built using the Dormition Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin as its model.
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St Sergius’ Church and Refectory (1686-1692) - the most beautiful and richly decorated temple of the Lavra, decorated in the Naryshkin Baroque style with elaborate twisted columns and brightly painted walls.
Transfer to Aleksandrov. Distance: 50km.
Guided Tour of the Aleksandrov Kremlin - known as the Aleksandrov Sloboda, this mediaeval fortress consists of a well-preserved complex of buildings and structures. In 1564 Ivan the Terrible moved here with his court, making it his de facto capital where he received foreign dignitaries, issued decrees and organised the work of his feared private army known as the Oprichniki. It was here that the heir to the throne was killed probably by Ivan the Terrible himself.
Transfer to Suzdal. Distance: 140km
Night in Suzdal.
5 DAY / SUZDAL
Breakfast in the hotel.
Tour of Suzdal - Suzdal is perhaps the highlight of the Golden Ring, as the whole city is like an open-air museum thanks to it being practically unspoiled by modernisation and industrialisation. On this excursion you will visit:
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Suzdal Kremlin - this is the oldest part and historical core of the city. Although the kremlin's walls no longer stand, parts of the earthen mound fortifications do remain. The buildings inside the kremlin are now used as museums.
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Nativity Cathedral (1222) – the kremlin’s cathedral is the Nativity Cathedral. The current version stands on the place of an 11th-century version which was built on the orders of Vladimir Monomakh. The interior features stunning frescos as well as a necropolis where some of the sons of Yury Dolgoruky have been interred along with several members of various noble families from Suzdal.
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Museum of the Wooden Architecture and Peasant life – this collection of wooden buildings, including churches and windmills, from various parts of European Russia, is one of the best architectural museums in Russia. It now resembles a village in itself made up of beautiful examples of 17th - 19th-century wooden buildings which have been brought here for protection.
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Trading Rows (1812) – Suzdal’s trading rows are still used for their original purpose and a souvenir market is held outside where you can buy a whole range of souvenirs, including bottles of the mead for which Suzdal is famed.
Duration: 3 hours | Transportation: by a car
Russian lunch - awaiting you is real Russian food in a real Russian ‘izba’ wooden house that is home to a local family.
Night in Suzdal
6 DAY / BOGOLYUBOVO - VLADIMIR
Breakfast in the hotel.
Transfer to Vladimir. Distance: 35km
Tour of Bogolyubovo - Bogolyubovo is famous due to its place in Russian history and for having one of the most beautiful churches in Russia - the Intercession Church on the Nerl. Please note that to get to the church you need to walk about 1km as the surrounding area is protected by UNESCO and no cars are allowed.
Tour of Vladimir – Vladimir was once the mediaeval capital of the Russian state and so is an important city in terms of Russian history. The highlights of this tour include:
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Dormition Cathedral - the main cathedral of the city. For over 200 years this cathedral held the revered Our Lady of Vladimir Icon, which Prince Andrey Bogolyubsky brought from Vyshgorod in Ukraine to Vladimir. The icon was later transferred to Moscow and can now be seen in the Tretyakov Gallery. According to legend, the icon was created by Luke the Evangelist.
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Golden Gates - a rare monument of Russian 12th-century defensive architecture and all that remains of the walls that once surrounded Vladimir.
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St Demetrius’ Cathedral - one of the most remarkable monuments of mediaeval Rus. It was built in the 1190s as a palace temple of Grand Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest of Vladimir and is decorated on the outside with engravings of plants and animals, while the interior still retains fragments of frescos by Andrey Rublev.
Duration: 3-4 hours | Transportation: by a car
Night in Vladimir.
7 DAY / VLADIMIR - VELIKY NOVGOROD
Breakfast in the hotel.
Morning transfer to the railway station.
High-speed train to Novgorod. You will cross Vladimir, Moscow and Tver region during the trip.
Duration: 5.5 hours
Upon arrival a transfer from the station to the hotel. Distance: 75km
Night in Veliky Novgorod
8 DAY / VELIKY NOVGOROD - ST PETERSBURG
Breakfast in the hotel.
Tour of Novgorod Veliky - the historical centre of Novgorod Veliky is also like an open-air museum, which gives you an excellent impression of an ancient Rus city. The city became the capital of Rus when Ryurik is said to have chosen it as his base in 862. In later centuries it became the centre of the Novgorod Republic, an important trading state ruled by a semi-democratic body known as the veche, who elected (and frequently disposed of) their prince. As part of this tour you will, of course, visit the Novgorod Kremlin and its magnificent St Sophia’s Cathedral, but also go to the city’s outskirts to visit the ancient Yuriev Monastery and the neighbouring, open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture.
Duration: 4 hours
Evening transfer to St Petersburg hotel. Distance: 192km
Night in St Petersburg.
9 DAY / ST PETERSBURG CITY TOUR AND HERMITAGE
Breakfast in the hotel.
City tour around St Petersburg - the highlights of the tour include:
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Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral - one of the city's most famous landmarks with its instantly recognisable semi-circular colonnade with 96 columns.
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Peter the Great Monument (The Bronze Horseman) - the most famous monument in St Petersburg and one of its most recognisable symbols. It was a gift from Catherine the Great to the city..
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Field of Mars - a memorial field where many revolutionaries were buried and also where the first eternal flame in Russia was ignited.
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Rostral columns - symbols of the city which were used as lighthouses up until 1885.
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St Michael’s Castle (exterior) – a residence built for Emperor Paul, where he was subsequently assassinated.
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Anichkov Bridge – one of St Petersburg’s most beautiful bridges decorated with four statues of youths taming wild horses.
The city tour also includes:
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Guided 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 (Winter Palace) - this is 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 interior of the palace outshines 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: 7-8 hours | Transportation: by a car
10 DAY / ST PETERSBURG CATHEDRALS
Breakfast in the hotel.
Tour of the Cathedral on the spilt Blood. The collection of mosaics making up the interior of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood Cathedral is one of the largest in Europe. Mosaics cover all of the interiors of the cathedral, and the production of these masterpieces delayed the completion of the work on the cathedral by ten years! Famous Russian masters such as Vasnetsov, Nesterov, Belyaev, Kharlamov, Zhuravlev and Ryabushkin participated in producing sketches for the mosaics. Even the iconostasis consists of mosaics.
Tour of St Isaac’s Cathedral - another symbol of St Petersburg and one of its famous landmarks. Its dome has been ranked as the fourth largest church dome in the world. Inside it is decorated with lots of different types of marble from different parts of Russia and abroad and of all sorts of shades: ranging from pink to dark red and from white to lemon yellow.
Boat trip along the canals - St Petersburg is often called the Venice of the North due to its canals and from here you can enjoy a whole new view of the city’s landmarks.
Duration: 6 hours | Transportation: walking excursion
11 DAY | DEPARTURE 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.
- 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.
- In cities of the Golden Ring where there are no 4 or 5 star hotels, the calculation includes hotels of 3 or 4 stars.
- 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% |
