Classic St. Petersburg

5 days and 4 nights

  • Schedule
    Tour can be started on any day
  • Languages
    English-speaking guide is guaranteed. Other languages are on request.
  • Accommodation
    The following hotel options are available:
    3 stars - 4 stars - 5 stars
  • PRIVATE TOUR
    This is a private tour, there won't be other people in your group
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Itinerary

The order of excursions may be changed in accordance to museum work schedules and your flight details. On some occasions, there may be two excursions on the same day.

Day 1

Arrival in St. Petersburg

On arrival in St. Petersburg you will be met by our friendly representative who will escort you by car or mini bus to your hotel. On the way to the hotel, you will have the opportunity to get your first glimpse of this truly unique and beautiful city.

Welcome to St. Petersburg, the former capital of Imperial Russia, home of the Tsars and one of the world's most beautiful and romantic cities. St. Petersburg was founded by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703 on the banks of the Neva River and the Gulf of Finland. The city has seen its share of historical events including the Decembrist revolt, the palace coup and murder of Tsar Paul I, the intrigues of Catherine the Great, the assassination Tsar Alexander II, the influence of Rasputin on the Russian royal family, the Revolution of 1905 and the October Revolution of 1917 which brought the communists to power. During WWII, the city then known as Leningrad, went through a harrowing two and a half year blockade and siege by the Nazi invaders resulting in the deaths of over 1 million of its citizens. Today, St. Petersburg is Russia's second largest city with a population of over 5 million. It is also known as the center of Russian art, culture and literature - former citizens included Pushkin and Dostoevsky just to name a few. The entire city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is full of beautiful palaces and monuments including the Winter Palace. The city is also known as the Venice of the North because of its location on various islands in the Neva River and its many canals and bridges. St. Petersburg is home to the world famous Hermitage Museum which contains one of the world's largest collections of art including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt, Matisse, Picasso as well as many other old masters and impressionists. We are sure that you will find St. Petersburg one of the most if not the most fascinating places you have ever visited. Welcome to this most beautiful and mysterious of cities.

Day 2

Breakfast at the hotel

Panoramic City Tour. This tour is a great start to your trip and the best way to get acquainted with all of the city's major highlights. Our professional guide will take you down Nevsky Prospect, St. Petersburg´s most famous and vibrant thoroughfare. There you will see many of the city's most interesting architectural monuments including the Kazan Cathedral and the Winter Palace. You will then proceed to Vasilevsky Island - the area of the city that Peter the Great originally planned to be the city center. This island juts out into the Gulf of Finland - reminding you of St. Petersburg's close proximity to the sea and maritime history. The tour will include a visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress - a symbol of St. Petersburg and also the oldest building in the city. While there, you will visit Peter and Paul Cathedral, the burial place of the Russian Tsars from Peter the Great onward. You will then be taken back to your hotel to relax.

Lunch in a local restaurant (optional)

Visit to the Hermitage. In the afternoon we will head to one of the greatest and largest art museums in the world - the Hermitage. The museum consists of five historical buildings including the Winter Palace - the residence of the Russian Tsars. The museum contains over 3 million pieces of art with dates ranging from high antiquity to the present day. Among the Hermitage's treasures are artworks by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens as well as many others. We will spend 3 hours at the museum, however, to view the collection in its entirety would take almost 15 years, spending 8 hours a day in the museum and taking one minute to examine each exhibit.

Day 3

Breakfast at the hotel

Visit to Catherine PalaceThe Palace and Park of Tsarskoye Selo is a former country residence of the Russian emperors. It is a fascinating example of European architectural and gardening arts of the XVIII-XIX centuries. Its 3 parks occupy an area of 600 hectares on which are located over 100 architectural monuments: from magnificent palaces and grand monuments to intimate pavilions and park sculptures designed by masters of the Venetian school such as P. Baratta, A. Tarsia and D. Bonazza. The center of Tsarskoye Selo is Catherine Palace, containing exquisite decorative objects, furniture, Russian and Western-European paintings, unique collections of porcelain, amber, arms and decorative bronze sculptures. The Palace also contains the Amber Room - a truly unique work of craftsmanship – a room made entirely of amber. The room was looted by the Nazi’s during WWII but luckily most of its pieces were recovered. The room was fully rebuilt in 2003. Tsarskoye Selo was also the main residence of the last Tsar Nicolas II and his family.

Day 4

Breakfast at the hotel

Visit to Peterhof. The town of Peterhof (Petrodvorets) with its beautiful parks, palaces and fountains is a jewel of Russian history, art and culture. Before the Russian Revolution, it was used as an exquisite summer residence by the Russian Tsars. You will visit the Grand Palace - the largest and the most famous building of the Imperial residence which was often used for gala receptions. After this you will proceed to the Lower Park (Nizhny Park) which is a genuine masterpiece of landscape design. The park is adorned with more than 150 fountains and 4 monumental cascades. There are several small palaces and pavilions on the park territory, such as the Monplaisir, Catherine's Block, Marli, Hermitage, the Bath Block and many more. You can also take a walk to the edge of the grounds to enjoy a magnificent view of the Gulf of Finland

Day 5

Alexander Nevsky Lavra, St Petersburg, Russia
Amiralty, St Petersburg, Russia

Breakfast at the hotel
Hotel check out
Transfer to airport

Say goodbye to St. Petersburg, the Venice of the North and one of the most interesting and colorful cities in the world. We hope to welcome you back to Russia sometime in the future. Do Svidaniya or until we meet again!

Accommodation

Below you can see a list of hotels that we most frequently use for our tours. All the hotels are located in city centre, close to sightseeing, shopping and dining areas. In case these hotels are not available on your travel dates we will offer alternatives of a similar quality.

St. Petersburg
Kristoff Hotel
  • Restaurant
  • Room Service
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Non-smoking Rooms
Kristoff Hotel

The new cozy Kristoff Hotel is located in the city center of St. Petersburg and has a very nice homestyle atmosphere making it a great place for both tourists and business travelers. The staff strives to fulfill even the most demanding customers´ needs. The hotel is located not far from the city´s central market, jazz club and the famous Troika restaurant.

M Hotel
  • Bar
  • Restaurant
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Non-smoking Rooms
M Hotel

"M Hotel" is a conveniently located inexpensive and comfortable hotel in the heart of St. Petersburg. The hotel is situated within the Golden Triangle district close to the Hermitage, the Kazan Cathedral, the Russian museum etc. There are lots of cute cafes and restaurants nearby. "M hotel" features 54 rooms including 3 suites and 8 superior rooms. Stay at this hotel, and you will definitely visit St. Petersburg again!

Golden Triangle
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Non-smoking Rooms
Golden Triangle

The hotel is located in the very heart of the city, actually in the central area with major places of interest that is usually called The Golden Triangle. So if you are a guest of this hotel all landmarks and tourist attractions are just minutes of walk away. Moreover, in addition to its great location the hotel boasts of its cozy and comfortable rooms.

Rossi
  • Spa
  • Bar
  • Restaurant
  • Indoor Pool
  • Room Service
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Non-smoking Rooms
Rossi

The Rossi Hotel is situated in the heart of a world-known architectural ensemble of ulitsa Zodchego Rossi (Architect Rossi street). Opened in 2007, the hotel inherited the best traditions of the Russian hospitality. The comfort and luxury of its rooms are well-combined with modern technologies, that makes your stay in the hotel a pleasant experience.

Domina St Petersburg
  • Bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness Center
  • Room Service
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Non-smoking Rooms
Domina St Petersburg

Domina Saint-Petersburg is the first Russian 5-star hotel of the well-known Italian chain. It is located just 8 minutes' walk from St. Isaac's Cathedral and offers air-conditioned rooms of classic design with free Wi-Fi and tea/coffee making facilities. The hotel is not huge (100+ rooms on 7 storeys), but still has its own restaurant Arcobaleno with a separate street entrance, which serves mainly Italian cuisine. As the hotel is in the very city centre with a limited parking lot on the street there is an underground parking at your convenience.

Petro Palace
  • Bar
  • Restaurant
  • Indoor Pool
  • Fitness Center
  • Non-smoking Rooms
Petro Palace

This comfortable hotel opened in 2005 and is located in the historical center of Saint Petersburg on Malaya Morskaya Street within several-minute walk from the city´s main street - Nevsky Prospect and the city´s main sights of interest - Palace Square, The Hermitage, Saint Isaac´s Cathedral, The Admiralty, Kazansky Cathedral, the Peter and Paul Fortress, and others. The Hotel is located in an old, famous, fully renovated building protected as a historic landmark. The hotel has all modern amenities and is rated as a 4-star hotel.

Included Sightseeing

These sights are included into the standard package:

St. Petersburg
Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin)
Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin)

The Palace and Park of Tsarskoye Selo is a former country residence of the Russian Emperors. Its three parks occupy an area of 600 hectares and have over 100 architectural monuments: from magnificent palaces and grand monuments to intimate pavilions and park sculptures. The center of Tsarskoye Selo is Catherine Palace containing exquisite decorative objects, furniture, Russian and Western-European paintings, unique collections of porcelain, amber, arms and bronze sculptures. The palace is also home to one of the world's most exquisite pieces of architectural and decorative art, the Amber Room, an entire room made of amber panels, mirrors and gold leaf with a fascinating history.

Peterhof
Peterhof

Peterhof is a jewel of Russian art - a town of parks, palaces and fountains. In the past, it was used as an exquisite summer residence by the Russian Tsars. The Upper Gardens and the Lower Park are genuine masterpieces of landscape design. They include over 150 fountains and 4 monumental cascades. Within the park, there are 10 museums: the Grand Palace, Monplaisir, Catherine's Block, Marli, Hermitage, the church of St. Alexander Nevsky (Gothic Capella), the Benois family museum, the Cottage, the Bath Block including Tafeldecker and Kaffeeschenk Rooms, the Kitchen and the Museum of Collectors.

Peter and Paul Fortress
Peter and Paul Fortress

The fortress was founded by Peter the Great in 1703. Besides the ancient fortifications, the fortress includes the Peter and Paul Cathedral, built in the early XVIII century. The cathedral includes the burial vault of Peter the Great and other Russian Tsars, the museum of Trubetskoy Bastion prison and the expositions: The History of St. Petersburg, History of the Imperial Mint as well as a printing workshop and the museum of space exploration and missilery. It is also possible to walk along the walls of the fortress and observe the fabulous architecture of the surrounding areas. Any tour to St. Petersburg is not complete without a visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress.

Nevsky Prospekt
Nevsky Prospekt

Nevsky Prospekt is St. Petersburg's main street. It stretches from the Admilarty building up to Alexander Nevsky Monastery. St. Petersburg was the first city in Russia to be built in accordance to a plan with Nevsky Prospect being a central part of the original plan. This is one of the oldest streets of the city and each building here has a rich history behind it. Kazan Catherdal, Stroganov Palace, the Zinger building, Eliseevsky Store - are just some of the famous buildings that you can see on Nevsky.

Hermitage Museum
Hermitage Museum

The Hermitage is one of the greatest museums in the world. The museum consists of five historical buildings including the Winter Palace - the residence of the Russian Tsars. The museum contains over 3 million pieces of art with dates ranging from high antiquity to the present day. Among the Hermitage's treasures are artworks by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens and many others.

Optional Sightseeing

You can enrich your experience by adding the following extra tours:

St. Petersburg
Pavlovsk, Russia
Photo by Elena Nechiporenko website Pixabay
Tour to Pavlovsk, Tsar Pauls stronghold

Duration: 4 hours

St. Isaacs Cathedral, St Petersburg, Russia
Photo by  jacqueline macou website Pixabay
St. Isaacs Cathedral walking tour

Duration: 1 hour

The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, St Petersburg, Russia
Photo by DEZALB website Pixabay
Cathedral of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood walking tour

Duration: 1 hour

City of canals, St. Petersburg, Russia
Boat Excursion Along the Canals of St. Petersburg

Duration: 1 hour

Embankment view, St Petersburg, Russia
Photo by Q K website Pixabay
Boat Excursion Along the Canals of St. Petersburg

Duration: 1 hour

Prices and Terms

Low Jan 11th - Mar 31st, Nov 1st - Dec 22nd
  hotel 3 stars hotel 4 stars hotel 5 stars
1 $1761 $2028 $2229
2 $965 $1169 $1270
3 - 4 $854 $1048 $1149
5 - 6 $701 $893 $980
single supplement $203 $233 $316
Shoulder Apr 1st - Apr 30th, Oct 1st - Oct 31st
  hotel 3 stars hotel 4 stars hotel 5 stars
1 $1842 $2280 $2588
2 $1005 $1295 $1449
3 - 4 $895 $1174 $1328
5 - 6 $741 $1005 $1159
single supplement $237 $264 $368
High May 1st - Sep 30th, Dec 23rd - Jan 10th
  hotel 3 stars hotel 4 stars hotel 5 stars
1 $2403 $2908 $3160
2 $1286 $1610 $1735
3 - 4 $1175 $1488 $1614
5 - 6 $1021 $1319 $1445
single supplement $374 $453 $528

*Prices are per person based on double occupancy in a specific hotel. You should add a single supplement to the price in case you travel in a group but stay in a single room. We offer discounts for groups of 7 or more. To inquire about group rates, please contact us.

Prices include:

  • Tickets to all museums
  • Transportation to museums and for excursions
  • Private guides
  • Hotel accommodation
  • Transfers according to the program
  • Breakfast at hotel
  • Free visa invitation - the document necessary for obtaining a Russian visa when applying for one at the local Russian Consulate in your country.

PLEASE NOTE: your passport should be valid for no less than 6 months after the planned departure from Russia and it should have at least 2 blank pages. The process of applying for visa may take a while and we recommend that you start 3 months before your trip. In case you are booking the trip last minute, we recommend that you check with the Russian Consulate in your country whether you have enough time for the visa application process. In case you have to cancel your trip because of visa issues, our standard cancellation policy will apply.

Included sightseeing:

  • Panoramic city tour with visit to Peter and Paul Fortress
  • Visit to the Hermitage 
  • Trip to Peterhof Palace and Park
  • Tour of Catherine Palce and Park

Tour dates are flexible. Tours can be customized to your taste. We can include additional excursions or performances on your request. We can also mix and match and adjust the accommodation to any hotel of your choice.

Prices do not include:

  • Visa processing costs. For US, UK, Australian, Indian and Canadian citizens, our company offers Full Visa Support. With Full Visa Support, you send us your passport and other documentation and we obtain the Russian visa for you.
  • International airfare. Our Russian tours are offered as land only where you arrange your own airfare and we meet you at the airport and handle everything else.
  • Optional services and theater tickets
  • Travel insurance. We highly recommend to purchase travel insurance before embarking on your trip to Russia. It’s always good to have extra protection while traveling far from home. Click here to learn more.

Payment policy:

To book a tour, 30% deposit is required at the time of booking. The trip must be fully paid 31 days before departure.

Cancellation policy:

  • 61 or more days before departure - a fee equal to 15% of the entire package will be charged.
  • 60-15 days before departure - a fee equal to 30% of the entire package will be charged.
  • 14 days or less before departure or no-show - a fee equal to 100% of the package will be charged.

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