WONDERFUL RUSSIA
07 Nights 08Days
Day 1: St.Petersburg
• ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT
• CHECK-IN AT THE HOTEL
• TRANSFER FROM THE AIRPORT
• OVERNIGHT IN THE HOTEL
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Day 2: St.Petersburg
• BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL
PUSHKIN (PALACE AND PARK)
The Summer Palace is the heart of Tsarskoe Selo (Tsar’s Village) – one of the most picturesque parks among the former residences of the Russian Emperors. Here you may feel the atmosphere of the Royal way of life in its entire magnificence. It is hard to believe that almost everything inside the palace is a result of a careful restoration, which has been finished just 8 years ago. Nowadays the legendary Amber Room, where this precious resin covered the walls in a magnificent and shining style, as well as the radiant interiors have finally regained their former splendor after they suffered from severe damages during World War II. Today tourists from all over the world come to the Pushkin to see the marvelous park and Catherine’s Palace, definitely one of the most impressive highlights of every visit to Saint Petersburg
• FREE TIME FOR LUNCH
PETER AND PAUL FORTRESS
Peter and Paul Fortress is the place of birth of Saint Petersburg, here began the foundation of this beautiful city. Today it is home to several museums, which exhibit to everyone the splendid history of Saint-Petersburg’s foundation and growth. Here you may visit main museums like the Peter and Paul cathedral – the tallest building in the city center and the burial place of members of the Imperial family – the Grand Ducan Mausoleum, the Boathouse, the Artillery Armory, the Mint, Engineering and Commandant’s house, guardhouse and many others. The fortress also used to be a political prison as you may see during a visit to its casemates, in the XIX in became the main political prison of Russia
CRUISE BY NEVA RIVER AND CANALS
Saint-Petersburg is aptly called “North Venice”: a boat tour on its rivers and canals is an absolute must-do there. Breathtaking views from the water and bridges over the city architecture are worth seeing. During this tour, you will see all the main points of interest of Saint-Petersburg from water and hear the stories about its most famous bridges such as Anichkov bridge and Bridge with Golden Gryphons. You will travel along the canals and see such jewels of the city as St. Isaac Cathedral, The Church of our Saviour on the Spilled Blood, and other places than will mesmerize you and make your visit to the city unforgettable.
• OVERNIGHT IN THE HOTEL
Day 3: St.Petersburg
• BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL
PETERHOF (PALACE AND PARK)
Located on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, 34 kilometers from St.Petersburg, spectacular Peterhof attracts thousands of tourists with its parks, palaces, and, mainly, fountains. Among the suburban parks, Peterhof is probably the most famous for its fountains and is thus frequently compared to Versailles. ‘The Samson’ of the Grand Cascade is the most powerful and magnificent one and thus has been made a symbol of the park. As a former residence of the Emperors, Peterhof is also the home of several palaces with the Grand Palace as its main landmark. It had been destroyed by the Nazis and then carefully restored as to exhibit the splendor of the Royal way of life. You will see the halls, brightly decorated with gold, marble, and numerous mirrors. The beauty of Peterhof, its marvelous fountains and palaces have left nobody indifferent, and you will probably be no exception
• FREE TIME FOR LUNCH
HERMITAGE. WINTER PALACE (MAIN COLLECTION)
It is hard to imagine a trip to Saint Petersburg without visiting one of the most famous museums worldwide – the State Hermitage. Its priceless collection occupies 5 historical buildings of which the Winter Palace – the former residence of the Russian Royal family – is the most remarkable. Its rooms, decorated with marble and gold provide a fine background for the treasures of the Hermitage. You might be surprised to know that the collection of this unique museum contains over 3 million exhibits including the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael and other famous artists; however, the collections of the Egyptian, Oriental, and Ancient Greek art should not be missed as well. You will be overwhelmed by the beauty of the museum and will never forget this magnificent and legendary place
• OVERNIGHT IN THE HOTEL
Day 4: Moscow
• BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL
CITY TOUR
During the tour, you will be taken to the most precious monuments of the city’s rich history and original architecture carefully preserved as the world’s cultural heritage. You will be able to hear amazing stories and to take fine pictures of the main architectural and historical sites like Nevsky prospect, the Kazan Cathedral, the Winter Palace, Vasilievsky Island, St. Isaac Cathedral, Peter and Paul Fortress, the Senate Square and the Palace Square. The 3-hour sightseeing tour will allow you to get a brief but bright impression of Saint Petersburg.
• FREE TIME FOR LUNCH
• TRANSFER TO THE RAILWAY STATION
• SAPSAN TRAIN SAINT PETERSBURG – MOSCOW (2ND CLASS)
• CHECK-OUT OF THE HOTEL
• TRANSFER FROM THE RAILWAY STATION
• OVERNIGHT IN THE HOTEL
Day 5: Moscow
• BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL
CITY TOUR
Moscow is the capital of the Russian Federation and represents a unique set of old architecture masterpieces and modern high-tech buildings. If you want to know more about the history of the Russian capital, you need to take this City tour! In only a few hours, you will have a glimpse of its main landmarks, such as the Red Square, the Kremlin, the Victory Park, the White House, the Arbat, Cathedral Christ-the-Saviour, the observation platform of Sparrow hills, Lomonosov University and much more! It is an interesting and efficient introduction to Europe’s biggest city.
• FREE TIME FOR LUNCH
NOVODEVICHY CONVENT
Founded by Tsar Vasily III in 1524 the Novodevichy Convent is the oldest existing convents of Moscow. It is a breathtaking ensemble of fortified monasteries built for the women of the royal and noble families, among whom was the sister of Peter the Great Tsarevna Sophia. The Convent has faced a lot of troubles: from the attack of Napoleon to transformation into the Museum of Women’s Emancipation by the Bolsheviks. Today you have an opportunity to discover its perfectly preserved interior decorations, frescoes, icons, and tapestries which make it one of the most beautiful monasteries of Russia
METRO TOUR
If you wonder why the Moscow metro is considered one of the most beautiful in the world, this tour is for you! It constitutes a vast museum of underground palaces with impressive interiors, statues and reliefs, monumental and decorative compositions (paintings, mosaics, stained glass, and painting) and numerous labyrinths. During the tour, you will visit the most remarkable stations like Komsomolskaya, Kurskaya, Kievskaya, and others, with the experienced guide who will bring you a full insight into their fascinating history.
• OVERNIGHT IN THE HOTEL
Day 6: Moscow
• BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL
RED SQUARE WALKING TOUR
Even if you have seen this place and its landmarks dozens of times, it will be a breathtaking experience to see it in real life. During the walking tour, you will have the time to take pictures of this 73,000 square meters brick-paved square surrounded by the Kremlin Walls, Lenin’s Tomb, St Basil’s Cathedral, Resurrection gate, GUM superstore, and the Russian State Historical Museum. Turn to the left, and find yourself in one of the oldest urban public parks in Moscow – Alexander Garden. It keeps a lot of valuable architectural monuments: Kutafia tower of the Kremlin, Italian grotto, an obelisk to the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty, as well as sculptures, fountains, and mosaics based on popular fairytales. The guide will tell you about the numerous important historical events, which took place on the Red square and bring you all around it to discover from different points of view
KREMLIN (TERRITORY AND CATHEDRALS)
Visit one of the most well-known sights of Moscow – the Kremlin with its red brick walls and 20 towers holding their unique history. Since its first construction in 1156 as a wooden fortress by the order of Grand Duke Yuri Dolgoruky, it has been rebuilt several times. The current appearance was formed in 1495 by the best architects of Russia and Italy. Today Kremlin is the residence of Russian President and the main symbol of the country, revered by all of its citizens
• FREE TIME FOR LUNCH
SAINT BASIL’S CATHEDRAL
St. Basil Cathedral – the centerpiece of the Red Square and one of the most famous landmarks of Russia. It was constructed in 1561 by the order of the first Russian tsar Ivan the Terrible in the memory of victory on Kazan’s Khanate. Today you may visit St. Basil Cathedral as the museum and see its unique wall paintings, an impressive collection of ancient Russian icon painting, and masterpieces of ecclesiastical applied art. Our company can also organize private excursions and tasting sessions of Russian tea from samovar with pies for the visitors of St. Basil Cathedral for maximum of 30 pax.
CHRIST THE SAVIOUR CATHEDRAL
Revisit the key cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. Its significantly dramatic past is an integral part of the history of Russia. Consecrated in 1883 to commemorate the victory over Napoleon, the original was torn to the ground by the Soviet government in 1931 and replicated in 2000. Today, it is the biggest Orthodox cathedral in Russia, providing enough room for up to 10,000 people. You will see valuable artifacts inside such as war relics and centuries-old icons and enjoy sweeping views of the city center
• OVERNIGHT IN THE HOTEL
Day 7: Moscow
• BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL
IZMAILOVO KREMLIN
In only five metro stations away from the bustling center of Moscow, there is a cozy place with a welcoming atmosphere of real Russian farmstead – Izmailovo Kremlin. It is a unique authentic complex that combines museums (museums of vodka, bread, chocolate, Russian toys), art workshops, markets, and a variety of different opportunities for entertainment. The architecture of the center itself deserves special attention: the Kremlin is very colorful, and inside the territory, there are authentic wooden buildings in the traditional Russian style. Moreover, it is the perfect place to buy traditional souvenirs like matryoshkas, stamps, hats, shawls, and other garments
VODKA MUSEUM IN IZMAILOVO
Vodka Museum, located in beautiful Izmailovo Kremlin, will give you a full picture of Russian drinking traditions from old times to modern ones. In three rooms there are many different items associated with vodka and objects you can drink it from. Probably the most interesting part for foreign tourists is an exhibition of bottles that are common for vodka storing in villages even nowadays. During the excursion, you will hear a lot of interesting stories about the famous Russian drink and the myths surrounding it. At the end of the tour, you will have an opportunity to participate in the degustation of different tastes of vodka
• FREE TIME FOR LUNCH
GUM DEPARTMENT STORE EXCURSION
GUM (State Department Store) is considered the main department store in Russia. It is located in a stunning historical building on Red Square and this is one of the most famous landmarks of Moscow. The first grand opening of the store took place in 1893. It symbolized the beginning of a new era for Moscow and was to become the largest, most fashionable, and technically advanced European Department store. During this tour you will learn the fascinating history of GUM: how it was transformed and rebuilt several times, why Stalin was willing to destroy it, and what stopped him, it is just endless! Today GUM is among the favorite places to spend free time for residents of the capital and a must-visit for tourists.
BIG CIRCUS ON VERNADSKOGO
Big Moscow Circus is considered the largest in the world. It was built in 1971 as a new attraction for the growing number of tourists coming to the capital. Those days circus had several technical innovations, such as the unique and secret system of interchangeable arenas, which is still looking impressive not only for the audience but also for experienced engineers. There are 5 arenas: horse, ice, water, magic, and light, which just in a few minutes replace each other. Show program is very diverse and delightful – jugglers, acrobats, gymnasts, adorable animals, and much more! The performances are very popular not only in Russia: artists regularly have tours in foreign countries.
• OVERNIGHT IN THE HOTEL
Day 8: Moscow
• BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL
• CHECK-OUT OF THE HOTEL
• TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT
• DEPARTURE FROM THE AIRPORT
