2020 New Year Moscow St Petersburg Vladimir Palace Flights 5* Hotels Full Board

DAY 1 - December 27, 2020:
Flight from Paris CDG Included to Moscow. Upon arrival, our transfer service will be welcoming our clients at the exit of Moscow Airports. Please send us in advance your flight itinerary in order to make sure we are coming to the right time, and airport). Driving to your 5* deluxe hotel located in the heart of Moscow.

The first evening is yours to do what pleases you (as we do not know what time our customers are landing in Russia), either relaxing a bit in your hotel room, or walking around Moscow's hotel located in walking distances from many touristic sites, shops, bars and restaurants!

DAY 2 - December 28, 2020:
Breakfast at the hotel
Meet our multilingual guide at the hotel reception

TOWN TOUR
Moscow is the capital of Russia and offers those who discover a unique collection of architectural masterpieces and modern buildings. If you want to learn more about the history of Moscow, our city sightseeing tour is for you. In just a few hours, you will have an overview of the main sights of the city, such as Red Square, the Kremlin, the Victory Park and much more. A great way to discover the largest city in Europe!

Lunch at the restaurant with our guide

WALKING TOUR OF THE RED SQUARE
Even if you have seen this place dozens of times in photos or on television, seeing the red square for real remains a breathtaking experience. During the guided tour, you will have time to take photos of the 73,000 square meters of bricks surrounded by the Walls of the Kremlin, Lenin's Tomb, St Basil's Cathedral, the Door of the Resurrection, the GOUM store and the Historical Museum of the Russian State. Turn left, and you will find yourself in one of the oldest public parks in Moscow - Alexander Gardens. It preserves many precious monuments of Russian architecture: the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the towers of the Kremlin, an obelisk for the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty, sculptures and fountains. A professional guide will tell you the history of this esplanade or in place of the Russian military parade and you will distribute all the information to know about this magical place.

VISIT TO KREMLIN - TERRITORY AND CATHEDRALS
Visit one of the most famous sites in Moscow - the Kremlin. With its red brick walls and its 20 towers each holding a unique story. Since its first construction in 1156 as a wooden fortress on the orders of Grand Duke Iouri Dolgorouki, the Kremlin has been rebuilt several times. Its current appearance dates from 1495 and was designed by the best architects from Russia and Italy. Today, the Kremlin is the residence of the Russian President and the main symbol of the country, revered by all its citizens.

VISIT TO THE CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST-SAVIOR
This tour is a wonderful introduction to the most majestic and grandest cathedral in Moscow. During this visit, you will hear the great facts (known and less known) of its tormented history. It was built for the first time between 1839 and 1883 in memory of the Russian victory over Napoleon I. In 1931, it was blown up and reduced to the state of ruin, then rebuilt again in 2000. It is today among the list of "jewels" of Moscow. The Cathedral of Christ the Savior is considered the main temple of the city.

VISIT TO THE SAINT-BASILE-LE-BIENHEUREUX CATHEDRAL
Saint Basil's Cathedral: The centerpiece of Red Square and one of the most famous buildings in Russia. It was built in 1561 on the orders of the first Russian tsar Ivan the Terrible in memory of the victory over the Khanate of Kazan. Today, you can visit Saint Basil's Cathedral as a museum and see its unique murals, an impressive collection of ancient hand-painted icons and masterpieces of ecclesiastical applied art.

Dinner at the restaurant, and return / transfer to your hotel

Day 3) Moscow, St. Petersburg, December 29, 2020 (Tuesday)
Breakfast at the hotel
Meet our multilingual guide at the hotel reception

METRO TOUR
If you're wondering why the Moscow Metro is considered one of the most famous in the world, this tour is for you! It is a real underground palace, with impressive interiors, statutes and bas-reliefs, monumental and decorative compositions (paintings, mosaics, stained glass and paintings) and large labyrinths. During our visit, we will discover the most remarkable resorts like Komsomolskaya, Kurskaya, Kievskaya and others, with an experienced guide who will give you a complete overview of its fascinating history.

Lunch at the restaurant with our guide

WALK ON ARBAT STREET
Arbat Street is one of the oldest streets in Moscow. Originally a trade route where merchants settled, in the 18th century it became the most prestigious street in Moscow, very popular with artists and the intelligentsia. During the USSR, it was a place known for the organization of underground meetings and demonstrations. This rich history can be seen in this pedestrian route, since it includes elegant buildings, a museum dedicated to Pushkin who lived there, many shops, cafes and nice restaurants, a wall dedicated to the pioneers of Soviet rock as well as the impressive seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A stroll down this long, busy street in the heart of Moscow is therefore unmissable.
  
Transfer to the train station: SAPSAN fast day train Moscow - Saint Petersburg (2nd class ticket)
Welcome and transfer to your 5 * hotel, check-in and well-deserved rest.
In the evening, transfer to your Russian-Cossack folk show!
Dinner (Buffett) with drinks included.
Return to the hotel at the end of the evening.

Day 4) St. Petersburg, December 30, 2020 (Wednesday)
Breakfast at the hotel
Meet our multilingual guide at the hotel reception

TOWN TOUR
For this excursion, a comfortable bus will take you to the foot of the most beautiful monuments of the city, faithful representatives of its history and its preserved architecture. During this panoramic tour of Saint Petersburg, you will learn unique anecdotes and will be able to take memorable photos of major architectural and historical sites such as the famous Nevsky prospect, Kazan Cathedral, Winter Palace, Vasilievsky Island, Saint Isaac's Cathedral, Peter and Paul Fortress, Place du Palais and many others. The three-hour bus tour organized by our travel agency will provide you with a brief but brilliant impression of St. Petersburg.

Lunch at the restaurant with our guide

VISIT TO THE HERMITAGE - THE MAIN BUILDING
It’s hard to imagine a trip to St. Petersburg without visiting one of the most famous museums in the world: the Hermitage. Its priceless collection occupies 5 historic buildings, of which the Winter Palace, former residence of the Russian royal family, is the most remarkable of all. Its rooms, decorated with marble and gold, provide a beautiful background to the treasures of the Hermitage. You may be surprised to know that the collection of this unique museum contains more than 3 million exhibits, including paintings by Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael and other famous artists; however, the collections of Egyptian, Oriental and Ancient Greek art should not be missed. You will be literally overwhelmed by the beauty of the museum and will never forget this magnificent and legendary place.

Dinner at the restaurant, and return / transfer to your hotel

Day 5) St. Petersburg, December 31, 2020 (Thursday)
Breakfast at the hotel
Meet our multilingual guide at the hotel reception

VISIT TO CATHERINE PALACE AND POUCHKINE PARK
The Summer Palace is the heart of Tsarskoe Selo (Tsar Village). It is one of the most picturesque parks among the main residences of the Russian Emperors. Here you should feel the atmosphere of Royal life in its entirety. It's hard to believe that almost everything inside the palace is the result of careful restoration, which was only finished 8 years ago. Nowadays, the legend of the amber room, where this varnish covering the walls in a magnificent and bright style, like the radiant interiors, finally came back to life after the damage of the Second World War. Tourists from all over the world come to Pushkin Park to see the wonderful park and the Catherine Palace, definitely one of the most impressive places in Saint Petersburg.

Lunch at the restaurant with our guide

Return to the hotel to prepare, because this Gala night will be full of surprises, from 8:30 p.m. until 4:00 a.m. Program sent by email, with menu, festivities, etc. Do not hesitate to contact us to get the program

Transfer to Vladimir Palace at 8:30 p.m.
Evening in your PRIVATE VIP lounge at the Palace with views of the Neva, Paul and Pierre Fortress, Fireworks...

Day 6) St. Petersburg, January 1, 2021 (Friday)
Breakfast at the hotel
Meet our multilingual guide at the hotel reception

VISIT OF THE YOUSSOUPOV PALACE
The Yusupovs were one of the most powerful and wealthy aristocratic families in Imperial Russia. Today you can discover their way of life and the habits of their palaces on the banks of the Moika River. You will wander through what remains of their unique collection of works of art, decorating the halls and rooms, as well as a theater, from where a special performance can be organized on request for up to 180 people. The Yusupov Palace is also famous for being the place where Grigori Rasputin was assassinated. A special exhibition tells the story of this macabre event.
Late afternoon / Dinner at the restaurant
Return to your hotel

Day 7) St. Petersburg, January 2, 2021 (Saturday)
Breakfast at the hotel
VISIT OF THE CHURCH OF THE SAVIOR ON SPILLED BLOOD
Located at the edge of the Griboedova Canal, a stone's throw from Nevsky prospect, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood and its Russian Renewal style contrasts with the classic and baroque decor of Saint Petersburg. It was erected on the site of the attack which cost Tsar Alexander II's life on March 13, 1881. If the exterior is an astonishing assembly of shapes and colors, the interior of the church is itself also, a pure wonder, whose mosaics will tell you the history of the New Testament.

VISIT TO THE SAINT-ISAAC CATHEDRAL
St. Isaac's is one of the largest churches in St. Petersburg. Its construction took 40 years, it remains today in the city center, one of the most impressive buildings. Inside the cathedral, you can visit an exhibition that tells the incredible story of its construction, represented by authentic historical documents, plans and models.

VISIT TO THE NOTRE-DAME CATHEDRAL OF KAZAN
Kazan Cathedral was built in 1811 and is associated with the victory of Russia over Napoleon in 1812. Its monumental construction designed in a classic Russian style strongly resembles the great Saint Paul Cathedral in Rome. This resemblance is not due to chance - Emperor Pavel Premier wanted his city to look like elegant Italy. The 96 columns of the cathedral facing the Nevsky prospect greet people. The museum, located inside the cathedral, presents many vestiges of the great patriotic war, including the banners and the heart of Marshal Koutouzov. You will have the opportunity to see his relics and perhaps attend services within this Orthodox Church. In addition, the small park near the cathedral is the ideal place to feed birds and meet local citizens.

Lunch at the restauranrt with our guide

VISIT TO THE SAINT-ALEXANDRE-NEVSKI MONASTERY
The largest male monastery in the city welcomes you to the western edge of Nevsky Prospect. Rumors say that this monastery was built by Peter the Great himself. Now open to tourists, you can visit the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and the Church of the Annunciation - two remarkable examples of 18th century Russian architecture. The "Alexander Nevsky Lavra" is also famous for its cemeteries, where prominent Russians such as Tchaikovsky and Dostoevsky are buried.

SMOLNY CATHEDRAL
This Baroque cathedral is one of the most beautiful in the city. It was built in 1764 by the famous architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli, to be the home of Elisabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great. Unfortunately, when Catherine II ascended the throne, after Elizabeth's death, she did not allow the architect to finish his work because she was hostile to the monument and its baroque style. The monument was finished in 1835 by Vasily Stasov. The church was closed during the Soviet period, it was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church in 2015, and services resumed. You will be impressed by the incredible view from the bell tower.

Day 8) St. Petersburg, January 3, 2021 (Sunday)
Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to Pulkovo Airport, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Flight back from St Petersburg to Paris CDG included
Airport Code: LED
Departure to your final destination

* The schedule of the tours can be switch as per the Christmas Russian holidays, but all your guided tours will be completed. Optional tours are available on demand, with transfers, or even only transfers to places, please ask us before arrival via email, thank you. All rates are subject to change in case of EUR/USD/RUB exchange rates fluctuations more than 5% compared to the official Russian Central Bank rate established on 01.03.2020 unless deposit or full payment is already done.