Join-in Tour: Highlights Of St. Petersburg And Moscow (platinum Program)

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Moscow

Stop At: Moscow, Moscow, Central Russia
Meeting at the airport and transfer to one of the best hotels in the center of Moscow.
Duration: 1 hour

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: 5-star hotel

Day 2: Highlights of Moscow and a visit to the Kremlin

Stop At: Sparrow Hills (Vorobyovy Gory), Moscow 119270 Russia
Sparrow (Vorobyovy) Hills is the 80 meter high bank of the Moscow river, located at the spectacular river band. It is popular for the best panorama of the city of Moscow, seen from the observation point there. You can see the contemporary towers of the Moscow city business district, Stalin's 7 sister skyscrapers, Novodevichiy convent complex, Luzhniki sport arena - the main stadium of Moscow 1980 Olympics, the red towers of Kremlin in the distance and many more. The hills are crowned by the impressive structure of Moscow University.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Volkhonka, 15, Moscow 119019 Russia
Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is a massive white church with the golden dome, built on the high hill by the Moscow river. The current church is the 1997 reconstruction of the old 1883 cathedral, turned down by the Bolsheviks after the revolution. The place was selected by Stalin as a location for the Congress palace, intended to be the tallest building in the world.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Red Square, Moscow 109012 Russia
Red in Old Russian also stands for beautiful. So this name marks the beauty of the square, rather than the color of the Kremlin walls or the Soviet history. The Red square is beautiful by day or by night framed by the GUM building and the tall Kremlin wall.
Duration: 50 minutes

Stop At: Aleksandrovskiy Sad, Near Kremlin, Moscow 119072 Russia
The garden is named after the Russian emperor Alexander the 1st. It appeared when Moscow was rebuilt after the war with Napoleon. The garden is located on the place of the Neglinka river, currently hidden underground, which protected the fort’s walls. The most important memorial of the garden is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with the eternal flame – Russia’s most important WW2 memorial.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Saint Basil's Cathedral, Red Square 2, Moscow 109012 Russia
Beautiful and ornate St. Basils is what you think is Russia. Dating to the times of Ivan the Terrible, this church is a true decoration of the Red square, which creates the unique Russian feel there. Unlike the similar church in St. Petersburg, St. Basil’s inside is a network of the small chapels, each dedicated to the different saint or holiday. Please note the church has numerous stairs with high steps.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Manezhnaya Square, Moscow, Russia, 109012
Manezhnaya (Manege) square is large square near the Alexander’s garden named after Manege – the large structure, currently used for exhibitions. The huge underground mall was constructed here in 1990th, so now it’s a great place for the easy walk or rest. There is a long fountain complex between the square and the garden, inspired by the characters of the Russian fairy tales.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: GUM, Red Square, 3 Metro Ploshchad Revolyutsii, Moscow 109012 Russia
GUM is a large mall, located on the Red Square. The current building appeared in the end of 19th century. You can find special ice-cream stalls or the traditional Soviet sparkling water kiosks inside. The galleries of GUM are always decorated according to the season. You can find brands like Prada, Chanel, Gucci etc. inside.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Moscow Kremlin, Moscow 103132 Russia
Kremlin began as an ancient fortress, which became the historical and cultural center of the country and the office of the president of Russia. A large part of the Kremlin grounds is open for the tourists. The main attractions are the old cathedrals, where Russian tsars from Ivan the Terrible to Nicholas 2nd were crowned (1 cathedral inside visit), as well as Russia’s largest bell and cannon.
Duration: 40 minutes

Stop At: Tsar Bell and Tsar Cannon, ul. Kreml, Moscow 101000 Russia
Tsar Bell is the largest bell in the world. It weighs 202 tons (445 000 pounds). The bell was created for the bell tower of Kremlin, but was damaged in fire 2 years later.
Tsar Cannon is the largest cannon in Russia and it can shoot the largest cannon balls (890 mm) in the world. It's listed in the Guinness book of records. The cannon was created in 1586 in Moscow.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Armoury Chamber, Dvortsovaya St., 1R, Moscow 103073 Russia
The Armoury Chamber, a treasure house, is a part of the Grand Kremlin Palace's complex. The museum collections were based on the precious items that had been preserved for centuries in the tsars' treasury and the Patriarch’s vestry. Some of the exhibits were made in the Kremlin workshops, others were accepted as ambassadorial gifts.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Stop At: Cathedral Square, ul. Kreml, Moscow 101000 Russia
Cathedral Square - the central square of the Moscow Kremlin, where all its streets converged in the 15th century. The square owes its name to the three cathedrals facing it - the Assumption Cathedral, the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and the Annunciation Cathedral. In addition, it houses the Patriarchal Palace, the Church of the Displacement of Bathrobes and the Church of the Twelve Apostles. The tallest building on the square is Ivan the Great Bell Tower.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: 5-star hotel

Day 3: A visit to the Tretyakov Gallery with a trip by metro, transfer to St. Petersburg by high-speed train Sapsan

Stop At: State Tretyakov Gallery, Lavrushinskiy ln 10, Moscow 119017 Russia
The State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow is one of the largest museums in Russia with over 100 000 works of art - icons, paintings, graphics and sculpture - spanning the entire history of Russian art. Its collection of Russian realism from the second half of the 19th century is the best in the country. The Gallery collection was started by Pavel Tretyakov and became famous from the minute it was opened to the public in 1870.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: 5-star hotel

Day 4: St. Petersburg Highlights

Stop At: Peter and Paul Fortress, Petropavlovskaya Fortress, 3, St. Petersburg 197022 Russia
Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, St. Peter and Paul Fortress is considered to be a unique fortification monument of XVIII-XIX centuries. The citadel in the form of a six-pointed star was constructed according to the project made by the French engineer Zh.G. Lamber with the participation of the tsar.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: University Embankment, Universitetskaya Emb., St. Petersburg 199034 Russia
The architectural ensemble on the University Embankment is rightly recognized as one of the most beautiful in St. Petersburg. On the waterfront, there are magnificent views of the opposite bank of the Neva, the Admiralty, the English Embankment, the dome of St. Isaac's Cathedral, and the landmark monument to Peter the Great, the Bronze Horseman.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Saint Petersburg State University, University Embankment, 7/9, Sankt-Peterburg, Russia, 199034
Saint Petersburg State University is one of the oldest, largest and leading classical universities and one of the most important centers of science, education and culture in Russia.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Palace Bridge, Bolshaya Neva River Emb., St. Petersburg 190000 Russia
Palace Bridge is a drawbridge across the Neva River in St. Petersburg, which connects the central part of the city and Vasilievsky Island.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Senate Square, St. Petersburg 190000 Russia
Senate Square is one of the oldest architectural centers in St. Petersburg.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Bronze Horseman, Monument To Peter I, Dekabristov Square, St. Petersburg Russia
The Bronze Horseman, an impressive monument to the founder of St Petersburg, Peter the Great, stands on Senatskaia Ploshchad (Square), facing the Neva River and surrounded by the Admiralty, St Isaac's Cathedral and the buildings of the former Senate and Synod - the civil and religious governing bodies of pre-revolutionary Russia.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: St. Isaac's Cathedral, St Isaac's Square, 4, Sankt-Peterburg, Russia, 190000
St. Isaac's Cathedral is dedicated to Peter the Great's favorite saint. It is the largest cathedral in Russia and ranks among the largest cathedrals of the world. It was built between 1818 and 1858, by the French-born architect Auguste Montferrand, to be one of the most impressive landmarks of the Russian Imperial capital. It's not only the impressive structure, but also the collection of the greatest engineering innovations. One hundred and eighty years later the gilded dome of St. Isaac's still dominates the skyline of St. Petersburg.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, Griboyedova Kanala Emb., 2B/A, St. Petersburg 191186 Russia
The symbol of Saint Petersburg - onion domed cathedral that stands out from the neo-classical surroundings of the city-center. The church is decorated with lots of mosaics inside and outside, the domes are covered with colorful enamels. The church was built on the very place where Tsar Alexander II was mortally wounded in 1881.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Nevsky Prospekt, Nevsky Avenue, St. Petersburg 191025 Russia
Nevsky Prospect is the main street of St. Petersburg, stretching for 4.5 km from the Admiralty to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Nicholas Palace / Nikolaevsky palace, Ploshchad' Truda, 4, Sankt-Peterburg, Russia, 190098
Nikolaevsky Palace was one of several palaces designed by Andreas Stackensneider for the children of Nicholas I. Located on Ploshchad Truda, not far from St. Isaac's Cathedral in the centre of St. Petersburg, the Nikolaevskiy Palace was one of the last palaces to be built for the Imperial family in the city.
The folklore show in the Nikolaev Palace “Feel yourself Russian” is a unique opportunity to feel the history and soul of Russia in one evening!
*Duration of the show: 1.5 hours (two parts of 45 minutes)
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: 5-star hotel

Day 5: Visit the Hermitage Museum and the boat trip along rivers and canals

Stop At: The State Hermitage Museum, Palace Emb., 30-38, St. Petersburg 191055 Russia
Hermitage is one of the largest museums of the world. But it is also the magnificent Royal palace with the stunning rooms and unbelievable views. The collection began as the project of Catherine the Great in 1764. Now it’s the temple of art, where you can see the works of Raphael, Titian, Rembrant, de Goya and many other prominent painters from all over the world.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Neva River, Russia
The most spectacular view of St. Petersburg can be seen from the water. The unforgettable panoramas of the Hermitage, squares and embankments. A city was built over 42 islands, so it is surrounded by water and interlaced with a complex web of rivers and canals that seem to bind the city together, while also marking the borders of its different districts and neighborhoods. The slow ride by Nikolsky cathedral belltower, or through the tunnels of the wide bridges, or under the glass walkway of Mariinsky theater, where the light is barely seen on the other side is an experience you'll never forget.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: 5-star hotel

Day 6: Visit the Peterhof (one-way hydrofoil transfer in season)

Stop At: Park And Gardens of Peterhof, Razvodnaya st., 2, Peterhof, St. Petersburg Russia
A relaxing walk in Peterhof Lower Gardens with a scenic view of hundreds of fountains. It's a real engineering masterpiece with no pumps, in a unique location, selected specifically to make this miracle happen. All the force and the power of the fountaing are provided by the force of gravity. A great photo opportunity for keen photographers.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Grand Peterhof Palace, Razvodnaya St., 2, Peterhof, St. Petersburg 198516 Russia
Explore one of the most beautiful Imperial Palaces - the Grand palace of Peterhof. Badly damaged during the Second World War, thanks to the efforts of dedicated staff, this palace was brought back to life and restored to its former beauty from photographs and maps in the 1950s. A complex combination of Baroque and NeoClassical styles, this palace is a true gem of Russian arquitecture, and you will surely fall in love with it the way we have.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: 5-star hotel

Day 7: Departure to home

Stop At: St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Northwestern District
Spend the morning at leisure before transferring to the airport for the flight back home.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.