The Best of St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg is often referred to the “Northern Capital” of Russia. Founded in 1703 by Czar Peter I, it was the capital of the Russian Empire for nearly 200 years, and still remains one of the most important cities in the country. Your two-day tour will take you to St. Petersburg’s most significant historical and cultures sites.

Inclusions: Transportation, Guides, Entry to all sites (VIP where indicated), Boxed lunch for both days, Canal Tour, Hydrofoil ride, Gold Room Admission, Amber Room admission.

Not included: Photo permit of $15 to all sites that allow photos

Day 1 – Highlights of Pushkin and St. Petersburg

Your tour guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you on a tour of the city of St. Petersburg. Today’s tour begins with a drive to Pushkin, a small suburb of St. Petersburg, where you will tour the Grand Catherine Palace. The town of Pushkin includes several historical districts and notable sites like the Grand Catherine Palace, the summer residence for many of the Russian czars. At the palace, you will walk through the Great Hall, chamber rooms, the beautifully reproduced Amber Room, and the palace workshops.

Next, take a leisurely walk through the Catherine Park, located between the Catherine Palace the Great Ponds, and the Cascade Ponds. The park was originally planted in the 18th century for Catherine I, and continues to be a marvel of landscape design and architectural monuments.

After your walk through the park, relax as your guide drives you to back to St. Petersburg and you visit the best sites the city has to offer. Begin at the Peter and Paul Fortress, a fort built in 1703, under Peter the Great and designed to defend against any invasions from the Swedish army or navy. The fortress includes the magnificent Peter and Paul Cathedral at its center as well as the City History Museum and the Mint.

Travel from the fortress to the Yusupov Palace, the former residence of the Yusupov family, located along the Moika River. Here is where the mystery of Grigory Rasputin’s death comes to life! The Yusupov Palace contains the famed “Rasputin basement” where the murder of the peasant and self-proclaimed holy man was murdered in 1916.

Another important stop on the tour is St. Isaac’s Cathedral, whose dome can’t be missed among the cityscape of St. Petersburg. When you visit the cathedral, you can climb the 300 or so steps to the observation deck atop the great dome for a spectacular view of the city.

Finally, end your day with a pleasant and relaxing Canal Tour. This boat tour will take through waterways where you can view the impressive city architecture and famous bridges.

After the canal tour, you will be dropped at your hotel to enjoy the rest of your evening as you wish.

Day 2: Highlights of St. Petersburg

Continue exploring the beautiful city of St. Petersburg. The day begins with pick up at your hotel by your tour guide, who will drive you to Peterhof, fondly referred to as the “Russian Versailles,” and well-known for its palaces and parks.

In Peterhof, you will have the opportunity to visit and tour Empress Elizabeth’s Grand Palace. The small palace was designed to be the centerpiece of Peter the Great’s “Russian Versailles” and boasts lavish interiors with ornate architectural designs and décor. Highlights of the Grand Palace include the Ceremonial Staircase, the Throne Room, and the Imperial Suite.

Nearby the Grand Palace is Fountain Park and the Grand Cascade which runs along the northern side of the Grand Palace to the Marine Canal and features 64 different fountains, 200 statues, bas-reliefs, and other incredible monuments. You can enjoy your boxed lunch among the beauty of the park.

After strolling through the grounds of the Fountains of Peterhof, enjoy the unique Hydrofoil ride back to St. Petersburg where you will continue your tour of the city’s best sites and attractions.

Once back in St. Petersburg, you will head to Spilled Blood Cathedral, known also by its official name, Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ. The name of the church refers to the blood of Czar Alexander II, who was assassinated on the site in 1881. The building is known for its beautiful mosaics as well as its unfortunate role as a storage area for corpses during the Siege of Leningrad during World War II.

The final stop on the tour is the State Hermitage Museum, formerly the Winter Palace, and currently the largest art gallery in all of Russia. The Hermitage showcases more than 2.7 million exhibits and displays from around the world. Among the rooms of the Hermitage is the Gold Room, a treasury of gold artifacts dating as far back as 4th century BCE.

After touring the displays at the Hermitage, your guide will return you to your hotel where you can enjoy the rest of your evening as you wish.