Premium Moscow - St Petersburg

St. Basil's Cathedral

Upon arrival in the Russian capital, you will be greeted at your point of arrival by a private transfer and escorted to a 3* hotel in the centre of the lively Moscow. Once you have had a chance to get settled in and store your luggage, you will have the rest of the day to explore some of the sights and sounds of this vibrant city. The city of Moscow is the home to some of Russia’s greatest treasures, and some more hidden than others. With that in mind, why not pay a visit to the elaborately decorated Metro stations around the city. Alternatively, if you are interested in Moscow’s unique landscape, why not take a cruise along the picturesque Moskva River. Real Russia can supply both excursions, as well as many others.

Moscow View

Today will be truly exhilarating as you are on your way to discover Moscow’s political, historical and cultural heart. After breakfast, you will be met at your hotel by one of our knowledgeable guides, who will first take you on a fascinating walking tour of central Moscow, before taking you by car to see some of the best historical sights spread across the city. The immediate sense of history will be evident as you see the greatest sights that Moscow has to offer. You will begin your tour in the heart of Moscow, beginning at the legendary Red Square where you will uncover some of the greatest treasures of Russia’s past. You will then be taken to visit the iconic St Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin’s Mausoleum and the Kremlin, amongst other remarkable buildings and statues. Please note that fees to St Basil Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum and Kremlin are at an additional cost. Following your immersion in central Moscow, and the history that comes along with this, you will have time for lunch before being whisked away to all corners of Moscow by car to see why Moscow isn’t just the Kremlin and St Basils. From the incredible Alexander Gardens to the unique VDNKh Soviet Exhibition Centre, your guide will ensure that no stone is left unturned in making sure you see everything great about Moscow.

Moscow Tretyakov State Gallery

Today you have a bit of flexibility to your itinerary, you can choose one of three fantastic excursions: 

Option 1 - The Romanov Royal Family The Romanov Family ruled Russia for over 300 years until the Russian Revolution of 1917. The story of the Romanov Dynasty, today, is still a significant part of Russian History. From start to end, this tour recounts the riveting history of the Romanov family, unfolding as you go, the rise and fall of the once powerful family. The tour begins in the centre of Moscow, the birthplace of the Romanov dynasty, before moving to Kolomensoye, the once beloved residence of the Romanov family. The journey concludes in the convent of SS Martha and Mary where you will learn about the last of the Romanovs. 

Option 2 - The Tretyakov State Gallery. The Tretyakov Gallery boasts a collection of more than 170,000 Russian works of art, created over the last 300 – 400 years, with some pieces more than a thousand years old. The gallery has representation from all the periods of Russian and European art, including classicism, romanticism and impressionism. While it will not be possible to view every piece of art in the gallery today, your guide will take you around the highlights, recounting the history surrounding their creation, and Russia, in the process. By the end of the tour you will come away having been thoroughly immersed in Russian art, culture and history. 

Option 3 – Luxury cruise on the Moskva River Operated by the Radisson Hotel situation in one of the Seven Sisters, this cruise of central Moscow meets the lofty standards that Radisson hold their hotels to. Starting at the Ukraina Hotel Pier, this incredible cruise will allow you to take in many of Moscow’s best riverside sights in comfort while learning all about them with the on-board guide. Without spoiling the entire trip, the boat will take you past more than one of the famous Seven Sisters, famous government buildings such as the Moscow Mayors Office and the Kremlin, and some of Moscow’s most important religious buildings, such as St Basil’s Cathedral. Why tire yourself out, when you can sit back, relax, and enjoy Moscow from the back of the nicest cruise the Moskva River has to offer!

St Isaacs Cathedral

After waking up feeling refreshed, you will have an aching desire to explore more of Moscow. If that is the case, we are confident it will be, the morning will be free for you to explore more of this mind-blowing city before departing to Saint Petersburg. Why not make your day even better by taking a stroll through the Kremlin and Armoury, or head underground to see Moscow’s pride and joy, the achievement that is their Metro system. These are just two of the many excursions available from Real Russia. There is a choice of departure times on the Sapsan high-speed train, throughout the afternoon and evening, 1.40pm, 4.30pm and 7.30pm, at which point it will be time to say Do svidaniya’ (Goodbye) to Moscow and ‘Zdravstvuyte’ (Hello) to Saint Petersburg. When you decide to leave this magnificent city is up to you. You can leave early in the afternoon and spend the evening in Saint Petersburg, or extend your afternoon in Moscow and leave either early, or mid, evening. Whatever you choose, your transfer will collect you from your hotel and take you to Leningradsky Station to hop aboard the high-speed Sapsan train for the four-hour journey to Saint Petersburg. If you want to experience the ultimate level of comfort in rail travel, why not travel to Saint Petersburg in style, aboard the Grand Express? When booking, you can upgrade your rail travel to experience the luxury of the overnight train travelling between Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The Grand Express, by any standard, is a lavish hotel on wheels, and you will experience a first class unlike no other. In addition, you will have an extra evening in Moscow to experience its nightlife, as the train will not leave until 11.30pm. You will arrive early in the morning on day four, with enough time for your transfer to take you to your hotel so you can drop off your bags and shower before starting the day.

St Petersburg River

Another day packed with excitement, as you are about to discover all that’s great about Russia’s former capital. Your tour guide will greet you at your hotel, then you will be on your way to journey back in time, and learn about the history of Saint Petersburg. The tour will take you past some of the best and most important sites in Saint Petersburg. A highlight among them being the lively Nevsky Prospekt, one of the most famous streets in Russia, it runs from the Admiralty, all the way past the Moskovsky Rail Station and into the Alexandra Nevsky Monastery. Throughout the day you will also visit the Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood, Kazansky Cathedral, St Isaacs’s Cathedral, The Hermitage and many more sites in a city that is affectionately known as the ‘Venice of the North’. Please note that entry fee to The Hermitage is at an additional cost. If that wasn’t enough, your guide will finish the tour by taking you to the beautiful Peter and Paul Fortress along with the Field of Mars, while detailing the history for you of both. The evening will be yours to explore, experience and discover all the secrets of this great city.

Peterhof

A short journey from Saint Petersburg is the imperial residence of Peter I, the Peterhof Palace. This is in fact a collection of palaces and gardens that have been referred to as the ‘Russian Versailles’, and along with the centre of Saint Petersburg are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Not only will you behold the splendour of this royal estate, weather permitting, you will also arrive by boat, giving you the opportunity to take in the gorgeous surroundings. Once you have returned to Saint Petersburg you will have the afternoon and evening to yourself. Why not take this opportunity to visit one of the many restaurants on Nevsky Prospekt to get a taste of the local cuisine? In the winter, if you would prefer, you could visit the town of Pushkin where you can see some of the most beautiful parks and palaces in Saint Petersburg.

The Hermitage

Saint Petersburg is your oyster on day five, with free time to explore the side streets, canals, palaces and churches of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You know what they say, all good things must come to end, as it’s now time to say ‘do svidaniya’ to Saint Petersburg and Russia. If leaving is just too difficult for you, which it is for so many of our customers, Real Russia can extend your time and arrange more thrilling excursions for you (at additional costs). At a prearranged time your private transfer will collect you and take you to your point of departure.