Saint Petersburg (4 days, 3 nights)

Passengers are met and transferred to the hotel for check in                               

Breakfast in the city

City tour

Peter and Paul Fortress 

Lunch independent with suggestion from the guide 

Hermitage

Dinner independent  with suggestion from the guide

Overnight at hotel

*if possibe as standard hotel check in is 2 pm

**St.Petersburg is often described as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.Its miles of canals laced together with graceful brigdes set amidst 18th century buildings, have earned its name «Venice of the North». During the city tour you will see all the most beautiful places, squares,cathedrals, palaces. You will have several stops to get off the bus to take  pictures.

***The Peter and Paul Fortress is the first structure of St.Petersburg. Built as a fortress to protect newly acquired lands, it was turned into a political prison practically from the beginning.Besides that is the burial place of the Romanovs.

 ****The first building of the Hermitage (Winter Palace) was built as a Winter Royal Residence in 1762. Originally a small private palace gallery, the Hermitage today houses one of the largest museum collections in the world, including works by Leonardo Da Vinci, Mikaelangelo, big collection of French Impressionists, etc.

 Day

2 

Breakfast at the hotel

Departure to Pushkin

Pushkin, Catherine's palace with Amber Room*

Lunch at Podvorie** restaurant

Departure to Pavlovsk

Pavlovsk : park and Paul's palace***

Dinner independent  with suggestion of the guide

Overnight at the hotel

*Catherine's palace was originally built in 1717 as a summer royal residence for the wife of Peter the Great- Catherine I. In 1752 famous architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli enlarged and embellished the place, extending the façade to its current granduer. The famous Amber room was brought to the place for decoration of one of the halls. The estate and palace buildings were almost completely destroyed by the Nazis during World War II, but they have been carefully and expertly restored into a brilliant architectural monument.

**Podvorie is traditional Russian restaurant built in old Russian style.

***Paul's Residence was built in 1782-86. Given to Czar Paul I and his wife by Catherine the Great, Pavlovsk was designed by Scottish architect Charles Cameron. Set in a lovely park, the palace holds a special place in the hearts of city residents. Although the Nazis destroyed the palace itself during the World War II, most of its treasures were hidden in advance of the attack. Reconstruction began immediately after the German withdrawal. The park was reopened in 1950 and the first renovated rooms in 1957.

 Day

3 

Breakfast at the hotel

Walking tour of Nevsky Prospect*

Spilt Blood Church**

Lunch independent with suggestion from the guide

Usupov's palace***

St.Isaak's cathedral 

Dinner indendent with suggestion from the guide

Overnight at the hotel

 *The tour gives the history and describes the present day life of one of the most beautiful streets in the world. The street is 3 miles long, but you will see the most beautiful part of it- from Palace Square to Nevsky Palace hotel, which is one kilometer approx.

**Built in 1907 on the place where Russian Emperor Alexander II was deadly wounded by a terrorist's bomb in 1881.  Constructed in old Russian style with onion shaped domes, the church is richly decorated with beautiful mosaics.  

***The private mansion of St. Petersburg noble family of Yusupovs is one of the most beautiful classicism masterpieces of the 18-20-th centuries. It is included in the book of «The Best Private Palaces in Europe» by UNESCO. The splendor of the decorative design of the palace impresses the viewer:  marble, mirrors, chandeliers, expensive silks and exquisite furniture.  The Palace is interesting also from the historical point of view due to the events, which took place in December of the year 1916. In the cellar of the palace, the favorite of the emperor family Grigory Rasputin was killed by the conspiracy headed by Felix Usupov. At present the exhibition under the headline. At present the exhibition «Grigoriy Rasputin: story of life and death» has been organized there.

 ****Built in 1858 by the French architect Montferrand, it is the fourth highest one cupola cathedral in the world after St.Peter in Rome, St.Paul in London and Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence. Richly decorated with marble, malachite and lapis lazurite it was the main Russian Orthodox Cathedral.  Turned into a museum in the Soviet times

 Day

4 

Breakfast at the hotel

 Package based
on 5 stars hotel
accommodation

 Shoulder season

April, May, August,

September 

Low season

November-March 

DBL accoumodation

SGL Supplement

Package based 

 Shoulder Season
April, May, August,

September

DBL accoumodation

SGL Supplement

Package based

DBL accoumodation

SGL Supplement