You cannot say you’ve travelled the world if you’ve never been to Moscow and Saint Petersburg. We invite you to bring your family to a truly memorable journey and cultural adventures in Russia. During this one-week holiday you will experience the two Russian capitals in a fun and family-oriented way:
* See all the major sights of Saint Petersburg and also go outside the major touristy route to discover the mysteries of the Saint Petersburg citadel
* Peter the Great himself will tell you how he built the city and show you Saint Petersburg from a bird’s eye view
* Visit the Hermitage Museum to see the most unique parts of its great collection
* Get on a fast boat – the most scenic way to travel to Peterhof, Peter the Great’s spectacular suburban estate
* Admire the architecture of the Grand Palace and to the lesser-known gem: “The delight,” the palace of Peter the Great which inspired his maritime adventures
* Visit the “closed town” and the naval base Kronstadt, then sail to the secret forts of the Kronstadt Fortress
* See the royal treasures of the Russian tsars in the Moscow Kremlin
* Visit the “Eighth wonder of the world” – the fairy tale Wooden Palace and make your own a traditional Russian doll there
* Visit of one of the most secret objects in the world – the KGB headquarters
* Discover the secrets of an underground city and Stalin’s pride – the Moscow Metro
* Learn about the space age in the USSR and see the first artificial Earth satellite, and a spacesuit of the first spacemen in a Cosmonautic Museum
Highlights: Saint Petersburg city tour, discovery of the secrets of St. Peter and Paul fortress
We invite you to join our child-friendly Saint Petersburg city tour and have a glance at three hundred years of Russian history reflected in its rich architecture in a fun and easy way. Admire the most impressive city sights and visit the former principal cathedral of the Russian capital – St. Isaak Cathedral. End your impressions of the day with a fascinating encounter with the birthplace of Saint Petersburg – the Peter and Paul Fortress. Be ready to discover its exciting secrets like finding out who is living in the cathedral spire, what is happening in the mint today, and why the big canon is shooting, then finally going into an ancient mysterious passageway.
Overnight: Saint Petersburg
Highlights: Hermitage Museum, theatrical excursion with Peter the Great, museum with a large historical scale model of Saint Petersburg
Your stay in Saint Petersburg would not be complete without a visit to one of the world’s greatest museums – the Hermitage located in the Royal Winter Palace. At all times, Russian tsars have been passionately collecting the greatest pieces of art from all over the world. The Royal Treasury, the golden singing Peacock Clock, and much more wonders are waiting for you there. Today, the collection is so large that it would take you nine years to look at each item for one minute! But don’t get frustrated –our guide will show its most unique pieces in an entertaining way.
Continue to a lesser-known, yet exciting family-oriented attraction, where an actor dressed like Peter the Great will tell you how the city was built, what court life was like 300 years ago, and show you a large historical scale model of Saint Petersburg.
Meals: B + L
Overnight: Saint Petersburg
Highlights: the Peterhof Palace, the “delight palace” of Peter the Great, Kronstadt town, sailing trip to explore the secrets of the Kronstadt forts, the museum of lighthouses
Get on a fast boat – the most scenic way to travel to Peterhof, Peter the Great’s spectacular suburban estate with its world-famous ensemble of fountains and palaces. Pay a visit to the Grand Palace and follow us to the lesser-known gem: “The delight” of Peter the Great, which he himself designed. It is the most private royal palace, built in a Dutch style, where the Tsar lived part of his life and developed his passion for shipbuilding. It was also the place that inspired him to go on his overseas adventures and maritime studies.
Are you ready for more marine adventures? Follow us to Kronstadt – a “closed town” that was impossible to visit for many years. Today you have a rare chance to discover the secrets of the Kronstadt Fortress that was the strongest naval fortress in Europe, with a unique system of 21 small forts built on artificial islands. Sailing is the most spectacular way to see the forts and learn about the phenomenal inventions made there. Pay a visit to the magnificent Kronstadt cathedral – a legendary holy place for every Russian sailor.
Finally, discover maritime secrets by visiting the museum of lighthouses, where you can see an outstanding collection of lighthouses and learn how they have been evolving over their 300-year history.
Meals: B + L
Overnight: Saint Petersburg
Highlights: speed train to Moscow, evening Moscow river cruise
Morning departure by speed train “Sapsan” to Moscow (approx. 4h). Arrival and transfer to the hotel in Moscow.
Get acquainted with “the mother of the Russian cities” in the most relaxing way by taking an evening Moscow river cruise. Sail through Moscow and admire the city’s best-loved landmarks, including the Moscow Kremlin, impressive cathedrals and some of the famous “7 sisters of Stalin” – breathtaking skyscrapers built after World War II under Stalin`s order, which is still one of the tallest buildings in Europe. The views of these monuments in the evening lights are a truly memorable experience that is something not to be missed.
Meals: B + L
Overnight: Moscow
Highlights: Moscow city tour, the treasury of Kremlin, the wooden palace in Kolomenskoe, the Russian doll-making class
This morning be ready for our special Moscow city tour and discover the legendary treasures of the Russian Tsars. We will start in the most protected area of Moscow’s Kremlin and admire the astonishing imperial jewels and regalia. The massive diamonds, emeralds and rubies decorating the royal regalia is evidence of the former wealth of the Russian Royal court. It is one of the world’s top five Royal Treasure Houses. Does size come first? Yes, at least for Russian Rulers! See the evidence – the two strangest monuments, the Tsar Bell and the Tsar Cannon. Enormous in size, but they don’t work!
What’s next? “The eighth wonder of the world” (at least according to the 17th century ranking). We invite you to a fairy tale – the Tsar’s Wooden Palace – to see the way the tsar and his family lived and enjoyed life. What about a cool photo with you dressed like the Russian Tsar based on 17th century fashion? Would you like to make a traditional Russian doll or colorful clay toy? It’s fun to make and a great souvenir to bring home.
Meals: B + L
Overnight: Moscow
Highlights: the KGB headquarter, the Moscow metro tour, the museum of Cosmonautics
Today we continue to discover the thrilling secrets of Moscow and step into the Stalinist period and the Space Age in the USSR.
We start with a visit to one of the most secret objects in the world – the KGB headquarters. Here you will learn about the history of the most powerful organization in the world, the KGB, about the Great Terror under Stalin, the GULAG system and visit the secret KGB prison.
Continue with the bright side of Stalin’s hidden underground – the Moscow Metro. Explore the grandiose showpiece of Stalin’s government and find out the secrets of this underground city which is either a live-museum or a lavish palace, rather than a transportation system.
An educating journey by the Moscow metro will bring you to a place where you can feel the pride of the Social Space Era and feel the atmosphere of space adventures. Step inside a museum located in a 100-meter high silver-rocket to discover some true treasures, like the first artificial Earth satellite, a space suit of the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin, and a life-size model of the MIR Space station.
Later, walk the Cosmonauts Alley and hear about the most important people in the Soviet Union, as well as the world’s history of astronautics.
Meals: B + L
Overnight: Moscow
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. Departure.
Optional extra day in Moscow. If you choose to prolong your stay in Moscow, we will be happy to assist you with arranging some other exciting activities, such as seeing some fantastic performances of the Moscow circus or the world-famous Russian ballet.