Founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, St. Petersburg combines its fascinating Russian heritage with a distinctly European outlook. Considered the cultural heart of modern day Russia, St. Petersburg is rapidly regaining its reputation as one of the Great Cities of Europe.

This independent itinerary allows you to enjoy the splendor of St.Petersburg in style and in depth. You can choose your class of hotel and enjoy the freedom to tailor make your special highlights. How better to do this great city than to travel around in your own private Mercedes with your own guide.

Countries visited

• Russia

Places visited

• St Petersburg

Transportation

Transport by Mercedes car, boat trip in the canals and hydrofoil to Peterhof.

Included In Price

Program includes 4 night’s accommodation, breakfast daily, all taxes, services of experienced licensed English speaking guide, transport by Mercedes car, entrance fees and meals as per the itinerary.

Meals Included

This tour includes 7 meals; 4 breakfasts 3 lunches

Not Included In Price

* Beverages & extras
* Visa to Russia
* All services not mentioned in the program
* Arrival & departure transfers
* Tips and Gratuities

Important Information

To avoid disappointment, we recommend that you book any theatre performances that you wish to attend in St.Petersburg in advance. Please let us know if you wish us to organise this. You can also check these websites for details: www.marinsky.ru, www.bolshoi.ru and www. ticketsofrussia.ru

Day 1: Arrive St. Petersburg

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Transfer by private car to your selected hotel. Dinner is on your own tonight.

Accommodation

You can choose your accommodation in St. Petersburg, from 5 star, Renaissance St. Petersburg Baltic Hotel to the 3 star, Golden Triangle Hotel. Please ask us for details and prices.

Meals Included

none

Day 2: Explore the Hermitage and St.Isaac's Cathedral

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Breakfast is at the hotel and then you will be met by your private guide.

Enjoy the beauty of the city with a Panoramic city tour by private car. There is one museum in the city that is never closed – the city itself. Discover St. Petersburg – a city of infinite charm with its majestic palaces, churches and cathedrals, river embankments, beautiful parks and innumerous bridges – a city of imperial proportions and romantic vistas which has been a source of inspiration for the generations of artists.

Visit Peter and Paul Fortress this morning. It is the historical nucleus of the city as well as one of the most interesting and beautiful architectural landmarks. St. Peter & Paul Cathedral with its long gilded spire is the burial place of all Russian emperors from Peter the Great to the last of the Romanovs – Nicholas II. Designed to protect newly acquired lands in the mouth of the Neva River, the fortress lost its military significance before it was completed. It was turned into the most dismal political prison of Russia for almost 200 years.

You will then visit St. Isaac's Cathedral. Fourth highest cupola cathedral in the world, St. Isaac’s has a breathtaking interior design. The cathedral can accommodate 13000 worshippers in a time. The monolithic columns of the portico cut from red granite are seventeen meters high and weigh 114 tons each. The mosaic inside has twelve thousand shades and colors, the walls are five meters thick and the main cupola is coated with one hundred kilos of gold.

Take some time out from sightseeing to enjoy a Russian cuisine lunch at a local St Petersburg restaurant.

This afternoon we do a comprehensive guided visit to the famous Hermitage Museum. The world-known Hermitage museum was the residence of the Russian Emperors in the past, nowadays it comprises 5 palaces and is one of the largest museums in the world. Be ready for lots of walking in the miles of corridors!

Optional:
One more unique event awaits you in the evening - Russian ballet performance in the unique Hermitage Theatre - the private theatre of the Czars in the past. The theatre, built by the order of the empress Catherine the Great on the embankment of the Neva River, is connected to the buildings of the Hermitage. It has an amphitheatre shape according to the fashion of the 18th century, walls and columns are clad in marble. The most dramatic ballet story – the famous "Giselle" by Adam is performed by the soloists of the world-known Mariinsky Theatre on the stage of the Hermitage Theatre accompanied by the live orchestra. Please let us know if you are interested in attending this performance.

This evening is yours to relax and dine alone if you choose not to attend the performance.

Accommodation

Your choice of St. Petersburg accommodation

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches

Day 3: Catherine's Palace and Park

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Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before another day of sightseeing.

Drive to the town of Pushkin to see the Catherine's Palace and Park – once the official summer residence of Russian Czars. We enter the beautiful Catherine’s park and visit Catherine’s Palace, considered to be a real pearl of Russian baroque architecture of the 18th century. It was built for Russian Empress Catherine in 1752. The palace, a combination of white, blue and gold, looks magnificent; a huge ballroom called the Grand Hall, ornately decorated drawing rooms, studies and dining rooms. The most famous room here is the Amber Room, which was looted by the Nazis during World War II. The restoration of the Amber Room was completed in 2003. Surrounding the palaces is a park covering more than 570 hectares with bridges, terraces, fountains and small galleries.

Lunch is served in the genuine Russian restaurant Podvorie. Enjoy delicious Russian appetizers and famous “borsch” (beet-root soup) accompanied by Cossack’s folklore singing and, of course, free flowing Russian vodka! The restaurant is a typical Russian huge wooden log-house reminding of a fortress.

In the afternoon you depart for a visit of the Yusupov Palace. The richest of non-imperial palaces of St. Petersburg, this palace was the home of the noble and powerful Yusupov family, relatives to the Russian Czars. The Yusupovs were great collectors of art, and their collection was known well beyond Russia. After the revolution most of the collection was moved to the Hermitage, though traces of the incredible wealth that once kept this palace pulsating with life still remain: the various sitting rooms, the intricate chandeliers and candelabras that adorn every room and corridor. The beautiful home theatre of the palace looks like a cozy version of the famous Mariinsky theatre.

It was in this palace where the assassination of Rasputin, one of the most scandalous figures in Russian history, took place. One can feel the drama of the moment seeing wax figures of the conspirators waiting in a small room on the ground floor. In the cellar where it happened there are two more wax figures: Rasputin and young Felix Yusupov talking over the set table minutes before the assassination.

Dinner on your own

Accommodation

Your choice of St. Petersburg accommodation

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches

Day 4: Peterhof and a tour of the Russian Museum.

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Breakfast at the hotel before departing on a tour of Peterhof.

Depart for the tour of Peterhof (also called Petrodvorets). We will attempt to arrive earlier than official opening hour to enter the Grand Summer Palace in private (note: early arrival cannot be guaranteed). It is the most famous summer residence of Russian Emperors, located 25 km west on the Gulf of Finland. It history begins in 1704 when Peter I built a wooden house on the Gulf. In 1723 the enlarged palace became official summer residence, later it was expanded by Empress Elizabeth and called Grand Summer Palace. After the tour of the Palace we see the main attraction - the Grand Cascade decorated with more than 150 fountains, built in 1722. The intricate system of pipes stretches for nearly 22 km. The water flows downhill by force of gravity while the fountains operate according to the principle of communicating vessels. In both artistry and engineering the fountains of Peterhof are truly unique. After a pleasant stroll through beautiful park we return to the city by hydrofoil, which takes you only 30 minutes.

Lunch is served at Demidov restaurant.

In the afternoon we make a tour of the Russian Museum - the beautiful royal palace by itself this museum houses the largest collection of Russian Art from medieval icons to the famous ‘avante garde’ of the 20s-30s.

Dinner is on your own tonight. 30 mins by Hydrofoil

Accommodation

Your choice of St. Petersburg accommodation

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches

Day 5: Departure Day from St. Petersburg

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Enjoy your final buffet breakfast at the hotel and then transfer by private car.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts