Treasures of Two Capitals + The Golden Ring
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URL: http://www.travelallrussia.com/st-petersburg-tours/russia-golden-ring-tour85.html
Itinerary
| Day 1 | Arrival to Moscow Welcome to Moscow - Russia's historic capital, its largest and most vibrant city, one of the world's most interesting places! Your driver will be waiting for you at the exit gate of the airport. After hotel check-in you can relax in your room, grab a bite to eat in the hotel's restaurant, or visit the surrounding sites. We recommend taking the opportunity to adjust to the time zone so that you will be well-rested for your eventful program the following day. |
| Day 2 | Sergiev Posad Your private driver will pick you up at your hotel in Moscow and take you to Sergiev Posad, named for Saint Sergey Radonezhsky who founded a small wooden temple deep in the Russian forest. A flood of believers started to come and settle nearby; thus was the beginning of the Trinity Monastery. Nowadays the monastery carries the name of Trinity Lavra of St. Sergey and is considered the "Russian Vatican." In the evening you will travel to Suzdal, one of the Golden Ring's most famous towns. You will check in to your hotel and have dinner at a local restaurant. |
| Day 3 | Suzdal and Vladimir After a hearty breakfast, you will proceed to Suzdal. Explore Suzdal’s own mighty Kremlin with its museum of wooden architecture before taking in a performance of the Bell Concert at the Spaso-Efimievsky Monastery. After lunch at a local restaurant we will proceed to Vladimir. You will visit the 12th century Dmitrovsky Cathedral, the Museum of Crystal and Varnished Miniatures, the village of Bogolyubovo, and the ancient Pokrova-na-Nerli Church. After your tour your driver will return you to Moscow around 07:30 pm. Dmitrovsky Cathedral Built in the 12th century, the Dmitrovsky Cathedral stands on a hill above the city of Vladimir. The location was to remind people that God is above them, directing and helping them. Zolotie Vorota of Vladimir The Zolotie Vorota (Golden Gate) of Vladimir is the main attraction in the city. It was the final defense against intruders until the Mongols burned it down with the rest of Vladimir. |
| Day 4 | Moscow's Red Square and Kremlin Today your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and take you on one of the most interesting tours in the world. You will visit the famous Red Square and go inside St. Basil’s Cathedral, built by Ivan the Terrible in the 15th century. Next is the Kremlin and the World War II Memorial in the Vorobyevi Hills Park, as well as the spectacular Cathedral of Christ the Savior, destroyed by the communists and restored only a few years ago. The tour will last about eight hours. The Kremlin is the most recognizable symbol of Moscow. This ancient citadel was constructed in 1147 to defend the city from the Mongols and the Lithuanians. Moscow has since grown beyond the original walls, but the Kremlin has remained a representation of political power in Russia. St. Basil's Cathedral stands as one of the most impressive architectural sites in Moscow. This colorful cathedral is also known as the Cathedral of Basil the Blessed and was built between 1555 and 1561. What to see in Moscow: Moscow City Guide |
| Day 5 | Moscow City Tour One of the most interesting sites in Moscow is located deep beneath the surface. On Stalin’s order, the Moscow Subway was built to display the advantages of socialism. Today the Soviet Union is gone, but the beautiful underground city is still active and carries millions of passengers each day. You will go on a quick subway ride for a true taste of Moscow living before heading to the best art gallery in the city, the Tretyakov Picture Gallery. In the evening you will board an overnight train to Russia's second capital, St. Petersburg. The Moscow Subway was constructed not only to streamline the city's transportation, but also to celebrate the accomplishments of the Soviets. The entire subway is a work of socialist realism, making passengers feel as though they are entering various underground palaces, not merely riding the subway to work. On top of immense cultural value, Moscow's subway is a highly efficient transportation system that carries three million passengers daily and spans the entire city in a star-like fashion. Interestingly, the subway can also serve as a nuclear shelter in case of war. The Tretyakov Picture Gallery is Moscow's most famous collection of art and one of the world's top galleries. It began as the private collection of a wealthy Muscovite merchant, Tretyakov, who lived in the 19th century and donated his collection to the city. Right after the tour, we will transfer you to the train station for your departure to St. Petersburg on a new modern express train Sapsan. |
| Day 6 | St. Petersburg Welcome to St. Petersburg, Russia’s most beautiful city! St. Petersburg was the capital of Russia until the Revolution of 1917, but remains Russia's most dynamic and amazing city. With the canals of Venice, the palaces of Paris, and the churches of Rome, you will not be disappointed by its beauty and culture. You will have the best guides in St. Petersburg to make the most of your visit to one of the top ten travel destinations in the world. They will take you on a panoramic tour of the city with stops at the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Church of our Savior on Spilled Blood, and St. Isaac's Cathedral. The tour will last four hours, leaving the rest of the afternoon free for you to rest or explore the city on your own. Peter and Paul Fortress was designed to defend the city from naval attacks, but was used as a political prison for dissidents of the tsarist regime and as a museum during the soviet era. The fortress now stands as the tomb for the Russian imperial family. The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood was built to commemorate one of Russia's greatest emperors. Alexander II is most famous for liberating the Russian serfs two years before the abolition of slavery in the U.S. After he was assassinated, the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood was erected in his honor. St Isaac's Cathedral is one of the most impressive cathedrals in Europe. Because of its rich decorations, gigantic golden cupolas, and sprawling observation deck, it is one of the most popular tourist sites in St. Petersburg. During this city tour you will also visit St. Isaak's Square and observe these from the outside: the Mariinsky Theater, the Hermitage, the Winter palace, the Palace Square, the Spit of Vasilievskiy Island, the Bronze Horseman Statue, Peter's Log Cabin, Cruiser Aurora, Smolny Palace, the Nevsky Prospect, the Square of Arts, and more. Optional evening program: St. Petersburg boasts some of the best theaters in the world! You can book your theatre tickets here. What to see in St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg City Guide |
| Day 7 | St. Petersburg The Hermitage Museum is to St. Petersburg what the Kremlin is to Moscow. Located in the gorgeous Winter Palace, it sits in the very heart of the city, a palace so beautiful that not even the Bolsheviks could destroy it during their takeover in 1917. They say that if you were to spend three minutes by each exhibit in the Hermitage it would take you three years to see everything. With an experienced guide leading you through the sea of heart-stopping exhibits, you will see the best of St. Petersburg’s art in four hours. You may continue exploring the palace on your own after the tour. Optional: tour of the Diamond Room, a jewelry collection from 300 BC to present day ($115 per person). Visit to Diamond Room should be booked at least one month before the tour! Recommended activity for the afternoon/early evening: take a boat ride over St. Petersburg's canals. It is quite an experience. Boats stop at most central bridges. Optional tour of Catherine's Palace is also available for this day. Please ask your tour manager for details. |
| Day 8 | Peterhof This day is reserved for a trip outside of the city to Peterhof Palace. One of the most prominent summer residences of Russia's nobility, Peterhof is most famous for its fountain park, which rivals that of Versailles. Its sprawling gardens, ornate fountains of various forms and styles, numerous gilded statues of ancient gods and heroes, including the famous Samson Fountain, will enthrall you. Visit magnificent Grand Summer Palace, lavishly decorated with the two white pavilions with gilded cupolas. Beige and white, the palace is majestic without being overwhelming, and provides a perfect backdrop both to the elegantly formal Upper Garden, and to the spectacular Grand Cascade at the very foot of the palace. Duration of the tour is 6 hours. |
| Day 9 | Departure Today is the final day of your tour. Your driver will take you to the airport where you will leave with a lifetime of memories from Russia’s two amazing capitals. We hope you return to this enigmatic country soon! |