Itinerary Russia is at its most beautiful during the cold and ivory months of winter. Come join us for this special New Year’s edition of our most popular private tour, the Treasures of Two Capitals. We will show you the ancient Kremlin, the expansive Hermitage, the iconic St. Basil's Cathedral, the spectacular Catherine's Palace, and the ascetic Peter and Paul Fortress. Ring in the New Year in the two most beautiful cities in the world, Moscow and St. Petersburg!

Day 1	Moscow Welcome to Moscow! After your driver picks you up from the airport, you will be whisked to your hotel in the heart of this bustling metropolis. The evening is reserved for you to rest in preparation for your eventful week. If you wish, you can explore the area around the hotel.
Day 2	Christmas Eve in Moscow This day is for you. There are no preplanned programs, scheduled tours, or standing reservations; it is entirely up to you to experience Moscow how you see fit. Orthodox Christmas is very different from the traditional Christmas of the Catholic Church. We suggest you visit one of the many churches in Moscow, where you will get firsthand exposure of how Christmas is celebrated in Russia. Please ask your travel specialist about available excursions and holiday events.
Day 3	Moscow Your adventure starts after a hearty Russian breakfast. The first day of touring will be eight hours of nonstop Moscow wonders, from the Red Square to the Vorob'evy Hills Park (World War II Memorial) to the beautiful Cathedral of Christ the Savior. You will even get to trek inside the mighty fortress of the Kremlin as well as the world-famous St. Basil's Cathedral. The Kremlin is one of the most recognizable symbols of Russia and one of the world's most incredible sites. This ancient citadel was constructed in 1147 to defend the city from Mongol invaders. Moscow has since outgrown the Kremlin’s defensive walls, but the fortress has remained a symbol of Russian power. Today it is a museum of Russian history and the location of important government ceremonies, including the inauguration of the president and meetings with foreign leaders. What to see in Moscow:  Moscow City Guide
Day 4	Moscow This evening you will choose from a first-class overnight train or the express economy train and travel to Russia's northern capital, St Petersburg. Before you leave, you will explore Moscow’s ornate subway as well as the Tretyakov Picture Gallery. The Moscow Subway was constructed to streamline the city's transportation as well as celebrate the accomplishments of the Soviet system. The subway is a work of art with tunnels dedicated to historic events and stations that make passengers feel like they have arrived at a palace. On top of its cultural value, Moscow's subway carries three million passengers each day and spans the entire city. It also serves as a nuclear shelter in times of war. The Tretyakov Gallery is Moscow's most famous collection of art and one of the world's top galleries. It began as the private collection of the wealthy Muscovite merchant, Tretyakov, who lived in the19th century and donated his collection to the city.
Day 5	St. Petersburg The culmination of the world’s best capitals, St. Petersburg is the crown jewel of travel destinations. Your tour guide will take you to the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, and St Isaac's Cathedral. After four hours of guided touring you will have the chance to explore the city on your own. Peter and Paul Fortress has taken on many roles except the one it was designed for – to defend the city from sea invaders. It was a political prison for dissidents of the tsarist regime, a museum during the rise of the Soviets, and stands now as a tomb for Russian emperors. St Isaac's Cathedral is one of the most imposing buildings in Europe. Its decadent golden cupolas, sweeping observation deck, lush interior decorations, and ornate artifacts make it one of the most popular sites in St. Petersburg. The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood was built to commemorate one of Russia's greatest emperors, Alexander II. It stands on the spot of the emperor’s infamous assassination at the hands of a radical dissident who threw a bomb into his carriage. Alexander II is most famous for liberating the Russian serfs two years before the abolition of slavery in the US. This tour will focus on the exterior of the cathedral, but if you would like to explore inside the church, you may visit it on your own as it is very close to your hotel. 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 6	The Hermitage After a quick and filling breakfast at the hotel, you will proceed to the heart of St. Petersburg: Palace Square and the Winter Palace. Your tour of these historically vibrant locations will last five hours. The Hermitage sits inside the gorgeous Winter Palace. It boasts works of such rarity that you will leave hypnotized by beauty. It was also here that the Bolsheviks overthrew the Russian emperors and attempted to destroy the palace, but its artistic value was so immense that they transformed it into the museum it is today. If you were to spend three minutes by each exhibit in the Hermitage, it would take you three years to see them all. Under the direction of your experienced private guide, however, you will see the best of the Hermitage in four hours before exploring the palace on your own. *Optional: tour of the Diamond Room, a jewelry collection from 300 BC to present day ($151 per person).
Day 7	Catherine's Palace Catherine’s Palace is located on the outskirts of St. Petersburg - Tsarksoye Selo (Royal Village), and was a gift from Peter the Great to his wife Catherine I. The Palace is a striking example of baroque architecture with its gorgeous interiors that are more than spectacular. The so-called Golden Enfilade of state rooms, designed by Rastrelli, is particularly renowned and forms the focus of the palace tour. Catherine’s Palace is famous for its Amber Room which was looted during World War II by the Germans during their 300 day siege of St. Petersburg, so that it took more than 50 years to reconstruct the legendary room. You will feast on delicious Russian dishes for lunch in the Podvorye restaurant, built to resemble the homes of ancient Russia. In the afternoon you will travel to Pavel's Palace.
Day 8	New Year's Eve in St. Petersburg New Year’s Eve is by far the most celebrated holiday in Russia. The entire city comes alive with noise and parties and life, exploding in a colorful array of festive well-wishes and hopeful excitement for a bountiful new year. We left this day open for you to choose how and where you would like to ring in the New Year. OPTIONAL: The Hotel Astoria invites you to celebrate the New Year in a jubilant party at their Davidov restaurant. Guests will be met with entertaining shows, musical performances, and lots of surprises. The Davidov’s chef will conjure up a spectacular feast of Russian delicacies and traditional dishes. Throughout the evening guests will be able to enjoy free-flowing champagne, vodka, brandy, wine, and soft drinks. Price: $500/person
Day 9	Departure This is the final day of your tour. Your driver will take you to the airport.  You will be leaving Russia with a lifetime of memories, fascinated by the country itself and its amazing northern capital - St. Petersburg, in particular!