Ship Lev Tolstoy: Moscow - St. Petersburg, River Cruise 12 Jun 2010 - 24 Jun 2010

Welcome to Moscow, Russia's political and economic capital! Moscow was originally the center of Moscovy, a small principality that unified Russia against the Mongols in the late 14th century. Today you will go on a comprehensive Moscow city tour that will take you to the Red Square, Central Tverskaya Street, the Novodevichiy Convent (exterior only), the KGB headquarters (exterior only), the GUM department store, and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

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.

Optional tours: Pushkin Museum; River cruise at night

The heart of Moscow, the Kremlin, is located on the bustling Red Square. 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. Russian Emperors, Soviet rulers, and Russian contemporary leaders alike used the Kremlin for official ceremonies and  added their own personal touches by constructing new buildings, museums, churches, and galleries.

The first stop on your river tour is the village of Uglich. Located on the banks of the Volga River, Uglich presented itself as a perfect fortress of defense for the ancient Moscovy Kingdom. In 1591 the 10-year-old prince Dmitry of the ancient Ruyrik dynasty was murdered here by Boris Godunov before Godunov claimed the throne of Russia and was murdered himself. These events plunged Russia into three decades of political turmoil known as the Time of Trouble, leaving the lands devastated and open for a new dynasty: the Romanovs. We will visit the small but historically significant church of St. Dmitry-on-Blood, which stands on the location of the young prince’s murder.

Tip: You can be a witness to these events by seeing the opera "Boris Godunov" in the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. This classic opera reveals the extraordinary events and perseverance of this distant but ever-present epoch in Russian history.

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 a tour by bus to make the most of your visit to one of the top ten travel destinations in the world. It will take you on a panoramic tour of the city with stops at the Hermitage, the Nevsky Prospect, 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.

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. 

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.

Optional for this evening: opera or ballet at Mariisnky, Mikhailovsky, or the Hermitage Theater. Learn more about St. Petersburg opera and ballet

Tip: St. Petersburg is a northern city. Travel to St. Petersburg in June and you will experience the midnight sun.

Learn more: St. Petersburg,  The Peter and Paul Fortress, The St. Isaac’s Cathedral, The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood.

Located on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, Peterhof is a lavish royal residence on the outskirts of the city. It is most famous for its fountain park that rivals that of Versailles. Peterhof was the official summer residence of Russian tsars.

Optional tour: Inside Peter and Paul Fortress and St. Isaac's Cathedral

Your driver will take you to the airport. You will be leaving Russia with a lifetime of memories from her two beautiful capitals, Moscow and St Petersburg. We hope you return to this enigmatic country soon!

Your airport transfer is arranged.

Tip: want to spend a few more days in Russia exploring Moscow or St. Petersburg at your own pace and with your own private guide? Check out our short private tours: Moscow tours, St. Petersburg tours.